«Une mine d’or à parcourir encore et toujours, un de ces livres qui fournira aux bâtisseurs actuels et futurs de notre monde tout le savoir dont ils ont besoin pour aborder les questions actuelles et celles auxquelles ils seront confrontés.» — ArchDaily
Architecture is a compelling
mixture of stability and flux. In its solid forms, time and space collide, amalgamating distant influences,
elements that have been around for over 5,000 years and others that were (re-)invented yesterday.
Elements of Architecture focuses on the fragments of the rich and complex architectural collage. Window, facade, balcony, corridor, fireplace, stair, escalator, elevator: The book seeks to excavate the
micro-narratives of building detail. The result is no single history, but rather the web of origins, contaminations, similarities, and differences in architectural evolution, including the influence of
technological advances, climactic adaptation, political calculation, economic contexts, regulatory requirements, and
new digital regimes.
Derived from Koolhaas' exhaustive and much-lauded exhibition at the
2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, this is an essential toolkit to understanding the pieces, parts, and fundamentals that comprise structure around the globe. Designed by
Irma Boom, the book contains essays from
Rem Koolhaas,
Stephan Trueby,
Manfredo di Robilant, and
Jeffrey Inaba; interviews with
Werner Sobek and
Tony Fadell (of Nest); and an
exclusive photo essay by Wolfgang Tillmans.
