Radical Commonplaces. European Architectures from Flanders

Book coverRadical Commonplaces. European Architectures from Flanders
Book coverRadical Commonplaces. European Architectures from Flanders
Book coverRadical Commonplaces. European Architectures from Flanders
Book coverRadical Commonplaces. European Architectures from Flanders

Number ten of the series about architecture in Flanders, with three different cover photos. A book that oscillated between being in the final selection and then not, and ultimately getting there.

For its format, for having a book block that lies so nicely in the hand and opens so easily, and for the quality of the interior: lots of pictorial matter, not just photos but sketches and cross sections too – as is often the case with architecture, to let the reader really get into the essence of a building.

The book also covers work by a highly diverse range of architects, yet it still breathes the same atmosphere throughout: another good quality. The pictorial matter has been carefully laid out, first on glossy and later on matt paper, alongside a fair amount of text which is set in nicely restrained typography over two columns.

Though there was also some doubt about whether the book as a whole was special enough. More doubt was sown by the book band: was a better solution really beyond the scope of their imagination? But in the end the book’s obvious qualities won the day by a comfortable margin.

Edition: 2012
Language: English / Dutch
Publisher: Vlaams Architectuurinstituut, Antwerpen (B)
Graphic designer: Joris Kritis, Julie Peeters
Lithographer: Colour & Books, Apeldoorn
Printer: Mart. Spruijt, Amsterdam
Binder: Hexspoor, Boxtel
Size book block (w x h x d in mm): 200 x 255 x 22
Number of pages: 304 p.
Print run: 900 (E) / 2,900 (D)
Price: € 39.50
ISBN: 978 90 813263 5 3 (E) / 978 94 6140 025 3 (D), 978 90 813263 4 6 (D), 978 90 813263 6 0 (D), 978 90 813263 7 7 (D)
Font and foundry: Times LT Semibold
Binding style: sewn Otabind with flaps
Material: 150gsm Maxigloss, 120gsm Freelife Cento (interior), 300gsm Invercote G (cover), 120gsm Freelife Cento (book band)