Concrete spirit

This monograph on the architecture of Ralph Allen explores his use of concrete as the material of choice, and how his designs are woven with this medium. Documented in color, along with classic black and white photography by award-winning architectural photographer Julius Shulman (who also wrote the Foreword), Allen's architecture is noted for its strong presence, its play of shade and shadow, and its integration with the site. Many of his works literally become part of the landscape, buried beneath the surface and molded in concrete as a metaphorical "geologic record." Recognized with numerous design awards, Ralph Allen's buildings are testament to his quiet, sensible approach to turning function into concrete form. Setting his buildings in a field of space, being conscious of energy consumption, and exploiting the expressive qualities of the materials make Allen's architecture socially relevant and sculptural - a deft blending of function and form, realized through the spirit of concrete.