Library
Athenaeum Boekhandel & Nieuwscentrum, Amsterdam. A palace of printed paper devoted to its independent roots
Glancing at the what seems to be an infinite abyss of books, one feels that Athenaeum Boekhandel holds every title ever published and can expand at will to host even...
Palazzo Utini stands as a beacon of design, hospitality, and fine dining in Italy’s Food Valley
Behind the scenes of Palazzo Utini, Noceto (Parma), in conversation with designer Stefano Guidotti: the restoration of original tiles for the floors, raw-earth walls, and lighting installations evoking a theatrical...
MENDO, Amsterdam: From a 2002 Hotel Niche to a 20-Year Literary Landmark
Located within CoffeeConcepts, MENDO offers an intimate space—its mini MENDO—to discover visually striking books covering art, photography, fashion, and beyond
Gloria Intertwines a Dialogue Between Milan and Paris
This design concept integrates traditional Milanese architecture with French bohemian accents, highlighted by floral designs, vintage chandeliers, and dynamic ceramic pieces
Public Records, Brooklyn: vegan food and sound rooms connected by architecture
Shane Davis and Francis Harris met in 2017 and quickly decided to establish Public Records, a place that goes beyond restoration and became part of the community
Tipi Bookshop: a metaphor brought to life in Brussels
'Tipi' from the word ‘Teepee’, a conical-shaped tent used as shelter by Native American individuals. Owner Andrea Copetti explains, "I adopted the name as it fit with what I intended...
Umamma, San Miniato. A spot purchased online from a website that sold second-hand goods
Giovanni Settesoldi preserves the integrity of culture in the village of San Miniato with the renovation of a 600-year-old property under the superintendence of Fine Arts
Copenhagen Contemporary. Designing art projects in the 7,000-square-foot of the B&W welding hall
In contrast with many art centers and institutions which implemented digital strategies to overcome the challenges imposed by the pandemic, Contemporary remains phisical
Leporello, Rome. The process of perfecting bookselling
How can a small bookstore survive under the pressure of online retailers? Owners must develop strategies to slip from the grip of online retailers, offering that which cannot be bought...
The echo of Noucentisme and the profile of a changing Barcelona
Noucentisme broke from Gaudí’s Modernist curves, seeking more structured forms – from a 1920s urban vision to a 2024 revival: how Grand Hotel Central on Via Laietana reflects Barcelona’s ongoing...
Degli Uberti, Rome. A store where everything is changeable and constantly changing
Inspired by techwear’s clean designs, attention to volume, focus on materials, Andrea Bonsignore chooses to make clothes for the protagonists, rather than the store itself
CraftMaker, London. Quality over quantity
A space of 1300 square meters, natural light penetrates inside from large windows illuminating the rooms and objects, arranged without a predefined order
Iconic, New York City: magazines stacked on the ground
The NYCmagazine store, café and bodega selling «magazines, cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, food, beer, beverages, lotto, groceries, e-smoke»: a meeting point for the mags community, Iconic Magazines
Erno: Edicola Romana Non Ordinaria – new life for an old kiosk in Rome
The only way to revive printed matter is to combine it with something to do: to talk, drink, eat and share, as seen at Edicola Romana Non Ordinaria in Rome
Rare Market, Seoul. A potential market for independent brands
A bridge between Europe and Korea, an exporter of new talents: nestled in Seoul’s most affluent neighborhood, a concept store that scouts and selects cutting-edge brands.
Borgo Santandrea: a display of vintage design and respect for the Amalfi Coast
Four years renovation works presenting today Gio Ponti ceramics and other 1950s vintage pieces
Bistro’f, Rome. Officine Fotografiche’s café and a bookstore
«A magazine has to be broad, open to different themes, places, times and genres otherwise it becomes a photo album. I choose magazines based on this criterium» states curator Mariella...
Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles. Craft as a conveyor of progress
Aiming to bridge the gap between folk and modern, Craft Contemporary symbolizes the dynamism of craft. «We wanted to communicate to the public that craft can be a conveyor of...
Book and Sons, Tokyo. Bringing together designers and typography lovers
«The desire to pass on the traditional habit of reading and appreciating printed media to the next generation is part of the store name and culture», says store owner Osamu...
The Open House at Central Embassy, Bangkok. Sharing is caring
Wood carving patterns and mirrored panels on the ceiling – changing the movement of the light through the space. Architecture for intersections of light
Riot Concept Store, Naples. An ever-changing multifunctional space
Located in an up-and-coming neighborhood of Naples, Riot gathers a local community with an international and contemporary attitude
Atelier Inès Arts & Suites in Naples: craftsmanship, design and energy from the earth
At 138 Via Cristallini, Atelier Inès Arts & Suites combines a craft workshop with an art hotel, a landmark for the neighborhood. Inès Sellami and Vincenzo Oste introduce to the...
The Grande Provence, Franschhoek: a micro-European atmosphere in the Cape
Rolling panoramas frame the valley and accentuate the drama of the surrounding Rocky Mountains – the South African wine country is an hour's drive from Cape Town
Antica Osteria Magenes, Gaggiano. Just outside Milan in the town of Barate 80 inhabitants and the ancestors of Pope Francis
A gourmet restaurant hidden in the Parco agricolo sud - the tourism potential of this area and the complexity of creating a system. A neighborhood that could become a district...
Photography Meets Cognitive Science at Rome’s One Room Bookstore
Stefano Ruffa leverages his background in media and cultural studies to curate a diverse collection of photobooks – transitioning from its original San Lorenzo location, OneRoom now thrives in Rome’s...
Pro qm, Berlin. Interdisciplinary debates in Berlin’s Mitte
A different sorting every month to keep up with current focus themes. In conversation with founder Katja Reichard
How Maison Margiela’s Replica Line Bottled Winter’s Essence
From Chamonix’s Snow-Covered Chalets to the Lab: By the Fireplace, part of the Replica collection, draws on the nostalgia of 1970s Chamonix, blending raw materials and alpine culture into a...
Monferrato: ‘Lorto’ Between Local Agriculture and Historic Architecture
In the hilly landscape of Alto Monferrato, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nordelaia combines the enhancement of truffles, hazelnuts, and local wines with the cuisine of LORTO, led...
No Borders, Mumbai. A platform for cultural exchange without borders
The concept store shares stories, inspires, educates and connects through vintage and designer garments. In conversation with founder Kanika Karvinkop
Étoile de Bali by Nectar Olfactif: Balinese Flower Rain Reimagined
Nectar Olfactif reinterprets the Balinese tradition of flower rain in a fragrance that blends cultural symbolism with olfactory craftsmanship
NERO Design Gallery, Arezzo. An archive for the sensorial experience of design
A journey through the language of shape and matter. A way to discover and to advance, on the edge between the past, present, and future. In conversation with Nero Gallery...
Arcana: Out-of-Print Art and Design Books in California
Through the interior design, the bookstore holds the semblance of a library, with rows of wall-to-wall books. The architectural firm Johnston Marklee were hired to design the 4,500-square-foot space
The Kumaon, Binsar. No power for machinery, it took six months to do a job that takes ten days
Cement structures encased in bamboo; hand strung with copper wiring sourced from the neighborhood copper producing village of Tamta Mohalla
Obataimu, Mumbai. Bringing sleepwear outside of the bedroom
An ideology of slow-production with the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi that encourages finding beauty to embrace the cycle of growth and decay
The Writer’s Block, Las Vegas. Are independent bookstores the future?
Any good bookseller knows their readers — and not by following algorithms or the latest trends. In the Amazon era, independent bookstores are still growing
YME Universe, Oslo. Inside a building from 1844 described as Paris in miniature
Located between the Royal Palace and the Parliament in Karl Johans gate 39. «Oslo is segregated. It is a question if you are from the east or west side and...
Stockmann Centre: The Largest Department Store in Northern Europe, in the Heart of Helsinki
It was 1852 when Heinrich Georg Franz Stockmann of Lübeck arrived in Finland to work as a bookkeeper and cashier at Nuutajärvi Glassworks
How Type Books Champions Diversity and Local Culture in Toronto
Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm began with an art gallery in the basement and a bookstore above it, preserving the timeless charm of classic bookstores in a changing world
The Collection Mondrian and Saint Laurent’s relationship with Claude Lalanne – a pop Antithesis
A conversation with Olivier Flaviano, director of the Musée Saint Laurent Paris. He assumed the leadership of this Parisian institution in 2016 and worked for one year with Pierre Bergé
History, Architecture, and Gastronomy in a Transforming Milan
Step inside Ristorante Rubacuori at Château Monfort, a cultural landmark rooted in Milanese Liberty design, where historic architecture intersects with exceptional culinary artistry
Works that center on stories of minorities – by minorities. Dorbeetle Store, Hangzhou
«The edge that we have at Dorbeetle is that we insist on our need to be pioneers for the voices from the West to local readers»
Hope: The Middle Eastern Legacy of Oud in Modern Perfumery
From incense-filled mosques to haute couture, Hope bridges cultures and eras with its blend – a dive into the history and artistry resonance of oud, as captured in Dominique Ropion’s...
The dandy: Penhaligon’s fragrance brings a modern interpretation to an age-old figure
From Beau Brummell to Timothée Chalamet, the dandy has evolved but never disappeared – exploring Penhaligon’s latest fragrance, a celebration of the 1920s dandy
Santa Maria Novella: the Iris, or lily, is the symbol of the city of Florence itself
Recently appointed CEO, Gian Luca Perris, talk us through the history and the ethos of 400-year-old perfumery Santa Maria Novella, established in Florence by Dominican monks
YJY Maike Flagship Centre, China. The layout of an ancient Chinese palace led to a cultural complex
A 4,500 square-meter complex for culture in the city that is the starting point of the Silk Road and the National World Heritage site of the Terracotta Army
Maçka Palas: a Living Tribute to Italian-Turkish Heritage
Embodying the legacy of two civilizations meeting across the Mediterranean: Giulio Mongeri's Art Deco architecture, Ara Guler's photographs, and a hammam-inspired spa
