FIGURE/GROUND is a collection of six dialogues by Scott Johnson and William Fain, the principals of Johnson Fain of Los Angeles. Finding inspiration in, among other things, jazz improvisation, Noam Chomsky, classical Japanese architecture, Roman urbanism, Chinese passive solar heating, Catholic monasticism and Native American spirituality, the firm has built a large body of diverse projects internationally.

In free-association, Johnson and Fain discuss a broad range of topics such as the globalization of architecture, big architecture vs. urban design, beauty, context and the exigencies of history. Intelligently designed by Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award winner Lorraine Wild, this beautiful volume is an important new addition to the literature of architecture and a must for every firm library.