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In our initial feature for September, we unpacked interiors. For this follow-up, we're bracing the blistering cold, panning outward and enjoying as this gifted guild of authors share their views on exteriors and architectural design.

Go through the construction cycle with Geoffrey Makstutis, master the craft of model-making with Paul Jackson, sightsee some of London’s soaring landmarks with Sujata Burman and Rosa Bertoli and look at the life and legacy of Charlotte Perriand with Justin McGuirk. As always, you will find a bundle deal here with 10% off, free delivery and a gift on us. Read on below...

Geoffrey Makstutis, published by Laurence King (2018)

Becoming a qualified architect is a long, meandering journey, calling for five to seven years of educational study and industry experience. For fledglings just starting up, it can feel daunting to fly the nest and embark on this career - but fear not. In 2018, architecture educator Geoffrey Makstutis published this step-by-step guidebook about the building trade. Makstutis has over fifteen years of tried-and-tested expertise, so he wanted to apply his eagle eye to this and lay down a network of clear-cut paths that allow you to follow your calling. His help, support and guidance will quell these nerves and pluck up your courage. Pair this book with our Iconic Buildings Memory Game. These worldly, fun-filled activities are an investment for any fresher finding their feet. They will keep you educated and entertained throughout the holidays, during your degree and beyond.

Paul Jackson, published by Laurence King (2014)

Origamist Paul Jackson has always been enraptured with paper's simplicity and versatility and has dedicated his career to uncovering its capabilities. In 2014, he shared his fascination through this interactive pop-up book. Jackson shows you how to convert a modest surface into an imposing, three-dimensional form. He unwraps this over a hundred and twenty-eight pages and five chapters - Before you Start - Basic Pop-up Forms – Developing the Basics – Releasing the Folded Edge and Multiple Gutters and Generations. Jackson’s training will be an asset to architects at any level. As novices, specialists and experts are coaxed out of their comfort zones and taught to think outside the box. On December 7th, we are putting on a 3D Printing Workshop with Alex Gifford - secure your spot and sample a state-of-the-art technology advancing the architecture industry.

- Rebecca Solnit

Justin McGuirk, published by the Design Museum (2021)

In 1996 and 2021, the Design Museum devoted two retrospectives to the modernist architect and furniture designer Charlotte Perriand. Perriand was renowned for her forward-facing design and philosophy towards the “art of living”. She believed that accomplished work provoked a more attractive and functional society. This 2021 exhibition hardback tracks her footsteps and provides a 70-year walkthrough of her trailblazing path. Along this trip, we signpost her milestone outcome of Bar Sous Le Toit (1927), explore her landmark collaborations with Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, inspect her Second World War exile in Japan and Vietnam and detail her post-war return to France. Perriand has influenced much of how we create and live today, so to follow her trajectory is to grasp how modern design came to be. 

Sujata Burman and Rosa Bertoli, published by Hoxton Mini Press (2019)

The landscape of London is varied and vast, a reflection of the continuous change and growth it has undergone. The capital’s style consists of art aesthetics from numerous classic and modern eras, in particular the crumbling ruins of Londinium, the gothic churches of the Victorian period and the playful postmodern tube stations. In 2019, the design writing duo Sujata Burman and Rosa Bertoli documented this in a travelogue. They map out 54 celebrated and distinctive attractions across the city’s compass, pinpointing St Paul's Cathedral, Highgate Cemetery, Whitechapel Gallery, Peckham Library and, yours truly, the Design Museum as a few of their must-see sites. This handbook quickly became one of our best sellers, proving popular with Londoners, tourists and architects alike. So, give it a go, catch up on the commotion and learn the lay of the land.