Examining the lay of the Netherlands and the history of its design culture, Aaron Betsky and Adam Eeuwens make a convincing argument for the primacy of Dutch design, which has captured worldwide fascination with its historic projects and dynamic new forms. Beginning with observations made during a bike ride from his home to his office at the Netherlands Architecture Institute in Rotterdam, Betsky discusses an impressive range of Dutch design concepts and contemporary designers — including architects MVRDV and UNStudio, industrial designers Marcel Wanders and Hella Jongerius, and graphic designers COMA and Irma Boom, who designed this lively tome. Boom strikingly counterbalances six chapters of Betsky's thought-provoking text and images with Eeuwens' six chapters of illustrations of buildings, bridges, posters, home furnishings, books, and magazines, as well as his incisive descriptions of their makers. From Gerrit Rietveld's 1924 Schroder House in Utrecht to Rem Koolhaas/OMA's 2008 Chinese Central Television (CCTV) headquarters in Beijing, False Flat affirms that Dutch design is experimental, influential, and vital.

Aaron Betsky directs the 11th Venice Architecture Biennale, which runs from September 14 to November 24.