num_pages: 696
description: The book Elements of Venice reveals through the analysis of single architectural elements the metamorphic nature of Venice a city in which most buildings underwent throughout the centuries substantial volumetric and formal transformations informed by political and cultural shifts.Developed as a parallel research project of Fundamentals - the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale curated by Rem Koolhaas - the book Elements of Venice offers insights on Venetian facades stairs corridors floors ramps ceilings doors hearths windows balconies and walls.Product not [only] of the mind but of societal organization the elements are isolated from their picture-perfect context and from the postcard view of Venice that is impressed in our retinas introducing the reader - through a combination of collages drawings photographs paintings film stills and quotes - to a radically new way of seeing Venice. Like a camera obscura photograph cuts through the often irrelevant embellishments of architecture to reveal the underlying skeleton of a building (i.e. its elements) this guide will allow the reader to better understand the fundamental transformations that have shaped Venice during the past ten centuries.
language: English
title: Elements of Venice
publisher: Lars Müller