'Through stable, quiet and serene architecture (rather than through loud and ostentatious forms) the soul gives up fighting against its earthly fate and finds peace'. This intriguing aphorism by architect Claudio Silvestrin forms the crux of his work, and appears in his latest tome, 'The non-materiality of the material - Claudio Silvestrin' - itself an altogether calming 366 page journey from one minimalist project to the next, capturing the essense of Silvestrin's work over the last 20 years.
Armed with a substantial preface by Franco Bertoni, an essay by Francesco Alberoni and a postscript by Germano Celant, the book also features a selection of Silvestrin's writings - a welcome glimpse into the mind of this architect, who despite his many high profile commissions, often chooses to let his spaces - strong and inventive, yet never intimidating - quietly shape a landscape.
Born in 1954, the London-based architect worked in partnership with John Pawson for a few years, before setting up his own practice in 1989. He has since garnered a diverse following, including the likes of Kanye West, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein and Victoria Miro - who all want a piece of his austere vision.
Almost bordering on monastic, the calm serene forms of a Silvestrin building have even compelled Alberoni to describe it in the book as 'a place in which fragmented man can rediscover the roots of his culture and tradition, through earth, water, air, fire, wood, stone and light.' Spiritual words, but looking at Silvestrin's favouring of simple, natural material, and his unwavering committment to the essense of architectural configuration - spaces are an interplay between geometry and its horizon, stripped bare of embellishment - it's a natural conclusion.
Museum of Contemporary Art - Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin, 2002
Museum of Contemporary Art - Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin, 2002
Museum of Contemporary Art - Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin, 2002
Museum of Contemporary Art - Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Foundation, Turin, 2002
Neuendorf Villa, Majorca, 1991
The villa was designed in partnership with John Pawson. The partners split before completion and Silvestrin completed the construction on his own
Neuendorf Villa, Majorca, 1991
The villa was designed in partnership with John Pawson. The partners split before completion and Silvestrin completed the construction on his own
Victoria Miro Private Collection Gallery, London, 2006
Victoria Miro Private Collection Gallery, London, 2006
Victoria Miro Private Collection Gallery, London, 2006
Giorgio Armani store, Sao Paulo, 2001
Giorgio Armani store, Sao Paulo, 2001
Giorgio Armani store, London, 2003
Giorgio Armani store, London, 2003
Donnelly Gallery, Irish Coast, 2002
Donnelly Gallery, Irish Coast, 2002
Donnelly Gallery, Irish Coast, 2002
Proposed plans for Aquapura Villas Resort, Ceará, Brazil, due for completion in 2013. Silvestrin’s plans illustrate 40,000m² of construction, consisting of a spa, hotel complex, and 96 villas, each with their own swimming pool and terrace
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Our Tech Editor's selection of new and upgraded audio players covers the full spectrum of formatsWhether it’s vinyl, cassette, CD or mp3, or even sound sources you’ve captured yourself, you’ll find a suitable device in this round-up of pocketable and portable audio players
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This Swedish summer house is a family's serene retreat by the trees and the Baltic seaHorsö, a Swedish summer house by Atelier Alba is a playfully elegant retreat by the Kalmarsund Sea and a natural reserve
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A new exhibition retraces 50 years of Pierre Paulin’s history around the table‘Les Tables de Pierre Paulin’ shows a lesser-known side of the designer’s creative world, accompanied by a new book tracing his wife’s hospitality around his iconic table designs. ‘A creator is never alone in his creation…’
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'Tropicality' explored in Indonesian architect Andra Matin’s first monograph'Tropicality' is a key theme in a new book on Indonesian architect Andra Matin, whose work blends landscape, architecture and living
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‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a lovingly compiled photographic portrait of cars and architecture‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a celebration of the European Car of the Year and changing perceptions of modern design, pairing the best buildings of the age with their automotive contemporaries
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Álvaro Siza’s new monograph through the lens of Duccio Malagamba is impactful and immersiveÁlvaro Siza and photographer Duccio Malagamba collaborate on a new monograph by Phaidon; ‘Before / After: Álvaro Siza Duccio Malagamba’ celebrates the Portuguese architect's work
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Marcio Kogan’s Studio MK27 celebrated in this new monograph from Rizzoli‘The Architecture of Studio MK27. Lights, camera, action’ is a richly illustrated journey through the evolution of this famed Brazilian architecture studio
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‘Interior sculptor’ Christophe Gevers’ oeuvre is celebrated in new book‘Christophe Gevers’ is a sleek monograph dedicated to the Belgian's life work as an interior architect, designer, sculptor and inventor, with unseen photography by Jean-Pierre Gabriel
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Flick through ‘Brutal Wales’, a book celebrating concrete architecture‘Brutal Wales’ book zooms into a selection of concrete Welsh architecture treasures through the lens of photographer Simon Phipps
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Architecture books to inspire shelf loveHere at Wallpaper*, we’ve got architecture books piling up; among them, these are the photographic tomes, architects’ monographs and limited editions that we couldn’t resist
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Pioneering modernist Henry Kulka's life and career tracked in limited-edition monographCzech-New Zealand architect Henry Kulka, a man who spread modernist ideals half way around the world, is celebrated in Giles Reid and Mary Gaudin’s richly illustrated monograph
