Book Description
Calder Gardens: Drawings and Texts by Jacques Herzog offers a compelling look into the creative process behind Calder Gardens, a new cultural landmark in Philadelphia that brings together architecture, landscape, and art. Through sketches, writings, and study models, the book reveals how renowned architect Jacques Herzog developed the ideas that ultimately shaped this ambitious project, providing readers with a rare opportunity to witness the transformation of abstract concepts into built form.
Designed by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with celebrated landscape designer Piet Oudolf, Calder Gardens is conceived around the work of American sculptor Alexander Calder. Combining architecture, landscape, and artistic experience, the project creates a contemplative yet public cultural destination that reimagines the relationship between museum spaces and the natural environment while exploring new ways of experiencing art through architecture.
Presented in a large-format edition, the publication features an extensive selection of sketches, drawings, and conceptual studies created throughout the design process. Organized into ten thematic chapters, these materials trace the project's evolution and offer a visual record of Herzog’s ongoing exploration of spatial composition, sculptural relationships, light, and the spirit of place. Each chapter is accompanied by personal texts written by Herzog, allowing readers to engage directly with his creative thinking and design philosophy.
In addition to drawings and writings, the book includes collages, study models, and other developmental materials that illuminate Herzog’s distinctive working method and artistic sensibility. These first-hand documents reveal not only how a building comes into being, but also how an architect continually questions, tests, and refines ideas in pursuit of meaningful connections between space, art, and human experience.
More than a documentation of a single project, Calder Gardens: Drawings and Texts by Jacques Herzog is an important publication that bridges architecture, art, and creative inquiry. It offers valuable insight into Jacques Herzog’s design philosophy and the broader creative approach of Herzog & de Meuron, making it an essential resource for architects, designers, artists, and anyone interested in contemporary architectural practice.
Details
Contributors: Jacques Herzog, Herzog & de Meuron
Publisher: Hauser & Wirth Publishers
Year: 2025
Format: Hardcover
Dimensions: 30 × 30 cm
Pages: 160