Architectural Book Award DAM 2020

It is not possible to adequately understand post-war Hong Kong without recognising the profound impact that its public housing programme...

It is not possible to adequately understand post-war Hong Kong without recognising the profound impact that its public housing programme has had on the city’s development. Mark I, Hong Kong’s public housing prototype provided more than basic shelter for society’s less privileged, its design also deserves architectural merit.

The inception of the Mark I Block in 1954 indeed aroused questions: what was the housing situation like in Hong Kong before the 1950s? Was the Shek Kip Mei fire on Christmas Day 1953 the sole instigator of the colonial government’s interventions in Hong Kong’s public housing programme? If the decision was purely to meet resettlement needs, why did the public housing programme continue? In terms of design, why did the Mark I Block bear no resemblance to the Tong Lau or composite buildings which were popular at the time in Hong Kong? Where did the design originate from? Was it local wisdom or was it inspired by overseas examples? If the latter, how did it relate to the British socio-cultural concept of low-income housing? And if so, how was it adapted to meet the cultural needs of local communities? This book is the result of ten years of investigation into the history, professional accounts, and design development of Hong Kong’s public housing prototype, and is dedicated to all who have contributed to public housing in Hong Kong.

This publication was honored with the DAM Architectural Book Award 2020, which Deutsches Architekturmuseum bestows in collaboration with the Frankfurt...

This publication was honored with the DAM Architectural Book Award 2020, which Deutsches Architekturmuseum bestows in collaboration with the Frankfurt Book Fair.

A smartly designed and beautifully illustrated look at the life and work of an elusive and influential designer and architect.

Eileen Gray (1878–1976) was a versatile designer and architect who navigated numerous literary and artistic circles over the course of her life. This handsome volume chronicles Gray's career as a designer, architect, painter, and photographer. The book's essays, featuring copious new research, offer in-depth analysis of more than 50 individual designs and architectural projects, accompanied by both period and new photographs.

‘Holz Bau’ is a study conducted by a small architectural office in Tokyo on German timber architecture. It began with...

‘Holz Bau’ is a study conducted by a small architectural office in Tokyo on German timber architecture. It began with a hunch, a feeling of disconnection between conventional timber construction and traditional methods when designing timber buildings in Japan. The first part features a reissue of a pre-war architectural magazine that served as source material and inspiration to explore further. The second contains photographs of researched buildings, with plans and sections newly created for this book. Lastly, essays about the technical history and potential of timber engineering, plus conversations with architect Go Hasegawa and German architect Jan Theissen of AMUNT.

The Circulation Tank 2 (UT2, 1967–1974) is an enigmatic Berlin landmark that had a preservation order put on it during...

The Circulation Tank 2 (UT2, 1967–1974) is an enigmatic Berlin landmark that had a preservation order put on it during the lifetime of its architect Ludwig Leo. Leo’s UT2 is an emblematic representation of his intellectual and creative approach. The iconic building is a laboratory―a testing ground for flow experiments, for modes of architectural expression, and now, since its restoration, for how to deal with recent monuments. The book focuses on UT2, using it as a means to address a variety of themes: Leo’s planning approach, which is now regarded as utopian; the intersecting threads connecting science, technology, and aesthetics that converge here; the social conditions of architectural design and reception; and the role of monument preservation with respect to modern buildings.

Ludwig Leo (1924–2012) was a German architect who worked in Berlin. His approach targeted the facilitation of collaborative action and work.

A great yet unduly ignored body of work: a tribute to Quirinio De Giorgio, whose buildings reflect evolutions in 20th-century...

A great yet unduly ignored body of work: a tribute to Quirinio De Giorgio, whose buildings reflect evolutions in 20th-century architecture

An in-depth look at the design and history of Amsterdam's iconic Schiphol Airport...

An in-depth look at the design and history of Amsterdam's iconic Schiphol Airport

This publication tells the story of the designers of Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, highlighting specific elements--including the runway, interior details and the world-famous lettering and signage--and gathers research by Dutch design firm SteenhuisMeurs alongside historical photographs.