Archiflop: A Guide to the Most Spectacular Failures in the History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture

Once an architectural project has emerged from the perfect atmosphere of the computer, the drawings and the 3-D models, it inevitably comes up against the logic of the real world. In most cases, the encounter is painless. But sometimes things go wrong, what remains are unfulfilled expectations and broken dreams of overly optimistic architects, owners, and clients. This volume features a selection more or less notorious archiflops scattered over the globe, which are grouped in various thematic sections. Each project is described and its circumstances analyzed and extensively documented via photos. The reader is taken to monumental ghost towns in Asia, grotesque remnants of amusement parks, for example in the USA, and a nuclear power plant in Crimea. The author is not aiming to uncover faults and condemn failed projects but rather to contemplate on how difficult and nearly impossible it is to predict the future of any type of endeavor.

Once an architectural project has emerged from the perfect atmosphere of the computer, the drawings and the 3D models, it inevitably comes up against the logic of the real world. In most cases, the encounter is painless. But sometimes things go wrong!

This volume features a selection of 25 more or less notorious archiflops scattered over the globe, which are grouped in various thematic sections. Entries, an illustrated map, a half-serious glossary and a wealth of photographic documentation help readers to make some sense of the ghost towns in China, eco-monsters in the south of Italy and grotesque remains of American amusement parks.

We don't see this as a list of errors to be denounced but rather as an invitation to reflect on the fact that a project can't design its future. Then again, practice makes perfect.