Clare Melhuish Books

Odile Decq and Benoit Cornette first rose to international prominence with their administrative and social building for the Banque Populaire de l'Quest in Rennes in 1990, which won no less than ten architectural awards. Based in Paris, they featured in the French '40 under 40' exhibition in 1990 and have since been successful in many European competitions, recently completing two housing schemes in Paris, and working on larger-scale urban projects such as the revitalization of the docks at the Port de Gennevilliers, also in Paris. Although Decq and Cornette have been variously described as post-modernist, deconstructionist and high-tech, their architecture is very difficult to categorize; its distinctive hallmark is their use of metal and sophisticated engineering techniques.This book charts the architects' working process in over twenty buildings and projects. It features their highly original models which have an architectural significance in their own right.

Though only founded in 2004, the practice of Luis Vidal (LVA) is now one of the five largest in Spain, and has quickly established an international reputation for its large-scale public buildings. LVA, which took off after Vidal's key role in Madrid Airport's Terminal 4, is particularly renowned for Zaragoza Airport, and Heathrow Terminal 2. With offices in Madrid, Houston, and Santiago, Chile, the practice is also involved in several hospital projects, as well as offices and museums, masterplanning, interior designs, and product designs. This book looks at all the major projects that have been built or designed by LVA to date, but its primary focus is on the working process behind the practice. It looks at the role of collaboration with other architects and designers; the crucial role of the clients; and the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches and lateral thinking. In order to reinforce the process-led approach to their work, the book's innovative design includes numerous links and cross-references between projects and design concepts. This new edition contains updated material throughout and a new 16-page section devoted to new projects built since the publication of the first edition.

A survey of the world's most innovative and inspiring modern residential architecture.