Kay Fisker
Danish Functionalism and Block-based Housing
Published on 28. September 2022
Book
Hardback
132 pages
978-1-84822-405-6 (ISBN)
Description
This book focuses on Kay Fisker (1893-1965)'s housing
estates in Copenhagen. A leading exponent of Danish Functionalism, Fisker was influenced
by Louis Sullivan, and had a strong belief in continuity, putting modernism in
perspective and identifying precedents. He built many large-scale housing
schemes, mostly for non-profit workers' housing associations, and developed
innovative and beautifully considered high-density, low-rise block schemes,
which have proven useful and influential to the growing number of contemporary
architects who have examined his designs.
Beautifully illustrated with photographs and architectural
drawings, this book documents and critically analyses three of Kay Fisker's
seminal housing projects in Copenhagen: Hornbaekhus (1923); Vestersohus
(1935-39); and Dronningegarden (1943-58). These projects reflect how Fisker's
work contains valuable lessons for contemporary architects in economy,
precision and generosity in housing design. Essays by Martin Soberg, Poul
Sverrild and Job Floris set Fisker's work within their historical, social
and architectural context. In the final section, architects from three leading
contemporary practices - Clancy Moore, Monadnock and Tony Fretton - discuss how
Kay Fisker has influenced their own approaches and work.
estates in Copenhagen. A leading exponent of Danish Functionalism, Fisker was influenced
by Louis Sullivan, and had a strong belief in continuity, putting modernism in
perspective and identifying precedents. He built many large-scale housing
schemes, mostly for non-profit workers' housing associations, and developed
innovative and beautifully considered high-density, low-rise block schemes,
which have proven useful and influential to the growing number of contemporary
architects who have examined his designs.
Beautifully illustrated with photographs and architectural
drawings, this book documents and critically analyses three of Kay Fisker's
seminal housing projects in Copenhagen: Hornbaekhus (1923); Vestersohus
(1935-39); and Dronningegarden (1943-58). These projects reflect how Fisker's
work contains valuable lessons for contemporary architects in economy,
precision and generosity in housing design. Essays by Martin Soberg, Poul
Sverrild and Job Floris set Fisker's work within their historical, social
and architectural context. In the final section, architects from three leading
contemporary practices - Clancy Moore, Monadnock and Tony Fretton - discuss how
Kay Fisker has influenced their own approaches and work.
Reviews / Votes
'This very thorough set of surveys encapsulated the many scales of address of the projects, from the urban figure to those building elements that would be used and touched by residents every day.' - Drawing Matter 'should be compulsory reading on every architecture course' - Matthew Wickens, *Building Design *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
60 Illustrations, color; 90 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 307 mm
Width: 306 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
1305 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84822-405-6 (9781848224056)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Andrew Clancy and Colm Moore were both educated at University College Dublin and completed PhDs by Practice with RMIT. In 2008 they established Clancy Moore Architects which has been acknowledged in domestic and international awards, publications, lectures and exhibitions. Andrew Clancy has been Professor of Architecture at the Kingston School of Art London since 2016. Colm Moore is currently a senior lecturer at Queens University Belfast, where he co-ordinates the M.Arch programme.
Content
Introduction: Kay Fisker and the Conditions of Life by Andrew Clancy & Colm Moore. 1: Kay Fisker's Principles for Modern Housing by Martin Soberg Essay. 2: An Outline of Danish Social Housing History by Poul Sverrild. 3: Dronningegarden and Kay Fisker's Continuum by Job Floris. Building Studies: Hornbaekhus - The Block; Vestersohus - The Terrace; Dronningegarden - The Square. Response 1: Between familiarity and Abstraction by Tony Fretton. Response 2: Two Tone by Job Floris. Response 3: Conversation and the Contingent by Andrew Clancy and Colm Moore. Coda: The Moral of Functionalism by Kay Fisker