Kay Fisker: Works and Ideas in Danish Modern Architecture

This book is the first in-depth English-language study of Kay Fisker (1893-1965), a influential Danish architect of the twentieth century. It examines his key projects and analyzes his work as a historian and writer, showing how his architectural poetics combine an ideal order with the contingent conditions of landscapes and urban sites. Hybridization is a valuable notion for understanding Fisker and modernist architecture as a whole.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 17 June 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Kay Fisker (1893-1965) is widely regarded as one of the most influential Danish architects of the 20th century, yet there has been a lack of comprehensive English-language research on his works and writings. This book, published as part of the Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Architecture series, aims to shed light on the work of significant yet overlooked modernist architects. It delves into Fisker's key projects, ranging from his early railway stations and innovative housing initiatives to his time at the Danish Academy in Rome. Through an in-depth analysis of his work as a historian and writer, the book explores Fisker's architectural poetics, which are closely linked to the functional tradition. This tradition combines elements of international modernism with regional architectural typologies, creating a unique blend. The book demonstrates how Fisker's architectural approach can be understood as a harmonious combination of an ideal order with the contingent conditions of landscapes and urban sites. Moreover, the book argues that hybridization, a concept applied to Fisker's work, holds significant value in understanding modernist architecture as a whole. It encompasses the diverse expressions, agendas, and tensions found within modernist architecture across different regions and contexts. By examining Fisker's contributions and the broader context of modernist architecture, this book offers valuable insights into the evolution and significance of this architectural movement.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350068193