Tat* is a bit of a graphic designer’s curse. Walk into any design studio and you will see tat pinned to the walls or placed with loving care on top of a computer screen. Even the purist will have a secret cache hidden away somewhere.
Andy Altmann began collecting tat while he was on his Foundation course, getting ready for an interview at St Martins School of Art. He’d been asked to present a sketchbook, but worried that he couldn’t draw very well, he decided to start a scrapbook: “I rummaged through the drawers at home and found some football cards from the late 1960s and early ’70s (plenty of Georgie Best), an instruction leaflet from an old Hoover, Christmas cracker jokes, and so on. Then I started on the magazines, cutting out images of anything that interested me. And finally I took myself off to the college library, where I photocopied things from books before reaching for the scissors and glue.” It was the beginning of a significant collecting habit.
So what it is that makes a piece of graphic tat interesting? Is it the ‘retro’ thing – a fascination with a bygone age, the primitive printing techniques, the naivety of the design, or the use of color? All of the above, of course, but it’s not quite that simple. “Occasionally people offer me something they’ve found that they think I might like”, says Andy. “But usually they’re wrong – it doesn’t excite me at all. The magic is missing.”
To a graphic designer, most the content of this book can safely be regarded as ‘bad’ design. But there is some magic in each and every piece that has made Andy either pick it up off the street, trail through online links, or enter some dodgy looking shop on the other side of the world just to snap it up. Here you’ll find everything from sweet wrappers to flash cards, from soap powder boxes to speedway flyers, from wrestling programmes to bus tickets. More tat than you can shake a stick at. Taken together, it represents a lifetime of gleeful hunting and gathering.
* tat (noun) – anything that looks cheap, is of low quality, or in bad condition; junk, rubbish, debris, detritus, crap, shite
This catalog for a show at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels, brings Picasso’s relationship to abstraction into focus. With more than 120 exceptional works of art in dialogue with some of the great works of the early 20th century abstraction movement, it addresses the major stages that punctuated the links between Picasso’s work and the history of abstract art. It covers the period from the first Cubist experiments of 1907, carried out simultaneously with ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’, to his later work, which is sometimes situated on the borders of gestural painting.
The Art & Times of Daniel Jocz presents the entrancing and challenging work of American jewelry artist and sculptor Daniel Jocz. There is a spontaneous quality to the work, yet it is always rich with meaning. His open spirit is fully embodied in the 2007 neckpiece series An American’s Riff on the Millstone Ruff. Inspired by the extravagant scale of 17th-century Dutch ruffs at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, he decided to update them with automobile paint.
Jeannine Falino takes an in-depth look at the twists and turns of Jocz’s long career, from his early geometric sculptures to the fashion-forward flocked Candy Wear collection, and from his ruminations on Marlene Dietrich in the form of necklaces featuring enamel smoked cigarettes to the wall reliefs he explores today. Wendy Steiner considers Jocz’s place in the avant-garde through the lens of fashion and culture, while Patricia Harris and David Lyon explore his involvement in the rollicking Boston jewelry scene of the late 20th century.
An old map does not only represent a geographical situation; it also embodies a veritable journey of discovery through world history. In this book, historian Anne-Rieke van Schaik immerses herself in the many stories behind the fascinating maps, prints, atlases, globes and instruments belonging to the Phoebus Foundation’s collection. These objects testify to glorious moments and dark interludes in the history of the Low Countries, from the never-ending battle against water and the Eighty Years War to colonial expansion and the struggle for Belgian independence.
Particular attention is paid to the Southern Netherlands, where pioneers like Gerard Mercator and Abraham Ortelius broke new ground in the sixteenth century. Their maps opened up new paths, both literally and figuratively. Not only were they innovative in their own time, but even today they continue to offer unique panoramas of the past.
With hundreds of beautiful images, Groundbreakers invites you to rediscover and redefine the horizons of your own world.
The ancient treasures collected over the past 20 years by Ludovic Donnadieu, hail from a myriad of ancient cultures, famous or obscure, across all five continents. The selection maintains a balanced representation of different geographical areas, ensuring that all regions of the world and all historical or prehistoric periods are accounted for. Through this comprehensive panorama, the viewer is invited on a cultural and anthropological journey through time and space.
The showcased artworks are “miniatures”; few exceed a size of 20 centimeters. Indeed, an artwork doesn’t need to be monumental to evoke profound emotional impact and fascination! Fragility can endure, the minuscule can embody grandeur, and singular detail can convey a universal message.
This selection of 99 works, forming a unique ensemble worldwide, adheres to a triple criterion: authenticity, aesthetic quality, and balance, both among the represented subjects and across different forms, materials, or functions. The period covered spans from 6,000 BC to the early 20th century. Presenting this collection to the public holds a dual significance: in a world threatened by uniformity, it celebrates the richness and diversity of human cultures while also highlighting the beauty and grandeur of small-scale formats and the need to protect what is fragile.
The Donnadieu Foundation was established in 2023, under the aegis of the Foundation for Childhood, by Ludovic Donnadieu, art collector, certified public accountant, and founder of the firm Donnadieu & Associates, which specialized in securing funds entrusted to NGOs. The Foundation aims to enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to broaden their horizons and engage in civic activism, while also raising awareness among the general public and policymakers about the importance of culture for the world’s youth.
Text in English and French.
Chicago is the City of the Big Shoulders. What started off as a small, fur-trading settlement is today a bustling metropolis. Chicago’s colorful past remains hidden in the nooks and crannies across this wonderful, modern city.
This fully updated edition reveals compelling secrets in places that even native Chicagoans may not know. It invites locals and experienced travelers to explore the Windy City through its people, its history, and its stories.
Adventures await you, from the glamorous to the gritty. Sip cocktails atop an iconic building with sweeping city views, or paddle a kayak down the infamous Bubbly Creek of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. Snorkel a 32-acre, limestone sheet shoal, one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in the Midwest. Or purchase a ten-gallon cowboy hat and take a ride a mechanical pony on your way out of the shop.
Whether you’re an out-of-towner or a diehard Chicago dweller who thinks you’ve seen it all, these 111 hidden places are waiting for you to seek out and enjoy.
“If you’re lucky enough to have your own outdoor space, what better way to appreciate it than giving it a good makeover? Outdoor Interiors taps into that trend; treat your garden as you would another room and you’ll reap the benefits.” — Homes and Interiors Scotland
Outdoor Interiors showcases the most beautiful garden designs in the world. Author Juliet Roberts highlights five styles – ‘traditional’, ‘contemporary’, ‘playful’, ‘everyday’ and ‘minimal’ – and gives plenty of tips for achieving the same style in your garden across different categories (dining, sitting, lounge, cooking and swimming). The result is a stylish coffee table book full of inspiration.
111 Places for Kids in Chicago That You Must Not Miss is not your typical kid-centered guide to Chicago: Step off the beaten tourist path, lace up your gym shoes and get ready to set off on 111 adventures across Chicagoland. Feed a giraffe; kiss a beluga; find a ghost; descend into an energy portal; see (and smell!) a corpse flower in bloom. Learn how soap is made; meet a million dollars and more. If you’re looking for out-of-the-box family adventures, this is the guide for you.
LO2 is an interior design studio founded in 2004 that covers architectural projects (private residential, corporate and hospitality), interior design and landscape architecture – the latter through Locus Landscape Architecture – both in Spain and abroad.
Luisa Olazábal and Luis Ojeda, as well as their partners, have formed a multidisciplinary team that approaches projects with a holistic approach and fits them optimally into the environment in which they are located, as can be seen in the exquisite selection published in this book.
A unique take on fashion in 2022.
In Mirror Mirror – Fashion & the Psyche, MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp and Dr. Guislain Museum examine how fashion, psychology, self-image and identity are connected. The personal experience of the body is the main theme of this unexpected dialogue between visual art and avant-garde fashion. Featuring work by Ed Atkins, Walter Van Beirendonck, Noir Kei Ninomiya, Genieve Figgis, Genesis Belanger, Hussein Chalayan, Comme des Garçons, Joseph Schneller, Ezekiel Messou, Giovanni Battista Podestà, Helga Goetze and Yumiko Kawai, among others.
Publication accompanies the exhibition Mirror Mirror – Fashion & the Psyche at MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp and Dr. Guislain Museum, Ghent from 8 October 2022 to 26 February 2023.
With textual contributions by curators Yoon Hee Lamot and Elisa De Wyngaert, Mara Johanna Kölmel, Lucy Moyse Ferreira, Monika Ankele and Renate Stauss, who also wrote a text contribution.
The green architecture movement is a worldwide phenomenon that addresses sustainability and a parallel awareness of how the built world is enriched by nature. This lavishly illustrated book presents the most beautiful and innovative buildings from around the world and explores how they incorporate plants and architecture in both interior design and construction. With inspiring projects and practical tips for both the professional and the enthusiast, the author explores the best of what’s green in houses large and small, apartment buildings, and offices.
‘Festive and cosy Christmas living room decor ideas.’ — The Spruce
The Christmas Season is an essential guide to Scandinavian-style Christmas perfection.
Taking the core tenets of Scandinavian design and applying them to the festive season, this book reimagines the midwinter holiday as a time for tasteful restraint and creature comforts.
Blending minimalism, clean lines and functionality with ‘hygge’, a uniquely Danish concept of cosiness, Scandi interiors are some of the most sought-after and recognizable in the world. This inspirational and poetic collection of Nordic designs is sure to spark your imagination. Combining traditional Scandinavian Christmas customs with clever DIY ideas and recipes for the whole family to enjoy, this book invites you to redesign Christmas within your own home.
“These are just a few highlights amongst the 43 projects featured in Architects at Home, but each is certain to reveal both the pleasures and challenges of designing a home for oneself.” — Canadian Interiors
This stunning revised and updated edition takes you on a thrilling tour through the fascinating, eclectic and stylish abodes of some of the world’s best-known architects. Not only do these pages offer a rare glimpse into each architect’s personal, private environment, but each uniquely designed project provides insight into how each architect marries trends with their own personal philosophy, and how they inject interior design flair into their own contemporary domain.
Combining rich photography and spectacular imagery with an incisive summary by a leading architecture specialist, Architects at Home provides a rich source for those keen to delve into the design aesthetics, concepts and innovations of prominent architects from around the globe.
Bristol is one of the UK’s biggest cities but is small enough to sometimes feel like a village. It is a city built on trading with much of its former maritime heritage now transformed into buzzing independent harborside businesses in which to eat, drink and let your hair down. Both water and green spaces abound. And you’ll have to get used to hills when exploring this cosmopolitan city because like Rome, Bristol was built on seven of them. Step away from the obvious – the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain (both designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel), or the wonderful We The Curious where science and art collide – and discover unexpected treasures such as secret gardens, hidden memorials to the past and unusual modes of transport.
Journey through the old haunts of world famous pirates; past the Oscar-winning animation studio home to Morph and Wallace & Gromit; along shopping streets that sell everything from handcrafted violin bows to locally-made gin; and through an indoor market selling everything from spices to fossils. If you know where to look, Bristol will unravel its secrets in front of your eyes.
The American Museum’s collection of more than 250 quilts, ranging from the 18th to mid-20th centuries, is acclaimed as the finest of its type in Europe and the equal of many premier collections in the United States. Examples include early whole-cloth quilts, pieced and appliquéd work, Hawaiian and Amish quilts, and the African-American quilts of Gee’s Bend. Over 50 quilts and their unique stories are included in this new publication. Each entry is beautifully illustrated with stunning photography that celebrates the skill and artistry of these textiles. The selection includes celebrated favorites and new Museum acquisitions that have never been published before. Accompanying the individual quilt entries is an introductory essay that tells the story of how this remarkable Museum was established and the world-class quilt collection was formed.
Based in a historically distinguished town near New York City, the firm of Bentel & Bentel Architects has been led for over 50 years by two generations – men and women – of one family. The interweaving of their experiences, lifestyles, and personal philosophies has produced a uniquely elegant series of works including public buildings, restaurants, and hotels. The buildings are equally notable for their thoughtful relationships to the structures they occupy or adjoin, the communities in which they stand, and the experiences of their intended users. Bentel & Bentel’s accomplishments reflect not only its cumulative design experience but the insights the partners bring to their work from a variety of related activities: painting, sculpture, dance, design of furnishings, architectural history, and education. Reflecting the lives and accomplishments of the firm’s partners, this monograph is composed of three narratives: Who We Are, What We Do, and Who We Were.
“Offers readers a chance to look again at modern British architecture through the eyes of all sorts of experts.” – Architectural Digest
“Very sophisticated and thoroughly researched.” – Bevis Hillier
“An eclectic selection with an unsurprising bias towards Modernism.” – Design Insider
This is a compact guide to Britain’s best buildings of the last 100 years, with an intriguing twist: the choices come from a wide range of experts with strong and sometimes unexpected opinions. The contributors include architects Norman Foster, Piers Gough, Charles Holland and Richard Rogers; critics and historians such as Elain Harwood, Bevis Hillier, Jonathan Meades, Alan Powers, Alice Rawsthorn and Peter York. Everyone involved contributed their ten choices, and all these lists are reproduced at the end of the book. In the main section featuring 75 key buildings, everything selected more than once is illustrated and examined in more detail.
The result is a fascinating cocktail of undisputed greats and genuinely surprising entries. Alongside the work of Wells Coates, Denys Lasdun, James Stirling and John Outram, you’ll find post-War prefabs, Preston Bus Station and the ruins of St Peter’s Seminary in Cardross. Whether you’re after a slightly unorthodox selection of Britain’s finest modern buildings, or just curious about what major architects and critics consider as their favorites, this book is your ideal guide.
All the following contributed a list of their favorite buildings: John Allan, Stephen Bates, Keith Bradley, Peter Clegg, Nigel Coates, Richard Hywel Evans, Kathryn Ferry, Jenny Fleming, Norman Foster, Piers Gough, John Grindrod, Ivan Harbour, Claire Harper, Elain Harwood, Birkin Haward, Simon Henley, Bevis Hillier, Charles Holland, Owen Hopkins, David Jenkins, Owen Luder, Jonathan Meades, David Nixon, Stefi Orazi, James Perry, Alan Powers, Alice Rawsthorn, Richard Rogers, Jonathan Sergison, Anne Ward, Peter York, Paul Zara.
The successor to the bestselling Cosmopolitan Living – 15 new city houses and apartments from all over the world, each one with a strong metropolitan feel.
Includes: Maddux Creative, London; Helena Clunies Ross, New York; Sebastiaan Van Maanen/Ramses Caesar, Amsterdam; Brent Buck Architects, New York; Messana O’Rorke, New York; Nadine Fabry, Düsseldorf; Ooaa, Madrid; Steven Van Dooren, Amsterdam; Pupil Office, Singapore; Hauvette & Madani, Cologny (Switzerland); Mathieson Kurraba (Australia); Studio Liu Sydney (Australia); Rodolphe Parente, Paris.
This sumptuous book showcases, through beautiful photography, 18 new residential houses and apartments. Each one is gifted with breathtaking sea views.
Features projects from all over the world, including Spain, Greece, New Zealand, Belgium, the USA, Denmark, Ibiza, and South Africa.
Tourist Modernist is a tribute to Belgium’s lesser-known modernist heritage. In 2019 Gerlin Heestermans started the online heritage platform toeristmodernist.be to share her passion for beautiful modernist houses and buildings and draw attention to their heritage value and vulnerability. She outlined several architectural walks to put this special – often unprotected – heritage on the map. Now there is the Tourist Modernist guide, featuring Gerlin’s 12 favorite walks along modernist gems in cities such as Ostend, Liège and Brussels, but also Eeklo, Charleroi, Tournai and Mariakerke, for example. Each walk is comprehensively described and illustrated with photos of the exterior façades and a clear map; handsome interior images offer a glimpse of the unique designs hidden behind the front doors.
His photographs are of an old-fashioned beauty and at the same time radically contemporary. Flower by flower Bas Meeuws composes his floral still lifes, but digitally: the basis for Meeuws’ monumental works are digital photographs of individual flowers. They allude to the Dutch masters of the seventeenth century with their sense of luxury and their eye for the ephemeral. Meeuws strikes a chord in the art world with his flower still lifes. He is represented by Dutch, American, Taiwanese and Indian galleries and exhibits from Amsterdam to New Delhi.
“Flowers represent the circle of life for me as well as the short time of real beauty – Carpe Diem” – Bas Meeuws.
“Meeuws’ assortment of flowers, seem to emerge yet elapse into their inky black backdrops, reveling in sharpness, flaunting texture, pore and vein.” – Newspaper The Hindu.
Text in English and Chinese.
German artist Martin Bruno Schmid (b. 1970) works at the intersection of art and architecture; his tools are drills, saws, and sandpaper, his process includes hammering, shredding, and cutting. Material is extracted, and rarely applied. Schmid addresses the very subject of construction itself with his minimalistic and exceptionally radical interventions in public spaces. In doing so he pushes the frontiers of what is feasible and makes visible what we take for granted. His interventions are a celebration of all the technologies of civilization that enable us to spend our lives protected and safe, but they are also a test of our certitude. This latest monograph on his work provides a comprehensive insight into Schmid’s widely varied oeuvre and opens a gateway to the Stuttgart artist’s creative world.
Text in English and German.
These pages tell the story without words of a journey through Spain in which the author, the photographer Fernando Manso, visited unknown and hidden corners and captured them on the plates of his large-format camera. From the remotest parts of Galicia to those of Almería, he passed through coasts, deserts and mountains, stopping at old churches, ghostly castles or majestic cathedrals, in forests and gorges, at natural pools and salt mines, and at cemeteries, Arab baths and hermitages carved out of the rock.
Fernando has made the light of these places into the leading figure of his journey. His is a different light, as he has relinquished blue skies and brilliant sunshine, often the stuff of clichés, to make way for visions of places that appear to us with such intimate truth that even if we know them, we can barely recognize them. This is thanks to his technique, his art and the patience with which he waits for the light.
Fernando’s luxury is being able to use all the time in the world to draw us into an artistic heritage that is sometimes secret and hard to reach, and which the viewer has to know how to see. He reveals these places, often in danger of disappearing, after detailed investigation. Both architecture and landscape – for he knows that natural scenery is also a major patrimony that has to be affectionately preserved and protected from speculation – belong to all of us, and we are responsible for their care. We must be aware of this.
The result of that trip is this publication, with beautiful images in reproductions of exceptional quality that present us with a vision of Spain in a different light.
Architectural exhibition is an important aspect in the study and transmission of architectural culture. The academic thoughts and design styles that influence the trends of global architecture are all established through one or a series of important architectural exhibitions. This book is produced based on the GSD (Harvard Graduate School of Design) autumn exhibition: ‘Towards a Critical Pragmatism: Contemporary Chinese Architecture’. It reveals a unique perspective of contemporary Chinese architecture by showcasing 60 works from 60 contemporary architects within five thematic categories: cultural, residential, regeneration, rural, and digital.
The selected architects attempt to maintain, from the earliest moments of the design process to its finished outcome, a certain level of critical thinking and quality. It is a record of the continuous evolution and growth of contemporary Chinese architecture and hopes to open up a new avenue from which to encourage further conversation regarding both the present and future state of China’s architecture culture.