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WorkGraphic Design

Architype fuses typography and architecture to forge expressive new alphabet

Typography and architecture are two disciplines often covered on Creative Boom, but it's rare that we include them in one article. Here's an intriguing exception, though, in the form of the Architype Alphabet, created by Johann Lucchini, an artistic director and illustrator based in Paris.

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Architype Alphabet by Johann Lucchini spelling out the words "ARCH DOME" using stylised letters that incorporate architectural elements and building designs on a black background

Johann had a simple concept for his project: to combine typography and architecture to create a new custom typeface. "For each letter of the alphabet, I was inspired by a famous architect and one of its buildings," he explains.

The link between the construction of a typeface and the construction of a building has always amused and fascinated him, he says. "Mixing curves, angles and lines to find the perfect balance and the right degree of abstraction is a long and difficult exercise," Johann notes. "And that's just as true for a huge building or an airport as it is for every little character within a typeface design."

Johann is currently an art director at BlackPizza, a creative agency based in Paris founded by Kitzia Aguilar Conde and Olivier Derouette with clients including Monoprix, SeLoger and Dakar. Find out more about Johann via johannlucchini.com.

Minimalist geometric composition showing day 07 of the Architype alphabet, featuring a curved white form against black background with a rectangular window element, credited to Frank Gehry
Geometric architectural letter L inspired by Zaha Hadid, featuring cream vertical lines and a curved glass-filled section against black background
Three curved white architectural forms rendered in 3D against a black background, part of the Architype Alphabet project by Johann Lucchini
Layered rectangular forms in warm brown tones arranged diagonally beneath a cream circle against a black background, representing Day 09 of the Architype Alphabet by Johann Lucchini
Letter C from the Architype Alphabet inspired by architect Santiago Calatrava, featuring a curved white form with blue mesh texture against black horizontal lines
Two tall concrete monolithic structures with open doorways against a black background, representing the letter A from Alvaro Siza's Architype Alphabet project
3D wooden letterform combining curved and angular geometric shapes against a black background, representing day 24 of the Architype Alphabet project
The letter U constructed from folded white paper segments arranged in a fan-like pattern against a black background, part of Jørn Utzon's Day 21 entry in the Architype Alphabet project
Twenty-six stylised letters A to Z, each designed as architectural forms inspired by famous buildings and architects, arranged in a grid on a black background
Nine stylised letters from the Architype Alphabet, each designed as geometric interpretations of famous buildings and architectural elements against a black background
Nine stylised letter forms inspired by famous architects and their buildings, arranged in a grid against a black background
Nine letters of the Architype Alphabet by Johann Lucchini, each formed from architectural elements inspired by famous buildings and architects
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