Thomas HeatherwickBesprekingen

I've never used the word 'important' about a book I have read, largely because most of the books I read are entertaining trash. But this is arguably the most important book I have ever read.

For anyone asking themselves "why is everything shit?", this book brings a very clear answer to at least one aspect of the shittiness.

Although it appears intimidatingly large, Heatherwick utilises his design skills for the task of making his argument in ways that remove the need for thousands of wordy paragraphs. As a result, it's a surprisingly quick read. It's also allows plenty of space for annotation, if you're given to that kind of thing (I am).

I picked up as a 'thing I may fancy having a read of', along with three books of entertaining trash. When I got home I had a skim as I made a cup of tea, and by the time I had sat don with the tea I was glued to the book.

In case I haven't been quite clear about just how fantastic this book is, I'm buying copies for other people for Christmas.

I want to give this book 20 stars! It is written with wit, in an easy-to-read font, loaded with drawings and photos that make you stop and think, and reminds me of the joy when I read about Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas and buildings. It is intuitive too! I remembered times when I was enchanted by old buildings including the house where I lived as a child. I had loved the decorative style of the grade school that I went to back in the 1950's. I remember the decorative doors and the impressive staircase that wound its way up four floors. I cried when 60 years later, it was torn down and replaced with a big white box, not a tall one but a square one. It took me three days to recover. I also remember wonderful art museums that thrilled me with being a piece of art.

The author helps us learn what happened when architects adopted Le Corbusier's seven principles, which negatively impacted the design of modern buildings. I will pass this book on to a friend but I am keeping my notes about what was considered bad and good. I will never design a building but a retired person, I spend a great deal of life in apartment buildings. LOL, I have had emotional reactions to buildings that were built for people to work like machines and not experience joy. What brings you joy in the design of buildings, furniture, and art? For me, it is often that which is joyful and is a part of nature.

Please read this wonderful book.