






Charles Rice
Atrium
How the rise of the large-scale atrium space in the 1970s and ’80s changed the way buildings could be designed, constructed, regulated, and occupied.
In the 1970s, a void opened at the heart of architecture. In hotels, offices, public buildings, and commercial centers, the atrium emerged globally to challenge the modernist legacies of form and function, altering the pattern and experience of cities. While often appearing at vast scale and to striking effect, the atrium also became omnipresent and mundane. In this lively critique, Charles Rice charts the atrium’s appearance in the 1970s and its development through the 1980s, as it accompanied profound shifts in the discipline and practice of architecture.
During this period, architectural practice especially in the United States and United Kingdom was changing rapidly, due in part to the manifold effects of deregulation. All aspects of the way buildings were designed, developed, regulated, built, managed, and occupied were being reshaped. A practice guided by the progressive tenets of modernism was being turned into a professional service fully integrated within neoliberal social and economic imperatives. As Rice shows, the atrium gives this story a distinct spatial and material figure, one that offers an inside view of architecture in transformation.
More About This Book
Atrium
ISBN 9780262048330
Published by MIT Press
Publication date
Page count 216
Dimensions 7.0" x 0.5" x 9.0"
Subjects

Atrium
Looking for a bit more information about shopping at St. Louis Art Supply? We're glad you asked!
-
Free U.S. Shipping Over $59
We're pleased to offer free shipping to any U.S. address (including Alaska and Hawai'i) for orders over $59.
-
Shipped Quickly from St. Louis
Our efficient, centrally-located warehouse in Missouri ships orders within one business day. Unlike a lot of online retailers, we operate our own warehouse — we wouldn't trust your art supplies to anyone else.
-
Real People, Here to Help
Any questions? Please reach out to our friendly customer service folks at [email protected]. We're art supply experts and we're happy to assist.
-
Real Pictures
Almost all of our images are shot right here in our St. Louis studio. We never generate content or images with AI.
-
Quality Pledge
We only stock materials we'd use in our own studios. Every product is tested in St. Louis and continually evaluated for quality and value. We're never afraid to discontinue an item that misses the mark.
-
Trusted Since 2015
We've been in business since 2015 and we've shipped hundreds of thousands of orders. We use bank-level encryption to protect your data and excellent packaging to protect your supplies.
-
Something else?
Click here for even more information about St. Louis Art Supply (if you aren't tired of hearing about us already!)
New in the Bookshop
FAQs
Even more info about us here
How quickly will my order ship?
Our St. Louis warehouse team is pretty speedy! We generally ship orders within one business day of receiving them. You'll receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order's packed and out the door.
How long will it take to arrive?
We offer shipping estimates for each order at checkout. Please note that these are only our system's best guess — there are many factors that may affect shipping time.
Generally speaking, our parcels take about 2-3 business days to travel to most U.S. addresses once they are shipped.
In a hurry? We offer expedited shipping options, including overnight shipping, at checkout.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We never guarantee delivery dates because carrier delays are not within our control. We do not issue refunds due to delays in transit.
Do you accept returns?
Yes — we accept returns of unopened, undamaged items within 30 days of receipt.
If your return is because we made a mistake, we'll pay for the return shipping label. If you're returning an item because you changed your mind, return shipping is at your expense.
Read our full return policy here.
Is there a physical store?
Yes, there is! We'd love to see you at our St. Louis retail store. We're in the Grove neighborhood, near lots of fun places to eat, drink, and shop.
Do you offer wholesale or bulk discounts?
We do! Educational and institutional customers can email [email protected] to place a discounted bulk order. Send us a screenshot of your Blick or Amazon cart and we'll do our best to match it. You can always finish checking out with the big guys if we don't have a great bid for you.
If you're buying for a retail store, we'd love to meet you! Please head over to our wholesale division, Federal Color. You'll find our wholesale catalog and application there.