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book: Schwanzer – Architect. Visionary. Maestro.
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Schwanzer – Architect. Visionary. Maestro.

Three Decades of Architectural and Contemporary History
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2019
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About this book

A radical life as a graphic novel

It is impossible to imagine Austrian architecture and contemporary history without Karl Schwanzer, who would have marked his hundredth birthday in 2018. His buildings, like the BMW administration building in Munich, caused quite a furor domestically and abroad; his institute at the Technical University of Vienna influenced offices like Coop Himmelb(l)au, Haus-Rucker-Co, Missing Link and ZÜND-UP.

Posthumously, Schwanzer rose to cult status among his staff, students and clients, conferred especially for his passionate way of working, sparing no effort or expense, and for his relentless search for the optimum solution. In every sense, his life and work were unconventional. The idea to relate them in the form of a graphic novel is also quite unconventional, but certainly a logical consequence!

  • A radical life as a classic graphic novel
  • Karl Schwanzer: Entrepreneur, architect and teacher
  • Projects: BMW, Philips-Haus, 20er Haus, Austrian embassy in Brasilia and many more

Author / Editor information

Benjamin Swiczinsky, Director of animated films, Vienna

Reviews

"Mit reduzierten Zeichnungen, einer ganz eigenen Farbigkeit, die manchmal ins Expressive reicht, ausdrucksstarker Gestik und Mimik fängt diese Graphic Novel die Atmosphäre von Wien in der Nachkriegszeit und die Aufbruchsstimmung der 1970er Jahre ebenso ein wie die sehr eigenwillige Persönlichkeit von Karl Schwanzer. Voll Respekt, Faktenwissen, mit einer Prise Humor und einem souveränen zeichnerischen Strich schildert dieses Comic gelassen und einmalig den Lebensweg seines stilvollen, arbeitsamen, kreativen Helden im schwarzen Anzug, eines „Architekten aus Leidenschaft.“ Noch nie war es derartig vergnüglich, sich ein Stück Architekturwissen anzueignen. Karl Schwanzer wäre garantiert auch begeistert gewesen."
Isabella Marboe in: architektur. aktuell (09.12.2018), https://www.architektur-aktuell.at/news/graphic-novel-ueber-karl-schwanzer

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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
December 3, 2018
eBook ISBN:
9783035618648
Hardcover published on:
December 3, 2018
Hardcover ISBN:
9783035618532
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
96
Coloured Illustrations:
600
Downloaded on 17.4.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783035618648/html
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