Peter Behrens and a New Architecture for the Twentieth Century by Anderson Stanford (2002-09-09) Paperback

by Stanford Anderson

Most histories of twentieth-century architecture cite Peter Behrens' influence on three of his protégés--Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier--and mention the turbine factory and arc lamp he designed for the German electrical firm AEG. Now Behrens' full contribution to the history of twentieth-century architecture is finally told, in Stanford Anderson's indispensable guide to one of the great designers of our century. The author was first attracted to Behrens as one of the emblematic figures in the development of architectural modernism. Over the years, he has reflected critically on the growing body of Behrens scholarship that has appeared on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as on the views of such tastemakers as Philip Johnson, who rejected Behrens' AEG Turbine Factory, the signature icon of his early experiments in modernism, in favor of his later conservatively classical work. Anderson now assimilates decades of research into a definitive work that considers Behrens from the most nuanced perspective yet and that clarifies many problematic issues such as Behrens' endorsement of historical determinism and his work on Hitler's proposed monumental axis in Berlin. The book looks at the cultural and architectural context in which Behrens worked, his early career, and the relation of his own house in Darmstadt to his ideal of a society where life is formed as art. It also looks at his directorship of the School of Arts and Crafts in Düsseldorf, where he drew on the work of such brilliant historiographers of art and architecture as Alois Riegl and August Schmarsow. In his conclusion, Anderson considers Behrens' melancholy in the face of modern industrial society and his avoidance of a direct address of life, despite, or rather because of, his professed commitment to express life as art.

Genres: Architecture, Art, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Topaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on a doctoral thesis by the author with some updates. It is more life an academic textbook covering the architecture career of Peter Behrens. This is not a coffee table book and while it does have many photos and illustrations, they are not very thorough and many are old and not of very high quality. All are in black and white. Often, the book references images and illustrations in other chapters so you find yourself flipping back and forth.

The chapters follow a chronology and cover the major highlights of buildings designed and built by Behrens. The end has a very long section of notes, bibliography, and complete list of projects.

Overall it is a good book in the subject but not one I would need to have in my library. It is more like a textbook and not very visually appealing so I would buy/read it for the knowledge and not the photos. You should be able to find a decent used copy for $20-30, not worth more than that though.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

all encompassing, thorough, and direct on Peter Behren's career before and after the Deutsche Werkbund. seems to have an example of any work he has ever done. eye opening for those who might think of Behrens only as responsible for the AEG building.

[Vanlilith]

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