Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus has explained his thinking behind the Wyly’s radical theater design in a video taken of his 2006 TEDtalk. Now David Basulto re-states that thinking for urbanpromoter.com, laying out graphically what led to a theater ‘standing on its head.’

Extra added visual bonus: a compendium of images of the Wyly being designed and built.

UPDATE: Rem Koolhaas, the other credited architect of the Wyly (Prince-Ramus worked in his OMA outfit until he established his own REX), has had an unexpected setback. The luxury hotel he designed in Beijing has burned down. It wasn’t completed, but lunar new year fireworks set it on fire.