Modern

Ben Wood is a larger than life figure, an American architect who re-imagined both the heart of New York and the heart of Shanghai and in this unique memoir, he tells a thousand outrageous and wonderful stories from the back blocks of the American South in the 1950s through to the glittering skylines of the 21st century. His design of the Xintiandi area of Shanghai set the standard for urban renewal across all of China's cities, but that's just the beginning of the amazing tales he has to tell in Into The Dragon's Mouth. A post-war Huckleberry Finn growing up in Georgia, Ben drove across the country while in high school, partook in the Summer of Love, and flew Phantom fighter jets with the USAF in Europe at the height of the Cold War. But his life's work has been the re-imagining of urban life. Ben's approach to architectural design is unique and the stories around all he has done are colorful, thought-provoking and emotionally-driven. Through this marvelous book, redolent of the style of the great Southern story-tellers, Ben Wood weaves a deep wisdom and philosophy, as well as perspectives on China and the United States from one who has seen and done far more than most.

Ben Wood is a larger than life figure, an American architect who re-imagined both the heart of New York and the heart of Shanghai and in this unique memoir, he tells a thousand outrageous and wonderful stories from the back blocks of the American South in the 1950s through to the glittering skylines of the 21st century. His design of the Xintiandi area of Shanghai set the standard for urban renewal across all of China's cities, but that's just the beginning of the amazing tales he has to tell in Into The Dragon's Mouth. A post-war Huckleberry Finn growing up in Georgia, Ben drove across the country while in high school, partook in the Summer of Love, and flew Phantom fighter jets with the USAF in Europe at the height of the Cold War. But his life's work has been the re-imagining of urban life. Ben's approach to architectural design is unique and the stories around all he has done are colorful, thought-provoking and emotionally-driven. Through this marvelous book, redolent of the style of the great Southern story-tellers, Ben Wood weaves a deep wisdom and philosophy, as well as perspectives on China and the United States from one who has seen and done far more than most.

Bingué, The Other Side of the Medal is the first novel by Famahan SAMAKÉ. This story coldly analyses the problem of African emigration in Europe with its trail of broken homes, shattered lives and dreams in tatters. It also paints, without concession, not only the communitarianism that is the trademark of Western society, but also the clash of cultures and the abject and senseless terrorism that targets the West. This novel also denounces the religious syncretism that characterises many Africans who find it difficult to forsake the spirits and idols of their forefathers despite claiming to be Muslims or Christians. Excerpt : ''He even asked me whether I was comfortable in the handcuffs, otherwise he would loosen them up much further. How can one ever be comfortable in chains ? I thought that only the Kunta Kintés and demons suffered such fate, but certainly not me. I was in chains and I was leaving my house in shackles, flanked by two policewomen who framed me right and left. I was under arrest. I was in chains. I was in shackles like I often read about it in French literary works by writers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Alexandre Dumas. I was in shackles. Yes, it was not a dream, not even a nightmare. I had just been shackled up. And it was real. How did my son feel as he witnessed that scene ? I never knew. We never talked about it. It was the law of the omerta. We acted like it never happened. Someone said that great pains are ever so silent. It was most likely true. In any case, I concede they were right all along".

Founded in 1670, Charleston is among the oldest cities in the nation and site of some of the most pivotal events in American history. Explore the city and discover the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon where South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Visit beautiful Rainbow Row and learn the true history of this most iconic of Charleston sites. Tour the city's oldest church edifice at St. Michael's Church, which first opened for services in 1761. Join historian and author Christopher Byrd Downey for a guided tour of nearly one hundred historic Charleston sites tailor-made for the history lover.

This book by André Marques' is an important reference (the only in English so far) on the work of Brazilian architect João Filgueiras Lima. João Filgueiras Lima's work is an great example of bioclimatic architecture - an architecture in which aspects of sun control, resulting in a low energetic consumption or uses the benefits from sea breeze, ensuring healthy nurseries without air conditioning.

This monograph showcases the trajectory of an empire built by the sheer dint of its driving success. Archgroup has gained international recognition as a comprehensive service provider in the architectural segment, with special focus being on its prolific and vital role dominating the skyline of the UAE's world-class destination, Dubai. The firm's work has now become synonymous with epithets such as 'tallest', 'highest' and 'longest' across the Gulf region. Inside, the richly illustrated pages chronicle close to 100 projects by Archgroup, both built and in progress. Each work provides insight into the values, design-thinking and process-orientated approach that is the firm's signature, making this volume a valuable resource that goes beyond the study of the built form to talk about the firm's inimitable ethos that guides its design candor.

This is a book about the "vicissitudes of life", a phrase I heard twice in one day, first said by my friend Jeffery Barnes over coffee at La Trobe University and, second, by one of the cast of Cosi, the Year 10 play which I saw the same evening at Caulfield Grammar School.The characters about whom I have written are a varied lot. Some are well known and made substantial contributions to our country. Others may not have been so successful. Some lived long lives; some died when they were young.