12 / Aberration
Winter 2011

If firmness, utility, and delight are the enduring pinnacles of architectural achievement, then it would appear architecture’s moral destiny is a foregone conclusion. But is it possible that opportunities for valuable cultural insight are being lost out of deference to this legacy? We examine forces, trends, and ideas that enhance the significance of the built environment despite, or due to, their deviant nature.

Contributions by Atelier Olschinsky, Nick Axel, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Vladimir Belogolovsky, Michael Chen, formlessfinder, The Freise Brothers, Iker Gil, Tom Keeley, Emilio López-Galiacho, Jürgen Mayer H., Antonio Rull, Paul Shepheard, John Szot, Lebbeus Woods and Luis Urculo who is also the cover designer.

1. Introduction
   THE POTENTIAL OF THE TERRITORY BEYOND. Issue statement by Iker Gil and John Szot, co-editors of this issue
   
2. The Only Possible World
   Essay by architect and writer Paul Shepheard
   
3. Architecture Without Idealism (Of a Sort)
   Essay and project by John Szot, Designer and Founder of John Szot Studio
   
4. Game of Ornaments
   Vladimir Belogolovsky interviews Jürgen Mayer H., founder and principal of the cross-disciplinary studio J. Mayer H. Architects
   
5. Metropol Parasol
   Essay by Ethel Baraona Pohl from dpr-barcelona. Photographs by Antonio Rull
   
6. Boom Bust Rubble Dust
   Essay by Tom Keeley, artist, printmaker, writer and co-author of the fanzine project GO
   
7. Terrible Beauty
   Essay by architect and educator Lebbeus Woods followed by an interview with him by John Szot
   
8. Cities
   Illustrations by Atelier Olschinsky
   
9. Dysfunctional Landmarks
   Projects by Emilio López-Galiacho
   
10. Weak Networks and Movement Scales in Architecture
    Essay by Michael Chen, principal of Normal Projects and a faculty member at Pratt Institute School of Architecture
    
11. Something Exceptional
    Projects by Luis Urculo, architect and founder of Estudio Luis Urculo
    
12. F*ck Your Tectonics
    Profile and interview with NYC’s Formlessfinder by John Szot
    
13. Unseen Realities
    Illustrations by the Freise Brothers
    
14. Immanent Cartography
    Essay and photographs by Nick Axel