Theory's History

History of architectural theory from the 1960s to the 2000s, bringing together rigorous new work by leading historians in the field.Architectural theory in Europe and America became a central driving force in architectural culture from the 1960s to the 2000s. It flourished especially in schools of architecture, in response to the crisis of modern architecture, the cultural and political transformations of the 1960s and the rise of postmodernism. It then entered a period of decline toward the 2000s, as architecture became globally in demand, the cultural shifts of the sixties faded from view, and postmodernism lost its luster. This book investigates the history of theory through a series of rich case studies by leading scholars, mapping out the key themes, books, architects and ideas that shaped architectural theory’s rise to prominence. The case studies offer new insights into architectural theory’s internal dynamics, problematics, context, methods and mechanisms, as well as new interpretations of its fated end.