Reader
Ed. Varie, New York. Art gallery and creative space for emerging artists
«I desired people who were curious from the neighbourhood». This sense of discovery has become one of the successful parts of Ed. Varie
Error404, Melbourne. A commune for creativity and sustainable efforts
Acting as a hub and safe space for designers and creatives, Error404 is a celebration of the counterculture in Melbourne. In conversation with founder Kacey Heywood
3standardstoppage, New York / Beijing. Piercing the art bubble and evolving past standards
3standardstoppage breaks through the existing methodologies of art, design, and fashion and builds a bridge of dialogue between the United States and China
Ler Devagar, Lisbon. Making use of what’s around, a multipurpose bookstore
Founded in the year of 1999, Ler Devagar was an concept prompted by Pinho towards his peers. An intent in founding a space that functioned in multifarious modes
Mano Plus, Penang. Repurposing localities to match its identity
Remaining independent is at the fundamentals of Mano Plus. Social media presence is how it grasps audiences to its environs. The products displayed are produced in Malaysia
Dot Concept Store, Istanbul. Bringing together over one-hundred Turkish designers under one roof
«A museum-style exhibition place that supports and promotes designers. It makes no sense to me to take money from people that don’t earn». In conversation with Yasemine Aydan
L’Ascenseur Végétal, Bordeaux. A bookstore and curated photo gallery
One of the spots in Bordeaux where visitors are able to absorb photographical material. Thirty-five by thirty meters of the space is used for the purpose of the exhibitions
Ulises, Philadelphia. Ideas for a democratization of curatorial practice
Following in the footsteps of artist and poet Ulises Carrión; five arts professionals run a collective with self-publishing on the frontline. «Everything happens in one room»
Smith&Son Paris. A tale of a street
Smith&Son Paris on 248 Rue de Rivoli, near Place de la Concorde, is the longest branch to have remained in its original setting
Livraria da Vila, São Paulo. In Brazil, fifty titles are launched every day
Samuel Seibel strolled the streets of Jardins, every day on foot, for weeks before he spotted the location which would become his future bookstore
Magazine Heaven, Rushden. Eighty percent of magazine stores in Central London experienced foreclosure
«It is practice for bookstores across the United Kingdom to charge publishers to place their books in the store. At Magazine Heaven we do not practice this». In conversation with...
Librairie La Comète, Paris. One does not know but to take a leap
«What we carry is based on instinct. There are times when the print job is not up to standard, or the other way around. We trust the quality of the...
Le Mur, Madrid. Conveying the relevance of accessibility in the arts industry
«We are break apart from established-photography galleries in Madrid» – Le Mur intends to revitalize the importance of critical-thinking through a photographic medium
News & Coffee, Barcelona. The kiosk is a social nexus
«We are on the street. We don’t belong to the four walls. There is no limit of a window or a door to come through». In conversation with founders Pablo...
ZiWU, Shanghai. A vein of experiences under one roof
When broken down and translated to the English language from Mandarin, the name brings the meaning of ‘House of Magazines’. Ensuring a means of slow living
Glein, Vienna. Searching for truth within materials and ideas
Investing in craftsmanship and in the quality of materials allows the brand to endow its products with simplicity and functionality, prioritizing comfort and balance whilst evoking the appeal of the...
ISBN Books & Gallery, Budapest. A bookstore with a gallery on the side
Names after the thirteen-digit International Standard Book Number – Beata Istvanko is the woman behind the bookstore, featuring art and book events
IDEA, London. Finding genius, magic and creative insight in a curated inventory of images
David Owen and Angela Hill refined their ability to perceive an image’s potential through a process of trial and error. Their intuition and broad-mindedness define their approach to selecting titles
Krumulus, Berlin. If you are lucky, you can keep your inner child alive
In the mornings, Krumulus hosts a program where they read stories from books surrounded by its original illustrations in the gallery space
Actual Source, Utah. Books living through alternative media
«We wanted to remedy the lack of graphic design and design books in Utah». Actual Source became a platform where to consult and buy books that were a task to...
Alalimón Galería, Barcelona. The phrase ‘al alimon’ means ‘together’ and implies collaboration
The gallery-bookshop space was used as a textile facility for five years «Our store is filled with books that have a few in copy, we are not looking for mainstream-...
Nice to Meet You, Shanghai. Anglo-French-American history of a ninety-six-year-old building
Paying homage to the «old Shanghai», the bookstore creates peace and nostalgia through the preservation of the Blackstone Apartments building and its product curation
Happy Valley, Melbourne. A store whose entity is unclear until you step into it
The Brains behind Polyester Records and The Tramway Hotel, Chris Crouch has taken the theatrics of retail in Paris to the coast of Melbourne
Cafebrería El Péndulo, San Ángel, Mexico City. A bookstore designed for human interaction
A ninety-year-old palm tree stands its ground as the focal point of the store at sixteen meters tall – a second home to those who indulge in a confetti of...
Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore, Sichuan. How a history of water conservation inspired a bookstore
«Dujiangyan is a city with a history of water conservancy development. We want to move the local landscape to the indoor space of Zhongshuge», Li Xiang, founder of X+Living
Waanders in De Broeren, Zwolle. Books and a deconsecrated church revised by BK Architecten
After a succession of fortune and ruin spanning six centuries, the new chapter in the life of Broerenkerk takes the shape of a bookstore: the Waanders family and the printing...
Librería Conarte, Mexico. A wooden dome for readers in the center of Monterrey
The council for culture and art is a space that wraps the reader in through a dome that plays with visual perspective
We Love Print, London. A magazine stall in London’s oldest market
In conversation with the founder James Laffar – «My grandfather used to know a few of our clients back when he had bookstalls in the Sixties»
Librería KBr, Barcelona. Photography is no longer a material object but a living one
Founder Juan Naranjo draws an analogy between the significance of bookstores and that of galleries and museums. A tale of wood, windows, and the dynamism of light
Hydra + Fotografīa, Mexico City. Three heads of the Hydra serpent in a CMYK color mode
The walls are white-washed, shelves work as canvas, and books as paintings and artefacts. The colors of the book-covers contrast with the walls, curated on shelves, that do not offer...
Matter, Denver. Self-sufficiency in the DNA
Rick Griffith and Debra Johnson follow the pulse of time while infusing it with history. «We are connected to our times and we know exactly what to do»
Cărturești Carusel, Bucharest. The time-lapse of a building that stood still
The building was built to last and when the dictatorship was toppled, it was returned to its owners, resembling our nation: damaged but standing – In conversation with Daniel Voinea
The 2022 Verbier Art Summit continues its commitment to ecological issues in its sixth edition
New York’s Dia Art Foundation director Jessica Morgan triples her commitment as curator of the Summit, underlining the need for social change
Sauce, Dubai. Online spaces have become rudiment to retail strategy
Growing up in Lebanon during the civil war, co-founder Ghandour’s childhood informs Sauce’s philosophy. «I had to put my battle shoes on when the retail markets changed in Dubai»
Laforet Harajuku, Tokyo. A crisis of subculture
What has become of Japanese subcultures? In Laforet, in Tokyo, they still exist. History shows us how culture has always dominated markets in the long run, according to cycles
Transmediale, Berlin. A reflection of technology occupying socio-political discourse
Founded as VideoFilmFest in the context of Berlinale’s International Forum of New Cinema in 1988, the festival takes notion of the possibility of refusal, drawing a vision of hope
Tom Greyhound, Paris. Under the spotlight in a post-Colette world
Amongst the Marais, in 90 square meters of Parisian brick & mortar, is Tom Greyhound—the multi-brand designer concept store in a post-Colette Paris
Future Library, Oslo. Will books become the next extinct species in a hundred years?
The forest whose tree rings are chapters in a book. How understanding the human traits in nature can help save the environment
Family Books, Los Angeles. An art bookstore about the size and dimension of a bus
«Rather than just selling books I wanted to convey a point of view. If people come in knowing what they want they would be disappointed», in conversation with founder David...
Huis Marseille, Amsterdam. Approaching books as objects, looking at them from a store point of view
«The prices we ask are below their gallery prices and the edition is higher – it is a chance to buy art if you can afford it». In conversation with...
Wentz concept store, São Paulo. Forms found in nature as a way of designing
Guilherme Wentz expands the experience with the environment. Having decreased access to technology in Brazil, the brands product design is manufactured by family companies in the country
Ark Books, Copenhagen. The nucleus of esoteric novels
The thesis of the store revolves around the initiative of each volunteer and how they pour their time into Ark. As of now, there are twenty individuals who are contributing...
The American Book Center, Amsterdam. Happy Chaos, a treasure hunt
Being present in the pre-internet era, there are items at the bookstore that you cannot find anywhere else. This cult has become part of the stores image and reputation
192 Books, New York City. A mirror of the Paula Cooper Gallery
In the absence of bookstores in the Chelsea area, Paula Cooper and Jack Macrae persisted in operating a bookstore for the community of inhabitants for this corner of Manhattan
Amodo, Berlin. The story of two Italian expats unfolds in the store in Mitte district
Berlin’s Gallery Weekend and Art Week are occasions where Mitte bursts with people from around the world. A category of people aligned to Amodo’s ethos
Quotidiana, Milan. From Milano Card, unlocking the unexplored potential of newspaper kiosks
In Milan newsstands have been restored and reimagined as service points on our doorsteps, information hubs and places where people can meet and interact. In conversation with CEO, Edoardo Scarpellini
