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Details of Modern Architecture 
Volume 2: 1928 to 1988 

Reviewed by Lester Paul Korzilius 
Approximately 300 words 

Published in Oculus, March 1997

This is the second volume in a series, covering modern architecture from 1928 to 1988. More than half of the 100 illustrated projects are the work of Eliel Saarinen, Erik Gunnar Asplund, Richard Neutra, Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier, Eero Saarinen, and Louis Kahn. The author uses photographs and sectional axonometric drawings to explain selected aspects of the construction of each building. Some drawings are particularly insightful and give a deeper understanding to well-known buildings. For example, Corbusier’s Unite d’Habitation, despite its rugged concrete appearance, contains a significant amount of steel framing.The axonometric drawings of Kahn’s Richards Medical Laboratory clearly show the precast concrete structure, and its tight integration with the mechanical services.

The sectional axonometric drawings work well to convey the constructional aspects of a building. This particularly suits buildings where the art of construction is an important part of the architecture. Examples include Eero Saarienen’s John Deere Headquarters, Sigurd Lewerentz’s St. Peters Church, and Richard Roger’s Lloyds of London. However, this method of analysis does not work as well with buildings where the art of construction is not a factor of primary significance in these works of architecture. These projects include Eliel Saarinen’s Cranbrook School, Erik Gunnar Asplund’s Woodland Crematorium, and Carlo Scarpa’s Brion Cemetery.

This volume improves on its predecessor as there are more drawings per building. Unfortunately, the book includes so many projects that the coverage allotted to each is often not sufficient. In particular, the final chapter on High Tech, Deconstruction, and present day work is not sufficiently focused in its coverage. These flaws however, are offset by the valuable perspective that this books brings to works of modern architecture. 

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