designboom book report: hitoshi abe by naomi pollack

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what makes abe worthy of attention is not just his dramatic debut. nor is it only his cultural ambidexterity
that makes his ideas accessible to audiences on both sides of the pacific. it is his compelling architecture,
whose elegant, and often dynamic, forms are the fruits of his rigorous, self-styled design process.

content
authored by architect and writer naomi pollack, this is the first major book on hitoshi abe, one of the most
important contemporary japanese architects. abe is known for his bold architecture and also as a design
educator. he was appointed the chair of the department of architecture and urban design and the university
of california, los angeles in 2007. he set up his own practice, atelier hitoshi abe in the japanese city of
sendai in 1992. from this point on abe developed numerous innovative projects that are featured in this new
monograph.

inside hitoshi abe, there are 26 projects that range in size from private residences to large stadiums and
public buildings. the projects are illustrated in 300 illustrations that show everything from rough prototypes
to photographs of the final buildings. the featured projects represent abe’s completed works since
establishing his own firm, ranging from miyagi stadium in rifu, japan to his award winning reihoku
community hall.

the book demonstrates abe’s architectural range and his dedication to rational and innovative buildings.
each projects is introduced with an explanatory essay that gives an inside glimpse at abe’s unique process.
the book divides the work into three categories, line, surface and volume, which highlight the strengths of
the individual projects. this classification provides a focused context that allows the reader to see how abe
translates a sensitivity for a building’s environment and users, into a formal solution.

is it for me?
whether or not you are an architect or designer, this book highlights hitoshi abe’s work in a way that
anyone can appreciate. through vivid imagery and detailed insights, each project is displayed in a
straightforward and captivating way.

















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designboom ratings:

......................... interesting
................... good read, worth a look
............. very good
....... excellent, recommended
. must have
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