CLOSURE: Central Library will be closed Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 25, while emergency repairs are made to the building’s cooling system. We expect to reopen Monday, July 27. Click for more details on holds, program schedules, and returns during the closure. 

Notice of Public Meeting: Kalamazoo Public Library Board of Trustees | July 27 | 5:30 pm | Central Library/Van Deusen Room. The packet of information for the meeting can be found on the library’s website. 

Book

The 99% invisible city : a field guide to the hidden world of everyday design

Call Number

  • 720 M363 (CEN, OSH)

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Publication Information

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020.

Physical Description

x, 384 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Summary

Have you ever stopped to consider why you don't see metal fire escapes on new buildings? Or pondered the story behind those dancing inflatable figures in car dealerships? Mars and Kohlstedt reveal the stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. They celebrate design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs. This exploration of the origins and stories behind power grids, fire escapes, drinking fountains and more will delight anyone curious about design, urban environments, and the unsung marvels of the world around them.

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Inconspicuous. Ubiquitous ; Camouflage ; Accretions
  • Conspicuous. Identity ; Safety ; Signage
  • Infrastructure. Civil ; Water ; Technology ; Roadways ; Public
  • Architecture. Liminal ; Materials ; Regulations ; Towers ; Foundations ; Heritage
  • Geography. Delineations ; Configurations ; Designations ; Landscapes ; Synanthropes
  • Urbanism. Hostilities ; Interventions ; Catalysts
  • Outro.

Subjects

Added Authors

Kurt Kohlstedt