Wiel Arets: Works, Projects, Writings [Hardcover]

Xavier Costa (Author), Hélène Binet (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2002

The transparent clarity and rigid geometric forms of Wiel Arets have made him one of the most influential architects practicing today. A theorist as well as a designer, he is a rising star on the international scene and is revered in his native Holland as a modern master in the tradition of Louis I. Kahn.Aret's works are stern buy humane, powerful but not overbearing, and attentive to their urban context. Unlike other acclaimed designers who create architecture of understated simplicity (Tadao Ando and Peter Zumthor come to mind), Arets is concerned with "skins"-the sometimes transparent, sometimes opaque membranes that define buildings and cities. His reputation is founded on such works as the Academy of Art and Architecture in Maastricht (1990-1993) and the headquarters for the AZL Pension fund in Heerlen (1990-1995), along with several newer projects, published here for the first time.Wiel Arets features hundreds of stunning photographs by Hlne Binet, whose start photographs in Peter Zumthor Works garnered universal praise. In addition to project descriptions and excerpts of Arets's own writings, this book contains critical essays by Xavier Costa, Anthony Vidler, Greg Lynn, Stan Allen, and Bart Lootsma.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This first full-length monograph devoted to the talented 47-year-old Dutch architect Arets contains a complete list of his works, a beautiful photographic catalog of his built commissions, and a small selection of theoretical writings. It comes with prestigious endorsements by the great critic and historian Anthony Vidler and two cutting-edge American architects, Greg Lynn and Stan Allen, all of whom contribute critical essays. Arets is almost totally unknown to Americans, unlike his analogous Swiss contemporaries Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. The spare, economical, harsh forms of all three architects wring industrial poetry from steel, glass, concrete, and metal, giving new meaning to the "Calvinist austerity" of modern architecture. Arets's work will not be richly appreciated in America except by an architectural elite; his esoteric forms are too hard-edged and antisocial. Indeed, most of his buildings look like prisons. For specialized architecture and fine arts libraries.
Peter S. Kaufman, Boston Architectural Ctr.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Xavier Costa is an architect and writer. He directs the Metropolis Program in Barcelona and is Curator of Architecture for the Mies van der Rohe Foundation.

Helene Binet is among the top architectural photographers working today. She is based in London.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568983352
• ISBN-13: 978-1568983356
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,268,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a "showcase" book, December 27, 2006

By 

Justin Burnham (Ames, IA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wiel Arets: Works, Projects, Writings (Hardcover)

While I must agree with comments made by both of the previous reviewers of this book...

1) There is beauty in this book (midwest book review).
[maybe not because of Ms. Binet but certainly not despite of her efforts either]
2) I have seen better graphic designs and editing (a reader).
[which anyone who has attempted a portfolio of his/ her own knows is impossibly hard to pull off to absolute perfection]

I tend to agree more with Midwest Book Review than A Reader because it is what it is, a "SHOWCASE" book touching on the many forms of thinking about architecture that W. Arets applies to his works (evident in the title Works, Projects, Writtings.) This book does border four stars, but I do strongly recommend this book over the Massimo Faiferri text which I already reviewed as four stars. So, even seeing the point (a reader) had, I have to disagree and give this book an "A" grade because it is deserving of one (and should boost the sinfully low grade A Reader gave this book.)

P.S. I really dig the orange hardcover on my shelf.

Lastly, ALWAYS keep an eye out for An Alabaster Skin and Strange Bodies if you are a true Arets fan.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first full-length monograph of Arets' work, July 11, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wiel Arets: Works, Projects, Writings (Hardcover)

Aptly edited by Xavier Costa (Curator of Architecture, Mies van der Rohe Foundation), Wiel Arets is an impressive presentation showcasing the creations of architect Wiel Arets. The first full-length monograph of Arets' work, Wiel Arets features a thoughtful text commentary offered by a variety of learned writers concerning Arets' application of leveraging theory "oneirism", uses of grids and rhizomes, and much more. Yet the highlight of this outstanding coffee-table book is undoubtedly Helen Binet's photography - some in color, and some in black-and-white, all combined with an informative text joyously proffering evidence of Wiel Arets' architectural genius. Wiel Arets is a welcome and recommended addition to professional and academic architectural history reference collections.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great work, Bad presentation, May 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Wiel Arets: Works, Projects, Writings (Hardcover)

It is a shame that Princeton Architectural Press could not afford to hire a better graphic designer, as well as an editor that would make the work and its presentation shine. Sure, the book is a great collection of most of Arets' work as well as few essays, nevertheless the spirit that one expected from books such as "An Alabaster Skin" among others is completely missing.
All the beautiful drawings that describe Arets' attitude toward space and urban settings are exchanged for fairly ugly computer renderings and the photography of Helen Binet is not as beautiful as some customers noted.
I was looking forward to this book for a long time, nevertheless it became a great disappointment.