BOOK:Red-Architecture in Monochrome, Phaidon Publications

Last year Phaidon Publications revealed the tome “Black: Architecture in Monochrome”, which delved into the architectural history and application of the color black. This year the publishing house focus on a far more vibrant shade. Spanning 1,306 years of worldwide constructs, “Red: Architecture in Monochrome” brings together 150 of the world’s most striking red buildings and installations. Opening with an essay by art historian Stella Paul, the book considers the cultural and spiritual significance of the shade over the centuries, accompanied by perceptive quotes from the likes of Robert Motherwell, William Carlos Williams and Robert Burns. Paul describes how the hue historically came into circulation in art, fashion and politics, from the prehistoric peoples who discovered the reds in iron oxide deposits and used them in cave drawings; to its inherent link with rank and authority in Roman dress; and its ideological connotations with socialism in the 17th and 18th centuries. The 175 full-colour photographs illustrate works by the likes of Lina Bo Bardi (São Paulo Museum of Art, 1968), Tadao Ando (Water Temple in Awaji-Shima, 1991) and Frank Gehry (Der neue Zollhof commercial development in Düsseldorf, 1998), vibrantly presenting each project in fascinating detail.-Efi Michalarou