House: Black Swan Theory [Library Binding]

Steven Holl (Author), Michael Bell (Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2007

In 1989, Princeton Architectural Press published Anchoring, the first book on the work of the then up-and-coming architect Steven Holl. Since then, Holl has become one of the most famous and highly regarded architects in the world through his award-winning residential and institutional work; his teaching, writings, and drawings; and his persistent vision of an architecture that takes into consideration its place, time, and all the senses of the viewer. This philosophy helped to create some of the richest and most celebrated buildings of the past several decades. Indeed, in 2001, Time magazine called Holl "America's Best Architect for 'buildings that satisfy the spirit as well as the eye.'"

Sequels to AnchoringIntertwining and Parallaxchronicled Holl's work from the period 1988 to 1995. House brings us up-to-date on Holl's most recent residences and collects his best-known projects from the past including a total of fifteen of Holl's residential works. Rather than having an unvarying style, these houses aim at the sometimes elusive ideal of the specific. Each house tackles a different design challenge, using site as the physical and metaphysical foundation upon which to build. Fusing building and situation, Holl creates a unique expression in each home. Beautiful andinnovative, the houses span the globe, ranging from a secluded location in Hawaii, to the Catskill Mountains of New York, to Martha's Vineyard, to the Hague in the Netherlands. Each project is accompanied by Holl's charming watercolor building studies as well as an insightful explanation of how he was inspired by the land upon which the house sits and how the sumptuous materials utilized reflect the spirit of the location.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steven Holl has been recognized with architecture's most prestigious awards and prizes and has lectured and exhibited widely. He is a tenured Professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture and Planning and has published numerous books, including Anchoring (1989), Intertwining (1996), and Parallax (2000).

Product Details

• Library Binding: 176 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (March 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568985878
• ISBN-13: 978-1568985879
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, February 9, 2011

By 

Bradly Minton (Arlington, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: House: Black Swan Theory (Library Binding)

Excellent book for everyone: students, teachers, and professionals. As usual, Steven Holl injects his eclectic projects with his trademark aversion to particular styles, instead relying on phenomenology, light, and pragmatism to guide his projects. Urbanisms: Working with Doubt is another great book that is supposed to be the other side of this book in a micro vs. macro sense.