The Continuous City

The Swedish-American architect Lars Lerup presents himself in his writings less as a theoretical thinker and more as an attentive collector. He observes and analyzes his urban environment and its conditions very closely, in order to then add the results to his theory about the modern city. The 14 texts in Lerup's new book have been created independently of one another, yet they form a cohesive whole. They provide an overview of his thoughts on identity and monumentality, as well as the relationship between nature and culture. Among the subjects of his interest and reflections are Roberto Burle Marx, one of the founders of modern landscape architecture, the "dancing floors" of the Seattle Library by Rem Koolhaas, Herzog & de Meuron's 1111 Lincoln Road project in Miami Beach, and the function of urban landmarks, exemplified by the conference center in Dalian, China, designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au. Lars Lerup invites the reader to accompany him on his journeys, allowing them to be enriched rather than lectured.