Aldo Rossi: Architecture 1981-1991 [Hardcover]

Morris Adjmi (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1997

Winner of the 1990 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Aldo Rossi gained international recognition as a practicing architect, artist, and theorist. Rossis' projects in the decade 1981-1991 are collected in this award-winning book: it received an AIA International Book Award in 1992; and Honorable Mention for graphic design in ID magazine, and a Certificate of Merit from the Printing Industry of America.

Among the 61 works presented are Il Palazzo Hotel, Fukuoka, Japan; German History Museum, Berlin; San Carlo alla Barona Church, Milan; and Office Complex for Disney, Orlando. Karen Stein's descriptive texts and afterword are accompanied by introductions by Morris Adjmi and Diane Ghirardo and an essay by Aldo Rossi. Also included is a complete project chronology and bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Aldo Rossi: Architecture 1981-1991 is a vivid and timely survey of recent buildings, projects, and drawing--Rossi's way with pencil and paint is renowned--by the Italian theorist turned superstar. Rossi's work is distinguished by depth of feeling and stark simplicity, neither disallowing gaiety. -- Adele Freedman, Toronto Globe and Mail

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 5th edition (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878271156
• ISBN-13: 978-1878271150
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,498,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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3.0 out of 5 stars Just an impression of the book, October 8, 2006

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This review is from: Aldo Rossi: Architecture 1981-1991 (Hardcover)

I am not sure if this book conveys the depth of Rossi's thoughts really well. There are not too many pictures of the actual buildings' exteriors nor interiors although the (small) pictures shown are so good that I am wanting to see more. At a glance, it gives an impression that most of the book's contents are dedicated to the (colorful) sketches and models, which are shown proportionally gigantic compared to the pictures of the actual buildings and the drafted drawings. This was rather perplexing considering that the publication was one of the two-part documentation covering 'buildings and projects': the other volume covered 'drawings and paintings'. In a way, the seriousness of Rossi's conceptual studies might have been overlooked by a reader like myself with such an impression which seemed to be mirroring the dream contents of the master architect. It almost felt as though the importance of the real and the other was inverted deliberately for a dramatic effect. Upon closer readings however, the book reveals an interesting aspect of Rossi's design process and accompanies an excellent essay titled 'the theater of shadows'. Even for someone who attended an architecture school past his direct influence, Rossi is still an enigmatic figure whom I would like to comprehend. Unfortunately, there is no biographical nor his own teaching materials available at least not in the language I understand. It seems that there had been numerous articles published in magazines during his career, which are difficult to obtain. It would be of great interest if a collection of articles or a different kind of reflection/documentation of his architecture became available.