The Portland-based Kaven looks at the evolution of the built environment in the United States.
By Rachel Gallaher
AS SEEN IN ISSUE 62
"Architecture of Normal," by Daniel Kaven, the book examines the development of the American landscape in response to evolving modes of transportation.
In his new book, Architecture of Normal (through Birkhäuser), Portland-based architect Daniel Kaven explores the contrast between the grandeur of the American landscape and the underwhelming architecture of its suburban strip malls, fast-food chains, motels, and tract housing. Part travelogue, part art book, and part architectural survey, the volume also traces how the evolution of modes of transportation (starting with the introduction of horses by the Spanish to Native American societies) has influenced design and development in the United States over the past 200 years. Featuring historical photos, as well as Kaven’s own artwork, Architecture of Normal examines how the past shaped the present, and how emerging technologies, such as the autonomous vehicle, will influence the built environment for decades to come.
Architect and author Daniel Kaven. "Crusade" (2020), a print by architect Daniel Kaven from his recently released book, "Architecture of Normal."
Architecture of Normal is currently available in Europe and will be released in the United States on March 3.