A new book by Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger (Amsterdam, 1932). Even if it is not ‘the complete oeuvre’, Shaping freedom offers a comprehensive overview of the work of Hertzberger since 1959. The new texts he has written for this book are complemented by key fragments from his earlier publications. A wealth of images presents his architecture and inspirations.

This book is as much about making architecture as it is about world making. Hertzberger has always considered his works as parts of webs of connections on different scales. Shaping freedom integrates his architecture, texts, photographs, drawings, quotes, and art and architecture of others. All these layers are reciprocally related to each other. Together, they form Hertzberger’s architectural universe.