News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Gothic architecture, nordic design, New Zealand design, and more. Have a browse of our latest selection of new architecture and design books:

Research & design : the architecture of variation / edited by Lars Spuybroek.
“A detailed examination of the hottest areas of architectural design today.Over the past decade, digital tools have radically transformed the design, practice, and construction of architecture. But behind the photorealistic renderings of projects that are never built is an entire body of design research that informs the latest innovations in design and construction. Edited by a pioneer of the digital revolution, this new book takes its cue from the practice of mass-customization, one of the most important design and retail trends of recent years, to consider how variations on the same design idea can be applied to a broad spectrum of architectural, engineering, and construction solutions.The book has three parts: a group of essays by leading thinkers on design; comparative studies on variation; and case studies. Full of ideas, examples, and current research, this exciting new publication is well-priced for students but sophisticated enough for professionals. 500 b&w Illustrations.” (Syndetics summary)

100 ideas that changed architecture.
“This is the first volume of a new series on ideas that have changed different areas of art. Weston (architecture, Cardiff Univ.) has written extensively about 20th-century architecture (e.g., Key Buildings of the Twentieth Century, 2d ed.). Featuring 100 concise essays with illustrations, Weston here covers the basic concepts, movements, and techniques of architecture. Neither theory-heavy nor comprehensive, the volume mentions mostly European buildings. While each essay stands on its own, many refer to others-for example, “Air Conditioning” offers a historical background for the technology, then explains its mixed impact on the design of large edifices. The main illustration is the skyline of Dubai seen from the desert. Verdict Somewhere between specialized dictionary and encyclopedia, this book is too large to be a field guide. Its glossary and quality illustrations make it a useful reference for art and architecture students.-David R. Conn, formerly with Surrey P.L., BC (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)
 
Story of gothic architecture.
“Focusing on the Gothic period, this book gives readers the tools they need to grasp the architectural language and building forms of this style. Part of a new, accessibly written, and generously illustrated series on architecture through the ages, this book features the Gothic period’s most important architects, buildings and cities, interior and exterior photographs, detailed images, and drawings and plans. The book offers a general introduction to the Gothic period and discusses the primary characteristics of the style, along with the commonly used techniques and materials. A hallmark of the medieval period, Gothic architecture originated in twelfth-century France and lasted until the sixteenth century. Its lofty style expressed spiritual ideals, yet it was also an incredibly innovative movement that introduced such iconic forms as the pointed arch, ribbed vault, and flying buttress. Some of the world’s most famous castles, universities and churches, including Westminster Abbey in London, were designed according to Gothic principles.” (quoted from Amazon.co.uk)

New Zealand by design : a history of New Zealand product design / Michael Smythe.“Product design is what we make of ourselves. It shapes and shows who we are. It is the manufactured manifestation of our culture. NEW ZEALAND BY DESIGN richly illustrates the way product design has been formed by the isolation of the country most recently inhabited by ‘tool making animals’. It will inform, entertain, intrigue and surprise readers interested in Kiwi heritage, creativity, culture, economics, politics, technology, industry and the deeply driven needs for human beings to design better lives.” (Back cover)

Katsura.“Beautifully illustrated with newly commissioned photographs as well as archival material, this volume on the Imperial Palace of Katsura provides a complete history of one of the most beloved architectural works of the 17th century that is a continued source of fascination to architects today.” – (adapted from Amazon.co.uk)

 Love Earth : 100 eco ideas + 100 eco designs / [edited and produced by Viction Workshop Ltd ; concepts & art direction by Victor Cheung]. Never has green design been more important. Unfortunately, good design has not always followed… Love Earth shows that green design and good design are not mutually exclusive. Collecting some of the best eco-friendly design ever assembled in one place, this book features a variety of design disciplines and media, from graphic and product design to campaigns and installations all while focusing on the innovation of a select group of designers and visionaries. In the process we are reminded of the very nature of the many problems facing us, from lack of environmental protection to depletion of natural resources (energy, food and materials). More than homage to our planet, Love Earth is an alarm call to our sensibilities: Wake Up!

Nordic interior design / Manuela Roth.
“In scarcely any other European region are techonological advances and contemporary interpretations of tradition in such harmony and so self-evident as in the Scandinavian countries, Europe’s northernmost region. Here, alongside Ikea’s mass-produced designs, a uniquely creative architecture and design scene has developed. The frequent utilization of natural and traditional materials allows design trends to emerge that inspire around the world. Furthermore, this close relationship to nature demands the respectful handling of natural resources. This volume reveals that it is not only the functionality of the represented interior spaces that is of foremost importance, but also the skilful handling of light, color and material. Around 50 recent examples from both the private and the public spheres are presented from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.” (Syndetics summary)

 Story of contemporary architecture.
“Focusing on contemporary architecture, this book gives readers the tools they need to grasp the architectural language and building forms of today’s architecture. Part of a new, accessibly written, and generously illustrated series on architecture through the ages, this book features contemporary architecture’s most important architects and buildings, interior and exterior photographs, detailed images, drawings and plans. From post- and neo-modernist to deconstructivist and contextualist, contemporary architecture embraces a wide range of approaches. It is unified by its accomplishment of technical challenges, innovative use of resources and space, and insistence on forward-looking design. Some of the most renowned contemporary architects exemplifying these principals are Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hahid, Rem Koolhaas, Norman Foster, and Frank Gehry.” (quoted from Amazon.co.uk)

Designers Doing it for the World

The Green Patriot Poster Book has sprung out of a desire to inspire and energize people to address our urgent ecological crisis.  This book is the result of a call out to designers to submit poster designs on this subject. Posters with the most votes have ended up in the book and some of them are simply stunning.

” Everyone has the opportunity to make a difference, everyday…We firmly believe that the climate crisis is solvable. It is an enormous challenge, and it will take commitment from all sectors of society, but it can be done. Green Patriot and its partners aim to inspire the resolve, solidarity and action necessary…” (Green Patriot Posters) 

Green patriot posters : graphics for a sustainable community / [edited by] Dmitri Siegel & Edward Morris.
Featuring designs by some of the most prominent graphic designers and artists at work in the world today, Green Patriot Posters has grown out of the successful website greenpatriotposters.org, which invites designers and artists to submit posters dealing with environmental issues.For more information and a look at the website follow this link http://www.greenpatriotposters.org/posters/

Highlighting  recent additions to our collection we have pulled out an eclectic range of books for this month’s blog. We touch on subjects ranging from the classical architectural survey book to the tensions of designing and building low cost but high quality houses. Also in this line up there are inspirational responses to the striving for harmony between dwelling and nature and also homes handcrafted by artists as extensions of their aesthetic sentiments

Frank O. Gehry : since 1997 / Germano Celant. ”Pushing the limits of architecture by not following the logic of normality and tradition, in order to instill it with a subjectivity far from the dominant stereotypes, has been, since the 1960s, the ideal goal of Frank O.Gehry.This book shows the continuous research in Gehry’s projects, from the innovative linguistic exception of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to today.A selection since 1997 of his most important projects, the majority of which have never been published before, carried out with the architect and winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, are presented here through hand drawn sketches, study diagrams, 3D elaborations, models, and photographs: from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles to AGO-Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, from the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris to the Beekman Street Housing, New York.”

A global history of architecture / Francis D.K. Ching, Mark Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakash.“This Second Edition surpasses the first with a lavish new design, illustrated throughout with drawings and photographs in full color, and even more maps and diagrams detailing global interconnections”–” (Syndetics summary)              “…the work offers a fresh and engaging outlook for an architectural history survey course. It affords the student an opportunity to view architecture differently and make connections that might not otherwise be apparent.” (American Reference Books Annual, 2008)                  “…it constitutes a wonderful and interesting read in its own right, and because of its exceptionally wide perspective, even architectural historians who do not teach general survey courses are likely to enjoy and appreciate it.” (Annali d’architecthura, 2008)

Architects’ sketchbooks / [edited by] Will Jones ; [foreword by Narinder Sagoo]. Drawing by hand is making a big comeback. Tired of ubiquitous slick computer renderings that look the same the world over, architects are rediscovering the importance of this very basic, immediate medium: seeing the world and recasting it through their imagination and visual and manual skill. The resurgence of drawing is not merely a retrograde trend, but an affirmation of the continued importance of sketching as part of the design process. Architects’ Sketchbooks is the first survey to present pages from the private sketchbooks of a wide international spectrum of architects, who use drawing to express their spatial ideas while revealing their unique thought processes. Sketches from some 85 architects and studios are featured, including Will Alsop, Architects Atelier Ryo Abe, Shigeru Ban, Elemental, Thom Faulders, Norman Foster, Carlos Jiménez, Alessandro Mendini and Office dA. Their works range from simple line drawings and clear perspectives to more abstract, artistic compositions, from quick freehand to measured mapping, from spontaneous squiggles on scrap paper to careful drawings on art paper. Accompanying texts by editor Will Jones include comments by the architects and profile how they use sketches to help evolve their initial inspirations and concepts into more developed ideas, revealing the artistry behind the built world. (Amazon.com Summary)

Low price houses / Chris van Uffelen.
“What is needed to create a home and how much does it cost to do it in style? This volume pursues the answer to this question by presenting around 60 projects from around the globe. Unconventional building methods and forms are combined to create unusual structures that suit a limited budget and are of good value, compared with other similarly-sized structures in the same country. Next to starter homes and minimum houses, emergency accommodation represents a very particular group of buildings, which ? quickly and inexpensively erected ? bear distinct similarities to and can even offer numerous intelligent ideas for ordinary house construction.” (Syndetics summary)

Artists’ handmade houses / text by Michael Gotkin ; photography by Don Freeman.
“”Artists’ Handmade Houses” is a collection of 13 homes handcrafted by the finest artists and craftsmen in America, including George Nakashima, Henry Varnum Poor, Sam Maloof, Wharton Esherick, and Russel Wright. Built over the course of 75 years, from the late-19th century to the mid-20th century, these homes were each designed and built by the artists as an expression of their aesthetic sentiments, and in many cases, as extensions of their artwork. As such, these private domains are utterly unique and deeply imbued with each artist’s singular vision and talent. A few of the homes have been awarded National Historic Landmark status, and several are open to the public, while still others have sadly fallen into disrepair or are now in the hands of new owners. In a few cases, the photographs in this book represent the last record of the house as created by its artist resident.” (Syndetics summary)
 
New natural home / Dominic Bradbury ; photographs by Richard Powers.
“Inspirational houses from around the world: how architects and home owners can achieve harmony between dwellings and nature.” (Syndetics summary)

We thought we’d do a round-up of new design books at the library. Below you’ll find books about making wearable art from found objects, a ‘history of uncommissioned urban art’ (titled Trespass – we’re especially excited about this one!), T-shirt design, and photos from fashion’s inner sanctum. Have a look.

Trespass : a history of uncommissioned urban art / by Carlo McCormick in collaboration with Wooster Collective’s Marc & Sara Schiller ; additional texts by Banksy, Anne Pasternak, and J. Tony Serra ; edited by Ethel Seno.
“Made in collaboration with featured artists, “Trespass” examines the rise and global reach of graffiti and urban art, tracing key figures, events, and movements of self-expression in the city’s social space, and the history of urban reclamation, protest, and illicit performance.” (Syndetics summary)

Victore, or, Who died and made you boss? / [James Victore] ; introduction by Michael Beirut.
“In his first book, iconoclastic designer James Victore gives fans a survey of his work and his no-holds-barred take on the practice, business, and teaching of graphic design today. Known for making vivid, memorable, and often controversial work, Victore has sought comrades, not clients–brave, smart collaborators who have encouraged him to reinterpret old design solutions and to pressure viewers to think about issues in a new way. Leading readers through this collection of “greatest hits,” Victore tells the stories behind his inspirations, his process, and the lessons learned. The result is an inspiring, funny, and honest book, which showcases a body of work that has been plastered on the streets of New York, hung at MoMA, and featured in magazines all over the world.” (Syndetics summary) 

Postcards from the edge of the catwalk / Iain R. Webb.
“At every fashion event there is the invited audience, and then there are the privileged few, whose access transcends the velvet ropes and vip rooms. For longer than I can remember, Iain R Webb was one of the few who was invited everywhere and had the presence of mind to take pictures of what was happening. There is no better guide to fashion’s inner sanctum. This book is the next best thing to actually being there.” Paula Reed, style director, Grazia “Iain R Webb’s book is an incredibly natural vision of the impossibly unnatural world of fashion. A truly important vision from the inside of the most creative of industries. It certainly is an amazing testament to some of the most important fashion moments from the last 25 years.” Nick Knight, photographer (Amao)

Fabulous jewelry from found objects : creative projects, simple techniques / Marthe Le Van.
“Using an array of jewelry-making techniques, you can turn ordinary materials into spectacular wearable art. Fashion scraps of vinyl records into funky earrings that have rock ‘n’ roll flair, make a stunning necklace with tiny pencil stubs, or incorporate a lovely river stone as the focal point of a handsome ring-there are many varied designs to choose from. Creating found object jewelry is imaginative, fascinating, and satisfying. Book jacket.” (Syndetics summary)

Product design in the sustainable era / Dalcacio Reis ; ed., Julius Wiedemann.
“The brightest, most innovative designs in environmentally sustainable household projects, made with reused materials, designed for energy efficiency and waste reduction are gathered in this catalog, with entries for each piece presented in English, German, and French. A sampling of the entries are a waterless clothes-washing couch that cleans your clothes while you recline, paper totes that biodegrade in 60 days, an energy-conserving microwave-specific teapot, a planter with its own light source, energy-efficient appliances, and a hammock made of irregular or discarded seatbelts. The volume is beautifully designed and presented, with multiple color images of each work and 2-part entries that present the design’s genesis and concept, followed by a description of its materials and use. The volume concludes with a listing of all the designers. Not indexed. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

Ghost : RIS Crew / [written by Ket].
“GHOST was one of the last kings of the New York City train writing era. He experimented with traditional letter styles until developing his own loose, funky and psychedelic letters that sprouted from his twisted drug seeped brain and his passion for bombing.  With frequent trips to Europe his style has inspired the new wave of Scandinavian-loose-bombing-style pieces. Today, he exhibits his artwork in galleries worldwide and does collaborations with urban culture brands. Despite this Ghost remains an enigma, he isnt social, and he does not want to be your friend. But his artwork like his bombing is something fantastic that deserves attention, for this he is overdue.” (Syndetics summary)

Torso : T-shirt graphics exposed / [edited by Daniel Eckler]
“With their catchy messages and bold artwork, today’s t-shirts are a reflection of and petri dish for current styles in graphic design, illustration, and fashion. Show me your t-shirts and I ll tell you who you are. Today’s t-shirts are projection screens for styles, thoughts, and attitudes; they are wearable calling cards. Wearers and designers of t-shirts define themselves through the featured visual codes and messages and are constantly trying to outdo each other when it comes to who has the most original ideas. Torso presents t-shirts whose motifs not only function as a means of personal communication, but also reflect and increasingly influence the complete spectrum of modern graphic design.”(Syndetics summary)

I’ve spent a lot of time in the garden this summer, and I’ve had a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes.  This month I’ve been thinking about how I can take my love of craft outdoors.  I started with bunting flags, inspired by Danielle Proud’s, House Proud.

Hanging in the porch, they have livened up the entrance to our house and were very quick and easy to make.  I used bias binding rather then string and spaced my flags to fit the space where I wanted to hang them.

I’ve come across a number of other titles that have great craft ideas for the garden.  Have a look at the wire birds and butterfly I made from Jennifer Swift’s Creative Bloom: projects and inspiration with fabric and wire.

I used soft wire and a pair of pliers to shape the birds and butterfly to the template provided .  They are now at home sitting in the tree in my front garden.

Other titles with craft ideas for the garden:

The craft & art of bamboo: 30 eco-friendly projects to make for home & garden by Carol Stangler.

Garden craft for kids: 50 great reasons to get your hands dirty by Diane Rhoades.

Have you ever heard of Kawaii? It means ‘cute’ in Japanese and has become entirely part of Japanese popular culture. The little book of Kawaii shows the reader how this trend started as a sub-culture and impacted the lives of so many it has become mainstream. The new age of feminine drawing explains how drawing, a medium once shunned, is making a comeback and is the main way some artists express themselves today. Beyond the street is a book about street art and the one hundred artists who champion it. You can find out more about these books and other new titles available in our selection by checking this month’s Graphic Arts Recent Picks.

Is your life devoted to design? Are you always looking for new ideas and inspiration to create beautiful things? If you are, you’ll be delighted by our latest items on the subject. We have a book dealing with Chinese weaving and embroidery patterns and another about Italian furniture, both with beautiful pictures. Our selection also includes books about using colours appropriately when knitting, the universal principles of design and tips & tricks to make your design Zen. And if your are also interested in interior design for restaurants, check out this month’s Design Recent Picks.

Our Design books’ selection this month include an Italian magazine called Abitare, a book about home design entitled The Art of Living, and a publication about visual arts: More Things like This. If you are interested in patterns and surface design, you can borrow The Pattern Sourcebook. If you are a fan of plastic jewelry, you can peruse over 500 different designs. And if you are interested by Jean Despres and chairs, check out this month’s Design Recent Picks.

Our new Design books will keep you occupied this month and give you a buzz of inspiration and creativity! We have available two British magazines: Computer Arts Project and Computers Arts magazines. Also in our selection: a book dealing with Charley Harper (the unconventional American illustrator), graffiti in New York, and a guide about modern wallpaper. If you want to know what other books are in store, check out this month’s Design Recent Picks.

Do you have a wide imagination and dream about castles in the sky, nebulous galaxies and awesome spaceships? You can give your dreams shape with two books that feature in our selection: Mega Manga and Sci-Fi art. We also have a number of items dedicated to sustainable designs and green architecture. You can learn about 100 new eco designs and where to find them, Green design and Designing sustainable packaging. And if you are interested in American illustration and graphics, check out this month’s Graphic design and art Recent Picks.