A House Deconstructed - by Mark Jarzombek & Vikramaditya Prakash (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This book 'deconstructs' a single recently constructed house located in Seattle, WA, in an attempt to recover its backstory. The information is presented along four vectors - atoms, labors, sources and ingredients.

Though remarkably detailed, the A House Deconstructed contends that a huge proportion of what we 'know' about the house is unknowable, not because our epistemological instruments aren't strong enough or calibrated precisely enough, but because things themselves are indeterminate, uncertain.
This begs the question about agency. If we are to critique our profession and even improve some of its claims about Sustainability, then we must develop a more robust understanding of the building industry and the sourcing and making of materials. We must even develop a stronger awareness of the history of atoms and how architecture brings that history into a remarkable focus.

Review Quotes

"Intellectually challenging and ground-breaking, "A House Deconstructed" is a remarkably detailed, seminally ground-breaking study that is a unique, thought-provoking, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Architectural Studies collections and of particular value to students, academia, anyone with an interest in residential architecture, architectural materials, and architectural criticism." --Midwest Book Review

"While grounded in architectural theory, A House Deconstructed speaks to a broad audience. It is a vital resource for anyone interested in thinking critically about how we build--and why. The book doesn't demand technical expertise; it calls for ethical curiosity.

Ultimately, A House Deconstructed isn't about perfecting buildings. It's about exposing the systems behind them--and imagining a more honest, equitable, and reflective architectural practice. In a world built so often on erasure, this book is a call to remember--and to rebuild with care." --Spacing