The See-Through Years

“Land was developed and buildings were built for the simple reason that money was available . . . Joel Barna . . . chronicles this boisterous period with clear, critical judgment. . . . Much of the architectural theory of the Postmodern era has centered on meaning—the conveyance by architecture of societal symbols through association with historical styles. Barna dismisses this theoretical pretext by clarifying the real function of buildings placed on the land. `Real estate is an engine,’ says Barna, `powered by money . . . ’Buildings are put up not so much to fulfill functional needs as to enhance the value of the land, to become real estate commodities. This is not what architects like to hear. But evidence is abundant in our era that the message of the medium is simply to call attention to itself.”--Gerald Moorhead