Hotels continue to appeal to the imagination. The sector re-invents itself time and time again and sets the limits for the ultimate overnight stay. But which hotels offer you a once in a lifetime experience? This book lists the ultimate top 150 hotels, compiled by travel and lifestyle journalist Debbie Pappyn. All hotels guarantee a unique experience: a unique view or location, the incredible luxury or inimitable charm, the sophisticated design, the service or simply manta rays and sea turtles swimming under your bed… Debbie Pappyn visited more than 1000 hotels. She draws from her own experience, adds her ultimate wish list and gives you the reason why you have to stay there. This is a revised and updated version of the ultimate ‘bucket list hotel guide’ and one of the 10 books in the highly successful 150 series.
This volume pays tribute to Robert Mapplethorpe, one of the greatest exponents of photography of the 20th century, through an unpublished comparison with Wilhelm von Gloeden and Fratelli Alinari: a comparison evocative, at times pointed, that reveals the recurrence of common themes.
The interest in the Ancient and the sculptural approach to the photographic medium come alive in the choice of subjects, the definition of poses and the suspended atmospheres of the compositions, leading to the discovery of an unconventional idea of beauty and eros.
The shots, inspired by the canons of classicism, invite questions about the themes of the body and sensuality and offer themselves as food for thought on how art, morality and spirituality change and evolve continuously in their mutual relationship.
“…these charming little pocket guides clearly come from knowledgeable authors. They’re packed tight with practical advice and informed opinion.” — Wall Street Journal
A handy and stylish pocket guide to Rioja, The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide covers everything you need to know about Spain’s most famous wine region, its fascinating 150-year relationship with Bordeaux, the history of its great bodegas, the complex business of barrel ageing, the differences between modern and classic Rioja – and where to find the best tapas in Rioja. This is a guide written by wine experts for the wine-interested tourist. Everything about this complex region is covered: the difference between Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, wine routes to take you past architectural masterpieces like Frank Gehry’s Marques de Riscal and Calatrava’s Bodegas Ysios. The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide series is written in collaboration with Club Oenologique, with comprehensive listings of restaurants, hotels, cafés and bars, points of wider cultural interest such as art galleries and museums, which bodegas you can visit, how to read a Rioja wine list, Rioja winemakers’ favourite restaurants and more.
There’s an elemental satisfaction in living in a cozy sanctuary in the midst of a snowy landscape. It evokes feelings of warmth, security, refuge, and comfort. This revised edition of Winter Homes beautifully illustrates examples from winter wonderlands around the globe and provides ingenious solutions on how the home’s design is formulated, and the architectural and interior design techniques used to create both a connection to nature and contend with biting winter conditions.
Curl up in front of the fire with this gorgeous edition, crammed full of evocative images, and take a journey through some of the world’s best contemporary and stylish winter residences, be they atop mountains, deep in the valleys, forests or plains, or along coastal regions. Bask in the splendid vicarious warmth from your sofa and enjoy the beauty of a home that is perfectly designed for a moody winter landscape.
“Wine lovers who have pondered the answers to questions like “Why is red wine red?” and “Why do people perceive wines differently?” will appreciate this book.” — Wall Street Journal
“…one of those rare books that will make you think differently next time you open a bottle of wine”— Club O
“… Gus Zhu MW has written a fascinating – and easy to follow – guide to the way in which chemistry, biology, physics, genetics and winemaking interact to not only create the great diversity seen in today’s world of wine, but also shape our ability to taste, understand and appreciate these wines.” — Natasha Hughes MW, wine and food writer
“A lively, readable exploration of the science behind the taste of wine… It’s not easy bringing wine chemistry to life, but Gus knows his stuff and presents it in an easily digestible read.” — Dr Jamie Goode, author of Wine Science and Flawless
“For those whose interest in wine has evolved beyond the simply sip phase, Behind the Glass would be a good first place to look for answers to some fundamental questions.” — The World of Fine Wine
In Behind the Glass readers will discover the science involved in wine tasting and learn why wine tastes the way it does. Wine is chemically very complex, while sensory appreciation can be subjective, meaning that our perception of wine is multi-layered. Behind the Glass is aimed at the non-scientist curious wine lover or wine professional and uses flavour chemistry and sensory science to help readers understand what is going on when they taste a glass of wine. The book is divided into three sections, on the visual appreciation of wine, the taste of wine on the palate and the smell of wine, and explains the chemical and sensory aspects of each. The text is illuminated by accompanying graphics. The book concludes with six pairs of wines to taste, to allow readers to put into practice the ideas explored in the book. By understanding more fully the chemical and sensorial aspects of wine tasting readers will equip themselves to better appreciate each glass of wine they taste.
“This book is a fascinating look at a history rarely told.” —The Guardian
“a fascinating look at a history rarely told” — The Observer
“In his new book “Around the World in 200 Globes” (Luster), he spot-lights some of the most significant and interesting, shpwing that a globe is more than a map on a ball.” — Wall Street Journal
“…a superb illustrator of changing boundaries and national self-regard” — Strong Words
“…exquisite examples that speak to our species’ ever-shifting ideas of who we are and where we live” — National Geographic Traveler
“…beautifully put together – and the photographs of the globes are straightforward but show off the magnificence of the collection admirably” — Amateur Photographer
The Dutch architect Willem Jan Neutelings (co-founder of Neutelings Riedijk Architects) is known as the architect of, among other things, the MAS in Antwerp and the Gare Maritime in Brussels’ Tour & Taxis district. Few people know, however, that Neutelings is also an avid collector who, over the years, has built up a very extensive and also very specific collection of hundreds of globes, made between 1900 and 2000. In this book, he presents his collection to the public for the first time. He selected 200 globes, each telling a very individual and interesting story about the time and place when and where they were created. Some globes bear witness to technological innovations by the way they were made, some show how advanced people’s knowledge of space was at the time, some were intended as navigational aids. Neutelings’ collection includes globes in cast iron, steel, wood and even paper; some look very old and fragile, others are very colourful, and some even give off light. Each one is a beautiful and intriguing object that teaches us a lot about the ever-changing world view of mankind. This beautiful and skillfully crafted book is an ode to these stories, to the unique objects often anonymous craftsmen produced in the last century, and to the special dedication of collectors.
Peter Ivens is a buzzing and respected name in interior design. The Belgian interior architect is praised for his talent, his timeless style and impeccable realisations. His designs often come about in close collaboration with his partner in crime Bea Mombaers. The two of them have been working together intensively for over a decade, without really dividing their roles in the classic way, blurring the lines between architecture and decoration. For Ivens each house tells its own personal story. ‘Custom-made’ is a core value in his oeuvre: he tailors each home to the specific needs and personality of its residents. No bells and whistles, no loud, showy signature, but silent luxury stemming from a special, sophisticated choice of materials and a unique sense of space. Ivens’ portfolio is prestigious and diverse, yet his style is recognisable. This beautiful coffee-table book, in which each chapter is dedicated to a different house, is the perfect proof. Except for a brief introduction by design journalist Sisse Bro, the photos by Eefje De Coninck and Senne Van der Ven do all the talking, showcasing Ivens’ universe in the most classy and inspiring way.
New York, New York – a crazy quilt of evolving neighbourhoods, trends, and tastes, and home to natives and newcomers of every nationality, ethnicity, and outlook. New York City’s history and grand ambitions live in every street, park, and hidden alleyway. This unusual guidebook invites the adventurous and curious to explore a wildly diverse selection of little-known places, including: a trapeze school, a giant Buddha in a former porno theatre, a Coney Island sideshow, Louis Armstrong’s home, a Central Park croquet court, a Gatsby-era speakeasy, and a secret balcony where slaves worshiped 200 years ago. Play chess with the masters on a Midtown office-tower wall; have a pint at a legendary prizefighter’s hangout in Soho; whisper messages across a crowded train station. Unexpected and quirky, most of these destinations are so under-the-radar they will astound even longtime New Yorkers who thought they knew it all!
Revised and updated edition.
In the 1970s many thousands of young persons travelled from Europe to Asia on the Hippie Trail in search of adventure, spiritual enlightenment, and personal discovery. Their sprawling, free-wheeling escapades changed their lives and the places they visited. While the overland route between Amsterdam and Kathmandu no longer exists, its stopovers in India — Pushkar, Rishikesh, Hampi, Goa, and the Pushkar Valley — continue to attract counterculture travelers from throughout the world. And just as the visitors have absorbed experiences and material culture, even spiritual wisdom, from their Indian hosts, so, too, have local residents learned a thing or two from their hippie guests. During the past half century, an intense cultural intermingling has taken place in these distant locales, where lifeways, architectures, and philosophies are exchanged as freely as costumes, music, and hairstyles. This photographic book, the first of its kind, vividly captures the beguiling love affair between East and West in its portrayal of modern-day India and the free-spirited people who travel or reside there — Westerners and Indians, alike. Acclaimed essayist and travel writer Pico Iyer wrote the book foreword entitled “The Long Strange Trip.”
Representing vision is a core theme in the art of Markus Raetz (1941–2020). The imitation of a binocular field of vision, which he chose for Zeemansblik, is as simple as it is convincing. Raetz created some 20 versions of this relief, made of painted and later of polished zinc sheet, in various dimensions. The Dutch term zeemansblik (sailor’s view) can be translated as a view of the sea, yet blik in Dutch also means sheet metal. Raetz’s wordplay refers objectively to the material and at the same time invites an interpretation of the horizontal fold in the plate as a sea horizon. Light reflections on the curved blank material change with the viewer’s moving point of view, suggesting changing weather. A simple, abstract object on the wall thus becomes a seascape without painting, with the longing motif of looking into a blue distance.
In this book, art historian Franz Müller explores the complexity behind the apparent simplicity of Markus Raetz’s Zeemansblik, highlighting what makes the relief a landmark of Swiss art.
Text in English and German.
Zurich’s Kronenhalle restaurant is a living legend and 2024 marks the centenary of the likewise legendary Hulda Zumsteg (1890–1984) taking over as its landlady. For decades, the restaurant and adjacent bar have brought together the city’s bohemians and the bourgeoisie. Celebrities from the worlds of art, design, literature, and stage were among the regulars. Works by artists such as Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso are naturally part of its interior.
The revised new edition of this book, first published in 2019, explores the art at the Kronenhalle from various perspectives. Photographs offer atmospheric impressions of the brasserie, dining rooms, and bar, in daylight and at night. Literary texts turn paintings into protagonists. A complete catalogue and the story of its emergence and evolution place the collection in wider context and portray one of Zurich’s most traditional restaurants against the backdrop of an extraordinary family and business history.
The restaurant’s enduring success is founded in the unique way in which Hulda Zumsteg ran the place, and in the friendships that her son Gustav Zumsteg (1915–2005) brought to Zurich. His deep appreciation of art fueled the textile creations of Abraham AG, the silk trading firm he owned, and led to him assembling the fine collection that today turns every lunch, dinner, or drink at the Kronenhalle into an encounter with classical modernism in art.
With Borderline, the Belgian photographer Paul D’Haese explores the coastal strip from Bray-Dunes to Le Havre. His photographs of the chaotic built-up landscape with its blind walls, parapets and fences ironically depict this coastline as a new “Atlantic wall”. In this, they form a masterful visual fable about the desert that can become a country that closes itself off. The images question the forms of a heterogeneous building, the sediment of human activity. In particular it offers a beautiful metaphor for an approach that invites in-depth reading rather than surface contemplation. The project obtained ‘Le Prix de la Ministre de la Culture’ – May 2021 – Musée de la Photographie, Charleroi.
Text in English and French.
For over 40 years, Robert Kudielka has documented Bridget Riley’s career progress and artistic development in an academic and personal manner, reflecting his relationship with the artist. Moving from an analysis of Riley’s iconic 1960s black and white paintings to her more recent wall drawings, Kudielka explores the unpredictable changes of direction throughout Riley’s career.
Accompanied by over 80 full-colour illustrations, biographical notes and bibliography, the texts in this volume provide a unique insight into Riley’s working methods and styles.
German artist Lother Götz (b. 1963 in Gunzburg, Germany) completed an MA at the Royal College of Art in 1998, after studying in Germany at Aachen, Düsseldorf and Wuppertal. He has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad, with solo shows at galleries such as Gasworks (London), the Chisenhale (London), Mappin Art Gallery (Sheffield), Museum Goch (Germany), David Risley Gallery (Copenhagen) and the Petra Rinck Gallery (Dusseldorf), and has been included in group exhibitions in Amsterdam, Dublin, Hamburg, Hanover, Salamanca, Wilhelmshaven and Wuppertal.
Perhaps best known for his large-scale wall paintings and installations, Götz’s drawings lie at the centre of his practice.
Brought together in dense compositions on painted card and board, Götz’s thin pencil lines explore the impact of using varying colours and intensities on the work’s surface. Referencing and expanding upon the abstract language of Suprematism and the Bauhaus, the colours appear to oscillate in front of the viewer to immerse them in the surrounding space.
Alongside over 40 colour illustrations, an essay by Charles Darwent explores the range of influences on Götz’s recent body of work.
To commemorate the publication, Götz created a limited-edition lithograph, Correction (2015), in collaboration with Hole Editions. Each edition is hand-finished by the artist and contained within a custom-made slipcase.
Faig Ahmed (b. 1982) represented Azerbaijan at the 2007 Biennale in Venice and is considered to be one of the most important contemporary artists from the Middle East. His conceptual works, which combine traditional carpet weaving with contemporary sculptural techniques, have earned him international acclaim. The confrontation between the millennia-old tradition of craftsmanship and modern-day image production strategies reveals unimagined potential for reflection on the interplay between culture and religion, craftsmanship and art.
Ahmed’s first monograph offers deep insights into the creative processes behind his art and for the first time brings together all of the works created between 2007 and 2023, as well as visualisations of future projects. Numerous interviews and art-historical essays complete the volume and allow for a powerful exploration of the work of this exceptional artist.
Street Beauty is high visual impact one-of-a-kind street art photography book by renowned international street art photographer Hannah Judah. Playfully designed and curated by ATMA, Street Beauty unlocks the wonder and beauty of large scale murals from hundreds of the world’s most recognised street artists today.
Judah’s unique photographic aesthetic enhances the brilliance of the artists and captures the impact of their works with her own brand of creative genius: her singular vision elevating street art photography as we once knew it.
Street Beauty adeptly showcases extraordinary works of public art to their fullest advantage: the imagination from the artists amplified by the mighty force of Judah’s creative captures.
Susanne Ring (b. 1966) creates enigmatic creatures from fired clay. Though recognisable as physical figures through simple features such as a head, arms, and legs, they do not duplicate prototypical patterns. These bodies are not organisms that have grown, but fragile shells that, as the mediating boundaries between the individual and the outside world, have themselves been transformed into figures. However, instead of answering the question as to whether human corporeality is a blessing or a curse, they embody the right to ambivalence and non-identity in the truest sense of the word. The publication Tempel shows current works in ceramics and paper as well as images of exhibitions from the last few years.
Text in English and German.
Testament ’22 is Byron Smith’s powerful debut monograph documenting his 10,000-mile photographic odyssey through Ukraine’s first year under Russia’s unprovoked invasion. Inspired by Taras Shevchenko’s literary legacy, Smith captures an intimate yet varied portrait of a nation at war.
His unflinching images, which have won several awards, bear witness to the staggering human cost — grieving mothers, shattered communities amid ruin — while also celebrating Ukraine’s tenacious spirit resilient against unspeakable tragedy. From Kyiv’s devastated suburbs to newly liberated villages, Smith’s hauntingly beautiful black and white and colour photographs ensure these sacrifices won’t be forgotten.
Contributing to the overwhelming evidence of Russian crimes, these profoundly moving portraits feature texts by Kyiv Independent reporter Igor Kossov, with whom Smith collaborated on front-line dispatches. An essential reminder that the costs extend far beyond the battlefield, Testament ’22 gives voice to the Ukrainians’ resilience and to their fight for their beloved homeland.
If you really want to get to know Washington, DC, you have to go out and get walking. Beyond the bounty of the National Mall and well-known historic sites, DC is a vibrant city full of unusual places, stories, and experiences that both avid and casual urban explorers will want to seek out.
DC insiders and adventurers Paige Muller and Andrea Seiger take you on 22 self-guided walks that blend the city’s rich history and vibrant culture, with some dishy tidbits thrown in for good measure. You’ll discover lesser-known facts behind popular icons and uncover wonderful spots, often hiding in plain sight.
There is a secret royal connection that lurks in an upper Northwest neighbourhood, and a historic building that stands in for the White House in multiple Hollywood movies. See if you can spot the hidden graffiti on a well-known memorial. Discover what inspired Kate Winslet’s famous pose on the Titanic’s bow. And find out all about the Civil War officer whose missing leg is allegedly entombed in a wall.
Dorset doesn’t have any motorways. Or cities. Or major industries. We do have railways – but don’t expect high speed intercity connections. But these are the reasons why the county is so appealing: The pace of life is slower, the people friendlier, the views more unspoiled. The county is a magnet for creative types: artisan food producers, eco-preneurs, artists and craftspeople who are quietly building businesses in small towns and villages, tucked away in back lanes and converted farm buildings.
Whether you’re a local, a seasoned traveller or first-time visitor, beautiful, quirky Dorset will surprise and delight you. This guide will introduce you to 111 off-the-beaten track (and sometimes off-the-wall) locations that make this slice of the West Country a wonderful place to live and a great place to visit.
Pick flowers in the grounds of a ruined abbey. Watch the summer solstice at a mini Stonehenge. Spot badgers in fancy dress. Buy wobbly bread from a post office. Moon-bathe in a beach-side sauna. Or fill your boots at a dry dock.
Stucco decorations have traditionally been studied considering their formal and artistic qualities. Although much research and numerous publications have explored the works of stucco artists and their cultural context, little attention has been paid to their professional role in relation to the other actors involved in the decorative process (architects, painters, sculptors, patrons), the technical skills of these artists, and how their know-how contributed to the great professional success they enjoyed. From the 16th to the 18th century, many of the stucco decorations in churches and palaces throughout Europe were made by masters from the border area between what is now Canton Ticino and Lombardy. This collection of essays aims to examine how these artists worked from Spain to Poland, from Denmark to Italy, via the Netherlands, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Austria, adapting to the realities of the different contexts. The authors examine these issues with an interdisciplinary approach, considering art history and social history, the history of artistic techniques, and the science of materials.
Text in English and Italian.
1,199 sites of cultural, historical, and scientific significance to humanity have been labelled UNESCO World Heritage Sites with the agreement to maintain and honour. UNESCO – World Heritage Journeys compiles stunning photographs, practical information, and travel suggestions for 40 of the most exquisite UNESCO sites on earth. Deep-dive boxes provide insights on, for example, the best time of year to visit, means of transport to reach more remote sites, and advice for getting the most out of your adventure. There will be no shortage of information in this comprehensive compendium, which can be a keepsake post-travel and a guide for the adventures yet to be had!
Over the course of a year, Brian Rose set out to photograph all the neighbourhoods at the ends of the subway lines in New York City. He had multiple reasons for engaging in such a project, but the strongest was the desire to portray New York as a highly diverse, multi-centred metropolis. Having spent a major part of his career photographing the city through often challenging times – the dichotomy of destruction and creativity of the 1980s, the mortal wounding of 9/11, and the suspended animation of the Covid-19 pandemic – Rose was perhaps uniquely equipped to document the city at this moment of political uncertainty under the increased strain of new arrivals, many of whom are refugees from around the world. For a new generation of New Yorkers, the trains roll on ceaselessly, and despite the title, Last Stop is not so much about endings as it is about reinvention.
The work of photographer Gérard Uféras (b. 1954, Paris) covers a compelling and charming array of subjects, from glimpses of life behind the scenes at the opera and ballet, to marrying couples and their families on their wedding day, to the spontaneous energy and interaction of crowds at carnivals and sporting events. With the discreet but unerring eye of the seasoned photojournalist (he began a long association with Libération newspaper in the 1980s), Gérard Uféras captures people from all walks of life in moments of contemplation, creation and camaraderie, resulting in a body of work that offers a rich and nuanced picture of humanity.
Published to coincide with a retrospective of his work in 2025, this book presents the photographer’s own choice of some of his finest work from a long and distinguished career. What emerges most strongly from this collection is Gérard Uféras’s great passion for favourite themes such as music, theatre and dance, but, perhaps more resoundingly still, his profound empathy and respect for his human subjects.