Customer Reviews

Hans Scharoun, 1893-1972: Outsider of Modernism (Taschen Basic Architecture)

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ISBN: 3822827789 is a concise and copiously illustrated in color and B&W survey of 23 essential projects on 96 pages in English only. An illustrated introduction on 12 pages is followed by the main review part presenting all significant works starting from 1922. Each - depending on the importance - takes up from 2 to several pages, is described by text from 1/2 to 1 page long, and is depicted mostly on excellent photos black and white, when older, and in color, when newer, but also in relatively few small technical diagrams such as plans, sections, sketches, hard line presentation drawings (unfortunately not as numerous as in the other and somehow dry title by Christoph Bürkle, presenting on only 176 pages as many as 58 works from 1911 on, and published, e.g. under ISBN: 1874056803 and ISBN: 3764355816). The book is ended with quasi biography, bibliography, etc. on 5 pages. All photos are of a good quality, well balanced, crisp and legible. The paper is absolutely white and glossy. The book is well done graphically and soft-bound.

Like other books in this series this one is a great summary of an architects career. If you're curious to see where Richard Meier, and others, got their ideas Hans Scharoun is the architect to look at. His use of curvilinear elements is ahead of his time.

All this collection's books look like the same. There's almost all projects of the architect in title, and their life, with good pictures and text. I recommend it for those who want to know more about the architect.