From the rise of the egalitarian Little Free Library movement (motto: Take a book, return a book) to the growth in luxury hotel libraries, Alex Johnson whose parents were both librarians maps out the history and future of the 21st-century library revolution in seven thematic chapters, each consisting of a brief essay followed by illustrated project profiles. Whether by bike in Chicago or by donkey in Colombia, librarians all over the world are coming up with astonishingly ingenious ways of ensuring their books reach the people who need them. Many of these new libraries function as community centres, and assist their members in overcoming economic, social and political barriers. Others provide an unexpected dose of culture for travellers and commuters or even prisoners. Elsewhere, architects are designing monumental public libraries without walls, and prefabricated home libraries that can be assembled in an ordinary back garden. Whether youre at an airport, a park, a cafe or in the wilds, you can still find just the right book all for free.

In recent years, new lighting technologies have been used to illuminate cities and towns in creative, energy-efficient ways. Smart Light is now a widely used term for the new technologies and ecological ideas that are transforming nighttime atmospheres and spectacular Smart Light festivals are awing audiences around the world. Featuring more than fifty public artworks, design installations, and architectural elements, SuperLux is a visual celebration of the ingenuity and artistry of the latest lighting technology. The book s three sections focus on projects that use light to animate architecture and media screens; new lighting in former industrial zones and new public areas, including wayfinding and street lighting; and interactive installations in urban spaces. Each is punctuated with essays by leading experts and designers on this remarkable new phenomenon. As our public buildings, public spaces, and even homes become increasingly interactive, intelligent lighting design will become ever more relevant to our lives. SuperLux is an exciting introduction for designers, architects, artists, and anyone intrigued by the power of light.

This book contains over 60 recipes, each introduced with an insightful historical story or anecdote, and an accompanying image, spanning such delicacies as aspic, borscht, caviar and herring, by way of birds milk cake and pelmeni. As the Soviet Union struggled along the path to Communism, food supplies were often sporadic and shortages commonplace. Day to day living was hard, both the authorities and their citizens had to apply every ounce of ingenuity to maximize often inadequate resources. The stories and recipes contained here reflect these turbulent times: from basic subsistence meals consumed by the average citizen (okroshka), to extravagant banquets held by the political elite (suckling pig with buckwheat), and a scattering of classics (beef stroganoff) in between. Illustrated using images sourced from original Soviet recipe books collected by the author. Many of these sometimes extraordinary-looking pictures depicted dishes whose recipes used unobtainable ingredients, placing them firmly in the realm of aspirational fantasy for the average Soviet household. In their content and presentation the pictures themselves act as a window into cuisine of the day, in turn revealing the unique political and social attitudes of the era.

Collectable, one-of-a-kind artisanal objects whether hand-woven textiles or handblown glass have become a fixture of the modern home; and the artists who produce them are increasingly sought-after. In this follow-up volume to The New Artisans, design expert and lauded blogger Olivier Dupon continues his exploration of the most creative artisans working today. Divided into two sections, The New Artisans II is the ultimate reference to the vibrant, creative world of the handmade. The first section profiles a range of designers, including descriptions of their backgrounds and technical approaches alongside photos of them at work and samples of their stunning creations. This global cast of artisans employs an array of craft traditions including weaving, crocheting, ceramics, paper arts, furniture-making, glass-blowing, metalworking, and more. The second section is a directory of objects, categorized as art; ceramics; furniture; glasswork; jewelry, clothing, and accessories; lighting; metalwork; papercraft; tableware; decorative textiles and homewares; and functional textiles and homewares.

This beautifully illustrated book is a style bible for anyone interested in design and the home. It is arranged into ten distinct chapters, each one concentrating upon a specific interior style or theme. Each chapter is illustrated with ten evocative houses or flats, whose aesthetic essence is captured within an opening double-page spread concentrating on the most spectacular space in the home. Its story unfolds in the accompanying text, and design elements and individual features are picked out in more detail on the following pages. Each entry provides an in-depth discussion of an engaging space including bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, living rooms and much more that illustrates the theme of the chapter plus individual stylistic ideas particular to the featured homes. Along the way key design ingredients are explored and explained, from materials through to furniture design, texture through to pattern and light. From Art Deco to modernism, analyses of design styles and references are woven into the mix. Full of inspiration, information and ideas, Interior Design Close Up will draw in anyone looking for a source book for their own space.

John Bookman — Book to his friends — is a tenured professor at the University of Texas School of Law. He's thirty-five, handsome and unmarried. He teaches Constitutional Law, reduces senators to blithering fools on talk shows, and is often mentioned as a future Supreme Court nominee. But Book is also famous for something more unusual. He likes to take on lost causes and win. Consequently, when he arrives at the law school each Monday morning, hundreds of letters await him, letters from desperate Americans around the country seeking his help. Every now and then, one letter captures his attention and Book feels compelled to act. In the first of a thrilling new series from the author of international bestsellers The Colour of Law and Accused, Book investigates a murder set in the high-stakes world of fracking and corruption in deepest, darkest Texas.

Brian WebbThis book draws on Edward Bawden's delightful illustrations, posters and linocuts of Kew Gardens made over 60 years. It presents a light-hearted social history of Kew, peopled with the many Hanoverian Kings, Queens and Princes who resided there, as well as courtiers such as the 3rd Earl of Bute, Joseph Banks Fulke Greville and their proteges including William Chambers, William Aiton, Fanny Burney and Sir William Hooker. Alongside Bawden's posters and linocuts, the book is illustrated with the contemporary caricatures of Rowlandson and Gillray as well as botanical illustrations by Franz Bauer and others.

There is nothing unusual about billionaire Roarke supervising work on his new property — but when he takes a ceremonial swing at the first wall to be knocked down, he uncovers the body of a girl. And then another — in fact, twelve dead girls concealed behind a false wall. Luckily for Roarke, he is married to the best police lieutenant in town. Eve Dallas is determined to find the killer — especially when she discovers that the building used to be a sanctuary for deliquent teenagers and the parallel with her past as a young runaway hits hard. As the girls' identities are slowly unravelled by the department's crack forensic team, Eve and her staunch sidekick Peabody get closer to the shocking truth...

In this highly anticipated eighth novel of a New York Times bestselling series, the mechanic, shapeshifter and fighter Mercy Thompson faces her greatest challenge yet.

Home delivery: The amazing story of the prefabricated house A Prefab is a mass produced house, constructed in a factory and assembled on site in a few days or weeks. Once regarded as a cheap, easy solution for urgent housing problems, the prefab has evolved to become a synonym for ambitious design and sophisticated detailing solutions. The amazing history of prefabricated houses started in England in the 1830's with a building kit for emigrants moving to Australia. Even today, prefabricated houses provide a high percentage of living spaces in many countries of the world. This book covers prefabs from the USA via Europe to Asia and Africa, giving insight into the various industrially prefabricated components, the difficulties of delivery to the building site, and the intricacies of assembly and completion. As well as tracing the liaison between modernism and industrialization that evolved to produce the latest prefabricated solutions, it also features a unique compilation of one-off prefabricated houses by well known international architects, as well as successful dwellings manufactured off-site for everyday modern living. Readers will also find contact details for relevant suppliers and manufacturers.

This book is a celebration of London's buildings that is as unique as the city itself. There are any number of thick books covering the history of London and its architecture, but Make Your Own London Landmarks offers something a little different the chance to get up close to those buildings by building your own models. The five buildings included are among the best-known of London's many famous sights: Sir Christopher Wrens masterpiece St. Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Palace with its world famous Big Ben clock tower, Tower Bridge, The London Eye and the glittering Shard tower. Each is accompanied by facts and figures that give some background information to bring your very own miniature London alive!

With stunning photography, this series offers a visually exciting way of learning all about animal life cycles. Each book in the series features six in-depth profiles of unusual species with which many young children may not be familiar.

With stunning photography, this series offers a visually exciting way of learning all about animal life cycles. Each book in the series features six in-depth profiles of unusual species with which many young children may not be familiar.

With stunning photography, this series offers a visually exciting way of learning all about animal life cycles. Each book in the series features six in-depth profiles of unusual species with which many young children may not be familiar.

With stunning photography, this series offers a visually exciting way of learning all about animal life cycles. Each book in the series features six in-depth profiles of unusual species with which many young children may not be familiar.

With stunning photography, this series offers a visually exciting way of learning all about animal life cycles. Each book in the series features six in-depth profiles of unusual species with which many young children may not be familiar.

With stunning photography, this series offers a visually exciting way of learning all about animal life cycles. Each book in the series features six in-depth profiles of unusual species with which many young children may not be familiar.

The definitive monograph of Annette Messager, covering her multifaceted oeuvre from immersive installations to intricate taxidermy, now updated and expanded in collaboration with the artist. Annette Messager's original use of form and poetic power of communication place her among Europe's leading contemporary artists. Her work experiments with a wide variety of media, from painting and sculpture to assemblage, photography, film, and embroidery. From her early works exploring fictional autobiography to her commanding, penetrable installations, her work is at once intimate and universal, using familiar objects to challenge conventional outlooks. A strong, visual work that provides a clear picture of the artist's creative development, this edition encompasses her recent work, including the installation Casino at the 2005 Venice Biennale. Including a thirty-four page introductory portfolio, the book is organized thematically and incorporates first hand interviews with the artist and analyses of individual works. Completed by a full exhibition history and extensive bibliography, this is a must-read for anyone interested in current artistic developments in Europe.

The houses architects design for themselves The greatest challenge in designing homes is negotiating the delicate balance between aesthetics and the personal desires of the occupants. While it's important for the structure to reflect the vision and style of the architect, the client must ultimately feel at home beneath the roof. It is particularly interesting, therefore, to examine the homes that architects create for themselves. If houses reflect their owners' personalities, then architects' own homes are like autobiographies. Location, layout, style, lighting, artwork, furnishings — every detail adds color to the story. Each of these dwellings, presented A-Z by architect, speaks more about its designer than any other building possibly could.

Wonderfully preserved Greek vases are a unique source of information about the mythology, religion, drama and daily life of the ancient Greek world. This sumptuous photographic book offers a superb visual introduction to the artistry of ancient Greek vases, exploring them not merely as beautiful vessels to bear water and wine, but also as instruments of storytelling and bearers of meaning. Presenting the vases and the is imagery in their full narrative glory, The Greek Vase interprets the informs and stories along a variety of themes, from the adventures of gods and mythological heroes, to expressive scenes of sexual intimacy and depictions of social, family and domestic life. Throughout, the text highlights what these pictures would have meant to the people who lived with and used them, how they have been received by later generations, and the profound influence of their form, decoration and narrative on subsequent art, architecture and literature.