Dom Hans van der Laan
Author: Alberto Ferlenga
Architectura & Natura Uitgevers
IS BN 9076863059
There are few 20th century buildings in which simplicity, harmony and the endeavour to achieve perfect proportions are as clearly evident as in the works of the Dutch priest, theoretician and architect Dom Hans van der Laan (1904– 1991).
The authors Alberto Ferlenga and Paola Verde spent a lot of time working in the Vaals Monastery near Aachen, which houses most of the van der Laan archives. Their book succeeds in making the often highly abstract and mystic themes underlying van der Laan’s theories accessible and generally understandable. The monograph also contains a complete and copiously illustrated overview of van der Laan’s completed building projects and an exhaustive resumé of his life.
Atlas of the Dutch Urban Block
Authors: Susanne Komossa, Max Risselada
Thoth Uitgeverij
IS BN 9068683829
In this design atlas, Susanne Komossa and Max Risselada provide an overview of the urban residential block in Amsterdam and Rotterdam from the 17th century to the present day. 19 urban fragments are examined with the aid of floor plans and sectional views. The drawings cast a whole new light on the relationship between public and private space, and between individual dwellings, residential blocks and urban districts.
The most up-to-date projects featured in the book include the regeneration of R otterdam harbour and the urban development plans for Java I sland in Amsterdam. Numerous essays also provide an insight into contemporary developments taking place in the world of architecture and urban planning.
The Capsular Civilization
Author: Lieven de Cauter
NAi Publishers
IS BN 9056624075
The 11 September attacks and the international war on terror accelerated a development which had already long been a latent force in an era marked by social injustice and ecological disasters: The domination of many people’s lives by fear, and the gradual withdrawal of individuals within their own four walls.
In his book, Lieven de Cauter documents and analyses social change since 9/11. De Cauter sketches a realistic and alarming account of the new world order that is an everyday concern for the architects and planners of the contemporary city as well as for its inhabitants and users.
Richard Hutten: Works in Use
Author: Brigitte Fitoussi
Stichting Kunstboek
IS BN 9058561763
At the age of not quite 38, Dutch designer Richard Hutten has already succeeded in making a lasting impression on the international design world. Plans exist for a design academy bearing his name to be opened in Seoul in 2008. Many objects designed by him, such as the Bronto chair or the Domoor cup, have achieved huge commercial success. Hutten is also involved in interior architecture, and is responsible for the restaurant, the garden furniture and the bookshop in the Central Museum in Utrecht.
Hutten’s designs, which he himself terms “works in use”, are known and loved by many, including a number of famous contemporaries. This book is the first publication to provide an insight into the world of the designer and describes how celebrities live with his designs.