This work presents and analyses the collection, one of the key elements of the voluminous archives that Alberto Sartoris donated to the Swiss federal government. It also illustrates his activity as a collector and editor and throws light on a poorly understood aspect of twentieth century architecture, namely, the mechanisms behind the creation and diffusion of the ”image of modern architecture", as well as the determining role played by photography in this process.Published in collaboration with the Vitra Design Museum, this book, featuring illustrations of emblematic pieces from the museum's collections, expands our thinking about design.