Inspiration you can touch – a glimpse into our analogue architecture library

Pinterest, digital mood boards, Instagram, ChatGPT and other AI-powered research tools – the number of digital information platforms is vast, and they’ve become an integral part of our daily workflow. And yet, our analogue architecture library possesses a unique power of its own. As a tactile archive of architectural history and a source of inspiration for future thinking, it remains a constant presence in our studio – sometimes used more, sometimes less, but always accessible.

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The foundation of our library was laid by Werner Blaser, an architect, publicist and furniture designer who gained international recognition.

His passion for architecture and its history is reflected not only in his numerous publications – 108 in total – but also in his extensive collection of specialist and industry literature from around the world.

His son, Christian W. Blaser, continues this tradition to this day. Whether published by renowned figures from Ando to Zumthor or lesser-known authors – our library comprises over 3,500 volumes from various eras, disciplines and thematic fields: monographs, reference works, theoretical texts, exhibition catalogues, historic editions and international architecture journals sit alongside publications on textiles, (furniture) design, art and architecture – a truly comprehensive collection. Some of the titles are no longer available commercially; others bear margin notes, traces of use or even handwritten dedications. In short: books with history.

This in itself shows that beyond the content, the book as an object is often equally compelling: materials, binding and typography all contribute to the experience.

And yet, in the age of digitalisation, we find ourselves turning to physical books less frequently. A right-click and a search term will get us to our goal faster – and the results are often easier to process further.

Still, who knows – perhaps our library will once again evolve into a place that inspires design processes, supports conceptual thinking, opens up new perspectives and fosters unexpected connections. In any case, we continue to expand the collection, convinced that analogue books offer a unique sense of quality, design and knowledge. They create space for genuine engagement and promote independent thinking. After all, browsing the shelves often leads – in true serendipitous fashion – to surprising discoveries. That, ultimately, is where their power lies.

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Bevor wir Ihnen YouTube-Videos zeigen können, müssen wir Sie darüber informieren, dass beim Laden der Videos möglicherweise Daten an den Anbieter übermittelt werden. Mit dem Klick auf den Play Button akzeptieren Sie die Erhebung und Verarbeitung dieser Daten gemäß unserer Datenschutzerklärung.

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