Our selection of books at No.3 cover many creative fields. Architecture books with their striking photography let us get up close with the beauty, spatial design and conceptual form. Architecture, like all creative fields, is so very personal in how we each see and appreciate the physical building, the way it fits with its surroundings and how the space within it can make us feel. Having designed my own, I can appreciate how deeply personal our homes are and a truly unique expression of ourselves. Discovering innovative buildings through books is a great way to immerse yourself in their design. Here are a few of our favourites from the selection we carry at No.3.
Concrete Jungle: Tropical Architecture and Its Surprising Origins / gestalten
Combine concrete's stoicism with luscious vegetative environments and you get to the language of tropical modernism. In continuity with its founding principles from the mid 20th century, today's architectural visionaries renew the use of raw materials, such as exposed concrete, to explore functionality rather than aesthetics. No matter if works are created in total symbiosis with the tropical landscape or surrounded by flourishing nature, Concrete Jungle presents the dichotomy of the rough material being softened by interaction with the interior and exterior. When gray meets green a never ending range of impressions awakens. Book Contains 304 pages.
A House in Japan: Lessons in Living / gestalten
A House in Japan examines the Japanese home as a site of architectural inquiry--an intimate scale through which ideas about space, structure, and domesticity are continually reimagined. In a context shaped by constraint, precision, and cultural continuity, the residential realm becomes a space of subtle provocation and quiet experimentation. The projects in this volume are not guided by aesthetics alone, but by spatial intelligence. Each home is rigorous in design, elastic in use, and attuned to the rhythms of daily life. A House in Japan presents works that privilege clarity over excess and intent over display. It is a study of how architecture, when quietly radical, can propose new ways of living. The book reveals how Japanese homes, understated yet radical, show that even the everyday can be transformed into something unexpected.
Second Home: A Different Way of Living by Stephen Crafti / Schiffer Publishing
On a remote island, among sand dunes, adjacent to a lake, and on a rocky beach—these are just some of the stunning sites of the architect-designed contemporary houses featured in this celebration of getaways that connect strongly with nature. Renowned architecture and design commentator Stephen Crafti takes us on a private tour of residential getaways across the US and Canada, Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. Some second homes, such as a luxury yacht designed by architect Stephen Jolson, spare no amenity, mirroring the type of kitchen one would find in a house firmly anchored to the ground, rather than moored at a jetty. Others, such as a home by Bongiana Architetture on the outskirts of Padua in northern Italy, have a raw, almost industrial aesthetic. Sumptuous photography is juxtaposed with architectural drawings and floor plans, making this book an inspirational resource for architects and designers. Book Contains 304 printed pages and 300 color and b/w images / Size: 22.9 cm x 27.9 cm.
Concrete Houses: Form, Line, and Plane By Steve Huyton and Cheryl Weber / Schiffer Publishing
Robust and raw, concrete has been a rudimentary building material for centuries, but it is only relatively recently that architects have begun exploring its softer, tactile side in the design of houses. Concrete is durable, recyclable, and thermally efficient, and it goes up quickly compared to wood or metal framing. The appeal for architects, though, is its plasticity and potential for magic, making poetry out of the mundane. Witness concrete's endless form-making possibilities in this collection of contemporary homes by A-list architects in diverse locations across Japan, Australia, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, the US, and more. Along with exquisite color photography and plans, the architects share their design approach to projects ranging from 10,000 square feet on spectacular sites, to compact urban gems. Book Contains 304 printed page and 290 color and b/w images / Size: 22.9cm x 27.9 cm.
Brick by Brick : Architecture and Interiors Built with Bricks / gestalten
Our world has always been built on bricks. A material used by societies as ancient as the Roman empire or Mesopotamia, brick is simple yet versatile, humble yet resilient, recognisable yet local. Its sustainable nature and connection to vernacular architectures have placed brick as one of the most exciting options for building, with architects from all over the world pushing the boundaries of its applications in forward-looking projects. With a focus on residential and interior architecture, this book is a curated assortment of the best in class. Interweaving inspirational projects across the globe with in-depth features and practical knowledge, Brick by Brick is the definitive title to understand how this ancient material can build our way into the future. Brick by Brick showcases the best examples of modern brick applications, with a focus on residential buildings and interiors. These forward-looking projects from around the globe push the boundaries of brick architecture and design. Brick by Brick reveals how traditional forms are revitalized and made contemporary, and how this LEGO block of human civilization can help build our future.
