Tom Emerson's 'Dirty Old River' Collects Meandering Architectural Writings
Tom Emerson, architect and professor at ETH Zürich, has published 'Dirty Old River', a collection of a dozen texts written over three decades. The book's title references The Kinks' 'Waterloo Sunset' and the Thames. Emerson, co-founder of 6a architects in London with Stephanie Macdonald, writes in a literary, meandering style. The texts originally appeared in monographs, exhibition catalogues, and journals. Subjects include Johan Dehlin's photography of Frank Gehry's early projects, Monika Sosnowska's steel sculptures, Álvaro Siza's working drawings, and Georges Perec's influence on Emerson's thinking. A short piece titled 'Blue' describes Emerson's early career folding blueprints before CAD replaced dyelines. The collection is published by Park Books at £22.
Key facts
- Tom Emerson is a professor of architecture at ETH Zürich and a practising architect in London.
- Emerson co-founded 6a architects with Stephanie Macdonald.
- 'Dirty Old River' collects a dozen texts written over three decades.
- The title is taken from The Kinks' 'Waterloo Sunset' and refers to the Thames.
- Texts originally appeared in monographs, exhibition catalogues, and art/architecture journals.
- One text discusses Johan Dehlin's photography of Frank Gehry's early projects.
- Another text focuses on Monika Sosnowska's steel sculptures.
- The piece 'Blue' describes Emerson's experience folding blueprints before CAD replaced dyelines.
- The collection includes a long text on Georges Perec.
- Published by Park Books at £22.
- From the Summer 2025 issue of ArtReview.
Entities
Artists
- Tom Emerson
- Stephanie Macdonald
- Johan Dehlin
- Frank Gehry
- Monika Sosnowska
- Álvaro Siza
- Georges Perec
- Joan Didion
- Bernd Becher
- Hilla Becher
Institutions
- ETH Zürich
- 6a architects
- Park Books
- ArtReview
Locations
- London
- Los Angeles
- Paris
- Zürich