EDITED BY the critic José Aragüez, this book focuses on a question of great importance in current architectural debate: how theory and practice relate to each other in contemporary architecture. Two currents come to the fore: that which aspires to overcome physical barriers and stretch the intellectual frontiers of the discipline; and the defense of a practice connected to design and construction. Using 'the building’ as a catalyst, the publication tries to create a bridge between the intellectual conception and the constructive practice of architecture. An ambitious endeavor divided into three chapters, compiling over forty texts by a diverse lineup of contributors, from historians and theorists to professional architects and individuals outside the field, such as philosophers. The first chapter, through a series of critical articles, examines some of the most significant works of the last thirty years, notably SANAA’s museum in Kanazawa, Ito’s mediatheque in Sendai, or Mansilla+Tuñón’s MUSAC in León. The second chapter presents five theoretical essays including one by Philip Ursprung, who in times of increased specialization and segregation calls for a comeback of history and criticism as central aspects of architecture. And the last chapter looks at teaching, with Luis Fernández-Galiano, in conversation with the editor, stressing the importance of a change in educational models. In sum, a dense study of the area between the tangible world of buildings and the intangible world of ideas.

Pablo Canga