SHoP Architects:Out of Practice

Hereisthesuperblyillustratedsurveyofoneoftheforemostarchitecturefirmsatworkintheworldtoday.SHoP,aprominentNewYork-basedarchitecturefirm,iscurrentlyatworkonnumerousprojectsacrosstheglobe;itsclientsincludetheUnitedColoursofBenetton,VirginAtlantic,Google,GoldmanSachsandtheCityofNewYork;itsworkhaswonnumerousawards-includingtheAmericanNationalDesignAwardforArchitecturein2009-andisinthepermanentcollectionofTheMuseumofModernArt.ThisbookrevealshowSHoPdidnotachievesuchsuccessbykow-towingtotradition.Thepartnerslookoutsidetheprofessionforinspirationandideas,inboththeirbuildingsandtheirbusinessmodel,keepinginlinewiththeirmissiontocreatereal-worldarchitecturethatconsidershowdesign,financeandtechnologycanworktogether.Thisvolumeexploressixofthefirm’sideologies–practice,typology,politics,finances,sustainabilityandtechnology–basedonsixmajorprojectsaswellasthirtysmallerones.Thisbook’sorganizationwillallowreadersbothtoseeandbetterunderstandthefirm’sworkandbusinessstrategies,aswellasprovideideastoimprovetheirownbuildingprojects.