Manhole Covers of the World

(Hardback)

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Description

They lie under your feet as a functional part of the paving, heavy and shiny. The Romans had them first, made of limestone at the time. When, from the 19th century onwards, sewer systems were installed in the cities that had grown rapidly in the course of industrialization, the cast-iron manhole cover - also known as gully cover - was born as an access opening into the urban underworld as we know it today. This volume provides an insight into the fascinating graphic design language of these objects from all over the world. They offer an infinite variety of design, sometimes sober and standardized, sometimes playful or illustrative, and often reflecting the spirit of the country from which they originate and/or revealing interesting aspects of the respective location. The selected manhole covers are uniformly graphically stylized in black and white to maximize contrast and impact and to allow a focus on the essential.

Author Bio

After graduating with distinction from art college in Germany with a degree in visual communications, Bjrn Altmann moved to London and started for various branding agencies with a focus on type and typography. Apart from a keen eye for graphic design he has specialist skills as a font designer and illustrator.