The architectural practice of Lederer+Ragnarsdóttir+Oei Architekten are known especially for their uncompromising architectural language articulated in sweeping facades, memorable forms and clear collors. Many successful projects, among them Darmstadt's State Theatre, the EVS Central Administration in Stuttgart, and the Salem International College as well a numerous exhibits and achitecture prizes are the impressive result of their almost 30 years of experience. In this copiously illustrated cross-section of their works Falk Jaeger documents why they are justly considered to be one of the most interesting German architecture firms.

www.archlro.de

Architects Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos from the Amsterdam office UNStudio are undeniable stars on the international architectural scene. In their interdisciplinary united net of experts they promote creative and integral design processes, aiming to further the progressive path of contemporary architecture. The outcome is dynamic buildings like the Magnet Resonance Institute at the University of Utrecht or the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart; buildings of extreme conceptual and technical complexity and conviction that also offer a rare level of architectural experience. Surely one of the office’s most outstanding qualities is the fact that a sense of atmosphere and beauty is never neglected in these buildings and objects designed with such artistic fervour.

www.unstudio.com

Luxembourg has in recent years turned itself into a mecca of contemporary architecture. Together with the works of prominent international architects, the œuvre of the Luxembourger firm christian bauer & associés architectes stands out. The professional scope of the office ranges from museums, schools, banks, residential and commercial buildings to urban planning projects, both in the Grand Duchy and beyond. As founder of the firm, Christian Bauer has developed a design philosophy based on both context and innovation. This volume is the first of its kind to introduce the extensive and varied work of the firm in a monograph.

www.cba.lu

ASTOC architects and planners from Cologne have “double expertise” in the fields of urban design and architecture. The practice’s urban design projects benefit from architectural experience in designing and realizing buildings as do its building designs from urban know-how. ASTOC’s unique working methods are informed by a combination of professional practice, research and teaching. This book provides a first-time comprehensive overview of the ASTOC practice’s projects at home and abroad, which have won numerous prizes and awards—urban design such as HafenCity in Hamburg, at present Europe’s largest inner-city redevelopment project; the master plan for the Emscher-Zukunft which is developing into a force of change for the whole Ruhr area as a result of its novel planning methodology; architecture projects, which range from publicly-funded residential developments to exclusive residential towers, from office buildings to urban supply and infrastructure.

www.astoc.de

Classical Modernism is very much alive! It is more diversified, more atmospherically intense, more comfortable, and more technically perfect than ever before—as shown by the houses of the Stuttgart architect Alexander Brenner. Each individual one is a precious gem, customized for the owner and perfected right down to the last detail. They can be considered as research projects, brimming with ideas and surprises that are worth discovering and experiencing. This book demonstrates how a radical and consistent architectural approach and ideal conditions can lead to the creation of contemporary architecture of the highest standards, which embodies timeless architectonic principles and produces reference projects that serve as a benchmark for others.

www.alexanderbrenner.de

A concrete tree trunk growing in the middle of a commercial street in Tokyo, an airport terminal that looks almost like a bird’s wing. a skyscraper facade that seems to move like ocean waves, a visitors’ center perfectly integrated into the landscape of Taiwan’s largest lake – nature is everpresent in Japanese architect Norihiko Dan’s buildings. His architecture never stands alone, for Dan always seeks symbiosis; this appears in his combination of geometric-archetypical with organic forms, in his urban planning projects, which bring submerged historic and cultural identities back to light, as well as in the ecological orientation of his buildings. With dramatic contrasts in architectural language and choice of materials Norihiko Dan insistently calls for a relationship between human beings and their surroundings.

The complex and fascinating work of this architect, who has received many honors in Japan and Taiwan, is presented here to a Western audience for the first time. A knowledgeable essay by Aaron Betsky and a conversation between Norihiko Dan and Fumihiko Maki complete this volume.