LIQUID SPACES – Installations and Spatial Experiences

Liquid Spaces is one or favourite books among Gestalten’s publications for this season. Edited by Sofia Borges, Sven Ehmann and Robert Klanten, Liquid Spaces explores the impact of spatial and tangible experiences on human perception and the notion of lasting, sensual encounters. 

This discourse is becoming increasingly important as – in today’s hyper digitalised age – unforgettable experiences lay the foundation of a meaningful dialogue and relationship between artist and audience, museum and visitor or brand and consumer. 

“Surprising materials, colors, shapes, and surfaces provide the props, which alongside innovative smells, sounds, and lighting concepts come together in expansive, stage-like gestures with sculptural details.” 

Divided into four different sections – Geometric Spaces, Ephemeral Spaces, Theatrical Spaces and Immersive Spaces – the book intriguingly showcases the many different ways in which galleries, museums, temporary events, pop-up shops and flagships stores playfully experiment with the idea of crafting an impactful spatial experience. This said, diving into its 256 pages, you’ll find a wide spectrum of unconventional environments and extraordinary spaces created by artists, scenographers, and architects as well as both interior and exhibition designers.

Photographed by Ali Baïlon for GOODS WE LIKE

GAVIN COYLE – Companion Magazine Rack

‘Companion’ is magazine rack inspired by a dog fetching the paper. As such, this joyful interior design piece fits one rolled newspaper in its ‘snout’, with plenty of space for magazines in its body. Material: powder-coated, wire formed steel

Gavin Coyle Studio is a workshop based in London that designs and crafts products to be enjoyed, used and lived with. With a small team of skilled cabinetmakers, the studio aims to create timeless products that are unpretentious and quiet yet have an enduring presence in the home. The studio’s design philosophy is very much based around the ethos less is more, with products carefully designed to be long-lasting.

MONOCLE – How to Make a Nation: A Monocle Guide

We took a closer look at Monocle’s new thought-provoking publication – ‘How to Make a Nation: A Monocle Guide’.

How do you create a country? What characteristics and values define a country? Which are particularly successful in terms of education, economics, or culture? In this book, Monocle provides a global perspective on 338 pages on the distinct qualities of nations. Who’s getting it right, and who’s not? Monocle dispatched writers and photographers to more than 50 countries to explore this question; and to provide a series of benchmarks to answer it. They met people who are creating extraordinary things – and we’re not just talking about institutions at a state level here, nor exclusively economics and politics, but also culture, community, education, identity and design.

The book is divided into 10 sections, which explore a nation’s governance, diplomacy, safety, economy, community, soft power (cultural capital), culture, sport, national icons and national branding. Each chapter is introduced through a compelling essay, followed by great editorial insights, stories, infographics and photo essays. 

Since its launch in 2007, Monocle has consistently reported on global affairs, business, culture and design. How to Make a Nation is a great book that informs and inspires. Published by Gestalten.

Photographed by Ali Baïlon for GOODS WE LIKE.