If you have ever wondered what inspires the world’s leading designers and architects in their work, this book will offer an intriguing insight. Produced by Images Publishing (opens in new tab), ‘Design Talks: Contemporary Creatives on Architecture and Design’ is an engaging collection of interviews that delves into the creative minds of the design and architecture movers and shakers of today.
Written and compiled over two years by architecture pundit Massimo de Conti (opens in new tab), the book features a stellar cast of industry luminaries, from John Pawson (opens in new tab) to Zaha Hadid (opens in new tab), Steven Holl (opens in new tab) and Philippe Starck (opens in new tab). ‘I realized that the interviews I had done – some of which were published in BMM magazine (opens in new tab) – were very powerful, so I started to come up with the idea of a book,’ explains de Conti.
‘They are architects and designers who I admire and that I actually wanted to talk to and discover more about, ‘ says de Conti, who spent nearly a decade developing the press office for London-based architecture firm Claudio Silvestrin (opens in new tab).
A journey through the vision behind what has informed some of the design world’s most outstanding projects, this book of conversations features a selection of charismatic portrait shots and photographs of the iconic works. Each interview is accompanied with a personal quote about the designer by de Conti. ‘I wanted a format that allowed me to find out more about the man or woman behind some great projects,’ says de Conti. ‘Not only from a professional, but also a personal point of view,’
Currently available as an eBook (opens in new tab), with the print version to be released at a later date, the compendium is an earnest and refreshing approach into the compelling world of the design elite. ‘I like the idea that people might discover something more about somebody they admire, and maybe laugh!’ concludes de Conti.
Revealing the vision behind what has informed some of the design world’s most outstanding projects, 'Design Talks' features a selection of charismatic portrait shots and photographs of the iconic works. Pictured here is a portrait of Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza
'Andalucia's Museum of Memory' by Alberto Campo Baeza. Photography: Javier Calleja
The book is essentially a collection of interviews with the 'architects and designers who I admire and that I actually wanted to talk to and discover more about', says de Conti. Pictured here is a portrait of architect Zaha Hadid.
A photograph taken from the book featuring the 'MAXXI Museum in Rome', by Zaha Hadid. Photography: Helene Binet
An excerpt from ‘Design Talks: Contemporary Creatives on Architecture and Design’, feauring an interview with product and furniture designer Michael Young
A portrait of design duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
'Lanterne Marine' by Barber Osgerby for Venini. Photograph courtesy: Barber Osgerby
An interview with design entrepreneur Alasdhair Willis, with a personal note from de Conti
An excerpt featuring an interview with French designer Philippe Starck
A portrait of Australian architect Sean Godsell.
A photograph taken from the book featuring 'Andrew's Beach House', by Sean Godsell.
-
Goossens introduces bridal jewelleryGoossens’ new bridal jewellery collection, ‘Venise’, celebrates texture and bold design
-
Welcome to Hôtel Maniera, the design gallery’s new outpost in historical Villa Danckaert
Belgian design gallery Maniera unveils its new location, inside historical Villa Danckaert
-
Bindloss Dawes Architects’ Autobarn houses a collection of Porsches
The Autobarn by Bindloss Dawes Architects provides serene space to store and service a clutch of classic Porsches
-
Architecture books to inspire shelf love
Here at Wallpaper*, we’ve got architecture books piling up; among them, these are the photographic tomes, architects’ monographs and limited editions that we couldn’t resist
-
Pioneering modernist Henry Kulka's life and career tracked in limited-edition monograph
Czech-New Zealand architect Henry Kulka, a man who spread modernist ideals half way around the world, is celebrated in Giles Reid and Mary Gaudin’s richly illustrated monograph
-
Nordic architecture explored in Share, a book about contemporary building
Discussions about Nordic architecture and contemporary practice meet in a new book by Artifice, Share: Conversations about Contemporary Architecture – The Nordic Countries
-
London Feeds Itself: we are hungry for Open City's book on food and architecture
London Feeds Itself, a new book by Open City, is a scrumptious offering that connects food culture and architecture
-
The Sustainable City chronicles London’s eco design innovation
Urban areas provide the best environment for ultra-low-impact living; that's the premise of Harriet Thorpe’s new book, The Sustainable City, which brings together the architecture that's shaping London’s quiet green revolution
-
Montalba Architects' monograph ponders on space, place and building
Montalba Architects launches extensive monograph, ‘Place and Space’
-
House London is an insider’s guide to the city’s best architectural transformations
House London is a new book offering a peek into some of the best redesigns of the capital’s omnipresent, historical brick home typology
-
Three books chart the rise, impact, and scope of virtual worlds
Love them or hate them, virtual worlds are here to stay; and three new books explore their charms and challenges
