Jeppe Sengupta Carstensen, Anna Aslaug Lund

Begründung der Jury

★★★★
Denmark /// Dänemark
★★★★

Critical Coast is a book that catches the eye at first glance. It is an interdisciplinary reader that explores the ecology and spaces of
coastal landscapes, the urgent situation of contemporary coastlands and diachronic ideas about the future of coasts.

The cover is very unusual and impactful with its mix of traditional cover material and progressive, bright green embossing. The book was published to accompany the Coastal Imaginaries exhibition in the Danish Pavilion at Venice’s Biennale Architettura 2023, and its printing also took place in Venice – a responsible production decision.

The typography is carefully chosen, while folding and format are very functional. The highly accomplished graphic design combines elements in a way that seems unprecedented. The designer’s masterful ability to orchestrate the text is evident as you flick through the pages. The rhythm of economy and density is pleasing.

The journalistic nature of the images is emphasized by the use of newspaper-like thin paper. The images are printed on one side, while the reverse has large blank areas that reflect the play of sparseness and density in the layout of the text. Despite the book’s large size, it can be held comfortably with both hands. This is a book to start a trend, not follow it.