Die Wohnung für das Existenzminimum (Housing for Subsistence Living)
Frankfurt am Main: Englert & Schlosser, 1930. First edition. Softcover. Quarto. 42, (4)pp. (Text), 1-18 leaves (Plates), (2)pp., 51-57 leaves (Plates), (2)pp., 101-165 leaves (Plates), (2)pp., 201-207 leaves (Plates), (3)pp., (Publisher's advertisement), 15 (1)pp. (English summaries). Original stiff black cover with modern design and typography on cover, brown lettering on tan spine, protected by modern mylar.
Ernst May, a Frankfurt-born architect and urban planner, was a convinced modernist. In his plans and housing ideas for his home town, May was reacting to Le Corbusier's 1922 vision of the new city, "La Ville d'Aujourd'hui," countering it with a less megalomaniac, more bottom-up socialist housing program he called 'die Wohnung für das Existenzminimum' (Housing for subsistence level), a topic on which May organized an international conference in 1927, sponsored by the CIAM (the International Congress of Modern Architects), followed by the second world congress as described here.
This work is illustrated with numerous floor plans, and contains the essays read at the conference by some of the most acclaimed architects of the period, such as Ernst May himself, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and others. Also includes a short summary of the essays in English at rear.
Text in German. Preface and captions in German, French and English. Text in English at rear. Wraps with light wear along edges, small chips and minor creasing and very light damp-staining on back cover. Spine lightly sunned. Title page and table contents with foxing. Starting at table of content. Block slightly age-toned. Wrappers in overall good, interior in very good condition. g to vg. Item #48362
Price: $575.00