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Elli Mosayebi, Michael Kraus (eds.)

The Renewal of Dwelling

European Housing Construction 1945–1975


Book design: Büro 146, Zurich

2nd edition
English, 396 pages, 600 images and plans, 22 × 31 cm, softcover with jacket

Euro (D) 89.–, Euro (A) 91.50

available

ISBN 978-3-03863-038-8

CHF   88.00


→ Awarded with the DAM Architectural Book Award 2023

→ Awarded as one of the most beautiful books of Germany 2023

→ The study is based on 54 selected settlements and buildings from Zagreb, Cologne, Oslo, Porto, Lyon, Athens and the region of Liverpool / Manchester and Leeds / Sheffield.

Most of Europe’s housing was built between 1945 and 1975. In only 30 years, the stock was not only renewed, but also significantly expanded. The public sector played a key role, as states and participating institutions sought a way to tackle the existing housing shortage. They also recognised a unique opportunity to implement their political ideals.

For the first time, this publication presents how such a fundamental renewal of dwelling and its architectural implementation was achieved. Comparison between individual projects reveals universal themes, as well as local aspects integrated into the architecture.
The diversity of housing themes in the post-war period is presented on two levels: firstly through an archive of exemplary housing developments and secondly with a collection of texts that engage with detailed aspects of housing in the examined cities. The archive of housing projects consists of original plans, sketches, photographs and short texts.

Today, many of the presented buildings are in danger of being demolished or have already been removed, since they were not appreciated sufficiently. The dominant narrative is one of deficiencies. The value debate with respect to preserving such buildings lacks visions for the future. This book aims to renew the existing narrative and thereby inspire a positive approach to such post-war buildings.

The study is based on 54 selected settlements and buildings from Zagreb, Cologne, Oslo, Porto, Lyon, Athens and the region of Liverpool/Manchester and Leeds/Sheffield.

With contributions by:
Jasper Cepl, Bauhaus University Weimar, with Sam Jacoby, Royal College of Art, London and Valerio Massaro, London South Bank University; Irina Davidovici, ETH Zurich; Philippe Dufieux, ENSAL Lyon; Nuno Grande, University of Coimbra; Anne-Kristine Kronborg, Oslo School of Architecture and Design; Karin Šerman and Jana Horvat, University of Zagreb; Panayotis Tournikiotis, NTUA Athens.

About the Editors

The career of Elli Mosayebi has been characterised by a close connection between practice, research and teaching. Since 2004, she has directed the architectural office Edelaar Mosayebi Inderbitzin in Zurich together with Ron Edelaar and Christian Inderbitzin. Housing development and urban planning are special priorities, having won numerous competitions in those fields. Her dissertation investigates the work of the Milan-based architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni. From 2012 to 2018, she was Professor of Design and Housing Construction at the TU Darmstadt. Since 2018, she has been Professor of Architecture and Design at the ETH Zurich. Her work focuses on housing development and the current transformation in the housing sector. 

Michael Kraus studied Architecture at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, IIT Chicago and Stanford University. From 2012 to 2018, he was a Research Assistant at the Faculty of Design and Housing Construction at the TU Darmstadt, and from 2018 to 2019 at the Chair of Urban Design, TU München. Since 2019, he has been a Research Assistant at the Chair of Design and Urban Architecture at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. He is the owner and publisher of M BOOKS, an independent publishing house for architecture and related disciplines, with a connected bookshop and gallery in Weimar.

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