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Helmut Jahn Process Progress by Bangert
Helmut Jahn is world-famous for buildings like Frankfurter Messeturm (1985-1991), Sony Center with the Bahntower, Berlin (1993-2000), airport Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi (1995-2005) and the Veer Towers, Las Vegas (2006-2010). In a luxury edition this book shows in large scale and high-quality photos by the well-known photographer Rainer Viertlböck the increasing international reach of Helmut Jahn’s oeuvre, starting in Chicago and the United States in the 1980s and expanding initially to South Africa, then to Europe, with the focus on Germany, and from there via the Middle East to China, Singapore, Japan and Korea.The photos are combined with a comprehensive collection of Helmut Jahn’s impressive design sketches. They provide inspiring insights into the development of the buildings and the underlying design process. The drawings present the buildings in their overall context of urban surroundings, the structural features, the proportions and ideas on the materials, not to forget just as clearly outlines of the engineering required for the facade technology and construction work.An essay by architecture historian Franz Schultz explains the meaning of Jahn’s oeuvre within the contemporary architecture. An text by Helmut Jahn himself comments the philosophy behind his buildings.
Hardcover
First published October 31, 2012
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August 30, 2018
A big, heavy, coffee-table size book, with tons of wonderful photographs of incredible buildings designed by starchitect Helmut Jahn. I had walked by his works in NYC many times -- and those aren't even his most interesting projects, but had no idea he was the architect (or for that matter, who may have been the architect). I think I lost interest in following architectural trends in NYC some time ago. I can't remember the last time I was excited about a new building or project. For at least 20 years, I think I've been more concerned with historic preservation rather than new architecture. I can't say why this happened, since there has been much interesting new architecture. Perhaps I just gradually became disillusioned in general. The hopefulness of shiny, new architecture lost its resonance for me, perhaps. And this must have been since a long time ago, maybe the last time architecture seemed exciting was the IBM building on 57th St -- and that was really a long time ago. Then, an interesting yet tiny new museum opened next door to MOMA but MOMA eventually gobbled it up. The redevelopment of Columbus Circle was certainly impressive, but again, the shopping there was out of my price range (other than the Borders that used to be there) -- similar to the sense of "visiting another alien world or even planet" I always get when visiting Barclay Center in Lower Manhattan - since at about 99.9% of the shops there, I can't afford a thing. I just do not know when this all started for me - although I know it started from before I was laid off, so I could have conceivably purchased somewhat expensive items. It's just that it didn't seem worth it, and status or the importance of status faded. For many years, long before I was laid off, what seemed more interesting to me was picking up interesting book bargains at thrift shops, or finding clothing that seemed to have promise. It was especially gratifying to go to work wearing a sweater or jacket that I picked up, dry-cleaned or washed, and then be complimented on the "new" item. Little did my coworkers know that it was thrift shop "recycled" clothing. This always for some reason gave me a thrill, as if I were defeating the consumerist ethos, or the consumerist trap we're all in, even if we occasionally beat the system by finding some chance perfect item at a thrift shop.
Unfortunately, because I haven't traveled overseas since the 80s, and there's little chance now that I ever will travel again as I once did in my more "carefree" youth, books such as the present volume, are also a way for me to catch up on developments (of all kinds - architecture, city planning, you name it) that are underway globally. I don't actually travel but I can travel virtually; well, we call can these days thanks to the internet, but there is something different about focusing on a book, I think the experience of reading is different, maybe more in-depth, than picking up information on a topic on the internet. On the other hand, you can certainly learn a lot from web surfing, that is for sure. So each thing - internet "research/learning" and perusing actual books, has its place.
Jahn's work is certainly impressive, and since he's built a reputation as a rather "over-the-top" "glamorous" architect, he undoubtedly gets commissions from cities and so forth, eager to have a statement building or airport etc constructed. He doesn't disappoint since his projects invariably epitomize the "wow" factor. They are invariably very impressive, and also progressive and forward-looking. He seems to constantly renew his office with younger engineers, and consultants, so that his projects remain cutting edge, although he is now pushing 80. He's left an impressing body of work - certainly eclectic in some respects, definitely iconoclastic, but always exciting. I'm glad I took the time to actually read this book and get an idea thereby of the exciting new architectural trends and buildings that are springing up worldwide.
The texts in the book include an essay-overview of Jahn's work, which places it in context and also supplies some interesting details on Jahn's early life in Germany. Jahn refused to toe the strict modernist line - and so his work can be described as exuberant, perhaps, rather than restrained/low-key. There is a very interesting emphasis on glass - but not just any sort of glass, the glass is always special, and contributes to the energy efficiency of the building and so forth. He invented the term archi-neering to express the close collaboration of architect and engineer .. his buildings do have a techno look to them. But also, many times, rather playful and poetic.
The center of gravity of new, exciting architecture isn't NYC - although once it may have been. This is despite the upzoning since at least the Bloomberg years, which has resulted in the transformation of Western Queens and Brooklyn. There are some interesting new buildings in NYC, but in general, the new buildings aren't that distinguished, cutting-edge, or exciting. The buildings seem to be put up to attract well-heeled lessees - they seem to be constructed for profit, not for poetry or art. In fact, Jahn's NYC commissions aren't his best work, although they are still iconoclastic and exciting in their own way. Perhaps that was Jahn's way of flipping off NYC, the center of culture -- since the built environment has always been a grab-bag of styles, with little regard for any over-arching vision or plan, other than the wish to make as much money as possible out of the bit of land the developer owns. But how does a system like that add to the community's well-being? The discussion will inevitably lead to the dismal state of housing in NYC, as the lust for money means thousands are homeless. In fact a record number are homeless, despite the assurances of the ultra-liberal Mayor De Blasio that he would end the "Tale of Two Cities" -- one well-off, the other struggling. This hasn't happened. An indication of just how elitist De Blasio really is, is the heartless neglect of the public housing projects under De Blasio. Meanwhile, De Blasio is quick to lease land to developers at public housing sites.. so that the poor rot given the City's neglect while right next door luxury towers rise, with the City's blessing. The vast majority of units at those new towers are un-affordable to the poor or even moderate-income residents, and even the so-called affordable units aren't affordable given that the pricing is based on an area income average. But I am straying from the topic at hand, that of the Jahn book.
Anyway, it's an experience to read this book and see the wonderful photos of Jahn's projects and buildings throughout the world. You do feel like you've been whisked to a great many interesting places in the world, including many in the USA - and have caught up with some recent trends in architecture. The introductory essay contained a couple of spelling errors and a chunk of text was repeated. Otherwise, the Jahn "manifesto" and the photographer's text, were sort of boilerplate rah-rah sort of writing - I didn't think they were particularly special. Jahn's imagination though is revealed through his drawings - many of which are reproduced in the book - and of course the photos of actual buildings he's designed. Jahn seems to have a limitless and inventive imagination. He definitely smashes the barrier of the ordinary. He is really different and architecture, even starchitecture, does need to be shaken up sometimes. Jahn has certainly done this repeatedly.
Here is one quote from the book - from Jahn's intro to the "Towers" section of photos:
"International work started with the Messe Turm in Frankfurt in the late 1980s. The goal there was to merge the figurative qualities of the American skyscraper with the modern European Bauhaus style to highlight its significance as the tallest building in Europe and its responsibility, since as a commercial symbol it replaced the St. Paul's Church as the city's crown and signals Frankfurt's importance as a new international financial center. This series of buildings has a presence and meaning that grows out of the complexity of their respective city environments. In our age of computers and digital communication, devoid of interaction and emotion, this is a welcome contrast to much of today's architecture which is bland and commercial."
Unfortunately, because I haven't traveled overseas since the 80s, and there's little chance now that I ever will travel again as I once did in my more "carefree" youth, books such as the present volume, are also a way for me to catch up on developments (of all kinds - architecture, city planning, you name it) that are underway globally. I don't actually travel but I can travel virtually; well, we call can these days thanks to the internet, but there is something different about focusing on a book, I think the experience of reading is different, maybe more in-depth, than picking up information on a topic on the internet. On the other hand, you can certainly learn a lot from web surfing, that is for sure. So each thing - internet "research/learning" and perusing actual books, has its place.
Jahn's work is certainly impressive, and since he's built a reputation as a rather "over-the-top" "glamorous" architect, he undoubtedly gets commissions from cities and so forth, eager to have a statement building or airport etc constructed. He doesn't disappoint since his projects invariably epitomize the "wow" factor. They are invariably very impressive, and also progressive and forward-looking. He seems to constantly renew his office with younger engineers, and consultants, so that his projects remain cutting edge, although he is now pushing 80. He's left an impressing body of work - certainly eclectic in some respects, definitely iconoclastic, but always exciting. I'm glad I took the time to actually read this book and get an idea thereby of the exciting new architectural trends and buildings that are springing up worldwide.
The texts in the book include an essay-overview of Jahn's work, which places it in context and also supplies some interesting details on Jahn's early life in Germany. Jahn refused to toe the strict modernist line - and so his work can be described as exuberant, perhaps, rather than restrained/low-key. There is a very interesting emphasis on glass - but not just any sort of glass, the glass is always special, and contributes to the energy efficiency of the building and so forth. He invented the term archi-neering to express the close collaboration of architect and engineer .. his buildings do have a techno look to them. But also, many times, rather playful and poetic.
The center of gravity of new, exciting architecture isn't NYC - although once it may have been. This is despite the upzoning since at least the Bloomberg years, which has resulted in the transformation of Western Queens and Brooklyn. There are some interesting new buildings in NYC, but in general, the new buildings aren't that distinguished, cutting-edge, or exciting. The buildings seem to be put up to attract well-heeled lessees - they seem to be constructed for profit, not for poetry or art. In fact, Jahn's NYC commissions aren't his best work, although they are still iconoclastic and exciting in their own way. Perhaps that was Jahn's way of flipping off NYC, the center of culture -- since the built environment has always been a grab-bag of styles, with little regard for any over-arching vision or plan, other than the wish to make as much money as possible out of the bit of land the developer owns. But how does a system like that add to the community's well-being? The discussion will inevitably lead to the dismal state of housing in NYC, as the lust for money means thousands are homeless. In fact a record number are homeless, despite the assurances of the ultra-liberal Mayor De Blasio that he would end the "Tale of Two Cities" -- one well-off, the other struggling. This hasn't happened. An indication of just how elitist De Blasio really is, is the heartless neglect of the public housing projects under De Blasio. Meanwhile, De Blasio is quick to lease land to developers at public housing sites.. so that the poor rot given the City's neglect while right next door luxury towers rise, with the City's blessing. The vast majority of units at those new towers are un-affordable to the poor or even moderate-income residents, and even the so-called affordable units aren't affordable given that the pricing is based on an area income average. But I am straying from the topic at hand, that of the Jahn book.
Anyway, it's an experience to read this book and see the wonderful photos of Jahn's projects and buildings throughout the world. You do feel like you've been whisked to a great many interesting places in the world, including many in the USA - and have caught up with some recent trends in architecture. The introductory essay contained a couple of spelling errors and a chunk of text was repeated. Otherwise, the Jahn "manifesto" and the photographer's text, were sort of boilerplate rah-rah sort of writing - I didn't think they were particularly special. Jahn's imagination though is revealed through his drawings - many of which are reproduced in the book - and of course the photos of actual buildings he's designed. Jahn seems to have a limitless and inventive imagination. He definitely smashes the barrier of the ordinary. He is really different and architecture, even starchitecture, does need to be shaken up sometimes. Jahn has certainly done this repeatedly.
Here is one quote from the book - from Jahn's intro to the "Towers" section of photos:
"International work started with the Messe Turm in Frankfurt in the late 1980s. The goal there was to merge the figurative qualities of the American skyscraper with the modern European Bauhaus style to highlight its significance as the tallest building in Europe and its responsibility, since as a commercial symbol it replaced the St. Paul's Church as the city's crown and signals Frankfurt's importance as a new international financial center. This series of buildings has a presence and meaning that grows out of the complexity of their respective city environments. In our age of computers and digital communication, devoid of interaction and emotion, this is a welcome contrast to much of today's architecture which is bland and commercial."
Displaying 1 of 1 review