Designing TWA
Eero Saarinens Flughafenterminal in New York
When it opened in 1962, the TWA Flight Center at New York’s JFK airport was a sensation. Created by Eero Saarinen with a distinctly birdlike design, it was instantly seen as a striking emblem of the romance of air travel. More than half a century later, it remains a beloved icon of modern architecture.
Designing TWA is the first book to tell the whole story of Saarinen’s building, from its early planning through its closing in 2001 after the takeover of TWA by American Airlines. Documenting the terminal’s commission, planning, building, and use, architect Kornel Ringli reveals the constant tension between the operational needs of the airline and Saarinen’s visionary imaginings—revealing the TWA building as an incredible architectural achievement that nonetheless failed to meet the day-to-day demands of the business it housed. Lavishly illustrated with archival photographs, Designing TWA is an unprecedented look behind the scenes at the making of a modern masterpiece.
Named one of the Most Beautiful Swiss Books 2015.
«[…] eine äusserst lesenswerte Studie, die optisch überzeugend und gleichzeitig unprätentiös gestaltet wurde.» Simone Hübener, db deutsche bauzeitung
«Die gründlich recherchierte, prägnant argumentierende und mit viel unveröffentlichten Bildmaterial aufwartende Monografie von Kornel Ringli zeigt, mit welch ausgeprägter Konsequenz Eero Saarinen ein Gebäude konzipierte, das von den affirmativen Ideen und Zielen der Corporate Architecture und des Corporate Design komplett durchdrungen ist. Eine spannende Lesereise.» Paul Andreas, Neue Zürcher Zeitung
«Zürich’s Park Books proves once again to be the destination press for lovers of architecture. Kornel Ringli’s exhaustive, fascinating book goes back to the basics of passenger and baggage movements that Saarinen studied, as well the glamorous opening gala to tell of the tension between architect’s imagination and the practical demands of the airline business.» Robert Bound, Monocle
« […] kritisch, kenntnisreich und kurzweilig.» Jan Dimog, thelink.berlin