Big Box Reuse

Tirelessly crisscrossing the nation, documenting resourceful and unexpected examples of reused big boxes, open-mindedly listening to the tales of schoolteachers, curators, preachers, or assorted activists, finding something interesting in the most deadened-seeming mall strips, taking hilariously deadpan photos—Julia Christensen is a true suburban-exploration hero.

Eve Kahn, contributing editor, I.D. Magazine

During Harvard's Project on the City, Rem Koolhaas investigated the physical effects of a social phenomenon: Shopping. An undertaking, which explored the effects of modernization on the contemporary city, it illustrated the failure of the design professions to adequately cope with today's changing physical landscapes. In this book, Julia Christensen is taking this project to the next level: What happens if urban development no longer accelerates, when the 'site' of shopping dies and corporations leave architectural carcasses behind? Scratching beyond the mainstream surface of most contemporary architecture publications, this timely book reveals stories of community activism and the attempts to recontextualize massive pieces of architecture into something that one might call the public domain. Whether through adaptation, reuse or new definitions of programme, these attempts are dealing with the consequences of 'siteless' and, often senseless, meta-planning. It takes this reality beyond the idea of 'temporary use' and explores in detail the realities, difficulties, and potentials of the 'physical stuff' that has become vacant.

This publication is essential read for everyone who acknowledges that there is a world beyond 3d-modelling and surface adjustments. One can only hope that books like Big Box Reuse will renew an interest in what is really happening out there—spatially, politically, and socially. Spatial Practice today is more complex than ever, and it is this complexity that needs to become our agenda again.

Markus Miessen, Principal Studio Miessen, Partner of Miessen & Ploughfields, and Director, Architectural Association Winter School Middle East

Christensen's selection of stories from across the country creates a portrait of a contemporary America at apogee, and of people making what they can with what they have been left with, as the tidal wave of consumerism washes through their town. Appropriately too, this book is outside the box, and not from any definite place, like urban studies, architecture, or social scholarship. Christensen approaches the issue freshly and directly, on a personal level, like the communities and projects she describes. The book is an inspiring product of someone astounded by the variety and richness of the extra-ordinary American landscape, and who takes us on a journey, trying to figure it out.

Matthew Coolidge, Director, Center for Land Use Interpretation

Christensen has seen the future.

Washington Post

It is a smart book, one that speaks to the zeitgeist: the ultimate form of recycling, after all, is recycling of place. But more than that, it is an enthusiastic book. True to form, Big Box Reuse is a book for many collections.

ForeWord Magazine

... the stories [Christensen] tells of suburban revitalization provide strong evidence that suburbs and small towns are evolving in startling new ways. Big Box Reuse gives that phenomenon welcome and serious attention.

Cleveland Plain Dealer

This timely book reveals stories of community activism and the attempts to recontextualize massive pieces of architecture into something that one might call the public domain. Whether through adaptation, reuse, or new definitions of program, these attempts are dealing with the consequences of 'siteless,' and often senseless, meta-planning. This publication is an essential read for everyone who acknowledges that there is a world beyond 3d-modeling and surface adjustments.

Markus Miessen, Principal Studio Miessen, and Director, Architectural Association Winter School Middle East