Gail Peter Borden

This book examines the interrelationship of representational methods and material systems as fundamental drivers of the design process. Identifying four primary categories of representational logics - point, line, surface, mass - each category is illustrated through four precedent projects that deploy iterative material sensibilities. As a collection, this text provides a comprehensive categorization of the architectural design process. Through the comprehensive definition of categorical typologies, it illustrates the collective capability of this conceptual methodology. By unpacking projects through their specific design devices, the collective analysis reveals the impact of material techniques and methods of representation as a generative tool. Broad in scope, it identifies and uniformly analyses some of the most significant projects from the last century, including: UK Pavilion Shanghai - Heatherwick Studio, Shanghai,China Gatehouse - Office dA, Beijing, China Maison Colonial - Jean Prouve, France/Africa de Young Museum - Herzog and de Meuron, California USA Montreal Expo 67 - Buckminster Fuller, Montreal, Canada Jean Marie Tjibou Cultural Center – RPBW, Noumea, Indonesia House III - Peter Eisenman, New York, USA Barcelona Pavilion - Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, Spain Tel Aviv - Scott Cohen, Tel Aviv, Israel Los Manantiales - Felix Candella, Mexico City, Mexico Yokahama Terminal – FOA, Yokahama, Japan Pantheon, Rome, Italy Tres Grand Bibliotheque - Rem Koolhaas, OMA, Paris, France Brother Claus Field Chapel - Peter Zumthor, Switzerland Embryonic House- Greg Lynn Richly illustrated with consistent, clear and precise line drawings, the book presents a series of iconic precedents through a unique analytical and graphic sensibility.

Process: Material and Representation in Architecture

Michael Meredith

Combining essays from both practice and academia, this book includes some of the most significant projects and thoughts on materiality from the last decade. Beautifully illustrated with a great deal of technical information throughout, it is not a coffee-table book with no explanation of how, nor a theory book without the description of the projects.

Matter: Material Processes in Architectural Production

New Essentialism: Material Architecture examines how architecture engages material to create effect through five critical historical thresholds represented by analytical precedents coupled with projective experimental design project families. Unpacking the fundamental methodologies of their geometric, material, spatial, and effectual sensibilities, each threshold builds an examination that reveals the essential methods and processes of design, illustrating the basis for the argument for a New Essentialism: its characteristics, methods and the sensibilities that mark its definition.

Gail Peter Borden

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