Sigurd Lewerentz

The definitive monograph on Swedish modernist architect Sigurd Lewerentz. Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975) is one of the most highly revered--as well as one of the most heavily mythologized--protagonists of modern European architecture. Arguably Sweden's most distinguished modernist, he is more influential for architects around the world today than he was during his lifetime. Countless architecture lovers from around the world visit his buildings. Stockholm's woodland cemetery Skogskyrkogården, his most significant contribution to landscape design, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This authoritative new monograph on Sigurd Lewerentz is based on extensive research undertaken at ArkDes, Sweden's national center for architecture and design, where his archive and personal library are kept. It features a wealth of drawings and sketches, designs for furniture and interiors, model photographs, and more from his estate, most of which are published here for the first time, alongside new photographs of his realized buildings. Essays by leading experts explore Lewerentz's life and work, his legacy, and lasting significance from a contemporary perspective. This substantial, beautifully designed book offers the most comprehensive survey to date of Lewerentz's achievements in all fields of his multifaceted work.

Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975) was initially educated as mechanical engineer in Gothenburg. Yet it was his architectural apprenticeship in Munich 1909-10 that set him on his path as an architect, opening his own office in Stockholm in 1911. Although his built work is relatively small, Lewerentz is revered as one of Sweden's most eminent architects. Cemeteries and sacred buildings became a core part of Lewerentz's oeuvre, including Stockholm's South Cemetery (1914-17), Malmo Eastern Cemetery (1916), St. Mark's Church, Bjorkhagen (1956), and Petri Church, Klippan (1963). In association with Gunnar Asplund, he was also the main architect for the Stockholm International Exhibition (1930), and in collaboration with Erik Lallerstedt and David Hellden he created a masterpiece of functionalist architecture, the Malmo City Theatre (1935). Sigurd Lewerentz, Architect is a reprint of the first ever monograph on his work, originally published in English 1987 and long out of print. It tells the story of Lewerentz's life and presents his entire work in text and many photographs, drawings and plans.

Sigurd Lewerentz är en av Sveriges tre mest kända arkitekter internationellt sett, vid sidan av Asplund och Tessin. Ett av hans mest framträdande byggnadsverk är Riksförsäkringsanstaltens byggnad, alldeles vid Adolf Fredriks kyrka i Stockholm (1928-1932). Boken handlar om ett stort kontorshus, där rörelse och vandring från gatan, över gården och in mot vestibulens ljus står i centrum. Boken är rikt illustrerad med ursprungliga fotografier, långa serier med skisser och ritningar.

This is the only comprehensive monograph of the work of Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975), one of the leading Swedish architects of the twentieth century. Lewerentz was a master of religious architecture and this book includes his major works at Malmo Cemetery, the church of St Peter at Klippan, and Uppsala Cathedral among a definitive catalogue of more than 150 projects researched from the archives of the Stockholm Museum of Architecture. The book also includes an essay on Lewerentz's sacred architecture by the esteemed late architect Colin St John Wilson and the only known piece of writing by Lewerentz - a text on cemetery landscapes.

Most famous for the remarkable Woodland Cementary which has influenced Tadao Ando and many others, Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975) collaborated often with Erik Gunnar Asplund and played an important role at the 1930 Stockholm exhibition, a breakthrough in Modernism. Afterwards Lewerentz went to create an intense personal architecture that has a strong following. The two examples featured in this book, the Church of St. Marks (1958) and the Church of St. Peters (1958), are considered to be his masterpieces. With essays by: Claes Caldenby, Adam Caruso, Sven Ivar Lind and Olof Hultin. Including drawings and plans.

Swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz (1885-1975) was invited to design a church in the remote southern village of Klippan in 1962 at the age of 77. For architectural pilgrims, the Church of St. Petri Klippan has since become a counterpoint to the influential Chapel of Notre Dame at Ronchamp (1955). This volume documents Lewerentz's masterpiece.

The publication Lewerentz Fragments introduces new scholarship on the architect’s motivations and compiles new essays from all the major scholars on his work, for the first time in one volume presenting both historical and critical perspectives. Through new essays, recently discovered archival material, photography, and drawings, the publication Lewerentz Fragments explores the architect’s body of work spanning three-quarters of the twentieth century. Comprising writings from all the major scholars on Lewerentz’ work, along with several new voices, this publication offers new insight into the context surrounding this architect’s work. Rather than focusing on a single thesis, the book offers a diversity of insight from multiple cultural and professional perspectives. In addition, previously unpublished translations of interviews and dialogs among the architect and his contemporaries offer a voice to the ‘silent architect’ altering the traditional interpretations of the work and digging past the surface of what might be considered his philosophy of building. Rather than serving as an introduction to the architect’s work, this volume provides detailed fragments as a deep and diverse dive into one of the most mysterious of Scandinavia’s modern masters. Contributors: Johan Celsing, Patrick Doan, Nicola Flora, Jonathan Foote, Matthew Hall, Per Iwansson, Thomas Bo Jensen, Nathan Matteson, Enrico Miglietta, Paolo Giardiello, Hansjörg Göritz, Magnus Gustafsson, Mariana Manner, Anne-Marie Nelson, Gennaro Postiglione, Wilfried Wang, Ola Wedebrunn With Contributions of: Archival reproductions from the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design (ArkDes), The Stockholm stadsarkiv, and The Malmö stadsarkiv. Historical construction photos of St Peter’s Church by Carl-Hugo and Lars Gustafsson Photos of the newly constructed St Peter’s Church by Ole Meyer Previously unpublished archival photographs of Lewerentz’ work Translations of various archival documents and audio interviews with the architect Current photography of the architect’s work from a variety of photographers Funding support: Auburn University College of Architecture, Design & Construction Aarhus School of Architecture DePaul University College of Computing and Digital Media The King Gustaf VI Adolfs fund for Swedish Culture The Peter and Birgitta Celsing Foundation The University of Tennessee College of Architecture & Design