Rooftops: Islands in the SkyOn top of the world: Reinventing the rooftop
As
urban living intensifies in density and numbers, the city landscape
expands both outwards and upwards. Architects and urban designers craft
new and experimental structures while also investigating existing
buildings for potential reinvention or expansion. In particular, the
roof of a building, once a perfunctory structural element, is now a city space in and of itself, beloved for the capacity to eke out further room for living or to craft inspiring refuges away from the bustle of the metropolis.
This international selection of urban rooftops catalogs a new urban dimension. Through over 50 bars, restaurants, temporary art installations, and gardens,
it testifies to the variety of intelligent and exuberant designs that
grace city summits from Sydney to Hong Kong, Oslo to Chicago. Whether
it’s the panoramic views, the exposure to the elements, or a slight
giddiness that comes with height, we see just how the roof has nurtured
not only architectural invention but a whole new facet and thrill to
city living.
Just like its predecessors Tree Houses and Cabins, Urban Rooftops
features both brilliant photography and bright, contemporary
illustration. As with all books in TASCHEN’s architecture series, it
also celebrates both the established and the rising talents of the
industry. Featured artists in this movement towards the skies include
Pritzker Prize winners Norman Foster and Shigeru Ban, Jeffrey Inaba, Julien de Smedt (JDS), and landscape designers such as Ken Smith and Vladimir Djurovic.
Text in English, French, and German |
