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Bjarne Mastenbroek. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground

125Edition: EnglishAvailability: In Stock
Dig it! showcases buildings from the past millennia that integrate the ground and the structure. From African churches chiseled from rock and Chinese villages dug into the terrain to a villa built into the cliffs of Capri, this global survey by Bjarne Mastenbroek features analytical drawings by SeARCH and the photography of Iwan Baan.
Hardcover with fold-out7.6 x 10.7 in.5.69 lb1390 pages
“A global tour of buildings that have a strong relationship to the earth.”
canadianarchitect.com
“Explores past and present examples of how humans have interacted with and lived on the ground.”
designweek.co.uk
Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground explores innovative, sustainable, and technically stunning approaches to architecture.”
thisiscolossal.com
“Mankind destroys the skin of the earth at an unprecedented scale. The time has come for a fundamental reset.”
Bjarne Mastenbroek
Bjarne Mastenbroek. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground

Bjarne Mastenbroek. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground

125

Building Bound to the Ground

A visual exploration of earth-bound architecture

Building is one of very few endeavours that are physically connected to the surface of the earth, fixed and enduring. Nevertheless, for centuries, especially in the West, we have considered ourselves separate and above nature, drifting away, defining our own systems and order, and using the ground as a nothing more than a passive foundation. Other times we sought connection, drawing on nature for ritual and religion, fortified protection, and ecological balance.

This global compendium of nearly 1,400 pages brings architecture back in harmony with Earth’s surface. For years, Bjarne Mastenbroek and his architectural firm, SeARCH, have delved into the relationship architecture has, had, and will have with its surroundings, seeing buildings as landscapes that fit into their site without dominating or disturbing it. For Dig It!, they have dug deep into the history of building culture and brought to light fascinating examples of this philosophy—some well known, some previously overlooked.

From African churches chiseled from rock and Chinese villages dug into terrains to Parisian housing vibrantly overgrown and a villa built into the cliffs of Capri (famously featured in the film Le Mépris starring Brigitte Bardot), this book dissects structures from the past millennia. Part atlas, part encyclopedia, it highlights traditional vernacular practices, reconsiders all-time favorites, and celebrates contemporary examples across the globe. Designed by Mevis & Van Deursen, the extensive collection features analytical drawings from SeARCH and photo essays by Iwan Baan.

Dig It! acknowledges an effort to reconnect architecture and landscape and merge building with ground. Separated into six chapters (or “strategies”)—Bury, Embed, Absorb, Spiral, Carve, and Mimic—this remarkable survey reveals humanity’s connection to the earth through building culture: clever and utterly relevant for the challenges that we have and will face in both urban and natural environments.
The designer

Founded by Armand Mevis and Linda van Deursen in 1987, Amsterdam-based graphic design studio Mevis & Van Deursen is largely recognized for innovative design work in the cultural sector including the identity of the Stedelijk Museum, collaborations with fashion duo Victor & Rolf, and numerous publications on architecture and design. Imparting a vision of graphic design as an active part of the message their educational engagements include the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Werkplaats Typografie, and Yale School of Art.

The photographer

After studying photography at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague, Iwan Baan followed his interest in documentary photography, before narrowing his focus to record how humans interact within their built environment, like in his work on informal communities, such as his images of the Torre David in Caracas – a series that won Baan the Golden Lion for Best Installation at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale. His work has been exhibited in the Museum of Modern art, the Architectural Association in London, the AIA New York Chapter, and appears frequently on the pages of architecture, design and lifestyle publications all over the world.

The author

The work of Bjarne Mastenbroek is characterised by a continuous exploration into the intimate and reciprocal relationship between architecture and site. As a Dutch architect, Mastenbroek is well aware of the scarcity of land and believes strongly in using this resource more intelligently in order to give 'nature' more space to survive. Since founding the pratice SeARCH in 2002, Mastenbroek has witnessed and actively pushed for a more site-specific or connected approach to architecture to overtake a modernist approach to building.

The contributors

SeARCH, Architecture and Urban Planning

Esther Mecredy

Bjarne Mastenbroek. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground
Hardcover with fold-out19.3 x 27.1 cm2.58 kg1390 pages

ISBN 978-3-8365-7817-2

Edition: English
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4.9

/5

7 Ratings

Depth, Density, Vision…

Drake,November 14, 2021
Much more than I could have imagined! Many projects I was not aware of. Excellent graphics.

Un livre fantastique

Gomès-Léal,October 30, 2021
Un livre fantastique sur tous les lieux au monde où l’homme a choisi de composer avec la nature et son environnement, quels que soient ses besoins (vivre, habiter, …) ou ses intentions (honorer, accompagner, se protéger ou se défendre, …). Des exemples tous plus révélateurs les uns que les autres de cette formidable capacité à ne pas toujours faire table rase de ce qui existait avant nous. Magnifique.

Wieder mal ein gigantisches Architekturlexikon von Taschen

Rene,October 28, 2021
Das wird noch eine Weile dauern, bis ich hier mal durch sein werde. Das sucht Seinesgleichen!

A big one

Alfred,October 27, 2021
This gift brought me closer to my mother's partner, a passionate architect. Thank you.

Sehr speziell

Hilmar,July 2, 2022
Faszinierende Aufmachung, allerdings außerordentlich speziell. Ist Englisch (war klar) mit viel Text, nicht gerade übersichtliches Layout. Insgesamt nur für absolute Fans zu empfehlen, da es am Ende doch zu komplex ist. Wobei die Bilder schon eine sehr faszinierende Welt zeigen. Bin zwiegespalten.

Un livre fantastique

Gomès-Léal,October 30, 2021
Un livre fantastique sur tous les lieux au monde où l’homme a choisi de composer avec la nature et son environnement, quels que soient ses besoins (vivre, habiter, …) ou ses intentions (honorer, accompagner, se protéger ou se défendre, …). Des exemples tous plus révélateurs les uns que les autres de cette formidable capacité à ne pas toujours faire table rase de ce qui existait avant nous. Magnifique.