Marcel Breuer: Building Global Institutions

With “Marcel Breuer: Building Global Institutions,” Barry Bergdoll and Jonathan Massey take on a subject matter that has been written about ad nauseam. Not only do they shed new light on Breuer’s institutional architecture, but they also open up an entirely new lens through which to understand his legacy and mid-twentieth century architecture in general.The collection of essays vary in topics, ranging from Breuer’s use of precast concrete panels to a structural reading of his work, and even to an essay on the Breuer archive. In doing so, they consistently highlight the outsized impact Breuer had on shaping postwar American architecture culture and the institutions that he worked for.Taking advantage of the newly available Marcel Breuer Digital Archive from the Syracuse University Libraries, the book highlights the complex relationships between Breuer, his firm, and the institutions that he worked for. The essays raise interesting questions about authorship and the agency of the designer, and also provide a fresh interpretation of Breuer’s career. The book also includes beautiful drawings and archival photographs of Breuer’s institutional projects.Undoubtedly, the book will spur entire new avenues of research into the architectural history of this period. It is a “must-read” for anyone interested in Marcel Breuer and his work, the radical shifts that occurred in the postwar American and global context, and the ways in which architecture helped shape it.

Excellent