Dan Hanganu: Works, 1981-2015

by Dan Hanganu

Dan works, 1981-2015 presents a detailed graphic record of twelve key projects out of the extensive work of Dan Hanganu, the pioneering Montreal architect. Defying categorization, drawing on rationalist, constructivist, and classical discourses, Dan Hanganu is one of Canada’s most innovative architects. His distinctive works constitute a critical part of Montreal’s architectural history. These works have shaped the architectural synthesis between European architectural history and Canadian culture and geographic conditions, with a defining contribution to Canadian architecture that has influenced other works by generations of architects. Contains an introduction by Essy Baniassad and a foreword by Kenneth Frampton.

184 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2017

Reviews

[Daniel Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was wonderful to learn about and from an under-valued architect in this monograph. The front and back matter were especially illuminating.

I did unfortunately find several issues at the editorial level. Highlighting a selection of statement projects and including the rest as addenda was a fair approach—allowing adequate space for visualisation of complex, programmatically-diverse buildings—but this also meant fully bypassing intriguing smaller projects. Otherwise, the accompanying texts being written by stylistically distinct critics made transitioning from one work to another jarring. Arial photography and clearer connections between image and text would also have facilitated legibility.

Regardless, I am glad to have this book on hand. I hope to see a revised, expanded edition in the future.