Built Unbuilt is authored by Belgian architect Julien de Smedt, with photography by Julien Lanoo, and was published in 2017 by Dutch publisher Frame. Julien de Smedt, who co-founded the architectural practice PLOT with Bjarke Ingels, established his own studio, JDS Architects, in 2006. He is renowned for a design philosophy that merges creativity, public engagement, and integration with urban nature.
The first half of the book focuses on de Smedt’s completed works, encompassing residential projects, public buildings, urban landmarks, and public space initiatives. Notable examples include the Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, Gateway in Hangzhou, the Kalvebod Waves platform in Copenhagen, and the Faaborg Seabath. Through high-quality photography, these projects are presented with a keen attention to spatial atmosphere and design detail, allowing readers to experience the visual and emotional impact of the architecture.
The second half, titled “Unbuilt,” features a range of unrealized or conceptual projects. These are presented through sketches, short texts, and first-person reflections, offering insight into the architect’s creative process and the origins of his ideas. Highlights include the self-narrated 50 Shades of Trace and Introspections, a visual series composed of twenty-five sets of imagery. De Smedt suggests that even in an era where ideals and visions are constantly challenged by reality, such unbuilt concepts can inspire future architectural progress and innovation.
Combining rich imagery and thoughtful narrative, Built Unbuilt is both a record of architectural achievements and a document of design thinking. By bridging the realms of the built and the unbuilt, it offers readers a distinctive perspective for reexamining the value and essence of architectural creation.