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A–Z West in Context: Spatial Analysis of Andrea Zittel's Desert Compound

publication · 2026-04-22

Steve Rowell's essay 'A–Z West in Context: A Spatial Analysis' was published on May 20, 2011, as part of Afterall Journal Issue 27. The text examines Andrea Zittel's A–Z West, an experimental living and working compound in the California desert near Joshua Tree. Rowell applies spatial analysis to explore how the site's architecture, land use, and daily routines reflect Zittel's artistic investigation of domesticity, self-sufficiency, and human-environment interaction. The essay contextualizes A–Z West within broader discourses on land art, sustainable living, and the politics of space. The full article is behind a paywall for subscribers, with individual PDFs available via University of Chicago Press.

Key facts

  • Essay published on 20 May 2011
  • Written by Steve Rowell
  • Part of Afterall Journal Issue 27
  • Focuses on Andrea Zittel's A–Z West compound
  • Uses spatial analysis methodology
  • Located near Joshua Tree, California
  • Explores themes of domesticity and self-sufficiency
  • Full text restricted to subscribers

Entities

Artists

  • Andrea Zittel
  • Steve Rowell

Institutions

  • Afterall Journal
  • University of Chicago Press

Locations

  • Joshua Tree
  • California
  • United States

Sources