Die Planergruppe:
WIR. 50 Jahre Landschaft in Transformation

Book Design

for
Die Planergruppe

with
Brückner + Brückner

Project photos
Fiona Oehler

"We design open spaces." True to this motto, Die Planergruppe (formerly "Planergruppe Oberhausen") has made it its mission to make (urban) landscapes tangible and usable for around 50 years. The fiftieth anniversary not only brought with it a new name, but also a comprehensive redesign and a book publication. The central element of the black bar, which is derived from the word mark, runs like a red thread through the new design system. It symbolises a focus on structure, stringency and contrast: the visual appearance is based on a clear grid system and the dynamic alternation between static layout and lively project images.

The publication "WIR. 50 Jahre Landschaft in Transformation", which was published by "Deutscher Architektur Verlag", builds on this system. The element of the bar is also continued and transferred to the typographic layout area in various ways - for example through the arrangement of text elements or the use of indents and headlines. 
The wider black ribbon marker is also integrated into the design system. In combination with the embossed word mark on the spine, it symbolises the bar, which is always connected to the word mark within the branding.

The choice of paper and the colour scheme of the book also underline the new appearance in their combination with the typography and layout. The general section of the book is printed on light grey paper. Among other things, it contains a six-page fold-out with an infographic that provides information on "Locations, projects and people" from 1973 to 2023. 
Three abbreviated separator pages announce the chapters "WHO", "WHERE" and "WHEN". Their colours are derived from the office's project plans.
The affiliation of image and text elements is emphasised here by image numbering integrated into text passages. The articles and text content are regularly supplemented by project image sections. A high-gloss picture printing paper benefits the image quality and at the same time creates a contrast to the coated paper used for the other pages. 

In addition to analogue and digital images, the content of the book consists of introductory texts, (personal) articles by Planergruppe members and external contributors, retrospectives and "glimpses of the future", statements, reports on research projects and interviews. The respective layout types make it clear at a glance what type of content is involved. For example, personal articles and quotes, in contrast to more general texts, are set in a serif font. The statement pages consist of bar-like text blocks, some of which are rotated. In contrast to other texts, reviews are set in two columns, reports on research projects in the "WHEN" section are exclusively in the blue colour of this chapter.

Format: 220x285mm
Pages: 256
Cover: Hardcover, hot foil stamping black
Front and back matter: black, unprinted Binding: Thread stitching Papers inside: 120g/m² Pergraphica Timid Grey, 115g/m² Lessebo Design Smooth, 135g/m² Gardagloss Art glossy
Fonts: Söhne (Klim Type Foundry), PP Writer (Pangram Pangram)
Edition: 250 copies (1st edition November 2023) Printed by: DruckVerlag Kettler GmbH
Publisher: Deutscher Architektur Verlag (ISBN: 978-3-9461-54-80-8)