Review: Kanner Architects 11 projects

Kanner Architects 11 projects -- cover.

Architecture-Page rating

6/10

Reviewed by: Suprio Bhattacharjee

The Review

At the outset, it is very difficult to ascertain where exactly the book wants to place itself. It cautiously sidesteps the expectations of being a monograph, by calling itself a 'survey of recent work.' And with a refreshingly crisp, no-nonsense layout focussing on the presentation of large pictures of work accompanied by limited text, it tends towards the catalogue, if not the coffee-table picture book.

This feel is reinforced by an insightful introduction by internationally renowned writer Mike Webb (often seen on the pages of Frame and The Architectural Review). But perhaps most importantly, what this book depicts is the resurgence of a family-run practice and its foray into, I dare say, 'serious' architectural territory.

Large photographs bring to life each work in its bright, Southern Californian setting, where the practice is based.

This is a nice book - There are nice pictures, really nice large centre-spreads that portray each work.

The work is varied, startling and exciting - like the gas station under construction with its dramatic roof structure, or the bold red house featured on the cover.

At the same time, some of the work displays a light, breezy indoor-outdoor-blurring modernism that, the book acknowledges, is reminiscent of mid-century tropical Modernists such as Richard Neutra or R.M. Schindler.

On the other hand, some projects, though simple in form, are enlivened through a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns. You can stare at each image for quite a while, just like I did. This does help in deciphering each work, as the details and materiality of each work comes alive.

Even so, with a layout and presentation that emphasizes imagery over inference, we are made to wonder. Is this meant to be merely an eye-catching catalogue? Or a 'hard' substitute for a website that emphasizes visual content? Is this book really as unpretentious as it seems? Or is it reflective of a practice that is still finding itself?

One really wishes that the book did a bit more justice to the remarkable work it tries to represent.

Book Details

Title

Kanner Architects 11 projects

Author

Michael Webb (Introduction)

Publisher

ORO -- Publishers of Architecture, Art and Design

Year

2007

Format

Paperback

Dimensions

10 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Content pages

70+

Language

English

ISBN-10

0977467236

ISBN-13

978-0977467236