a+u

a+u’s January issue features Caruso St John Architects, led by Adam Caruso and Peter St John. Practicing for more than 30 years, the firm is completing a series of major buildings, such as ZSC Lions Ice Hockey Arena, a competition-winning project 10 years in the making, and Royale Belge, an ambitious renovation of a landmark corporate building. Founded in London in 1990, Caruso St John carefully analyzes the existing situation – be it the sociocultural context or an old building – to create a unique architecture that informs both materiality and detail. The scale of the projects varies but the architecture is always their own, as their design approach, while consistent, responds sensitively to the variations. Caruso St John Architects have approached the 19 works in this issue with the same passion and sensitivity as in Tate Britain’s Millbank Project and Brick House, projects introduced in a+u’s March 2015 issue. Whether the subject is an existing building or a new construction, Caruso St John always questions norms and standards, and by extracting ideas and materials from the existing built environment, the firm embraces “the challenge to reframe the way we see the world around us and change how we define architecture.” (a+u)

Essay:
All Buildings are Beautiful
Adam Caruso

St Gallen Cathedral, Chancel and Organ
Canterbury Cathedral Organ Loft
Peterloo Memorial
The Triple Folly
ZSC Lions Ice Hockey Arena
Sigurd Lewerentz: Architect of Death and Life
Falconhoven Apartment Building
St Jakob Foundation
Office Building, Grosser Burstah
Office Building, Escher Wyss Platz
Warehouse, Wiedikon
House in the Mountains
Hospitalfield Arts
Schulhaus, Neuhausen
Görtz Palais
Veemgebouw
Lycée Hôtelier de Lille
Royale Belge
Düengerbau

Essay:
La Royale Belge
Eleanor Beaumont