Plastics for Architects and Builders by Albert G. H. Dietz (review)

188 Books Joedicke's second chapter looks at the work of specific architects whom he feels have left their mark on architecture after 1945. He includes here such obvious figures as Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Aalto and Breuer, as well as Hugo Haring, Hans Scharoun, Richard Neutra, Oscar Niemeyer, Arne Jacobsen and Egon Eiermann. While the interest, and usually the quality, of this second group's work cannot be denied, their importance as antecedents of contemporary architecture seems quite debatable. Their inclusion typifies the author's subjective approach to his subject matter. These first two chapters serve as a lengthy (72 of the 179 pages) introduction to the author's discussion of post-World War II developments in architecture. The overemphasis which Joedicke places on this introductory material is symptomatic of the book's confused proportions. Given the sometimes questionable accuracy of this material and the author's propensity toward subjectivity, these two chapters are far too long an introduction to the third chapter. Indeed, they could be dispensed with entirely. It would have been much more to the point to start the book with 1945 and refer the readers to other studies which deal more informatively with the background period. In the third and final chapter, Joedicke finally turns to architecture of the postwar period. The chapter is divided into seven parts, the first three dealing with his 'Third Period of Modern Architecture ', already introduced in the first chapter. Here he elaborates his breakdown of the period into three stylistic phases-Technical Excellence, Brutalism , and Formalism. Again his work is marred by gross oversimplification. For example, in discussing Brutalism, he mentions the various meanings others have given the term. Then, on the basis of his illustrative material, it would seem that he accepts all these diverse interpretations and lumps together, as Brutalist architecture, vastly different structures that bear little more than a superficial similarity to one another. Had he discussed fewer buildings, in detail, he would have observed that the differences between these buildings are probably more important than their similarities. The final four sections of the last chapter, titled 'Criticism of Utopian Proposals', 'Social and Technical Changes', 'The Architects' Position in Europe' and 'Effects of an Altered Conception of Architecture', lack continuity with the rest of the book. While these sections include interesting material, often dealing with urbanism and urban sociology, the sharp break one feels between them and the rest ofthe text serves only to further confuse an already disjointed book. There is little reason to have published Architecture Since 1945, much less to have translated it. It has no real purpose, fills no gap, presents no new material. Such a book can only diminish Joedicke's reputation as an historian, critic, and teacher. The public, as well as the author, would have been better served by the publication of his collected articles, reproduced in their original form. Plastics for Architects and Builders. Albert G. H. Dietz. M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1969. 129 pp., illus. Reviewed by: James W. Davis This compact volume on the technology of plastics is addressed primarily to architects and builders. Most of the material is clearly presented in outline form and will be at least of marginal use to artists dealing with construction processes in high polymers. A generous number of diagrams, graphs and photographs illustrate virtually every topic in the six chapters of the book. An introductory section shows examples ofmajor architectural achievements that support the now well-known advantages of polymers: malleability, tensile strength, transparency , light weight and durability. Emphasisis placed upon the chemical components of a variety of plastics and plastic modifiers as they relate to specific building requirements. Some valuable comments are inserted on optical possibilities affected by individual refractive index readings ranging from one of the clearest polymers (polymethyl methacrylate) to the more opaque ones. Charted comparisons between certain plastics and other materials are made on the basis ofvariable physical properties such as thermal expansion, contraction, conductivity and maximum continuous service temperatures. Particular types of high polymers are recommended to adequately fulfill specific building needs. The essential 'end-use' applications are discussed according to their adaptability in walls, roofs, partitions, doors, windows...