Rare Special Editions available from ACC Art Books –  More Information

Architects must play an important role if American society is to survive climate change and immigration. Defining ourselves as artists limits that role. This book argues for a redefinition of architects as the experts on the relationships between humans and built environments. Architects must come to the public rather than asking the public to come to them. Consequently, the book attempts through “straight talk” to avoid the poetic language prevalent among architects writing about architecture.

The author’s position arises from principles developed during 50 years of practice, including: “Radical Functionalism,” practicing towards tight fit based on comprehensive programming; “Extreme Programming,” inspired by the writings of Ian McHarg and Louis Kahn’s conversations with bricks, a belief that there are many right answers and definitively wrong answers; “Legitimate Individuation,” searching for right answers based on a wide-ranging discovery of specifics of the project, including site characteristics, client wishes, current architect enthusiasms, community concerns and locally available skills and materials; and “Everything for a Reason, Artfully Done,” a goal that we and the client understand every move’s purpose and that every move contributes to the art of the project.

Drawing from diverse disciplines including philosophy, history, cultural criticism, visceral geography, urban studies, gender studies, and racial aesthetics, the 18th Issue of LA+ explores the elusive and enigmatic theme BEAUTY in relation to landscape architecture and the constructed environment. Rather than arrive at any one singular definition of beauty, within its pages, contributors challenge readers with alternative views through deep and critical reflection. What is a “beautiful” landscape today? Is there such a thing as “natural beauty”? Why do humans across the cultural spectrum concern themselves so much with the beautification of themselves, their objects, and their surroundings? Is beautification benevolent or nefarious? Is there value — economic or otherwise — in beauty, and whose interests do ideals of beauty serve? In the end, why does beauty matter at all?

LA+ BEAUTY is guest-edited by Colin Curley, a New York-based landscape architect and architect whose work navigates the complex environmental and socio-political dimensions of disturbed, contaminated industrial landscapes, and seeks to expand the range of their aesthetic and experiential potential.

Graduated from Ecole Boulle and ENSAD, Henri Quillé (1928-2020), settled on the island of Formentera (Balearic Islands) in 1972. There, he built for a mainly international clientele 30 houses of great consistency and is part of both principles derived from vernacular know-how and in those of the great masters of modernity. He says to “pursue” the local architecture, in particular by making extensive use of the Catalan vault, reducing openings to protect against the heat, covering the exterior walls with a lime plaster and sand. A pioneer of ecological housing, he will build a dozen self-sufficient houses.

With the architects Felix Julbe and Raimon Torres, he collaborated on the regulatory plan and planning work on the island of Formentera from 1973 to 1976. 

Combining plans, period photographs and contemporary shots, this book allows this architect and his houses to be given their rightful place in the history of 20th century architecture.

Text in French and Spanish.

“People are seekers. The ‘path to giving meaning’ is relevant in order to put aside boundaries and fears, the proven and the worthwhile, and to take a new, personal, and thus true path,” as Dieter Huber says about his new book, Spirit. It is a “mental survival box”: Found in it are 24 text-picture elements and, in addition, amusing essays and insightful examples of the great stories of humankind of the past 3,000 years. Spirit is an extensive compendium on spirituality, art and intellect, myth, creation, and meditation.

Text in English and German.

“This coat-pocket-sized book also acts as your 101 for Tuscan wine appellations, grapes and geography.”Telegraph

Tuscany, with its rolling hills and gorgeous villas, its ancient towns and villages, is nirvana for wine lovers. The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide tells you all you need to know to get the most out of your stay, from the centuries-long history to the best wineries to visit, the trattorias of Montalcino and the lesser-known delights of Bolgheri. We explain what makes a SuperTuscan, decipher Tuscany’s wine classification system, and send you on journeys of discovery down the sun-dappled byways of Italy’s most seductive wine region.

This volume presents a comprehensive catalogue raisonné of the documented production of NewLamp, a Roman company that, in the relatively brief period between 1969 and 1973, created no fewer than 55 lamp models, veritable masterpieces of lighting art. Characterised by their innovative and highly original geometries and forms, these objects have left an indelible mark on the history of design.

Over the course of more than 15 years, Paolo Borromeo has conducted extensive research, engaging in an intriguing investigation. He has meticulously traced the complex history of NewLamp, overcoming numerous challenges along the way to reveal the secrets that for 50 years has surrounded the work of the company, founded by the visionary entrepreneur and designer Mario Vento. From humble beginnings, in just two years the small company managed to win the Europremio for furniture (1971), a prestigious and internationally recognised award.

Contributing to the success of this entrepreneurial project were some of the greatest Italian designers and architects of the time, including Gianfranco Fini, Fabrizio Cocchia, Gianni Colombo, and Giuseppe Ravasio.

Text in English and Italian.

The Art of Ferrari is a delightfully opulent coffee-table brand experience book that celebrates the fascination and essence of the Ferrari brand, its formative history and stories as well as its iconic products in a way that is both substantial and desirable.

Immediate, authentic, intense, journalistically and creatively sophisticated. This is where professional expertise meets interdisciplinary perspectives. With fresh approaches and a confident love of experimentation. 

The Art of Ferrari convinces as a style-defining high-end project. With a look at the entire field of tension between sports cars, lifestyle, design, art and pop culture, this book will not only inspire car enthusiasts. With more than 300 illustrations and pictures, exclusive interviews and insights as well as a sophisticated design in an embossed slipcase, The Art of Ferrari is a truly exceptional book.

In this follow up to Storied Interiors (2018), interior designer Patrick Sutton presents seven beautiful and unique residences. Taking a deep dive into Sutton’s distinctive approach, acclaimed author Vicky Lowry tells the story of each home and how listening to his clients has inherently shaped the design.
The seven homes, located in Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming, run the gamut from a crisply furnished, minimalist countryside retreat and a classic yet contemporary seaside estate, to a historic house given new life with striking furnishings and seductive colours, and a property in Jackson Hole with a pared-down aesthetic rather than the typical trappings of the American West. While Sutton’s objectives for every project might be similar—discovering the ‘story’ to help him craft a design that is influenced by the location, history, and his clients—he is adept at working in a variety of styles, with an approach that remains fluid and open-minded.
Each project in Tailored Interiors is illustrated with gorgeous photography and accompanied by a narrative about the client, their aspirations, and Sutton’s compassionate approach to the design. It is through vision and empathy that Sutton creates such rich, meaningful, and liveable interiors and helps his clients achieve their dreams. 

Climate change poses challenges for human survival and societal development, including frequent urban disasters such as high wave and urban waterlogging, as well as extreme weather events such as sea level rise, floods, tropical storm, wide-range drought, and high temperature in polar regions. Contributed in part by reducing greenhouse gas emission, and also by the means of improving local resilience, the international community have been working on mitigating the uncertain impact of climate change. Against the backdrop of carbon reduction policy such as Carbon Emission Peak and Carbon Neutrality proposed by Chinese government, regional sustainable progress inevitably calls for resilient strategies for human settlements that address local issues upon climate change adaption and resilience theories. Since the impact of climate change on human settlements, risk and resilience assessment methods, and spatial and technological strategies have already broadly studied by international academia, more attention should be taken into research on spatial planning, urban design, landscape design, innovative engineering, emerging technology application, and interdisciplinary perspective to strive to realize the goals of peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.

To this end, this issue expects to discuss the resilient strategies adaptive to climate change for improve human settlements at varied scales. Introducing international perspectives, LA Frontiers encourages the bridging the latest research outcome with application and practice.

Swiss artist Meret Oppenheim (1913–1985) is far more than just the creator of the iconic fur teacup. In the course of her career she produced a complex, wide-ranging, and enigmatic body of work that has no parallel in modern art. Like an x-ray beam, this book scans Oppenheim’s artistic oeuvre, bringing its variety, playfulness, and poetry to the fore. Instead of simply answering the riddles posed by these intriguing works, it maps out the paths that will lead us to still more clues.

Simon Baur is a leading expert in the life and art of Meret Oppenheim. The nine new essays featured in this volume are at once scholarly and easy to read. In them, Baur shares the many fascinating insights and interpretations that he has gleaned from his decades-long engagement with Oppenheim’s work. The result is an anthology that combines both biographical and thematic aspects and takes us on an exciting journey into the poetic cosmos of a truly great female artist.

This one-of-a-kind guide takes you to New York’s best-kept secrets, like vintage shops packed with unique collector’s items, opulent spots for high tea, the best places to grab a drink before or after the theatre, the best stretches for running, and the coolest sneaker stores. This guide reveals hundreds of addresses, as well as good-to-know facts and interesting information, like the best ways to mingle with New Yorkers, the sports that you absolutely have to see, and 5 things that New Yorkers just know. The 500 Hidden Secrets of New York is the perfect book for those who want to discover the city, but avoid all the usual tourist haunts, as well as for residents who are keen to track down the city’s best-kept secrets.

Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com

Source Books in Architecture No. 15: Johnston Marklee includes conversations with the architects and documentation of a range of built and unbuilt works. As the Baumer Visiting Professors at The Ohio State University, Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee engage with students at the school in conversations that range from developing a critical practice to idea formation with respect to projects to the pragmatics of working in the field or architecture today. Documentation of work includes drawings, diagrams, photos, and models.

Source Books in Architecture is a product of the Herbert Baumer seminars, a series of interactions between students and seminal practitioners at the Knowlton School at The Ohio State University. Following a significant amount of research, students lead discussions that encourage the architects to reveal their architectural motivations and techniques.

Building a Museum is a comprehensive guide designed to assist museum professionals in navigating the complex process of planning, designing, and constructing a museum. In it, seasoned design professionals from the award-winning integrated design firm SmithGroup condense their decades of experience guiding numerous cultural institutions through successful projects, emphasising best practices in organising a capital project and offering suggestions to keep projects moving toward completion. Building a Museum is a user-friendly tool for museum leaders to easily understand every aspect of the building process and includes intuitive graphics and a handy glossary for common terms. It encourages readers to rethink the traditional approaches and embrace forward-thinking and collegial strategies that could revolutionise their projects. Collaboration and inclusivity in the process is encouraged, with an emphasis on the importance of building a strong network and leveraging professional connections. Building a Museum draws on the authors’ decade of conducting workshops on the museum capital project process, refining their content based on feedback from over 300 museum leaders, board members, administrators, curators, and facilities professionals. The book aims to demystify the planning and design process, making it accessible and practical for museum professionals at any stage of their project.

Discover the untold stories of European football culture through TIFO: The Art of Football Fan Stickers. This book explores how fans view their beloved clubs through design, illustration, and branding.

TIFO showcases the transformation of football stickers from their hooligan roots to symbols of unity and community. Dive into the vibrant evolution of sticker art, where football passion meets street art and graffiti, as fans infuse creativity into urban landscapes.

Featuring contributions from experts like James Montague, a sports writer for CNN, The New York Times, and The Guardian, and Eleanor Watson, Curator of Football at the Design Museum, TIFO offers depth and context to this captivating journey.

Finn Geipel is the founder of two architecture and urban design firms: LABFAC, based in Paris and operating between 1987 and 2001, and Berlin- and Paris-based LIN, operating since 2001. Geipel focuses on finding adaptable and integrative solutions for architecture and urban development. LABFAC’s and LIN’s designs of varied scale always consider the ever-changing urban and ecological conditions. Both firms did and continue to collaborate with experts from other disciplines, such as climate and circular design, economics, mobility, ecology, as well as philosophy, art, and cultural studies.

This first monograph on Finn Geipel and his work with LABFAC and LIN features their key built and unrealised designs and research projects since 1985. The evolution of their working methods and thematic and research focuses is explained, supported by rich visual material. Contributions by fellow architects and teachers as well as personal friends, such as Hashim Sarkis, Joseph Hanimann, Riken Yamamoto, and Bénédicte Savoy, offer a critical perspective on Finn Geipel’s achievements in the context of current debates on architecture and urban design.

It is Cadell’s zest for life and the diversity of his subjects that makes him unique in the group of artists popularly known as the Scottish Colourists. Influenced by direct contact with the European avant-garde movements taking place at the turn of the century and with early knowledge of the work of Matisse and the Fauves, Cadell’s paintings are confident and rich with colour. Celebrated for his stylish portraits of Edinburgh New Town interiors and his vibrantly coloured, daringly simple still life’s of the 1920s, exceptional in British art of this period, he also captured the beauty of nature, especially in the evocative works portraying his beloved Iona.

This book brings together works from one of the most important private collections of modern and contemporary art, the D. Daskalopoulos Collection with key pieces from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Providing a new context for both collections, it specifically focuses on the theme of the body, investigating the many and varied approaches that artists have taken across several decades when dealing with this most fundamental of subjects. Highlighting the work of artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Louise Bourgeois, Joseph Beuys, Robert Gober, Matthew Barney, Marina Abramovic and Sarah Lucas, the publication documents the confrontations and dialogues staged between the two collections, and provides a rich insight into one of the most compelling and provocative themes in twentieth- and twenty-first century visual art.

J.M.W. Turner 1775-1851 was perhaps the most prolific and innovative of all British artists. His outstanding watercolours in the Scottish National Gallery are one of the most popular features of its collection. Bequeathed to the Gallery in 1899 by the distinguished collector Henry Vaughan, they have been exhibited, as he requested, every January for over 100 years. Renowned for their excellent state of preservation, they provide a remarkable overview of many of the most important aspects of Turner’s career.

This richly illustrated book provides a commentary on the watercolours, addressing questions of technique and function, as well as considering some of the numerous contacts Turner had with other artists, collectors and dealers. The introduction concentrates on Henry Vaughan, one of the greatest enthusiasts for British art in the late nineteenth century, whose diverse collections have not previously been fully appreciated.

Discover the life and work of Joan Eardley; one of Scotland’s best loved artists and a major figure of the post-war British art scene.

Joan Eardley was one of the best-loved Scottish artists of the twentieth century. Her observations of children in the back streets of Glasgow as well as her expressionistic drawings and oils of the elements on the north-east coast of Scotland have caught the imagination of the Scottish public. Eardley is cherished as a painter of the Scottish identity in both town and country, who had a unique ability to sum up a community and the timeless drama of the natural world. This book examines Eardley’s ouevre and its place in the international and British context.

It includes paintings and drawings from private collections and works from the collection of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, which also holds the Joan Eardley Archive.

Joan Eardley (1921-1963) is one of Scotland’s most admired artists. During a career that lasted barely fifteen years, she concentrated on two very distinct themes: children in the Townhead area of central Glasgow, and the fishing village of Catterline, just south of Aberdeen, with its leaden skies and wild sea. The contrast between this urban and rural subject matter is self-evident, but the two are not, at heart, so very different. Townhead and Catterline were home to tight-knit communities, living under extreme pressure: Townhead suffered from overcrowding and poverty, and Catterline from depopulation brought about by the declining fishing industry. Eardley was inspired by the humanity she found in both places. These two intertwining strands are the focus of this book, which looks in detail at Eardley’s working processes. Her method can be traced from rough sketches and photographs through to pastel drawings and large oil paintings. Identifying many of Eardley’s subjects and drawing on unpublished letters, archival records and interviews, the authors provide a new and remarkably detailed account of Eardley’s life and art.

The Selous was my very first Africa experience, and it remains my favorite. Robert J. Ross’s extraordinary photographs take us into a natural world unlike any other on earth. A world of elephants. Of wild dogs. Of nature as it should be, can be, might be – if we keep these breathtaking images firmly in mind. A triumph! Bryan Christy, Director, Special Investigations Unit, National Geographic
The Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania is Africa’s oldest and largest protected area.  Proclaimed in 1896 and bigger than Switzerland, the Selous is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Selous remains one of Africa’s largest and greatest undisturbed ecosystems, teeming with life including one of the two largest elephant populations remaining on the African continent, probably half of all of the wild dogs in Africa, vast herds of buffalo as well as more lions than any other protected area on the continent as reported by National Geographic in August 2013. The game reserve is becoming more important by the day as the pressure on elephants and other species grows – problems that are addressed here in this book. New York-born photographer Rob Ross has spent much of the past four years photographing in this vast and difficult to access reserve. He has compiled more than 100,000 images showing all aspects of the reserves varied landscapes, seasons, flora and large and small fauna. The spectacular large-format photography book features a selection of the very best images including landscapes, wildlife portraits and behaviour, night photography, impressionist style work and breath-taking aerials.

In Anouk Masson Krantz’s most expansive work to date, she travels tens of thousands of miles across the Americas, broadening her focus from the United States to both American continents. In her exquisite, large-scale photographs – all new for this book – Anouk captures sweeping landscapes and paints an intimate portrait of the enduring cross-boundary legacies of the North American cowboy, Central American vaquero, and South American gaucho. Her time spent at ranches and rodeos across The Americas has culminated in a magnificent book honouring a way of life many around the world dream of but rarely have experienced first-hand. Frontier builds upon Anouk’s renowned body of work with her bestselling Wild Horses of Cumberland Island (2017); West: The American Cowboy (2019); American Cowboys (2021); and Ranchland (2022). Her stunning black and white, large-scale photographs capture a culture deeply rooted in principled, timeless values, sacrifice, strength, and self-reliance. From stunning panoramas to the intimate everyday lives of working cowboys and their families, Frontier is a must-have addition to her impressive body of work.

Bernie Taupin, Oscar winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and long-time song-writing collaborator with Elton John, has contributed an exceptional foreword.

“There’s an honesty and integrity in these images that parlays all the elements of what it means to exist outside the boundaries of conformity and confinement. The rebel spirit, the rugged individualism, and the absolute unapologetic rhythm of history. This is stunning work—a true testament to the men and women who are the anvil on which America’s backbone was forged.” —Bernie Taupin

Also available in a standard edition Frontier ISBN 9781864709810, £70.00.

Pio Abad’s artistic practice is concerned with the personal and political entanglements of objects. His wide-ranging body of work, encompassing drawing, painting, textiles, installation and text, mines alternative or repressed historical events and offers counternarratives that draw out threads of complicity between incidents, ideologies and people. Deeply informed by unfolding events in the Philippines, where the artist was born and raised, his work emanates from a family narrative woven into the nation’s story. Abad’s parents were at the forefront of the anti-dictatorship struggle in the Philippines during the 1970s and 80s and it is the need to remember this history that has shaped the foundations of his work. 

This beautifully designed book accompanies the Ashmolean Museum’s second exhibition of its new Ashmolean NOW series, featuring the work of Pio Abad. Abad’s artistic practice is concerned with the personal and political entanglements of objects. His wide-ranging body of work, which includes drawing, painting, installation, textiles and text, mines alternative or repressed historical events, offering counternarratives. Abad’s new works link narratives found in the Museum’s collections and Oxford with his personal life in the UK and Philippines, where the artist was born and raised. The book features a new text by Abad and contributions by art historical experts including Dan Hicks.

In 2015, David Pollock began a series of drawings on his sketchbooks and photographs from 30 years of travelling. This book includes these studio paintings, as well as images from the sketchbooks, depicting people and places in the Balkans, Botswana, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Peru, Italy, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.