The tell-tale shape and heft of a wrapped book promises inspiration, excitation, and education—all of which are present in the following selections, which span the realms of design, architecture, art, photography, fashion, travel, and more. From titles that teach you how to nurture an urban garden to tomes that document the diversity of the American experience, these are books that design enthusiasts will be eager to add to their shelves.
Photo: Tobias Hochstein
Marfa Modern: Artistic Interiors of the West Texas High Desert
Due in no small part to Donald Judd, the city of Marfa, Texas, has evolved from a railroad water stop to a destination for minimalist art and design. Written by Helen Thompson and featuring photographs by Casey Dunn, Marfa Modern: Artistic Interiors of the West Texas High Desert (The Monacelli Press) showcases 21 homes that embody the character of the creative enclave and uniquely respond to the austere desert landscape. From a conceptual artist's reclamation of a former Texaco service station to a chef's handmade house with an outdoor tub, these residences encapsulate the resourcefulness and ingenuity of Marfa dwellers.
ShopCabin Porn: Inspiration for Your Quiet Place Somewhere
Rural escapes for those yearning for a simpler existence, by the creators of the wildly popular Tumblr Cabin Porn. Created by a group of friends who preserve 55 acres of hidden forest in Upstate New York, Cabin Porn began as a scrapbook to collect inspiration for their building projects. As the collection grew, the site attracted a following, which is now a huge and obsessive audience. The site features photos of the most remarkable handmade homes in the backcountry of America and all over the world. It has had over 10 million unique visitors, with 350,000 followers on Tumblr. Now Zach Klein, the creator of the site (and a co-founder of Vimeo) goes further into the most alluring images from the site and new getaways, including more interior photography and how-to advice for setting up a quiet place somewhere. With their idyllic settings, unique architecture and cozy interiors, the Cabin Porn photographs are an invitation to slow down, take a deep breath, and feel the beauty and serenity that nature and simple construction can create.
ShopThe Design Hotels Book: Edition 2016
A worldwide affiliation of independent hotels, Design Hotels has collected 296 of the most groundbreaking accommodations from its portfolio in the 2016 edition of The Design Hotels Book (Gestalten). Pairing stunning photography with stories about the hoteliers who founded the establishments, the book showcases unparalleled designs in the hospitality sector. The "Influencers" series returns in this edition, spotlighting 10 outstanding forces in architecture and design. Photo Courtesy of Gestalten Publisher: Gestalten
ShopPhaidon Design Classics (3 Volume Set) (Pts. 1, 2 & 3)
This quintessential collection of 999 product designs in three thigh-numbing volumes explores product design from the late 1600s to the present. They include everything from 300-year-old scissors to modern airplanes and the work of such 20th-century stalwarts as Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier, Henry Dreyfuss, Ray and Charles Eames, and a host of up-and-comers. In homage to one of the primary principles of good design—durability—most of the products featured here are still in production.
ShopArt House: The Collaboration of Chara Schreyer and Gary Hutton
Over the past 40 years, leading art collector and editor-in-chief of San Francisco Cottages & Gardens Chara Schreyer has collaborated with interior designer Gary Hutton to create five residences housing 600 works of art. Art House (Assouline) takes readers on a tour of these breathtaking spaces, which include masterpieces by Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Donald Judd, Louise Nevelson, Diane Arbus, and Frank Stella. From an architectural marvel to a high-rise, live-in gallery, these dwellings inspire art and design aficionados to find new ways to inhabit their passions.
ShopThe New Pavilions
That the pavilion is often built for a specific event and subsequently dismantled gives architects special license to experiment with form, construction, material, and structure, among many other variables. Whether it be a bandstand, an art gallery, or an eatery, the pavilion spans myriad locations and functions, creating a rich opportunity for interaction between the structure and the surrounding landscape and community. The New Pavilions (Thames & Hudson) features over 80 projects curated by Philip Jodido. From Zaha Hadid's Chanel pavilion to a small project constructed entirely out of farm waste, the book is a testament to the versatility and expressiveness of built forms. Publisher: Thames & Hudson Photo Courtesy of Studio April
ShopEvergreen: Living With Plants
From rooftop gardens to flora-laden balconies, flowers and plants bestow a warm grace to unconventional and indoor spaces. Private paradises nestled in the backyards of homes. Rooftops that act as community gardens. Edible patches of beauty hidden within city blocks. Evergreen shows the verdant aesthetic statement that allows city dwellers to bring nature back into the every day and quenches urban gardening desires. Living with plants is mutually beneficial; beyond the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, leaves, flowers, and stems bring a warm and individual charisma to any space. Throughout this engaging collection of projects, urban gardening is complimented by a softer side: balconies that add an extra relaxing touch to a morning cup of coffee, flowers that provide calming fragrances throughout the home, or romantic blooms that feed the soul rather than fill a plate. Evergreen also inspires those who already live in the midst of lush horticultural and sustainable oases. Straightforward plans and examples illustrate how to transform unused spaces, both indoors and out, into flourishing and functional patches. Sketched floorplans visually detail a myriad of projects including which plants thrive in dark living room corners or which foliage enjoys the damp environment of a bathroom. The profiles of both professional and hobbyist plant lovers provide an engaging guide to productively getting one’s hands dirty; herb gardens on fire escapes, greenhouses that double as living spaces, and community gardens atop roofs all awaken growing curiosities. From cactus farmers and florists to shop owners and activists, let Evergreen’s cast of characters guide you in making and maintaining a green utopia and in quenching gardening longings. Publisher: Gestalten Photo Courtesy of Gestalten
ShopDo you have a favorite design book that should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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