Gabriel Guevrekian: The Elusive Modernist

Gabriel Guevrekian was an architect who was part of the European Avant-garde in Paris in the 1930s. He designed the Cubist garden for Villa Noailles in France and two houses for the Vienna Werkbund exhibition. His diverse pursuits and multiple homes and nationalities led to a serial adoption of personae, making every discipline meaningful and every city central and every period epochal.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2021
Publisher: Hatje Cantz

The Elusive Modernist delves into the rich history of the Modern movement, shedding light on the legacy of one of its prominent figures, Gabriel Guevrekian (circa 1900–1970). Hailing from Istanbul, Guevrekian's journey took him to Tehran and eventually to Vienna, where he pursued his passion for architecture at the Kunstgewerbeschule. His career blossomed as he collaborated with renowned architects such as Oskar Strnad, Josef Hoffmann, Adolf Loos, Henri Sauvage, and Robert Mallet-Stevens, resulting in iconic designs such as the Cubist garden for Villa Noailles in France and two houses for the Vienna Werkbund exhibition. At the young age of not yet 30, Guevrekian was already recognized as a key player in the European Avant-garde in Paris. Over the course of the 1930s, he ventured to Iran to contribute to the design of public buildings, a journey that would later influence his teaching responsibilities in Europe and America. Guevrekian's diverse experiences and multiple homes in Asia, Europe, and then America led to a fascinating phenomenon—a serial adoption of personae. Through his profound engagement with various disciplines, cities, and historical periods, he imbued them with meaning, making them central to his artistic vision. His impact extended far beyond the realm of architecture, as he sought to make every aspect of life meaningful and epochal. Gabriel Guevrekian's legacy continues to inspire and influence architects and artists worldwide, reminding us of the power of artistic engagement and the ability to shape the world around us.

Weight: 1950g
Dimension: 241 x 299 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783775744331