"‘Truth and Lies in Architecture’ delves deep into the soul of architects and their work." — Naser Nader Ibrahim, Amazing Architecture This is a collection of provocative essays that journey into the vexed circumstance of contemporary architectural practice. The nature of the great cultural, social, political, environmental, and consumerist challenges facing the contemporary architect are explored, interpreted, and questioned, while drawing connections from architecture theory, philosophy, science, literature, and film sources in an attempt to negotiate the territory between the truth and lies in architecture. These essays written by a leading Australian architect represent a level of comprehensive critical awareness rarely found within the architectural profession and one would be hard pressed to find another comparable figure in contemporary architectural practice. The entire argumentation is impressive, challenging, intellectually at the highest level and beautifully written.

Australian architecture practice Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp's work varies in scale, yet it's all unified by an intuitive sense of place and an elaboration of the tectonic. This book presents FJMT's work in detail and places it within the emerging culture of Australian architecture. It documents FJMT's contribution to the wider culture of place and of architecture. A place acquires meaning through human intervention and transformation. Raised to the level of architecture these transformations interpret and represent society's values and aspirations. FJMT has a reputation as an ideas-driven practice with an agenda for strong public engagement and resolution of tectonics. Architecture as Material Culture documents this ability to uncover the real and often contradictory issues and potentials of a project through a very careful analysis of purpose and place.