Synopses & Reviews
The hip, functional, and versatile furniture and products of Konstantin Grcicand#151;widely recognized as one of the most important designers working todayand#151;are transforming the landscape of contemporary design. This book accompanies the first exhibition in North America of Grcicand#8217;s work, highlighting the innovative archetypes of form and concept that have marked his remarkable output since 2004.
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Grcic delights in creating fresh takes on familiar industrial objects, whether desks, chairs, benches, stools, a range of kitchen equipment, lamps, a set of salad servers, or Krups coffee makers. In his recent work, he has blended his characteristic simplicity and distinctiveness with the use of new technologies and materialsand#151;for example, a cantilevered stacking chair, Myto (2008), is made from a strong, fluid plastic typically used by the automotive industry.
Review
Winner of the 2011 50/Books/50 Covers Book Design competition sponsored by Design Observer, AIGA, and Designers and Books.
Synopsis
A groundbreaking exploration of the life, work, and legacy of visionary architect Bertrand Goldberg
Synopsis
The first in-depth analysis of the stunning designs of one of the world s most captivating and prominent architects
Born in Tanzania, David Adjaye (b. 1966) is rapidly emerging as a major international figure in architecture and design and this stunning catalogue serves only to cement his role as one of the most important architects of our time. His expanding portfolio of important civic architecture, public buildings, and urban planning commissions spans Europe, the United States, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He transforms complex ideas and concepts into approachable and innovative structures that respond to the geographical, ecological, technological, engineering, economic, and cultural systems that shape the practice of global architecture. The publication of this compendium of work and essays coincides with the scheduled opening of Adjaye s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Adjaye s completed work in the United States includes the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, a pair of public libraries in D.C., and several private residences. He is also known for his collaborations with artists, most recently with the British painter Chris Ofili (b. 1968).
Following an introduction by Zoe Ryan, Adjaye writes on his current and future work, with subsequent essays by an extraordinary cadre of architectural scholars on Adjaye s master plans and urban planning, transnational architecture, monuments and memorials, and, finally, the forthcoming museum in D.C. Portfolios of Adjaye s work thread throughout this comprehensive volume."
Synopsis
Bertrand Goldberg (1913-1997) was a visionary Chicago architect whose designs for housing, urban planning, and industrial design made a distinctive mark in the modern era. This handsome publication, the first to focus in-depth on the entirety of Goldberg's life and work, traces his development from his early Bauhaus training to his notable architectural achievements. Featuring previously unpublished material, it also includes Goldberg's plans for unrealized projects as well as his collaborations with other prominent modern architects, such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Buckminster Fuller.and#160;
Goldberg's interest in the social dimension of architecture was reflected in many of his cutting-edge designs. In 1959, he conceived the plan for his most iconic structure, the sixty-story Marina City residential towers, in the heart of downtown Chicago. He created a number of hospitals that offered a new paradigm for how patients and staff interacted within the space. Goldberg's progressive designs also extended to schools, prefabricated structures, and furniture.
Synopsis
Modern architecture and design were long viewed as separate disciplines, until practitioners in the mid-20th century began crossing boundaries and rethinking form and function. This fluid exchange of ideas has led to innovative solutions addressing issues at the heart of contemporary life, ones that impact the environment, sustainability, technology, politics, personal well-being, and health and safety.
This handsome catalogue highlights important recent developments that have resulted from the intersection of architecture and design. The projects examined in this book have been produced by an international array of individuals and studios including Jurgen Mayer H., Greg Lynn, Simon Heijdens, M/M (Paris), and Matali Crasset. Whether tackling new solutions to traditional spatial practices, suggesting inventive responses to current environmental concerns, or dealing with issues that address the collective well-being of society, the practitioners who are included in this volume are at the forefront of a cutting-edge field.
Synopsis
The newest volume in the Art Institute of Chicago's successful A+D series,
Fashioning the Object invites readers to visit three of the most visionary design studios at work today: Bless, Boudicca, and Sandra Backlund. Fiercely independent and far-reaching in their influences, these young designers from Berlin, London, Paris, and Stockholm are producing fashion objects that straddle the line between traditional craft and cutting-edge technique, both in their use of materials and in the promotion of their brands.
Zoand#235; Ryan establishes the context for understanding the exciting departures these design houses represent, as the young creators draw inspiration from an array of other disciplines, including architecture, performance, film, and fine art. From Bless's numbered editions, to Boudicca's graffiti-can perfume, to Backlund's ready-to-wear pieces of knitted copper, these designers adapt storied objects to new uses and break old conventions, promulgating their ideas in playful, groundbreaking ways.
Synopsis
London-based Graphic Thought Facility (GTF) has emerged as one of todayand#8217;s most progressive and versatile design firms. Established in 1990, it has a reputation for a non-conformist approach to graphic design. The firm's originality results from its combination of a handmade aesthetic, knowledge of digital technology, and an interest in new materials and production methods.
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This handsomely designed and produced catalogue includes photographs and essays that highlight GTFand#8217;s most notable projects and commissions, which range from graphic identity to marketing materials to exhibition and catalogue design. Whether providing innovative design materials for the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London,Shakespeareand#8217;s Globe Theatre, the Tate Museum, the furniture and interior design store Habitat, or designers such as Ron Arad and Tord Boontje, GTF encourages us to appreciate the visual richness of the world around us.
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Synopsis
The first in-depth analysis of the stunning designs of one of the worldandrsquo;s most captivating and prominent architects
Synopsis
This publication presents the extraordinary, wide-ranging work of one of todayandrsquo;s most captivating and prominent figures in international architecture and design.
Synopsis
Born in Tanzania, David Adjaye (b. 1966) is rapidly emerging as a major international figure in architecture and designandmdash;and this stunning catalogue serves only to cement his role as one of the most important architects of our time. His expanding portfolio of important civic architecture, public buildings, and urban planning commissions spans Europe, the United States, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He transforms complex ideas and concepts into approachable and innovative structures that respond to the geographical, ecological, technological, engineering, economic, and cultural systems that shape the practice of global architecture. The publication of this compendium of work and essays coincides with the scheduled opening of Adjayeandrsquo;s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Adjayeandrsquo;s completed work in the United States includes the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, a pair of public libraries in D.C., and several private residences. He is also known for his collaborations with artists, most recently with the British painter Chris Ofili (b. 1968).
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Following an introduction by Zoandeuml; Ryan, Adjaye writes on his current and future work, with subsequent essays by an extraordinary cadre of architectural scholars on Adjayeandrsquo;s master plans and urban planning, transnational architecture, monuments and memorials, and, finally, the forthcoming museum in D.C. Portfolios of Adjayeandrsquo;s work thread throughout this comprehensive volume.
About the Author
Alison Fisher is the Harold and Margot Schiff Assistant Curator of Architecture and Zoand#235; Ryan is acting chair of the Department of Architecture and Design and Neville Bryan Curator of Design, both at the Art Institute of Chicago. Elizabeth Smith is executive director of curatorial affairs at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Sarah Whiting is dean of the Rice University School of Architecture.