New Babylonians: Contemporary Visions of a Situationist City

Book Description
The Situationists, who first appeared on the architectural scene in the 1960s, regarded cities as the ultimate opportunity for creative self-expression. While there are many publications about the history of the Situationist International, New Babylonians offers unique coverage of how their tactics are currently employed in architectural and urban strategies. It features renowned architects and educators who were first generation Situationists and also highlights some of the most exciting international practitioners involved in urban design today. Contains contributions from an impressive roster of academics, designers, writers, and art practitioners Offers timely and lively insights about contemporary urban architecture and art


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Renowned for its decadence and hanging gardens, ancient Babylon was a cosmopolitan cultural centre which established the civic principles of freedom and law. In 1959, a member of the Situationist International, the Dutch artist Constant Nieuwenhuys, entitled his utopian vision of a unitary urbanism "New Babylon". With the aid of coloured perspectives, plans and models, as well as a potent narrative, Constant delivered a shocking image of a metropolitan future. Today over 40 years later, there is a renewed interest in Constant and the thinking of the Situationist International. In two seminal essays by Mark Wigley and David Pinder, quite how substantial their impact on urbanism has been revealed. It is, however, through the publication that a highly disparate group of architectural practices and cultural thinkers emerge - the New Babylonians - all inspired in very different ways by situationism.


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Today, over 40 years later, there is a renewed wave of interest in Constant and the thinking of the Situationist International. In two seminal essays by Mark Wigley and David Pinder, quite how substantial their impact on urbanism has been is revealed. It is, however, through the publication that a highly disparate group of architectural practices and cultural thinkers emerge -- the New Babylonians -- all inspired in very different ways by situationism.


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