
Birkhäuser was founded by Emil Birkhäuser in 1879
Founded in 1879, the Basel-based publishing house Birkhäuser has since issued some of the best titles on architecture, design and landscaping, with many of its excellent manuals, text books, reference works and monographs being at the core of Architonic’s in-house reference library. Now, we have learnt that the publisher, who just two years ago was acquired by a Spanish brand Actar, has announced insolvency and is seeking potential buyers. Given the quality of Birkhäuser’s titles (including the ever-insightful Form magazine) and its contribution to promoting knowledge and providing inspiration to both professionals and architecture & design enthusiasts, we hope to see the house back in business before long. (more…)

Mollino Installation at 3DH Showroom, Prague by Okolo; photo by Filip Šlapal
Okolo, the Czech creative group behind the undeniably insightful ‘Light Sculptures, Czech Lights 1950 – 1990′ exhibition (presented during last year’s Lodz Design Festival and featured on Dailytonic in November 2011) has organised yet another inspiring show, this time dedicated to the creative output of one of Italy’s most influential mid-20th century designers, Carlo Mollino. On view at Prague’s 3DH Showroom, the exhibition marks the release of a limited-edition print project celebrating the works of this ‘visionary designer, excellent architect, courageous race driver, fearless acrobatic pilot, style-setting skier, photographer and womanizer’, called OKOLO Mollino. (more…)

The Story of Eames Furniture by Marilyn Neuhart with John Neuhart; publisher: gestalten
Architonic fans can win this book >>
In the new two-volume work ‘The Story of Eames Furniture’ by Marilyn Neuhart and John Neuhart the authors take a journey through time, going back both to the early beginnings of modern furniture design and to their own past. The focus of this book is therefore not, as is the case in the volume ‘Eames Design’ by the same two authors, on recording the entire Eames creative output complete with films, graphics and exhibitions. ‘The Story of Eames Furniture’ concentrates on the furniture design and the background to the great myth, as well as the origins of the entire Eames empire. The book deals with the numerous influences of other designers who have become famous, as well as with the loyal staff who worshipped the legendary designer pair. Again and again there is reference to the fact that Charles and Ray Eames demanded unconditional devotion to work, both from themselves and others.
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