The Architecture of Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck was born in Paris in 1949 and became the Artistic Director of Cardin at a young age. In the late seventies he realised the night clubs 'Le Main Bleue' and 'Les Baines-Douches', prototypes of the 'hard' clubs. In 1982 he refurbished the Presidential Apartments in the Elysee for Francois Mitterand. He is most famous for his work as a designer - of chairs, beds, tables, watches and kitchen equipment - objects which have met with an enthusiastic reception from both private clients and an international public. Here, his entire architectural activity is dealt with for the first time: from his interiors for the Cafe Costes and those in Tokyo (the Manin Restaurant and Cafe Mystique); through the projects for the Tokyo Opera House and French Pavilion at the Venice Biennale; to the realised works in Madrid, New York and Tokyo (Asahi, 'Nani Nani' and 'Le Baron Vert') and the most recent project for the Prefabricated House for '3 Suisses' to be sold by mail. All break through the conventions of the traditional architectural discipline with their strength of innovation and symbolic power.