The Touch: Spaces Designed for the Senses

It is often said that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. The Touch, the new book from Kinfolk and Norm Architects published by gestalten, presents an alternative: that good design is not only visually appealing but engages all of the human senses. Over 288 pages, The Touch explores the building blocks of human-centric design and welcomes you into over 25 spaces that exemplify how haptic design elements can provide a richer quality of living. 

In addition to stunning photography and interviews with design industry leaders such as John Pawson, Juhani Pallasmaa and David Thulstrup, The Touch also details philosophical and art history references that reflect the tradition of design and color theory. For a deeper understanding of the concepts explored, an appendix profiles architects such as Lina Bo Bardi and Richard Neutra; heritage design pieces that helped influence this movement are also listed in the book. 

The Touch is the first book to emerge from the longstanding friendship and creative partnership between Kinfolk founder Nathan Williams and Jonas Bjerre Poulsen of Norm Architects—two leading design authorities who base their practices in Copenhagen, and have previously collaborated on projects including the design of The Kinfolk Gallery. 

The Touch is available for pre-order now. Copies will arrive internationally from October 10th, and from September 5th within Europe.