Sonja Hildebrand Book order

Gottfried Semper’s years in exile in London (1850–1855) were a time of highly inspirational experiences. The London of the first World Expo offered the German architect an immense trove of objects for study and an intellectual surrounding which provided the basis for his innovative cultural-history-based theory of architecture. That revolutionary period saw upheavals not only in the realms of politics and society, but also art and science. Globalization of knowledge was thereby a particularly distinctive phenomenon, especially in the capital of the British Empire. The texts extend beyond a focus on Semper as an individual to consider his work in designing, teaching and writing architecture based on his historical, architectural and disciplinary surroundings.

Egon Eiermann influenced postwar German architecture to an extent unrivalled by any other architect. His rich architectural oeuvre is characterized by striking transparency, sensitive response to materials, high artistic standards, and rigorous attention to design quality--down to the very last detail. Eiermann also created a number of successful furniture designs, including his famous drawing table stand, the SE 18 folding chair, and the E 10 rattan lounge chair, now known as the Eiermann chair . Among Eiermann's best-known buildings are the IBM headquarters in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, the Olivetti corporate center in Frankfurt am Main, the former high-rise office building for Members of the German Bundestag in Bonn, and the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ged chtniskirche in Berlin. Eiermann was also a highly respected educator and architectural innovator. During his tenure as a professor of architecture at the Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe, he influenced an entire generation of young architects. This volume considers his entire life's work.