A visual exploration. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek
31/10/2021.
[TASCHEN]
metalocus, VALERIA OZUNA
metalocus, VALERIA OZUNA
The ground, now often used as a passive foundation for going higher, is rife with possibilities. Bjarne Mastenbroek investigates the relationship architecture has, had, and will have, with site and nature.
“Mankind destroys the skin of the earth at an unprecedented scale. The time has come for a fundamental reset.”
Through the photography of Iwan Baan and more than 500 analytical drawings by SeARCH, the publication Dig it! by editorial TASCHEN dissects structures from the past millennia—some well-known, some previously overlooked. This global survey of 1,390 pages, designed by Mevis & Van Deursen, brings architecture back in harmony with the Earth’s surface.
“Mankind destroys the skin of the earth at an unprecedented scale. The time has come for a fundamental reset.”
Bjarne Mastenbroek
Through the photography of Iwan Baan and more than 500 analytical drawings by SeARCH, the publication Dig it! by editorial TASCHEN dissects structures from the past millennia—some well-known, some previously overlooked. This global survey of 1,390 pages, designed by Mevis & Van Deursen, brings architecture back in harmony with the Earth’s surface.
Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South, Africa, Heatherwick Studio, 2014–2017. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
The Yaodong, Loess Plateau, China, 300 BCE–present. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Kailasa Temple, Ellora, India, 756–773 CE. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Biete Ghiorgis, Lalibela, Ethiopia, 1100–1200. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland, SeARCH & CMA, 2005–2009. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland, SeARCH & CMA, 2005–2009. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Sar Agha Seyed, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, date unknown. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh, RBANA, 2011. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Chalet Anzère, Anzère, Switzerland, SeARCH, 2013–2015. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Dutch Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, SeARCH & Dick van Gameren, 1998–2005. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Musée Gallo-Romain, yon, France, Bernard Zehrfuss, 1966–1975. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South, Africa, Heatherwick Studio, 2014–2017. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Espai Verd, Valencia, Spain, Antonio Cortés Ferrando (CSPT), 1986–1994. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek. Photograph by Iwan Baan.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Interior pages. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Subterranean dwellings arranged around a sunken courtyard. The Yaodong, Loess Plateau, China, 300 BCE–present. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Sectional axonometry of Xi Village. The Yaodong, Loess Plateau, China, 300 BCE–present. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Lower floor plan of Kailasa Temple, Ellora, India, 756–773 CE. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Upper floor plan of Kailasa Temple, Ellora, India, 756–773 CE. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Kailasa Temple, Ellora, India, 756–773 CE. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Biete Ghiorgis, Lalibela, Ethiopia, 1100–1200. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Plan of Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland, SeARCH & CMA, 2005–2009. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Sar Agha Seyed, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran, date unknown. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh, RBANA, 2011. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Chalet Anzère, Anzère, Switzerland, SeARCH, 2013–2015. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Section of Dutch Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, SeARCH & Dick van Gameren, 1998–2005. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Musée Gallo-Romain, yon, France, Bernard Zehrfuss, 1966–1975. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Sectional axonometry of Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South, Africa, Heatherwick Studio, 2014–2017. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Jeanne Hachette, Paris, France, Jean Renaudie, 1969–1975. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Axonometry of Espai Verd, Valencia, Spain, Antonio Cortés Ferrando (CSPT), 1986–1994. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Sectional axonometry of Espai Verd, Valencia, Spain, Antonio Cortés Ferrando (CSPT), 1986–1994. Dig it! Building Bound to the Ground by Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Building is one of very few endeavours that are physically connected to the surface of the earth, fixed and enduring. Nevertheless, for centuries, especially in the West, we have considered ourselves separate and above nature, drifting away, defining our own systems and order, and using the ground as a nothing more than a passive foundation. Other times we sought connection, drawing on nature for ritual and religion, fortified protection, and ecological balance.
This global compendium of nearly 1,400 pages brings architecture back in harmony with Earth’s surface. For years, Bjarne Mastenbroek and his architectural firm, SeARCH, have delved into the relationship architecture has, had, and will have with its surroundings, seeing buildings as landscapes that fit into their site without dominating or disturbing it. For Dig It!, they have dug deep into the history of building culture and brought to light fascinating examples of this philosophy—some well known, some previously overlooked.
From African churches chiseled from rock and Chinese villages dug into terrains to Parisian housing vibrantly overgrown and a villa built into the cliffs of Capri (famously featured in the film Le Mépris starring Brigitte Bardot), this book dissects structures from the past millennia. Part atlas, part encyclopedia, it highlights traditional vernacular practices, reconsiders all-time favorites, and celebrates contemporary examples across the globe. Designed by Mevis & Van Deursen, the extensive collection features analytical drawings from SeARCH and photo essays by Iwan Baan.
Dig It! acknowledges an effort to reconnect architecture and landscape and merge building with ground. Separated into six chapters (or “strategies”)—Bury, Embed, Absorb, Spiral, Carve, and Mimic—this remarkable survey reveals humanity’s connection to the earth through building culture: clever and utterly relevant for the challenges that we have and will face in both urban and natural environments.
This global compendium of nearly 1,400 pages brings architecture back in harmony with Earth’s surface. For years, Bjarne Mastenbroek and his architectural firm, SeARCH, have delved into the relationship architecture has, had, and will have with its surroundings, seeing buildings as landscapes that fit into their site without dominating or disturbing it. For Dig It!, they have dug deep into the history of building culture and brought to light fascinating examples of this philosophy—some well known, some previously overlooked.
From African churches chiseled from rock and Chinese villages dug into terrains to Parisian housing vibrantly overgrown and a villa built into the cliffs of Capri (famously featured in the film Le Mépris starring Brigitte Bardot), this book dissects structures from the past millennia. Part atlas, part encyclopedia, it highlights traditional vernacular practices, reconsiders all-time favorites, and celebrates contemporary examples across the globe. Designed by Mevis & Van Deursen, the extensive collection features analytical drawings from SeARCH and photo essays by Iwan Baan.
Dig It! acknowledges an effort to reconnect architecture and landscape and merge building with ground. Separated into six chapters (or “strategies”)—Bury, Embed, Absorb, Spiral, Carve, and Mimic—this remarkable survey reveals humanity’s connection to the earth through building culture: clever and utterly relevant for the challenges that we have and will face in both urban and natural environments.
More information
Author
Bjarne Mastenbroek.
Editor
Julius Wiedemann.
Collaborators
Esther Mecredy.
Design
Levis & Van Deursen with Virginie Gauthier and Nerijus Rimkus. Assisted by Maria Mictheva.
Editorial coordination
Meile Neben, Billy Nolan.
Production
Thomas Grell.
Researchers
Andrea Verdechia, Jurjen de Gans, Jeroen Mensink, Karlijn de Jong, Ayla Ryan.
Measures/Pages
Hardcover with fold-out, 19.3 x 27.1 cm, 2.58 kg, 1390 pages.
Language
English.
ISBN/EAN
978-3-8365-7817-2.
Publishing house
Photography
Iwan Baan. Assisted by Suzzane Tóth-Pál.
Bjarne Mastenbroek
The work of Bjarne Mastenbroek is characterised by a continuous exploration into the intimate and reciprocal relationship between architecture and site. As a Dutch architect, Mastenbroek is well aware of the scarcity of land and believes strongly in using this resource more intelligently in order to give 'nature' more space to survive.
Mastenbroek has been practicing architecture in the Netherlands and abroad for over 20 years. Since founding the practice SeARCH in 2002, Mastenbroek has witnessed and actively pushed for a more site-specific or connected approach to architecture to overtake a modernist approach to building.
Mastenbroek was chairman of the Royal institute of Dutch Architects in 2010-2011. He has been a jury member in prestigious competitions and has lectured around the world. He was "Dutch Architect of the year" in 2009, and has taught t the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, TU Delft, the International University of Catalonia and the University of Auckland.
Mastenbroek has been practicing architecture in the Netherlands and abroad for over 20 years. Since founding the practice SeARCH in 2002, Mastenbroek has witnessed and actively pushed for a more site-specific or connected approach to architecture to overtake a modernist approach to building.
Mastenbroek was chairman of the Royal institute of Dutch Architects in 2010-2011. He has been a jury member in prestigious competitions and has lectured around the world. He was "Dutch Architect of the year" in 2009, and has taught t the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, TU Delft, the International University of Catalonia and the University of Auckland.
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