Founded in 1999, the Lucerne-based publisher Quart focuses on contemporary architectural practice. The carefully curated programme that the family-run business has developed over the years comprises exquisitely designed books in various series, as well as monographs and thematic individual editions. It therefore not only documents the achievements of practising architects, but also acts as a platform for architectural discourse. 

Books produced by Quart are aimed at an international readership and sold worldwide using a dense distribution network. The series De aedibus forms the core of the published works, documenting contemporary Swiss architecture. Other series focus on international work, young architects, urban planning and architectural teaching.

The publisher’s name refers to the quarto format: a historical book format dating back to a time before the DIN standard had been defined. Its size roughly corresponds to a quarter of a printed sheet (22.5 x 29 cm). Picking up on that production tradition, Quart publishes many of its exceptional books in this format.

The Quart publishing house was co-founded by Heinz Wirz and his wife Anna Maria Kupper. Since 2008, their children Antonia Chavez-Wirz and Linus Wirz have assumed key roles in curating contemporary content and steering the company’s future development.