Marcel Breuer

This book tracks the development of Marcel Breuers aesthetic clash between uniformity and singularity through the detailed examination of his seminal buildings. Each chapter examines a specific building and puts into context Breuers 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. Marcel Breuers approach to design was inspired by the Spanish phrase, sol y sombra (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 Breuers buildings. By creating an architecture of juxtaposition, Breuers work can be interpreted as a surrealist recontre, as fueling a new architectural condition. A critical evaluation of Marcel Breuers 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.