Book Description

In the past few decades, cepezed has gained renown with transparent, sustainable and technologically progressive architecture that is remarkably usable and humane. Unaffected design, sober but stylish materialization, and careful finishing are just as characteristic of Cepezed's oeuvre as the integration of spatial and construction-technical aspects. The design and building processes at cepezed are also integrated: the use of prefab components and the application of industrial building methods guarantee an optimum alignment of design and realization, in which time, quality, and costs are meticulously planned and controlled. Prototypes documents a large number of key projects and deals extensively with the various aspects of product development, building process and architecture. The layout and form of the book make it very similar to a cepezed design: celar, logical and efficient. It offers very incisive insight into the office philosophy that cepezed has drawn straight through architectural history. In addition to the timeless aesthetic pleasure that can be experienced in the designs and the craftmanship displayed at detail level, the much-discussed role of the architect in the design process today is examined in the book. A must read for every architect who wrestles with the threatened depreciation of the discipline.