Marion Bataille
An enlivened counting book, in which the numbers appear on the page in a sort of endless geometric dance. 10 is a surprising object born of the intersection of creativity and design, conceived and built with care. The book is a personal journey among the numbers from 1 to 10. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702557. Paperback. $30.
Los Angeles-based illustrator Patrick Hruby celebrates the colourful and festive world of the circus through the alphabet in this imaginative chunky board book. ABC Is For Circus is an awesome addition to our artist-centric line of children’s books and is sure to delight an audience of children and adults alike. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429617. Board book. $24.50.
The Art Director'’s Club of Germany’s annual compendium of award-winning designers (in advertising, the written word, images, design, editorial, photography, illustrations, radio, film and interactive media) is a celebration of Germany’s best and a great source of inspiration for designers everywhere. ISBN 9783899861358. Hardback. $167.50.
Seventeen internationally famous young artists were commissioned to create a work of art for eyewear designers Persol. The works (and the work of producing them) are documented here through interviews and photos in a dialogue between the artists and the brand, an exploration of the relationship between company’s philosophy and artistic creation. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702472. Paperback. $99.50.
Sandra Q Firmin
Chronicles the early years of this important US public art program. Artists such as Vito Acconci, Laurie Anderson, Richard Fleischner, Nancy Holt and Gordon Matta-Clark spent a summer at Lewiston, NY, near the Niagara Gorge, for a residency creating temporary outdoor artworks. With many colour pics of the artworks in spectacular situ near the Niagara Gorge. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781616890193. Hardback. $73.50.
Building for everyone is the idea behind barrier-free design; the able-bodied and the disabled in whatever way. This Detail Practice manual shows how the requirements of barrier-free building can become part of the aesthetic appeal of a space and lays out the argument that designing barrier-free from the beginning need not add to the cost of a project. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034605779. Paperback. $90.
The Beautiful presents the work of 100 of today’s hippest and most promising illustrators in the areas of fashion, lifestyle, editorial design and commercial illustration in 224 full-colour pages. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899553215. Hardback. $105.
This new Charley Harper colouring book focuses on Harper’s delightful illustrations of birds. Harper’s birds are translated into 32 black-and-white line drawings for young artists to interpret in their own colour palettes. As a reference, the back cover shows every one of the 32 images featured in their full-colour original versions. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429426. Paperback. $12.
Charley Harper’s whimsical illustrations are featured on this classic set of nesting blocks. The alphabet and numbers 1 to 10 are expressed with Harper’s colourful animal illustrations wrapped around the surface of each of the 10 blocks. When completely stacked, the blocks stand almost one metre tall, and nest to become a compact 15-centimetre cube. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429563. Blocks. $39.95.
A documenting of contemporary sacred spaces from around the world and all faiths: churches, synagogues, mosques, temple complexes and other contemplative places for meditation and reflection, showing how the contemporary architecture of the sacred at once respects tradition and develops a new, explicitly expressive formal language. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899553130. Hardback. $130.
Artwork and illustration from 42 artists inspired by the dark side of human nature, the grotesque and the too-often-unseesn. Includes illustration, sculpture, digital rendering and photography. Victionary. ISBN 9789881943811. Paperback. $65.
The must-read journal on every designer’s desk, Dot Dot Dot presents intelligent, passionate and clever writing on the tangled web of influences that determine the shape of contemporary cultural production. Art, music, language, film and literature all feature in this latest issue of this offbeat series. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9780979465451. Paperback. $29.50.
Dario Moretti
A starry night and a dancing cat emerge from a mere point in this quirky children’s book that is part visual poem, part meditation on making graphic objects, inspired by Dario Moretti’s Teatro all’Improvviso. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702588. Paperback. $39.50.
Frits Palmboom
Palmbout Urban is one of the Netherlands’ leading urban planning offices. The book documents 15 projects, including Amsterdam Ijburg, an extension to Amsterdam with a total area of 450 hectares, and Maastricht Belvedere, a restructuring of 280 hectares of former industrial land with 4,000 residences, 100,000 square meters of office space and a car bridge. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034602631. Hardback. $115.
Kossmann.dejong
Features 30 exhibition spaces by Dutch exhibition architecture office Kossmann.dejong. The environments range from permanent presentations in museums and visitor centres to temporary exhibitions, among them the Urbanian Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, with a chapter dedicated to sketches, plans and sections of the featured spaces. Frame. ISBN 9789077174401. Paperback. $80.
Thomas Fisher
Architecture writer and teacher Thomas Fisher presents 50 case studies on a broad range of ethical dilemmas facing today’s architects, from questions regarding which clients to work for, to the moral imperatives of reclaiming building materials for construction instead of sending them to landfills, all in an engaging and accessible style. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781568989464. Paperback. $42.
Otto Neurath
The first complete publication of Neurath’s visual biography, documenting the importance to Neurath of visual material, from his earliest years to his professional activity with the picture language of Isotype. The book draws a rich picture of Central-European culture around the turn of the 20th century, as well as being an exposition of the techniques of Isotype. Hyphen Press. ISBN 9780907259448. Hardback. $79.50.
Victor Malsy, Philipp Teufel, Fjodor Gejko
Among the important work of the Austrian graphic artist and typographer Helmut Schmid (1942) was the design for the German Social Democratic Party’s logo in 1976 and, after Schmid moved to Osaka, the katakana typeface Eru, one of the icons of contemporary Japanese packaging design. The book documents and analyses Schmid’s work from 1961 to now. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783764375102. Paperback. $85.
Kelly Wearstler
Trendsetting designer Kelly Wearstler celebrates the power of colour in interior design. This elegantly photographed and designed book showcases her most recent projects and makes inspiring eye-candy for interior design and decorating fans. This limited edition version is a sumptuous, individually signed, fabric-wrapped volume in a slipcase. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429341. Hardback. $140.
Studio 3
A simple, fun, clever how-to that celebrates typography in all its complexity. Introducing common typography terms and trivia through illustrations and exercises, this activity book offers an accessible introduction for beginners and an entertaining review for experts to test their skills and gain new insights into the ramifications of typography, all while having fun. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899553277. Hardback. $52.50.
The IF Communication Design Award honours commercials, publications, campaigns, corporate reports and websites that are of outstanding design. The year book documents and appraises the winners of this year's awards, offering insights into the state of communication design. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034606103. Hardback. $105.
Is this a book or a magazine? Neither, but a project based on the premise that everything is a project: an object, a work of art, a building or even a part of nature, the preparing of a special dish, organising a trip, taking a photograph or writing a short story. Taking the best of book and magazine, Inventario 01 is the first in a series of independent books. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702625. Paperback. $25.
Todd Oldham
This loving tribute by designer Todd Oldham chronicles Jett’s career and passions through image: from forming the Runaways to her years of touring with the Blackhearts. Joan Jett features in many never-before-seen photos, ephemera, and excerpts from 30 years worth of interviews plus an introduction by indie rocker and Riot Grrrl Kathleen Hanna. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429587. Hardback. $42.50.
Karel Martens with Jaap van Triest and Robin Kinross
While part of Dutch Modernism, Karel Martens maintains distance from the main developments of his time. This book reproduces Martens’ work in startling fidelity, on uncoated paper and Chinese-bound, and has compelling tactile quality. For this long-awaited second edition, 24 pages have been added to cover recent work. Hyphen Press. ISBN 9780907259411. Paperback. $105.
Suzy Lee
The tale of the meeting between a little girl and the world of the sea: at the beginning she curiously observes from the outside, then shyly brushes and finally plays among the waves, and jokes with an odd group of gulls. Then their worlds meet in a wave that colours everything light blue, and the little girl can pick up shells like presents from a new friend. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875701468. Hardback. $37.50.
TwoPoints.Net
A colourful selection of graphic design, illustration and typography from this culturally and economically resurgent continent. The striking visuals, a DVD with an inspiring selection of moving images, and insightful texts in English and Spanish make this a comprehensive documentation of Latin American design today. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899553116. Hardback. $105.
Flora Samuel
“Architecture is experienced as one roams about in it.” The observer’s pathway through the built space (the architectural promenade) was a central element in Le Corbusier’s architecture and city planning. Flora Samuel’s book is the first in-depth examination of this key concept in the work of one of the 20th century’s most influential architects. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034606073. Hardback. $137.50.
Peter Ebner, Markus Kuntscher, Eva Maria Herrmann
This volume presents residential projects and urban planning from Europe’s eight Alpine countries that offer architects and planners ideas for residential development in an environment that sets the sustainability bar higher than most other locations. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034605427. Paperback. $125.
Hugh Holland
This large-format (40cm X 30cm) sturdy hardback documenting urban skate culture in southern California in the mid-1970s is a blast from the past for those old enough to remember and a primer on cool concrete athleticism for the rest of you. Warning: contains images of topless sweaty teens! Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429471. Hardback. $65.
John Berger, Katya Berger
Writer and critic John Berger and his daughter Katya conduct an intimate dialogue as they observe the clouds painted by Andrea Mantegna in the bridal chamber of Mantova’s palazzo ducale. They ponder the infinite complexity of the reality the painting represents and the human and artistic events that lie below its surface. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702618. Paperback. $45.
Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
Make Up presents design classics from the collection of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and products by contemporary designers including Konstantin Grcic, Alfredo Häberli, Ross Lovegrove, Jasper Morrison and Kenya Hara to explore the way surface design affects the appearance and function of products. AVedition. ISBN 9783899861389. Paperback. $57.
Marcello Morandini
Complied by Morandini himself, this book offers a selection of work in mediums including painting, sculpture, graphic design, architecture and even fabric design. Published to coincide with an exhibition of Morandini’s work at the Casa del Mantegna in Mantova in November 2010. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702632. Paperback. $49.50.
Avi Friedman
Measuring 7.5 metres wide or less, the narrow or infill houses documented in this book are on the rise in space-constrained cities and suburbs around the world. Narrow Houses presents a thorough overview of the practical considerations of designing a narrow-front home, including siting, floor arrangements, footprint, and interior and exterior finishing.
Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781568988733. Hardback. $75.
After the January 2010 earthquake, Steven Holl Architects designed a prototype for rebuilding Haiti. Their proposal focuses on the construction of communities of 200 people with homes made of concrete recycled from the rubble, built by local labour and grouped around solar-powered desalination plants, with photovoltaic panels to provide electricity.
Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781568989815. Paperback. $33.50.
All ages will enjoy this timeless game featuring a selection of Patrick Hruby’s bold and imaginative illustrations. The latest addition to our collection of fun stuff for kids with an oddball design bent. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429624. Memory game. $26.50.
Marlies Hummelen, Conny Lanza, Rutger van Oldenbeek et al
To mark its 10th birthday, the Dutch firm M+R interior architecture publish an overview of their work and their perception of it. The strikingly designed book contains a wealth of visual material, supported by texts written by a range of architecture and design professionals and by M+R themselves. Frame. ISBN 9789077174449. Hardback. $95.
Aldo Cibic
Here are four sample projects for new-style communities: four stories about the design potential surrounding everyday living told through words, pictures and suggestions. Author Aldo Cibic trained in Milan under Ettore Sottsass. In 1980 he became a partner at Sottsass Associati, and later at Memphis. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 9788875702656. Paperback. $39.50.
Wilhelm Staehle
Tom the cat can rely upon his nine lives, but, page after page, a driving countdown leads the wretched cat towards his last life. Staehle’s black-and-white cynicism throws us into the imaginary world of the American East Coast in the early 20th century. And Tom’s conclusion? To enjoy this final life, for one is better than none! Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 19722842 #15. Paperback. $10.
Anthony Peters
This issue of Un Sedicesimo is full of useful tips on how to remember forgotten plans (move to the seaside), bring to mind unconfessable desires (eat plenty of biscuits) and note down experiences to be repeated (play in the rain). These odd reminders provide the starting point for some ’60s and ’70s-influenced printing experiments by Anthony Peters.
Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 1972-2842 #16. Paperback. $10.
Leonardo Sonnoli
A homage to Nanni Balestrini’s 1966 character- and plot-free novel Tristan, which used a combination of techniques to make up a random text that differed from book to book. Sedicesimo 17, Isolde, uses the signs used for checking print quality, randomly crossing and mixing the inks during printing in a design created by chance and error, with each copy unique. Edizioni Corraini. ISBN 1972-2842 #17. Paperback. $10.
Think big, design small. Small Scale presents 50 ingenious yet simple projects. Ranging from a bridge that curls up into itself when not in use, to a stacked rental car dispenser, to a shelter that uses bright lights to treat seasonal affective disorder in the winter, these projects energise cities, leftover spaces and help us imagine the future of urban infrastructure. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781568989754. Paperback. $57.50.
Small Scale, Big Change focuses on designing and building in poor or poorly serviced communities around the world, where projects that are the result of close collaboration with the community (schools, parks, housing projects) deliver to the communities' needs with affordable, flexible and innovative projects that don't sacrifice aesthetics. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034605885. Paperback. $68.50.
Including an unprecedented insider's look at the film, with behind-the-scenes visuals and interviews, this impressive book celebrates the impact of Do The Right Thing on our culture 20 years after Lee wrote, directed and starred in this breakthrough and groundbreaking film. Ammo Books. ISBN 9781934429518. Hardback. $65.
Marilyn Neuhart with John Neuhart
800 pages, two volumes, hundreds of photos and illustrations and reams of insightful text telling the story of the most influential and important furniture brand of our time, revealing in unparalleled detail how Charles and Ray Eames as well as a talented team of designers worked to create pieces that still top best-seller lists. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899552300. 2 vol boxed set. $375.
Mario Lombardo
This is the first monograph on the award-winning German graphic designer Mario Lombardo. Lombardo’s combination of masterful classical design with experimental concepts in work for clients including K-Swiss, Sony Music and Red Bull is already influencing a new generation of designers. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899553192. Hardback. $105.
Michael Escoffier (text), Kriss Di Giacomo (illustrations)
A humorous and fantastic children’s picture book. The story centres on three eccentric sardines sharing their views of the world, pontificating on things they obviously know nothing about. The illustrations are quirky and singular, in a whimsical early 20th-century style. The whole petite package (hardback book and slipcase) is barely bigger than a sardine tin.
Berbay Publishing. ISBN 9780980671124. Hardback. $14.95.
Steven Harris
With sensitivity to the surrounding landscape, Steven Harris Architects designs spaces that are tailored to their clients’ daily lives and experiences. Organised by the activities that propel their designs (dine, lounge, study, play, sleep) the firm’s first monograph showcases 25 years’ worth of residential work focussing on people rather than objects.
Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781568989716. Hardback. $82.50.
Dieter Hassenpflug
In reading Chinese cities (and not necessarily the well-known ones) Urban Code of China focuses on what is essentially Chinese about a city, the features Chinese cities all have in common, their spatial grammar and syntax: in short, their code. Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN 9783034605724. Paperback. $80.
R. Klanten, H. Hellige
Russian-born Vania Zouravliov’s illustrations capture a mixture of innocence, beauty and decay. Inspired by Russian folklore, Japanese illustration and pop culture, his drawings are elaborately composed and demonstrate the technical brilliance of an old master. The first edition of this work in 2008 quickly sold out. This expanded edition features more than 30 additional artworks. Die Gestalten Verlag. ISBN 9783899553246. Hardback. $115.
Emily Abruzzo
Work at the US pavilion of the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale is vital and proactive: suggesting solutions; describing possibilities of new technologies; re-framing the problems of the city. From Portman’s architect-as-initiator model to cityLAB’s community-driven proposals, these works define their own problems and missions. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9781616890179. Paperback. $33.
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