Kevin Christopher Lippert (January 20, 1959 – March 29, 2022) was an American book publisher. He was the founder of Princeton Architectural Press.[1]

Early life and education

Lippert was born in Leeds, England to Ernest and Maureen (Ellis) Lippert. He was born while they were studying at the University of Leeds.[2]

In 1980, he received a BA from Princeton University and a MA in 1983.[2]

During his time as a student, he was the music director of the Princeton radio station WPRB.[2]

Career

In 1981, while Lippert was a student, he founded Princeton Architectural Press.[2]

During his time at Princeton, students were encouraged to study historic texts, but they were not easy to access due to the books age, size, and availability. Lippert thought that it would be sensible to have the texts reprinted in smaller formats for ease of access. He believed that there was a market for them. He decided to experiment by first printing the 1800 book Recueil et Parallèle des Edifices de Tout Genre by the French architect Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand. The books were printed in large sheets measuring 20 by 26 inches and then put into individual wooden boxes for preservation purposes. The books cost $300 apiece and did not have major appeal due to their cost and size.[2]

To broaden the appeal of the next book, Lippert decided that the next publication would be smaller and bound. He chose the 1840 three volume Edifices de Rome Moderne by Paul Letarouilly, which has been called the most beautiful book on Renaissance architecture ever published. The book was condensed into one volume sized at a practical 9 by 12 inches. He printed 1,000 copies and sold them for $55 apiece from the trunk of his car. They immediately sold out.[2]

Lippert moved the company from Princeton to Manhattan and then to Hudson, New York. It expanded from reprints to books on design, architecture, and visual culture. It later would publish children's books, books on hobbies and crafts, and note cards.[2][3]

Lippert was central in publishing Steven Holl’s 1989 manifesto Anchoring, which is considered one of the “fundamental design texts of the past half-century”.[4]

He authored the 2015 book War Plan Red on War Plan Red, the United States plan for a hypothetical war with the British Empire.[5]

Awards and honors

In 2020, Lippert received an award in architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.[2]

Personal life

Lippert died on March 29, 2022, at his home in Ghent, New York. He died due to complications of brain cancer.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Holl, Steven (March 31, 2022). "Steven Holl remembers the late Kevin Lippert". Archived from the original on October 29, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Seelye, Katharine Q. (April 17, 2022). "Kevin Lippert, 'Impresario' of Architectural Books, Dies at 63". Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ↑ "Tribute: Kevin Lippert (1959-2022)". www.architecturalrecord.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kevin Lippert, influential Princeton Architectural Press founder, has passed away aged 63". Archinect. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Randy Boyagoda reviews War Plan Red by Kevin Lippert". Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
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