Sonja Sekula (1918-63) was born and educated in Lucerne, but emigrated to the United States in 1936 together with her family. In 1941, she began studying art at the Arts Students League in New York and made the acquaintance of André Breton and his friends among the surrealists. Her automatic paintings and texts soon captured the interest of Peggy Guggenheim and Marcel Duchamp, and in 1943 she was invited to show her work at Guggenheim’s Art of This Century Gallery. In the late 1940s Betty Parsons Gallery featured Sekula’s paintings in a number of group and solo exhibitions. Mental health problems dogged her throughout her life and forced her to return to Switzerland, where she committed suicide in 1963.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of Sekula’s art in context of the work of her friends and fellow artists from the period. Richly illustrated, it offers a chance to rediscover an immensely talented artist who has been unjustly neglected.

The Image Archive of the main library at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH-Bibliothek) is home to a vast collection of photographs. It includes material collected by professors and other staff at the ETH, images created and collected by institutes and chairs within the ETH, but also the entire archives of companies or other institutions, such as Switzerland s legendary former national airline Swissair (1931 – 2001), or private collections bequeathed to ETH-Bibliothek. The aim of the new book series Pictorial Worlds. Photographs from the ETH-Bibliothek’s Image Archive is to build a bridge between analytical treatment of historical image sources and the interest in individual photographs for any possible reason. One of the collections held at the Image Archive has been put together by Swiss entrepreneur Adolf Feller (1879 – 1931) and his daughter Elisabeth (1910 – 1973). Unique in size, scope and period covered, it comprises 54,000 postcards from 1889 – 1980. It documents comprehensively what can be called the ‘Golden Age’ of picture postcards before World War I, with its enormous diversity of motifs, radical changes of style in design and of the era when postcards had their heyday as a communication medium. The collection’s main focus is on images of individual sites, places and landscapes in 140 countries. Around 15,000 motifs are from Switzerland. The period best represented in the collection is from 1893 – 1930. The World in Pocket-size Format is a documentation of this magnificent collection. The book is also an illustrated history of this means of communication that has had its time of utmost importance in human relationships. Text in English and German.

Carleton Varney turns his decorating vision towards the water in his most recent tome, Decorating on the Waterfront.
Here, he gathers stunning images of new design projects in this collection of inspirational stories that use motifs and colours from years by the shore. Growing up on the Massachusetts coast influenced his penchant for bright cheerful colour schemes and warm polished interiors that exude luxury living today. Varney continues to live near the ocean and decorates for clients on the waterfront from Palm Beach, Florida to the shores of Lake Huron, Michigan. This book brings into focus Varney’s career-long journey to bring elements and inspirations from the world around us to life at home.

What Remains is the photographic research undertaken by Alberto Gandolfo in January 2017, which takes its cue from news stories from the most recent Italian past, focusing on family members and people close to the victims of tragic episodes, engaged in long battles in pursuit of the truth. We know the news stories, we remember how the faces of the tragically disappeared people were, but we know little or nothing about those who remain, about those people whom, in addition to experiencing great pain resulting from the loss of a loved one, inherit battles and take charge in seeking justice. Making their faces visible is the means to maintain high attention on the evolution of specific and very particular events, bearers of anonymous and silent revolutions, in which we are all necessarily involved. Text in English, French and Italian.

Using Caravaggio’s The Cardsharps as the focus, we may understand how the three figures depicted are set in contrast: by social class, age and appearance. These differences are underpinned by the clothing that they wear, and on closer examination, it is apparent that the fabrics described in paint are directly comparable to those of the historic collections of Novara. In their insightful and detailed analysis, the authors of this volume present a comprehensive overview of the development of fashion and fabrics, from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century, when Italy’s textile industry was at its peak. Text in English and Italian.

This volume celebrates Luigi Pericle, painter, but also thinker, literate, scholar of theosophy and esoteric doctrines, revealing his extraordinary history, made of profound research and great encounters. From well-known collector Peter G. Staechelin to Sir Herbert Read, trustee of the Tate Gallery; from the museologist Hans Hess, curator of the York Art Gallery, to the famous German artist and director Hans Richter – everyone was attracted by his charisma, his versatile personality, his ‘clairvoyant’ art. With Luigi Pericle, the history of informal art of the second post-war period unexpectedly opens to philosophy, to alternative spirituality, to the mysteries of the cosmos, against the background of the space age. Essays by: Marco Pasi, Luca Bochicchio, Chiara Gatti, Michele Tavola, Andrea Biasca-Caroni, Valeria Malossa, and Giovanni Cavallo. Text in English and Italian.

Since easel painting began, the figure of Eve has been found in the work of painters from Masaccio to Rubens, taking in Michelangelo, Bosch and Brueghel along the way. In the 12th century, the image of the first woman emerged as being the common theme which brought painters and sculptors together around issues relating to the body. The first woman, or the only woman in an artist’s world, Eve is the intrinsic representation of the nude. So many artists, from Gauguin with his exotic Eve or Bonnard with Marthe-Eve, succumbed to this portrayal of nudity as either shameful or as an ideal, inherently primitive. The catalogue presents nearly 70 works from Symbolists, Nabis, Fauvists, Cubists and Surrealists: Gauguin, Bonnard, Rodin, Sérusier, Denis, Redon, Matisse, Dufy, Picasso, Douanier Rousseau, Arp, Giacometti and Chagall. It endeavours to trace the story of Eve, the source for the figurative body, at greater length and in more depth, through essays by Jean Louis Schefer and Véronique Serrano, as well as focus pieces by Gilles Genty, Laurence Madeline, Aline Magnien and Elisabeth Pacoud-Rème. Roberto Mangú’s contemporary view talks of the need that present-day painting, and art in general, has for the presence of Eve, in terms of her unchanging qualities.

“The book is absolutely wonderful. I have re-read your poetry several times and it is very thought-provoking. You have managed to capture some very complex ideas in a beautiful economy of words and I love the clear, ‘pared-down quality of your work. It works so well in dialogue with the sculpture, which I think is stunning. It is incredibly ‘human’ but at the same time conveys things that are timeless. Really beautiful, they are the kind of images which stay in your mind long after you’ve seen them. What a talented artist (and poet)!!” – Dr. Claire Nicholson. English Literature, University of Cambridge Katrin Dekoninck is an all-round artist, showing mankind in raw honesty and lonely separation. Though the focus of this book is on her life-sized sculptures in clay, she is also skilled in drawing, painting and traditional (non-computer generated) animation. Her technical strength makes her images breathe. Serenely and with simplicity, she shapes her universe of searching people. Themes such as ‘identity’ and ‘aging’ link her oeuvre to the poetry of Steven Van Der Heyden. With words, he tries to find a way to make connections, to start a dialogue. His poems were written in interaction with Katrin’s sculptures. Together they make an organic unity of words and images. A fascinating encounter artfully captured through the lens of photographer Stef De Belder. Text in English and Dutch.

Angelo Turconi has spent fifty years roaming the Democratic Republic of Congo. This passionate, curious and compassionate photographer continues to this day to document the daily life of the Congolese, with a particular focus on their cultural heritage and artisanal and artistic traditions. His photographs capture the power of ancestral ceremonies and the joy of popular celebrations, presided over by the traditional chiefs who still occupy a prestigious position. They reveal the social structure of this central African community by observing the work of artisans, farmers, conveyors of goods (riding their impressive cargo bikes) and market traders. More than just a witness, Angelo Turconi calls himself an emissary of memory. It is the subject of memory that seems to haunt the pages of this book. By drawing on the power of customs that have not yet been dulled by globalisation, his photographs take us on a journey to a world apart: one that is recognisably contemporary and yet connected to references and traditions that seem to come from outside of our world. Text in English and French.

Young Belgian architects are showing a renewed approach to architecture. While the older generation grew up in a booming economy in which there was time and money to endlessly study details, proportions and create minimalist designs, the younger generation are increasingly aware of functionality. Lower budgets have forced them to approach projects from a fresh perspective. Among this new wave of young architects are Tom Verschueren and David Driesen, whose office dmvA is situated in Mechelen, Belgium. Focusing on achieving durability, they use materials creatively and in context to allow for minimising on financial budgets while maximising content. dmvA is not focused on one particular style. As with any creative process they allow the constructions to communicate the story, by considering a range of elements both naturally and artificially fabricated. They are motivated to move beyond the confines of design theory to become more intuitive; they focus on the internal, on emotional involvement, the link between art and sex in order to achieve complex, meaningful work.

François Hannes is passionate and driven by beauty. He loves the good life. He thrives on the tranquillity of a landscape and nature, but finds the dynamics of the urban environment equally inspiring. Uncompromising in his designs, he aims for extremes and these are a feature of his highly individual and original work. His designs are calm and thoughtful and the different elements seem to naturally co-exist. They are exciting and bold, creating inspiring interiors with unique style and flair. Hannes’s style of working and design is increasingly recognised and respected both nationally and internationally. His creativity, focus, drive and architectural insight make him a first-class designer. Sennah Studio designs and creates interiors where living well and finding enjoyment in personalised comfort are paramount. Text in English and Dutch.

Once upon a time there was… a castle. This is how the intriguing fairy tale, created by the British theatre company and artists’ collective WildWorks on the theme of Gaasbeek Castle and its highly unusual occupants, begins. But is it really a fairy tale? WildWorks is no traditional theatre company: its members focus on a place and the people who “live” there. They came to Gaasbeek, got a feel for the atmosphere, had a good look around, spoke with different people and delved into the archives. Afterwards, they incorporated all these impressions into scenic installations, the aim of which is to reveal the soul of the castle. With sights, smells, sounds, objects and performers they immerse visitors in a world halfway between history and fiction. Other dimensions are added to this world through the music of Jeroen D’hoe and costumes designed by Tim Van Steenbergen. This book provides an in-depth look at the special approach used by WildWorks and, through dozens of photographs, magnificently illustrates their visually stunning work in the castle. Text in English and Dutch.

The impressive Château de Chenonceau is the jewel of the French Loire Valley. The fairytale type castle has had a particularly rich history and has always been inhabited and curated by intelligent, strong-willed women such as Catherine Briçonnet, Diane de Potiers, Catherine de Medici and Louise de Lorraine – hence its nickname ‘Ladies’ Castle’. Through the ages the spaces have been imprinted with the souls of those who built, inhabited and loved the castle. Every part of Chenonceau’s interior and exterior – not in the least the castle’s impressive gardens – exudes peace, harmony and elegance. Since 2015 Jean-Francois Boucher has been appointed floral scenographer of the estate. Together with his small team he creates new floral compositions for the castle’s rooms every week. These ‘staged’ flowers emphasise the history of the estate just like any other piece of art or furniture does. Their designs blend in perfectly with the interiors and are in beautiful harmony with the room’s colour codes, perfumes and functions. Sometimes they even wink at poetry, art or the historical events that took place in these spaces. The Bouquets of Chenonceau is a magnificent coffee table book that will please both lovers of history and fans of floral design. Text in English and French.

Edward van Vliet is an international design company specialising in conceptual interior and product design for the corporate sector. The company has a strong focus on hospitality, urban residential, and office sectors. With proven expertise in design and consumer behaviour, Edward van Vliet throws down the gauntlet to the status quo, bringing a fresh mindset to the process of destination design. Specialising in designing premium tailored experiences and products for leading brands, Edward van Vliet delivers unique concepts worldwide which are consistent with the location, culture, and experience desired.

Foreword in English, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese.

This monograph showcases the trajectory of an empire built by the sheer dint of its driving success. Archgroup has gained international recognition as a comprehensive service provider in the architectural segment, with special focus being on its prolific and vital role dominating the skyline of the UAE’s world-class destination, Dubai. The firm’s work has now become synonymous with epithets such as ‘tallest’, ‘highest’ and ‘longest’ across the Gulf region.

Inside, the richly illustrated pages chronicle close to 100 projects by Archgroup, both built and in progress. Each work provides insight into the values, design-thinking and process-orientated approach that is the firm’s signature, making this volume a valuable resource that goes beyond the study of the built form to talk about the firm’s inimitable ethos that guides its design candour.

In the twelve years since Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders was formed, the firm has created a significant body of wooden buildings that are rooted in the seaside vernacular of the fabled region of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. As a design/build firm led by architects, Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders is able to reach a level of aesthetic control not normally associated with light construction today. Each project is approached as an individual work of art and craft specifically associated with its site and client. The eclectic, evolutionary use of architectural history infuses the firm’s designs with fresh interpretations of architectural tradition, subtle playfulness, and wit. The compositional and planning strategies ground the work in the vernacular tradition that evolved into the shingle style; the ‘architecture of the American summer’ to use the words of historian Vincent Scully. The experience of the firm’s principal designers, John and Sharon DaSilva, includes several years at Venturi Rauch and Scott Brown and Cesar Pelli and Associates. The book features over twenty houses and a handful of small institutional buildings in photographs by some of the world’s best architectural photographers and drawings by the firm. Includes essay by noted architecture writer Michael J. Crosbie.

The KingsHaven Design team is skilled at transforming timeworn interiors and exteriors into breathtaking spaces for inspired living by sharing with their clients the spectacular work of artisans and artworks from around the world, and by developing strong fair-trade relationships with artists that benefit them, their families, and their communities. Be it working with a stonemason to salvage the granite façade of a historic estate, collaborating with blacksmiths on a lighting fixture or custom piece of furniture, meeting with artisans who create gorgeous handcrafted baskets in the designs of their tribal ancestors, or searching hidden markets in Europe and South America for art pottery, antique mirrors, prints, and textiles, Lauren Wylonis and the studio’s objective is to reclaim, restore, and revitalise their client’s residential interiors and exteriors. In many senses of clever design, they create spaces that reflect a sharp and sophisticated twenty-first-century aesthetic for today’s energetic lifestyles, yet never lose sight of the past. Rejuvenation of character, charm and architectural significance combined with the creation of cutting-edge luxury and style are the hallmarks of the design studio’s ethos, which also can be seen in the handcrafted light fixtures, furnishings, and accessories found at Wylonis’s irresistible retail showroom in Paoli, PA, just outside Philadelphia. The pages of this book are resplendent with luscious photography and insightful texts that together showcase Wylonis’s unique practice and meticulous attention to detail in designing lighting, furniture, and home décor that takes each space to a higher level in art, architecture, beauty, and function. The useful tips for use in a new home or renovation are diverse and range from mindful design to achieving authenticity in an older home renovation. A must-have book for a connoisseur of interiors and design, or anyone looking to build or renovate a home or space.

House design in Britain and Ireland is guided by climate, landscape and local resources just as much as the centuries-old traditions that have influenced architectural shape and form. Today’s best-known and emerging architects interpret their briefs with imaginative flair: they are transforming houses for the next generation of families by blending their renewed vigour for a local aesthetic with new materials and trends. Many of the new houses featured in British + Irish Modern reflect the architect’s focus on redefining local expectations for form by beautifully juxtaposing the traditional with contemporary structures, thus forging a new vernacular. Architects across this region are wholeheartedly seeking opportunities to re-use existing structures in myriad ways, resulting in surprising and remarkably unique renditions of old houses and buildings made new. Shown in stunning, full-colour photographic detail are hundreds of pages of new and renovated houses, cottages and even converted barns nestled in misty rural valleys, including new and retrofitted modern inner-city terraces and townhouses that make the best use of available space. Houses are selected for levels of comfort, use of materials, and dramatic expression of traditional and contemporary architecture, as well as houses that capitalise on longer and warmer summers imposed by changing weather patterns in this corner of the globe. Houses are designed with indoor spaces and intimate courtyards for play and recreation that draw in light and shield from the extreme weather elements yet maintain an eye on sustainability and affordability. British + Irish Modern reveals a rich array of works that showcase how architecture in Britain and Ireland today has much to teach the world about creative, high-calibre design, innovative application of materials, and cautious but clever reliance on resources.

China Construction Design International (CCDI) is one of Asia’s premier architectural firms. It was ranked as the number one private architectural firm in China in 2004. In 2005 it became the first firm from China to receive an award from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).

Among CCDI’s completed projects are office towers, sports arenas, residential complexes and cultural centres, as well as many large-scale planning projects. All projects are based on the firm’s core principles of integrated design, which focus on utilising the resources of a city, technology, environment, and local public culture in order to design building solutions to meet the manifold needs of society.

This is a unique opportunity to review award-winning architectural design in twenty-first-century China.

Centerbrook was conceived in 1975 as a community of architects working together to advance American place-making and the craft of building. Recipients of the AIA Firm Award, they are entering their fifth decade of designing buildings across the country. This stunning new monograph, edited by John Dixon, FAIA, illustrates in full-colour the wide range of projects completed throughout the last decade. In typical fashion of their sophisticated style and exercise in clarity, the in-depth texts and richly illustrated images communicate an indomitable focus on the architectural context of their ideas that are accessible to all. There is visual poetry in the work to be sure, but the book provides critical, concise and insightful descriptions of where the design ideas germinate. The reader will be engaged and informed by the way the shapes, materials, and details of these buildings are configured, and have a clear understanding of the works. The book’s title, Centerbrook 4, represents their fourth book on architecture, four decades of practice, and the four current partners – Jeff Riley, Chad Floyd, Mark Simon, Jim Childress – who are each recognised as AIA Fellows, in design. This wonderful new volume also showcases a range of projects currently in development by the firm’s next generation of designers.

What sort of home would you create for yourself if you could build whatever you wanted – if money, as they say, were no object? Over the course of his firm’s 30-year history, American architect Mark P. Finlay has been in the rare, privileged position of helping clients answer that very question. Designing dream homes for some of America’s wealthiest and most sophisticated families – people not only of great means but of tremendous taste – Finlay creates properties that manage to find intimacy in even the grandest of spaces and grandeur in their intimate moments. Even in his luxurious residences, a certain subtle elegance and graceful simplicity reign. Finlay works in the United States’ most storied pastoral locations – coastal New England, Virginia horse country, the Rocky Mountains, the South Carolina lowlands – making homes that lay lightly on the land no matter their size. Whether historic restorations or ground-up constructions, his attention to detail and focus on fine craftsmanship make the buildings look and feel as if they’ve lived on their sites for centuries.

An absolute must for readers designing their own dream homes – and anyone who has ever indulged in the guilty pleasure of trying to get a glimpse of a hidden estate by peering through tall privets or over picket fences – this monograph grants exclusive access past the stone walls and beyond the guardhouses of affluent communities across the country. It invites readers into the manicured gardens and perfectly proportioned spaces of his clients’ houses to tell the stories of these properties, illustrating Finlay’s particular passion for creating residences that not only telegraph a distinct sense of place but also convey a unique appreciation of, and understanding for, their owners’ aspirations.