BIG – Formgiving
Formgiving, the new book by BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, is a visionary attempt to look at the horizon of time. The Danish word for “design” is “formgivning,” which literally means to give form to that which has not yet taken shape. In other words, to give form to the future. Using our power to give form, rather than allowing the future to take shape, is more important now than ever, as humankind’s impact on the planet continues to increase and pose ever greater challenges to all life forms. Architecture plays a special role by proposing spaces for our lives that are fragments of the future in the making. William Gibson’s words embody architecture’s role perfectly: “The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed.”
With Formgiving. An Architectural Future History, BIG presents the third part of its TASCHEN trilogy, which began with Yes is More, one of the most successful architectural books of its generation, and continued with Hot to Cold. An Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation. The book is presented in a timeline, stretching from the Big Bang into the most distant future. Projects are structured around six strands of evolution—“Making,” “Sensing,” “Sustaining,” “Thinking,” “Healing,” and “Moving”—the multimedia-based, interdisciplinary concepts encompassing the building industry. Culture, climate, and landscape, as well as all the energies derived from the elements—the thermal mass of the ocean, the dynamics of currents, the energy and warmth of the sun, the power of the wind—are incorporated into these projects. Throughout more than 700 pages, Bjarke Ingels presents his personal selection of projects, including the 12,000-square-meter LEGO House in Denmark, the human-made ecosystems floating on oceans, the redesign of a World War II bunker into a contemplative museum, and the ski slope-infused power plant celebrating Copenhagen’s commitment to carbon neutrality. Through architecture and design, BIG gives shape to a sustainable and simultaneously colorful world.
Bjarke Ingels: “To feel that we have license to imagine a future different from today, all we have to do is look back ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, to realize how radically different things were then than they are today. The same will be true if we can look ahead with the same clarity of vision. As we tackle the complexities of everyday life, these six evolutionary trajectories allow us to place a firm gaze on the horizon of time to prevent us from being derailed by the random distractions of today. Since we know from our past that our future is bound to be different from our present, rather than waiting for it to take shape on its own, we have the power to give it form.”
Formgiving is also a companion volume to the exhibition of the same name, which was conceived at the Danish Architecture Center in Copenhagen and will travel to other venues worldwide. More than 65 projects document BIG’s global work through the eyes of their users, from the drawing board to global construction sites and finished projects. Throughout the book are insights into developments that reach five, ten, or fifty years into the future, and evidence of BIG’s intransigence to reach beyond the ordinary, and beyond worlds, to contribute to the future with each project. Each step not only reveals a world that resembles our dreams but also already tries to realize these dreams pragmatically. We have the power to create the world of tomorrow!
- Dimensions: 16 × 4 × 25 cm
- Pages: 736
- Language: English
Delivery & Returns
How long does shipping take?
Delivery takes between 2-10 working days from the time of dispatch, with a 1-3 day processing time in our warehouse if the product is in stock. Delivery time may take longer if the item is only available on demand or made-to-order.
During a sale period, please allow additional processing time for your order to be despatched. In addition, please be aware that there could be delivery delays from the shipping carriers during the holiday period due to the a high volume of parcels, which THAT COOL LIVING has no control over.
Will I have to pay additional taxes and duties?
All orders which are despatched to a customer in the EU may not be liable for additional duties and taxes.
All USA orders will not be liable for additional duties if the total order value is below $800 USD.
All orders outside of the EU may be liable for additional duties and taxes that will be due at the point of or after delivery.
Please note that all deliveries to Switzerland, Norway, and the UK are shipped on a DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) basis. Additional duties, taxes, and fees may apply.
How much does shipping cost?
Orders delivered to the EU, Norway, Switzerland and the UK are free of charge above €200 and will be shipped via UPS, DHL or Posti. For orders below €200, shipping fees start at €9.90.
Shipping fees for international orders start at €9.90 and will be shipped via UPS, DHL, FedEx or TNT.
Do you ship to all countries?
We ship to almost all countries worldwide. If you are located in Russia please see the section below. If you are experiencing any issues when selecting a shipping destination please contact hello@thatcooliving.com and the team will be happy to assist you.
Shipping currently not available to Ukraine, Russia and Belarus
Due to the current saddening events, we are unable to deliver our goods to Ukrainian, Russian and Belarussian shipping addresses. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Where are the products shipped from?
Most products are shipped from our fulfilment facility in the Netherlands and Germany. Some products may be shipped directly from our partners in the European Union.
Can I return an item I bought on sale?
All sale items purchased with a 50% or higher discount, will be final sale and are non-returnable/non-exchangeable.
All sale items purchased with a 25% or lower discount, will be granted a return for either a store credit, or an exchange for an item of the same value.
What if my order is sold out?
In the rare occasion that your order has sold out after you have purchased it, THAT COOL LIVING will notify you and allow you to exchange to a different style of the same value or process a refund.
Pre-Order Purchases
All pre-order item dates are just an estimated date of when stock should arrive at the warehouse and are subject to changes due to unpredicted delays with the shipments. All pre-order orders will be dispatched within 48 hours of the stock arriving.
Can I cancel my order?
We work hard to have your orders delivered to you within the shortest amount of time. Once payment is accepted and the order is confirmed, it is immediately in the process to be fulfilled. Order modification is possible for 12 hours from order placement. Order cancellation is possible within 3 days of order confirmation. Cancellation is not possible for made-to-order items.
If you wish to cancel your order, please contact us as soon as possible with your name and order details at hello@thatcooliving.com.
Please note that we cannot make changes to or cancel your order if your order is marked as "fulfilled". You can see the status of your order on your account page upon login.
How do I return an order?
We have a 14-day return policy, which means you have 14 days after receiving your item to request a return.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
To start a return, you can contact us at hello@thatcooliving.com. You will be responsible for paying your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable.
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
Please note that most of our items are made-to-order items which cannot be returned unless damaged or defective. Whether an item is made-to-order, it is always communicated on the its product page.