Notes from the Underworld

Discover the fascinating world of subterranean architecture with this captivating book that explores the underground spaces created by humans throughout history. 'Notes from the Underworld' delves into the various reasons humans have gravitated towards the depths: from fleeing persecution to seeking refuge from harsh climates, to addressing contemporary urban and environmental challenges. This informative hardcover volume, published by Schiffer Books, presents an architect's perspective on more than 80 striking international projects that reveal the hidden yet vital role of underground structures. Spanning various periods and styles, the book features unique case studies, including a residence in a decommissioned nuclear silo, an innovative Arctic seed bank, a vibrant Beirut nightclub, and more. Readers will appreciate the exploration of both wartime and peaceful uses of these spaces, as well as the rituals—both religious and secular—that take place underground. Each structure serves as a narrative of cultural and economic dynamics, highlighting how these hidden spaces reflect our visible world. Perfect for architecture enthusiasts, historians, or anyone curious about the unseen layers of our environment, this book is an essential addition to your collection. Release Date: 28-11-2019. Size: 166 x 217 mm with 144 pages of insightful content that reveals how we live, store, and interact with the underworld around us.

Author: Stefano Corbo Publisher: Schiffer Books
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 166 x 217 mm
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 28-11-2019

Since early times, humans have explored the space below their feet for different purposes: to flee persecution and war, to find protection from severe climates, to improve urban life—and more recently, to solve environmental problems. A rare look at old and new subterranean structures from an architect's perspective, this seminal book examines the underworld through the lenses of wartime, life and death, religious and secular rituals, and adaptive reuse. The atlas of 80+ international projects ranges widely in time period and type, from a house in a defunct nuclear silo to an Arctic seed bank, a Beirut nightclub, art venues, an Italian winery, and a monastery carved into a mountain. All are surprising examples of how invisible man-made spaces follow the same cultural and economic cues as their visible counterparts and are places where we store, hide, repress, and live.