Best Design Books

September 3, 2018

The Atlas of Brutalist Architecture – This is the only book to thoroughly document the world’s finest examples of Brutalist architecture. More than 850 buildings – existing and demolished, classic and contemporary – are organized geographically into nine continental regions. 878 Buildings, 798 Architects, 102 Countries, 9 World Regions, 1 Style BRUTALISM. Presented in an oversized format with a specially bound case with three-dimensional finishes, 1000 beautiful duotone photographs throughout bring the graphic strength, emotional power, and compelling architectural presence of Brutalism to life. From 20th century masters to contemporary architects, much-loved masterpieces in the UK and USA sit alongside lesser-known examples in Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond – 102 countries in all. Twentieth-century masters included in the book: Marcel Breuer, Lina Bo Bardi, Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Ernö Goldfinger, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Oscar Niemeyer, and Paul Rudolph. Contemporary architects featured include Peter Zumthor, Alvaro Siza, Coop Himmelb(l)au, David Chipperfield, Diller and Scofidio, Herzog & de Meuron, Jean Nouvel, SANAA, OMA, Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, and Zaha Hadid. Conceived and edited by Phaidon Editors. >> Subscribe Best Design Books newsletter and get to know incredible Design Books! “Brutalism was mocked and misunderstood. But it produced some of the most…

Le Corbusier Le Grand, a Spectacular Visual Biography

April 2, 2018

Le Corbusier Le Grand, a Spectacular Visual Biography – Le Corbusier (1887-1965) is one of the giants of twentieth-century architecture and design. Born Charles Edouard Jeanneret in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the self-named Le Corbusier was not only the creator of some of the most important and impressive buildings of the last century-Villa Savoye at Poissy, the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut at Ronchamp, the Parliament Building in Chandigarh, India-he was also an accomplished painter, sculptor, furniture designer, urbanist, and author. His work and social theories continue to be a dominant force in the world of architecture and design, while his elegant bearing, typified by his round black eyeglasses, which are still today a signature look for architects around the world, helped cast him as an heroic figure out of Ayn Rand’s novel The Fountainhead. Drawing on an array of archival material, including sketches, photographs, and correspondences, Le Corbusier Le Grand depicts in roughly chronological order not only the vast and varied output of Le Corbusier, but also the major events, people, and forces that shaped the life of an artist who continues to fascinate those in and outside the architectural world. Jean-Louis Cohen is undoubtedly France’s most authoritative and…

Discover the Architecture of Chandigarh or Le Corbusier’s City

August 24, 2017

Discover the Architecture of Chandigarh or Le Corbusier’s City – In 1950, Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited legendary French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier to embark on one of the greatest experiments in urban planning history: to build a new capital—Chandigarh, a city whose monumental modernism promised to free India from the fetters of colonial tradition. Six decades after its founding and on the eve of its becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, photographer and Chandigarh resident Shaun Fynn was granted unprecedented access to turn his lens on Le Corbusier’s city and capture what is rarely seen: the living metropolis behind the master plan. Fynn’s captivating images of the city and its inhabitants reveal how the poetry of the architect’s compositions has been shaped by the tumult of everyday life. Alongside descriptions of the city’s architectural highlights, Chandigarh Revealed features a foreword by Le Corbusier authority Maristella Casciato, an essay by architectural historian Vikramaditya Prakash, an interview with M. N. Sharma—one of two surviving members of Le Corbusier’s team—and custom-designed maps to orient readers. Shaun Fynn is an acclaimed designer with over 20 years experience in advising and creating for Fortune 500 companies. Since founding STUDIOFYNN in 1997 he…

Book Review: The Tale Of Tomorrow

April 7, 2016

The Tale Of Tomorrow is a book about the retro-futuristic epoch that is one of the most visually spectacular in architecture’s history. The utopian buildings of the 1960s and 1970s never go out of style. This book compiles radical ideas, rediscovered photos, and visionary structures. Driven by idealistic visions, utopian architecture aimed to overcome social divisions and political strife, to put us in touch with nature, and to enable us to live humane, healthy lives. For half a century, it was both hope and inspiration. The Tale of Tomorrow surveys this diverse twentieth century phenomenon, featuring renowned works like The House of the Century or the TWA terminal, as well as lesser-known masterpieces, and profiling major thinkers such as Oscar Niemeyer, Le Corbusier, and Eero Saarinen. By digging through archives, corresponding with descendants of departed architects, and restoring photographs, the collection of utopian approaches herein maintains a visual power and infectious optimism. Looking at past dreams, The Tale of Tomorrow is a call to reclaim our future. See also: Book Review: 100 Contemporary Wood Buildings Book Review: 100 Contemporary Houses Keep following Best Design Books for the lattest book reviews an to know good books to read! Source:…