--- product_id: 19355496 title: "The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful--and Their Architects--Shape the World" price: "€ 66.12" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 5 url: https://www.desertcart.fr/products/19355496-the-edifice-complex-how-the-rich-and-powerful-and-their store_origin: FR region: France --- # The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful--and Their Architects--Shape the World **Price:** € 66.12 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful--and Their Architects--Shape the World - **How much does it cost?** € 66.12 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.fr](https://www.desertcart.fr/products/19355496-the-edifice-complex-how-the-rich-and-powerful-and-their) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful-and Their Architects-Shape the World [Sudjic, Deyan] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful-and Their Architects-Shape the World Review: One of the most well written and engaging books that i have read in a long time. - fantastic writing, very concentrated information, wonderfully entertaining and at the same time a very spot on framing of architectural related moments, works and people. highly dynamic content which ranges from detailed descriptions of Hitler and Speer's relationship to the modern day contemporary art museum dynamics. Review: Art, architecture and power hold sway over all of us, whether or not we realize it ... - The reins of power can be fleeting or be erased with the passage of time, but the architecture of the world has made bold statements on the lives of those who once ruled and wooed the world. News events and crises can sometimes be quickly forgotten in a week or so, but imagery of palaces, museums, coliseums, theme parks, libraries, castles, pyramids and other landmarks are indelibly planted in our minds and visual memories. Is there anyone whom, when mentioning New York or Paris, cannot help but visualize the World Trade Center or the Eiffel Tower? Art, architecture and power hold sway over all of us, whether or not we realize it. Architecture is a statement of power, raw power. It is a lasting legacy of those who don't want to drift into obscurity . . . ever. An Edifice Complex can loosely be defined as a politician or leader who wants to leave behind a structure, sometimes preferably a behemoth, as a part of his or her "legacy." Deyan Sudjic, prolific architectural author, prefers to think of architecture not as an art form, but rather as a "naked expression of power." In his fascinating newest release (which incidentally reads like a novel), THE EDIFICE COMPLEX: How the Rich and Powerful-and Their Architects-Shape the World, Sudjic postulates this theory citing the architectural legacies of the likes of Hitler to Hussein, with a little help from their friends, the actual architects. It is no secret that Adolph Hitler would have loved to be an architect, but few realize that Saddam Hussein may well have had a similar desire to be a master builder and architect. Hussein modeled "himself on Nebuchadnezzar and on Stalin." His lavish State Mosque and statement of power had room for some 30,000 worshipers, the largest Islamic mosque the Islamic world had ever seen. Sudjic casually writes about many leaders and wealthy people, some well known, others obscure, who hoped to make their mark throughout eternity with their structures. According to him, "It {architecture} cannot make us live forever, but architecture can be used to confront our fear of death, and to offer the hope of some kind of permanence." I thought this book would be as dry as a bone, but the author had a way with words and numerous stories that actually made it quite interesting. The book drew me in quite quickly when he related the story of how Emil Hácha fainted from the sheer force and intimidation of Hitler and the architecture of the German Reich. Obviously this book would have a narrow readership, particularly those with an interest in architecture, but the eclectic reader certainly wouldn't be disappointed. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #3,630,917 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,130 in Architectural Criticism #1,671 in Urban & Land Use Planning (Books) #3,944 in Architectural History | | Customer Reviews | 4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars (16) | | Dimensions | 5.51 x 0.98 x 8.46 inches | | ISBN-10 | 014303801X | | ISBN-13 | 978-0143038016 | | Item Weight | 14 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 403 pages | | Publication date | November 28, 2006 | | Publisher | Penguin Books | ## Images ![The Edifice Complex: How the Rich and Powerful--and Their Architects--Shape the World - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81p8Sqdh4DL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the most well written and engaging books that i have read in a long time. *by L***H on May 26, 2010* fantastic writing, very concentrated information, wonderfully entertaining and at the same time a very spot on framing of architectural related moments, works and people. highly dynamic content which ranges from detailed descriptions of Hitler and Speer's relationship to the modern day contemporary art museum dynamics. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art, architecture and power hold sway over all of us, whether or not we realize it ... *by D***R on October 29, 2009* The reins of power can be fleeting or be erased with the passage of time, but the architecture of the world has made bold statements on the lives of those who once ruled and wooed the world. News events and crises can sometimes be quickly forgotten in a week or so, but imagery of palaces, museums, coliseums, theme parks, libraries, castles, pyramids and other landmarks are indelibly planted in our minds and visual memories. Is there anyone whom, when mentioning New York or Paris, cannot help but visualize the World Trade Center or the Eiffel Tower? Art, architecture and power hold sway over all of us, whether or not we realize it. Architecture is a statement of power, raw power. It is a lasting legacy of those who don't want to drift into obscurity . . . ever. An Edifice Complex can loosely be defined as a politician or leader who wants to leave behind a structure, sometimes preferably a behemoth, as a part of his or her "legacy." Deyan Sudjic, prolific architectural author, prefers to think of architecture not as an art form, but rather as a "naked expression of power." In his fascinating newest release (which incidentally reads like a novel), THE EDIFICE COMPLEX: How the Rich and Powerful-and Their Architects-Shape the World, Sudjic postulates this theory citing the architectural legacies of the likes of Hitler to Hussein, with a little help from their friends, the actual architects. It is no secret that Adolph Hitler would have loved to be an architect, but few realize that Saddam Hussein may well have had a similar desire to be a master builder and architect. Hussein modeled "himself on Nebuchadnezzar and on Stalin." His lavish State Mosque and statement of power had room for some 30,000 worshipers, the largest Islamic mosque the Islamic world had ever seen. Sudjic casually writes about many leaders and wealthy people, some well known, others obscure, who hoped to make their mark throughout eternity with their structures. According to him, "It {architecture} cannot make us live forever, but architecture can be used to confront our fear of death, and to offer the hope of some kind of permanence." I thought this book would be as dry as a bone, but the author had a way with words and numerous stories that actually made it quite interesting. The book drew me in quite quickly when he related the story of how Emil Hácha fainted from the sheer force and intimidation of Hitler and the architecture of the German Reich. Obviously this book would have a narrow readership, particularly those with an interest in architecture, but the eclectic reader certainly wouldn't be disappointed. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A good read without untranslatable archibabble *by H***S on March 7, 2006* This is a very readable book that moves quickly to new projects and players without getting dull. The only drawback is a lack of illustrations but the writer is so good at description that it allows you to easily understand the experience of each building project. Most of the major works are already well known and written about extensively elsewhere But compiling them here with the authors perceptive analysis makes for good reading. I suggest searching the internet for pictures of the more interesting projects. I was also impressed by the scope of the book. Rather than limiting himself to one geographic area or the best known examples of architecture used for control or ego enhancement, Sudjic includes worldwide examples with relevent background information. Sudjic also attempts to make sense of the motivation of the architects involved. Can an architect produce architecture without being drawn in to the politics. Are the architects of despots fellow conspirators, enablers or simply earning a living. Does the ego of the architect, in many cases of questionable talent, make them easy prey for those seeking to build an architecture of oppression. In each example Sudjic makes use of the information available to try to clearify this as well as the motivation of the rich and powerful who commission such architecture. Ultimately this is a book that will appeal not only to those knowledgable in architecture who are familiar with the cast-of-characters but also those who just want a very interesting book. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.fr/products/19355496-the-edifice-complex-how-the-rich-and-powerful-and-their](https://www.desertcart.fr/products/19355496-the-edifice-complex-how-the-rich-and-powerful-and-their) --- *Product available on Desertcart France* *Store origin: FR* *Last updated: 2026-04-28*