Crossover

It is a sequel of his Informal and continuation of his writing approach in which structural engineering is unnecessary mystified with patterns and complex geometries understood only by Balmond..Some really remarkable projects are presented in detail with others only basically covered...If not of his "informal and a pattern oriented" approach, it could be an enjoyable read....A refreshing read after Balmond's books were Leslie Robertsons's The structure of design and Mentor Llunji 's Towards a New engineering, which demystify structural engineering using much more real and down to earth approach regarding practical issues in structural engineering profession.

This book is the continuation of Informal. It provides great insights into those projects done solo or in collaborations with other architects. Cecil Balmond is the master of creating pattern or order and then manipulating it into a seemingly complex geometry but yet structurally controllable and build-able. He is not just a structural engineer but much more. He is a true collaborator in architectural ideas and even he himself is an artist. A lot of the projects shown will not come to fruition without his involvements.

On the whole it's an interesting book with lots of good material, but there's plenty of nonsense in there too. I have a feeling Cecil Balmond gets a bit carried away with himself at times. Or perhaps I'm not sophisticated enough to understand his train-of-thought passages which come across as part poetry, part mindless drivel. Unless you've read detailed reviews, or read his previous book Informal, this book is probably not what you think it is. But who knows, you might love it.

Throughout my architectural education, Cecil Balmond has always struck me as a bit of an oddball character in that he's not JUST a structural engineer or JUST an architect. This book certainly confirmed that notion, displaying his ability to mix art and science seamlessly. While there are a couple projects of his which I find somewhat uninteresting, the majority of his work is quite beautiful and, in some ways, groundbreaking.

Wonderful

cutting edge insight into structural engineering of amazing structures, esp the CCTV Z building by Rem Koolhaus & Cecil B. here Mr. Balmond shows the genesis of idea & progression to completion. I am extremely surprised that book publishers have not come out with a more formal presentation of the story and analysis of this great building. Also why there is no megastructure episode on the Z building as it involved a lot of profound problem solving in structure & facade design.i also enjoyed the danzer & coimbra bridge chapters. extremely beautiful. what is great about this book is the step-by-step insight into the development ie start to finish. I have always been fascinated by the origin & development of companies, movies and this book provides a quick look into amazing architectural pieces in the world of buildings & art. Mr Balmond also included a FAILED project. which is nice & heart-breaking. so as not to imply that he has 100% success ratio. And we should be grateful to see completed projects that are innovative & beautiful for non-engineering public.Mr Balmond may be left-side brain but the way he presents his ideas shows that he may be more whole-brain with the help of right side brains like Mr. toyo Ito & Rem K. Although Mr B does use a lot of math principles to realize his projects, they show that math can be beautiful and this is from a right side brain who hates math.thank you sir and as well as to the publisher.

Cecil Balmond has a unique approach and way of writing. Drawing on sacred myths, mathematics, his own extensive research and a rich visual archive, he is able to make connections and embrace a vocabulary broad enough to connect the poetic to the essential - practice to theory. His new book is divided into eighteen chapters. Photographs, diagrams and technical drawings accompany his texts and diary entries and are carefully curated. Each chapter provides it's own insights, clarifying the theoretical basis of his design solutions and convey a distinctly new array of information both about himself and his work through themes that appear time and again in his art, his writings and his enthusiasms. It is especially interesting to hear his meditations and anxieties as he searches for solutions throughout the different projects. From his intense collaborations, to the forces that work within, Crossover illustrates how Cecil Balmond meets challenges and is never afraid to experiment with unknown outcomes.

I had thought Informal was a fantastic find. But this book is even better! You can experience Cecil Balmond's passion for his work as you go from one project to another. There is the excitement, the tension while he is testing out various theories, never fearing to tread the path into the unknown. The reader is taken on a journey and becomes at one with it through the brilliant photos, the artwork, the designs and the handwritten notes during planning. You can't wait to see what is ahead in the next chapter. Every page makes compelling reading. You can visualise Cecil Balmond working on each project. It is a beautifully designed, carefully thought out book. A superb read

great book

Genius