Social entrepreneur Dan Barasch is the author of this impressive new tome published by Phaidon. Dan is the Co-Founder of The Lowline, a project to transform a subterranean New York City trolley terminal into the world’s first underground ‘park’. The Lowline was named one of TIME Magazine's Top Inventions and has received numerous architectural, engineering, and design awards around the world.
Barasch’s interest in the vast potential of forgotten urban spaces made him the perfect author for a book that focuses on the many lost, forgotten, reimagined and transformed spaces around the world. Demonstrating that reinvented, repurposed, and transformed architecture has the beauty and power to change lives, communities, and cities, this book features numerous case studies that bring the stories behind a global selection of abandoned and rescued buildings to life.
Ruin and Redemption in Architecture contains a number of high profile projects from the High Line in New York, the Tate Modern in London, La Fabrica in Spain to the Krane in Copenhagen with many lesser known spaces in between. Also included are transformations by some of the greatest architectural designers of the 20th and 21st centuries including Marcel Breuer, Frank Lloyd Wright, Jean Nouvel, MVRDV, OMA, John Pawson, Thomas Heatherwick and Herzog & de Meuron.
The foreword for the book is written by Dylan Thuras, Co-Founder of Atlas Obscura, who recounts his first experience with an abandoned building in the form of a gargantuan flourmill on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. He recalls how he spent many an hour inside the notorious ruin along with others who were also intrigued by the secrets that were unfolding in the ruins of the abandoned mill.
This is comprehensive, informative and well-designed publication that is a welcome addition to any architecture lovers’ book collection.
Ruin & Redemption in Architecture by Dan Barasch is published by Phaidon, £39.95, available here.
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We’ve featured the work of Mark & Sally Bailey in our Design Reads before when we wrote about their last book ‘Made of Wood’. Their latest publication takes its inspiration from the Japanese Zen Buddhist world view centred on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Wabi Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in the imperfect and embracing the humble.
Characterised by the concepts of austerity, asymmetry, modesty roughness and simplicity, Wabi Sabi emerged as a popular interior design trend in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength. Mark & Sally Bailey have used this to inspire their new book which walks us through the many facets of the philosophy and provides us with a rich tapestry of examples that show how this belief can be translated into our homes.
Whilst Wabi Sabi is definitely not a decorating style, it does lend itself to serving as guide to creating a home that is full of everyday, irregular, time-worn objects that you love to look at. In order to demonstrate how this works and looks in practice, Mark and Sally visited homeowners all over the world who understand that battered, scuffed, peeling and handmade objects are not just beautiful but preferable to perfect brand new ones. These objects have a story to tell and bring a place to life, making it feel homely and personal.
The book is divided into five chapters: Creased; Scuffed; Shaded; Crafted; and Gathered. Throughout these five chapters, the authors explore five different elements of the Wabi-Sabi home: textiles; textures; colours; handmade pieces; and collections.
Each chapter focuses on a single home that encapsulates these ideas and offers advice and tips on how to incorporate these features into your own space.
Wabi Sabi Home by Mark & Sally Bailey is published by Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99, available here.
Photography by Debi Treloar.
Foraging is a fantastic way to create an artful home that fully expresses the character and personality of the homeowner. It can be done by anyone as it requires no specialist training, equipment or money. It can be done anywhere, whether that is on the coast, in the countryside or in the heart of the city. The opportunities for sourcing unique and surprising pieces for your home are boundless.
This book is the ultimate guide to decorating your home in the most inventive and resourceful way and it presents the techniques and philosophies of experienced foragers from around the world. It demonstrates the joyous sense of adventure, discovery and surprise that can be found from foraging and the incredible creativity and resourcefulness of the foragers themselves.
From an upturned boat in France, a beach house in Australia and a finca mill in Spain, to a cottage in Dorset or an industrial priest’s house in Germany, no two properties in this book are remotely similar. They are all found in diverse locations that require a very different approach to foraging.
Our favourite story from this book revolves around Dutch-born resident Auke Dijkstra who lives in an old priest’s home in Mecklenberg, Germany. His home has allowed him to explore his passion for all things industrial. Living in East Germany, in the former GDR, with its long industrial history, has allowed Auke to rescue a wealth of extraordinary objects from abandoned collapsing factories.
His first industrial piece was a cabinet from an electrical factory. Now he has easy access to factories, farms and industrial buildings so he takes this aesthetic to the extremes, which explains the industrial provenance of so many of the objects in his home. The enormous wooden table in the dining area came from a long-abandoned Russian moped-assembly factory and a 1920s table that he salvaged from an industrial building has been repurposed as a sink.
For Auke, as with the other foragers in the book, foraging beautiful objects that have been forgotten or dismissed allows him to rediscover the inherent value of these objects whose imperfections are often what make them so special. The chips, kinks and scratches tell the stories of their past and should be celebrated.
The Foraged Home is published by Thames and Hudson, £24.95, and is available here.
Photography by Joanna Maclennan.
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Concerns for our planet, the threat of an environmental crisis and the dangerous effects of climate change have captured the global consciousness. Children all over the world are regularly taking to the streets imploring the political elite to act now to try to reverse the damage that has been done and save their future.
Stylist and author Selina Lake has put together this book, Natural Living Style, for everyone who, like her, has a growing concern for the environment and wants a home that is sustainable and eco-friendly, but at the same time aesthetically pleasing and practical.
Selina's own desires to live in a way that is kinder to the planet, cut back on waste and reduce her consumption of plastic prompted her to share her ideas, advice and tips in this beautiful hardback book full of delightful images. The book takes you on a journey through gorgeous organic gardens, eco-retreats and unique homes in the hunt for the best Natural Living ideas.
The book is divided into four clear and concise chapters all designed to help you approach your home environment in a different way. The first chapter is called Natural Inspirations and this is where Selina examines various ways to live a greener life. She talks about choosing items for your home that are made to last, shopping locally, opting for homemade items over shop bought, taking time to decorate and choosing materials wisely.
In chapter 2, we are guided through the various materials that can be chosen for a natural home. The recommendation is to choose furnishing items made from sustainable, ethically made and environmentally benign materials that put less strain on the planet. This chapter also looks at ways to reuse and recycle to save money and avoid sending excessive amounts to landfill.
Chapter 3 takes a closer look at the individual rooms in the home and is peppered with style tips, advice on going plastic free and zero waste techniques.
The final chapter looks at natural outdoor spaces and Selina discusses green gardening, outdoor seating areas and growing your own fruit, veg and flowers.
Natural Living Style is published by Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99, available here.
Photography by Rachel Whiting.
Brick by William Hall has recently been rereleased in a new, easy-to-use, mini format and is now available at a more affordable price. It still contains all the insightful content from the original edition only now it comes in a more tactile size.
The book is illustrated with stunning photography of brick-built buildings from around the world, showcasing the versatility and potential of this often overlooked building material. The photographs are accompanied by detailed captions that provide all the relevant information about each project.
Historian and BBC television presenter Dan Cruickshank has written an insightful opening essay that examines the fascinating history of this enduring building material. He talks about the inherent properties of brick that have been acquired through the making process, and details what it is about this material that he finds so endearing.
He describes, in detail, the first cities that were built from brick some 6000 years ago in Mesopotamia and uncovers bible passages that describe the process of building using bricks and mortar. He also explores the technological innovations that improved the manufacture and application of brick through the ages.
He ends his essay by highlighting the fact that even today, in this age of ever-increasing concern over ecology, sustainability and energy conservation, bricks – with their long-life span and splendid insulation characteristics – remain an ideal building material.
Hall, who began his career in the office of the minimalist architect John Pawson before setting up his own design practice in London, then presents a variety of impressive building projects from around the world that use this humble material, which has been an architectural staple for centuries. The content is broken down into eight distinctive sections: form, texture, juxtaposition, landscape, light, mass, presence and scale.
Within these chapters, the content is arranged in such a way that it promotes discussion and comparison. An American arts centre sits next to an English castle, a French war memorial is shown alongside a Russian cathedral, and a Uruguayan church is seen next to a school in Burkina Faso.
From early works of architecture to modern masterpieces, Hall presents the work of some of the most celebrated architects of the 20th Centruy, including the likes of Mies van der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Innovators working into the 21st Century are also included as Hall presents Frank Gehry, Peter Zumthor,and Kazuyo Sejima amongst others.
Brick, in its new mini format, is an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn more about the history of building with brick and what this magnificent material is capable of.
Brick, Mini Format by William Hall is published by Phaidon, £14.95, available here.
The pair met whilst at University in Glasgow, where they were studying architecture. In 1997, they moved to London and opened the Retrouvius warehouse. It was from here that they embarked on their mission to reclaim and salvage architectural elements from soon-to-be demolished buildings such as schools, libraries, museums and law courts.
In addition to their reclamation work, the pair later opened a design practice that demonstrates how reclaimed materials can bring the richness of previous use into an interior, whilst adding a warmth and elegance that can be difficult to achieve with modern materials.
The book starts out with a behind the scenes look inside the Retrouvius warehouse and explores the various materials and items that have been salvaged with a view to being reconditioned and intelligently reused. From iroko laboratory tops and dismantled cinema seats to oak handrails and fossil limestone, everything that Adam has collected has been diverted from landfill. With a little care, style and an adventurous spirit, these items will all live to see another day as part of someone else’s design project.
The following section contains a series of 12 case studies that show how Adam and Maria have used their expertise to turn discarded items and materials into treasure that continues its story in a new home. We follow the authors as they show us around a 17th-century cottage, a converted barn, a 1970’s tower block and converted Victorian factory building amongst others.
Interspersed throughout these case studies you will find material profiles which provide a deeper look at some of the items and materials that Retrouvius salvages and reuses in its design projects. They focus on lighting, wood, stone, and fabric and explain what to look for and how to use them.
Reclaiming Style is extremely pertinent at a time when society as a whole is questioning its tendency towards overconsumption and what affect that is having on the planet. Many of us are now reassessing our choices and making a concerted effort to reuse and repurpose our belongings. We are starting to re-evaluate the value of the products that we choose to fill our homes with and a new appreciation is being given to long-lasting, durable design that can pass the test of time. People no longer want to invest in fast fashion pieces that will need replacing within a year or two. They are looking for quality craftsmanship.
Maria and Adam have a unique company whose re-use philosophy goes beyond a mere commitment to salvage and sustainable design. It actually offers a new vision for sophisticated, thoughtfully constructed living spaces.
Reclaiming Style by Maria Speake & Adam Hills is published by Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99, available here.
Photography by Debi Treloar.
It starts out with an explanation of how the idea for the book came about when the pair realised what an integral role the material has played in their lives over the past few decades. They also briefly explain what it is about wood that makes it such a viable, versatile, reliable, honest and sustainable material to use in our homes.
Mark and Sally share details of their personal philosophy which is to be surrounded with hand-made objects, to embrace imperfection, and to celebrate the humble, everyday things for their simple, sculptural beauty.
They share that they have a weakness for pieces with ordinary origins but that have been made extraordinary by their sculptural shape, their agricultural or industrial history, or the way that they have been marked or scarred by age.
The book highlights the fact that surrounding yourself with natural materials is a way to achieve a balanced and peaceful atmosphere in the home, and that wood is the principle ingredient in that recipe for harmony.
They suggest introducing more wood into your home by making a conscious decision to choose it over plastic. Wood, they say, is not only more pleasing to look at, but also much nicer to hold and touch. It brings a tactile experience to daily rituals, warms any interior, and will give your home a sense of soul that is so often lacking in this age of mass production.
The book is divided into two sections. The first is called Wooden Elements and explores the many ways in which we can use wood in our homes: sculptural, natural, textural, painted and recycled. The second section is called Wooden Stories and contains 12 case studies, each one offering a glimpse into the homes of people who have used this most ancient and versatile of materials in creative and inspiring ways.
Whilst there aren’t any specific examples of industrial spaces or warehouse conversions in this book, there are plenty of examples of how items with an industrial heritage, particularly those made of wood, can be worked into our homes.
‘Made of Wood’ is a celebration of recycled pieces, age-old crafting techniques, clean modern lines, and global influences as well as art and tableware with a handmade feel. It has definitely earned its place in our Design Reads collection.
Made of Wood by Mark & Sally Bailey is published by Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99, available here.
Photography by Debi Treloar.
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Through an inspiring collection of remarkable homes, Extraordinary Interiors from Jane Rockett and Lucy St George encourages the reader to decorate more adventurously. In signature eclectic style, the book shares helpful tips on how to achieve a surprising and inviting home with interior inspiration sourced from beautifully photographed houses and apartments owned by friends and colleagues as well as their own.
Extraordinary Interiors by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George published by Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99, Amazon
“There is so much to be taken from this brilliant book on how to achieve the distinctive industrial style with original home decor tips.” read Jane Rockett and Lucy St Geroge's recent review of the debut Warehouse Home book here.
Photography by Debi Treloar.
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From San Francisco to Sydney, the debut Warehouse Home book is a global review of former industrial buildings that have, as a result of the imagination and resolve of leading architects and ambitious homeowners, been reimagined for residential use. The final results are often staggering; from minimalist and contemporary spaces to more traditional interpretations, every project is a triumph in its own particular way. The book is, according to leading interiors blogger Kate Watson-Smyth, “a walk through some of the most beautiful warehouse homes you will ever see.” But while we celebrate these remarkable old buildings and the original ways in which they have been transformed, we also provide more specific inspiration for those not perhaps living in warehouse homes but seeking elements of the ubiquitous industrial aesthetic.
While the larger portion of the Warehouse Home book focuses on architectural features, and how they have been preserved and celebrated in every project, there is also a Decorative Details section. It is here that we share essential tips and ideas for how to achieve similar schemes and effects to those showcased in the front half of the book. Jane Rockett and Lucy St George, founders of online emporium Rockett St George, have remarked that “there is so much to be taken from this brilliant book on how to achieve the distinctive industrial style with original home decor tips.” Elle Decoration concurs, describing the Warehouse Home book as a “handy guide to mastering industrial chic.”
TERENCE CONRAN | Visionary Designer
“An absolutely wonderful book – I wish I had thought of it myself! The Warehouse Home book captures the exciting potential of heritage industrial buildings and showcases innovative new ways of modern day living.”
TOM BLOXHAM | Chairman, Urban Splash
“With a trend towards urbanisation, these old industrial developments are finding new voices. For me, their unique architectural characteristics, the grittiness of factories and mills, sets them apart as original homes.”
THE TIMES
“The love affair with industrial chic persists. For many, there is no better way to relax. Now there is a guide to the style movement …You can achieve the results.”
Image (main) courtesy of Mark Lewis Interior Design | Photography by Rory Gardner.
Image (left) courtesy of Bright Common Architecture | Photography by Jaime Alvarez.
Image (below) courtesy of Edmonds + Lee Architects | Photography by Bruce Damonte.
(Below) From schools to offices, there is a long-established trend for transforming non-traditional spaces for residential use. In this book, stylist Sara Emslie reveals 12 original real homes and shows that features like raw brickwork and galvanised piping are especially popular.
MODERN VINTAGE STYLE | Emily Chalmers
(Below) Stylist Emily Chalmers shares her tips for creating original interiors using both bohemian and quirky vintage finds. She advises readers to offset new and old and demonstrates the approach across every room.
SIMPLE HOME | Sally and Mark Bailey
(Below) First published in 2009, this elegant book by the creative couple behind Baileys Home store showcases calm and uncluttered interiors. Quieter colours and tactile textiles are combined with vintage finds and reclaimed materials for pared-back, peaceful homes.
SPACE WORKS | Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Joanna Simmons, Rebecca Tanqueray
Examining each area of the home and diving into details, Space Works encourages readers to make strategic choices about how they will curate every space in their abode. From practical planning to aspirational schemes, this comprehensive book is a road map to achieving your ultimate vision for your home.
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From live-work spaces to family friendly lofts, single family dwellings to substantial developments, Warehouse Home showcases remarkable residences in historic granaries, former textile factories, tanneries, old printworks and, of course, warehouses. We have made an important distinction between industrial and ‘industrial style’, reviewing only those homes in conversions with a genuine industrial or manufacturing past. And we celebrate the original architectural features which make these homes truly unique: exposed timber beams and bare brickwork, structural columns and industrial doors.
The ‘loft living’ phenomenon, the transformation of industrial shells for habitation, has its origins in 1950s New York City. The middle classes were leaving overcrowded and polluted Manhattan for the family-friendly suburbs. The disused and derelict industrial buildings of the area now known as SoHo (south of Houston) became popular with artists. Attracted by the generous proportions and more affordable rents of the cast-iron frame former warehouses, they set up bohemian and basic, innovative if often illegal, residences. The area began to flourish once again and the warehouses’ future was assured. Residences that had once been avant-garde were now aspirational. By the 1990s, developers were transforming complexes in the USA, UK and overseas. Industrial inspiration for twenty-first-century living, the Warehouse Home book will be published by Thames & Hudson.
SHOE FACTORY | Angus Pond Architects
(Above, and left) A compact yet immaculately conceived apartment in a 1930s shoe factory in London’s Clerkenwell is the residence of Dexter Fletcher, who is a director of film and theatre, and Dalia Ibelhauptaite, a director of opera and theatre. For this creative couple, architecture is akin to script-writing. So their brief to Angus Pond Architects was to transform their flat while preserving its authenticity and distinctive details and to create a home that was deeply personal. A new open floorplan ensures the old metal-framed windows, which still have their oversized levers, can be appreciated throughout.
Images (main and left) courtesy of Angus Pond Architects | Photography by Ed Reeves.
Image (below) courtesy of Andrew Franz Architect | Photography by Albert Vecerka/Esto.
CAVIAR WAREHOUSE | Andrew Franz Architect
(Above) This 3,000 square foot top floor loft was reconceived as an expansive entertaining space, its original features celebrated and a seamless connection to the outdoors created. Much of the former warehouse’s structural character, including the arched windows, exposed brick and beams, were preserved. A new, specially commissioned steel staircase, featuring wooden treads fashioned from salvaged roof joists, leads to a mezzanine. This enclosed hanging courtyard is an architectural triumph, its retractable roof opening up to a rooftop terrace above offering breathtaking views.
LIQUOR WAREHOUSE | ODA New York
(Above, left) Remarkably, the current owner of this 14,000 square foot triplex purchased the entire building on eBay. After the far from conventional acquisition, he commissioned leading firm ODA New York to redevelop the 19th century warehouse into three apartments, a five bedroom 14,000 square foot triplex and a street-level store. Commissioned in 1892 by liquor merchant Joseph H. Beams, this was the first of several warehouses designed for Beams by architect Julius Kastner. The Romanesque Revival style warehouse was subsequently secured by a pistachio baron and later an artist, but fell into disrepair. Following decades of neglect, the beautiful brick facade was painstakingly restored. Arched windows topped with ornate terracotta mouldings, decorative cornices and capitals with foliate details were among the original features preserved. Internally, the use of steel, glass and reclaimed timber reflect the building’s original industrial character.
MECHANICAL WORKSHOP | Home of Illustrator, Sara Bergman
(Above, right) In the Stockholm loft of illustrator Sara Bergman, white tiles soften the effect of brown brick walls and a vaulted ceiling. The tiled lower walls add a more domestic feel to the former mechanical workshop and contrast strikingly with the owner’s monochromatic wall art and neutral decorative palette. Flea market bargains add vintage charm throughout while in the studio area, trestle desks complete the industrial aesthetic.
INDUSTRIAL GARAGE | Erica Severns Architect
(Below) Property developer John Parker Willis was responsible for the conversion of Hyde Garage, dividing the former industrial property into seven residential units and retaining one for himself. Willis stipulated white oak flooring, Carrara marble and a light colour palette for his impressive 2,770-squarefoot apartment. In the lovely bedroom, understated décor in soft pastel tones reflects the raw concrete and ensures a huge steel truss transecting the original factory window is the principal focus. Line details in the furnishings serve to subtly balance the heavy-beamed ceiling, painted white, above.
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