Building for South Asia : An Architectural Autobiography/Benjamin Polk. 1993, x, 48 p., 81 plates,

Contents: Preface. 1. Continuities: can we use the old traditions? 2. Some monumental buildings. 3. The human scale. 4. Industrial work. 5. Engineering. 6. On architecture and planning. Postscript. Bibliography. Index.

"Architect Polk believes that words about buildings are always secondary to the buildings themselves. In architectural presentation, buildings themselves are the central facts, and he sees that this is true in his own architectural autobiography.

"Nevertheless, along with the many plates that in some measure illustrate this work, Polk has included observations on diverse and unreconciled situations that help explain the special cases of the artistry of space, structure, and form in his designs. He never "handed down" abstract form, and he would say that the words of his book--or indeed any critique--do not alter the buildings. They are neither more nor less because of the written word.

"All the buildings in this architectural autobiography are Polk's personal designs and belong to his practice in south Asia, 1952-1964." (jacket) No. 7866

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