Tag Archives: Organic

paperback of ‘Organic Design in 20th C Nordic Architecture’ Book

Arrived last week, I think the paperback version may be nicer to hold and read than the hardcover version! Definitely cheaper.. available in Australia or internationally.

Organic Design in Twentieth-Century Nordic Architecture presents a communicable and useful definition of organic architecture that reaches beyond constraints. The book focuses on the works and writings of architects in Nordic countries, such as Sigurd Lewerentz, Jørn Utzon, Sverre Fehn and the Aaltos (Aino, Elissa and Alvar), among others. It is structured around the ideas of organic design principles that influenced them and allowed their work to evolve from one building to another. Erik Champion argues organic architecture can be viewed as a concerted attempt to thematically unify the built environment through the allegorical expression of ongoing interaction between designer, architectural brief and building-as-process. With over 140 black and white images, this book is an intriguing read for architecture students and professionals alike.

Book in preparation “Organic Design in Twentieth-Century Nordic Architecture”

Yes I know I don’t normally write in architectural history (any more) but this research gave me a great deal of insight into place design and virtual space non-place design. Even though the first draft is not due to August next year, I’d just like to thank Routledge for allowing me the chance to publish in this area.

I wrote this book because I realised there was very little of critical import on what organic really means (it is often used as a compliment or a criticism without an explanation). I did not know why Nordic architects seldom featured in global architectural history books and yet those who visited their buildings were in such admiration. Indeed I also wanted to explore how Nordic architects could incorporate modernism without turning their backs on earlier styles and traditions, for they were seldom either modernist or postmodernist.

The Broad Theme/ back cover:

Can a communicable and thus useful definition of ‘Organic Architecture’ be made? In this book I say yes, there is both a practical and therefore useful definition of ‘Organic Architecture’ if we view it as an attempt to thematically unify the built environment through the allegorical expression of on-going interaction between the designer and the forces of flux and change in the real world.

I have focused on the works and writings of major twentieth-century architects of Nordic countries structured around three major premises:

  • The most prominent architects of the four major Nordic countries were influenced by similar principles.
  • The works of these prominent architects can be seen as evolving from several major ideas traceable thought their buildings.
  • From the ideology of their writings these architects made explicit claims as to the existence of such ideas in their work.