Design by Words
[Dear Agent] I am writing to seek your agency’s interest in publishing a series of architecture fiction novels, tentatively named ‘scenarios’. Each scifi-esque novella will use a variety of literary techniques to convey multiple architectural histories of a variety of imagined ‘near futures’ with an aim to critique existing architectural realities that have shaped our contemporary cultural conditions. While few publications and books deal specifically with architecture as a form of literary fiction, the scope of this series intends to be perceptive and distinctive, pushing urban narrative forward in intriguing and exciting directions towards popularising architectural history and criticism. Reminiscent of the deliriously visionary projections of Archigram, each paperback, written in collaboration with a contemporary Architect, will be part science fiction, part travel log, part memoir, and part manifesto using un-captioned photographs and images to evidence reality within uniquely imagined constructions and urban fictions. These narratives aim at serving scholars, architects, designers, authors, students and most importantly, aim to connect to a wider, nonprofessional audience. A short biography is attached, situating this proposal within a body of relevant literary fiction as well as recent experimental writings towards the development of architecture fiction. As an academic in Architecture, I look forward to developing this exciting proposition with your agency over the next twelve months and am available for further discussions at your connivence. Yours sincerely, [Name]
George Perec, Life. A user’s manual (1978) Novel that slowly reveals itself as a Parisian Apartment, using experimental literary constraint devices that could be applied to the proposed. W G Sebald, Austerlitz (2001) A travel log, memoir juxtaposed with un-captioned images to enrich the text.
Pedro Gadanho, Beyond magazine. Scenarios and Speculations (2009) ‘Bookazine project to explore the modes of form architecture fiction may take as a form of architectural critique.
Kazys Varnelis, Blue Monday. Stories of Absurd Realities and Natural Philosophies (2007) Selection of absurd yet true scenarios explored within the field of architecture to exemplify specific human conditions.
[Contact] China Mieville, The City & The City (2009) Science fiction novel that more resembles an urban fantasy.