John Pawson is one of the foremost proponents of Minimalism in architecture and design. Already known to designers for his austere yet luxurious interiors, he has attained public acclaim for his high-profile retail projects such as the Calvin Klein flagship store in New York, his celebrity clients like Martha Stewart and his book Minimum (Phaidon, 1996). This book traces the varied course of the relationships between an architect and his clients, between an architect and the design briefs set for him, and between the architect and his own intellectual approach to design and its impact on his work. The incisive text, with specially commissioned pictures, explores Pawson’s design process, working methods and philosophical approach, and illuminates the emotional and artistic content of his work. Through a close examination of ten diverse projects, Deyan Sudjic considers the way in which design is influenced by the processes of construction and making, and explores the nature and significance of the finished scheme. This book, a record of Pawson’s developing approach to design and his unique position at the intersection of art and design, offers insights into culture, society and architecture.
