Architecture: public and commercial Books

Book SynopsisIn this essential TASCHEN introduction to Tadao Ando we explore the hybrid of tradition, modernism, and function that allows his buildings to enchant architects, designers, fashion designers, and beyond. Through key projects including private homes, churches, museums, apartment complexes, and cultural spaces, we explore a uniquely monumental yet comforting aesthetic that draws as much on the calm restraint of Japanese tradition as the compelling modernist vocabularies of Bauhaus and Le Corbusier. With featured projects in Japan, France, Italy, Spain, and the United States, we see not only Ando’s global reach but also his refined sensitivity for the environs: the play of light through windows, and, in particular, the interaction of buildings with water. From the mesmerizing Church of the Light in Osaka to the luminous Punta della Dogana Contemporary Art Center in Venice, this is a radiant tour through a distinctly contemporary form as much as a timeless appeal of light, elements, and equilibrium.

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Book SynopsisThe first ever spomenik guidebook, with over 75 examples alongside map references and information on why they exist and who built them. Spomenik' the Serbo-Croat/Slovenian word for monument' refers to a series of memorials built in Tito's Republic of Yugoslavia from the 1960s-1990s, marking the horror of the occupation and the defeat of Axis forces during World War II. Hundreds were built across the country, from coastal resorts to remote mountains. Through these imaginative forms of concrete and steel, a classless, forwardlooking, socialist society, free of ethnic tensions, was envisaged. Instead of looking to the ideologically aligned Soviet Union for artistic inspiration, Tito turned to the west and works of abstract expressionism and minimalism. As a result, Yugoslavia was able to develop its own distinct identity through these brutal monuments, which were used as political tools to articulate Tito's personal vision of a new tomorrow. Today, following the breakup of the country and the subsequent Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, some have been destroyed or abandoned. Many have suffered the consequences of ethnic tensions once viewed as symbols of hope they are now the focus of resentment and anger. This book brings together the largest collection of spomeniks published to date. Each has been extensively photographed and researched by the author, to make this book the most comprehensive survey of this obscure and fascinating architectural phenomenon. A fold-out map on the reverse of the dust jacket shows the exact location of each spomenik using GPS coordinates.

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Book SynopsisOpening with the psychedelic haunts of the 1960s New York pop art scene and closing more than half a century later with the rise of post-club happenings, Temporary Pleasure shows how nightlife spaces have evolved to meet the needs of their generation, and how each generation was seeking something a little different from the one before. Each chapter focuses on a distinct phase and city: Italy’s politically radical clubs of the ‘60s; New York City’s disco scene; Detroit and Chicago’s house and techno paradises; Ibiza’s counterculture communal retreats; Britain’s rave culture; and Berlin’s techno scene. The clubs come to life in double-page spreads that feature specs and detailed profiles. Author John Leo Gillen offers his take on various important cultural, design and architectural details, while numerous photographs offer their own vibey stories. The book features interviews with people who were involved in a number of the scenes included, from NYC disco mainstay DJ Justin Strauss to Ben Kelly, architect of Manchester’s legendary venue The Haçienda. As the world emerges from its Covid-induced isolation, this celebration of crowded rooms, dance-worthy beats, and communal transcendence feels more important than ever.

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Book SynopsisThe most iconic statue of its kind on the planet. Many know it was a gift from the people of France to the people of America. However, the incredible story of how this monument very nearly didn't happen is not widely known. French sculptor, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi became the driving force for one of the most ambitious international construction projects of its time. For Bartholdi completing the statue for the centenary celebration of the Declaration of American Independence became his life's work, but its construction would lead to a thrillingrace against the hands of time.

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Book SynopsisZaha Hadid was a revolutionary architect, who for many years built almost nothing, despite winning critical acclaim. Some even said her audacious, futuristic designs were unbuildable. During the latter years of her life, Hadid’s daring visions became a reality, bringing a unique new architectural language to cities and structures as varied as the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, hailed by The New York Times as “the most important new building in America since the Cold War”; the MAXXI Museum in Rome; the Guangzhou Opera House in China; and the London 2012 Olympics Aquatics Centre. At the time of her unexpected death in 2016, Hadid was firmly established among the elite of world architecture, recognized as the first woman to win both the Pritzker Prize for architecture and the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, but above all as a giver of new forms, the first great architect of the noughties. From her early sharply angled buildings to later more fluid architecture that made floors, ceilings, walls, and furniture part of an overall design, this essential introduction presents key examples of Hadid’s pioneering practice. She was an artist, as much as an architect, who fought to break the old rules and crafted her own 21st-century universe.Trade Review“Visually phenomenal and fantastically realized.” * Der Standard *“Zaha Hadid’s work is a revolution. The future has landed, with an entire fleet of beautiful, futuristic spaceships.” * Monopol *“A celebration of all that is brave and audacious in her work.” * Australian Financial Review *

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Book SynopsisThe life of Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) was full of complexity and contradictions. As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church; toward the end of his life he devoted himself completely to the construction of one single spectacular church, La Sagrada Família. In his youth, he courted a glamorous social life and the demeanor of a dandy. By the time of his death in a tram accident on the streets of Barcelona, his clothes were so shabby that passersby assumed he was a beggar. Gaudí’s incomparable architecture channels much of this multifaceted intricacy. From the shimmering surface textures and skeletal forms of Casa Batlló to the Hispano-Arabic matrix of Casa Vicens, his work merged the influences of Orientalism, natural forms, new materials, and religious faith into a unique Modernista aesthetic. Today, his buildings enjoy global popularity and acclaim; his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família, is the most-visited monument in Spain and seven of his works are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Packed full of expert texts and hundreds of full-color illustrations, including new photography, this book presents Gaudí’s complete oeuvre. Like a personal tour through Barcelona, we explore his residential, religious, and public projects. We see how the “Dante of architecture” was a builder in the truest sense of the word, crafting extraordinary constructions out of minute and mesmerizing details, transforming fantastical visions into realities on the city streets.Trade Review“This book shows us the Catalan architect’s universe as never before.” * El País *“There is probably no better way to enter the mind of Gaudí than through this book.” * eldiario.es *

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Book SynopsisBorn Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, Le Corbusier (1887–1965) is widely acclaimed as the most influential architect of the 20th century. From private villas to mass social housing projects, his radical ideas, designs, and writings presented a whole-scale reinvention not only of individual structures, but of entire concepts of modern living. Le Corbusier’s work made distinct developments over the years, from early vernacular houses in Switzerland through dazzling white, purist villas to dynamic syntheses of art and architecture such as the chapel at Ronchamp and the civic buildings in Chandigarh, India. A hallmark throughout was his ability to combine functionalist aspirations with a strong sense of expressionism, as well as a broader and empathetic understanding of urban planning. He was a founding member of the Congrès international d’architecture moderne (CIAM), which championed “architecture as a social art.” This book presents some of Le Corbusier’s landmark projects to introduce an architect, thinker, and modern pioneer who, even in his unrealized projects, offered discussion and inspiration for generations to come.

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Book SynopsisDuring their 40-year career, Bernd and Hilla Becher created their own architectural typology as they photographed buildings in a unique style. 'Basic Forms' represents the culmination of their career. Although the subject matter is unglamorous—mine shafts, blast furnaces, cooling towers, water towers, silos, and gas tanks—the Bechers’ passion for their work imbues these photographs with beauty and solemnity. The Bechers restricted the conditions of each photograph—taking them early in the morning, on overcast days, so as to eliminate shadow and distribute light evenly. Each image is centered and frontally framed, its parallel lines set on an even plane. There are no human figures, nor are there birds in the sky. The result is a treasury of precisely functional architectural forms, a sublime example of conceptual artistic practices, and a series of “perfect sculptures of a bygone industrial age.”

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Book SynopsisThis Big Book helps you make design decisions for shops. With the advent of e-commerce, the role that physical stores played changed dramatically. Their right to exist is not in question, but the need for a different design for these stores is high. This book provides the necessary knowledge to design the store for the future. It provides a complete overview of background and research on the necessary tools, to reflections on the challenges of the future.

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated selection of stories about the lighthouses and their guardians found in some of the most remote places on earth.A Financial Times Travel Book of the Year 2023'Illuminating' - The ObserverThere is something beautiful and wild in the impossible architecture of lighthouses. They have been the homes and workplaces of men and women whose romantic guardianship has saved countless lives from cruel seas. Yet while that way of life fades away, as the lights go out and the buildings crumble, we still have their stories.From a blind lighthouse keeper tending a light in the Arctic Circle, to an intrepid young girl saving ships from wreck at the foot of her father's lighthouse, and the plight of the lighthouse crew cut off from society for forty days, this is a glorious book full of illuminating stories that will transport the reader to the world's most isolated and inspiring lighthouses.With over thirty tales that explore the depths to which we can sink and the heights to which we can soar as human beings, and accompanied by beautiful illustrations, nautical charts, maps, architectural plans and curious facts, A Brief Atlas of the Lighthouses at the End of the World is as full of wonder as the far flung lighthouses themselves.Translated from Spanish by Daniel HahnTrade ReviewOne of those books that seems made for gifting, it is a beautifully illustrated guide to some of the globe’s remotest spots with stories and vignettes from lighthouses that are, in themselves, miracles of construction and perseverance and monuments to the fundamental goodness of human beings. * The New European *

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Book SynopsisElements of Architecture focuses on the fragments of the rich and complex architectural collage. Window, façade, balcony, corridor, fireplace, stair, escalator, elevator and toilet: the book seeks to excavate the micro-narratives of building detail. The result is no single history, but rather the web of origins, contaminations, similarities, and differences in architectural evolution, including the influence of technological advances, climatic adaptation, political calculation, economic contexts, regulatory requirements, and new digital opportunities. It’s a guide that is long overdue—in Koolhaas’s own words, “Never was a book more relevant—at a moment where architecture as we know it is changing beyond recognition.” Derived, updated, and expanded from Koolhaas’s exhaustive and much-lauded exhibition at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, this is an essential toolkit to understanding the fundamentals that comprise structure around the globe. Designed by Irma Boom and based on research from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the 2,600-page monograph contains essays from Rem Koolhaas, Stephan Trueby, James Westcott and Stephan Petermann; interviews with Werner Sobek and Tony Fadell (of Nest); and an exclusive photo essay by Wolfgang Tillmans. In addition to comprehensively updated texts and new images, this edition is designed and produced to visually (and physically) embody the immense scope of its subject matter: Custom split-spine binding: our printer modified their industrial binding machine to allow for the flexible, eight-centimeter thick spine Contains a new introductory chapter with forewords, table of contents, and an index, located in the middle of the book (where it naturally opens due to its unique spine) Printed on 50g Opakal paper, allowing for the ideal level of opacity needed to realize Boom’s palimpsest-like design Translucent overlays and personal annotations by Koolhaas and Boom are woven in each chapter to create an alternative, faster route through the book Printed at the originally intended 100% size for full readability Trade Review“A brilliant and stimulating exploration of the stories behind the most mundane and ubiquitous elements of architecture.” * Financial Times *“Rem Koolhaas explains it all in Elements of Architecture. With examples ranging from the Sydney Opera House to St. Peter’s Basilica, this beautiful book also works as a history of architecture.” * The New York Times *“…when it comes to learning about the differences in architectural evolution, this is the book.” * forbes.com *“A mammoth undertaking: smashing open the last 100 years of architecture and ripping out its innards for forensic analysis.” * The Guardian *“…exhaustive and exhausting, mad and maddening.” * Metropolis Magazine *“A fascinating compendium of cultural references, iconic design, and everyday history that work together to turn architectural theory on its head.” * Architectural Digest *

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Book SynopsisThis Construction and Design Manual showcases all aspects of planning hospitals, medical practices, and pharmacies. Around 50 projects are presented in their entirety, accompanied by large photographs, true to scale floor plans, and coloured diagrams. The volume also features scientific contributions concerning methods of planning and questions of design. Additional essays on architectural history and typological classifications make this book, spanning over 400 pages, an indispensable reference work for everyone with an interest in hospital architecture and healthcare design. Construction data, planning parameters, and regulations for hospitals and medical facilities True to scale floor plans for different building types and scientific comments Essential for healthcare design, architecture, and medical administration

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Book SynopsisAn eye-opening portrait of an enthralling group of royal servants, Courtiers throws new light on the dramatic life of George II and Queen Caroline and their court at Kensington Palace.In the eighteenth century, the palace''s most elegant assembly room was in fact a bloody battlefield. This was a world of skulduggery, politicking, wigs and beauty-spots, where fans whistled open like flick-knives...Ambitious and talented people flocked to court of George II and Queen Caroline in search of power and prestige, but Kensington Palace was also a gilded cage. Successful courtiers needed level heads and cold hearts; their secrets were never safe. Among them, a Vice Chamberlain with many vices, a Maid of Honour with a secret marriage, a pushy painter, an alcoholic equerry, a Wild Boy, a penniless poet, a dwarf comedian, two mysterious turbaned Turks and any number of discarded royal mistresses.''The kind of captivating history I most enjoy: full

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Book SynopsisKAAN Architecten, founded and led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, and Dikkie Scipio, promote Dutch building traditions of sustainability, welfare, pragmatism, and quality through a collaborative and analytical design approach. The Rotterdam-based firm, who run satellite offices in Paris and São Paulo, gained wide renown through complex public commissions that surpass traditional notions of typology and method. Their range includes government offices, museums, urban development projects, as well as buildings for health care, education, and research. This first substantial monograph on KAAN Architecten offers a comprehensive survey of their most important projects to date. The 15 buildings documented in the book are presented as different characters with varying physiognomies, but which belong to the same family and feature similar traits—hence the title of the book. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, visualisations, plans and drawings, and through essays by French architect, critic, and scholar of architectural history Pierre Chabard and by Dutch architectural critic, writer, and editor Ruud Brouwers, Portraits explores KAAN Architecten’s work using different lenses. By mapping out their complex genealogy, the book also highlights that the firm’s designs are not single autonomous entities but rather parts of a shared vision.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDarlington is a well-travelled, polymathic archaeologist [and] a man of great energy and enthusiasms...who generously shows off his knowledge.”—Jonathan Meades, Literary Review“[F]ull of comparably entertaining case studies — tales of human and architectural folly...It also warns the reader that little of the man-made world is left untouched by the curation, or falsification, of historical appearance.”—John Maier, Spectator“[Darlington] concludes that whether fakery is good or bad is often nuanced, but that it’s important to “look closer, be curious, challenge” what’s in front of us to understand better what we’re being presented with. He’s right and this enjoyable book offers a good way to learn how to do that.”—Martin Bentham, Evening Standard“As John Darlington shows in Fake Heritage, it is not just written history that is malleable; it is also history on the ground, heritage in brick and stone, wood and metal.”—Simon Jenkins, Times Literary Supplement “Darlington's book [offers] an alternative view, one where architecture is equally obsessed with remaking its own past.”—Charles Holland, Apollo Magazine“It is a good read, nicely illustrated and is timely, given the controversies about statues and the vexed ownership of the past.”—Bernard Richards, Oxford Magazine"As the author adds examples he adds layers of complexity...The important thing is to be aware of that and to base one’s reaction to the presentation of the past on sound knowledge and appropriate perspective. Fake Heritage is an excellent way to start."—Historic House 'Editor's Pick'“Concisely written, and the numerous colour images are excellent.”—Jerry Glover, Fortean Times“To make a judgement, you have to inspect the actual building or monument to assess whether it is well or badly done...John Darlington’s book does just this, surveying the worldwide appetite for retro architecture from second rate theme parks to scholarly reconstructions.”—Marcus Binney, SAVE Newsletter“Darlington’s writing is engaging...He presents a huge selection of case studies, drawn from ancient times to the present day. Entertainment value alone makes it a worthwhile read. There is much in it that, I suspect, most of us did not know.”—Robert Beavis, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists“John Darlington…in this attractively produced, accessible book, has provided an engaging tour d'horizon with numerous examples.”—John Bold, Journal of Historic Buildings and Places

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive survey of the work of a master of modernist design today.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive look at the life and work of one of the 20th century's most influential architectsTrade Review"A well-written, highly accessible overview on the work of a major figure. McCarter clearly knows his craft."—Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen, Yale University -- Eeva-Liisa PelkonenAn Architectural Record 2015 Gift Guide selection -- Jayne Merkel * Architectural Record *“The book delves into the figure of the architect and his concerns, presenting a chronology of his life and work, and portraying a personality and legacy that puts us face to face with a debate that is not just architectural, but also ideological.”— Ernesto Ibáñez, Arquitectura Viva May 2017 -- Ernesto Ibáñez * Arquitectura Viva *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“From the lost tunnels at Euston to the deep-level shelter at Clapham South, the book is an expansive look at the Underground, with images from previously unseen archives” — Henry Wong, Design Week

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Book SynopsisPublished in conjunction with TFL, this is a comprehensive, updated guide to the London Underground, combining a historical overview, illustrations and newly commissioned photography.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Steam Underground 2 Deeper Underground 3 Twentieth-Century Electric 4 In to Work, Out to Live 5 Combining it All 6 War and Austerity 7 Towards a New Tube 8 Renewal Timeline Index Further Reading

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Book SynopsisThe new Hospital Project in Venice was one of the most important works of Le Corbusier that has never been built. The death of the Swiss architect marked the end of one of the most exciting and dangerous experiments in the most spectacular city in the world.The new hospital's design in Venice was an acrobatic and audacious exercise that could have changed how Venice, the ever-still lagoon city, was perceived. This is the story of an unfinished masterpiece, the last shaped by Le Corbusier, and the intuition that allowed the most modern architect to shape the most modern project. Text but also the sharp description of the project by architectural design. Seventy-five original drawings describe and render the unfinished masterpiece of the French master. The project is interpreted, redesigned and described by consulting the massive archive and through the well known graphic techniques used by Ilios for all of its books. Original text and notes take the reader through a fantastic tour into one of the most crucial modern architecture projects. Examining one of the most important, unbuilt project of Le Corbusier Includes 44 photos and 75 drawings Written in English and Italian Print run of 300 copies

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Book SynopsisThe study Reimagining the Library of the Future investigates the various models of public buildings and civic space through the lens of the library. It takes a critical look at the history, present, and future transformation of this significant building typology that has recently emerged as a redefined community place, social condenser, and urban incubator for knowledge generation, storage, and sharing. In particular, the library has evolved as a vibrant and vital member of community development and as a basis for outreach efforts. This book presents 40 recent public and academic libraries from around the world, with over 200 images. As the survey of precedents shows, the historical cases have informed the design of the recent libraries and the continuous development of the building type over time. Well-designed libraries are now in abundance, and the wider view of this study includes médiathèque and learning centres. The selection of contemporary projects focuses on urban libraries in Europe (Germany, Italy, Austria, Netherlands), the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, and China.Trade Review"Taking at a critical stance at the history, present, and future transformation of this significant building typology, the 220-page book looks at 40 recent public and academic libraries from around the world." - World Architecture Community"The primary objective… is to investigate the various models of public library buildings and explore the continuous evolution of library design." - Public Library Quarterly

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Book SynopsisFar and away the best narrative of western architecture in existence...it stands out as an intellectual triumph. - Sir John SummersonIn this highly acclaimed, classic reference work David Watkin traces the history of western architecture from the earliest times in Mesopotamia and Egypt to the late twentieth century. For this seventh edition, revising author Owen Hopkins provides a new introduction contextualizing Watkin''s approach. The final chapter on the twenty-first century has been completely rewritten by Hopkins, who brings the story right up to date with the inclusion of such topics as re-use, digital cities and virtual architecture.

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Book SynopsisA critical examination of the complex legacies of early Californian anthropology and linguistics for twenty-first-century communities.In January 2021, at a time when many institutions were reevaluating fraught histories, the University of California removed anthropologist and linguist Alfred Kroeber’s name from a building on its Berkeley campus. Critics accused Kroeber of racist and dehumanizing practices that harmed Indigenous people; university leaders repudiated his values. In The Unnaming of Kroeber Hall, Andrew Garrett examines Kroeber’s work in the early twentieth century and his legacy today, asking how a vigorous opponent of racism and advocate for Indigenous rights in his own era became a symbol of his university’s failed relationships with Native communities. Garrett argues that Kroeber’s most important work has been overlooked: his collaborations with Indigenous people throughout California to record their languages and stories.The Unnaming of Kroeber Hall offers new perspectives on the early practice of anthropology and linguistics and on its significance today and in the future. Kroeber’s documentation was broader and more collaborative and multifaceted than is usually recognized. As a result, the records Indigenous people created while working with him are relevant throughout California as communities revive languages, names, songs, and stories. Garrett asks readers to consider these legacies, arguing that the University of California chose to reject critical self-examination when it unnamed Kroeber Hall.

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Book SynopsisZaha Hadid (1950 - 2016) was a revolutionary architect. For years, she was widely acclaimed and won numerous prizes despite building practically nothing. Some even said her work was simply impossible to build. Yet, during the latter years of her life, Hadid’s daring visions became a reality, bringing a new and unique architectural language to cities and structures such as the Port House in Antwerp, the Al Janoub Stadium near Doha, Qatar, and the spectacular new airport terminal in Beijing. By her untimely death in 2016, Hadid was firmly established among architecture’s finest elite, working on projects in Europe, China, the Middle East, and the United States. She was the first female architect to win both the Pritzker Prize for architecture and the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal, with her long-time Partner Patrik Schumacher now the leader of Zaha Hadid Architects and in charge of many new projects. Based on the massive TASCHEN monograph, this book is now available in an extensively updated and accessible edition covering Hadid’s complete works, including ongoing projects. With abundant photographs, in-depth sketches, and Hadid’s own drawings, the volume traces the evolution of her career, spanning not only her most pioneering buildings but also the furniture and interior designs that were integrated into her unique, and distinctly 21st-century, universe.Trade Review“Visually phenomenal and fantastically realized.” * Der Standard *“Zaha Hadid’s work is a revolution. The future has landed, with an entire fleet of beautiful, futuristic spaceships.” * Monopol *“A celebration of all that is brave and audacious in her work.” * Australian Financial Review *“See inside Zaha Hadid’s revolutionary oeuvre.” * architecturaldigest.com *

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Book SynopsisSituated on the shore of the Lake Zurich, Le Corbusier's exhibition pavilion is his last realised design. Based on his Modulor proportional system and at the scale of a single-family home, it demonstrates the potential of prefabricated elements to form a perfect space for art and design. Commissioned in 1960 by Heidi Weber, Zurich-based gallery owner and patron of Le Corbusier the visual artist, this structure in steel and glass represents pivotal aspects of his architectural philosophy and also points to the future. Architects Silvio Schmed and Arthur Rüegg have carefully restored the Pavillon Le Corbusier to its original state, including the reconstruction of missing pieces of furniture and luminaires. This book documents their research and the restored building, featuring previously unpublished historic photographs and documents alongside newly commissioned images by Georg Aerni.

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Book SynopsisThe Singapore shophouse is an architectural gem - a particular building form that is unique to the island. This book traces its development from rudimentary shophouse through various incarnations of decorative style - Neoclassical, Chinese Baroque, Jubilee-style, Edwardian, Rococo, Tropical Modern - all the while commenting on the various influences that fuelled its evolution. Each individual feature of the shophouse is examined, as is its change from rudimentary out-of-China structure to sophisticated dwelling house. Numerous examples of shophouse interiors today complete the odyssey - showcasing Shophouse as Temple, Clan House, Home, Boutique Hotel, Shop, Restaurant Coffeeshop and more, we see how these heritage buildings continue to be relevant in the era of the skyscraper and shopping mall. This is the first qualitative study of neo Chinese architecture and how it was effectively adapted by successive colonial authorities throughout the 19th and 20th centuries so much so that its enduring qualities of form and function continues to resonate.

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Book SynopsisAccessible architecture is about much more than wide doorways and low-placed light switches. Accessibility means independent and self-reliant living and mobility for people of all ages and in any situation in life. Enabling this requires a clear awareness of the related concepts and principles that need to be adopted into the planning at an early stage. This manual presents both public buildings and orientation systems in the fields of culture, transport, and education, as well as examples from the worlds of work and health. Informative essays provide an insight into the theory of signage, while selected projects are described from the perspective of Design for All. Large-scale images and drawings illustrate ten design parameters Best-of collection of the practical handbooks on accessible architecture and wayfinding Incorporate two areas of design to ease our daily life

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Book SynopsisThis is the first ever manual to systemati-cally delve into the zoo as an architectur-al typology. The author Natascha Meuser examines five generations of zoological structures in order to show that the archi-tecture of zoos has always incorporated social values, fostering the coexistence of humans and animals, ever since the opening of the first scientifically run zoo. The manual presents documentation of 30 historical, pioneering zoo buildings that set new standards both functional-ly and aesthetically. Moreover, it offers an in-depth analysis of 50 internation-al zoos that have been built in the last 20 years. It includes floor plans to scale, elevations, and sections as well as large photos that offer deep insights that have never been available before. The author also presents ten design parameters that can serve as guidelines for the planning of a zoological structure.

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Book SynopsisUntil his death at age 104, Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012) was something of an unstoppable architectural force. Over seven decades of work, he designed approximately 600 buildings, transforming skylines from Bab-Ezzouar, Algeria, to his homeland masterpiece Brasília. Niemeyer’s work took the reduced forms of modernism and infused them with free-flowing grace. In place of pared-down starkness, his structures rippled with sinuous and seductive lines. In buildings such as the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Edifício Copan, or the Metropolitan Cathedral in Brasília, he brought curvaceousness to the concrete jungle. In the futuristic federal capital of Brasília, he designed almost all public buildings, and thus became integral to the global image of Brazil. With rich illustrations documenting highlights from his prolific career, this book introduces Niemeyer’s unique vision and its transformative influence on buildings of business, faith, culture, and the public imagination of Brazil.

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Book SynopsisThis new book by Labics, one of Italy’s leading architectural firms, is devoted to the country’s architecture of public space. Squares, galleries, loggias, porticoes, and courtyards are the elements that characterise Italy's historic towns and cities — and that make the experience of these public spaces intense and attractive. Labics sets out to explore these enchanting spaces, to analyse their history and typologies, and to document and describe them through newly produced photographs, plans, and diagrams. They offer a taxonomy of solutions that, as a whole, forms a timeless theory for the design of public spaces. The Architecture of Public Space features a captivating collection of image material that visually decodes these characteristic core elements of Italian architecture and specifies their role in the definition of public space. The volume highlights the architectural solutions from the 13th to the 20th centuries that produce the particular spatial quality of these urban structures and sets out how they were originally established for and are continuing to be used by the people.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewLucia Allais has written an extraordinary book, an account of monuments in modernity as they are laboriously assembled and then bombed into smithereens. Targeted and preserved, conceptualized, revered, disdained--Allais shows just how polymorphic these perverse stones can be. Interested in collective memory, recent architecture, international culture or public art? Read this.--Peter Galison, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisAmong the London districts, Chelsea has always held a special charm for residents and visitors alike – spacious and gracious with the River Thames as background, but with a unique history of artists, bohemians and good causes. Twelve chapters tell episodes from this history, based on buildings that mark the stages of change, connecting what can seen on the street with the hidden histories of architects, patrons and the diverse people who have made their lives in and around them. These range from Chelsea Old Church through the churches, military establishments, theatres, restaurants, housing and shops. The spaces between buildings can be as important as the buildings themselves, and Chelsea has had the benefit of landowners with long-term interests in improving the experience of residents and visitors, creating in recent years some exemplary regeneration projects that can act as models for un-obtrusive management of change.Trade Review"[A] landmark book about Chelsea's built heritage, which excavates its royal heritage (among other layers) with aplomb. . . . Built in Chelsea is handsomely illustrated and rigorously researched, ideally enjoyed with other works drawing out the personalities enlivening the area (Wolf Hall, say)." * Country Life *

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Book SynopsisAn innovative and original survey of the best Mid-Century Modern architecture from around the world

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Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated and visually stunning study of the buildings that changed Bangkok from 1950-1970.

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Book SynopsisCasa Wabi, a nonprofit arts center located in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico, is a stage for world-renowned contemporary artists and architects to engage with the local community. Tadao Ando's remarkable Casa Wabi dots the Pacific coastline of Mexico with structures by Alberto Kalach, Alvaro Siza, Kengo Kuma, Gloria Cabral, Solano Benitez, Jorge Ambrosi, and Gabriela Etchegaray. Founded in 2013 by renowned Mexican artist Bosco Sodi, it combines artist residencies, a gallery, and living quarters with classrooms, gardens, and public space. Tadao Ando centers the foundation on a 312-meter-long wall; his trademark concrete structures radiate off it, capped in woven palm tree leaves for ventilation. These local palapa-style roofs are often the only element distinguishing indoor and outdoor spaces, an effect complemented by wooden shutters in place of paned glass windows. Other unusual native building materials include Mexican parota wood and marmolina. Led by director Carla Sodi, Casa Wabi challenges architects and artists to contemplate nature deeply, as it provides new tools for area residents. Casa Wabi is both a world-class architectural destination and a model for newstrategies of creative intervention within economically depressed communities.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Airport Urbanism dissects issues in infrastructural design and aesthetics, physical mobility and social immobility, and the lived experiences of an emerging Asian urbanism—a remarkable achievement by a scholar who possesses the intellectual virtuosity to bridge realms in every direction."—Helen F. Siu, Yale University "Lucid and entertaining, Max Hirsh’s account of airport infrastructure shatters the fiction of showpiece airports as the acme of international air travel. This highly perceptive reading of cross-border mobility and its role in shaping the urban landscape in Asia is a critical contribution to the emerging scholarship on infrastructure."—Swati Chattopadhyay, University of California, Santa Barbara"A fascinating examination of the many elements, and the countless ways in which societies have grown an infrastructure of air travel parallel to any intended arrangements, and well outside any comprehensive plans."—Urban Land Magazine"A fascinating, well-documented story of a world in transition."—CHOICE"Airport Urbanism’s perceptive and extensive empirical analysis will certainly be of value not only to scholars of East and Southeast Asian cities but also to those who intervene directly in their planning and development."—Urban Studies "Airport Urbanism offers an innovative (re)reading of contemporary cities through the lens of the airport." —Pacific AffairsTable of ContentsContentsPrefaceIntroduction: What Is Airport Urbanism?1. Parallel Lines2. Transborder Infrastructure3. Special Zones4. Cheap TicketsConclusion: Mobility, Migration, and the Future Asian CityAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisNezar AlSayyad narrates the many Cairos that have existed through time, offering a panorama unmatched in temporal and geographic scope, through an in-depth examination of the city’s architecture and urban form. His narration illuminates how there can be “no one history of the city, but rather multiple, contested, and often invented histories.”Trade ReviewIn the voluminous literature on Cairo, when one would have though everything had already been said (and oft repeated), here comes a new, quirky, original book that takes flight over the full, if fragmented, range of the region's histories. I can think of no other biography of the city that touches on the entire time range between pharaonic and modern times and straddles both sides of the changing course of the Nile and the desert outreaches. AlSayyad is sensitive to themes of Egyptian cultural continuity and the country's ongoing contradictions between openness and tolerance, on the one hand, and fierce religious sectarian and ideological shifts on the other. -- Janet Abu-Lughod, Department of Sociology, The New SchoolNezar AlSayyad's invigorating and innovative new account of Cairo adroitly interweaves stories of the city's people and places with those of the city's storytellers. Cairo encompasses the entire life of the great metropolis, and AlSayyad meticulously sets right myths and misconceptions about the City Victorious and its monuments. This will be the standard account for years to come." -- Dell Upton, Department of Art History, University of California, Los AngelesThis is a book as grand as the city it describes. In telling the story of Cairo, Nezar AlSayyad places in the foreground its great architectural monuments and the historical figures who shaped its growth. These are drawn against a rich background portraying the broader political history of Egypt. Cairo: Histories of a City captures both the built detail and the historical landscape of a remarkable metropolis. -- Timothy Mitchell, Department of Middle East and Asia Languages and Cultures, Columbia UniversityNezar AlSayyad establishes new intellectual horizons which allow him to narrate urban history with its complex social and political dimensions through the architecture of the city. In this tour de force, AlSayyad opens our eyes and minds to Cairo's place and time in the larger history of humanity. -- Gamal al-Ghitany,author of Zayni Barakat, and Khitat al-Ghitani[An] exceptionally absorbing and astute, cultural and architectural history of one of the world's most captivating cities...AlSayyad structures his book smartly by place rather than strictly by period: each of the 12 chapters brings the reader to a new section of Cairo in an inviting, informed journey through its development. He introduces readers to the history and architecture of, among others, Coptic Cairo; the noted mosques of al-Azhar and a-Anwar; the Gezira Palace; and medieval Cairo. The final chapters, on the eras of Nasser and Mubarak, are especially gripping; AlSayyad warns that the city has been given to a "new elite" and the preservation of old Cairo for tourists is turning it into a Disney-like theme park. An important second thread of the book sees Cairo as inspiration for artists such as Jean-Léon Gérôme and writers Naguib Mahfouz and Alaa Al Aswany. The author's writing is elegantly clear and evocative, drawing the reader into the "messy and difficult" but "vibrant and innovative" city, leaving one wanting to know what he has to say about the politically transformed city's future. * Publishers Weekly *A timely and often surprising series of vignettes serving to trace the physical and cultural evolution of the city from the pharaonic period to the present. Each of the dozen vignettes covers a specific historical period, and AlSayyad includes many fascinating details about historical figures and their impact on the city as it grew from a tiny settlement to a great metropolis. Much of the narrative is driven by the observations and activities of contemporary residents or visitors to the city. Ibn-Khaldun, the renowned Arab traveler and historian, is utilized to provide views of medieval Cairo in the 14th century under the rule of Mamluks. This is an enjoyable tribute to a great, vital city that remains, sadly, unfamiliar to most Westerners. -- Jay Freeman * Booklist *AlSayyad presents a deeply knowledgeable yet highly personal account of the city's history in its various reincarnations--from Memphis, the first capital of united upper and lower Egypt, founded by the Pharaoh Menes around 3100 B.C., to the present...The book is profusely illustrated with maps and photographs, most of them taken by AlSayyad himself. They add enormously to the value of the text, bringing the descriptions of buildings and streets alive with color. Just as the text narrates the history of Cairo from a personal point of view, the photos indicate the standpoint of the photographer as much as they illustrate the text. Some are standard shots of buildings familiar to anyone who has visited and walked around Cairo. The best include the people of the city and their relationship to its historic monuments...[This is] a book of magisterial scope. Those who plan to visit Cairo should read this book first. Those who have visited often or lived there for years will find new appreciations for aspects of the city they know, as well as features they never previously encountered. -- Joel Beinin * San Francisco Chronicle *AlSayyad's book, a colorful sweep of over 3,000 years of urban and architectural history, is as much a short genealogy of Cairo's many commentators and portraitists as it is of its buildings. He narrates a broad history of urban development from the Pharaonic capital of Memphis, "the first Cairo," on the Nile's west bank, to the Ptolemaic, Roman-Byzantine and Arab-Islamic cities that developed on top of and adjacent to each other on the river's east bank. Each chapter begins at an iconic Cairo landmark and tells a history of the building's era, bringing in both neighboring architecture and contemporary voices. -- Frederick Deknatel * The National *This ambitious, timely volume attempts the colossal feat of tracing the history of Cairo, from its ancient to modern incarnations, through a case-study approach to its urban landscape...This work provides a lucid overview of Cairo's architectural and political history, and some food for thought. -- E. A. Waraksa * Choice *

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