wiedler.ch

book (design) story #268

(unknown) :
150 jahre eisen / pestalozzi & co.

pestalozzi & co., zürich, 1938
size: 30 x 21 cm
designer: hans neuburg

this festschrift commemorates the 150th anniversary of zürich-based steel dealer pestalozzi & co. industrial companies like these were among the first and foremost clients of (swiss) modernist graphic designers such as hans neuburg (1904-1985) who is credited in the impressum of this book.

the grey cloth cover with a silver and blue logo, and the shiny metallic endpapers seem appropriate for this kind of company.

while the photographic dustjacket sports asymmetric typography, the title page is centred. title, logo and side notes are printed steel-blue.

below a drawing of the company's first premises – the building was actually built agaist the walls of the fraumünster church!

the photograph below shows the owner family, in the garden of their villa, in 1865.

photos of modern company buildings. the wall painting at the top – featuring an h-beam, bench vise, electric drill, and the company's name – was designed by max bill in 1934 (see the book on his graphic designs, isbn 3721203410, p.41). the wall painting is still there today.