Summary

minimalism as a concept was first used in the world of art to characterize the work of Donald Judd, Sol Le Witt and several others. Soon afterwards, this creative approach began to take hold in architecture, and the works of many contemporary architects are rooted in Minimalism to a greater or lesser degree. This publication goes to the heart of this trend, looking first at Loos, Wittgenstein, Mies van der Rohe, and Asplund, the definitive precursors of Minimalism. Then the works of today´s protagonists, who include Tadao Ando, Luìs Barragàn, Alberto Campo Baeza, A.G. Fronzoni, Michael Gabellini, John Pawson, Claudio Silvestrin, Eduardo Souto Moura, and Peter Zumthor are covered extensively. A selection of texts contributed by the featured architects conclude the volume. With a clear even austere presentation, this book not only reflects its contents but provides a comprehensive overview of Minimalism, one of the dominant trends in contemporary architecture.