Amale Andraos

Of all the architecture school annuals, Columbia GSAPP's Abstract is the one I know the best. The first one I bought was from 1993/94, when I was in architecture school (not at Columbia). Then the books were pretty straightforward and consistent from year to year. But things got interesting when Stefan Sagmeister started designing them, treating them differently each year. The 2009/10 Abstract, for instance, has an acetate slipcase, gold cover, and layouts with small text and big images for the student projects. Things didn't always go smoothly, as in 2013 when Abstract went digital-only and students protested by throwing the "book"'s plastic cases out the windows of Avery Hall and using them as ashtrays (you'll have to trust my memory on this last point, since I can't find a photo documenting such). The latest Abstract (designed by Common Name) is a spiral-bound "post-internet book" with four sections, each with different paper and page layouts. It's a pleasure to browse and get a flavor for what the school offers and produces.… (altro)