A full-size facsimile of John Ruskin’s as yet unpublished book of pressed plants with notes, collected and compiled by Ruskin during 1844 from the mountains and forests around Chamonix, France. This rare example of a herbier to be reproduced and published is accompanied with a second volume of notes and commentary. Here, Ruskin’s full, scientific explanations are fully commented on in the light of modern botanical knowledge.
Professors David Ingram and Stephen Wildman provide an introduction, illuminating essays and detailed notes and commentary on Ruskin’s herbier.
The extraordinary abundance of French sculptures in the United States is indicative of a specific taste for this area of French art, but also of the close proximity of Franco-American historical and artistic relations. The United States is the country outside of France with the largest number of French sculptures and the latter represent by far the majority of foreign sculptures.
Once gathered, combined, connected, they weave the story of a taste. Their study makes it possible to detect trends and periods, to identify the personalities of dealers, collectors and curators, and to understand the supply channels of this transatlantic trade, from the place of production to the place of consumption, from the place of creation to place of appreciation.
The purpose of this book is to give life and meaning to these works by placing them in their American context. The first part emphasises the eminently political and official role, tool of political message when it comes to celebrating the heroes of the American independence, or commercial and industrial propaganda when France shows up at universal exhibitions. From its birth, French sculptors have been associated with the development of the American nation and its society.
The second part is devoted to the role played by French sculptors in American urban decor, as well as in the art of parks and gardens. They largely contributed to the introduction of the Art Deco style in ornamental sculpture.
The third part celebrates sculpture as a collector’s item, sought no longer for the character it represents, nor for its role as a complement to architecture, but truly as an object whose formal beauty is the primary asset.
The fourth and last part is dedicated to the sculptor Auguste Rodin. Rodin was all at once: he represented the art of today, that of the Salon to which he regularly sent his works, sometimes the art of yesterday in his few creations in the style of the 18th century, and above all, he was gradually recognised as the path to the art of tomorrow.
In conclusion, an assessment is made of the taste for French sculpture since the 1950s, which saw a change in the relative importance of the various actors, dealers, collectors, academics and curators.
In The 500 Hidden Secrets of Stockholm Antonia af Petersens shares 500 must-visit places in her hometown, as well as good-to-know facts. The aim of this book is to get you started on discovering the best of Stockholm behind its idyllic, water-surrounded façade. Overrated tourist fodders have been left out in favour of tucked-away finds that will surprise both foreign visitors and savvy residents. Expect to discover quirky details and interesting facts about famous places and timeless favourites to learn about the secret gems where you can imbibe the genuine atmosphere of Stockholm.
Also available: The 500 Hidden Secrets of Berlin, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Copenhagen, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Brussels, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Paris, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Amsterdam, and many more. Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com
In The 500 Hidden Secrets of Istanbul, Feride Yalav-Heckeroth shares all of her favourite insider tips, tricks and places to explore Istanbul. Her book contains fun and interesting lists such as 5 restaurants to discover modern Turkish cuisine, the 5 most beautiful beaches, 5 unknown architectural gems from the Ottoman Empire, the 5 best spots for live music, 5 cafes with a breathtaking view and much more.
Also available: The 500 Hidden Secrets of Berlin, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Tokyo, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Miami, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Paris, The 500 Hidden Secrets of New York, and many more. Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com
The 500 Hidden Secrets of Tokyo is an affectionate city guide, written by Tokyo local Yukiko Tajima. She has listed 500 must-visit places in her truly fascinating hometown, as well as good-to-know facts. The city has a great many aspects that are changing at a rapid pace; hopefully this book will help you discover new sides that you were unaware of, and will inspire you as you organise your holiday here.
Also available: The 500 Hidden Secrets of Berlin, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Istanbul, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Miami, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Paris, The 500 Hidden Secrets of New York, and many more. Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com
According to New York based interior designer, life coach and meditation teacher Joshua Smith, “When your home is your sanctuary, there’s a big exhale when you walk through that front door. It nourishes your spirit, inspires your mind, and enhances your connection to yourself, your loved ones and the divine, however you might define that” (in Homes & Gardens, January 2023).
For Shelby Deering, designer of the tranquil spaces of The Well (with locations in New York City, Washington, Miami, Costa Rica and Mexico), “Over the last few years, our homes have become more important than ever. Throughout the pandemic, we saw them function as offices, gyms, schools, restaurants — and, of course, our own little corners of the world where we were able to find relief from daily pressures and anxiety. Because of this shift, it’s no wonder that people have made efforts to refresh their living quarters to focus more on health, wellness and self-care. After all, when the environment around you feels like a calming refuge, those peaceful vibes can directly impact how you feel.”
The 15 private residences presented in this beautiful book can all be called “sanctuaries” because they all seek to support and protect the well-being of their owners, families and guests.
Everyone needs a happy place, a space to relax, unwind, and let the worries of everyday life melt away. Some may dream of white-sand beaches, while others may prefer cozy mountain chalets, or a meditative, decluttered wabi sabi interior in a cosmopolitan setting.
Whether in Brazil, Sweden, Mexico, Crete, St. Barts, Spain or in Belgium – all over the world, people are searching for the ultimate comfort, safety and happiness in their own cocoon, their own protective environment.
Historian María Sáenz Quesada explores the cultural and social history of Argentina and provides captivating commentary about the families who built or occupy the estancias.
From the rocky terrain in the North through the fertile pampa of the central provinces, all the way to the mountainous West and cold, desolate provinces of the South, the estancias of Argentina produced the high-quality meat and grain that gave the country one of the world’s most powerful economies at the turn of the century. Built in a diversity of architectural styles, from Spanish farm-house to Edwardian country home, the residences of the estancieros are a fascinating hybrid of European and Argentine cultural traditions.
In an illuminating text, historian María Sáenz Quesada explores the cultural and social history of Argentina and provides captivating commentary about the families who built or occupy the estancias. She also examines the distinctive style of these country estates, their interiors, and gardens. Illustrated with exquisite colour and vintage photographs, this opulently designed volume captures the rugged, romantic of the good life on the Argentina pampa.
“Splash hits! From a Beverly Hills hotel to a South American pool so big you can SAIL on it, 12 of the most jaw-dropping swimming pools in the world.” — Daily Mail
This book about the world’s best swimming pools is a visual exploration that showcases 200 of the most remarkable and innovative pools from around the globe. From rooftop pools situated on skyscrapers or upscale hotels, offering breathtaking views of the city skyline while providing a luxurious and serene environment, to natural pools that harmonise with their natural surroundings, including those formed by rock formations, spring-fed pools, or pools nestled in forested areas. Discover pools that are architectural feats, incorporating innovative shapes, materials, and design elements that push the boundaries of traditional pool design. Through captivating photographs and informative text, the book highlights the architectural brilliance, design concepts, and unique features of these pools. It offers readers an opportunity to appreciate the aesthetic beauty, functional aspects, and cultural significance of these aquatic spaces, while also serving as a source of inspiration for travel, design, and leisure. The book serves as a travel guide tailored specifically to those seeking remarkable pool experiences.
A miniature treasury of medicinal plants, drawn from the work of a pioneering woman artist.
This miniature book contains a veritable garden of healing plants, specially chosen from Elizabeth Blackwell’s Curious Herbal (1737–39). A talented artist, Blackwell published her herbal as a means of financial support after her husband landed in debtor’s prison — and it quickly became a prized reference for doctors and apothecaries. Each of the 140 exquisite hand-coloured engravings featured herein — from elderberry and chamomile to aloe and St. John’s wort — is accompanied by Blackwell’s description of its medicinal properties. The plants have been selected by the renowned garden writer Marta McDowell, who also contributes an introduction about Elizabeth Blackwell and the herbal medicine of her time. Healing Plants is the perfect little gift for anyone interested in herbalism, botany, or gardening.
The rose is generally seen as the most romantic flower. No other plant blooms for so long and profusely, and comes in so many different shapes, scents and colours. Roses deserve a place in everyone’s home, outside – in the garden or on the balcony – but certainly also indoors on the table. The Joy of Roses answers every question you may have about roses: from the history of the rose to applications in the home. The different types of roses are discussed in detail with descriptions of the flower, the scent, the thorns, the inflorescence and information about the best place for this specific species. The book also provides information about cultivators, which flowers go well with roses and their care. Anneke Beemer’s beautiful photos complete the book.
This two-volume set marks Jo Farb Hernández’s fifty years of scholarship on art environments and the capstone of her work on self-taught artists who have built art environments in Spain. Singular Spaces II evolved from her 2013 book, Singular Spaces. Together these works constitute an encyclopaedic exploration of Spanish art environments and an epic narration of the stories of those who made them.
Singular Spaces II introduces and examines 99 artists and their intriguing and idiosyncratic sculptures, homes, and gardens, most of which have never been thoroughly documented or previously published. The author has cast a wide net to ensure all regions of Spain are represented, as are all kinds of spaces assembled with all kinds of materials.
These sites are developed organically, without formal architectural or engineering plans: they are at once evolving and complete. Often highly fanciful and quixotic, the work is frequently characterised by incongruous juxtapositions, the result of a dynamic approach to creation that may appear impulsive and spontaneous. But these artists and their works have much to teach us about the process of creation and also about the confidence to undertake a path radically different from the one they had followed during the prime of their working lives.
Hernández combines detailed case studies of the artists and their work with contextualised historical and theoretical references to a broad range of interlocking fields, including art, art history, anthropology, vernacular architecture, Spanish area studies, and folklore, complemented with compelling visuals of each of the artists and their artworks. Breaking down the standard compartmentalisation of genres, she reveals how most creators of art environments, building within their own personal spaces, fuse their creations with their daily life in a way generally unmatched in any other circumstances of making art, in the process providing an open self-reflection of their life and concerns. The universality of the need to create, and the issues that are confronted when one does so in a public and non-sanctioned way, are relevant to art and artists worldwide.
The creation of park systems is a historically proven method for communities to stabilise and cultivate healthy ecological habitats in country dwellings as well as in dense urban areas. Park systems ensure clean soil, water, and air for all. Moreover, they offer inter-generational and inclusive recreational opportunities along ecological corridors. Between 1900 and 1950, civic design — a practice in urban and landscape planning explicitly oriented towards the common good — experienced a heyday. Park systems were successfully used as “green armatures” hosting public facilities such as playgrounds, schools, administrative buildings, hospitals, and gardens.
Living Cities offers a chronological survey of civic design based on more than 30 park systems on five continents. The examples range from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Park an der Ilm in Weimar (1778) and John Nash’s Regent Street in London (1806) to Chicago’s park system (1850), Albert Bodmer and Maurice Braillard’s plans for Geneva (1936), and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Valley (1947), as well as to contemporary and future projects in Addis Ababa, Madrid, Medellín, New York, and Seoul. Matthew Skjonsberg’s book demonstrates the ecological and social impact of park systems and highlights the diverse challenges that communities face when implementing such projects. At the same time, it encourages a re-evaluation of civic design as an inter-generational practice of urban design.
César (1921-1998), an emblematic sculptor of the 20th century who was nonetheless considered provocative by the critics of his days, is a major artist of the New Realist movement. The creator of a protean art form, he is best known for his human footprints (one of his Pouce sculptures is on display in the Tuileries gardens) and his Compressions. He represented France at the Venice Biennale in 1994, a sign of his international recognition. Twenty years after his death, the centre Pompidou organised a retrospective of the artist’s work, exhibiting over a hundred of his works. This book is a re-issue, with 150 new index cards, of a publication conceived in close collaboration with the artist in 1994. This new version of the book remains faithful to César’s wishes and becomes the first book in a trilogy of catalogues raisonné. It looks back at the early years of his work – with his bestiaries and his work on iron – through to his first compressions in the 1960s.
Text in English and French.
“This is a celebration of slow interiors that evolve over time, rather than interiors designed and meticulous, using just the latest fads.” — Enki Magazine
“…full of ideas for anyone who wants to foster a slower pace of life at home—especially in the kitchen. The cooking zones featured in its pages aren’t your typical modern farmhouse kitchens with subway tile–clad backsplashes and industrial pendant lights. There’s a sense of effortlessness behind each one.” — Domino
This book showcases stunning homes that embody the perfect mix between modern and rustic. Rustic furniture in an otherwise sleek interior, rough wooden elements, a calm colour palette with a unique finish. The photos of these dream interiors accompanied by interesting stories and unique approaches will inspire you to get started yourself. In the same series as Living in Country Style – 9789401489973.
Fruit. The word itself conjures up mouthwatering memories of crunchy apples, luscious strawberries, sweet bananas, succulent melons and juicy pineapples, to which we can add the splendid tropical fruits on our supermarket shelves. They are one of nature’s most wonderful gifts but providing us with a healthy source of food is not the reason that plants produce such delicious fruits. It is therefore quite legitimate to ask what fruits are, and why they exist. As will be revealed, the true nature of fruits is concealed in what is buried in their core: their seeds. The key role that both play in the survival of each species explains the manifold strategies and ruses that plants have developed for the dispersal of their seeds. Whether these involve wind, water, humans, animals or the plant’s own explosive triggers, they are reflected in the many colours, shapes and sizes of the fruits that protect the seeds and in the extraordinary way that some fruits have adapted to the animals that disperse their seeds, and the animals to the fruits they relish. In this pioneering collaboration, visual artist Rob Kesseler and seed morphologist Wolfgang Stuppy use scanning electronmicroscopy to obtain astonishing images of a variety of fruits and the seeds they protect. Razor-sharp cross-sections reveal intricate interiors, nuts and other examples of botanical architecture and reproductive ingenuity. The black and white microscope images have been sumptuously coloured by Rob Kesseler highlighting the structure and functioning of the minuscule fruit and seeds some almost invisible to the naked eye and in so doing creating a work of art. Larger fruits, flowers and seeds have been especially photographed. The formation, development and demise of the fruits are described their vital role in the preservation of the biodiversity of our planet explained. Fruits are the keepers of the precious seeds that ensure our future; some are edible, others inedible and many, quite simply, incredible.
“One of the most important books in botanical history” – The Botanist’s Library, Carolyn Fry
“Amazing” – New Scientist
“A book that vividly illustrates why plants remain so endlessly fascinating” – Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland
Seeds are tiny parcels of life, poised to give rise to anything from ephemeral herbs to giant trees that can live for thousands of years. A close look at these tiny miracles of nature through a scanning electron microscope opens up a view into a fascinating and breathtakingly beautiful microcosm few people, even scientists, have ever seen before. The range of sizes, shapes, and patterns plants have evolved over 360 million years to perfect their one and only chance in life to travel is beyond our wildest imagination.
In this astonishing book, artist Rob Kesseler and world-renowned botanist Wolfgang Stuppy, previously of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, present a unique and highly unusual natural history of seeds. The story of how seeds evolved to ensure the survival of their species and how they adapted to their natural environments including the animals they share them with is stunningly illustrated, combining close-up photography with digitally enhanced scanning electron micrographs.
This book not only captivates and enlightens those interested in the natural world, but also will appeal to artists, designers, architects, and everyone else drawing inspiration from the wonderful and endlessly fascinating world in which we live.
More than other painters, the Impressionists wanted to shake off the dust of the studio, and swarmed the noisy streets of Paris, filling the cafés and living in garrets and humble little dwellings on the hill of Montmartre, which still seemed like the countryside at the time, its slopes covered with vineyards and vegetable gardens. Nor did they limit themselves to the city, planting their easels in the clearings of the forest of Fontainebleau, on the coast of Normandy, in the rustic villages in the Oise Valley and in Bougival and Argenteuil on the banks of the Seine. Like their Naturalist friends Zola and Maupassant, they liked to mix with the locals so they could experience the places directly, painting everywhere, even on a boat, like the one where Monet had his floating studio.
Join the Impressionists en plein air with this elegant notecard set.
These notecards (each measuring 133 x 110 mm) feature sixteen appealing landscape paintings by the Impressionists, from a sun-dappled garden by Monet, to a festive picnic by Renoir, to a harvest field by Pissarro, to a beach scene by Cassatt. Housed in a sturdy and attractive box, this notecard set is the perfect stationery for anyone who loves great art or beautiful scenery.
Artists included: Gustave Caillebotte, Camille Pissarro, Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, William Merritt Chase.
Issue 20 of LA+ journal brings you the results of our fifth international design ideas competition. LA+ EXOTIQUE asked entrants to redesign the forecourt of the Museum of Natural History in Paris. The Museum—founded in 1793—sits within the Jardin des Plantes grounds, which include themed gardens, a zoo, and five themed galleries. In addition to its collections, the Museum is an active research institution studying the evolution of life on this planet. LA+ EXOTIQUE showcases the award-winning designs and a comprehensive Salon des Refusés. The issue will also feature an essay by LA+ creative director Catherine Seavitt and interviews with jurors Julia Czerniak, Sonja Dümpelmann, Catherine Mosbach, Signe Nielsen, and Marcel Wilson.
“I have known G (Gurjit Singh Matharoo) since the days I was a student, and him, my teacher, who gave one-liners or sometimes just one-word lessons at the School of Architecture1. One day, he was on the public phone at the School, maybe a distress call from a client, and as I was jaywalking past him, he pulled me over and asked to join him. As destiny would have it, I ended up as a proud intern in his three-person studio.
Those were his struggling days, and with the practice gathering pace, a magazine approached him for an article on his work. He, instead, asked me to write something hurriedly. Just to avoid my discomfort with academic jargon, I said I would write about wit in his work, to which I was a key witness.”
Buildings for People and Plants by WORKac is a thoughtfully curated architectural exploration by Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, the New York-based design firm’s co-founders. The compelling volume, featuring ten of WORKac’s most recent projects, such as Kew Gardens Hills Library and Museum Garage, navigates through the interconnected realms of architecture, environment, and social sustainability.
The book is structured to present a singular narrative thread by Andraos and Wood that showcases how these projects engage with their specific cultural and environmental contexts to support both people and plants. It includes a critical essay by distinguished architecture critic and writer Nicolai Ouroussoff that contextualises WORKac’s practice within the architectural landscape. With a focus on visual presentation, which is a hallmark of Andraos and Wood’s approach, it is a critical and visual treat that extends the narrative of their previous monograph, WORKac: We’ll Get There When We Cross That Bridge (2017) and showcases their latest explorations in architecture and community-centric design.
Tuscan cooking lives in the region’s homes and gardens, its small shops and market stalls. With From the Markets of Tuscany, at once a collection of traditional, seasonal recipes and a guide to the area’s top food markets, Giulia takes readers on a journey through her beloved Tuscany, exploring famous places but also more remote areas – from Florence’s urban streets and enchanting Volterra to mountainous Garfagnana and the wilds of Lunigiana, the gentle rolling hills of Val d’Orcia, and the vineyards and olive groves of Chianti. Through photographs, words and recipes, Giulia tells the story of Florence’s historic markets, local organic farmers’ markets, and the weekly market days held in Tuscan towns and villages. She also explores Tuscany’s coastal fish and seafood markets, together with the roadside vendors of the Maremma area, with their vibrant fresh fruit and vegetable stands. With each encounter, Giulia delves into the stories of Tuscany’s food markets, drawing on memories and recipes that taste of home.
“Words and ideas are as one – and at war – in Finlay’s witty, elegant work…” — The Guardian
In celebration of the centenary of artist, poet and landscape designer Ian Hamilton Finlay’s birth, Fragments draws together 100 of his artworks. With each piece accompanied by a short text, either by the artist or by a noted writer on Finlay’s work, this book accompanies a series of eight exhibitions taking place in Basel, Brescia, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Palma de Mallorca, London, New York and Vienna in May 2025.
Best known for his Little Sparta – a seven-acre site at Stonypath farm in Scotland that has attained almost-mythical status – and for his installed guillotines, A View to the Temple, at Documenta Kassel 1987, Finlay’s large body of work can be found in museums, parks and gardens worldwide. His artistic creations also incorporate short stories, poems and concrete poetry, many of which have been published by his own publishing house Wild Hawthorn Press, and which, with a mixture of wit and beauty, engage with the relationship between violence and civilisation.
The World’s Best Beaches takes you to 200 breathtaking beaches scattered across the globe. This book is a true tribute to the most beautiful coastlines, where every beach lover can find their paradise. From pristine, pearl-white sands in the tropics to dramatic cliffs along rugged shores, these carefully selected destinations are all worthy of your bucket list. Be inspired by gorgeous photos that make you dream of your next beach adventure, and plan your trip with the practical information provided. This book is a must-have for anyone who loves sun, sea, and sand.