Philipp Meuser Livres

Soviet mass housing is a contradictory but unique phenomenon. It is usually blamed for creating the most monotonous built environment in the history of mankind, thus constituting a symbol of individual suppression and dejection. The construction programme launched in the post-Stalinist era was the largest undertaken in modern architectural history worldwide. At the same time, Soviet mass housing fulfilled a colossal social role, providing tens of millions of families with their own apartments. It shaped the culture and everyday life of nearly all Soviet citizens. Yet, due to the very scale of construction, it managed to evolve into a complex world denoting an abundance of myths and secrets, achievements and failures. Soviet mass housing is indisputably intriguing, but nevertheless it is still neglected as a theme of research. Therefore, the time is ripe for a critical appraisal of this ambitious project. The authors aim to identify the most signifi cant mass housing series designed and engineered from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok.

Accessible architecture is about much more than wide doorways and low-placed light switches. Accessibility means independent and self-reliant living and mobility for people of all ages and in any situation in life. Enabling this requires a clear awareness of the related concepts and principles that need to be adopted into the planning at an early stage. This manual presents both public buildings and orientation systems in the fields of culture, transport, and education, as well as examples from the worlds of work and health. Informative essays provide an insight into the theory of signage, while selected projects are described from the perspective of Design for All.> Large-scale images and drawings illustrate ten design parameters> Best-of collection of the practical handbooks on accessible architecture and wayfinding> Incorporate two areas of design to ease our daily life

Freedom from barriers makes possible an independent and self-determined lifestyle, encouraging mobility and integration in the cohabitation of all groups of people, including different agegroups. Approximately 50 current projects are presented with the help of texts, photos, plans and diagrams. They communicate a modern language of form, helping to create and shape contemporary living spaces for people. A provocative plea for genuinely barrier-free building and an illustrated commentary on the DIN norms round off this standard work. Architects: Archinauten/Architekten Dworschak-Mühlbacher, Architectenbureau Paul de Ruiter, Architekturbüro Schwarz, burkhalter sumi architekten, c. f. Architekten, Diezinger & Kramer, Manfred Drescher/Dieter Kubina, Eller+Eller Architekten, Georg Scheel Wetzel Architekten, Holm Gießler, Grabow Architekten, Florian Höfer, Jürke Architekten, Kollhoff Architekten, Martini Architekten, monomere, Nebel Pössl Architekten, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), Steinhilber+Weis, Heinz Tesar/Hella Rolfes, UNStudio, Dietger Wissounig.

This monograph on the work of the Russian architect Galina Balashova presents a unique collection of designs for Soviet cosmonautics. These include plans and engineering drawings for Soyuz capsules and the space stations Salyut and Mir. Balashova acted as a consultant to the Buran programme, the Soviet counterpart to the American Space Shuttle. Striving for harmony and beauty, the architect strikes an emotional chord in the high-tech world of carrier rockets, laboratories and survival equipment. It is therefore due to Balashova‘s talent that a unique chapter has been added to Soviet architectural history: Architecture for Cosmonautics. Her exceptional achievements, including designs for medals and emblems, are still scarcely known today – even in Russia.

The evolution of prefabricated housing showcases a diverse range of aesthetic and structural possibilities, moving beyond its historical association with urban decay. Modern construction methods, rooted in the 19th century, are experiencing a global renaissance, with applications from affordable housing in Moscow to luxury developments in various countries. This shift highlights the versatility of prefabrication, which now caters to both economic and upscale markets across major cities like Vancouver, New York, London, Berlin, Astana, and Singapore.

Originally part of a set, now sold separately, Volume 7 of Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide is dedicated to Southern Africa, between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and includes Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa.

Originally part of a set, now sold separately, Volume 2 of Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide is dedicated to Western Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahel and includes Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Despite the growing interest in Africa, the continent's built environment is still largely unfamiliar in many parts of the world. The seven volumes of the Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide form the first comprehensive overview of architecture south of the Sahara that does justice to the region's wealth of buildings. In 49 chapters, each focusing on one country, richly illustrated texts by more than 350 authors from Africa and across the globe come together to produce a superlative work. On the basis of 850 selected buildings and over 200 thematic articles, the continent's building culture is elucidated and contextualised. The diverse contributions paint a multifaceted picture of Africa's architecture in the twenty-first century, a discipline shaped by traditional and colonial roots as well as today's global interconnections and challenges. An introductory volume on the history and theory of African architecture provides essential background knowledge

Originally part of a set, now sold separately, Volume 3 of Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide is dedicated to Western Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean Coast and includes Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

Originally part of a set, now sold separately, Volume 4 of Sub-Saharan Africa Architectural Guide is dedicated to Eastern Africa, from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and includes Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia.