First published 2002
Kurt Andersen opens his examination of Rockwell Group by surveying their transformed landscapes across America. The architectural firm converts raw materials into experiential destinations that blur boundaries between reality and fantasy. Andersen explores how David Rockwell's team approaches each project, from the technology-rich Kodak Theatre built for the Academy Awards to the mythologically inspired Mohegan Sun casino. The book reveals the design philosophy behind restaurants like Nobu and Vong, hotels including W New York, and unexpected spaces like the Children's Hospital at Montefiore. Through essays by critics Paul Goldberger and Michael Bierut, food writer Gael Greene, and theater director George C. Wolfe, Andersen builds a comprehensive portrait of a firm that treats architecture as performance. He shows how Rockwell Group creates spaces that simultaneously seduce and inform visitors. The book demonstrates how contemporary design can energize public spaces while serving practical functions, positioning architecture as both destination and journey.
Genres: art, non-fiction, design, architecture
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: destination-journey
Setting: America, Kodak Theatre, Mohegan Sun, Montefiore, Nobu, Vong, W New York
Period: Contemporary
224 pages · Paperback · Universe