About the Book
Publisher: The Images Publishing Group
ISBN: 9781864708479
Published: 31st May 2020
Binding: Paperback/Softback
Territory: World excluding Japan and South East Asia
Size: 295 mm x 250 mm
Pages: 240 Pages
Author: Philip Jodidio
Inside this richly illustrated monograph, Gurjit Singh Matharoo, a pioneer of rational thinking, open-mindedness, and innovativeness, reveals why his work in India is relevant in terms of contemporary architecture, emphasizing why he sees far fewer constraints than almost any accepted practice. The projects span nearly three decades of practice and are beautifully presented throughout, with insightful discourse, illustrations, watercolor plans, and full-color photographs. Their prominent work includes educational and public institutions, hospitals, retail and commercial buildings, single and joint-family houses, apartments, spiritual and religious centers, and biennale installations.
The firm’s comprehensive approach is well recognized, and varies across architecture and structure design, interiors, and product design, providing public, private, commercial, and institutional works. It is concentrated on highly refined aesthetics which is married with functional yet playful interpretations of design, for example, the House with Balls or Curtain Door. The foreword is written by the founders and principals of Grafton Architects, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, winners of the Royal Gold Medal and the 2020 Pritzker Prize (the first two women to share architecture’s highest honor). This magnificent volume offers an in-depth look into the originality and wisdom of a very modern Indian practice.
About the Firm
Matharoo Associates was founded in 1992 by Architect Gurjit Singh Matharoo, who has significantly contributed in revitalizing the Indian architecture and design scene with a diverse range of inventive, innovative, and playful projects. Gurjit Matharoo and his team have won numerous international awards, along with several for the Emerging Architecture Awards Cycle from the Architectural Review (London). Peter Davey chose the Ashwinikumar Crematorium (Surat, Gujarat), the country’s first gas-fired facility, as the Editor’s Choice in 2003, and Prathama Blood Center (Ahmedabad), India’s largest blood center, as the Recommended Entry in 2005. Curtain Door (House with a Wall of Light) won the Emerging Architecture Award in 2009, and House with Balls (Ahmedabad, 2007) won first place in the AR 2010 House Awards the following year. Matharoo was nominated for the BSI Swiss Architectural Awards in 2012, and he was invited to present his work at the 2017 Bienal de Chile, as well as twice in a row at the Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Alejandro Aravena in 2016 and Grafton Architects in 2018. Gurjit Matharoo was also named a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2014. (RIBA).
About the Author
Philip Jodidio (born 1954) studied art history and economics at Harvard and was the editor-in-chief of the French art magazine Connaissance des Arts for more than two decades. He is widely regarded as one of the foremost architectural writers, and his impressive published oeuvre demonstrates his superior understanding of space, material, and form. Jodidio is the international authority on contemporary architecture, covering everything from unconventional living advancements to the careers of master architects like Zaha Hadid and Jean Nouvel.
He has authored over 100 books on contemporary art and architecture for publishers such as Taschen, Rizzoli International, Thames & Hudson, Prestel, and others. He is the editor of the books published by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s renovation work in historic Muslim cities such as Kabul, Cairo, and Lahore.
Jodidio is well-known for his engaging and approachable publications that introduce modern design principles and demonstrate beautiful examples of residential properties, public areas, and commercial buildings. Jodidio’s vast knowledge and expertise acquaint readers of all backgrounds with the methods of planning, designing, and building, as well as provide insight into the elusive magic that converts an altruistic physical structure into a piece of art.
Jodidio’s architectural publications include titles that investigate design ideologies and movements such as small architecture, sustainability, and green architecture. He has written books and articles on specific materials such as concrete and wood, as well as on vernacular forms, including tree houses and cabins. Shigeru Ban, Tadao Ando, Renzo Piano, David Chipperfield, Santiago Calatrava, and Richard Meier are among the architects featured in his Basic Architecture Series books. Each book includes stunning color photographs and fascinating architectural drawings, as well as crucial biographical information and in-depth introductions to major works.
Conclusion
This is just one of the sections of the book where the initial stage of a project is illustrated in an informed yet interesting way, allowing the reader to gain insight into the firm’s philosophy. Every page of the book will undoubtedly inspire you to reflect and contemplate. It is a must-read, but interestingly, it is a book that should be revisited and understood all over again. A kid can turn through the illustrations and pictures, an architect can gain an entirely new perspective, and any passionate reader can see a fine collection of phrases and thoughts behind each project’s design philosophy in this book. This book can be interpreted differently by each person depending on their interests, age, profession, and knowledge.
The book offers endless possibilities, and that’s what makes it so appealing!
References
- Matharoo Associates – Images Publishing US [online], (no date). Images Publishing US. [Viewed 22 October 2022]. Available from: https://imagespublishing.com/us/book/matharoo-associates/
- Philip Jodidio. TASCHEN Books [online], (no date). TASCHEN Books: Publisher of books on art, architecture, design and photography. [Viewed 22 October 2022]. Available from: https://www.taschen.com/pages/en/collection/philip-jodidio
- Matharoo Associates [online]. Goodreads | Meet your next favorite book. [Viewed 22 October 2022]. Available from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51617678-matharoo-associates
