Product Description

One of the most influential architects of the postwar era, Aldo Rossi has enriched the world of design and architecture with his imaginative ideas, his people-friendly buildings, and his dedication to teaching. Capturing the essence of Rossi's multidisciplinary approach are his exquisite drawings. From his treatise The Architecture of the City (1966) and his seminal Cemetery of San Cataldo (1971) to his popular Hotel II Palazzo in Fukuoka (1987) and a public housing project in Berlin (1992-98), his paper explorations and renderings have been an integral part of his creative process and a key to understanding the meaning behind his architecture. This delightful volume collects over two hundred of Rossi's most recent and largely unpublished drawings, executed between 1991 and his tragic death in 1997. From his musings on Casa Alessi (1989-94) to more ambitious projects for the Walt Disney Corporation (1996), each drawing conveys the individuality and idiosyncrasy of a master at work. It is too easy to describe these personal and exuberant images as works of art, for they are much more: documents, records, visions, and illuminations of a master at work. 226 illustrations, 191 in color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1163658 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

About the Author
Paolo Portoghesi is an internationally renowned architect and historian. He has published widely, most recently in Nature and Architecture.

Customer Reviews

Aldo Rossi drawings....
What better book to show an architecture student, design student, or even professional designer the virtues and power of the hand? This is a small and compelling book that does not explore, but states clearly the relevance of drawing in Rossi's design process. Though the format of the book is small, the reproductions of Rossi's works are large enough and of high enough quality that we can clearly follow the craft and intuition of the initial responses and investigations of particular design problems. Rossi's drawings are intuitive, playful, and always based solidly in the knowledge of the fundimentals of orthographic, perspective, and axonometric design drawing as well as the subjectivity of gesture. In his drawings, the process, not the product, is paramount. For an instructor of design or drawing, they are wonderful for student analysis. By dismantling and revealing the underlying structures of the visual language that Rossi employs, students and designers alike will be inspired to return to paper in a much more rigorous way to explore the moments between thought and expression that perhaps only drawing can afford. Whether you are a fan of Rossi or not, this book is a great addition to a personal or school library.