Neue finnische Architektur (New Finnish Architecture)

Tempel, Egon. Neue finnische Architektur (New Finnish Architecture). Stuttgart: Gerd Hatje, 1968. First edition. Quarto. 192pp. Original photo-illustrated dust-jacket over cloth, with white lettering on spine and front cover. The main part of this striking architectural survey of new Finnish architecture gives a comprehensive view of the last ten years (1958-1967) of Finnish building. After the representatives of functionalism and rationalism, and following in the footsteps of the overwhelming personality Alvar Aalto, have come young architects whose work displays the constant qualities of Finnish architecture – a feeling for the material and consideration for the site. Each building illustrated and interpreted was chosen for its quality and for the degree to which it typifies peculiarly Finnish traits and traditions. The grouping of illustrations according to subject – houses, public buildings, cultural buildings, and industrial structures – makes the book easy to use and permits rapid reference to detailed information. The author, Egon Tempel spent two years working closely with Finnish architectural firms so that he could become thoroughly familiar with the whole spectrum of Finland’s architecture. He begins this book with an introduction tracing its developments and tendencies from its beginnings, through medieval castles and early wooden churches, the great age of Empire architecture in 19th-century Helsinki, and the historical romanticism of the first years of the 20th century to the late 1960s, showing its roots in Finnish folk art, and as well as its intimate relationship with the country’s landscape and climate. This volume is illustrated with hundreds of floor plans and b/w photographic reproductions. Dust-jacket slightly rubbed, creased and soiled, with tiny abrasion along fore-edge. Text and captions in German and English. DJ in overall good, binding and interior in very good condition. g to vg. Hardcover. (38540) $50