This is what it's all about.
The Architecture of Expressionism is the upheaval of architecture in the roaring twenties: Even nowadays, the surviving fragments bear witness to an unconditional will to form of and a rich, skilful handling of colour, material and light. Expressionist architecture can be found throughout Europe, yet many realised buildings have been uncared for and forgotten. In 2010 we began to document the extant European works, «Fragments of Metropolis – East / Osten» shows the results of this project, presenting the remaining buildings in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The shared heritage of this important European region is presented in a fascinating rediscovery. It is the third volume of the series, following on from «Fragments of Metropolis – Berlin», which appeared in 2015, and «Fragments of Metropolis – Rhein & Ruhr», which appeared in 2016 – thanks to many extraordinary supporters.
Spread over 300 pages, «Fragments of Metropolis – East / Osten» presents 170 buildings in Bratislava, Brno, Budapest, Gdansk, Hradec Králové, Katowice, Kraków, Legnica, Prague, Szczecin, Ústí nad Labem, Warsaw, Wroclaw, as well as many other places. Striking contemporary colour photographs and elegant drawings, all specially produced for this publication, are supplemented with a detailed index and location maps, meaning the book can serve as a reference work. The introduction by PD Dr. Beate Störtkuhl explains the historical context of the buildings, and a foreword by Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan, former president oft he Viadrina Europe-University in Frankfurt (Oder), discusses the special significance of this joint European heritage.
The book is intended to appear spring 2018 in a bilingual (English/German), portable (15 x 25 cm) hardcover edition — and for this we need your support!
My project is special because ...
This book is for everyone with a love for architecture, for Expressionism, for the 1920s, and especially for important European region of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The collected images of the surviving fragments serve as a record of an almost-forgotten architectural movement. At the same time, the volume is portable enough to be a trusty travel companion. Accordingly, every building is carefully listed in an illustrated index, each entry including an address, year of construction and details of the original architect.
Our aim is that this extraordinary legacy is also remembered in the future. And it would our pleasure if «Fragments of Metropolis – East / Osten» were to receive as enthusiastic a response as our first two book. Here is what some critics had to say:
«One of this season’s best art books.»
- Wallpaper Magazine
«A user-friendly architecture book, that’s a picture book in the best sense.»
- Die Welt
«This eye-candy of a photo book is an experience full of surprises […].»
- Deutschlandfunk Büchermarkt
«With its photos and maps, the book invites us to consider the buildings of Expressionism on paper and also in the flesh.»
- Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
«With its multitude of photos, this book shows, for the first time, the scale and also the creative spectrum of expressionist buildings, among which are outstanding buildings […].»
- Hans Kollhoff
«As such, the buildings symbolize the upheaval of the Twenties and ultimately a modernity aiming for longevity.»
- Berliner Morgenpost
««Fragments of Metropolis» is our book of the week.»
- der architect-Magazin / Bund Deutscher Architekten
«Is it possible that this is the start to a «Bible of Expressionism»?»
- Phoenix-Magazin
«It is a pleasure to loose yourself in this elegant book.»
- Casabella
«An appealing book.»
- Deutsches Architektenblatt
«A truly ambitious project.»
- Revierpassagen
This is what we need backing for.
We have undertaken the project in our own free time, and until now have been able to keep the costs to manageable personal expenses. We’ve worked on this project for almost 8 years, hurrying from building to building come rain or shine; unearthing countless books and journals from dusty archives and libraries; being helped in so many ways by friends, new acquaintances and fellow enthusiasts. In the publishing house, Hirmer of Munich, and in Chicago University Press we have even had the good fortune of finding a renowned and capable home for the books.
However, the publishing business is a tough one. Although our publishers bear part of the upfront printing costs, the remaining contribution still exceeds our resources. A significant part of this will be covered this by savings of the previous volume «Fragments of Metropolis – Rhein & Ruhr». All authors and originators of the visual content have done without any remuneration. Still, this leaves a gap in the financing, for which we need your assistance. (If we are able to raise more than our goal, we will use any additional funds for the fourth volume.) We have devised a series of rewards according to the level of contribution, so everyone who supports the project gets something equally valuable in return, as well as the pleasure of making this project real.
But we are thankful for all forms of support, especially in spreading the word about the book to friends and colleagues! THANK YOU!
