This first monograph on the widely acclaimed Basel-based firm Manuel Herz Architects features
19 built and unrealized projects from their portfolio since 2004. Developed for highly diverse
locations in ten countries in Europe Africa and Asia they vary greatly in terms of building
program scale character and vision. The projects include housing cultural and public
buildings exhibition and furniture designs as well as architectural and urban research.
Conceived as a critical retrospective this book traces all stages of a project from initial
sketches to completion looking also at the afterlife of realized buildings. As the title
Unfinished Atlas suggests architecture should never be considered to be entirely completed:
there is always room and potential for later interventions by and with others. Five thematic
chapters highlight the ever-changing challenges for a designer that arise from working in
complex environments and different socioeconomic conditions. Contributions by distinguished
international authors and by the firm's founder Manuel Herz reflect on the need to negotiate
between differing requirements of all actors involved cultural traditions and forms of
expression as well as the correction of mistakes and adaption to setbacks en route to a
realized building.
