“The Atlas of Never Built Architecture” is a new book that offers an intriguing exploration into the world of unrealized architectural designs. The book, co-authored by Sam Lubell and Greg Goldin, delves into the creative visions of over 300 global architects whose never-built projects span over 100 years and 80 countries.
The authors take readers on a journey through the lost library of architects’ dreamy ideas that never came to fruition due to various reasons like a lack of funds or political interference. The book features sketches and stories behind more than 300 proposed skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, government buildings, cemeteries, and even a “floating theater boat that resembles a UFO.”
One such proposed design included in the book is the Peruri 88 tower in Jakarta, Indonesia. Unveiled in 2012, this 88-story tower was planned as a complex of Tetris-like structures that maximized vertical space. It was set to include offices, townhouses, a luxury hotel, movie theaters, a wedding chapel, and a mosque with plans for an expansive mall featuring escalators spanning 15 stories.
As readers explore these never-built designs from around the world, they are prompted to consider what could have been and whether the world is better off with the current structures in place. The book invites readers to imagine alternative realities and rethink the fixed nature of our built environment.
In conclusion, “The Atlas of Never Built Architecture” offers readers an insightful look into how our built environment could have been different if it weren’t for various factors that prevented their realization. The book serves as a reminder that architecture is not just about creating functional spaces but also about exploring possibilities beyond what we know today.
