Building the New World: Studies in the Modern Architecture of Latin America 1930-1960

I know a lot about architecture and urban planning, but very little about Latin America. So, I needed an introductory book on the topic of modernist architecture in Latin America. This book did a fine job. The author writes about the introduction of modernist or International Style architecture to Mexico (Mexico City), Venezuela (Caracas), and Brazil (Rio and Brasilia). She shows how new regimes in those countries want to project an image of modernity coupled with a desire for progressive social projects to please the people. The International Style, born out of the Bauhaus and emphasizing both modern design forms and social activism, fit the bill. However, in the early 20th century, Latin America had neither the means nor the funds to build exactly in the European fashion (prefab, factory-made parts; lots of concrete and steel). Also, the stark white, rectilinear Bauhaus style wasn't right for Latin America. So, the International Style was adapted for local construction possibilities and local tastes, creating a Latin Americanization of the style. The book is very readable for a layperson with little background in Latin American politics or modern architecture. The illustrations are not bad and can easily be supplemented by some searching on the internet. The only weak part of the book is the end, where she writes about the decline of the International Style in Latin America. But for its main subject, the book is interesting and to be recommended.