If Graffiti Just Doesn’t Do It for You

“Buildering” is the term coined by urban renegades for the illicit thrill of clambering all over a city’s edifices without permission. Surprisingly, it seems that “Los Angeles has lagged behind other major cities as a builderers’ Mecca,” according to “LA Climbs: Alternative Uses for Architecture” (Black Dog Publishing Limited). British artist Alex Hartley has stepped into the breach with this deadpan guide to scalable L.A.-area landmarks, complete with building measurements and suggested routes of ascent. Xtreme adventurers might take those stats with a grain of salt, however. This tongue-in-cheek project calls itself a “work of fiction” and opens with the disclaimer: “Your use of this book indicates your assumption of the risk that it does contain errors.”