PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Sigfried Giedion (1888–1968), one of the main protagonists of the architectural avant-garde in Europe, paradoxically achieved this reputation far from his homeland—in America. Nearly all of Giedion’s books written after his initial stay at Harvard University were published in English long before they became available in his native German. Reto Geiser sheds new light on Giedion’s life and reassesses his work through the lens of cultural transformation and modernization processes. The author questions the unbroken line of developments portrayed in the historiography of modern architecture, and argues that Giedion’s position in between two cultural spheres not only caused ruptures and contradictions in his work but also productively shaped its reception on either side of the Atlantic.
Displaying a deep understanding of graphic design, media theory, historiography, and translation issues, as well as of the cultural and social context in Europe and the United States from the 1920s to the 1960s, Geiser articulates the visual and intellectual power of Giedion's books and explains why they had such a significant impact on architecture education and scholarship throughout the world. Much more than just a monograph, Giedion and America provides a fascinating account of the rich intellectual exchange among architects, educators, and writers on both sides of the Atlantic, elucidating Giedion’s connections not only to such figures as László Moholy-Nagy, Josep Lluís Sert, and Jacqueline Tyrwhitt, but also to individuals whose connections to Giedion are less known, including Marshall McLuhan and Lewis Mumford.
The book is designed to introduce its readers to Giedion's world. Fragments of his personal manuscripts, correpsondence, books, and other objects, are represented at full scale to provide us with a sense of the deep archival study, and the time period and cultural contexts within which Giedion was operating.
BOOK INFORMATION
Trim Size: 6.75 x 9.75
Number of Pages: 463
Binding Method: Hardcover
Paper: Holmen Trend, 70gsm
Typefaces: GT America
CREDIT INFORMATION
Creative Director:
Art Director:
Book Designer: Maike Hamacher, Valentin Hindermann, Madeleine Stahel; with Christa Lanz
Jacket/Cover Designer: Maike Hamacher, Valentin Hindermann, Madeleine Stahel; with Christa Lanz
Illustrator:
Photographer:
Picture Editor:
Production Director:
Production Coordinator:
Production Artist:
Other Credits:
Giedion and America: Repositioning the History of Modern Architecture
Category
Book and Cover
Description
Winner - AIGA 50 Books | 50 Covers of 2018
Book Title: Giedion and America: Repositioning the History of Modern Architecture
Design Firm/Agency: Büro 146
Publisher: gta Verlag/ETH Zurich
Author/Editor: Reto Geiser
Juror Comments
The four quadrants, creating the cover collage, is very well done. Masking the bottom half with warm grey so that name can stand out, make it even more dynamic.The tight composition of body texts with footnotes creates excellent tension. And the choice to have captions, running heads and folios, in same size as text font seems to emphasize the rigidity of disciplinary discourse of the time. — Henk van Assen
Winner Status
- 50 Books Winner
- 50 Covers Winner
Share