(IN)formal LA: The Space of Politics English edition

Publisher Marketing: Often portrayed as a confluence of cars and movies, this book traces another course to uncover Los Angeles' primal sources of creation - land and opportunity. Within the endless sprawl there reside flurries of uncodified spatial configurations that no high-definition map or satellite image can accurately capture nor present. (IN)formal LA explores a range of unique spatial practices and pedagogies through the lens of politics in Los Angeles. While this book articulates growing skepticism in current design discourse and education, it also provides a spatial awareness that is culturally rooted, socially responsive and vitally connected to the city. Composed of essays, photos, projects and interviews, (IN)formal LA embraces the quirky, celebrates the wide and embellishes the close range to expose the complex social organizations within this contemporary urban network. (IN)formal LA serves as both a textbook for classes in art and architecture, urban design, planning and theory in addition to responding to the increasing interest in the study of Los Angeles by scholars in other fields. The book provides an extended overview of the range and variety of urban issues that are critical to understanding present-day Los Angeles. Contributor Bio:  Jones, Victor J Victor Jones is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Southern California, a principal of Los Angeles based (Fievre + Jones), cultural activist, and writer. His research lies at the intersection of architecture, urban design and community building within cities. Recent design projects include the Platform for Watts House Project (2011) and a skate park for New Orleans' City Park (2009). His design work has been supported by numerous grants, including the Graham Foundation, Artplaces, and the Nathan Cummings foundation. Forthcoming books include The Basento Aqueduct: Another side of Infrastructure (2014). Jones has been published in AMC/le Moniteur, the New Orleans Times Picayune, ARTVOICES and the Journal of Architectural Education. He lives with his partner in Silver Lake.