9 Best Architecture, Design, and Urbanism Books

9 Best Architecture, Design, and Urbanism Books

Jens Quistgaard by Stig Goldberg

The first authoritative monograph on the life and work of the celebrated Danish-American designer Jens Quistgaard – an unsung hero of Danish Modern and Mid-century Modern design.

Arranging Things by Colin King and Sam Cochran

New York based stylist Colin King shares his wisdom and insights for cultivating beauty in our everyday surroundings composing objects into simple, sophisticated vignettes that enrich our homes and our lives.

Milton Glaser, POP by Beth Kleber, Mirko Ilic and Steven Heller

This collection of work from Glaser’s Pop period features hundreds of examples of his design that have not been seen since their original publication, demonstrating the graphic revolution that transformed design and popular culture.

Modern Architecture and Climate: Design before Air Conditioning by Daniel A. Barber

This book reconciles the cultural dynamism of architecture with the material realities of ever-increasing carbon emissions from the mechanical cooling systems of buildings, and offers a historical foundation for today’s zero-carbon design.

Donald Judd Spaces by Donald Judd, Flavin Judd and Rainer Judd

This second expanded edition presents an unprecedented visual survey of the living and working spaces of the artist Donald Judd in New York and Texas.

Heads Together: Weed and the Underground Press Syndicate, 1965-1973

The art in this book speaks to a time when pot was smoked with optimism, as something capable of activating transformation in the face of corrupt and powerful forces.

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things by Katy Kelleher

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things opens our eyes to beauty that surrounds us, helps us understand how that beauty came to be, what price was paid and by whom, and how we can most ethically partake in the beauty of the world.

Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar

An entertaining, enlightening, and utterly original investigation into one of the most quietly influential forces in modern American life—the humble parking spot.