Modern architecture

[Z...@adobeforums.com]

Does anyone have a suggestion for suitable fonts for a magazine article on modern architecture?

[Guy_S...@adobeforums.com]

This may sound crazy, but I kind of like the idea of using a Venetian old style for the body text, juxtaposed with a very modern looking humanist sans for the headings. What about Adobe Jenson with Syntax?

[Z...@adobeforums.com]

Interesting, what about Utopia Std Opticals? My choice is basically limited to the Adobe Type Classics for Learning fonts, it's for a portfolio piece not an actual printed article, I'm still learning.

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

You know, Futura Light still does wonders for architectural stuff. Even Gill Sans.

Neil

[gato...@adobeforums.com]

One of the architectural magazines where I am, 'Pol Oxygen' looks like it uses a bodytext similar to Jenson, or Centaur. I found it quite striking and noticed it immediately, so Guy's suggestion is on money if you want something a bit different.

Personally though, I've always associated architectural stuff with sans-serif fonts, although not sure if I should suggest the overused Helvetica...maybe Univers, Futura, Akzidenz Grotesk for headings.

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

gatorage,

The timeless quality of a well-proportioned and crafted serif font, particularly if it has a chiseled or sculpted look, would be appropriate. Adobe's Jenson and Monotype's Centaur certainly work for me.

Neil

[gato...@adobeforums.com]

Agreed Neil,

Although Zeb did mention he was looking for something that represented 'modern architecture'.

If I take that to mean modernism, the geometry and modular systems of Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe, etc, to the grids and uniformity of the Bauhaus, I instantly think of sans-serif typefaces from which Futura (which you suggested) and Univers grew out of.

And Helvetica always works ;)

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

gatorage,

Nothing wrong with using both Futura light AND Centaur -- one for heads; the other for text.

Neil

[Guy_S...@adobeforums.com]

I'm no architectural expert, but the reason I suggested using a Venetian old style for the body text and a modernistic sans for heads was that it made me think of the Sony building (formerly the AT&T building) on Madison Ave. and 56th Street in NYC, which juxtaposes classical and modern elements.

<http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/att/>

[Z...@adobeforums.com]

These are the kind of buildings I will be featuring:
<http://www.pbase.com/image/22222854/original>
I'll do a test with all your suggestions,
Thanks
Zeb.

[Guy_S...@adobeforums.com]

Wow, those are some hideous buildings! You can almost feel the contempt that the architects must have had for the people who work in them every day.

[gato...@adobeforums.com]

Lol! You're right there Guy.

[Thomas_...@adobeforums.com]

I actually think Zeb's own suggestion of Utopia Opticals would be just fine. For a more general architecture mag, a classic oldstyle like Adobe Jenson would be good, but for this kind of modern stuff I think Utopia is just the ticket.

Regards,

T

Thomas Phinney
Fonts Program Mgr.
Adobe Systems

[Dominic...@adobeforums.com]

The second one makes me feel seasick when I look at it. It reminds me of one of those "Slinky" toys just starting to tip over! And the first one reminds me of a pine cone (or a Christmas tree light).

[John_...@adobeforums.com]

Or Kepler.
Chaparral Pro would be nice too.

[Marilyn_...@adobeforums.com]

I'd also take a look at Ocean Sans.

[Tra...@adobeforums.com]

Hideous architecture calls for hideous fonts. My choice? Avant Garde all the way.

[Guy_S...@adobeforums.com]

"Hideous architecture calls for hideous fonts."

Based upon that principle, I'd use Comic Sans. The way that the stress is oriented differently for different strokes within a glyph is very reminiscent of the second building.