PLASMA STUDIO ::: Hotel Puerta America, Madrid, Spain. ::: Book selection
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Since the release of the critically acclaimed 10x10 five years ago, the world of architecture has evolved: Advances in technology and research continue to produce increasingly sophisticated forms; advances in communication have resulted in decentralized, multicity architecture offices; and an impressive crop of young architects is emerging from countries with comparatively little previous recognition in the field, such as Slovenia, South Korea, and China. Many of the architects featured in 10x10— including Asymptote, Shigeru Ban, and MVRDV—have become established fixtures on the international scene, opening the way to a new generation of talent. With the expertise of a highly knowledgeable and high-powered group of curators, 10x10_2 picks up where its predecessor left off. ©Amazon.com
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For a while now the "Young British Artists" have been soaking up the international limelight thanks to a sensibility that is at once outrageous and thoughtful. Architecture, of course, always takes a while to catch up to the other arts, but now, finally, Britain has emerged as one of the world's most fertile breeding grounds for international design talent. Catalyzed by such leading international architecture schools as the Architectural Association and the Bartlett, a new wave of architects, from home and abroad, is combining local and global styles in exciting new buildings and projects. Post-Imperial British designers are indeed synthesizing foreign cultures with Western conditions in an entirely original way.
Profiling Britain's most dynamic and intriguing practices, British Built features projects by S333, Caruso St John, Alison Brooks, Foreign Office Architects (FOA), muf, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Gollifer Langston, de Rijke Marsh Morgan (dRMM), Kathryn Findlay, FAT, Adjaye Associates, Sergison Bates, Klein Dytham Architects (KDa), and Deborah Saunt David Hills Architects.
British Built, the sequel to our successful SuperDutch, includes studio profiles and essays outlining the unique characteristics of the British architect working today and presenting an even younger generation of architects whose stars are only just appearing on the horizon, including atopia, softroom, dECOi, and Tonkin Liu, among many others. ©Amazon.com
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It would be hard to find a city that lends itself more to the pursuit of hedonism than Madrid. Known as the party capital of Europe, it has a level of vibrancy and energy unparalleled in other cities. No matter what the night of the week, you'll find bars and restaurants bursting with people well into the early hours. Coupled with the cultural sophistication and elegance of the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia, Madrid is the ultimate weekend destination. ©Amazon.com
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A look at soccer superstar David Beckham, the Real Madrid team he joined in 2003, and at how this combination has forever changed the face of the world's most popular sport. ©Amazon.com