Book Launch Party: Downward Spiral: El Helicoide’s Descent from Mall to Prison

Join Terreform and Proyecto Helicoide as we kick off the year with the launch of the long-awaited book, Downward Spiral: El Helicoide’s Descent from Mall to Prison, co-edited by Celeste Olalquiaga and Lisa Blackmore. This comprehensive volume of critical essays, testimonials, creative work, and archival photography follows the successful exhibition on El Helicoide that was held at the Center for Architecture last summer. 

A scholarly reference and an engaging tale of mid-20th-century petro-modernity, Downward Spiral establishes the contrast between the architects’ grand plans for a futuristic, drive-in shopping mall and the building’s ultimate use as a homeless shelter and, to this day, a prison.

Remarks:
Michael Sorkin, Terreform president and UR Editor-in-Chief
Celeste Olalquiaga, Director of Proyecto Helicoide.

Light refreshments will be served and copies of the book will be available for sale. 

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so please register in advance.

Terreform is a nonprofit urban research and advocacy center founded in 2005. Its imprint, UR (Urban Research), is a book series devoted to cities and their futures. We invite the collaboration of all who share our interest in creating sustainable, beautiful, and just cities around the world.