Spirit of Place - Collector's Edition

“For thousands of years, civilization has constructed its buildings on the land. We prefer to construct our buildings with the land, where architecture recedes and becomes a frame,” writes Chad Oppenheim. These words are the theme of Spirit of Place, the first monograph of the work of Oppenheim Architecture. Through passion and sensitivity towards man and nature, the firm creates monumental yet silent work that invokes a site’s inherent power.

The book, with 120 stunning photographs and minimal text, features seven of the firm’s projects, ranging in scale and location from homes in the Bahamas and Aspen to a resort in the Jordanian desert. The projects are categorized by each site’s predominant natural element: dune, desert, stream, river, sea, canyon, and peninsula. The images, like the architecture, focus on and celebrate the natural world, illustrating Oppenheim’s design philosophy that “form follows feeling.” The volume includes text by Chad Oppenheim, Val K. Warke, Antón García-Abril, and Mark Jarzombek. A custom-made bookstand is available for the Collector's Edition. 

Praise:

Named one of Aspire Design and Home’s “must-reads.”

“Oppenheim’s properties engage and harness their surrounding land and seascapes and showcase the designer’s dedication to sustainable practices and materials.”—Worth  

“Instead of trying to compete with the beauty of the natural landscape…Oppenheim created a house that recedes into it.”—New York Times

“The book includes 120 stunning photographs cataloging seven of the firm’s projects.”—designboom

“Representative of Oppenheim’s signature style of creating socially- and environmentally-friendly architecture and interiors.”—Forbes

“A must-have photo book for architecture lovers…the images display the firm’s sensitivity toward natural landscapes as well as an ability to highlight and celebrate a site’s inherent strength, character, and beauty.”—Gessato

“Spirit of Place is architectural monograph as art and inspiration.”—A Daily Dose of Architecture

“This lusciously produced book…is a documentation of [Oppenheim’s] ideas about the minimalism of architecture, how he lets buildings recede to the background while the setting…takes center stage.”—The Big Bubble Miami

“The images literally speak for themselves…The idea is for readers to immerse themselves in the various terrains.”—The Real Deal

“An incredible book.”—Home Stratosphere