Reviews

Landscapes of Communism: A History Through Buildings by Owen Hatherley

isla_nublar's review

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4.0

Another comprehensive, engaging and entertaining book by my favourite/only architecture writer. I didn't quite enjoy it as much as the other books by Hatherley that I've read (A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain and Trans-Europe Express: Tours of a Lost Continent) but that's more down to my personal interests than anything else. Personal highlights were the chapters on skyscrapers, reconstruction and improvisation. Definitely want to visit Warsaw at some point when all of this pandemic shit is over.

nataalia_sanchez's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

5.0

kingarooski's review against another edition

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4.0

Incredibly detailed and full of history and facts, Owen Hatherley wrote about communists cities, buildings and public spaces. I found some chapters too detailed but, on the whole, loved the descriptions of the places he was describing. I would love a book of just the photos, all the photos, with brief descriptions as a companion to Landscapes of Communism. The fascination Hatherley has for these places are evident and his writing is open and enjoyable, even if it is crammed full of details.

roxbox's review

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adventurous challenging funny informative reflective slow-paced

3.75

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