by Marc Dubois, Dominique Pieters & Koen Van Synghel
If you admire the curves of Calatrava, the steel glissades of Gehry, and the glassy cool of Koolhaas, then this book on the projects of Samyn & Partners, Belgium's most prestigious architectural and engineering practice, is for you. The firm's graceful style, mostly grounded in glass and steel, covers a diverse range of projects: a pedestrian bridge in Santiago, Chile; the conversion of the historic Flagey building in Brussels; Fina service stations; and the design and renovation of auditoriums, offices, museums and the like, all over the world. Philippe Samyn's reputation arose from his ecologically sustainable low-tech projects and the interdisciplinary approach of his office, whose aim is to "conceive intelligible and relevant constructions that transform complexity into clarity." As well as providing an overview of the firm's 25 years in business, the authors delve into detail on some 20 projects.
