With the Hong Kong Literary Festival in full swing this week, our minds have turned to our bookshelves and coffee tables—and the tomes that we’d love to see grace them. Not only does one’s choice of reading material showcase one’s personality and class, it serves as an invaluable font of inspiration and insight.
Here are six titles—spanning topics from design to architecture to art—that we’re coveting now.
MAD Works
Spearheaded by architect Ma Yansong, MAD is an architectural firm based in China that’s made leaps and strides when it comes to striking, avant-garde structures. Featuring 300 illustrations—including photographs, architectural drawings and 3D visualisations, this book published by Phaidon is the first complete documentation of MAD’s international portfolio—and a veritable feast for the eyes.
Patterns: Inside the Design Library
Patterns play an indispensible role when it comes to design. Whether you’re a designer, artist, or simply seeking some inspiration to decorate your home, this book is sure to come in handy as one of the world’s largest archives of patterns and textiles. The book is also a piece of art in itself, adding plenty of colour and character to your coffee table.
The Iconic Interior
If you’ve ever wondered what Coco Chanel’s home looked like, you can satisfy your curiosity with this book by Thames & Hudson, which transports you to the homes of some of the most influential figures of the past two centuries including Henry Moore, Piero Fornasetti, Matthew Williamson, and more. Perusing these 100 significant spaces should provide plenty of ideas for your own home.
Chic Stay
Travel aficionados will appreciate this book by Assouline that takes you on a world-class visual tour across the globe. Revealing the favourite hideaways of writers, actors and musicians, Chic Stay recommends some of the most luxurious hotels that you’ll immediately want to add to your bucket list. The stories that go with the recommendations really add a personal touch that you won’t find in your usual travel guide book.
Photos courtesy of Condé Nast Publications Ltd.
Photography: A History
This richly illustrated series published by Skira consists of four volumes featuring seminal photography from mid-19th century all the way up to the present. Packed with plenty of technical information, the series is a valuable reference for the budding photographer, or for those looking to learn more about the history of the art form.
What Paintings Say
This book by luxury publisher Taschen reveals the meaning behind 100 of the world’s most famous paintings from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The perfect volume for any art aficionado looking to learn about the histories and techniques behind masterpieces such as Michaelangelo’s The Creation of Adam and more.
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