The 1990s Fashion Book is a tribute to the unique fashion of that time. Flashy, colourful, casual and sexy, these were the attributes that applied back then. Top models, hip-hoppers or pop groups like Take That and the Spice Girls exemplified a fashion style that triggered a boom all over the world. It is fair to say that, in retrospect, hardly any other decade has had such a formative effect on modern times as the 1990s. It is considered a decade of revolution, in which almost everything that had existed before changed at breakneck speed. This is when ground-breaking technologies such as the internet or nationwide mobile telephony came into being, without which our lives today would be unimaginable. Modern pop culture and current fashion design originate to a large extent from the cradle of the '90s. Sub-trends of the time such as grunge, hip-hop, minimalism, casual chic and deconstructivism are, in retrospect, what continues to have an impact today. Text in English and German.

Sculpting Light gathers the finest of modern lamp design in one volume. Whether chandeliers, pendants, or table lamps, whether sculptural or minimalist in design, they are exclusive decorative elements during the day and conjure up a very special atmosphere in the dark. Iconic examples are represented in the book as well as examples of bold experiments with forms and materials. Three types of light sources are presented: Ambient, Spotlight and Outdoor. Legendary designers reveal their sources of inspiration and personal favourites, and well-known manufacturers are presented in portraits.

Jeanne Lanvin was ahead of her time. The French fashion visionary and imaginative businesswoman from a poor background not only created the first designer fashion line for children - this was colourful and full of lightness, at a time when children were still dressed like adults - the first tailored men's collection and the first unisex eau de toilette, she also founded the longest-running fashion company in the world. This at times employed over 1000 people and included women's, children's and men's fashion, accessories, fragrances, furnishing textiles and decorative objects, and even its own paint factory. The self-taught Lanvin started as a hat maker with her own boutique and managed to become one of the greatest fashion designers of the 20th century with creative energy and inventiveness. She created art deco costumes for theatre and film productions, developed the legendary perfume Arpege and a special Lanvin blue, based on the shade Fra Angelico blue. This richly illustrated coffee table book is dedicated to the extraordinary life and work of this exceptional designer. Text in English and German.

Japandi is the newest and hottest trend in interiors: a harmonious combination of functionality, comfort, and the minimalist look that characterizes Scandinavian design, with the purest elegance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Japandi harmoniously blends Scandinavian hygge with wabi-sabi, a concept derived from Zen Buddhism that advocates peaceful sobriety and invites us to admire the beauty hidden in slight imperfections in nature. This first major survey of Japandi style will introduce the reader to the fundamentals, and to iconic objects that will transform an interior into a Japandi-inspired retreat. Chapter one of the book examines the converging principles that have contributed to the emergence of Japandi Style such as functionality, neutral colors, the importance of organic materials, and the thoughtful simplicity of shapes. Chapter two presents some of the most emblematic works of Japandi Style, and the design studios behind them. Chapter three gives examples of how to decorate and furnish rooms - the living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, winter garden, or home office - in Japandi Style.

Discover the hidden beauty of some 30 mountain cabins and their distinctive architecture in this captivating book. From cosy retreats nestled in the woods to modern structures perched on cliffsides, explore the unique and innovative designs that blend seamlessly into their rugged surroundings. Follow along as renowned architects share their visions and inspirations for creating mountain cabins that not only provide shelter but also enhance the natural beauty of the landscape. Stunning photographs showcase the details of each cabin, from the materials used to the panoramic views that greet visitors. Whether you're an architecture enthusiast or simply seeking inspiration for your next mountain retreat, this book has you covered. The selection includes cabins in both Europe & North America and has detailed information on the hiking trails located near each featured mountain cabin.

As many parents know, decorating and furnishing a child's room can be both a pleasure and a problem: you have somehow to find a balance between practicality, playfulness, comfort, safety, originality and making the most of the space available. Some of the world's best-known designers and design companies have risen to the challenge of creating furniture and accessories specifically for children. Rather than being merely scaled-down adult designs, the best designs for children should respond to their express needs: as well as being durable, safe and easy to clean, they should nurture a child's development and encourage creativity and the use of imagination. This stylish book presents some 250 designs for children, both iconic pieces of furniture, furnishings and toys and more recent creations based on the latest technological advances. From Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Aarnio and Nanna Ditzel through to Marcel Wanders and Javier Mariscal, and from Knoll and Artek to Alessi, MDF Italia and Magis, the biggest names in design have produced beds, tables, chairs, storage, rugs, cutlery and playthings that can be used from children's earliest days through to the start of adolescence. With a fresh, appealing layout, the book is divided into three main sections - furniture, accessories and toys - within which the designs are further arranged into such categories as cribs and cots, bookcases, mirrors, mobiles and rocking horses. Throughout, concise descriptions are accompanied by colourful and lively illustrations. Whether you are a style-conscious parent seeking ideas for a functional yet fun nursery, bedroom, playroom or study, a design professional or simply a fan of contemporary design, this is an enchanting

Architecture writer Agata Toromanoff introduces Belgium's 40 most influential contemporary architects and a selection of their most celebrated buildings in full colour photography. Belgian architects have been doing well for years and have international allure. This volume showcases works from the most famous Belgian architect-designers such as Vincent Van Duysen and EPRICUM to emerging architects such as Oyo Architects. Several pages are dedicated to each architect, outlining their influences and ideas and revealing the designs that have brought them fame. With this great reference work, you can discover the true extent of the creative achievements that lie within the careers of these architectural giants. Captivating biographies alongside breathtaking photos. A book that is both informative and beautiful. Text in English, Dutch and French.

In Curved: Bending Architecture, the author seeks out the most sensational contemporary buildings from around the world that incorporate wave-like, rounded forms into their design. Curved forms in architecture are found throughout history (like the Colosseum in Rome) but today's constructions explore the curve to its utmost fluid and freeform potential. From Zaha Hadid to Bosjes Chapel and from Brussels to China, this is a selection of amazing buildings by world class architects who think outside the box and have redefined the built world around us.

In Living on the Edge, the author goes in search of the most amazing and seemingly unfeasible buildings which are situated at the edge of deep chasms and on steep cliffs. These houses are the work of architects who approach complexity and difficult conditions with imagination and a talent for thinking outside of the box. This book shows how, with the help of innovative techniques, fear of heights-inducing homes have been built at the most challenging locations all over the world. Living on the Edge is a book for architecture lovers without fear of heights!

From luxury apartment towers to offices, places of worship to museums, brutalist architecture is having a 21st-century moment- and this book is here to explore the new interpretations of the style. Designed with the same bold aesthetic that informed Le Corbusier himself, this book features fifty recent examples of how architects around the world are embracing the principles of brutalism - simplicity, functionality, and rawness - reimagining them for today's standards and tastes. Drawing from the radical approach of the controversial architectural movement, today's Brutalist buildings are both sophisticated and elegant. As the hundreds of exterior and interior photos in this book reveal, architects have taken advantage of new technology to make concrete-based structures that are refined and alluring, as well as stylish and modish unlike their predecessors. Each chapter is dedicated to a different type of building and is introduced with a selection of iconic structures as an essential visual reference for Brutalism's new look. In some instances the overall strength of the aesthetic is paired with equally forceful materials such as glass, metal and brick; other examples show how classically brutalist lines are integrated into generously proportioned, light-filled spaces. An informative celebration of Brutalist architecture's legacy, this book is an exciting exploration of how today's most innovative architects are discovering the inherent beauty of powerful concrete volumes that was at the heart of Le Corbusier's original vision.

This book features the best and most spectacular conversions on the international architecture scene, accompanied by an insightful text and photographs. It includes over 60 projects around the world, including work by Hassell + OMA, David Chipperfield, Heatherwick Studios, Ney + Partners, Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid and many others. The author explores how these architects creatively approached the conversions of older buildings, ultimately finding a new functionality and life for them in the 21st century.

The 10 principles of good design set out by Dieter Rams in 1995 has influenced and inspired a new generation of designers in search of the perfect balance between practicality, simplicity and aesthetics. What does good design mean in the 21st century? How have the 10 principles influenced modern design? In this book, established and emerging designers tell us how they understand and put these rules into practice thereby contributing to the definition of what good design in the 21st century means, according to the criteria defined by Rams. The book showcases contemporary products from around the globe; a host of work by iconic designers, such as NENDO, NERI & HU, LARA BOHINC and so on.

Surrounded by a magical flair, villas have been the gleaming diamond of residential design since ancient times, characterized by generosity, representation and individuality. This classic form of habitation is a synonym for architectural distinctiveness with the nimbus of a refined way of living and sophisticated building culture – regardless of the style. For architects and interior designers, both the new construction and the conversion of a villa offer the exciting challenge of reinterpreting this building task with individual concepts. This volume presents the work of renowned architects as well as designs by young and up-and-coming design studios. Innovative thinking and creative refinement are required to realize the wishes and dreams of the client. Minimalist or opulent, traditional or extravagant, each villa offers a different design solution.

Natural, renewable, reusable, and aesthetically pleasing, wood is the consummate building material. Thanks to incredible advances in both application and sustainability, it is being used across the world to create new and surprising styles. This exhilarating global survey features exquisite photography that captures a wide range of twenty-first century construction in residential, public, cultural, educational, commercial, and entertainment-related spaces. From the Mount Fuji World Heritage Center in Shizuoka, Japan and the Eystur Town Hall in the Faroe Islands to the College of Forestry at Oregon State University the newly completed Coarvematta National Theater High School in Norway, each building is featured in double-page spreads with lush color photographs that allow readers to appreciate timber’s intrinsic qualities against a variety of backgrounds, scales, and typologies. Plans and building specifications are accompanied by the latest developments in research and design. Eco-friendly and robust, timber’s applications are almost unlimited, extending to the tallest skyscrapers, and to every livable corner of our planet. This volume offers encouraging proof that architects around the world are responding to a climate crisis in ways that not only preserve the earth, but also provide pleasing environments in which to live, work, and play.

Product and interior designer Nika Zupanc became a globally recognised name with the launch of the Lolita lamp. Nika Zupanc works as an independent designer who is constantly involved in fresh projects that grow out of distinctive interpretations of modern culture, contemporary design, and the available technological options. Born in Slovenia, the top designer pours poetic disruption into the world of contemporary design. Her products and interior design projects challenge the rational, traditional, sober, and utilitarian by giving voice to the spontaneous, eclectic, and intimate. Her style has been often described as punk elegance (Elle USA) and techno chic (BusinessWeek) and Nika Zupanc has been crowned as a real star by The Wall Street Journal.

"Neural networks do not understand what optical illusions are." - Technologyreview.com "Some pictures tell a thousand lies." - hplyrikz.com An optical illusion confuses the eye by pretending to be something it isn't. It both misleads and deceives the brain, which is trying to make sense of the information the eye is sending. This book presents a selection of brain-bending optical illusions featuring graphic art and photography by 60 artists, and includes an overview of the history of optical illusions in art.

Historically, women architects were disappointingly absent in the news and at awards ceremonies, but now they are spearheading some of the most exciting and important projects in every corner of the globe. These profiles of fifty female architects bring to light some of those projects and highlight pioneering women architects. Each architect is introduced in double-page spreads that include a brief biography, an overview of her philosophy and vision, and stunning photographs of her most significant works. Interviews with several of the architects provide a global perspective on how women are changing the face of the world-including feminist icon, philanthropist, and Nigerian "starchitect" Olajumoke Adenowo; Tatiana Bilbao, who is leading the way in sustainable Mexican architecture; Rossana Hu, who is fighting to preserve Chinese village culture in her rapidly urbanizing country; and Elizabeth Diller, who created the High Line, one of New York City's most beloved public spaces, and helped redesign the city's Museum of Modern Art. This volume offers indisputable and inspiring evidence that the architectural profession is no longer just a man's game.

This book tells the story of romantic companionship in one hundred works of art. Chronologically arranged and emotionally driven, this study of couples runs through many cultures, civilizations, and epochs. With examples from across the globe, it portrays iconic and lesser-known (yet fascinating) couples immortalized in the history of art. Whether affectionately embracing, engaged in flirtatious exchanges, seducing one another, or simply enjoying each other's company, readers are invited into their complex world of passion, lust, and love. This celebration of these romantic relationships is expressed through sculptures, paintings, photographs, tapestries, stained glass, and illustrations. Gathered together are representations of couples from ancient cultures (Amenophis IV and Nefertiti), the Middle Ages (Tristan and Isolde), and the Renaissance (Paolo and Francesca). The book also covers contemporary pairs such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono or Gilbert and George, and artists such as Manet, Gainsborough, Renoir, Metsys, Rembrandt, Rubens, Blake, Moore, and Munch, to name but a few. The artists offer us an extensive selection of couples: from history, folklore, and legend, to pairs of a purely fictional nature. This variety of artistic means and vision results in a charming and irresistible collection. Art historian Agata Toromanoff has written several books on design. After running a contemporary art gallery and participating in the launch of a fashion brand, she founded a book packaging agency, Fancy Books. She also curates photography shows across Europe.