Nicholas Hawksmoor
London Churches

British architect Nicholas Hawksmoor (approx. 1661–1736) is recognized as one of the major contributors to the traditions of British and European architectural culture. Nevertheless, there is insufficient visual documentation and analysis of his work. Nicholas Hawksmoor: London Churches reconsiders his architecture in relation to urbanism. The publication focuses on a series of important London churches the architect designed during the early part of the eighteenth century. The key distinguishing features of these churches are their spires, each designed with different qualities and motifs. While Hawksmoor was inspired by the ancient history of architecture, his work was considered radical and contemporary in its day.

Photographer Hélène Binet was specially commissioned to document the various aspects of the seven remaining London churches. Her immaculate black and white photographs demonstrate the beauty of Hawksmoor’s architecture with special attention to the variety of scales, sites, interiors, textures, and materials.

British architect Nicholas Hawksmoor (approx. 1661–1736) is recognized as one of the major contributors to the traditions of British and European architectural culture. Nevertheless, there is insufficient visual documentation and analysis of his work. Nicholas Hawksmoor: London Churches reconsiders his architecture in relation to urbanism. The publication focuses on a series of important London churches the architect designed during the early part of the eighteenth century. The key distinguishing features of these churches are their spires, each designed with different qualities and motifs. While Hawksmoor was inspired by the ancient history of architecture, his work was considered radical and contemporary in its day.

Photographer Hélène Binet was specially commissioned to document the various aspects of the seven remaining London churches. Her immaculate black and white photographs demonstrate the beauty of Hawksmoor’s architecture with special attention to the variety of scales, sites, interiors, textures, and materials.

Edited by Mohsen Mostafavi

With photographs by Hélène Binet

24 x 30 cm, 9 ½ x 11 ¾ in

180 pages, 144 illustrations

hardback

2015, 978-3-03778-349-8, English
CHF 40.00

Hélène Binet

Hélène Binet (*1959) was born in Sorengo, Switzerland, and is of both Swiss and French descent. She grew up in Rome where she studied photography at the Instituto Europeo di Design and soon developed an interest in architectural photography. Hélène Binet has photographed both contemporary and historical architecture, including the work of architects Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind, and Peter Zumthor. More recently, she has started to direct her attention to landscape photography, wherein she transposes key concerns of her architectural photography. Hélène Binet’s work has been published in a wide range of books, and is shown in both national and international exhibitions. An advocate of analogue photography, Hélène Binet works exclusively with film.

Mohsen Mostafavi

Mohsen Mostafavi, architect and educator, is the Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor of Design of the Harvard Graduate School of Design and was the school's dean from 2008 through 2019. His work focuses on modes and processes of urbanization and the interface between technology and aesthetics.