From the Room to the City: Munich - Urbanity and Complexity

Stephen Bates and Bruno Krucker, two British architects, collaborated with their students to conduct an in-depth study of Munich over a decade. The resulting book evaluates the city's building history and ideas for its future, using atmospheric photographs, precise plans, drawings, models, and texts to reveal its multi-layered and complex character. Munich has undergone significant changes through planned expansions, infrastructural developments, and war damage, but big plans and visions have often remained piecemeal, shaping the city to this day. Individual new structures have also contributed to continuous changes to the character of streets, demonstrating that the unfinished and unplanned are just as much a part of a city's beauty.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 13 March 2023
Publisher: Park Books

Over a span of ten years, British architect Stephen Bates and his Zurich-based colleague Bruno Krucker collaborated extensively as joint instructors at the Technical University of Munich. Together, they embarked on a comprehensive exploration, investigation, and analysis of the Bavarian capital, involving their students in the process. The outcome of this extensive study is now presented in the form of a captivating compendium, offering a detailed evaluation of Munich's architectural history and envisioning its future.

This richly illustrated book serves as a comprehensive exploration of European cities, with Munich serving as a focal point. Through a diverse range of visual elements, including atmospheric photographs, precise plans, drawings, images of models, and informative texts, the book sheds light on the multifaceted and intricate nature of the city, revealing its unique characteristics, coincidences, and intentions.

Similar to many other European cities, Munich has undergone significant transformations over the years, driven by planned expansions, infrastructural developments, and the impact of war. This volume highlights how grand plans and visions, often shaped by the paradigms of a particular generation, have often remained fragmented and incomplete. Nevertheless, it is precisely because of these unfinished and unplanned elements that Munich retains its distinctive charm and continues to evolve.

In addition to the examination of Munich's historical and contemporary development, the book also showcases the impact of individual new structures on the city's streetscape. It emphasizes that the city's beauty lies not only in the completed and meticulously planned structures but also in the unfinished and spontaneous elements that contribute to its unique character.

The text is available in both English and German, making it accessible to a wide audience interested in architecture, urban planning, and the history of cities.

Weight: 1208g
Dimension: 192 x 289 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783038602880