Kay Fisker (Danish Functionalism and Block-based Housing)

This book focuses on Kay Fisker (1893-1965)’s housingestates in Copenhagen. A leading exponent of Danish Functionalism, Fisker was influencedby Louis Sullivan, and had a strong belief in continuity, putting modernism inperspective and identifying precedents. He built many large-scale housingschemes, mostly for non-profit workers' housing associations, and developedinnovative and beautifully considered high-density, low-rise block schemes,which have proven useful and influential to the growing number of contemporaryarchitects who have examined his designs.

Beautifully illustrated with photographs and architecturaldrawings, this book documents and critically analyses three of Kay Fisker'sseminal housing projects in Copenhagen: Hornbaekhus (1923); Vestersohus(1935-39); and Dronningegarden (1943-58). These projects reflect how Fisker'swork contains valuable lessons for contemporary architects in economy,precision and generosity in housing design. Essays by Martin Søberg, PoulSverrild and Job Floris set Fisker’s work within their historical, socialand architectural context. In the final section, architects from three leadingcontemporary practices – Clancy Moore, Monadnock and Tony Fretton - discuss howKay Fisker has influenced their own approaches and work.