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The World by Design: The Story of a Global Architecture Firm
In a series of fascinating tales, Gene Kohn explains how he helped build one of the most successful architecture firms in the world, offering inspiring lessons on business leadership and design innovation that can be applied to many fields.
Founded on July 4, 1976, Kohn Pedersen Fox quickly became a darling of the architectural press with groundbreaking buildings such as the headquarters for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on Manhattan's Upper West Side, 333 Wacker Drive in Chicago, the Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati, and the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC.
By the early 1990s, when most architecture firms in the U.S. were struggling to survive a major recession, KPF was busy with significant buildings in London, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea, and Indonesia--pioneering a model of global practice that has influenced architecture, design, and creative-services firms ever since. Like any other business, though, KPF has stumbled along the way and wrestled with crises. But through it all, it has remained innovative in a field that changes all the time and often favors the newest star on the horizon.
Now in its fifth decade, the firm has shaped skylines and cities around the world with iconic buildings such as the World Financial Center in Shanghai, Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, the DZ Bank Tower in Frankfurt, the Heron Tower in London, and Hudson Yards in New York.
Forthright and engaging, Kohn examines both award-winning achievements and missteps in his 50-year career in architecture. In the process, he shows how his firm, KPF, has helped change the buildings and cities where we live, work, learn, and play.
Founded on July 4, 1976, Kohn Pedersen Fox quickly became a darling of the architectural press with groundbreaking buildings such as the headquarters for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on Manhattan's Upper West Side, 333 Wacker Drive in Chicago, the Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati, and the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC.
By the early 1990s, when most architecture firms in the U.S. were struggling to survive a major recession, KPF was busy with significant buildings in London, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea, and Indonesia--pioneering a model of global practice that has influenced architecture, design, and creative-services firms ever since. Like any other business, though, KPF has stumbled along the way and wrestled with crises. But through it all, it has remained innovative in a field that changes all the time and often favors the newest star on the horizon.
Now in its fifth decade, the firm has shaped skylines and cities around the world with iconic buildings such as the World Financial Center in Shanghai, Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, the DZ Bank Tower in Frankfurt, the Heron Tower in London, and Hudson Yards in New York.
Forthright and engaging, Kohn examines both award-winning achievements and missteps in his 50-year career in architecture. In the process, he shows how his firm, KPF, has helped change the buildings and cities where we live, work, learn, and play.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2019
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1169 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 1, 2019
Quite interesting read to me as I enjoy city design and skyscraper design as I have traveled over my work years. I also have family that work in architecture and retail design. All the stories of building his business and especially the stories on working with the richest man in building his work and property needs overseas was so very interesting. I have read this book cover to cover and enjoyed learning his business development aspects as he built his firm and its reputation over time. This book is a must read for those that want to work in architecture and design as well as consulting work. I wish there had been more photographs in this book and the book would really be fantastic even more with lots of photos highlighting his design ideas in buildings they have completed.
February 3, 2020
This is a fascinating intellectual read. Kohn is a genius when it comes to redefining cities around the globe. Lovely color photos. A coffee table book for sure. Thankyou Goodreads for this free book.
September 11, 2019
I found this book very interesting, I enjoyed learning about architecture and loved the pictures as you went.
October 17, 2019
Excellent book!!!
January 5, 2020
Great book.
February 13, 2023
Fascinating!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews