German architect Egon Eiermann (1904-70) designed a number of intriguing postwar structures, such as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin and the chancery for the German embassy in Washington, DC. This book explores the history of Eiermann's last major project, the Olivetti towers, a unique pair of high-rise buildings in Frankfurt am Main.
The Olivetti firm produced office machinery that has since come to enjoy cult status in the field of design, and during the postwar years, the company was run by an Italian family that valued not only high-quality products, but also high-quality architecture. Accordingly, Roberto Olivetti commissioned Eiermann, a famous representative of German modernism, to create the German branch offices. For Eiermann, the project would mark a high point in his career, and this book presents that culmination with engaging text by historian Wolfgang Pehnt and numerous illustrations by Klaus Kinold, a former student of the great architect.
