Marcel Breuer

<p>This book tracks the development of Marcel Breuer’s aesthetic clash between uniformity and singularity through the detailed examination of his seminal buildings. Each chapter examines a specific building and puts into context Breuer’s other work and the contemporary movements/architects of the post-war era such as Surrealism Brutalism and structural expressionism. The buildings examined include the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris France of 1958; the IBM Research Center in Le Gaude France of 1962; the Annunciation Priory in Bismark North Dakota of 1963; and the Atlanta Central Library of 1980. </p><p>Marcel Breuer’s approach to design was inspired by the Spanish phrase <em>sol y sombra</em> (sun and shadow). Sun and shadow meant for Breuer that a juxtaposition of contrasts was necessary; light glass walls and heavy concrete masses lifted over voids and serial precast construction resting on sculptural columns became hallmarks of Breuer’s buildings. By creating an architecture of juxtaposition Breuer’s work can be interpreted as a surrealist <em>recontre</em> as fueling a new architectural condition. </p><p>A critical evaluation of Marcel Breuer’s work this book is written for graduate students researchers and academics interested in his work and how it shaped the architecture of the post-war era.</p>