Architects And Firms : A Sociological Perspective On Architectural Practices

Architects and Firms : A Sociological Perspective on Architectural Practices

Review Judith Blau's application of organizational theories and perspectives on architecture is a pioneering effort, full of intriguing findings. The breadth of her work is impressive as well, for her analyses range, for example, from the economic effects of firm size to the organizational aspects of design philosophy. I recommend Architects and Firms to sociologists of organization, of building, of art and of the professions, but especially to architects, for it offers them an entirely new slant on their work.-Herbert J. Gans, Columbia University, Endorsement For this book, sociologist Judith Blau surveyed 152 Manhattan architectural firms over a five-year period, interviewing more than 400 architects. Architects and Firms, the result of her investigation, vividly depicts the contradictions inherent in architectural practice and challenges many assumptions about the design professional. Review A veritable landmark-the first documented research providing valid and reliable data about the culture of contemporary architectural practice, about why firms succeed or fail, and about the influence of broader social and economic conditions on practice. It is valuable reading for any architect, architectural student, educator, and scholar.-Dana Cuff, Journal of Architectural & Planning Research About the Author Judith R. Blau is Associate Professor of Sociology at S.U.N.Y Albany and Research Scholar at the Center for the Social Sciences at Columbia University.