Books - Weiss/Manfredi Surface Subsurface

Tuesday, 30 September 2008 05:59

Weiss/Manfredi Surface Subsurface
by Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi (Authors,) Introduction by David Leatherbarrow, Foreword by Mohsen Mostafavi, and interviews conducted by Detlef Mertins
11 x 9 inches (27.9 x 22.9 cm),
Hardcover, 208 pages
300 color illustrations

Since being founded in 1987, WEISS/MANFREDI has been dealing with a wide variety of projects in the fields Architecture, Landscape, and Urbanism. The firm judiciously transcends the virtual barriers that separate these disciplines.

The solutions they bring to their projects, progress beyond the architectural requirements, to engage in a closer interaction with their immediate surroundings and impregnate their concepts with ideas broadly derived from the local urban context. Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi realize that their work will impact goes beyond the constructed building and the success of the project requires an extensive research and the collaboration of a wide spectrum of consultants.

The architects describe their interdisciplinary approach in their work as 'multilayered', While the visual beauty and the project's appearance constitutes the surface, the underpinnings of the project that results from a thorough analysis of the site, surroudings, infrstructure, and socio-cultural interference, would form the 'Subsurface'. The work of WM demonstrates the interdependence of the surface and subsurface, making sure that their projects get experienced at both levels.

The book covers a range of projects that the firm worked upon and grouped around three conceptual themes; recovering infrastructure, inhabiting landscape, and leveraging movement/vision. The authors explains their concepts and philosophies through extensive interviews dissecting the components and rich ideas behind their designs, and how those ideas can be implemented to projects of different scales and nature.

More info at Princeton Press