Renowned Designers Re-imagine the Cover of Nabakov's Lolita

Earlier this week, on the 22nd of April, it happened to be the birthday of one of the masters of intricate word-play, Vladimir Nabakov. Nabakov, a Russian-American novelist who passed away in 1977, wrote both in Russian and English, with his most famous work in English being one of the most controversial examples of 20th century literature, Lolita. 

In celebration of Nabakov's b'day, I have come across this amazing book of concept covers for the book Lolita. The collection, 'Lolita: The Story of a Cover Girl', brings together the work of eighty of the world's most renowned graphic designers and illustrators. Now, if you've read the book, you will immediately be intrigued by this collection, and you're probably already scrolling down the page to see the selection I've posted here. But if you haven't, you might be wondering why this should be of interest... well let me give you a quick, juicy run-down...

The novel is notable for its controversial subject; an old literature professor in his late 30's becomes obsessed with the 12 year-old character, Dolores Haze. He then quickly becomes sexually involved with her, after becoming her stepfather. The name 'Lolita' is his private nickname for the young girl. It is one of the highly regarded books in modern history.

While Lolita is frequently described as an 'erotic novel', it's fame comes not only from the storyline of the professor's affair with the young girl, but form the style in which it is written. The novel is a tragicomedy, with the professor as narrator, who riddles the story with word-play and wry observations of American culture. The novel's flamboyant style is characterised by double entendres, multilingual puns, anagrams and coinages.

I personally love this book, because you feel like you're in two worlds at once; the world of the erotic story, in which at moments you're quite ashamed to be a part of, and then the world of poetry, and a story which is so cleverly and beautifully written.

When Lolita was first published, it came out with a simple, green cover, and the single, clear title across the front, Lolita. Nabakov had a very clear idea of what he wanted the cover of the book to represent, or rather, what he didn't want it to represent. He stated: 

"I want pure colors, melting clouds, accurately drawn details, a sunburst above a receding road with the light reflected in furrows and ruts, after rain. And no girls. … Who would be capable of creating a romantic, delicately drawn, non-Freudian and non-juvenile, picture for LOLITA (a dissolving remoteness, a soft American landscape, a nostalgic highway—that sort of thing)? There is one subject which I am emphatically opposed to: any kind of representation of a little girl."

With Nabakov's above request in mind, along with the beauty of prose and sexual foundation of the Lolita story, I absolutely love this project of embarking on inviting the world's best designers to re-imagine what the book cover could be. 

Source - brainpickings.org & wikipedia.org

Images - brainpickings.org

Featured cover designs & illustrations by (from top to bottom) - Jamie Keenan, Linn Olofsdotter, Michael Bierut, Henry Sene Yee, Paula Scher, Andy Pressman, Debbie Millman, Ellen Lupton, The Heads of State, Jessica Hische

Ethereal ceiling in SND Fashion Store China, by 3GATTI Architects

Located in Chongqing, China, the SND Fashion Store is designed by 3GATTI Architects, with Francesco Gatti as lead architect. At first glance, this space appears to be a museum exhibition, a conceptual space designed with the user in mind, the soul that will weave in and out of the light and shadow created by the thousands of individual fins that hang down from the ceiling.

When 3GATTI embarked on this project they started from the simple and appealing idea of hanging everything from the ceiling, thereby being able to clear the way of furniture and other props, allowing the customer to be free to circulate as they please. This led to them imagining an 'elastic' ceiling, one that was pulled down the by the weight of the various objects that hang from it.

In thinking about where to house the technical equipment needed in such a store; lighting, speakers, sprinklers, cameras, etc., it was a natural progression to then think of this hanging ceiling as a permeable surface. The architect describes it as 'The permeable surface was the origin of the ethereal white ceiling; an ephemeral support for ephemeral objects.'  

The waves of ceiling are created by ten-thousand differently shaped unique pieces, each made of very thin, translucent fiberglass. This material was chosen due to its fire resistance factor, as well as the way it interacted with light reflections, creating an enigmatic landscape that is a spectacular source of play on light and dancing shadows. While the physical panels hang from the ceiling, their presence is felt in reflections on the floor, where it crosses over to the world of the customer...

Source - archdaily.com

Images - archdaily.com
Photography - shen-photo.com

Taschen opens first store in Italy! Photos by Mark Seleen

I was quite surprised to read that Taschen's first store in Italy has just opened in Milan. I would have assumed that they would already have a foot-print there... but there you go. And what a store it is!!! If these photos are anything to go by, the interior is well deserving of its very own special Taschen hardcover edition...

Launching during Milan Design Week, the Taschen store spans its art, design and photography books across 120 square metres of museum-like interior. The full Taschen collection is stocked over two floors, with the first floor dedicated entirely to limited editions and print exhibitions.

Touches of grandeur meet design hungry browsers at every corner of the store. A chandelier on the ground floor is by Gio Ponti. US artist Jonas Wood has designed the terrazzo flooring, inspired by shimmering Californian flora and fauna. Long-time Taschen collaborator, and Australian designer Marc Newson, created glass-top cabinets to present the publisher's collector's and art editions. And to top of the big name designs, pieces from the personal collection of Benedikt Taschen display 1950's Italian design.

A spiral staircase by Salvatoe Licitra features an alcove intended for quiet reading, and its walls are adorned with art from Graphic Thought Facility. On the first floor, a 1954 lamp by Flavio Poli illuminates the exhibition space, which currently displays a series of Julius Shulman photographs.

With their selection of extraordinary books, Taschen stores always serve as magical escapes for design book lovers, and so I can only begin to imagine what this refined interior serves up in terms of experience and emotion...  

Source - vogue.com.au

Images - vogue.com.au

Photography - markseelen.com

Emmaroz, a uniquely beautiful tailor's abode, by Kissmiklos

Designer and Visual Artist Kissmiklos (Miklos Kiss) is the imaginative and creative mind behind this unique and quirky project completed in 2014. Emmaroz, a women's tailor and clothes store in Szeged, Hungary, is named after the owner's daughter. Inspired by femininity, purity and the traditional atmosphere from salons of another era, this space represents a completely redesigned world where, once inside, every aspect is true to the concept at hand.

The space is simple yet beautiful. It is bathed in two key colours, white and yellow, but then uses bursts of small colour pockets to wow the visitor and break the visual rhythm. Clusters of colourful yarns are used to decorate the small and cozy coffee corner. They purposefully resemble macaroons, further playing to that concept of traditional femininity of high tea and softly spoken conversations...

However, the space is not only reserved for nods to traditional femininity. Further to the use of the bright modern colours, Kissmiklos has used props, such as a swing for kids, to add a sense of play and quirkiness throughout the journey. While the space isn't big, it is perfectly planned out. The entry is incredibly welcoming and forthcoming, the user knows immediately that there is a space awaiting them above, and curiosity is created instantaneously, as the bright yellow staircase attracts the gaze. The structure surrounding the staircase is similar to a weaving loom, another nod to the simple, yet clever, concept behind the design. Emmaroz also produces clothing items for fashion designers, so the tailor store has a little shop where these pieces are displayed and sold. 

The perfection and craftsmanship with which this space is designed is both inspiring and breathtaking. And I love that it's in Szeged, in Hungary. I love finding amazing gems like this, speckled all over the world...

Source - kissmiklos.com

Images - kissmiklos.com

Photography - balintjaksa.com

An Ancient Spanish Stable Becomes A Magnificent Country Home, by Abaton

Located in the province of Cáceres, in Spain, the key objective of this renovation, undertaken by Abaton Architecture Studio, was to transform an abandoned stable into a family home, by completely rethinking and redesigning the space in a way that would, nevertheless, still be consistent with and respectful to the surrounding environment.

High on a hill and far from city water or an electrical grid, Abaton quickly implemented the addition of photovoltaic and hydro power to the house, and worked to ensure the home wouldn't use much energy. The building's original orientation also helped with this sustainable approach, as southern exposure allowed for the sun to be the main source of heat during the winter. In terms of the design, a generous eave prevents much sun from entering the home during summer, thus keeping it cool. Large wooden shutters that slide closed, like a second skin, cover the large windows at night to trap in most of the home's daily solar heat gain.

As the building is located far from city water but perfectly located below two streams that flow all year round, the water is pure and can be used for both drinking and bathing, and the swimming pool acts as a holding tank for use in irrigation. Within the interior of the refurbished home, Abaton has worked to capture nature in just about every room in the house; bathrooms sport views of the interior patio with its stone water fountain, and bedrooms with huge picture windows welcome breathtaking views of the countryside...

The façade is composed of a mix of cement and local stone, renewed yet still capturing the essence of what was once the crumbling envelope of the stable. Inside the home, supporting walls have been replaced by light metal pillars, the haylofts in the upper area converted into bedrooms, and the enormous central lounge is a flexible space that can serve different purposes. In short, a mix of modern cement and iron beams coexist with well-worn stone, weather-beaten wood and local stone, to create a warm home that is completely enriched with nature.

Source - abaton.es/en via pinterest.com

Images - abaton.es/en