Louis Sauer, The Architect of Low-rise High-density Housing

by Antonino Saggio

. . . As one walks the streets of the Philadelphia, Sauer's buildings stand out for the masterly way he calibrates architectural composition and the varied playfulness of his solutions which, through a complex body of intuitively defined rules, one will find the very essence of Sauer's field of action where he interprets the reality of the setting and its surroundings. This book, then, is an enjoyable, lively read, because it proposes a profoundly democratic architecture that opens individuals' minds, leaves room to the end-user's aesthetic sensibility and presupposes a curious, imagining heart. . .

Genres: Architecture

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2013

Reviews

[Michela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five projects to discover and understand one of the greatest US housing experts: Louis Sauer, architect and educator, active mostly in Philadelphia. The book explains and highlights the features which make Sauer’s body of work so game-changing in housing design: through his design approach, he managed to deliver a low-rise high-density typology that ensures thoughtful functional and spatial solutions within strict economical constraints.
This ability to deliver socially sensitive projects in a derelict urban scenario is shown by the tactful façade composition, the elegant use of materials, and the spatial complexity in organising the circulation within the buildings.
The deep understanding of the context and the importance of considering a building as part of a bigger network, outstretched towards the city, makes Sauer and his design a key point for those architects interested in understanding the urban scale and developing possible futures for it.
Highly recommended.