Festive things

We haven’t really got the hang of Amazon Associates yet, but it seems that some of you are kind enough to buy things via things, theoretically giving us a bit of a financial boost and helping out with hosting costs. Here’s a small set of recommendations in books, technology and other stuff that has caught our eye. We’ll add to this post from time to time over the next few weeks.

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Monographs: The Color Revolution, an amazing history of the colour industry / Norman Bel Geddes Designs America, fascinating monograph about futurism and the birth of the military-industrial complex / The New Modern House: Redefining Functionalism, a book we co-wrote / Thanks for the View, Mr Mies/a>, fun exploration of Lafayette Park, Detroit / Architecture in Northern Landscape, the architecture of Todd Saunders / Joseph Cornell’s Manual of Marvels, a facsimile edition of the artist’s ‘reinvention of a French Agricultural Manual’ / Thomas Heatherwick: Making, the hefty portfolio of a design polymath / Le Corbusier Redrawn: The Houses, go inside the greats / Carscapes: The Motor Car, Architecture, and Landscape in England / Caspar David Friedrich / still lives by S. J. Peploe.

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Books: Jerusalem: The Biography, 5000 years of history, 720 pages and utterly fascinating throughout / Museum Without Walls, Jonathan Meades, collected journalism and scripts, highly recommended / Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries, another collection of articles and essays / Chris Ware: Building Stories, the graphic artist’s latest magnum opus / Paris, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down, culture clash memoir / Architectural and Cultural Guide: Pyongyang, a two volume set, one containing the official line, the other a behind-the-scenes analysis of the North Korean’s culture and built environment / Mrs Weber’s Omnibus, Posy Simmonds’ magnum opus / KLF: Chaos Magic Music Money / Instant: A Cultural History of Polaroid / Care of Wooden Floors, fine debut novel.

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Technology: Kindle Paperwhite, a pocketful of books / Canon S100: things’ camera of choice / Samsung Galaxy SIII, likewise for smartphone / we love this: Line 6 Pod HD500 / Garmin Nuvi 3490LMT Sat Nav System / Sony NEX7, things’ potential camera of choice / Fujifilm XF1, likewise / LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0: Robot, change the world / Roberts RD60 Revival Digital Radio / Casio Digital Piano / Sonic Blue Thinline Telecaster copy Electric Guitar / Microsoft Surface 32gb, intrigued by this / Jambox, we hear good things.

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Other things: Staedtler Ergosoft , the world’s best colouring pencils / Moleskine journals, everyday essentials / Stabilo Smartball, draw properly on your smartphone / the Lego Architecture series: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House and Fallingwater, Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House / Bigtrak, pure nostalgia / Nespresso by Krups Pixie Coffee Machine, compact and powerful / Toys Pure Wooden Domino Rally, get knocked down / Dinosaur Jr – I Bet On Sky.

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Other places to go: Wonderwall sells art and prints / Nothing to See Here, A Guide to the Hidden Joys of Scotland / maps and guides by Herb Lester / the Monocle Shop the MagCulture Shop / People will always need plates / It’s Nice That / Cabinet Magazine / Stack Magazines / the Metafilter Holiday Mall / New Found Original / Evermade.com / the Society of Wood Engravers / Modern British Gallery, from where the Eric Ravilious prints in this post are taken.