Book excerpt: KEYNOTE: The definitive monograph highlighting the global works of the visionary hailed by The New York Times' Herbert Muschamp as "the most elegant architect now practicing in the United States." For nearly half a century Rafael Vinoly has been driven by the belief that the responsibility of architecture is to elevate the public realm. While his early work in Argentina transformed the landscape of his native continent, his first major projects in New York--the John Jay College of Criminal Justice--and in Tokyo--the International Forum--established Vinoly as an international presence in architecture, whose buildings sustain a structural originality that transcends passing fads. This monograph features a chronological sampling of Vinoly's best work in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The large and small-scale projects encompass courthouses, private residences, athletic facilities, performing arts centers, museums, and educational buildings. Illustrated with photographs, plans, and drawings, and accented by Vinoly's personal reflection on his career, this volume brings together the achievements of one of today's most internationally acclaimed architects. AUTHOR: Rafael Vinoly was born in Uruguay and by the age of twenty was founding partner of Estudio de Arquitectura, which would become one of the largest design studios in Latin America. In 1983 he founded Rafael Vinoly Architects PC, a New York based firm that now has offices in London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Abu Dhabi. Philip Jodidio has published numerous books on contemporary architecture, including Architecture: Art and Architecture: Nature. He lives in Grimentz, Switzerland. ILLUSTRATIONS 500 colour illustrations