On Architecture and the Construction Industry

This fourth volume in the Political Economy of Space series sheds light on the often invisible actors who bring architecture into the world: clients, developers, and contractors. By examining the agendas of speculative development, real estate, and contracting, the book shows how architecture is shaped by managerial processes and financial mechanisms as much as by design intent. Rather than lamenting architecture's lack of autonomy, the contributions identify spaces of freedom and resistance where architects can pursue social and environmental agendas by engaging more directly with the powers that shape the built environment. Featuring contributions by Davide Spina, Sara Stevens, Tiffanie Paré, and Irene Brisson.

Zusammenfassung
Co-edited by Charlotte Malterre-Barthes and Sarah Nichols (Hatje Cantz, 2026), this text is the fourth volume in the Political Economy of Space series. This edition exposes the invisible corporate forcesclients, developers, and contractorsshaping architectural production. By examining how finance, real estate, and corporate management systems dictate urban form, the book reveals how building is fundamentally bound to capital rather than pure design intent. Rather than lamenting this lack of autonomy, it provides the essential groundwork for architects to productively navigate these corporate landscapes. Featured contributors include Sara Stevens, Tiphanie Paré, Davide Spina, and Irene Brisson.