Dear Axel. 99 Postcards from Alison and Peter Smithson (Hardcover)

Hardcover. Unexpected insights into the long process of designing the Hexenhaus, one of the most iconic buildings of the late 20th centuryBetween 1985 and 2002, British New Brutalist architects Alison (1928-93) and Peter Smithson (1923-2003) transformed a modest vernacular cottage into one of the most remarkable residences of the late 20th century: the Hexenhaus. Hidden in the forests outside of Hessen, Germany, the "Witch's House" was the residence of Axel Bruchhaeuser, owner of the furniture company Tecta, which had its factory nearby. The Smithsons completely redefined the relationship between the house and its surrounding landscape by means of more than 20 small additions, extractions, satellite buildings, furnishings and alternative routes. During this decades-long process, the couple kept close correspondence with Bruchhaeuser, as evidenced by this collection of 99 handwritten postcards, collected here for the first time. Following Walther Koenig's publication of Hexenhaus: A House for a Man and a Cat (2021), this publication offers a new, intimate perspective on this ambitious project. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…