Search results for ""merrell publishers ltd""

Among the most magnificent buildings of England are its Anglican cathedrals, great symbols of spiritual and architectural power. No one can fail to marvel at Durham's incomparable Romanesque masterpiece, the elegant stylistic unity of Salisbury, the world-famous stained glass of Canterbury or the striking Gothic scissor arch at Wells. In this breathtaking new book, award-winning Magnum photographer Peter Marlow has captured the nave of each of England's 42 Anglican cathedrals. Taken in natural light at dawn, usually looking towards the east end of the building, these remarkable images bring into sharp relief the full splendour of the architecture, whatever the style. Marlow's spellbinding photographs are accompanied by his commentary on the project, including sketches and preparatory shots; an introduction by curator Martin Barnes on the tradition of church photography in England, particularly the work of Frederick Evans and Edwin Smith; and a concise summary of each cathedral interior by architectural historian John Goodall. AUTHOR: Martin Barnes is a graduate of Leicester University and the Courtauld Institute of Fine Art in London. Having worked at the Tate, Walker and Bluecoat galleries in Liverpool and the Witt Library in London, he moved to the Word & Image Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, where he is now Senior Curator of Photographs. John Goodall is Architectural Editor of Country Life magazine. His book The English Castle was published in 2011. Peter Marlow has been a member of the international photographers' collective Magnum Photos for more than 30 years. He has exhibited his work throughout Europe. SELLING POINTS: . A unique photographic record of the Anglican cathedrals of England . A new compact edition of this superbly produced, critically acclaimed book . With an overview of the architectural importance of each cathedral, and an introduction on ecclesiastical photography . Essential for anyone interested in architectural photography, church architecture or the heritage of England 45 colour, 5 b/w, 1 map

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As in the past, anyone who builds a country house today will want the first sight of it to impress, but they will also have requirements suited to 21st-century life. ADAM Architecture has an international reputation for its diverse portfolio, and its country houses are among the practice's most admired work. 'The Country House Ideal' explores the way in which ADAM Architecture uses historical precedents, including construction techniques, materials and layout, to give expression to thoroughly modern projects. While the practice is famed for classical design, the houses featured here are far from pastiche, and could have been built at no other time than our own. Architectural historian Jeremy Musson first sets the modern country house in its rich historical context, then presents a series of magnificent new houses, arranged into chapters reflecting a variety of traditional styles: Anglo-Classical, Rural Romantics, Palladian and Neoclassical. This lavishly illustrated book reveals how, in an ADAM Architecture design, such considerations as energy conservation, technology and sustainability receive meticulous attention – all in pursuit of the country house ideal. AUTHOR: Jeremy Musson is an architectural historian, writer and broadcaster. Formerly Architectural Editor of Country Lifemagazine, he is the author of 'English Ruins' (with Paul Barker; Merrell, 2011) and several books on English country houses, including 'English Country House Interiors' (2011). SELLING POINTS: . The first book devoted to the country houses of one of the world's leading practices specialising in classical design . Focuses in-depth on 19 new houses in England and Scotland in a range of styles, all specially photographed for the book . Written by a well-known expert on the history of country houses 270 colour photos, 6 plans

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Artistic expression in the Middle East is experiencing something of a renaissance. Domestic patronage is flourishing, and an impressive array of new museums and art fairs across the region is helping to stimulate international interest in an increasingly influential movement. Art of the Middle East is an accessible overview of modern and contemporary art of the Middle East and Arab world from 1945 to the present, with an emphasis on artists active today. This new revised and expanded edition features the work of 12 additional artists, as well as a consideration of the impact of the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring, which erupted across the region in 2011. The featured works are divided into seven themed sections - including literature, portraiture and the body, and politics, conflict and war - while extended captions provide an engaging commentary on each artwork and the artist behind its creation. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this landmark publication is an authoritative guide to a challenging and exciting body of work.

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London, a fascinating metropolis not just in terms of its history and landmark buildings, is also a city that grew out of villages. Its unique geography is expressed in a mosaic of districts, each with its own distinctive character and pedigree. London's districts, with their patchwork layout of primarily Georgian and Victorian squares and terraces juxtaposed with modern buildings and estates, reflect changing ideals in architecture, urban design and planning as well as shifting values in real estate and the insatiable thirst of its consumers. London is thus both text and context: fossilized social history, layerings of economic, social, and architectural history conveyed in stock brick, stucco, Portland stone, glass and steel. Underpinning this urban landscape is an evolutionary resilience that has maintained the basic spatial framework of the metropolis and sustained its imitable character. The city's institutional framework has been severely ruptured and reinvented time and time again after fires, bombs, floods or wholesale redevelopment. Political unrest and racial conflict have resulted in riots, while successive rounds of investment and disinvestment have replaced elements of the built environment many times over. This book offers an insightful perspective into the distinctiveness of London as expressed through its socially significant buildings and districts.

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Here are the feasts that really are fit for a king - or queen. This delightful book explores the history of royal dining from the bustling kitchens of the Middle Ages to the informal dinner parties of today. Susanne Groom, a former curator at Historic Royal Palaces, considers the diets of monarchs from Richard II to Elizabeth II, revealing the exotic beasts served at medieval courts, the 48-day picnic prepared for Henry VIII and Francois I of France at the Field of Cloth of Gold, the romantic suppers made for Charles II and his mistresses, Queen Victoria's love of nursery food, and the gluttonous appetite of Edward VII. We also learn about royal table manners, the earliest cookbooks, the hiring of flamboyant chefs and the intrigues of unscrupulous kitchen staff, the ever-changing health advice given to the sovereign, and the influence of royal diet on the average family fare. Full of lively anecdotes, colourful characters, rarely seen illustrations, and menus from state banquets, weddings, coronations and jubilees, At the King's Table is a treat for all culinary fans.

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London is the only city in the world where you could ever find Gilbert and George sharing space with the Gherkin and the Globe while the Great Fire burns and a gin drinker glugs her favorite tipple, and where members of the Bloomsbury Group hail a black cab while barrage balloons hover over Broadcasting House during the Blitz. In A London Alphabet, Christopher Brown presents a series of wonderfully whimsical linocuts illustrating every aspect of London past and present, including personalities, buildings, monuments, legends, historic events, and other metropolitan icons. From Dickens, Dr Johnson, Tower Bridge, and the Shard to the Diamond Jubilee, Wimbledon, pigeons, and jellied eels, all London life is here. A born-and-bred Londoner, Brown recounts his own memories of growing up in the capital, and also describes how he creates his distinctive prints. His unique, often humorous take on London will delight anyone who lives in or visits the city.

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The conventional history of art is one of great men making great paintings, and displaying their works to a predominantly male audience in male-run institutions. Women, however, have had a role, often working behind the scenes, out of sight or in resistance to prevailing attitudes and practices. And it is in these exceptions to the rules of the masculine world of art-making that women artists have been perceived as groundbreaking, defiant and even subversive. A compelling selection of more than 60 artists from the early Renaissance to the present day, among them Judith Leyster, Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois, Danger! Women Artists at Work explores the most intriguing and provocative aspects of art by women who shook up the art world. Through a lively introduction and six thematic chapters dealing with such subjects as the ways in which women have challenged the boundaries of expression and how they have viewed the human body, Debra N. Mancoff presents an absorbing tale of those who have struggled and triumphed in their efforts to transform the visual arts.

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Jean-Michel Basquiat was only twenty-seven when he died in 1988, his meteoric and often controversial career having lasted for just eight years. Despite his early death, Basquiat's powerful A uvre has ensured his continuing reputation as one of modern art's most distinctive voices. Borrowing from graffiti and street imagery, cartoons, mythology and religious symbolism, Basquiat's drawings and paintings explore issues of race and identity, providing social commentary that is shrewdly observed and biting. This bestselling book, now available in a compact edition, celebrates Basquiat's achievements in the contexts of the key influences on his art. It not only re-evaluates the artist's principal works and their meaning, but also explains what keeps his painting relevant today.

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As all book lovers know, a collection of books affords not only access to endless pleasure and knowledge, but also, when skilfully deployed around the home, the opportunity to create a myriad of different impressions. In this beautifully illustrated guide, self-confessed bibliophile Leslie Geddes-Brown offers inspirational solutions and practical tips on how to make the most of books in every room and forgotten nook of the house. From a working library that is a paragon of order and logic to the cosy informality of a den with books stacked in piles on the floor; from the dramatic impact of floor-to-ceiling shelves to the inviting ease of baskets of books by a fireside; and from discreet shelves that blend into the background to a designer bookcase that becomes the focal point of a room, all the key aspects are considered. A dazzling array of photographs shows how books can transform any room into an alluring and magical place.

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The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is Britain's first dedicated high-speed railway line and its first major railway-building project in more than a century. Running from London's newly refurbished St Pancras International to the mouth of the Channel Tunnel, the link will decrease journey times to Paris and beyond, as well as to commuter towns in the south-east of England. The project is also being credited with significant regeneration in the areas around the new stations and terminus. Well-known architecture and design commentator Stephen Bayley tells the story of the building of the link and its sensitive insertion into the rural and urban landscape, from the spectacular renaissance of St Pancras to the unearthing of significant archaeological remains along the route, and from the creation of bridges, viaducts and tunnels to the planting of wild-flower meadows. Lively and entertaining, this is a fascinating record of a ground breaking project.

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While very few of us can boast a shoe collection to rival that of Imelda Marcos, it's difficult to deny the mood-enhancing effect of a shiny new pair of shoes. And when a woman goes shoe-shopping, whether for skyscraper heels or wear-with-anything ballet flats, she's spoilt for choice. Cult Shoes is a lavishly illustrated exploration of the world's top shoe brands and designers, from Manolo Blahnik to Melissa, Camper to Clarks, and from the eighteenth century to the present day. Fashion journalist Harriet Walker selects 30 famous names that have an enduring appeal or command a devoted following, and recounts the history of each brand and its most iconic designs, among them the scarlet leather Repetto pumps immortalized by Brigitte Bardot in 1956 in - And God Created Woman and Terry de Havilland's multicoloured wedges, which have adorned the feet of celebrities since the late 1960s. A must-have for any shoe fanatic, the book also includes a concise illustrated introduction to the history of footwear, and short features on key personalities and lesser-known but influential brands.

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The new compact hardback edition of the first book devoted to the work of one of today's most celebrated garden designers. Arne Maynard is known for his award-winning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show and his elegant and sympathetic gardens for private houses worldwide. Central to his work is his ability to draw out the essence of a place - a talent that lends his gardens a particular sense of harmony and belonging. A passionate gardener himself, Maynard has transformed the garden around his house, Allt-y-bela, in rural Wales. This garden is featured in the book, offering insights into the work in progress and Maynard's design methods. Also included is Maynard's very first garden of his own, at Guanock House in Lincolnshire, where he spent 10 years creating from a flat field a formal layout, with a kitchen garden, knot garden and herbaceous border. A total of 12 gardens have been specially photographed, and each is described through the seasons in a personal text by Maynard, includin

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As all book lovers know, a collection of books affords not only access to endless pleasure and knowledge, but also, when skilfully deployed around the home, the opportunity to create a multitude of decorative impressions, whether classically formal, strikingly colourful or apparently artless. In this beautifully illustrated guide - now published in paperback for the first time - the self-confessed bibliophile Leslie Geddes-Brown offers inspirational yet practical ideas about how to make the most of books in every room and forgotten nook of the house. In her introduction, Geddes-Brown emphasizes the versatility and lasting power of books, while subsequent chapters explore every conceivable option for storing and displaying them. 'Living with Books' shows how they can enhance the atmosphere of a home, making it a welcoming and memorable place. 'Working with Books' considers different ways of arranging essential reference books, from the library that is a paragon of order and logic to the seemingly chaotic piles of books an author might need constantly at their elbow or stacked about the floor. 'Designing for Books' explores stylish storage, shelving and lighting solutions, and provides tips on combining books with other objects to create effects that lift an interior out of the ordinary. Finally, 'Making the Most of Books' suggests ingenious ways in which to exploit to the full their enduringly irresistible appeal. From the dramatic impact of floor-to-ceiling shelves to the inviting ease of baskets of books by a cosy fireside; and from discreet shelves that blend into the background to a designer bookcase that becomes the focal point of a room, all the key aspects are considered. Lavishly illustrated throughout with photographs featuring homes from around the world and with an annotated directory of suppliers, this engaging guide will inspire all bibliophiles to get the best from their beloved books and transform any room into an alluring and magical place. AUTHOR: Leslie Geddes-Brown, former Deputy Editor of World of Interiors and Country Life magazines, was a leading writer on interior design, food and gardening. 160 colour illustrations

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In the early decades of the 20th century, the United States underwent a period of rapid change. The pace of life accelerated as the machine age took hold, and the landscape was transformed by increasing urbanization. Artists responded in a variety of visual styles, but what they had in common was a desire to reflect modern society and to challenge the conventions of art with a bold, energetic approach to colour and composition. The Coloring Book of American Modernist Artists presents 30 works of the period, ready for you to complete, whether by reproducing the original vibrant palettes or by experimenting and letting your creativity run free. Follow Marsden Hartley and Andrew Dasburg in finding spiritual inspiration in the wide open spaces of the American West, or immerse yourself in the atmospheric city streets as painted with the sleek lines and hard-edged forms of such Precisionists as George Copeland Ault. Max Weber's expressive still lifes reveal primitive influences and an interest in native cultures, while Jan Matulka's arrangement is more stylized and geometric. If your mood lends itself to something more abstract, be stimulated by the daring colour combinations of the Cubist-inspired work of Oscar Bluemner, or relax in the mindful contemplation of the swirl of multicoloured forms in Morgan Russell's and Stanton Macdonald-Wright's Synchromist paintings. Celebrate this important movement in the history of American art by creating your own modernist masterpieces!

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Some of the finest architectural structures in India are to be found below ground: these are its ancient stepwells. Stepwells are unique to India; the earliest rudimentary wells date from about the 4th century CE, and eventually they were built throughout the country, particularly in the arid western regions. Stepwell construction evolved so that, by the 11th century, they were amazingly complex feats of architecture and engineering, not only providing water all year round but also serving as gathering places, refuges and retreats. The journalist Victoria Lautman first encountered stepwells three decades ago, and this book – now available in paperback for the first time – is a testament to her determined efforts over several years to document these fascinating but largely unknown structures before they disappear. Of the thousands of stepwells that proliferated across India, most were abandoned as a result of modernization and the depletion of water tables. Frequently commissioned by royal or wealthy patrons, the wells vary greatly in scale and design. Some also functioned as subterranean Hindu temples, featuring columned pavilions and elaborate stone carvings. Islamic wells were generally less flamboyant, but often incorporated shady loggias and small chambers in which to relax and escape the stifling heat. Today, few stepwells are in use. The majority have been left to silt up, fill with rubbish and crumble into disrepair. Gradually, however, the Indian government and heritage organizations are recognizing the need to preserve these architectural wonders. In 2014 India’s grandest and best-known stepwell, the Rani ki Vav in Patan, Gujarat, became a UNESCO World Heritage site. In her introduction, Lautman discusses why and where the stepwells were built. She reflects on the reasons they became derelict and considers how the appreciation of stepwells is changing with the work of organizations and individuals who aim to protect and restore them. The main part of the book is arranged in a broadly chronological order, with up to four pages devoted to each of c. 70 stepwells, every one unique in design and engineering. The name, location (including GPS coordinates) and approximate date of each well accompany colour photographs and a concise commentary by Lautman on the history and architecture of the well and her experience of visiting it. While many of the stepwells are rather decrepit, their magnificent engineering and great beauty never fail to impress.

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Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) was proud to call himself an American artist, but he dreamed of travel to Europe, believing instinctively that he would learn more there than would be possible in his home state of Maine or even in New York. In 1909 Alfred Stieglitz gave Hartley his first solo exhibition in New York, and a second successful show three years later enabled him to head to Europe, where he spent time in Paris, Berlin and Munich. His rise to prominence as a specifically American modernist was based largely on the visual ideas and influences that he encountered in these vibrant cities, which he then synthesized through his own New England point of view. Hartley, who was by nature something of a loner, never lost his wanderlust, and throughout his life found inspiration in many other landscapes and cultures, including in southern France, Italy, Bermuda, Mexico and Canada. Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts, published to coincide with an exhibition opening at the Vilcek Foundation in New York, offers a fresh appraisal of a pioneering modernist whose work continues to be celebrated for its spirituality, experimentation and innovation. Rick Kinsel's introduction provides an overview of the manifold ways in which Hartley's travels shaped his artistic vision, from experiencing the latest art in Paris and finding a mentor there in Gertrude Stein to meeting members of the Blaue Reiter group in Germany and developing an interest in both Prussian military pageantry and Bavarian folk art; from becoming fascinated with ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures while in Mexico to being inspired by the traditional pueblo life of the Native Americans of the Southwest. William Low surveys items from the Marsden Hartley Memorial Collection of Bates College Museum in Maine - including memorabilia from the artist's travels and artefacts reflecting his diverse spiritual interests - and explains how they aid our understanding of Hartley's motivation and passions. Among them are a photograph album tracing the course of Hartley's peripatetic life from 1908 to 1930 and a notebook of `Color Exercises', both of which are reproduced in full. Emily Schuchardt Navratil considers how Hartley's desire for escape was reflected in his love of the circus, a recurrent theme in his paintings, drawings and writings. He was enthralled by the spectacle and the nomadic existence, and he imagined circus performers to be members of his own wandering troupe. For fifteen years he worked on a book devoted to the subject, but it was left unfinished at his death; an 18-page typescript version is reproduced here in its entirety. Kinsel then explores Hartley's painting Canoe (Schiff), created in Berlin in 1915 as part of his Amerika series of brightly coloured works defined by imagery drawn from both Native American material culture and German folk art. For Hartley, these paintings represented a dual cultural identity. The main part of the book, by Navratil, features some 100 paintings, drawings, photographs and postcards, arranged into seven country- or state-themed sections, with a concluding section on Hartley's personal possessions, which - because he had no permanent home of his own - held extraordinary significance for him.

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Early in his career, Ralston Crawford (1906–1978) earned acclaimed for his Precisionist paintings of architectural subjects associated with a forward-looking, industrialised America, most famously his Overseas Highway of 1939. But Crawford was a multifaceted artist with an adventurous spirit and a curiosity for the world beyond the United States, one whose work in various media and painting styles continued to evolve throughout his life, with his later, more abstract painting having a remarkable emotional dimension. This new book, published to accompany an exhibition at the Vilcek Foundation in New York focuses on two series of works – 'Torn Signs' and 'Semana Santa' – that Crawford developed mostly over the course of the last 20 or so years of his life (although his first 'Torn Signs' photographs date from the late 1930s, thus making this Crawford's most enduring theme or motif). SELLING POINTS: . Offers new perspectives on the American artist Ralston Crawford, focusing on two related series of works from his later life . With contributions from experts on American modernism and Crawford scholars, including his son John . Includes reproductions of pages from Crawford's sketchbooks, providing insight into his remarkable visual memory and his thoughts on drawing, writing and other subjects 135 illustrations

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Today Kensington Palace is synonymous with young royals; it is the official home of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family, and of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It is also famous for being the residence of Diana, Princess of Wales, during the last years of her life, and visitors still flock to the palace to learn about her story. But the history of Kensington stretches back much further. It boasts more than three centuries of continuous royal occupation, making it unique among the Historic Royal Palaces. Formerly a private house enlarged by Christopher Wren in the late 17th century to suit the needs of William and Mary, Kensington Palace was the favoured home of five sovereigns until the death of George II in 1760. Even after its conversion into a royal residence, the palace remained a rather unprepossessing building, fashioned out of reddish-grey brick. However, this belied its architectural significance, for it was shaped and decorated by some of the country's leading architects, artists, craftsmen and designers, and is now a major national monument. The palace's social and political significance is arguably even greater. Kensington has played host to some of the most important personalities and events in the long history of the royal family. It was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, and it was here that she held her first council meeting as monarch in 1837. During the previous century, Kensington had been divided into apartments for the younger generation of royals - an arrangement that continues today. From the late 19th century onwards, it became a visitor attraction, a museum and home to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. Today the palace attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year. In this new illustrated account, Tracy Borman tells the fascinating story of Kensington from private residence to modern-day royal palace, describing not only the development of the building and its magnificent gardens, but also the dramas and intrigues of court life. Its history is set against a backdrop of events that shaped both Britain and its monarchy: from the Jacobite uprisings of the mid-18th century to the rise of industrialisation in the 19th, and the turbulence of world war in the 20th. Here, in the domestic surrounds of the palace, the monarchy evolved and modernised in tandem with the times. The story of Kensington Palace is, in short, the story of the modern monarchy. AUTHOR: Tracy Borman is joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces. She has worked for various national heritage organisations, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Archives and English Heritage. An acclaimed writer and historian 200 illustrations, 1 plan

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For more than 600 years the Livery Companies have played a leading role in commercial activities and social and political life in the City of London. These trade associations, each representing a particular craft or profession, were originally responsible for controlling, for example, wages and working conditions. As the Companies were established and incorporated by royal charter, largely in the 14th and 15th centuries, they began acquiring and adapting buildings from which to operate. The Companies’ headquarters – the Livery Halls – gradually evolved from large medieval town houses to become an identifiable building type matched in scale and ambition only by the guild houses of northern European mercantile cities and the Venetian scuole. By the time of the Great Fire of London in 1666, there were at least 53 Livery Halls. Of the 40 Halls standing today, half remain on their medieval sites, but all have been rebuilt several times. To give only two examples: there have been six incarnations of Clothworkers’ Hall on Mincing Lane and six Salters’ Halls on three different City sites. This beautiful book is the first major exploration of these architecturally significant yet under-researched buildings. Dr Anya Lucas, who has studied the Halls in depth, provides an introduction and an illustrated history of the buildings that have been lost over the centuries. The Great Fire, in particular, resulted in a period of energetic reconstruction. Companies rebuilt and beautified their Halls in recognition that the image they projected was as crucial as their wealth and regulatory powers. More building activity took place in the 18th and 19th centuries as Halls were required to accommodate new functions. Many of the Restoration Halls did not survive these years, and, where they did, alterations continued apace. Only 3 out of 36 Halls remained untouched after the Blitz of 1940–41, leading to another wave of reconstruction, the buildings being predominantly traditional or neo-Georgian in style. Henry Russell surveys each of the 40 present-day Halls, no two of which share an identical plan. Sited across the City from east to west, they range from the London Proof House, the home of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, on Commercial Road, outside the old City walls, to HSQ Wellington, headquarters of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, moored on the Thames at Victoria Embankment. All existing Livery Halls have been photographed especially for the project by the renowned interiors photographer Andreas von Einsiedel, making this a truly outstanding publication.

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Signs of Our Times: From Calligraphy to Calligraffiti covers six decades of an art trend led by artists from the Arab world and Iran. Starting in the early 1950s, this alternative and original approach to modernism began with artists who took inspiration from their own cultural sources and combined them with international aesthetics and concepts. This publication considers the work of 50 key artists, ranging from important pioneers of the calligraphic movement to those who use the written word in their work today. The book begins with a contribution from Venetia Porter, curator of Islamic and contemporary Middle Eastern art at the British Museum, who provides a historical contextualization of the movement and its relationship to lettrism in Europe. In a second essay, the writer and curator Rose Issa presents an overview of 60 years of the art movement in Arab countries and Iran, from the independences of the late 1940s and 1950s to the present day. A timeline by Juliet Cestar, an expert on contemporary Middle Eastern art, then sets out major cultural and historical events in the Middle East over the course of the last 60 years. The main part of the book is divided into three sections, each devoted to a different generation of artists: the first generation of pioneers, who created a new aesthetic language following the independence of their countries; the second generation of artists, who mostly live in exile and who reference their own cultures and languages in their work; and the third generation, comprising contemporary artists who have absorbed international aesthetics, concepts and languages and who occasionally use Arabic and Persian script, or the morphology of letters, in their work. The entry for each artist includes a concise biography and a statement from the artist about their work. The artworks, in a variety of media, are also interspersed with poems and relevant literature, putting into personal and historical contexts the innovative use of words in art.

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The Stirling Prize is one of the world's most prestigious architectural awards. Named after Sir James Stirling (1926-1992), one of Britain's greatest post-war architects, the prize is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to the architects of the building that has made the most significant contribution in the past year to the evolution of architecture and the built environment. The list of shortlisted and winning buildings since the prize began in 1996 - among them such diverse projects as the Media Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground by Future Systems; Herzog & de Meuron's Laban dance centre in Deptford, southeast London; and the Maxxi National Museum, Rome, by Zaha Hadid Architects - reads like a primer to the very best of contemporary British architecture both at home and elsewhere in the European Union. Insightfully written by Tony Chapman, the former Head of Awards at the RIBA, this book honours all the shortlisted and winning buildings from the first 20 years of the prize. Authoritative, detailed commentaries explain how each winning building was planned and constructed, and reveal the thoughts of the Stirling jury; commentaries are also included for the shortlisted buildings from the most recent decade of the prize, 2006-15. Chapman's introduction reviews the history of the award from its low-key beginnings at a time when Britain was just emerging from a period of economic recession to the present day, when the prize, and indeed architecture in general, has a far greater public profile. Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and plans, The RIBA Stirling Prize 20 is a true celebration of British architectural talent. SELLING POINTS: . A showcase of all shortlisted and winning buildings throughout 20 years of one of the world's best-known architectural awards AUTHOR: Tony Chapman was Head of Awards at the Royal Institute of British Architects from 1998 to 2016. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA in 2011. Sir David Chipperfield is one of the UK's most lauded architects. In 1985 he established David Chipperfield Architects, which has won more than 100 international awards, including the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2007. In 2011 he received the RIBA Gold Medal. 320 colour, 80 plans

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Artistic expression in the Middle East is experiencing something of a renaissance. Domestic patronage is flourishing, and an impressive array of new museums and art fairs across the region is helping to stimulate international interest in an increasingly influential movement. Art of the Middle East is an accessible overview of modern and contemporary art of the Middle East and Arab world from 1945 to the present, with an emphasis on artists active today. This new revised and expanded edition features the work of 12 additional artists, as well as a consideration of the impact of the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring, which erupted across the region in 2011. The featured works are divided into seven themed sections - including literature, portraiture and the body, and politics, conflict and war - while extended captions provide an engaging commentary on each artwork and the artist behind its creation. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this landmark publication is an authoritative guide to a challenging and exciting body of work.

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From its establishment in 1830 in New York State, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown to be a world religion with almost 15 million members in 150 countries. Mormons are so called on account of their belief in the Book of Mormon, which tells the story of the ancient people of America. The Mormons is the only illustrated history of of its kind, and traces the faith from its foundation by Joseph Smith and the early days of intense persecution to the building of Salt Lake City under the leadership of Brigham Young and the massive expansion of the Church in the second half of the twentieth century. The book offers perspectives on the Church's core values by those who practice the faith every day. Contributions from a range of Mormon experts consider a variety of topics - including the origins, beliefs and practices of the religion, its phenomenal success in recent decades as the Church has become increasingly international, its relationship to other churches, and the lifestyle of its members - making this the perfect introduction to Mormonism, one of the fastest-growing Christian churches in the world.

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Retro is back - if it ever went away - and more and more of us are finding inspiration in the homes of the twentieth century. Whether your preferred style is elegant Art Deco, streamlined mid-century modern or the chrome-laden decor of the classic American diner, Retro Home shows you how to re-create the look you love without having to break the bank or spend days scavenging junk shops and attics. Interiors expert Katherine Sorrell surveys the highly polished and lacquered glamour that characterized the homes of the 1920s and '30s, the bright colours and Scandinavian sleek of the '50s, and the funky plastic furnishings of the '60s and early '70s. She explains how to select a style that works for you; explores iconic designs that are crucial to getting the right look; and presents over 20 case studies of stunning retro rooms in contemporary homes. Whichever room you're decorating, in whichever style, Retro Home guides you through the colour schemes, furniture (whether vintage or reproduction), soft furnishings and accessories that will create an authentic, individual interior.

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When we describe a home as being 'full of character', we mean that it's individual or exceptional in some way. Character comes from a variety of sources, some from the property itself, and others from the people who live there, while the act of bringing character into a home is a layering process, one that starts with the bones of the building and finishes with the decor - the human element. In this new book, interiors expert Sally Coulthard explains just what it takes to turn an uninspiring space into a personality-packed home, whether it's a cottage, an apartment or a modern family house. Each chapter focuses on a particular element - for example, the importance of family and loved ones, and making an interior feel like a social space - and explains why this element matters and how to bring it into your home. Inspirational features, in the form of 'Keys to Character' boxes, offer tips on incorporating individuality into even the most unpromising of spaces, from making the most of period details and mixing old and new furnishings to introducing artwork and displaying photographs.

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With its perfect combination of new and old, romance, nostalgia and comfort, country style has universal appeal. From a converted barn in the English Cotswolds to a Mallorcan finca, and from a Russian dacha to a grand Swiss villa, the 100 fabulous interiors featured in this book will provide endless inspiration for city dwellers seeking to escape the fast pace of urban living, and committed countryside lovers contemplating the restoration or refurbishment of their rural idyll. Johanna Thornycroft describes how colour, pattern and the sympathetic use of traditional materials and finishes have been employed in each project to create a confident and relaxed style, while beautiful images by leading interiors photographer Andreas von Einsiedel bring to life the charm and character of every house. AUTHOR: Andreas von Einsiedel has specialized in interiors photography for the past 20 years, and is a regular contributor to the World of Interiors, House & Garden, Architectural Digest and other titles in the United States, Australia and Europe. He has photographed subjects for more than 20 books. Johanna Thornycroft is a freelance writer and journalist who regularly contributes design features to newspapers and interiors magazines worldwide, and the author of several books. SELLING POINTS: . A delightful collection of country homes from around the world, from a farmhouse in Tuscany to a former hunting lodge near Aix-en-Provence. . The ideal companion to Merrell's bestselling Dream Homes and More Dream Homes. . An invaluable reference for anyone refurbishing their country home or wanting to create their ideal rural retreat. 800 colour

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The perfect companion to Merrell's bestselling Dream Homes and More Dream Homes, Dream Gardens is a stylish sourcebook of 100 modern and contemporary gardens from around the world. Now available in paperback for the first time, this critically acclaimed volume presents an array of wonderful locations and garden-design ideas, from small, sophisticated, minimalist city gardens to large, richly planted gardens in breathtaking rural locations. Each garden is beautifully photographed to show all its key features and essential details, while concise descriptions explore the aims and achievements of some of today's most influential garden designers. With full captions identifying the plants depicted, Dream Gardens is a valuable source of information and inspiration.

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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.

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Chateau La Coste, near Aix-en-Provence, is a unique property that combines sculptural artworks by leading contemporary artists alongside works by some of the world's best-known architects, all within the grounds of a working organic vineyard. Since 2004 the estate, which occupies an ancient site, has been transformed into an exceptional plein-air museum, and the number of installations grows every year. The spreading collection lies within the walk of a spectacular Art Centre, designed by the world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. On the reflecting pool in front of the building is one of Louise Bourgeois' giant arachnoid sculptures, Crouching Spider. To the north lies a futuristic winery by Jean Nouvel. By taking one of several routes to the south or west, the visitor encounters such monumental installations as Sean Scully's sculpture of stacked blocks of limestone, Wall of Light Cubed; Richard Serra's steel sheets, AIX; and Oak Room by Andy Goldsworthy, a cave of interwoven oak branches, integrated into an old stone wall. Installations by Liam Gillick, Kengo Kuma, Paul Matisse, Sophie Calle and many others punctuate the pathways. And by an ancient Roman route, Ai Weiwei has created another new path up the hillside, using paving stones salvaged from the renovated port at Marseilles. Overlooking the site is a 16th-century chapel restored by Ando and enclosed by a framework of steel and glass. The music and exhibition pavilions, close to the `village' of buildings at the heart of the property, have been designed by Frank Gehry and Renzo Piano respectively. In this stunning new book, Robert Ivy of the American Institute of Architects and the curator Alistair Hicks explore each work of architecture and art installation in depth. Their insightful commentaries are accompanied by specially commissioned photographs by the acclaimed architectural photographer Alan Karchmer. The book is arranged into sections covering all areas of the property, so that the reader is able to experience and discover Chateau La Coste as a visitor would. In the introduction, Ivy relates the conception, creation and further development of Chateau La Coste by its owner, Patrick McKillen; while, to conclude the book, Hicks considers the site's ever-increasing exhibition programme. Throughout the pages, the reader will feel transported to idyllic Provence, to this most remarkable and significant collection of modern and contemporary art and architecture.

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The illustrator Jonny Hannah was born and bred in Scotland, and now lives by the sea in Southampton, but he also resides in Darktown - a mysterious coastal town, not found on any map, peopled by pin-up girls, jazz artists and tattooed sailors. Darktown is home to the Unquiet Grave junk emporium; the Mermaid Cafe, where folk legend Woody Guthrie still plays each week; McVouty's vintage clothes shop; and a pier with a condemned helter skelter. Joining Hannah on his trip to downtown Darktown are the writers Philip Hoare and Peter Chrisp, who explore the eclectic influences on Hannah's work, and Sheena Calvert, who introduces a special typographic catalogue of hand-drawn lettering. As he tours Darktown, Hannah presents his prints and paintings in thematic chapters reflecting his passions, and bids farewell to his alter ego, Rocket Man, who inhabits the darkest corners of pop culture.

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Terrorist groups are no different from other organizations in their use of branding to promote their ideas and to distinguish themselves from groups that share similar aims. The branding they employ may contain complex systems of meaning and emotion; it conveys the group's beliefs and capabilities. Branding Terror is the first comprehensive survey of the visual identity of the world's major terrorist organizations, from al-Qaeda and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to the Tamil Tigers. Each of the 60-plus entries contains a concise description of the group's ideology, leadership and modus operandi, and a brief timeline of events. The group's branding - the symbolism, colours and typography of its logo and flag - is then analysed in detail. Branding Terror does not seek to make any political statements; rather, it offers insight into an understudied area of counter-intelligence, and provides an original and provocative source of inspiration for graphic designers.

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As we become increasingly aware of the power of nature to lift our spirits, so, too, are we becoming more conscious of the role that mindfulness can play in sparking our creativity. The renowned textile artist and embroiderer Jane E. Hall brings these ideas together in her captivating new book. As a child, Jane loved playing outside and making things using natural materials, from daisy chains and petal-based perfumes to tiny tea sets of acorn cups and leaf saucers. Now, as a successful professional artist, Jane still finds great happiness and inspiration in connecting with nature, and here encourages you to attune to the beauty of the natural world as a way of stimulating your creativity. Jane begins by explaining how spending time in nature helps us to engage the senses and rediscover playfulness, and outlines her belief that one should embrace the process of making art rather than focusing on its final form. She shares the special spaces, both indoors and out, that allow her imagination to have free rein, and then presents 10 creative ideas inspired by nature. These ‘Creative Contemplations’ first explore building your own treasure collection of materials to use in artistic projects, and then move on to the creation of a range of beautiful designs: stunning mandalas of petals, leaves and shells; delicate dreamcatchers; a dainty purse of honesty seed pods; handmade birds’ nests; exquisite embroidered butterflies; ‘woodland fairies’ composed of lichen-covered twigs and feathers; and much more. Some ‘Contemplations’ include step-by-step instructions, while others feature the stories behind their making in order to inspire you to push beyond your perceived creative limits. Jane’s writing style is uplifting and engaging, and the text throughout is accompanied by specially commissioned photography. No matter how skilled or unskilled you believe yourself to be, The Nature of Creativity will nurture your artistic thoughts and help you find your inner happiness. Journey with Jane through the natural landscape to unlock your artistic potential and breathe creativity back into your life!

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This magnificent publication surveys the vital role of women in the development of Abstract Expressionism by looking at more than 50 paintings, collages and sculptures all accompanied by carefully selected quotes from the artists themselves. The dominant movement of the New York and San Francisco art scenes of the mid-20th century, Abstract Expressionism is celebrated as the first development in American art to gain international status. The movement is synonymous with the work of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, but also belonging to this generation who changed the course of modern art were numerous female artists; only in recent years have their contributions received the recognition they deserve. The remarkable women in this exciting new book - among them Perle Fine, Helen Frankenthaler, Sonia Gechtoff, Lee Krasner, and Joan Mitchell - studied at the same art schools as the men, exhibited at the same galleries, and were part of the same social scene. But their work was not shown and reviewed as widely or considered as valuable as that of the men. This beautiful book presents the works of the Levett Collection, an unparalleled private collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture by women Abstract Expressionists. Richly illustrated essays by the scholars Ellen G. Landau and Joan M. Marter, leading authorities on the subject, consider, respectively, the vital role of women in the development of Abstract Expressionism and the work of women sculptors of the movement. Full of exuberant, explosive colour and densely layered expression, the main part of the book is devoted to more than 50 paintings, collages, and sculptures, all accompanied by pertinent quotes from the women about their artistic practice and concerns. An illustrated timeline and 35 artist biographies provide further insight, making this volume an essential addition to the study of Abstract Expressionist women, innovators in their own right, whose time in the art-historical spotlight has finally come. AUTHOR: Ellen G. Landau is Andrew W. Mellon Professor Emerita at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Joan M. Marter is Distinguished Professor Emerita at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. 170 illustrations

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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

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Death and bomb threats over an art exhibition! A major battle with the mayor of New York City and the New York Times! Looking back, Arnold Lehman, director of the Brooklyn Museum, and his colleagues were not prepared for what was to happen. No one could have anticipated that SENSATION: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection would become the biggest art story in the history of art history. It has taken him two decades to fully absorb and clearly reflect on what happened at the Brooklyn Museum in 1999-2000. The intense controversy swept the exhibition, the museum, and Chris Ofili's The Holy Virgin Mary painting to international attention for six months. While 175,000 people saw the exhibition and millions read and heard about it daily, they never knew of the threats and challenges that kept the museum staff awake at night. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who never saw the painting, focused his rage at The Holy Virgin Mary; rescinded the museum's municipal funding to force it to close the exhibition; and attempted to evict it from its hundred-year-old landmark. The city's most conservative media and ultra-religious groups inflamed the conflict. SENSATION, selected from controversial collector Charles Saatchi's contemporary British art collection, was first shown at London's Royal Academy in 1997, to an outcry over the portrait of child murderer Myra Hindley. Its opening at the Brooklyn Museum in 1999 drew tabloid headlines such as B'klyn gallery of horror Gruesome museum show, and Butchered animals, a dung-smeared Mary and giant genitalia; The New York Times accused the museum of wrongdoing in high-profile but often false and inaccurate investigative reports, most dismissed earlier by the court. In a story as gripping as a fictional thriller, the mayor and city eventually settled with the museum, awarding it a permanent injunction, the restoration of city money, and substantial funds for its new entrance. AUTHOR: Arnold Lehman is Director Emeritus of the Brooklyn Museum and Senior Advisor at Phillips auction house.

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For thousands of years, architects have used models to invent, experiment and communicate. A world in miniature, such models are even more varied in their purposes and materials than their full-scale counterparts. This beautifully designed book explores the uniquely fascinating nature of the architectural model through 26 illustrated essays, one for each letter of the alphabet - from A for 'Ancient' (on the world's oldest models) to Z for 'Zoom' (on the photography of models). Unbound by the practicalities of life-size construction, models allow architects the flexibility and freedom to think in three dimensions. Whether made for purely speculative exercises or to solve a specific problem, they are aids to the imagination. Equally, they can be used as detailed and accurate representations of particular places (either built or as yet unrealized) in order to convey information to patrons or the public. Models can be made in a wide variety of media, from paper, cork and wood to such ephemeral materials as sugar and jelly. Most recently, the advent of digital technologies has transformed possibilities for prototyping, which in turn has greatly influenced architectural design. Models also have a vibrant life beyond the design process. Souvenir models collected on the Grand Tour, 1:1 scale plaster models of architectural fragments displayed in museums, and architectural toys that have delighted children and adults alike are just some of their manifestations outside the architect's office. Written by architects, model-makers, curators, conservators and scholars, the texts in this absorbing Alphabet explore such varied but fundamental issues as modelling materials and techniques, scale, and the role of the model in the design process. They also go beyond conventional accounts to look at models under the X-ray machine, their use in film, and edible models. The result is a wide-ranging, insightful and original account of the multiple lives of the architectural model. AUTHORS: Dr Teresa Fankhanel is a Curator at the Architekturmuseum der Technischen Universitat, Munich. Olivia Horsfall Turner is Senior Curator of Designs at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London, and the V&A's Lead Curator for the V&A+RIBA Architecture Partnership. Dr Simona Valeriani is Senior Tutor on the V&A/Royal College of Art History of Design MA. Dr Matthew Wells is a Lecturer at the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture (GTA), ETH Zurich. 40 illustrations

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Since 1997 Luciano Giubbilei has been creating serenely beautiful gardens in locations on three continents. Giubbilei is known for the understated elegance of his designs, but is constantly evolving his style and approach, both in response to individual clients and as his ideas develop. His work draws on his Italian heritage, especially the Renaissance gardens of the Villa Gamberaia in Tuscany, and a distinctively classical combination of restraint and opulent materials. This book – now published in paperback for the first time – explores 12 significant gardens from Giubbilei's portfolio, including the garden that won him a gold medal at the world-famous Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show in 2009. The locations vary from private residences in London and Barcelona to corporate headquarters in Geneva and a holiday home in Morocco. Each project is fully documented, from the preparation of mood boards and initial sketches to final planting and finishing. As Tom Stuart-Smith notes in his foreword, Giubbilei's gardens are characterised by their 'quiet aura of calm and poise' and their 'restful confidence': 'The gardens are like the man, impeccably turned out, suave and urbane in a gentle way, quietly assertive but never bossy. Sophisticated and thoroughly Italian. His style provides a form of instant theatre, where the designer forges places, conjures atmosphere and creates spaces out of nothing. This is great art.' Separate sections on the design process, site development, nursery production and the sourcing of plants, as well as on the artists and craftsmen with whom Giubbilei collaborates, offer a fascinating insight into his working methods and sources of inspiration. Accessibly written by a leading garden professional and fully illustrated with planting plans, behind-the-scenes images and atmospheric photographs by Steven Wooster, this beautiful book is the definitive work on the gardens of an acclaimed designer. AUTHOR: Andrew Wilson is a garden designer, lecturer and writer. He is a founding director of the London College of Garden Design, a director of the McWilliam Studio, a former show gardens judge for the Royal Horticultural Society, and a Fellow and past chairman of the Society of Garden Designers. His previous publications include The Book of Garden Plans (2004), Contemporary Colour in the Garden (2011) and RHS Small Garden Handbook (2013). SELLING POINTS: . A new paperback edition of this essential survey of the work of the award-winning garden designer Luciano Giubbilei . Features in-depth explorations of 12 projects in locations as diverse as London, Geneva and Morocco . With specially commissioned images by the well-known gardens photographer Steven Wooster 326 illustrations, 12 plans

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No art form is more associated with the Native Americans of the Southwest than pottery. For centuries, Pueblo people have made beautiful pottery, often painted with intricate designs, for everyday activities such as cooking, food storage and gathering water, and for ceremonial use. Vessels of these types have been found at ancient sites including Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde. The tradition of pottery-making continues to thrive among Pueblo communities in the Southwest, and while pottery is still made for practical purposes, it is also commonly produced for the art market. Since the time of the Ancestral Puebloans, pottery has been made predominantly by women. The pots are created from natural clay using a coil method; they are hand-painted and then fired outdoors. Designs vary from one Pueblo to another, but many symbols and motifs are shared by the Pueblos. An impressive survey of more than 100 pieces of historic Pueblo pottery, Grounded in Clay is remarkable for the fact that its content has been selected by Pueblo community members. Rather than relying on Anglo-American art historical interpretations, this book foregrounds Native American voices and perspectives. More than 60 participants from 21 Pueblo communities in the Southwest – among them potters and other artists, as well as writers, curators and community leaders – chose one or two pieces from the collections of the Indian Arts Research Center at the School of Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Vilcek Collection in New York. They were then given the freedom to express their thoughts in whichever written form they wished, prose or poem. Their lively, varied contributions reveal the pottery to be not only a utilitarian art form but also a powerfully intangible element that sits at the heart of Pueblo cultures. With magnificent photography throughout, Grounded in Clay showcases the extraordinary history and beauty of Pueblo pottery while bringing to life the complex narratives and stories of this most essential of Native American arts.

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The artist Ed Kluz has a fascination for the sites of lost buildings. Kluz grew up in the wilds of the Yorkshire Dales, surrounded by the landscape of the past, and the sense of remoteness he felt there sparked an interest in forgotten places, such as country houses and follies. Once-celebrated houses that were abandoned to ruin, burned or deliberately destroyed have now become the haunting subject matter of his distinctive collages.Kluz is meticulous in his research. He spends hours at a site, sketching, taking photographs and generally 'getting to the heart of a place'. Then, in a process in which he likens himself to a collector of fragments or relics, he gathers all the material he can find before adding a little invention of his own to revive or reimagine the house. His highly original works are a combination of watercolour and layer upon layer of delicate painted collage elements, the tension between colour and texture achieving a sense of depth and light. Kluz's lost houses conjure up the vanished buildings in all their pomp, perched on stark, treeless plains under threatening skies, as if briefly illuminated in the glare of lightening or the beam of an arc light. In his introduction to the book, the art and architectural historian Tim Knox describes Kluz's views of houses, with their concentration on the filigree architecture and silhouette of building itself, as heirs to the highly finished perspective drawings produced by professional architectural artists in the early nineteenth century, but he also draws parallels with the bold graphic tradition of Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden. Kluz himself, too, explains that his aim is to evolve the long tradition of country-house painting - a tradition that began in Britain in the sixteenth century and continued into the 1800s, only declining with the advent of photography. Over recent decades, public interest in lost country houses has been growing; there are an increasing number of books and websites devoted to the theme. In his search for information about his often elusive subjects, Kluz has made full use of these sources, presenting in this book a wide range of materials - engravings, paintings, plans, maps, written accounts and his own preparatory sketches - before the final spread in each chapter unveils the finished collage. Ten English houses are featured in depth, among them the Tudor palace of Holdenby House in Northamptonshire, the magnificent mansion of Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire, Vanbrugh's Claremont in Surrey, and the grandiosely Gothic Fonthill Abbey in Wiltshire. Each house is introduced by the architectural historian Olivia Horsfall Turner, who details its history and fate. As Knox concludes, one yearns to have all the houses back, 'But in a sense we have, in Kluz's scenographic visions.'

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London's suburbs are home to many thousands of people who travel into the centre every day to work, but they also house many thousands who rarely find a reason to do so. They contain all the essential infrastructure for the city, too, including airports, offices, shopping centre, factories and warehouses. Outer London is therefore both metropolitan and suburban at the same time - it is Metroburbia. In this book Paul Knox examines the architectural history and development of London's suburbs, and celebrates their surprising variety and organized structure, refuting the common claim that they are monotonous or amorphous. The first chapter, The Foundations of Metroburbia, explains the foundation and development of Metroburbia and looks at how topography and geology influenced the siting of the villages that would become part of Greater London. The River Thames, of course, is one of London's most important and well-known structural elements, and in this chapter Knox examines how its meanders and bends have produced distinct patterns of settlement and development. He also describes in detail the seven distinctive sectors of London, which are (running clockwise from the west) the Thames Valley, Northwest London, North London, the Lea Valley, Northeast London, the Thames Estuary and South London. Finally, he looks at how early settlements, country estates and royal palaces shaped Metroburbia, and how the increase in roads and industry consolidated the development of what would become suburbia. Chapter 2, Pattern-book London, looks at Victorian and Edwardian suburbs - the first developments to be given that name. The building booms and their effect on employment in the city, and the difference in style and purpose between the various suburbs, are discussed, and Knox also examines the effects of immigration and industrialization on the city's housing requirements. He also describes the genesis of the parks, cemeteries and garden villages that now provide such valuable green space for Londoners, and the creation of the impressive industrial, civic and institutional buildings that are still striking parts of the city's infrastructure. Chapter 3, Inter-war Suburbia: Metro-Land and the Universal Plan, describes the acceleration of building projects between the wars and the beginning of the transition from Edwardian society to the modern welfare state. The term 'Metro-Land', introduced by the Metropolitan Railway Company in the early twentieth century, gives the chapter its title, and describes the expansion of residential London along the route of the Underground lines into Buckinghamshire. The effect of widespread car ownership is discussed, and the various housing styles - Stockbroker Tudor, Suburban Moderne, the mansion block, and so on - are described. The fourth chapter, Secular Reformation and Modernism, covers the thirty years from the end of the Second World War, during which time the welfare state brought about radical changes to life in London and the architecture of the city. Chapter 5, Counter-Reformation, describes the changes wrought on the country by the new neo-liberal agenda, as the welfare state was overtaken by a market-driven economy that fostered free-for-all development. By this time Metroburbia had spread outwards to incorporate Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea, Maidstone, Guildford, Reading and Luton. This was an era of radical new infrastructure projects - from the rise of the suburban shopping centre to the construction of the new Thames Barrier - and huge increases in house prices. The regeneration of the Isle of Dogs into the Docklands commercial area is one of the most high-profile developments of the era, but infill house-building and small-scale environmental developments were also produced, and social housing regenerated. Finally, the last chapter, Megapolitan Futures, explores the various theories about the capital's future and conjectures about the shape of the city in the twenty-first century.

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As Buckfast Abbey prepares to celebrate its millennium in 2018, this new book chronicles the remarkable history of this famous English abbey, today both home to a self-sufficient community of Benedictine monks and a site that welcomes some half a million visitors to south Devon each year. The first monastery was founded in 1018 and absorbed into the Cistercian order in 1147, but was dissolved during the Reformation. The site fell into disrepair, and in the early 19th century a Gothic-style mansion was built on the abbey ruins. A group of exiled French Benedictine monks settled at Buckfast in 1882 and eventually decided to rebuild the medieval abbey church themselves: the first stone was laid in 1907 and consecration took place in 1932. In this elegant, authoritative book, essays by a dozen distinguished historians explore, among other subjects, the history of the abbey from its Saxon origins to the Dissolution; the architecture of the medieval church; the abbey site without the monks; the Benedictine revival; the rebuilding of the abbey under the architect Frederick Walters; the abbey's silver and metalwork; the art and architecture of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, built in 1968; and the recent redevelopment of the precinct. Generously illustrated throughout with not only plans, drawings and photographs gathered from the vast Buckfast archive but also new images of the abbey church, the plethora of other buildings on site and the meticulously tended grounds, Buckfast Abbey is a fitting tribute to a unique monastery and community.

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Hailed by the poet and architectural historian Sir John Betjeman as "a genius at photography", Edwin Smith (1912 - 1971) was one of Britain's foremost photographers. At the time of his death he was widely regarded as without peer in his sensitive renditions of historic architecture and his empathetic evocations of place. The recurrent themes of Smith's work - a concern for the fragility of the environment; an acute appreciation of the need to combat cultural homogenization by safeguarding regional diversity; and a conviction that architecture should be rooted in time and place - are as pressing today as when Smith first framed them in his elegant compositions. By providing the first in-depth survey of his work, this book introduces Smith's poignant imagery to a new generation. This paperback edition accompanies the RibA exhibition at 66 Portland Place, London, entitled A Vanishing Past: The Photography of Edwin Smith, 11 September 2014 to 13 December 2014. The exhibition will then travel to the Mann Island Gallery in Liverpool in 2016.

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The magnificent costume of the Herero of Namibia, southern Africa, is a stark reminder of the country's tumultuous past. In the late 19th century, the influence of missionaries and traders in German Southwest Africa led to the adoption by the Herero of the European dress of the day. Over time, the voluminous gowns, completed by a cattle-horn-shaped headdress, came to represent the cultural identity of the Herero women. The men's ceremonial dress also harks back to colonial times: following the brutal war of 1904, the Herero adapted the uniforms of German soldiers for their own Otruppe ('troops') movement. In Conflict and Costume, acclaimed photographer Jim Naughten captures the colourful Herero attire in a series of spectacular portraits. Set against the Namibian landscape, these dramatic images show the striking costumes and their proud owners to full effect: men in elaborate, home-made paramilitary uniforms, and women in floor-length frocks with matching horns. Dr Lutz Marten contributes an insightful text that places the dress in its historical context.

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Many of us dream of hiring an interior designer to create the perfect home, but it's an expense that few of us can manage these days. The affordable alternative is to undertake the work yourself, and Secrets of a Stylish Home is just the book to show you how. Written by interior designer Cate Burren, it is both a practical guide to working through a project and a visual reference of attractive design ideas. With chapters on the importance of finding your style, planning your layout, using colour, creating your scheme and managing your project, Secrets of a Stylish Home takes you through each stage of either redesigning your whole home or simply tackling the makeover of a single room, distilling the knowledge that Burren has gathered over the years into clear, easy-to-follow steps. Her insightful advice is accompanied by numerous real-life case studies, drawings and plans that help to clarify the processes described, and beautiful images by interiors photographer Simon Whitmore. Whatever your experience of interior design, this book will give you the know-how and confidence to develop your own style and transform your living space.

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A window provides access to two of life's essentials, light and air, but it is more than just a means to an end. Windows also have symbolic, expressive and architectural qualities that have for centuries inspired some of the world's greatest artists. In this engaging new study, Christopher Masters celebrates the multiple roles of the window in art through five key themes, from the window as a status symbol to its use as a provider of physical and spiritual illumination; from its employment as a literal window on the world outside the confines of a room to its function as a mirror, reflecting the emotions of the artist or the individuals depicted; and finally to the immense architectural variety of windows that animate interior and exterior scenes throughout Western painting. With superb reproductions of 90 works by major artists from Giotto to Banksy, and spirited analysis of the paintings' meanings, this is a remarkable exploration of an important but hitherto neglected subject in art history.

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In Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, a man covered from head to toe in straw - the 'straw bear' - is paraded through the streets, accompanied by 250 dancers, musicians and performers, while in Ottery St Mary, Devon, a crowd gathers as townspeople hoist barrels of flaming tar on to their shoulders and carry them until they are too hot to handle. Award-winning photographer Sara Hannant has travelled the length and breadth of the country, capturing the seemingly bizarre regional rituals - costumed processions, symbolic dramatizations, traditional dances and fire ceremonies - that mark the changing seasons. Many of these customs claim an ancient origin, and are kept alive today by local communities. Hannant's vibrant photographs reflect her keen eye for the unexpected, offering a captivating and surprising study of English identity.

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The window is one of the most essential components of architecture, yet it rarely receives the detailed examination that it deserves. This new study explores the development of the window, showing how it transformed human experience by increasing access to light and air, and simultaneously changed our perception of architectural space. Christopher Masters celebrates the multiple roles of the window in architecture through thematic chapters that allow for spectacular visual comparisons, juxtaposing images from different cultures and historical periods. He provides engaging commentaries on over 80 exceptional buildings of all types, both ancient and modern, ranging from the Pantheon in Rome, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto to Walter Gropius's Bauhaus in Dessau, Eero Saarinen's TWA Terminal in New York, Jean Nouvel's Louvre Abu Dhabi and Dorte Mandrup's Icefjord Centre in Greenland. Featuring more than 150 superb photographs, this is an intriguing and accessible survey of a formerly neglected subject in architectural history. AUTHOR: Christopher Masters is a London-based author specialising in art and architecture. SELLING POINTS: . A new survey of an integral but little-studied aspect of architecture across the centuries . With more than 80 buildings worldwide by architects from Palladio and Christopher Wren to Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Santiago Calatrava, Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid . A wide-ranging, informative text analyses the window as a central aesthetic and functional feature of architecture, and also considers key social and technological factors 150 colour illustrations

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The garden design firm of SMI Landscape Architecture is known for its estate masterplanning, its public gardens and streetscapes, and its thoughtful private gardens for clients across the United States, particularly in Florida, and in the Bahamas. The firm's philosophy incorporates a `botanic garden' approach with exotic planting and elements of classical European design to create beautiful, usable spaces, and it is also known for its preservation and restoration of old landscapes. This book presents 15 new gardens, never before published in any book, that show the range of the firm's work. Each client has different requirements, and so each garden turns out differently - but each shows the firm's hallmarks of lush planting, luxurious garden `rooms' and immaculate hardscaping. As Jorge Sánchez puts it in the Preface, `This book shows how not one individual but many make a firm successful.' For each garden, practical information about the design approach and details of the planting are combined with an account of the process, the firm's relationship with the client and the reasons for the design decisions. Through the narrative - often personal, always descriptive, always detailed - a picture builds up of the approach to each set of circumstances. Many of the projects are in Palm Beach, where a boom in the building of new houses and their attached estates in the early twentieth century has left a legacy of stunning - if sometimes neglected - homes and landscapes ripe for restoration. Local architects such as Addison Mizner and Maurice Fatio designed houses that are now being rejuvenated and sympathetically modernized to fit the requirements of twenty-first-century families, and firms such as SMI are at the forefront of the re-creation of their gardens. The Weisfisch Garden in Palm Beach, for example, was carefully restored and given the surroundings its architecture and its owners deserved, and the whole project was recognized with a prestigious award from the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation. The firm of SMI also works in temperate planting zones, and projects in more northerly states provide an opportunity to work with an entirely different palette of plants. For the Plumb Garden in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, for example, the firm was commissioned to remodel a small estate attached to an old pleasure house. The landscape here is much wilder and more temperate than in Florida, and the firm's job was to work with the natural flora and contours of the land while quietly intervening to personalize the areas nearest the house. Simple manipulations of form and slope along with water features and some much more intimate spaces have created a garden that fits impeccably into its wider context and yet is capable of being used and enjoyed by the family. Throughout the book there is a strong sense of participation - with the climate, with the local flora, with the clients and with other designers, whether architects, artisans or interior designers. To be part of such collaborative efforts is hugely satisfying for Sánchez and the members of his team, Claudia Visconti, John Lubischer and Brian Vertesch, as well as producing the best possible result for each set of clients. This beautiful book will appeal to garden lovers everywhere, as well as to design aficionados seeking a deeper understanding of the creative process behind making a garden. It will also appeal to garden designers and horticultural students.

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