Carl Pruscha: Singular Personality: Architect, Bohemian, Activist

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This monograph on the work of Austrian architect Carl Pruscha (born 1936) is divided into the three geographical areas of his life and legacy: the United States, Kathmandu, and Vienna. Following his study of architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Pruscha spent the early 1960s attending Harvard University s Graduate School of Design, constantly in search of inspiration and visions, a balance between work and free time, and a desire for freedom and self-determination.

An invitation by the UN to go to Nepal in 1964 enabled him to establish himself as a practicing architect. Various construction projects along with the Kathmandu Valley Development and Preservation Project made it possible for him to observe and document, to plan and build. Living within a foreign culture encouraged him to examine roles, status, and privileges in society and investigate the works of Kenzo Tange and Louis Kahn.

After returning to Vienna in 1978, he was a professor and later the head of the Academy of Fine Arts. Pruscha s academic and societal influence brought to light the differences between teaching and practice in architecture and made this activist and bohemian a defining figure in the city.

The three chapters are accompanied by photographic portfolios by Iwan Baan and Hertha Hurnaus, numerous project documentations, and a detailed timeline that illustrates the geopolitical, cultural, and technological developments surrounding the life and times of Carl Pruscha.

488 illustrations

ISBN: 9783037785904
Author: RITTER, ARNO
Format: Hardcover
Publication date: 01/06/2019
RRP: $120.00
Pages: 272
Dimension: 210mm X 297mm
Imprint: Lars Mueller