A Night Full of Stars is an award-winning novel by V.Vinicchayakul, one of Thailand’s most foremost novelists, and the author of over 100 novels, many of which have been adapted for TV and film. Set against the backdrop of the 1932 revolution, this beautiful novel deals with universal themes of love, loyalty, greed, anger, lust and jealousy which, whilst giving a unique insight into Thai way of life, will resonate with readers worldwide.
Tracing human interactions with the world’s most famous tropical timber species, The Social Life of Teak maps worlds revolving around teak forests, trees and wood.
What gives Tectona grandis such a powerful aura, stoking desires and capturing imaginations? How has teak shaped people’s lives, driving fortunes and impacting futures? What has happened to the teak forests and what is their destiny?
In this illustrated anthology of oral histories, people connected personally or professionally to teak speak of survival, change and learning, creativity and destruction, growth and demise. Woven together, these experiences bring to light the ways that teak has been sought, crafted, cultivated, traded and prized over time.
Animist beliefs, creative expression, scientific invention, economic viability, imperialist expansion, peak luxury, violent repression, ecological disaster and the regenerative power of nature all find a home in this global intergenerational tale.
Charting the domestication of wilderness and exposing the era of extinction of a feted natural resource, this book seeks to stimulate conversations about our role as nature’s most troublesome offspring.
This star I give to you is the first publication on the work of London-based artist Freya Douglas-Morris, presenting a body of paintings exploring the poetry, beauty and magic of landscapes and the natural world.
The book documents the artist’s first solo exhibition of the same name at Alexander Berggruen, New York, in 2023, and showcases the eight large oil paintings on canvas and five oil paintings on copper that were on display. This star I give to you includes a conversation between the artist and British publisher Matt Price, a foreword by New York-based writer and Associate Director at Alexander Berggruen, Kirsten Cave, along with studio notes by the artist on each of the reproduced works.
A graduate of the University of Brighton and the Royal College of Art, London, Douglas-Morris has exhibited internationally in China, Taiwan, The Bahamas, Austria, Italy, France and America.
This publication is dedicated to projects by Marie-José Van Hee – from small interventions and furniture to award-winning outdoor spaces. Nine key projects are examined in detail, while various essays and an interview provide a comprehensive overview of her work. Furthermore, three photographers present Van Hee’s architecture from their personal perspectives, while three clients report on their lives and their impressive houses. The publication is rounded off by a small selection of Van Hee’s “black drawings”, affording insight into contextual relationships between architecture and nature, as well as an updated project list.
New, revised edition of the volume published in Belgium in 2019.
Text in English and German.
This publication is dedicated to projects by Marie-José Van Hee – from small interventions and furniture to award-winning outdoor spaces. Nine key projects are examined in detail, while various essays and an interview provide a comprehensive overview of her work. Furthermore, three photographers present Van Hee’s architecture from their personal perspectives, while three clients report on their lives and their impressive houses. The publication is rounded off by a small selection of Van Hee’s “black drawings”, affording insight into contextual relationships between architecture and nature, as well as an updated project list.
New, revised edition of the volume published in Belgium in 2019.
Text in English and French.
This beautifully illustrated monograph showcases gorgeous examples of landscape architectural design—terrain + open space—by award-winning studio TROP. Established in 2007, TROP has worked on various projects throughout Asia, including Thailand, Singapore, and China.
Led by Pok Kobkongsanti, its philosophy is to create a unique design for each project that TROP works on. TROP believes that the design process is as important as the design itself, and strives to work very closely with each of its clients. TROP works include hospitality, residential, and commercial.
Packed with insights into the challenges and thought behind the creation of harmonious compositions, the narrative also provides a space for reflection by the studio on its many award-winning designs. TROP’s thoughtful designs succeed in creating a balance between nature, taking into consideration rainwater runoff in tropical areas, and the need to preserve greenery in large cities for the wildlife and beneficial cooling for city residents, resulting in true sustainable design.
Shikumen Lilong residencies were prevalent from the end of the 19th century until 1930. Combining the traits of southern Chinese dwellings and western row houses, it is the most representative of modern Shanghai residential architecture.
The book shows a unique residential kind of building in Shanghai called Shikumen and records its architectural style and the use of space. A travel guide to 40 of Shanghai’s most representative Shikumen lanes is also provided and is compared with the Shanghai block map in the 1940s of the 20th century. The book also collects 120 pictures of the architecture and life of Shikumen Lilong, and the author has compiled 400 Shikumen Lilong directories based on his accumulation of years of visiting Shikumen, which can become a guide for readers to stroll through Shikumen Lilong houses and experience Shikumen City Life.
From 2004 to 2012, using casual photography to specific documentation, the authors have observed over 500 Shikumen Lilong, and will continue to record the heritage of this style of architecture.
Text in English and Chinese.
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.
Palm Beach County is known for its glistening beaches, world-class golf and fun in the sun. But beneath the glitz and palm trees lies a legacy of scandal, darkly rich history and a trove of hidden gems.
A playground for the Kennedys, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, Palm Beach was born of oil and railroad money. Creating an oasis for the elite, the island became a centerpiece of lavish vacationing and hidden dealings. With wealth and power came secrets and whisperings. Over the decades new generations of socialites have graced the island, maintaining a degree of glory days while business executives continue to find rest and relaxation within county lines.
111 Places in Palm Beach That You Must Not Miss provides an in-depth and diverse look into the past and present of the 561. Whether you were born here or are simply enjoying a long weekend, there is much to be discovered between these pages. From hidden artwork in Tequesta to haunted quarters in West Palm Beach to Japanese traditions in Yamato, navigate the varying landscapes of the wealthiest county in Florida.
Step away from the traditional highlights of the city of innovators, great benefactors, artists, presidents and hucksters to discover innumerable interesting and unknown sites, artifacts and other treats in Washington, DC. Visit places hiding in plain sight, that may go unnoticed or simply be unknown to long-time residents and visitors alike. Play a round of miniature golf among the cherry trees. Buy original art works out of a vintage cigarette machine. Catch a show at one of the refurbished theatres where Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington used to gig. Commune with the Godfather of Go-Go music in his memorial park. Get away from the tourists and peace out by walking a labyrinth alongside the Potomac River. Try a salad made of indigenous root vegetables at a Native American café.
Kindred Spirits showcases the remarkable flowering of Chinese style ceramics that took place in Japan after the mid-19th century. For over a thousand years, Chinese ceramics have been admired and emulated in Japan. This book discusses for the first time how this artistic relationship evolved during the Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa eras. A selection of 100 works from the acclaimed Shen Zhai Collection demonstrates the range and quality of these ceramics, from elegant celadons to sophisticated underglaze blue porcelains. Detailed descriptions, makers’ marks, and box inscriptions make this a valuable reference resource for collectors and art historians.
Fifteen years ago, Eduardo Mencos (farmer, landscape designer and photographer) and Charles Quest-Ritson (historian, writer, journalist and editor) conceived the idea of going on a trip around the world, like Jules Verne, but with the olive tree playing the leading role. The outcome of that adventure through 26 countries is this book, which tells the story of humankind through the olive tree and its fruit. In the book, the authors take an in-depth look at a tree that is so familiar to us all and yet still remains so much of a mystery in terms of its many different guises.
With over 200 spectacular photographs taken by Eduardo Mencos, accompanied by an erudite text written by Charles Quest-Ritson, the book sweeps through the manifold manifestations of the olive tree and its distinguishing traits. It covers the origin and later domestication of the tree, all of the different roles it has played and the significance it has had at different times throughout history, its importance in the Bible, right through to the most innovative contemporary methods used today for growing and cloning olive trees, together with the prominent place it holds in the Mediterranean diet and its different uses.
The intention of this long journey is to awaken a vision of the olive tree that is imbued with beauty, poetry and curiosity.
“A jewel of Baroque architecture, the Castelluccio Palace is the spotlight of a beautiful book retracing its history, its long restoration and its precious ornaments. These photographs reflect the Sicilian Golden Age.” —Fanny Guenon des Mesnards, AD France
“This monograph is an invitation to visit the Palazzo Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio.”—Italian Vogue
“A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored doesn’t just pull back the curtain on the finished palace, it details the four-year-long process through an elaborate array of photos…” —Architectural Digest, and Yahoo
With its sun-drenched sands and Mediterranean waters, Sicily has been a favored destination of travelers for centuries. History is alive on this island, from ancient accounts of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans; to the journals of wealthy young European men embarking on the Grand Tour. This book captures the sun-steeped aesthetic of the island, while detailing the restoration of one of its finest attractions: the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace.
Marquis de Castelluccio was one of the last “servals” or “leopards” of Sicily – wealthy aristocrats who flooded the island with luxury. Following his death, his home fell to ruin. A half-century later, Jean-Louis Remilleux fell in love with this dilapidated 18th-century palace and made it his mission to restore it. Unveiled for the first time in this beautifully illustrated book, the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palazzo is one of the finest testaments to Sicilian architecture and art.
Today, lush green palm trees welcome you to the palace’s imposing front façade. Frescoes, arabesques, masks, imitation marble, ceilings and wainscoting have all restored to their former glory, over decades of elaborate work. This book charts the restoration process and celebrates the astonishing end results. It contains an album’s worth of photographs that capture the beauty of this palace beneath the Mediterranean sun.
San Diego: it’s a coastal paradise with year-round perfect weather, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a laid-back vibe that will instantly put a smile on your face. It’s not only sunshine and perfect waves, though. This SoCal spot is rich in history. It is a mecca of delicious food and drink. And its proximity to Mexico makes for a breathtaking border culture that is seen, felt, and tasted everywhere you go.
From exploring haunted mansions to channeling your inner bookworm at a queer-owned feminist bookshop, going on a guided mezcal adventure to shopping for doll house construction materials, or fraternizing with friendly ungulates to wading in mineral-rich hot springs, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in San Diego County.
So, whether you’re a San Diego native, a visitor, or just considering a sunny vacation, this book will give you 111 ideas for a really good time. Go on, what are you waiting for?
Capturing the juxtaposition between its vibrant beach culture and towering urban landscape, Rob Ball’s photographs of this famous Spanish seaside town consider the promise of the perfect package holiday – and whether it has changed since it’s conception in the fifties. From sunlit palm trees to shimmering neon lights, from pastel-colored high rises to bright pink beach towels, from the greys and browns of backstreets to the pinks and reds of sunburn, this is a visual ode to all the colors of Benidorm and a testament to its irrepressible energy.
Cars have a talismanic quality. No other manufactured object has the same disturbing allure. More emotions are involved in cars and car design than in any other product: vanity, cupidity, greed, social competitiveness and cultural modelling. But when all this perverse promise ends in catastrophe, these same talismanic qualities acquire an extra dimension.
The car crash is a defining phenomenon of popular culture. Death Drive is both an appreciative essay about the historic place of the automobile in the modern imagination and a detailed exploration of the circumstances of 24 celebrity car crashes, from Isadora Duncan in an Amilcar, in 1927, to Helmut Newton in a Cadillac, in 2004. The author concludes by confronting the imminent demise of the car itself.
Life is always winking at us, calling our attention to the beauty hidden in plain sight. And yet, we often miss what’s right in front of our noses, either lost in thought or tethered to never-ending to-do lists. This is a handbook for anyone who feels some of the shine has worn off their daily life and wants to reconnect with the beauty hidden in plain sight. In this exquisite collection of photographs, poems and creative invitations, we are reminded that we don’t need to wait for miracles to be astonished. Wonder is a state of mind, available to us every day of our lives.
A miniature painting holds wondrous powers, beyond its defined space. A single image can summon up a world of adventures, enclosed chambers, gardens, rivers, lakes, forests, flowers, and an infinite variety of trees in bloom. In Indian art, miniatures were conceived as sets of narrative illustrations based on classic texts, such as the Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana, Ragamala, etc. Miniature painting continues to hold its appeal well into the 21st century. Contemporary artists of importance have imbibed influences from the miniature traditions, in technique, theme and coloration. This book explores a relationship between Indian contemporary painting and inspiration from medieval miniatures.
The author studies the art of five significant Indian modern and contemporary artists—Abanindranath Tagore, Manjit Bawa, Waswo X. Waswo with Rakesh Vijayvargiya, and Nilima Sheikh—who have resourced and reinvented iconic traditions with different perspectives and using different techniques. Accompanied with splendid illustrations, the essays bring attention to the Indian art of today with the magical transformation of older concepts and techniques in miniature painting into contemporary practice.
Refuge is the sixth book by Lara Gasparotto and spans four years of daily photographic practice, in the artist’s immediate environment but also much further away, as far as Guyana, via Quebec and Louisiana.
More than a practice, it is rather a way of looking at the world that drives Lara Gasparotto. A world of outdoors, of flora, fauna, rain, sun, lakes, trees, and her family.
Gasparotto spent a winter and a spring working on the selection for this book. In the end, Refuge delivers a subtle narration without chapters, without page numbers, and where the rhythm is changing.
On the cover is an illustration by her sister Lissa Gasparotto and inside a poetic text by Eva Mancuso. The 200 images are a little more than strictly photography: intuitive and nourished by painting, Gasparotto seeks with pastel, gouache, sometimes even oil, tenuous elements of her photos that she modifies, enhances, underlines and then rephotographs to finally, very subtly, move the image from the mechanical and the chemical to the fleeting expressiveness of the living.
Text in French.
The number of ice creams bought along Bournemouth’s seafront each year: 750,000. The number of deckchairs hired out on a busy weekend: 3,000. The number of trees standing proud in the town: 47,000. Having long since shrugged off its reputation as God’s waiting room, Bournemouth and its surrounding areas have a boundless number of places to discover, explore and relish.
Whether you’re a curious local, a seasoned traveler or a one-time visitor, these 111 places will surprise, delight and astonish you. Amble over the bridge that won World War II, get whisked off on an Asian adventure, learn about Charlie Chaplin’s connection to the town, visit Florence Nightingale’s grave, order a Żubrówka, gaze into the real Alice in Wonderland’s mirror, make friends with an Egyptian mummy, stand beneath the lamppost AFC Bournemouth was formed under, and walk in the footsteps of the Fab Four, as well as the woman who brought the British government to its knees.
As you explore, take your time, take photos and take advantage of everything this extraordinary, astounding, fascinating area has to offer. The number of times you’ll gasp as you discover something new: countless.
Step away from the traditional highlights of the city of innovators, great benefactors, artists, presidents and hucksters to discover innumerable interesting and unknown sites, artifacts and other treats in Washington, DC. Visit places hiding in plain sight, that may go unnoticed or simply be unknown to long-time residents and visitors alike. Play a round of miniature golf among the cherry trees. Buy original art works out of a vintage cigarette machine. Catch a show at one of the refurbished theaters where Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington used to gig. Commune with the Godfather of Go-Go music in his memorial park. Get away from the tourists and peace out by walking a labyrinth alongside the Potomac River. Try a salad made of indigenous root vegetables at a Native American café.
In the town once known as Ten Swamps, twelve-year-old Ellie walks a precarious line between her warring parents, each armed with their own version of the truth. Her father’s house is a minefield, with each step potentially dangerous. Her mother’s home stands empty of the brother who vanished without explanation. And the ancient woods that surround them all hold mysteries that have been lurking beneath the surface for generations. When Ellie forms an unexpected friendship with Larry, a peculiar classmate who seems to understand her in ways no one else can, they create a sanctuary in the threatened woods behind her house. But as strange signals call from the trees and unexplained red dots flicker across her television screen, Ellie begins to wonder if the forest is trying to tell her something—something about the town’s forgotten history, or perhaps about Edward, the brother who either escaped or was taken. Nancy Doyne’s Ten Swamps masterfully captures the raw confusion of adolescence, the ache of fractured families, and the magic of discovering a friend who sees the world the way you do. With unforgettable characters and a setting rich in atmosphere, this novel is a poignant exploration of memory, myth, and the choices that define us.
Elizabeth Gage MBE has enjoyed a glittering career as the brilliant mind behind some of the greatest jewelry designs of the past 60 years. Her work is revered for combining historical references with a modern aesthetic and marrying strong design concepts with sublime craftsmanship. Telling the story of her rise to become one of London’s most celebrated jewelers, this stunning monograph showcases Elizabeth Gage’s finest handmade creations, including gold rings, necklaces and earrings, bracelets shaped like autumn leaves, tourmaline cabochons engraved with trees, diamond-studded fish carrying pearls in their tails and Roman coins set in agate coat pins.
Featured in the permanent collection of the V&A and exhibited around the world, her pieces have been worn by the likes of Jackie Kennedy and Lauren Bacall and treasured, according to The New York Times, by those seeking greater ‘strength, originality, storytelling.’
Winner of multiple prestigious awards, Elizabeth’s love for her craft shines brightly on each page, making this a must-have for jewelry and art lovers everywhere.
‘Sofreh’ is Persian for ‘spread’ – referring to the colorful arrangements of flowers, condiments and objects of spiritual or cultural importance that are displayed at Persian ceremonies. As the title promises, this book is a visual feast. Flush with lavish historical illustrations and contemporary photography, it documents Persian marriage and New Year celebrations in rich detail. Sofreh pays homage to ancient traditions, discussing the symbiosis of symbolism and culture. Despite their ancestral roots, the featured ceremonies are infused with life and creativity. Modern fabrics are welcomed alongside refined antique textiles, creative floral designs, unconventional pieces of furniture, and unexpected objects. References to Persian poetry, literature, art and folklore stimulate the imagination, and the text is illuminated with exquisitely detailed extracts from old manuscripts, antique woven textiles and embroideries. Each volume centres around a series of original and at times highly elaborate sofreh creations. Together they comprise an extensive project, involving research into Persian ceremonies and sofreh history by an eminent scholar, and the design and creation of stunning compositions. Book One is about the Persian New Year (Nowruz), which is celebrated on the first day of Spring. Book Two explores Persian marriage and wedding customs, and the elaborate settings for marriage ceremonies (Aqd). These two lavishly illustrated volumes, which make an enduring gift, are devoted to showcasing sofreh compositions in all of their glory. Never before have the splendour and beauty of the sofreh been presented in such an intricate and novel fashion.