Kay Fisker: Danish Functionalism and Block-based Housing

This book focuses on Kay Fisker (1893-1965)‘s housing estates in Copenhagen. A leading exponent of Danish Functionalism, Fisker was influenced by Louis Sullivan, and had a strong belief in continuity, putting modernism in perspective and identifying precedents. He built many large-scale housing schemes, mostly for non-profit workers’ housing associations, and developed innovative and beautifully considered high-density, low-rise block schemes, which have proven useful and influential to the growing number of contemporary architects who have examined his designs.

Beautifully illustrated with photographs and architectural drawings, this book documents and critically analyses three of Kay Fisker’s seminal housing projects in Copenhagen: Hornbaekhus (1923); Vestersohus (1935-39); and Dronningegarden (1943-58). These projects reflect how Fisker’s work contains valuable lessons for contemporary architects in economy, precision and generosity in housing design. Essays by Martin Soberg, Poul Sverrild and Job Floris set Fisker’s work within their historical, social and architectural context. In the final section, architects from three leading contemporary practices - Clancy Moore, Monadnock and Tony Fretton - discuss how Kay Fisker has influenced their own approaches and work.