Aldo Rossi: The Sketchbooks 1990-97

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Summary: Aldo Rossi drawings....
Review: What better book to show an architecture student, design student, or even professional designer the virtues and power of the hand? This is a small and compelling book that does not explore, but states clearly the relevance of drawing in Rossi's design process. Though the format of the book is small, the reproductions of Rossi's works are large enough and of high enough quality that we can clearly follow the craft and intuition of the initial responses and investigations of particular design problems. Rossi's drawings are intuitive, playful, and always based solidly in the knowledge of the fundimentals of orthographic, perspective, and axonometric design drawing as well as the subjectivity of gesture. In his drawings, the process, not the product, is paramount. For an instructor of design or drawing, they are wonderful for student analysis. By dismantling and revealing the underlying structures of the visual language that Rossi employs, students and designers alike will be inspired to return to paper in a much more rigorous way to explore the moments between thought and expression that perhaps only drawing can afford. Whether you are a fan of Rossi or not, this book is a great addition to a personal or school library.