Philippe Samyn's rigorous, imaginative and poetic oeuvre is unique in the history of contemporary European architecture and engineering. This impressive volume - with more than 1,350 illustrations of buildings, modeis, drawings, computer-generated images and sketches, some of them appearing for the first time - provides a singular view into the preoccupations of this architect, engineer and urban panner.
Pierre Puttemans's text offers an introduction to architecture and urban planning, and puts Samyn's work into historical perspective. It also provides a detailed analysis of more than 160 projects, some of them unbuilt and displayed here for the first time.
Pierre Spehl is an engineer who has collaborated with Philippe Samyn for many years. His essay reveals the highly complex nature of the engineer's art, via Samyn's various technical innovations - whether in terms of structure, fluid dynamics or environmental impact - as well as through the various patents registered by Philippe Samyn and Partners.
Finally, an interview with Philippe Samyn allows the reader to understand how his exceptional office is run, and the roles that art, sketches and models play in his creative process.