AMAG 41: SO–IL maps the architecture of New York-based practice Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu — a body of work that begins with the grounded and consistently arrives somewhere unexpected, driven by a commitment to strengthening civic life.
About This Book
SO–IL, the practice of Jing Liu and Florian Idenburg, takes its name from a deliberate ambiguity: Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu, or simply soil — grounded, present, understood. The dash that separates the acronym points to something more elusive: the in-between spaces, the unforeseen turns, the moments where architecture departs from expectation. This monographic issue of AMAG traces the practice's preoccupation with civic architecture — how buildings can shape public life rather than merely accommodate it. For those interested in contemporary American architecture and the intersection of social purpose and spatial invention, this issue makes a compelling case for SO–IL's singular position in current architectural discourse.
Key Features
- 208 pages of monographic documentation covering the work and thinking of SO–IL
- Published by AMAG, ISBN 9789893628461
What You'll Discover
- How SO–IL constructs meaning through deliberate ambiguity — in their name, their spaces, and their approach to architectural programme
- The practice's central ambition to shape a stronger civic realm, and how this drives spatial and material decisions
- The conceptual role of the in-between — thresholds, gaps, and unexpected spatial conditions — as a recurring design instrument
- How Jing Liu and Florian Idenburg navigate the tension between what architecture appears to be about and the surprising directions their work ultimately takes
About the Author
SO–IL is the New York-based practice of Jing Liu and Florian Idenburg. The office works across scales with a particular ambition to strengthen civic architecture, developing projects that balance grounded purpose with spatial and conceptual surprise.
Specifications
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 208
- Dimensions: 240 × 320 mm
- Language: English
- ISBN: 9789893628461
- Publisher: AMAG
- Publication Date: [Details available upon request]
Perfect For: Architects, urbanists, and design thinkers interested in civic architecture, contemporary American practice, and how spatial ambiguity can be harnessed as a design strategy.