A unique history from the perspective of forward-thinking architects
A new history by Jean-Louis Cohen reveals the progression of building through the lens of architects looking toward the future. Tracking the social changes that caused architects to anticipate the demands of urban living that were to come, Cohen retrospectively examines the greatest advances in building from the dawn of industrialization through the postmodern era. The future, in this case, begins in 1889, with the author pointing out in his introduction that “the quantity of building stock produced since 1900 has surpassed the sum total of that which existed in all previous human history.”
The eminent architectural historian currently holds the Sheldon H. Solow chair at NYU. In his most recent work, he joins an academic perspective with a narrative voice that replaces industry jargon with a fascinating account. His global viewpoint is rare in this kind of work, which typically neglects non-western developments. Cohen pinpoints the critical moments in history and architecture, from the rise of futurism and fascism in Italy to the dawn of western secular forms in the building of Ankara, capital city of the then newly established Turkish republic.
Not restricting his analysis to completed structures, Cohen embraces theoretical projects as well. “In view of all these transformations, it has been impossible to limit architecture’s definition in this book to realized constructions. Unbuilt designs, as well as books, journals, and public manifestations embodying the culture of architecture in its broadest sense, have also been taken into account. Indeed, realized buildings are always informed by ideas, narratives, and repressed memories of past projects.”
Observing contemporary phenomena, Cohen discusses the rise of Neo-Futurism as a corollary to technology, noting that many of the structures built today are byproducts of new materials and ideas about the function of large-scale constructions in society. As the needs of urbanized societies changed to accommodate massive populations, the minds of architects put to use developments such as load-bearing glass to create previously impossible forms.
Cohen’s probing curiosity ends the book by voicing a series of concerns over green building, the role of architectural criticism in new media, the potential for landscape in urban settings, and the need for low-income housing as part of the public welfare. His conclusion follows the tradition established by 20th-century architects and their desire to predict the future of society.
The book is available for pre-order from Amazon for $47.
A Parisian graphic designer draws funny and insightful parallels between two beloved cities
After spending a fair amount of time in the culture capital of NYC, Parisian graphic designer Vahram Muratyan returned home and created “Paris versus New York“—an online series of charming illustrations comparing the respective nuances of the two bustling—and beloved—metropolises. Whether pitting Amélie against Carrie Bradshaw or pointing out the differences in urban ventilation systems, Muratyan’s sharp wit and straightforward style lead to correlations that are enjoyed as much for their design as their clever, simple narratives.
Now a forthcoming book, “Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities” features 105 of his illustrations, 60 of which have never been published before. Muratyan takes on everything from lifestyle habits, such the Parisian’s love for cigarette breaks versus the New Yorker’s affinity for keeping on the go, to breakfast (a croissant versus a banana).
Moving beyond the standard side-by-side comparison, two of the more interesting images Muratyan created are maps that at first glance appear to be like a standard survey of each city, but on closer look reveal the maps superimposed with their counterpart’s neighborhood labels. While Montmartre has been relocated to Williamsburg, the Empire State building is placed where the Eiffel Tower usually stands.
“Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities” is available from Amazon for pre-order, and will sell at book shops beginning 31 January 2012. See more images in the slideshow.
In a year studded with beautiful new volumes by and about artists and designers ranging from Alexander McQueen to Andrea Zittel, these are the five that we found most inspiring.
Autobiography of a Fashion Designer: Ralph Rucci (Bauer and Dean) by Ralph Rucci, with photographs by Baldomero Fernandez Fashion designer and artist Ralph Rucci has been betrayed by key members of the fashion press, who should have made him a household name years ago, but critics, curators, and connoisseurs have picked up the slack. This just-published volume is a fascinating follow-up to Ralph Rucci: The Art of Weightlessness (Yale University Press), published in 2007 to accompany the Museum at FIT’s exhibition of the designer’s work. Like Rucci’s exquisite creations, Autobiography of a Fashion Designer rewards patience and close-looking, with pages of lush color photos and descriptions of the couture techniques used (and in some cases pioneered) in the Chado Ralph Rucci atelier. Inspired by Sol LeWitt’s Autobiography (1980), a kind of exhaustive visual index of the artist’s life, this book also tells the stories behind 20 objects Rucci has collected in his lifetime. It’s a fitting tribute to an uncompromising designer with the soul of artist.
Alexander Girard by Todd Oldham and Kiera Coffee (Ammo Books) Treat yourself to the amazing Alexander Girard mega-monograph by designer Todd Oldham and writer Kiera Coffee. The product of nearly four years of research and, at 672 pages, an innovative scheme of printing and binding, this book is a must for any design lover. Oldham was granted exclusive permission to sift through the fastidiously kept archives of Girard (1907-1993), who is best known for his folk art-infused textiles for Herman Miller but also designed everything from buildings to typography. “I’d estimate that 90 percent of the work in the book hasn’t been seen,” Oldham told us earlier this year. “Wait ‘til you see the stuff from his early design career, in the ‘20s.” And take a closer look at the image credits: many of the archival photos were taken by frequent Girard collaborator Charles Eames. continued…
Profane grammatical stylings, an inside look at NYC’s elevated park, an insane beer can collection and more in our look at the best tomes of 2011
The digital era isn’t stopping writers with a clear purpose for a printed publication, and readers are just as eager to get their hands on a bit of paper that will stimulate their mind and sit well on their shelves for another read another day. Below are the top five books on Cool Hunting that made an impact on 2011.
Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design
The first retrospective book on the 20th century’s film title master, “Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design” shows the legendary visual communicator’s full spectrum of work, spanning his graphic wizardry to album and book covers, typefaces, packaging, retail displays, a hi-fi system, toys and a postage stamp.
The Elements of F*cking Style
A modern parody of Strunk & White, in “The Elements of F*cking Style authors Chris Baker and Jacob Hansen address everything from common questions like “What the hell is a pronoun?” to conundrums like “Does not using paragraphs or periods make my thesis read like it was written by a mental patient?”
High Line: The Inside Story
The founders of NYC’s park in the sky recount their ten-year journey in “High Line: The Inside Story.” The intimately detailed book offers valuable insight on all of the planning and production that went into creating the beloved elevated park, as well as photos of the stretch before it became an urban gem.
My First Dictionary
“My First Dictionary” uses cleverly corrupt definitions to teach big kids the facts of life. Inspired by “The Giant Picture Dictionary for Boys and Girls,” first time author Ross Horsley’s humorous take is perfectly accented by charming Norman Rockwell-esque illustrations taken from the original 1977 children’s book.
Beer
After documenting the astonishing assortment of cans found in his step-dad’s Midwest basement, San Fracisco-based designer Dan Becker created “Beer” along with fellow designer Lance Wilson. The book handsomely captures a beer can collection that spans seven decades and 32 countries.
Voici le projet de Guy Laramee qui transforme une pile de livres en de véritable sculptures grace à ses talents. Un résultat magnifique, réalisé avec minutie et beaucoup de détails. L’ensemble est à découvrir dans la suite de l’article à travers une série de visuels.
The recently released tome covers art, design and fashion inspired by the iconic symbol in all its morbid glory
Long lauded as a dark symbol of the occult, the skull has endured a rather fashionable resurgence in recent years. Cataloging some of the most intriguing and sometimes unnerving displays of the symbol’s use is Skull Style, a newly released visual encyclopedia of sorts on the subject as it has appeared in modern design. Covering nearly 500 pages, this massive anthology details various forms from art and interiors to avant-garde fashion and jewelry.
The first page we opened to landed on the incredible “impaled” high heel by fashion designer Kermit Tesoro—we knew then that the book would uncover even more unique iterations of the motif. Jim’s papier-mache and rope “Fashion Designers” and Scott Campbell‘s 3D “Noblesse Oblige” made entirely of cut and uncut U.S. currency.
Alongside each artist and designer featured, Skull Style provides a brief biography for context and, sometimes, up to 10 pieces of their skull-centric work. As the book flows from fashion to object design and jewelry the reader is introduced to an stunning array of works from the likes of Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Alexander McQueen.
Released earlier this month, Skull Style is now available for $91 from Amazon. For more information on Skull Style and other equally intriguing books from the new publishing house Curated Collection head to Farameh Media online.
It’s coming to the end of another year in the wonderful world of visual communications. Time to test your knowledge of who did what in the CR Quiz of the Year.
We’ve divided the questions up into the months of the year. If you’re stuck for an answer, you can find them all by digging around either in this website or in your back issues of the printed magazine. Best of luck. Answers to be revealed in the New Year.
January
1. CR’s January issue introduces readers to six Ones to Watch. One of these young creatives also designed our cover – who was it?
2. Starbuck’s reveals a new stripped-down logo designed by which US consultancy alongside the brand’s in-house team?
3. Intel launches The Chase, an innovative ad featuring a 105-second chase across a wide variety of programme windows on a computer desktop including iTunes, Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite. Which agency was responsible?
4. “It does look like a bulbous penis, unfortunately.” Which major sporting event’s logo, launched this month, was this CR commenter referring to?
5. The Gunn Report reveals the most awarded commercial of 2010. An unlikely tale in French, can you remember the name of the ad and the client?
February
1. Can you name three of the typefaces honoured in the Best in Book section of our Type Annual?
2. Droga5 launches a campaign to remove all the advertising from Times Square in aid of the new documentary by which filmmaker? Bonus point: what was the film called?
3. VW reveals what would go on to be the most viewed ad of the year at the Superbowl. Name the ad and the agency responsible
4. Unit Editions launches its book on Dutch studio Total Design: can you name two of Total’s founding partners?
4. Penguin Books follows up Great Ideas with Great Food. Who was the art director on the series?
5. Which country threatens to boycott the 2012 Olympics because of the logo? Not as a comment on the quality of its design but because it allegedly spells ‘zion’.
March
1. The Brit Insurance Design of the Year Award goes to…?
2. CR profiles the designer of pictograms that represent every aspect of life. His work also appears in our Monograph booklet that month: what was his name?
3. Which punk band did we also feature in the same issue?
4. Wieden + Kennedy launches a new commercial featuring cats with thumbs: which client was it for?
5. Eurostar launches its new identity – or should we say ‘brand world’? Who designed it?
6. The Design Museum’s Wim Crouwel show opens. Which London-based designer and self-confessed Crouwel stalker co-curated it?
April
1. CR announces its list of our 20 favourite logos of all time. Which one came top?
2. Who designed the cover of our April issue?
3. Hat-Trick designs a series of RSC stamps featuring Shakesperean quotes written out by which illustrator?
4. A spoof Royal Wedding video becomes massively popular on YouTube (comments on CR range from “You can feel the smugness coming off the screen in waves” to “I LOVE this ad, it’s funny, and that… as they say, is that! “- which ad agency was responsible?
5. D&AD launches a new award for work done for creative ideas that change the world for the better: what colour pencil will the winner receive?
May
1. In CR, Rick Poynor interviews someone described as a “musician, artist, film director, writer and patron of great graphic design”. Who?
2. Name three projects honoured as Best in Book in the CR Annual
3. The Little Chef gets a makeover, courtesy of which brand design studio?
4. BBH creates an epic two-and-a-half-minute commercial for Audi in which a driver talks about his experiences of which famous race?
5. The Design Museum stages a show about which soft drink?
6. What was this little feller advertising?
June
1. CR profiles veteran ad man Sir John Hegarty: what was the name of his creative partner on the 1985 Levi’s Laundrette commercial?
2. The Glue Society creates an installation consisting of a house where it rains on the inside for an arts festival in which country?
3. Name two of the six Black Pencils awarded at D&AD
4. And the winner of the Titanium Lion at Cannes?
5. Wieden + Kennedy launches an innovative scheme by which fans of which band can create their own album cover and even earn a share of sales?
July
1. Name two of the illustrators featured in the Best in Book section of the CR Illustration Annual
2. And who designed the cover of this issue?
3. Former graphic designer and music video director Mike Mills releases his second feature film, starring Ewan McGregor. What was it called?
4. MoMA in New York opens a major show on interactive design – what was it called?
5. Which Leeds-based studio created this new identity for the National Railway Museum?
August
1. CR’s Summer Reading issue features a selection of great writing on visual communication. Who wrote this? “Early in my life as a designer, I acquired a reputation as a good bullshitter.”
2. Levi’s releases the latest in its Go Forth series of ads but which event made the timing of this ad somewhat awkward and ensured that it would not be shown in the UK?
3. Which illustrator releases a Daily Monster Maker app?
4. How old would Bill Bernbach have been on August 13?
5. The Radio Times launches a controversial website designed by which studio?
September
1. CR features a book on the in-house packaging design department of which major supermarket?
2. Name one of the graduates featured in our September Graduate Special issue?
3. Interbrand renames Airmiles as what?
4. At last some interesting work for the Olympics – a series of Paralympic posters by agency McCann Worldgroup and which illustrator?
October
1. CR features the Comedy Carpet, a major installation in which seaside town?
2. In his regular logo design column, Michael Evamy looks at the Google Android: who designed it?
3. The Imperial War Museums unveil a new identity by which studio?
4. Steve Jobs passes away: in which year was the Mac launched with Ridley Scott’s famous ad?
5. “What an appalling redesign. The choice of font is uninspired. The mark is lazy (ten minutes in illustrator?). The positioning of the mark lacks dynamism. And the strapline is so trite that it must have come out of a marketing dept group ‘workshop’.” Which logo for a major UK corporation is this CR commenter talking about?
6. Name three of the cartoon characters featured in TBWA’s Müller yoghurt Wunderful Stuff commercial
7. As the Occupy movement pitches camp outside St Paul’s it publishes a newspaper, The Occupied Times, using which Jonathan Barnbrook typeface?
November
1. “I like it to be powerful. I like to have some humanity in it.” That’s why his body of work still speaks to us decades later. It has humanity. Who was Rick Poynor talking about in a major feature in CR?
2. Who painted Coke’s Yes Girl, the subject of a major piece in CR this month?
3. “Such a great twist at the end! Watched the video 3 times and wanted to cry each time!! So heart wrenching… but lovely” Which ad is this CR commenter talking about?
4, Name three of the artists producing posters for the 2012 Olympics
5. “Looks like he spilt his paint and was trying to wipe it up”. Which artist’s Olympic poster was this CR commenter referring to?
6. Students from which college produce alternative Olympic poster designs featured on the CR blog?
December
1. Which city is the focus of CR’s attention in print this month?
2. Which Dutch designer, profiled in CR this month, increased her body weight by almost 50% during the course of one mammoth project during which she barely left her desk?
3. The Design Museum acquires which weapon and design ‘classic’ for its collection?
4. Which brand suggests shopping with it will allow us to avoid the Walk of Shame?
5. Which rapper-turned-design critic offered this analysis of the work of Charles and Ray Eames: “they was doing mash-ups before mash-ups even existed!”
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from all at CR
CR in Print
If you only read CR online, you’re missing out. The January issue of Creative Review is a music special with features on festivals, the future of the music video and much much more. Plus it comes with its very own soundtrack for you to listen to while reading the magazine.
If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK,you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.
A new cookbook relays life lessons learned building a Montreal restaurant
In so many ways, Joe Beef seems to fit with current restaurant trends. The team grows their own produce, sources their meat locally and buys from family vineyards, but Joe Beef is not new to the scene. If anything, it’s old hat—a study in history and a return to middle-class values in Montreal. Their cookbook (of sorts) couples recipes with legends, anecdotes with instruction, illustrating lessons learned in the creation of a restaurant. It also serves as a guide to Montreal and surrounding areas, with everything from lodging tips to itineraries to the best place to get a haircut.
David McMilland, chef and owner of Joe Beef, is everything a restauranteur should be—he’s gregarious, loquacious, a bit crass and a drinker. He knows what he likes and he’ll tell you what he doesn’t. When it came to leaving the upscale dining scene, McMilland and his partner Frédéric Morin wanted to keep it simple. “We just wanted to do a regular menu, you know. Six appetizers, six mains, interesting wines that we thought were interesting,” says McMillan. Surrounding themselves with the right objects was key. “We get off on silverware, oyster forks, Le Creuset pots, on beautiful ancient copper pots, the right banquette, an old mirror… If I wasn’t fucking running a restaurant I swear to God I’d shut it down and open an antique shop.”
McMilland doesn’t see his decision to do old French recipes as anything incongruous. Considering the the working-class neighborhood of Little Burgundy where Joe Beef is located, molecular cuisine and square plates simply weren’t an option. “We would come off as guys who don’t know what they’re doing or have no sense of time and place, no education in history. ” Instead, McMilland and Morin, both family men with a strong sense of self-awareness, set out to create a small restaurant in a plain neighborhood that served great food without pretension.
The book has recipes, sure, but the focus is on the life of the restaurant. “We wrote a book about running a restaurant, about gardening, about welding, about Montreal, other people’s restaurants, about old historic restaurants,” says McMilland. He explains that the joy of running Joe Beef lies in the fact that he can leave the din of the kitchen, go outside and plant some lettuce, or head down to the workshop to cut a cedar plank on which to serve a whole arctic char. “If you’re a fucking chef in NYC, and you run a big ass restaurant, Joe Beef is that restaurant you dream of owning.”
McMilland is a diligent student of history, constantly pulling inspiration from old Montreal as the basis for his recipes. Several of the dishes highlighted in the book are taken from Canadian dining car fare. Patrick “Joe Beef” McKiernan, the restaurant’s namesake, embodies the spirit that McMilland and Morin try to capture in their food and in the culture of their establishment. A 19th-century Irish immigrant, Joe Beef earned his monicker through his ability to find food in times of need.
The original Joe Beef’s Canteen was a roughly furnished establishment that saw its fair share rowdy patrons, sometimes referred to as “The Great House of Vulgar People.” Though Little Burgundy has for a long time been considered and up-and-coming neighborhood, the rough edges remain. As McMilland soberly relates, “We had a guy on fire in front of our restaurant three weeks ago.”
The food at Joe Beef celebrates meat, and so does the book to some extent—there’s a recipe for a sausage martini in the cocktail section—but greens are key to the restaurant’s vision. In the summer, McKiernan explains, “The appetizers are all piles of raw vegetables or roasted vegetables or vegetable salads or greens and mountains of asparagus.” If you’re eating a carrot at Joe Beef, there’s a good chance it comes from the garden out back or from McMilland’s or Morin’s personal plots.
The Art of Living According to Joe Beef is available for purchase from Amazon for $25. Tune in to see Joe Beef and other Montreal foodie havens on the upcoming episode of Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover, airing 26 December 2011.
The latest pocket familiar from Four Corners Books is Anthony Hope’s The Prisoner of Zenda, illustrated by Mireille Fauchon. As with its books to date, design is paramount but, for this release, it’s the bespoke typeface Rudy that really shines…
The face is used for the book’s title pages and chapter headings and was designed by John Morgan and Adrien Vasquez.
Cleverly it echoes the book’s theme of doppelgängers, which is also implied through a doubling up of title plates on the cover (one is a hologram, a nice take on the notion of authenticity). To create the Rudy typeface, Morgan explains, “the distortion of each letterform is rationalised to a twice vertical repeat.”
Rudy is named after King Rudolf Rassendyll of Ruritania from the story (and after one of Morgan’s sons) and was apparently an attempt to give the book’s pages the texture of Blackletter. Morgan also cites the typographic experiments of Raymond Hains as a direct influence on the work.
While beautifully realised, Rudy is also a great example of a book design that complements its subject matter. It works really well with Fauchon’s work, too, and a series of colour plates, folded into the book, add to its handmade appearance.
Apparently, after completing the work, the typographers had to create a final symbol, one that readers wouldn’t even see in the text: they realised they required a double @, for the email address on the book launch invitations.
The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, the seventh in the series of Four Corners Familiars, is available now from Four Corners Books; £9.99.
Our shopping list for procrastinating buyers, still set to arrive in time for the holidays
Many on our staff apply the journalist’s deadline-minded plan of action to Christmas shopping, so we can sympathize with the procrastinators out there. That said, we’ve gone through our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide to collect a varied selection of items that all have one thing in common: expedited delivery. Order now and you’ll get your items with time to spare before the big day.
Voguing and the House Ballroom Scene of New York, 1989-92
In this wild and vivid book, documentary photographer Chantal Regnault captures the New York City ball culture of the late ’80s and early ’90s. This hardcover edition features hundreds of pictures from the heart of the “Voguing” scene, and is perfect for fans of Jennie Livingston’s documentary film “Paris Is Burning.”
Chuck Close Self-Portrait
The piece that launched artist Chuck Close into art-world fame, this photorealist self-portrait was made using airbrushed black acrylic paint. Available from the Walker Art Gallery’s shop, this decorative item will add a splash of contemporary culture to any home
Coach Foie Gras Tote
Designed by Fashion Foie Gras blogger Emily Johnston, this city tote pops with accents of old-school-preppy flair. The American-born editor hoped to bring a bit of transatlantic style to her adopted city of London with this bag from Coach.
Freehands Gloves
Both stylish and smartphone friendly, these gloves come in a range of colors and styles, with the option for either fold-back thumb and index finger tips or silver conductive thread knit into the wool. Allowing the wearer easy access to their touch screen devices, they are available for both men and women in wool, cashmere and fleece. For a 20% discount, enter the promotion code COOLHUNTING at checkout.
Ren Shower Trio
Collaborating with de Gournay for the holiday season, Ren’s gift sets feature gorgeous packaging from de Gournay’s Japanese and Korean hand-painted wallpaper designs. The unique scents stimulate the imagination with Moroccan Rose, Neroli and Grapefruit, and Seaweed and Sage body washes.
Wishbone Bikes
These adorable wooden bikes were dreamed up by a couple who wanted to provide their children with an exciting reason to spend time outdoors. The bikes are a 3-in-1 system, accommodating the child’s learning process with the ability to transform from a tricycle to a bicycle.
Rablab’s Colored Agate Coasters
Cut from a slab of colored agate, each of these coasters bring an authentic chunk of volcanic material into your home. In parts of Africa, legend has it that agate has healing powers to cure snake bites and scorpion stings. Whether or not you spend much time around poisonous critters, you’ll have an array of jewel-toned accessories to start the conversation at your next cocktail party.
4505 Meats
Based in San Francisco’s Saturday Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market, 4505 Meats offers market fresh, handmade meat products. The “sausage to your doorstep” service delivers fresh links in a sealed cooler bag, perfect for a winter time house party.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
