Justin Beal's 'Sandfuture' Explores Architecture, Memory, and New York's Evolving Skyline

Justin Beal's memoir 'Sandfuture' intertwines personal narratives with architectural history, focusing on World Trade Center architect Minoru Yamasaki. Published by MIT Press, the book examines Yamasaki's career, from his early acclaim to later decline, including his design of the Pruitt-Igoe complex in St. Louis, whose demolition was controversially labeled by Charles Jencks as the death of modern architecture. Beal contrasts the World Trade Center, destroyed 20 years ago, with 432 Park Avenue, a residential tower designed by Rafael Viñoly and completed in 2015, which he critiques as a symbol of late-capitalist excess. The text references architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable's 1993 interview, where she lamented lost optimism in the built environment. Beal weaves in his experiences in New York from 9/11 to just before the pandemic, covering events like Hurricane Sandy and personal milestones such as falling in love and becoming a father. It includes anecdotes about Yamasaki's student days, nicknamed 'Sockeye' for working in Alaska, and explores themes like migraines, citing Joan Didion and Oliver Sacks. The memoir blends theoretical musings with historical research on topics like modernist architecture and gallery economics, avoiding direct answers to Huxtable's pessimism while acknowledging its impact. Beal, an artist with architecture training, structures the book in short, associative passages that challenge readers to make connections.