Braun Publishing AG

New exciting and surprising design approaches how great living quality can be wonderfully made possible in small spaces. 

A tiny house is much more than just a very small residence. It is a living concept that reflects the challenges of the future – from the fundamental question of how to finance the dream of home ownership to more complex considerations, such as whether doing without material luxury means more freedom, to social issues such as how we deal with our planet's resources. 

This volume presents remarkable examples of masterfully implemented solutions for tiny houses. The designs of these micro-wonders show that even – or especially – well thought-out room concepts can be realized in the smallest of spaces, without sacrificing excellent design. Intelligent floor plans, multifunctional rooms and ingenious nesting of furnishing components create not only compact living spaces, but also unique habitats.

Exclusive living retreats set against the backdrop of majestic peaks, steep slopes and picturesque valleys

The chalet is a building style that enjoys lasting popularity all over the world. Dating back to the herdsman’s hut in the Alpine region, it became a longed-for destination and the most preferred holiday domicile in the 19th century with the emerging fascination with the Alps. Today, architects and designers are primarily inspired by the constantly redefined interplay of sublime nature, traditional architecture, regional building typologies, individual design, and modern formal language that pushes them to reach magnificent creative peaks.

The projects selected for this volume are diverse and remarkably multifaceted: From a traditional construction with a flat gable roof, wide roof overhang, and robust timber façade, to contemporary, thoroughly idiosyncratic interpretations with clear lines, creative choice of materials, and fine details. However, the artful staging of the imposing mountain world in the interior design plays a decisive role among all presented chalets.

The City, the Night, the Art

Inspired by Brassaï’s legendary 1930s photobook about Paris, Suisse de Nuit is a visual homage to nocturnal Switzerland. The volume brings together urban night photographs from Bern, revealing the city in that mysterious light visible only after sunset. As in the masterpiece Paris de Nuit, the focus is not on documentary description but on the poetic condensation of atmosphere, shadow, silence, and glow. 

Familiar streets appear unfamiliar, stations turn into stages, and darkness itself becomes the true protagonist of the images. Marc Trost follows in the footsteps of a historical way of seeing and translates it into a contemporary visual language using today’s technology. A recurring motif of his nocturnal wanderings is graffiti—particularly light graffiti—which only becomes visible through long-exposure photography and adds a new dimension to this richly layered urban portrait.

Transforming the idea of the Rubik's Cube into a captivating design tool that sparks creativity and sharpens the mind, creating a new visual composition with every turn.

Reframing design for a changing world: A comprehensive introduction – clear, reflective, and contemporary.

A visual survey of the overlooked aesthetics of urban design, bringing together drain cover imprints from cities worldwide.

For over 25 years, artist Alex Fischer has been exploring the hidden beauty beneath our feet through his Drainspotting project. To date, he has created over 500 frottages of drain covers from 135 cities spanning 35 countries and 6 continents. 

Each imprint transforms a utilitarian object into art, exposing the industrial and cultural character of its origin and, collectively, reflecting a rich spectrum of cultures and eras. 

The imperfections of the rubbings invite imagination and subjectivity, contrasting with the rigid precision of the originals. Alex‘s work celebrates diversity, discovery, and the overlooked artistry of urban design.

“I cannot look at Fischer’s work without being reminded of the film The Third Man by Carol Reed… The manhole cover was the door to a double life.“

The artist behind the physics professor 

Art & Science sums up and offers an insight into Jürg Nänni's unique body of work, in which art and science are intertwined in a compelling and distinctive way. His work has evolved over time, ranging from early Cartesian images in primary colours, to chaotic pictorial tapestries, to the vibrating waves of the moiré works, and finally to the late oeuvre with its free forms and liberated use of colour. Order and chance, reason and intuition, structure and emotion exist in remarkable harmony. 

This comprehensive selection of his works is connected with texts on perception, mathematics and colour theory. In this way, Nänni’s art becomes accessible as a space for thought, as well as being visible. Furthermore, this publication pays homage to the beauty of clarity and to art as a form of knowledge.

The enduring appeal of the oldest man-made building material and its role in shaping expressive, sustainable architecture.

Architecture using brick lends the built environment a strong and timeless presence worldwide. As a natural and durable building material, it has stood for centuries as a symbol of permanence, quality, and architectural identity. Its warm appearance, robustness, and versatility make it a preferred material for modern design. 

Colors, surface textures, and joint patterns create expressive façades and precise architectural detailing. Leveraging digital design software and robotic technologies, architects today are transforming brick into perforated, pixelated, undulating, and other experimental configurations. This book showcases some of the most exceptional examples of this building material, demonstrating how tradition and innovation can come together to create sustainable and captivating buildings.

Where people meet: A global journey to today’s cafés demonstrate how interior design, spatial concepts, and atmosphere shape places of social exchange and everyday pleasure.

In the past, they were coffee houses; today, they are coffee shops – places where coffee is enjoyed have always been spaces of exchange, encounter, and everyday culture. New cafés continue to emerge around the world, distinguished by individual design, atmospheric intensity, and cultural diversity. The style experience is increasingly coming to the fore and has become a decisive factor in choosing a café.

Spatial concepts, color palettes, and fitting as well as counters, tables, and seating shape the identity of these spaces and respond sensitively to their urban contexts. Varied spatial arrangements create settings for relaxation, social interaction, and retreat. This book presents a curated selection of contemporary cafés from across the globe and demonstrates how thoughtful design creates inviting environments centered on atmosphere and a sense of community.

Reshaping and reinterpreting the city: responsible, collaborative, and far-reaching.

60 new projects in and from Berlin, compiled by an independent panel of experts and members of the public: a compendium of best practice in the building culture of our time, showcasing the enormous range of tasks involved. How are Berlin’s architects transforming existing buildings in an ecologically and economically responsible manner? How does this strengthen the community? Are we on the way to a new aesthetic and moving towards closer cooperation? 

Renowned authors add trends, stories and background information: How can we activate people and their knowledge? What infrastructure does Berlin need? Where does potential lie dormant? How can we make the city more resilient? This volume shows how Berlin is responding to the questions of our time – leading to a new building culture that extends far beyond the German capital.

New approaches to the function design's role to brand success

In his new book, the award-winning author examines the value of brands and the essential role of brand design. He provides a scientifically sound understanding of the underlying methods, modes of action, processes and objectives. His approach represents a shift in perspective: rather thancharging a brand with exclusive meanings, but the primary goal should be to reach as many people as possible and increase their willingness to purchase the brand's product.

Good design significantly contributes to the success of a brand by making it perceptible, recognizable and memorable, and thereby facilitating the purchasing process. The question of impact is, to a large extent, a question of form – the physical reality of the design and how it is communicated. Christoph Zielke presents the overall context in a compact way and provides well-founded insights for developing effective design strategies that sustainably increase brand value.

An exploration of the shift towards work environments that foster creativity, well-being and meaningful growth – reimagining the future of work as a place where people really want to be.

Although more and more tasks are being taken over by machines and artificial intelligence, humans remain the central element to the working world. For knowledge workers in particular, the choice of workplace will increasingly depend on where they can best utilize their skills, find meaning in their work, and experience a positive working environment. Where Future Grows explores this transformation of work and examines how future workplaces should be designed. An environment that considers both functional and aesthetic aspects will become increasingly important. 

The authors present a vision of a working world where the boundary between life and work dissolves, allowing human potential to be fully realized. Through detailed analyses of future work environments and a series of interviews, best-practice examples illustrate how workplaces should be designed to foster both professional and personal growth.

Practical insights and clear principles: offering a fresh perspective on designing for a future that is constantly changing

Artificial intelligence, automation and ever new data-driven tools are reshaping the creative world, and the roles of design and communication are evolving rapidly. The true innovation in this context is to create authenticity that endures beyond fleeting technological shifts. The Generative Mind encourages to rise above short-lived trends and view design as something alive and constantly evolving – in a world that refuses to stand still. 

The author combines systems thinking, generative design and a human-centered perspective to offer a new approach to working with technology to generate ideas, design and tell stories. In eight clear principles, he demonstrates how design can be understood as a process that challenges boundaries to transcend the visible and influence perception: a book for all those who understand creativity as a journey and not just a destination and aspire to actively shape the future of design.

Redefining healthcare design: cutting-edge contemporary hospital architecture for the future of healing and recovery

In recent years, the vital role of hospitals and healthcare buildings has become vividly apparent. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has reshaped the demands placed on these facilities worldwide, highlighting the importance of forward-thinking design to better prepare for crises. This volume showcases exceptional contemporary hospital projects and explores the innovative concepts that have been developed and implemented to make healthcare facilities more resilient, efficient, and welcoming for patients, doctors, and nursing staff. Adapting architecture to the specific needs of everyone involved is now more crucial than ever.

Key solutions include modular structures, designated infection control areas, and flexible care units. Additionally, the book examines how thoughtfully designed waiting areas, patient rooms, and treatment spaces can enhance patient well-being while simultaneously improving the safety and working environments of medical staff. Despite their diversity, all the new constructions and conversions featured in this book share a commitment to high-quality design that puts people and their needs at the center.

Extraordinary vacation stays where architecture meets escape offering design, inspiration, and style all over the world

The combination of architecture and travel culture is a promising one – it offers relaxation, enjoyment, inspiration and stylish temporary living. This book brings together exceptional holiday accommodations from around the globe that undoubtely meet – and perhaps even exceed – the highest standards of traveling architects. It is an indispensable resource for architecture and travel enthusiasts seeking unique accommodations. 

Each of these exceptional lodgings is distinguished by amazing stylistic quality, personal touches, originality, and a passion for detail. Whether minimalist, experimental, or opulent; iconic new builds or creative conversions; houseboats, tree houses, luxury lofts, glamping, or bed and breakfasts – each one offers an experience for all the senses. Sibylle Kramer inspires to travel to places that promise far more than just a change of scenery: they offer an experience for all the senses.

Insightful texts on book design that explore the visual, tactile, and cultural aspects of books through the perspective of graphic designers

Fifty readings on book design, authored by Siri Lee Lindskrog and Amanda-Li Kollberg of Formal Settings, unfold across the pages of this volume. Drawn from a curated selection of titles in the private collection of the Hopscotch Reading Room – a conceptual bookshop and event space in Berlin – each text focuses on a single book, examining its visual and tactile qualities, from materials and layout to binding and typography. “Our aim is to understand the role and potential of books through a design lens, mapping what they communicate through their physical form.” 

The authors guide readers through the intricacies of book design, showing how form can become message – how a book can serve as a vessel, a statement, and an object of beauty in its own right. They explore and examine each book as a design object, situating it within the cultural movements, political climates, and economic conditions in which it was produced. This publication reveals how book design can foster shared languages and cultures, create space for the exchange and exploration of ideas, and underscore the social and cultural dimensions of design itself. 

With an afterword by designer, author, and teacher Prem Krishnamurthy, providing further context and insight into the project.

Discovering the elegance of contemporary country house architecture - where tradition meets modern design in stunning rural settings

Country houses have always served as retreats for withdrawing, deceleration, and contemplation. The rural environment provides a refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, seamlessly embedded in nature. Today, there is a growing trend to reinterpret country living and merge it with the demands of the 21st century – creating a symbiosis of comfort, environmental awareness, and aesthetic restraint. The focus is on harmoniously integrating architecture into the natural surroundings while emphasizing a strong connection to the landscape. 

Rural residences are increasingly designed with multifunctional spaces that can be flexibly adapted to evolving living conditions and changing needs – for instance, home office solutions or separate units for multi-generational households. The featured designs, which include new constructions as well as repurposed agricultural buildings such as stables and barns, demonstrate the diversity of contemporary rural architecture while preserving the identity of the countryside.

To Make Better Use of Typography

Typography is an essential part of visual communication design. The rapid changes brought about by digitalization also have a major impact on the type design process. Users need a solid knowledge base in order to deal with the seemingly unmanageable abundance of exciting and new fonts and to use them sensibly. 

A precise and inspiring guide for all those who want to understand and use typography in a focused and effective way, this volume provides both creative inspiration and a practical understanding. This is made possible in particular by a clear structural concept for classification into categories and subcategories, followed by a detailed look at the features. The authors present a selection of more than one hundred relevant typefaces, supplemented by historical background, user-relevant information and explanations of their special formal characteristics to make it easier to recognize the underlying formal principles.

The Creative Journey Behind the Design of Paris 2024

Each Olympic Games venue boasts a unique and distinctive identity, blending local and national character with international trends and the Olympic spirit. The design for Paris 2024 stands out with its clean, symbolic aesthetic, deeply rooted in the city's cultural and historical heritage. Hosting competitions at iconic locations was a key element in the success of this approach. 

Markus Osterwalder has meticulously curated examples from fields such as graphic design, typography, and product design to showcase the design identity of these extraordinary Games in their entirety. Through interviews with numerous contributors, the passionate Swiss collector vividly documents the creative process behind the Olympic image – from the initial proposal to its final realization. This book is a must-read for design enthusiasts, Olympic historians, and anyone fascinated by the interplay of sport, culture, and creativity.

Under the Spell of the Emerald Isle: Where Myths are Alive

The spirit of Ireland unfolds in this volume through its landscapes and legends.  From towering cliffs and gentle dunes to green meadows, mysterious bogs, and surreal karst formations, the authors guide us through a world forged by fire, water, and time.

Renowned photographer Max Schmid captures this unique enchantment in striking, atmospheric images, while writer Gabrielle Alioth vividly brings Ireland’s ancient myths and legends to life.  retells the country's sagas and myths with a touch of humor and a twinkle in her eye. Together, they paint a richly layered portrait of a land whose soul lies embedded in the forces of nature and the art of storytelling.

New Architectureal Impulses Towards a New Culture of Responsibility 

What kind of architecture does Berlin stand for? Architects take a stand. With selected projects that demonstrate the enormous diversity of today's building culture. From a repurposed asphalt square to a stylish penthouse, from a community café to an eco-living quarter, and from a cleverly revitalized listed building to a new research center. If there is one common denominator, it is this: Berlin cultivates a building culture of “we”. 

Obliging was yesterday, now the focus lies on responsibility: towards each other, the environment and our cities. Insightful texts supplement the survey with trends, tasks and background information - from the integration of refugees to the plight of Germany's bridges, and from the use of water to improve the microclimate to the question: How does all that change the way architects work?

Nordic Design as a Timeless Source of Inspiration

Beyond Walls: The Subtle Elegance of Japanese Interiors

Harmonizing spaces, inspiring realities: A reference, overview and source of inspiration for today's interior design, from private homes to stores, spas, restaurants, offices and more.

Interior design today is versatile, ever-evolving, and open to experimentation and spontaneity. From materials and textures to light and color, shapes and lines, furniture and objects, and even stylistic references: This compendium provides an inspiring overview of the latest trends, techniques, and creative possibilities in interior design. It explores what can be achieved between floor and ceiling, within four walls – or more.

Showcasing the best of today’s design culture at the intersection of global trends, local traditions, and functional demands, this volume presents a carefully curated range of both private and public interior projects. Despite their diversity, all featured spaces share a common focus on authenticity, attention to detail, and a desire for personal expression.

Discovering how prefab and modular innovation are redefining the way we build and live.

Translating contemporary pedagogical concepts  into compelling and very diverse architectural solutions.

Today, schools are far more than just places of learning. They have evolved into living spaces for children and adolescents, offering extensive social functions and extracurricular activities. This shift toward diverse educational and societal roles has fundamentally transformed the architecture of school buildings and grounds. 

Spaces for Learning presents international examples that show how functionality, sustainability, and compelling design can create innovative educational environments. Featuring projects from elementary to secondary schools, the book reveals how architecture and pedagogy can merge in contemporary and high-quality ways. The selection provides an inspiring look into the new worlds of open, diverse, and future-oriented learning.

Visits to indigenous ethnic groups around the world whose habitats are threatened by external influences and bringing images of them and their habitat together in installations to show that everything and everyone is connected in our age of climate change. 

Climate change threatens not only nature, ecosystems and biodiversity, but above all people themselves. To make this visible, Barbara Dombrowski has spent ten years visiting climate-relevant sites on all five inhabited continents and immersing herself in the lives of indigenous peoples whose existence is threatened: the Inuit of East Greenland, the Achuar and Shuar in the Amazon rainforest, Mongolian nomads in the Gobi desert, the Maasai of Tanzania, and the Micronesian population of the island state of Kiribati in the fragile world of the South Pacific. 

On life-size textile banners, she presented the people of one region in the habitat of another of the ethnic groups she visited. Through this juxtaposition, she powerfully demonstrates the need to build global bridges and to become aware of a shared responsibility. The portraits themselves, the photographic documentation of the symbolic installations, and the very personal descriptions of her visits illustrate and address the climate crisis on multiple levels in a haunting way.

A comprehensive and highly visual overview, from the cultural and theoretical background to the amazing variety and everything one needs to know about the creative potential of emojis and how graphic designers can capitalize on this exciting communication trend. 

A means of expression for billions of people, emojis have established their function in our everyday lives. Increasingly complex in quality and quantity, these written language companions have long since transcended the realm of written communication to become a pop culture phenomenon of their own. This handbook is a manual and source of inspiration for anyone seeking to understand and use the full potential of emojis in visual communication. 

It combines cultural, historical, and theoretical backgrounds with practical application examples. Selected works from recent years demonstrate the formal diversity of emojis and offer inspiration for one’s own work. Specific cases are used to show how emojis can be used in very different ways in the implementation of design tasks and creative projects to thus become part of visual identities.

Most likely the most personal and comprehensive book about the life’s work of Armin Hofmann.

Armin Hofmann has influenced generations of graphic designers around the world with his work and approaches. Far removed from doctrinaire views, he exemplified a professional attitude that was characterized by the idea of reduction, a pragmatic outlook, and a deep sense of responsibility. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of his creative work, his professional ethics, and the principles he developed and applied in his teaching. 

It is structured along three levels: the in-depth examination of Hofmann's work, his biography, and original texts on various aspects of his work. Guest contributions from former students and later renowned graphic designers and typographers, as well as fellow colleagues, paint a very personal picture and illustrate the worldwide influence of his work based on their own pieces. This book was compiled almost exclusively from original sources, in particular from the extensive private archive, enabling a very authentic, profound, and multifaceted immersion into the legacy of Armin Hofmann.

Reflections and practical action for the rapidly evolving discipline of visual communication.

Communication design is undergoing radical changes: an overabundant flood of information, fake news, bots, AI, social media, crude graphic tools on the Internet as well as the speed of processes and increasing pressure to be efficient, coupled with increased competition in the design sector and sometimes precarious working conditions. All of these factors put creatives in the field under pressure, leaving them little time to reflect on their own work. This handbook responds to the current situation by shedding new light on the societal relevance of the discipline in the context of professional practice.

The authors use their extensive expertise, practical work examples, and actionable suggestions to identify what really matters in visual communication. They describe the far-reaching interconnectedness of design with a wide range of issues and deal intensively with the current challenges. The overarching leitmotif is that communication design is always the result of the attitude of its protagonists – this compendium makes clear how their actions influence communication, what values are conveyed, and what our visual world looks like as a result.

New architectural impulses: recent buildings in the German capital by local architects as well as international projects by architects based in Berlin, complemented by essays on topics that are currently being discussed in the world of architecture. 

60 projects demonstrate how the new paradigm of conversion is a real turning point, rather than a short-lived trend. Examples include an apartment conversion that allows a family to remain in their home, triple-star cuisine in exceptional surroundings, smart updates for old schools, transformations, repair measures and all manner of add-ons, as well as a roadmap for the climate transition of an entire city: conceived in Berlin for places all around the world. 

This volume is a call for a diverse, multi-layered, socially orientated and therefore sustainable planning culture that involves and includes everyone. Eight essays discuss various phenomena: whether women live differently, the story behind Berlin’s pink piping, how dinosaurs change a location, what the architectural world is fighting for by the River Spree, where Berliners sit down, and how the city will affect even remote rural areas.

Vertical elegance: Exploring the cutting-edge world of today's apartment building design.

An inspiring overview of contemporary homes set against the backdrop of high mountains, steep hillsides and picturesque valleys with a focus on architecture and interior design. 

From the majestic peaks of the Alps to the green slopes of the Andes and the rugged heights of the Rocky Mountains: the selected residential buildings at such dizzying heights are a reminder that architecture not only creates spaces, but also shapes the relationship between human beings and their environment. They are creative showpieces that blend harmoniously and respectfully into the breathtaking nature of the mountain landscapes. 

Hillside locations present very special challenges and at the same time offer endless design possibilities. On the one hand, they open up spectacular views, while on the other they make innovative solutions for the room program possible. All the oases of modern living featured in this book demonstrate unique ways how esthetics, functionality, sustainability and adaptation to the topography can be felicitously combined.

The "Where Architects Stay"-Series heads towards the Sea: Stylish vacation accommodations at the coasts of Western Europe where architects would stay themselves when traveling.

Individuals with a passion for design may have high expectations of their vacation accommodations. The new volume is dedicated to the Atlantic coast of the western part of the European continent with its different landscapes and lively cities. Just as diverse as this region are the carefully selected accommodations presented here, imaginatively designed jewels, far from mass tourism.

This architecture and travel guide invites readers to discover enchanting vacation homes, whose architecture and interior design make each stay perfect: Ranging from lonely lighthouses to urban lofts, from sustainable tree houses to minimalist villas or historic structures. Each property is distinguished by the highest design quality with a personal touch, originality, and much attention to detail.

This compendium presents an international showcase of contemporary landscape design between global trends, local traditions, climatic conditions, functional demands, new technologies, economic circumstances, and individual styles: landscape architecture of today heading for tomorrow.

A reference work and source of inspiration, this compendium provides an overview of the entire spectrum of this discipline based on projects around the world. Their common denominator is the design of ecologically and socially intact living space.

Whether around, besides, on top of, or even in buildings, in populated areas or in the countryside, landscape architecture develops and designs outdoor spaces for humans as independent creations. It mediates between nature and architecture and connects the grown and the planned habitat, balancing function and aesthetics. Against the backdrop of climate change, the central task today is the conservation of natural resources and the creation of sustainable, high-quality green spaces.

In the face of climate change, architecture must transcend traditional boundaries to address pressing environmental and social challenges. 

This volume explores the transformative potential of a visionary approach that seamlessly integrates plants and greenery into architectural design. By redefining buildings as living systems, these concepts enhance air quality, provide acoustic insulation, optimize energy efficiency, and create thriving oases of biodiversity.

The print product performance in German-speaking Europe: a a selection of exceptional results

This publication reviews, documents and comments on the current state-of-the-art of print products: From an anniversary publication to a catalog, from an annual report to a magazine, from a label to corporate type design – and half a dozen other categories.

Print products can not only be visually experienced, they also decisively contribute to brand development and dialog in the digital age, as durable marketing tools, always visible, always loud and indispensable. Effective print design can awaken a range of completely different emotions through its haptic characteristics and tangibility. Convincing print products must be appealing and impressive just by touch. Particular emphasis is placed on a holistic view of all disciplines. This encompasses all steps from planning to processing that are involved in the conception, design and realization of a successful print project.

A beautiful range of new residential architecture at exotic places inspired by tropical vibes.

Tropical residential architecture has evolved from geographically specific building forms to a contemporary source of inspiration for residential design all over the world. It is distinguished by the use of natural materials and open floor plans that create wonderful spaces in which one can naturally find shelter from the sun and rain, but above all feel comfortable. This volume presents the most innovative implemented projects of this genre of recent years.

Whether a romantic beach house, an elegant loft apartment, a rustic house in the jungle, or an exclusive pool villa, each selected dwelling is a unique treasure, designed by renowned architects and innovative newcomers. They skillfully demonstrate how lush plants seem to grow through the house like a green carpet, how light-colored, flowing fabrics can create a flexible and soft room enclosure, or how plenty of sunlight can flood transparent rooms and bright colors complement the selected materials. A central role is almost always given to the dialogue between inside and outside, between the house and the surrounding nature, which becomes an integral part of the design concepts.

All about very special animal species in a unique world region: Simultaneous visual experience and exciting research on butterflies and moths based on over 1,000 carefully evaluated and analyzed photos.

Madagascar is regarded as a jewel of nature, where due to its isolated location away from all continents, a very unique flora and fauna could develop with numerous species that are found nowhere else in the world. This includes an amazing and unique variety of butterflies – and especially moths, which are systematically presented here for the first time in detail. All displayed animals were photographed alive, as they were captured at night by Armin Dett with the help of a light trap and then released.
In cooperation with leading collections and scientists they were identified and assigned, their genus families characterized and described. The book not only makes you marvel at nature's amazing creativeness through the stunning photos, but also provides an identification guide and is a valuable research tool. Furthermore, it is an important record of the current time, as climate change and habitat destruction due to clearing and population growth threaten this natural paradise in the Indian Ocean.

A meditative journey of kyoto's zen gardens through all four seasons by photos and poems

A Zen garden is the symbiotic fusion of Japanese philosophy and the art of garden design, a spiritual place of meditation and inner reflection that teaches mindfulness and brings joy to the eyes. If you want to get to know this garden culture, you won't find as many wonderful gems in such a small area anywhere in the world as in Kyoto.

Thomas Kierok photographed these unique gardens in all four seasons. Through encounters with important Zen garden designers, he was able to develop his own photographic perspective inspired by the spirit of Zen. Poems by world-renowned Zen poets Dogen, Basho and Ryokan complement the visual masterpieces. The book is a a meditative journey, a sanctuary for the soul, a retreat between two covers whenever the need for calm, inspiration and grounding arises.

Climate change and environmental pollution, rising energy prices and dwindling resources pose major challenges for the world of construction today. If sustainability is to become a global reality, it must also be designed and expressed with trend-setting aesthetics: The carefully selected sample projects of contemporary architecture show how this can be implemented in compelling ways.

They offer an informative overview of current, very different concepts, approaches and techniques. Sustainable building also means that ecological parameters involve not only all aspects of the actual building, but also the construction process and the afterlife in the sense of deconstruction and conversion, all of which must be considered by the planner as early as the design process. It is becoming increasingly important not to focus on short-term goals, but above all, on long-term ones.

About how images can be made and staged, how head and hand can come together in the process and how pictures can be used to tell a story

The author's approach is not so much a step-by-step instruction with template-like schemes, instead it focuses on the intrinsic logic of things, their connections and relations, and the link between presentation and design. She invites readers to question the world with alert eyes, to discard conventions and to open up to other ways of thinking and new ways of seeing and approaching things: to dare to be playful and ready for any kind of experiment, to ultimately throw all rules overboard in order to find their very own artistic individuality.
How pictures can be used to tell a story, how are they made, and how the head and the hand collaborate in the creative process? Just as each image is unique, so are the individual intentions of the artists. The technical craftsmanship of HOW is as much a decisive criterion for the quality of an image as its contextual WHAT. In addition to all depiction methods, rules of design, and phenomena of perception, quite a few additional factors are important in making convincingly narrated images.

An authoritative guidebook in chronological order whereby the buildings can be understood in their respective architectural-historical context.

Berlin is not just the capital city and largest metropolis in Germany. It is also characterised by its most varying architectural landscape. The present architecture guide, now in its latest expanded and updated version, creates comprehensive access to this amazing spectrum.

Enchanted and Intriguing Universes, Truths and Realities

The works published in this volume by Jonas C. Haefeli, who calls himself a "quarterly painter", appear surrealistic at first glance, However, on closer inspection they rather reflect the spirit of Fantastic Realism. The roots of this style lie in German and Dutch Mannerism, in Art Nouveau, in New Objectivity, and also in Surrealism. Haefeli's paintings are characterized by – only supposedly realistic – fantasy spaces whose access must first be deciphered.

Each painting is juxtaposed with a page of text with poetic, (pseudo-)scientific, ironically pointed, or also decidedly funny-absurd picture lines, quotations, newspaper clippings and miniature stories. In this way, the enigmatic works of art are explained, supplemented or even exaggerated caricature-style by yet another dimension.

New architectural impulses from Berlin

Whether new buildings, additions, or restructuring – construction never stops in Berlin, demonstrating the diverse way in which building culture contributes to society’s development. This volume presents examples of these activities: current projects in Berlin and around the world, conceived and designed by architects, urban planners, interior designers and landscape architects of Berlin. More than ever before, the main focus lies on the sustainable preservation of existing structures.

Renowned authors present essays highlighting the value of the constructed environment we already have. They demonstrate how even buildings earmarked for demolition can become exciting homes, how clever ideas can breathe new life into apparently outdated old buildings, and how transport and open spaces can be integrated into increasingly constricted urban settings.

The impressive wealth of Scandinavian interiors: locally inspired and international successful

With their original approach to space, light, well-thought simplicity and functionality, Nordic interior designers and architects have set the trends for comfortable, modern lifestyle for decades. This book takes you to some of the most recent and outstanding interiors across Scandinavia – both in cities and in the countryside – and introduces you to private houses that are inspired by the best of local traditions, yet with a twist of contemporary aesthetics reflecting in the palette of soft colours, a strong connection to the surrounding nature, and the use of sustainable materials. All these elements transform the interiors into charming retreats where one can enjoy cosy minimalism at its best.

Amazing discoveries under your feet: The eye-catching design of gully covers

You’ll find them all across the world, from Albania, Argentina and Australia to the United States, the Vatican and Vietnam. And yet maybe you’ve never even noticed them, hiding in plain sight beneath your feet. Manhole covers
have been part of our world for thousands of years – intensely practical,
functional objects, but at the same time featuring an infinite variety of designs,
from austere and minimalist to playful and illustrative. Using a uniform
black-and-white graphic style to precisely recreate manhole covers from 80 countries, this volume provides an insight into the fascinating design language
of these unique objects – and what they reveal about the societies that
produce them.

With poster of the most extraordinary manhole covers!

“Being a graphic designer and type aficionado, I couldn’t help but notice the
enormous variety of manhole cover designs. I wanted to bring that amazing
variety to life in a new way.”
Björn Altmann

A journey to the world’s most beautiful houses at the shore

This volume is a survey to rediscover and redefine life by the sea. The selected projects show the planning and construction possibilities in dealing with the special conditions of such locations. It presents creative designs and spatial concepts from all over the world of dreamlike, relaxed, and enjoyable living between water, air and earth.
Living by the sea, surrounded by dunes, cliffs or wide beaches is a life in sync with nature, immersed in nature. Naturally, this preferred location near the water also leaves its imprint on the buildings there. Beach houses have to offer protection against the wind and waves, but above all, as the supreme manifestation of longing turned into architecture, they must give room for experiencing nature.

Exciting and surprising approaches of how living spaces reduced to a minimum can enhance the quality of life to a maximum

Most wonderful diversity: How global architecture of today heads for tomorrow

The most diverse projects from temporary exhibition halls to mega airports are compiled and vividly presented in concise texts, accompanied by images and drawings. Contemporary Architecture. Masterpieces around the World is published as a new reference work that reflects the exciting diversity and remarkable achievements of current architecture worldwide. A particular focus is once again on presenting previously unknown masterpieces alongside the well-known highlights of today's world of construction.

Instead of the horizontal panning movement used to create a classic panoramic image, the author experiments with curves as well as vertical or parallel shifting. A fixed camera recording of turning objects leads to surprising results and a whole new dimension of imaging. The results simultaneously show multiple sides and angles of an object, offering a fascinatingly deconstructed perception. Artifacts and objects unravel into new sculptures, at the same time familiar and irritatingly different – stylized and estheticized by rotography.

The perspective dissolves as photographic boundaries are exceeded to a new extreme. This illustrated book takes the reader through this creative experiment with the iPhone into a new dimension of panorama photography and invites to explore one’s own creative ventures, and to immerse contemplatively in the world of rotography.

Elaborating the diversity of wood architecture today for private homes

More and more architects and builders are exploring the possibilities of a material for the construction of houses that offers unparalleled major advantages regarding design, function and ecology. Wood is a renewable building resource that impresses with its natural qualities as well as its astonishing versatility, especially given a number of new techniques, processing options, and innovations. Moreover, wooden architecture represents a promising opportunity to work towards a more CO2-neutral future.

Frank Lloyd Wright said about the world’s oldest building material that it is "universally beautiful" and "the most human of all materials", facts that are highlighted in this volume focusing on residences. The presented projects demonstrate the sheer endless possibilities of timber for architecture and interior design. From an esthetic point of view, they also show completely new ways for, but not limited to, the design of individual homes.

Contemporary architecture in the German capital by local architects as well as projects elsewhere by architects based in Berlin, complemented by essays on current topics giving impulses for the global architectural discourse.

Today, building culture also means resource-saving conversion culture. Reconsidering buildings and neighborhoods that are worth preserving, using them better, converting and extending them cleverly, is both a tradition and a trend in Berlin: a trend with a great future, as the 60 exciting projects conceived in Berlin demonstrate.

Cafés, coffeehouses, and coffee shops around the world supply us with energy and lift our spirits every day. They are spaces for exchange and interaction, for letting the imagination flow and even escaping reality, and, of course, for writing, reading and thinking – a second home for many of us.

This book presents international projects with a focus on the amazing versatility of this eco-hero in architecture and interior design

Architecture involving and consisting of bamboo as a building material has developed into one of the most fascinating and dynamic areas of global building culture. The giant grass is found on all continents and, as the fastest-growing plant species, is in basically infinite supply. The unique material properties combining extreme hardness with low weight, strong compressive and tensile strength, and elasticity significantly contribute to this trend.

Bend & Build shows the amazing versatility of this eco-hero of architecture and interior design, whose applications have become significantly wider and more diversified This collection includes some of the finest, most creative, and cutting-edge bamboo projects of recent years. The range extends from traditional building styles and their modern interpretation to the innovative combination of bamboo with other materials.

What are the underlying reasons for the success or failure of a design manifesto? How can cultural exchange bring new value to the field of graphic design? At the end of the day is the contemporary scene still truly innovative or simply basking in past glories?

Over the course of a residency at a London gallery, Swiss designer Demian Conrad invited an array of graphic designers and typographers past and present to share the anecdotes, stories and scandals that have marked the international design scene over the course of the last century. The result is Who the Hell is Müller-Brockmann?, an examination of the ways in which the Swiss Style influenced British graphic design and vice versa.

This celebration of the ongoing dialogue and collaboration that has existed between the design traditions of these two countries also lays bare the divergences and conflicts that lie beneath the surface, and examines how such things as a typeface or a layout grid can come to have such an enduring impact on a global community and elicit such strong emotions. Each participant was asked to bring a design-related artefact that represents their personal connection with the Swiss Style, all of which are presented in this volume. These images and the dialogues they generate create a bridge between the typographic traditions and practices of Britain and Switzerland.

Contributors: Bruno Maag, Fraser Muggeridge, Freda Sack, Holger Jacobs, Michele Jannuzzi, Richard Hollis, Robin Kinross Sara De Bondt

For centuries, the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) has been the archetype of the majestic bird of prey. The awe-inspiring birds have fascinated people of all cultures around the world with their proud appearance, the impressive wingspan of six to eight feet, amazing flying skills and much more. They are omnipresent in numerous fairy tales, myths, symbols, coats of arms, and state insignia.

The book is a stunning homage in black and white to the sovereign of the skies. The reader is presented with and captivated by well-founded background knowledge, remarkable personal anecdotes and reflections, as well as fairy tales, poems, quotes and short stories.

The fact that Heinz M. Gut only takes pictures of wild animals in their natural environment without any intervention lends a special quality to the book. The range of images extends from almost anatomical studies of the golden eagle, via pictures in which light reflections on the plumage play a central role, to poetic-looking images depicting the bird of prey in its spectacular rough and rugged habitat.

From the analysis of the formal components of objects, via an overview of the possibilities of developing and optimizing the creative process, to the development of one's own evaluation catalog.
What forms are there in general?
What shape-giving processes are available?
What are the evaluation criteria for existing objects and those yet to be developed?
These fundamental questions, which every creative professional poses again and again, are addressed, systematically explained, and answered in this volume. The publication also provides you with a set of basic tools for better communication when discussing and explaining your work and your projects.
The first part is a comprehensive compilation that identifies and describes all forms that exist for objects. The middle section offers a qualitative overview of the possibilities with which form elements, forms, or objects can be developed and optimized. In the third section the methodology for the development of your own evaluation system is presented.
The objective of this work is to offer an orientation on the basics of design, combining the aspects of shape, craft, content, and method into a holistic understanding of the art.

Architects and interior designers need to engage accordingly with the individual character of their clients; it is their job to understand how their clients want to live and to translate this into their spatial concepts. This book celebrates life in all its diversity through creatively designed living spaces. With carefully selected interiors from around the world, this volume is also a cultural history of contemporary lifestyle.

    •    The Starlake Villa in Hanoi, Vietnam (Le House)
    •    Penthouse L in Vienna, Austria (destilat Design Studio)
    •    The Wonderland Park Residence in Laurel Canyon, USA (Assembledge+)
    •    Reflections of the Past in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Firm architects)
    •    CR Apartment in Lisbong, Portugal (ESQVTA)
    •    Mo-tel House in London, UK (Office S&M)

Stylish vacation accommodations where architects would stay themselves.

Fighters made of bronze, gigantic wall reliefs depicting heroic cosmonauts, and socialist pomp: If you immerse yourself today into the subway systems in countries that formerly belonged to the USSR and of Eastern Europe, time seems to stand still. The stations are chronicles of the history and art of a long vanished world power, conceived as prestige projects, thousands of kilometers apart, and created under different conditions in different times. In this volume, photographer Frank Herfort presents around 20 metro systems of the Soviet era from Moscow to Bucharest, from Baku to Tbilisi and Kiev.

Thanks to the sharpness of his eyes, the images bring amazing details to light. His photographs come together to form a holistic and comprehensive representation of socialist art that at the same time relates strongly to the modern residents of the cities, skillfully snatching elusive but precious moments from the whirlpool of everyday life.

Is there a bigger challenge for a designer than the creation of an identity for the Olympic Games? Each venue must have its own unique image that merges national spirit and international trends with the Olympic values of friendship, solidarity, and fairness. This title provides an in-depth overview of the history of the Games, centering visual design aspects for the first time: logos, mascots, medals, pictograms, uniforms, tickets, luggage tags, posters, souvenirs, and much more.

Markus Osterwalder presents approximately 6,000 illustrations on over 1,500 pages in two volumes, coming in a slipcase, with fifty-eight chapters that detail astonishing facts and stories about who created what and how. Three foldout sheets give an overview on key design topics from the birth of the Modern Games to the present. For each of the Games, the passionate Swiss collector has chosen comprehensive examples from all desigin fields that enable viewers and readers to fully grasp the design identity of the respective Games. In addition, this title also highlights extraordinarily exciting developments in the field of corporate identity and brand design.

Markus Osterwalder, Secretary General of the International Society of Olympic Historians, has one of the biggest Olympic ollections worldwide and is a renowned expert in the field. A graphic designer, Osterwalder has been devoted to the visual history of the Olympic Games for almost thirty years. He started to collect everything from and about the Olympic Games when he attended his first Games in Lillehammer 1994. Recently, he curated the exhibition “Olympic Langauage—Exploring the Look of the Games“ at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Almost a quarter of a century after the end of National Socialism in Germany, Otl Aicher was commissioned to design the "cheerful" Olympic Games in Munich 1972. He systematically and scientifically approached this task and liberated visual communication from national pathos by reducing it to the essential in the Bauhaus sense: the use. The manual, completed in 1967, contains a flexible system of colors, forms, and fonts on twenty-two fold-out sheets that enabled Aicher's team and partners to "play freely" and saved "unnecessary preparatory work and time-consuming detailed decisions." The outcome of more than 100 areas of design allowed him to create a wide-ranging identity-forming effect, while also setting new standards in corporate design. This book is a reprint of the original German edition with a booklet added with all texts in English.

Otl Aicher (1922–1991) was an internationally acclaimed graphic designer and educator, renowned for his corporate identity work, visual communication systems, and typography. With concise corporate designs for commercial enterprises such as the Deutsche Lufthansa and as co-founder and rector of the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm—an experimental design school in the spirit of the Bauhaus—he achieved a high reputation worldwide.

How can houses be upgraded to meet today’s demands – from living comfort via energy efficiency to digital requirements? How can the fusion of historic and new elements be utilized as a design element? 

The continued use of existing residential buildings, be it a Renaissance townhouse, a Ming Dynasty atriumhouse, a 19th-century farmhouse, or a post-war bungalow, not only scores with the charm of former years, but actually also with an advantagous ecological balance.

Based on carefully selected works, this book presents the whole scope of possibilities for extensions and conversions – from annexes, via new designs for existing spaces, to additional sections, or conceptually merged rooms. All are evidence that preservation is a creative challenge that has many different solutions.