gmp focus

Hardcover or Clothbound
19 x 29.2 cm
English/German

The architecture partnership gmp was founded in 1965 by Meinhard von Gerkan and Volkwin Marg. gmp became known especially on account of its airport architecture: in 1975, Berlin-Tegel was opened as a drive-in airport. It is not only their projects such as the exhibition center Neue Messe Leipzig, the reconstruction and roofing of the Berlin Olympic Stadium, or the Berlin Central Station that have gained international acclaim. In China, they have realized the trade fair and congress centers in Nanning and Shenzhen, as well as the Universiade Sports Center and the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai. Further buildings include the opera houses in Chongqing, Qingdao, and Tianjin, as well as the National Museum of China in Beijing and the new West Railway Station in Tianjin. gmp has been awarded more than 590 prizes in national and international competitions, of which more than 310 first prizes, and numerous distinctions for exemplary architecture. They have realized more than 370 buildings up until today. Publications in the series gmp FOCUS documents an exemplary selection of gmp buildings, by means of detailed texts and photo galleries by renowned culture journalists, architecture critics, and photographers.

The National Museum of China in Beijinggmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-320-4

29,80€

The conversion and extension of the National Museum of China forms a link between the former Chinese History Museum and the Chinese Revolutionary Museum. The building completed in 1959, on Tiananmen Square and right next to the Forbidden City, represents a milestone in recent Chinese architectural history. The competition for the conversion and extension of the building was won by the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, together with the CABR in Beijing. Following discussions with the client, the design was revised in order to ensure that the new building harmonised with the external appearance of the existing building, whilst still making the old and the new distinguishable. This publication presents the German-Chinese cooperation on the largest museum in the world, with extensive details about its history. A preface by Martin Roth, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as well as illuminating texts by the American cultural journalist András Szántó and photographs by the architecture photographer Christian Gahl, provide a comprehensive portrait of the building.

The Qingdao Grand Theater in Chinagmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-321-1

29,80€

The Grand Theater Qingdao lies in the Laoshan district of the harbor city at a newly created park that stretches from the sea to the foot of the Laoshan mountains. The objective of the design was to translate the landscape and the elements into the language of architecture, creating a unique ensemble in harmony with the genius loci, or the spirit of the place. The building rises up out of the landscape like a mountain massif, while a “floating” cloudlike roof surrounds it. This publication shows the significance of this “stage of urban life” in the historical context of China’s opera and concert houses. Texts by the architecture critic Christian Brensing and photos by the architecture photographer Christian Gahl present the building in detail.

The Hanoi Museum in Vietnamgmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-330-3

29,80€

Building a historic city museum in the capital city of a country that is experiencing vehement political and economic turmoil was a challenge for all those involved. What is the social purpose of this museum? How should it present itself from an architectural and urban development point of view? What has emerged is a solitaire like an inverted pyramid, with layered terraces jutting outwards increasingly towards the top, amidst an artificially laid out park with water features, which provides large areas for outdoor exhibitions.
The responsible architects present the project in this volume. The architecture of the Hanoi Museum is illuminated by means of plans, images, and texts. The renowned specialized journalist Falk Jaeger sets the building within the context of architectural history.

The Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Chinagmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-333-4

29,80€

“The Shanghai Oriental Sports Center (SOSC) has emerged as a model project of German architecture and engineering skill,” is the verdict of the renowned architecture journalist Dirk Meyhöfer in his architectural critique of the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. Inaugurated in 2011 on the occasion of the FINA World Swimming Championships, the site brings together the SOSC swimming facilities, a multipurpose venue, and a press center, whose forms and materials harmonize as an ensemble. From an urban development perspective, its park grounds merge with their surroundings. In this volume, the SOSC is presented by the responsible architects and illuminated by means of images and plans. Dirk Meyhöfer comments on the ensemble in an extensive accompanying critique.

The Tianjin Grand Theater in Chinagmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-328-0

29,80€

A new culture park has been created in recent years in the Chinese harbor city of Tianjin. The Tianjin Grand Theater occupies a key position on this site, entering into a dialog with its architectural surroundings. The circular form of the roof construction relates to that of the Natural History Museum there in such a way that it creates a connection between the earthbound museum and the seemingly floating theater building.
In this volume, the responsible architects illuminate the Grand Theater by means of texts and images, and show how syntheses can be created between western and eastern traditions in a highly modern building. The architecture critic Jürgen Tietz discusses the building in a detailed critique.

The Berlin State Ballet Schoolgmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-332-7

29,80€

The Berlin State Ballet School is unique in Germany, because it combines a general school education with professional training. For the restructuring of the school and the new building, a design was required that takes into account the flow of movement between the dance school and the school, as well as the dynamic movement of dancing itself. Furthermore, the new appearance was to reflect the high international reputation of the establishment. In other words: the architectural and theoretical identities had to be congruent with each other.
In this volume, the responsible architects present the building through texts and images, supplemented by a commentary by the architecture journalist Falk Jaeger. This is rounded off by opinions of the users, who experience the building every day from an esthetic and functional point of view.

Kulturpalast Dresdengmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-484-3

29,80€

After refurbishment and restructuring as a house with an open concept, the Kulturpalast Dresden in the center of the city has been given a new lease of life. gmp devised a holistic architectural principle for the new fusion of culture, education, and entertainment, based on a confident redevelopment of a traditional civic meeting place. A respectful and exciting dialog unfolds between the façade, renovated in accordance with its listed status, and the new concert hall of international standing at the core of the building, with carefully designed spaces and transitions.
In this volume, the responsible architects present the architecture of Kulturpalast Dresden in detail with plans, images, and texts. An essay by the architecture critic Falk Jaeger about the eventful history of the building and photographs by Christian Gahl complete the comprehensive presentation of the project.

The New Hans-Sachs-Haus in Gelsenkirchengmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-353-2

29,80€

Library, concert, and reading room—the Hans-Sachs-Haus has been a multifunctional building from the beginning, dedicated to cultural events. The industrial town of Gelsenkirchen, up-and-coming in the 1920s, wanted to present itself as a modern city. After the war, large parts of the exceptional heritage of brick expressionism had been destroyed or damaged. In recent years, gmp Architekten have built a new building into an old façade, as a successful example of building within existing structures. In this volume, the responsible architects present their approach and show the particularities of this task by means of plans and images. The architecture journalist Dirk Meyhöfer illuminates the significance of this building in a detailed essay, as well as the conversion in the context of the historical development of the Ruhr area.

Kunsthalle Mannheimgmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-530-7

29,80€

In 2018, one of the currently largest new museum buildings in Germany was opened in Mannheim, designed by the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners. Owing to its unique facade, which is characterized by a bronze-colored metal mesh, the new building of the Kunsthalle Mannheim integrates confidently with its surroundings. It links up with the historical museum building and has been designed as a “city within the city,” offering visitors interesting walking circuits with varying insights and views out. The centerpiece and prelude to the new building is formed by the freely accessible central atrium.
In this volume of the gmp focus series, the architects illuminate their design and grant an insight into the challenges of the building task. In addition, an essay from architectural critic Jürgen Tietz examines why museums like the Kunsthalle Mannheim are still needed today.

Vietnamese National Assembly Building in Hanoigmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-402-7

29,80€

Von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects believe architecture evolves in conversation with the specific conditions of each particular building project. At the same time, they consistently seek a contemporary form of expression. Through a design process lasting several years—involving close communication with the client and continuous discourse around the country’s architectural history—the Vietnamese National Assembly Building, Hanoi, emerged as a distinctive design that resolves tensions between modern and traditional, local and international architecture.
In this volume of the gmp FOCUS series, the architects convey through plans, images, and accompanying text, a vivid and detailed introduction to the Vietnamese National Assembly Building, awarded the Vietnamese National Prize for Architecture. A comprehensive essay offers an informative history of modern architecture in Vietnam.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandtgmp FOCUS

978-3-86859-686-1

29,80€

In recent years, few German buildings have received as much public attention as the capital’s new airport, designed by von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects. Since opening in October 2020, BER can now be experienced by everyone.
This volume of the gmp FOCUS series offers insight into the design and planning of the airport, which is characterized by short distances, a high degree of modularity, and flexibility of use. Based on a universal planning and design manual, all elements of the airport are integrated into an axial system and form an architectural-functional unit. An essay by architecture critic Falk Jaeger and an interview with the designing architects provide background information on the project.