First there was The Inspired Workspace, now there is Radical Office Design for when inspiration just isn't enough. The official book description says "Traditional office work, characterized by repetitive clerical tasks, is rapidly giving way to 'knowledge work,' characterized by the creative application and exchange of information. In response, architects around the world are leaving aside the old cubicle grid to design imaginative, high-tech offices that foster knowledge work and, at the same time, help workers balance the competing demands of colleagues, customers, and family.". That's a long, lofty list of design goals. I'm not convinced that the designs in this book can achieve all of those goals at once, but I have no doubt they are sufficiently different to merit being called radical. And radical, I believe, is something that is overdue when it comes to organizing people and work. The web is already reorganizing the methods/ processes, why not dramatically rethink the working environment? The book features a number of case studies, including what I understand is the BMW plant designed by Zaha Hadid where "the factory production line runs through and above the administrative offices, unifying the corporate community." (I may be wrong, I haven't seen the book yet). Of particular note, the case studies support trends that the authors have identified and an interesting classification for the different types of workplaces. Hardcover, 192 pages, 200 color images, 50 B&W, $40.95 at Amazon.

+ Radical Office Design at Amazon