Book: Claudio Silvestrin

'Through stable, quiet and serene architecture (rather than through loud and ostentatious forms) the soul gives up fighting against its earthly fate and finds peace'. This intriguing aphorism by architect Claudio Silvestrin (opens in new tab) forms the crux of his work, and appears in his latest tome, 'The non-materiality of the material - Claudio Silvestrin' - itself an altogether calming 366 page journey from one minimalist project to the next, capturing the essense of Silvestrin's work over the last 20 years.

Armed with a substantial preface by Franco Bertoni (opens in new tab), an essay by Francesco Alberoni and a postscript by Germano Celant (opens in new tab), the book also features a selection of Silvestrin's writings - a welcome glimpse into the mind of this architect, who despite his many high profile commissions, often chooses to let his spaces - strong and inventive, yet never intimidating - quietly shape a landscape.

Born in 1954, the London-based architect worked in partnership with John Pawson (opens in new tab) for a few years, before setting up his own practice in 1989. He has since garnered a diverse following, including the likes of Kanye West (opens in new tab), Giorgio Armani (opens in new tab), Calvin Klein (opens in new tab) and Victoria Miro (opens in new tab) - who all want a piece of his austere vision.

Almost bordering on monastic, the calm serene forms of a Silvestrin building have even compelled Alberoni to describe it in the book as 'a place in which fragmented man can rediscover the roots of his culture and tradition, through earth, water, air, fire, wood, stone and light.' Spiritual words, but looking at Silvestrin's favouring of simple, natural material, and his unwavering committment to the essense of architectural configuration - spaces are an interplay between geometry and its horizon, stripped bare of embellishment - it's a natural conclusion.