Asmara: The Frozen City [Hardcover]

Jochen Visscher (Editor), Stefan Boness (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2007

The Northeastern African nation of Eritrea spent much of the early twentieth century as a colony of Italy, and more recently shook off another invader, Ethiopia. Its capital city, which dates back more than 700 years, exploded into life and growth with the arrival of Italian colonists in the 1930s, and then stagnated under Ethiopian rule. The surprising result is a living museum of Italian "Nuova Architettura," where decorative smokestacks tower over street markets and portholes look out onto bicycle traffic. Futuristic, monumentalist, rationalist and cubist work is not just preserved, but dominant on the skyline. Here, photographer Stefan Boness frames private, public and industrial buildings to incorporate their sometimes jarring contemporary African surroundings. He succeeds in conveying the unique atmosphere of a city where architectural time has, in some pockets, stood still. An essay on the city complements extensive illustrations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Jovis; Mul edition (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3936314616
• ISBN-13: 978-3936314618
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > History > Africa > Eritrea

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Photography, November 14, 2008

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This review is from: Asmara: The Frozen City (Hardcover)

Asmara had been seen as a city that had a heyday, which was futuristic and before its time; then suddenly time stood still... A very unique city of the world with regards to its architecture, the authors have captured the appeal of Asmara and its buildings.

This little book (16.5cm x 16.5 cm) at 96 pages, abounds with photographs of Asmara that make it probably one of the most fascinating cities. The panoramic view of the city on pages 30-31 will no doubt evoke memories as the reader gazes across the rooftops towards the centre of the city.

The first section contains a detailed account of the history of the city from its early times; through the Italian colonial period and then past the time of British administration in the post-World War Two era. The historical account continues through the 30-year struggle for independence and the emergence of Eritrea as an independent state. Written in German, English and Italian, the book captures all the salient information of how Asmara developed into a capital city.

The book is a coffee table type of book without the size and weightiness of a traditional coffee table book. Perfect for a traveller. The book gives a good visual display of the many unique buildings in Asmara. For anyone who has experienced Asmara, this book is definitely a trip down memory lane. Well done to the authors!