Writing architectural heterotopia.

Michel Foucault's concept of 'heterotopia' has animated architectural discussions for more than a decade, yet its meaning has remained slippery, and its utility limited. In the course of translating heterotopia into architectural theory, key elements of Foucault's concept have been left off, particularly its more contingent and political aspects. By reviewing some of these discussions of architectural heterotopia, we can follow the many turns taken by heterotopia in recent debates. Then we shall find ourselves in a better position to reassess the potential of heterotopia as a tool of architectural analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]