Hans Richter, New Living: Architecture, Film, Space

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Andres Janser

Arthur Rüegg

Lars Müller Publishers, Baden, Switzerland English and German, 2001

Nonfiction, Architecture; Nonfiction, Film and Theater

ISBN: 9783907078228

Suggested Retail Price: $28.00

From the Publisher. New Living (Das Neue Wohnen) was the title of an exceptional architectural propaganda film created in 1930 by German avant-garde artist and filmmaker Hans Richter. It showcased exemplary modernist buildings and furniture—some of which were on view shortly afterwardin the prestigious exhibitions “The International Style”—and contrasted them with impractical, unhygienic living spaces. The visual diversity of “New Living,” and its use of an experimental montage technique, pioneered a radical new method of portraying architecture on celluloid. This publication includes detailed sequences from the film New Living, as well as numerous documents that illustrate the new style of architectural modernism.

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I found this book in the gift shop of the Neue Galerie in New York ten years ago, while I was a student, and it has consistently remained one of my favorites. The book explores the film Die neue Wohnung, which Richter did on commission from the Swiss Werkbund, and which functioned to promote modern furniture. The book features stills from the film comparing people living with antiquated furniture to people living with modern furniture. Seeing users in action, their movements guided by architecture and furniture, led me to see design as a kind of choreography.

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