Evidence (The Work of Robert A. M. Stern Architects)

Robert A. M. Stern Architects, over its forty-year history and across a wide range of building types, has defined principles common to all projects. Stern articulates the ideas that govern his design process through this rich visual presentation of all types of his work: museums and cultural institutions, colleges and universities, commercial and residential developers, and, famously, private residential clients throughout the United States and Europe. Evidence serves as a visual synthesis of Stern's methodologies, revealing the firm's vision through juxtapositions of building, material and landscape: "We never think of just the building. We like to think of the next bigger thing—what other buildings will come next to it, but also the siting and landscaping. Abstract compositional principles do interest me but not when I begin a design. I begin with a cultural assessment of the building as a type, the place it is set in, and lastly its obligations to its particular moment in time." Through 400 illustrations, Stern illuminates key architectural concepts by examining components: stunning windows harmonizing with their views, elegant entryways, meticulous stonework, homes conversing with their settings. On each page, Stern pairs images that challenge the idea that tradition means statis. Rather, tradition can be interpreted to suit all situations in an increasingly complex world.