Park Books International New Titles Spring 2022

Over a period of ten years, as part of their joint teaching at the
Technical University of Munich, British architect Stephen Bates
and his Zurich-based colleague Bruno Krucker explored, investigated,
and analyzed the Bavarian capital in collaboration with
their students. The resulting in-depth study evaluates the city’s
building history and ideas for its future in detail, and is now being
presented in the form of a highly attractive compendium.
Three basic elements of the book:
Munich Plan: Extracts from the city plan show
buildings and outdoor space in large photographs
and ground floor layouts as a basis for the analyses
Building Register: Features a selection of significant
buildings in detail, such as the Borstei, Technisches
Rathaus, House Hans Döllgast, a typical block by
Theodor Fischer, and the Fünf Höfe
Hidden Munich: Highlights mostly backstreet or
underground spaces (e.g. passageways, streams,
or bunkers) that are key to the atmosphere and
distinctiveness of a city
This richly illustrated book takes a close look at the European
city in general, using Munich as an example. Its features are illuminated
through a variety of means: atmospheric photographs,
precise plans, drawings, images of models, and texts reveal the
multi-layered and complex character of the place with all its
particularities, coincidences, and intentions.
Like many other European cities, Munich has also been subject
to incisive changes, whether through planned expansions,
infrastructural developments, or war damage. This volume
highlights how big plans and visions have often remained piecemeal,
bound up with the paradigms of a generation, yet precisely
because of this have proven to be unmistakable elements
that shape Munich up to this day. Alongside this, individual new
structures have resulted in continuous changes to the character
of streets and demonstrate that the unfinished and unplanned
are just as much a part of a city’s beauty.
Stephen Bates is a founding partner of Sergison
Bates architects with offices in London, Zurich,
and Brussels. He also teaches as professor of
urbanism and housing at Technical University
of Munich.
Simon Burko is a Munich-based architect and
architectural photographer. He has been a
teaching and research assistant with Studio
Krucker Bates at Technical University of Munich
since 2013.
Bruno Krucker runs his own architecture firm
in Zurich. Together with Stephen Bates he has
been teaching as a professor of urbanism and
housing at Technical University of Munich since
2009.
ISBN 978-3-03860-288-0