CONCRETE - ARCHITECTURE ET DESIGN.

Because of the increasing requirements of multimedia the demands placed on libraries have grown enormously in the past decade. The institution went through a true image transformation, from an introverted hoard of knowledge to a globally networked information vendor and communication broker. The architectural realization of this expanded demand profile makes for a very complex and simultaneously exciting building task. Whether new buildings, conversions or extensions, Masterpieces : Library Architecture + Design shows the diversity of this task to complying with the requirements of cuttingedge technology and cultural demands at the same time. Based on texts, photos and plans, 69 projects are presented from around the world - including the work of great architects such as José Rafael Moneo, Foster + Partners and Toyo Ito.

Manuela Roth, born 1980, has studied Interior Design inGermany and the USA. After practicing in the field for severalyears in Stuttgart and Dusseldorf she has been working since2007 for different publishing houses. She has publishedseveral books on architecture and design, right now she isliving in Berlin as freelance journalist.

In almost no other region of Europe is the connection to nature so pronounced as in the Nordic countries - beginning with the extreme differences between the long, dark winter nights and the long days of summer. At the same time, the dovetailing of state of the art technology with the contemporary realization of tradition is a matter of course in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland. Thanks to the creativity and relish for experiment of the architecture and design scene, a many facetted Scandinavian design consciousness has emerged ; the many trends that were initiated have created enthusiasm around the world. The projects presented in this volume show the unique and surprising design concepts for residential space, restaurants, stores and offices. From the contents : - Kvadrat Showroom in Copenhagen, Denmark (Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec) - Hof Country Residence in Skagafjördur fjord, Iceland (Studio Granda) - Bar Grotesk in Helsinki, Finland (Järvi & Ruoho) - The Energy Hotel in Nesflaten, Suldal, Norway (Helen & Hard architects) - Moderna Museet Malmö in Sweden (Tham & Videgård Arkitekter) Languages : English - German

In the large cities and metropolitan areas, very few building plots remain in central locations. This is precisely why the development, expansion and new construction of roof levels and attics are an expedient and popular form of redensification. Existing buildings are expanded vertically, and designed and adjusted to meet contemporary desires and requirements based on their specific uses. Masterpieces: Roof Architecture + Design presents contemporary projects from around the world, successful symbioses of existing structure and new attic design, that enliven the city and creatively enhance the urban cityscapes. Ail projects have one thing in common - they respond to a longing of the residents and users to experience uniimited freedom above the rooftops.