Kay Fisker (1893-1965) is considered one of the most influential Danish architects of the twentieth century, and yet there has existed until now no in-depth English-language study of his works and writing. Published as part of the Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Architecture series, which brings to light the work of significant yet overlooked modernist architects, this book examines Fisker's key projects – from his early railway stations and innovative housing projects to the Danish Academy in Rome – and analyses his work as a historian and writer. Fisker's output is closely associated with the functional tradition, a hybridization of international modernism and regional architectural typologies, and this book shows how his architectural poetics can be understood as an amalgamation of an ideal order with the contingent conditions of landscapes and urban sites. Hybridization is not only a valuable notion for understanding Fisker, the book argues, it can also be applied to an understanding of modernist architecture as a whole, with its various expressions, agendas and tensions both regionally and internationally.

Kay Fisker (1893-1965) is considered one of the most influential Danish architects of the twentieth century, and yet there has existed until now no in-depth English-language study of his works and writing. Published as part of the Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Architecture series, which brings to light the work of significant yet overlooked modernist architects, this book examines Fisker's key projects – from his early railway stations and innovative housing projects to the Danish Academy in Rome – and analyses his work as a historian and writer. Fisker's output is closely associated with the functional tradition, a hybridization of international modernism and regional architectural typologies, and this book shows how his architectural poetics can be understood as an amalgamation of an ideal order with the contingent conditions of landscapes and urban sites. Hybridization is not only a valuable notion for understanding Fisker, the book argues, it can also be applied to an understanding of modernist architecture as a whole, with its various expressions, agendas and tensions both regionally and internationally.

This is the first book on the architecture of Kay Fisker (1893-1965), a leading exponent of Danish Functionalism. Influenced by Louis Sullivan, Fisker had a strong belief in continuity, putting modernism in perspective, and identifying precedents. He built many large scale housing schemes, mostly for non-profit workers' housing associations, and developed innovative, high-density, low-rise block schemes, which have proven useful and influential to the growing number of contemporary architects who have examined his designs. Beautifully illustrated with photographs and architectural drawings, this book documents and critically analyses three of Kay Fisker's seminal housing projects in Copehagen: Hornbaekhus (1923), Vestersohus (1935-39), and Dronningegarden (1943- 58). These projects reflect how Fisker's work contains valuable lessons for contemporary architects in economy, precision, and generosity in housing design. An introduction sets Fisker's work within their historical, social, and architectural context. A final section includes in-depth case studies of the three award-winning contemporary architects: Tony Fretton, Clancy Moore, and Job Floris. The architects explain their projects and how these have been influenced by Fisker.

Depicts and describes more than two hundred examples of twentieth century Danish chair design

Was the shaping of nation states in Northern Europe governed by military might, or by Christian and democratic ideals? How has trade and cross-cultural exchange between Scandinavia and the British Isles shaped our historic identities, and what about the impact of global politics and marketing in recent times? These are some of the questions explored by the contributors in the context of forces that shape national identities today. Their analysis highlights the need for historical awareness when developing future cultural policy, brand profiles and marketing strategies. Looking back, Jesse Byock tells how democracy was first embraced in the north by the early settlers of Iceland, Bjorn Myhre delves into the unpredictability of historical interpretation, Edward Cowan discusses the role of 'battles and beddings' in relations across the North Sea, John Purkis writes about William Morris' fascination with Nordic culture, Stephen Harrison presents the 'winning ways' of product development and marketing by Manx National Heritage, whilst Chris Powell looks at 'Cool Britannia' today and Simon Anholt at national branding strategies. This is an inspirational book that sheds new light on old subjects, equally relevant for both public and private sector policy makers alike.

From Introduction - The narrative of recent architecture tells how Post-Modernism, was born to disreputable Modernist parents, left home and took to the road, how he went to Shingle-style and Neo-Corbusian American, how he served in the household of Late-Modernism, and how, after more adventures - such as the short-lived affairs he had with Queen-Anne Revival and Collegiate Gothic - he returned to a Classicism that was to be qualified as Free-style.

"A balance of sophistication and clarity in the writing, authoritative entries, and strong cross-referencing that links archtects and structures to entries on the history and theory of the profession make this an especially useful source on a century of the world's most notable architecture. The contents feature major architects, firms, and professional issues; buildings, styles, and sites; the architecture of cities and countries; critics and historians; construction, materials, and planning topics; schools, movements, and stylistic and theoretical terms. Entries include well-selected bibliographies and illustrations."--"Reference that rocks," American Libraries, May 2005.