The architecture of Carlo Scarpa isn’t one that reveals itself at only one glance. Instead it takes patience, attention and a sense for atmospheres, textures and materials to fully grasp the ingenuity of his works. Much of it can be attributed to his upbringing in Venice: the rich architectural and art history of the city instilled in him a natural sensibility for the combination of artistry, craft and construction as is e.g. present in the Byzantine and Baroque architecture in Venice where ornament, colors and light create unique spatial experiences. Scarpa, a modern Venetian nevertheless, translated this heritage into a modern architecture that bridged past and present without nostalgia. With poetic attention to detail he composed his designs in a process of continuous elaboration to make sure every detail was spot-on, a process that often accounted for long construction periods.
In a new account of Scarpa’s built works Emiliano Bugatti, Jale N. Erzen and photographer Cemal Emden provide a beautifully illustrated tribute to the Venetian master: „Carlo Scarpa - The Complete Buildings“, recently published by Prestel, chronologically presents a total of 54 buildings Scarpa saw through from project to completion. Proceeding from the Aula Mario Baratto of Ca’ Foscari University in Venice Emden in both general and detail views documents the immense quality of Scarpa’s architecture. Although plans are not included the book nonetheless captivates the reader by conveying the atmosphere and many-faceted materiality of each building. Some details even appear as works of art in their own right.
Emden’s photographs receive further context in Jale N. Erzen’s essay about the architect, appropriately titled „Carlo Scarpa’s World: Beauty and Meaning“: Erzen emphatically follows Scarpa’s development as architect, adds biographical details and also discusses the influence of Japan and poetry on his conception of architecture.
„Carlo Scarpa - The Complete Buildings” is a great addition to the catalogue of Scarpa literature and an emphatic portrait of the architect’s oeuvre. Highly recommended!
