Readers who plan on purchasing this book may wonder why it costs so much for a book that is seeming small in size. Before that is answered, consider the fact that this is a single book dedicated to a single building that has changed the popular architectural scene in Tokyo. When this building was completed in 2003, it became a destination spot for design students, architects, Prada customers, etc., etc. It made its architects, Herzog & de Meuron a "pop star" amongst the general public and it made Prada a household name in Japan for people who don't buy or wear Prada. This building set the benchmark for other fashion boutiques to live up to in the already trendy, upscale area of Tokyo called Omotesando.
How this cultural icon came to being is documented in this book thoroughly. It may be small in size, but I believe it is for ergonomic and aesthetic reasons. This book has 385 pages of information that documents the genesis of this project. From the initial contact that Prada made to Herzog & de Meuron in 1998 all the way to the project completion, this book has it all. This book follows no common template in its layout and it is like a photo scrap book that shows the process the architect and client went through to develop this project. You'll find sketches, study models, site analysis pictures, working drawings, construction project pictures, etc.,etc. Light on text but very heavy in pictures, this book should not be purchased for people expecting it to be a common monograph, but a book published by Prada for people who want to own a piece of a cultural icon.
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