The Ken Adam Archive
Regular price $1,000.00Collector’s Edition of 1,200 numbered copies, each signed by Sir Ken Adam
The Man Who Drew the Cold War.
Christopher Frayling in conversation with Ken Adam
“A beautiful new illustrated book.”
The Man Who Drew the Cold War
The production designs of the Oscar-winning Sir Ken Adam
Whether in the sprawling extravagance of You Only Live Twice’s volcanic lair, or the unassuming simplicity of the sinister anteroom in Dr. No, Adam’s designs were indispensable to the look and feel of seven of the early James Bond films. In The Ken Adam Archive, his artworks are carefully complimented by a wealth of behind-the-scenes photographs, documents, and archival material on the films, courtesy of EON Productions.
Not only did Adam craft the space stations, bunkers, and laboratories of 007’s villains, he was responsible for many of his memorable vehicles, as whimsical as they were menacing: from the amphibious Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me to Goldfinger’s gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5, the ultimate combination of futuristic weaponry and tongue-in-cheek wit.
The book also recalls, through a series of illuminating interviews between Adam and author Sir Christopher Frayling, the highs and lows of his close but tumultuous collaborations with Stanley Kubrick – including the design of the War Room in Dr. Strangelove – alongside many more standout moments from his career. Steven Spielberg called the War Room “the best set in the history of the movies”.
Accompanied by authoritative essays and introductions from Frayling, who is also Adam’s biographer, The Ken Adam Archive reflects upon the life and work of the German-British refugee and fighter pilot who would go on to realize a celebrated career in production design, spanning seven decades and over 50 films.
Collector’s Edition of 1,200 numbered copies, each signed by Sir Ken Adam, with acrylic, engraved bookstand
The artist
Sir Ken Adam, born in 1921 in Berlin, first trained as an architect before starting out in the film industry as a draughtsman, progressing quickly to art director and production designer on several major films. Known particularly for his semi-futuristic designs and use of modern technologies and materials, Adam collaborated with such top-class directors as John Ford, Jacques Tourneur, Robert Aldrich, and of course Stanley Kubrick.
The author
Born in 1946, Sir Christopher Frayling is a renowned British author, writer and critic. With a particular interest in popular culture, he taught at the University of Bath and also served as the Rector of the Royal College of Art. As chairman of the Arts and the Design Council and former governor of the British Film Institute, he is a leading voice in the world of movie and design history.
The Ken Adam Archive
Edition of 1,200Hardcover bound in iridescent bicolor fabric with tipped-in, four-phase lenticular, 36 x 36 cm, 3.88 kg, 360 pages, with acrylic, engraved bookstandISBN 978-3-8365-5187-8
Edition: English
