Central Switzerland: A Metropolis

Central Switzerland, the region around Lake Lucerne, is praised worldwide for the prettiness of its landscape and the dramatic mountain scenery. The city of Lucerne, the nearby mountains and the lake are world-famous tourist destinations. Yet little is known internationally about the region's 20th-century architecture, besides Jean Nouvel's celebrated culture and convention complex KKL in Lucerne. The Swiss photographer Guido Baselgia has created a vast series of photographs documenting this scarcely published architectural world. His carefully conceived images show individual buildings as well as larger groups, revealing their specific architectural qualities as well as their setting within the environment. Included are private and public buildings, residential as well as industrial structures. Central Switzerland. A Metropolis presents Baselgia's photographs of 82 buildings in duotone and in a lavish landscape format book design. A discussion among four experts on architectural quality and on chances, challenges and failures in spatial development and urban planning complements the images. AUTHORS: Guido Baselgia, born 1953, did his education with the famous photography class at Zurich School of Art and Design (now Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK) from 1975-79. He lives and works as a freelance photographer in Switzerland and has contributed to numerous publications and exhibitions. Bund Schweizer Architekten BSA (Federation of Swiss Architects) is one of the two major professional architectural societies in Switzerland. It has been established in 1908. 6 colour, 82 b/w illustrations