Editorship Elisabeth Blum Jesko Fezer Günther Fischer Angelika Schnell Not unjustly referred
to as legendary this series of books on the history and theory of architecture and urban
development was founded in 1963 by Ulrich Conrads who was joined by Peter Neitzke as a
co-editor of the series in the early 1980s. Now numbering over 150 titles it is the most
comprehensive German-language book series covering these fields. Following the deaths of the
two longtime editors Ulrich Conrads (2013) and Peter Neitzke (2015) a new editorial committee
was formed to continue their work: Elisabeth Blum Jesko Fezer Günther Fischer and Angelika
Schnell. As the future editors of this series it is our aim to maintain the course set by our
forerunners. The series has fulfilled its original aim of taking stock of the constructional
and urban planning ideas and realizations formulated and achieved over the twentieth century in
exemplary fashion. The Bauwelt Fundament series actually represents a history of ideas in the
fields of planning and building that extends from the beginning of the twentieth century into
the present. The second objective of the series one that is anchored in its very name will
also continue to guide the development of the series namely the publication of foundational
thought - authoritative and fundamental - rather than passing opinion of theses and polemics
relating to the burning architectural and urban planning themes of the time. Penetrating
complex interrelationships and probing them with systematic analysis provides the prerequisite
for fruitful discourse and ongoing debate. As a forum for such discourses and contributions
the Bauwelt Fundamente series is maintaining its focus on the areas of architecture and
urbanism supplementing it with the always necessary historical investigation of important
questions and texts and its extension into other cultural and social fields. A strong
international orientation and the desire for more female authors are self-evident in such a
context. The original graphic design approach taken by Helmut Lortz to the series is being
maintained. As is fitting for a working library Bauwelt Fundamente titles remain simply
designed using black and white for the logo the images on the front and back and the
eleven-line summary of the volume's contents. This is indicative of the broad orientation of
Bauwelt Fundamente to all those interested in the cultural and social development that provides
the context for the creation of cities houses and other objects which in turn create contexts
for the world. Architects it is said - or hoped - have always been interested in the world
beyond the boundaries of their profession. (1) (1) Peter Neitzke manuscript of his address
Nicht mit dem Rücken zur Gesellschaft (Not with one's back to society) given to mark the
fiftieth anniversary of Bauwelt Fundamente in Berlin 2013.
