WORLDWIDE READING, COLLECTING, TRAVELING LISTING THE BEST OUTPUT FROM THE EDITORIAL SEARCH
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 Kawata.
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 Padro, Gautier Robial, Yaël Huppert
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
ISBN Books & Gallery, Budabest. 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
La Feltrinelli, Milano Piazza Piemonte. Back to the books
On the occasion of the opening of Feltrinelli’s store in Piazza Piemonte, Sales Director of Business, Retail & Experience Alessandro Monti talk about the chain’s present and future
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 find in Provo and in our State
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- novels, but for one-of-a-kind finds»
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. 80% 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 Bill Palmer
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 photographer and author at that moment»
Le Mur, Madrid. Conveying the importance 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
Lebigmag, Moscow. People visit from fatigue by the sight of screens
Magazines: one can travel without travelling. «I receive orders from villages in Russia, for which, when I look at google maps are towns consisting of twenty houses»
Perrotin, Paris. If an artist has ten books about their work, we prioritize those that do not
Books exist within the ecosystem in France, the tax on books is not the same as on other products. When supplying and sourcing, Lauriane Perrotin looks to a variety of contributors for each item
Champaca, Bengaluru. The Buddha of the next-era will find enlightenment under the flower canopy of the champaca tree
On the rooftop of a bungalow, a metal-staircase takes you to the store that opens into a courtyard. Founder Radhika Timbadia wanted to create a sanctuary hide-away from the city lights and traffic
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
One Room, Rome. Photography as seen through the lens of theory and practice
In 2008 Stefano Ruffa founded a place to encounter and experience the images he consumed. Today he works to introduce people to the world of photography – and to the medium of the photobook
Rosa Wolf, Berlin. Five-hundred titles with a soul and old-school customer service
«Why would someone buy a fashion magazine that looks like the others unless it has a defining factor»? Domenico Gutknecht of Rosa Wolf on his fixation with independent-print magazines
XYZ Books, Lisbon. Endorsing experimentation without compromise
At XYZ Books, the focus is not aesthetics. Pedro Guimarães and Tiago Casanova encourage freshness and support the artists they collaborate with through their insight and intuition in editing
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 bookstore manager Tim Mooij-Knip
Librairie Sans Titre, Paris. An independent-publishers and artists’ hunter
Finding the spot was a chance event for Mathilde de Galbert, who discovered what she says «looked like a bookshop», while cycling around the neighborhood, one Sunday morning
Printed Matter, Inc., New York. Where publishing, social activism and inclusivity take precedent
«Our guardian trajectory is to take art off the pedestal and out of the sanctity of the museum, and fold it into everyday experiences». Max Schumann, Director of Printed Matter, Inc.
Nice to Meet You, Shanghai. Anglo-French-American history of a 96-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
The Booksmith, Thailand. A distributor for hard-to-seek titles in the Greater-Thailand region
«I was not acquainted with other professions. My fondness was for books, and a means for survival churned the birth of The Booksmith». Sirote Jiraprayoon on his journey to climb the corporate ladder
AnzenbergerGallery, Vienna. Works that experiment with media from a perspective of curation
Founded in 2002 by Regina Anzenberger, the space is a platform for photography-based art. Visitors are introduced to a concept-based body of work in the form of exhibitions and books
Galerija Fotografija, Slovenia. Photoshop is a dry and virtual dark room
The gallery-bookshop represents emerging and established Slovene and international-artists. Located on Levstikov street, in the capital city, it is spread across eighty-square-meters
Tintabudi, Kuala Lumpur. Essays and discourse on art theory, humanities and philosophy
«The saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ is a juxtaposition. Everyone does it and we tapped into the aesthetics and beauty that could be found in book covers to appease the customers»
World at the Corner, Bangkok. Motivating customers to visit the places they find in the books they read
Visiting bookstores in every country they toured, Nat and Sivika Prakobsantisuk have curated books based on cultures from around the world to give the reader a sense of exploration
The Bookworm Hanoi, Vietnam. A hotspot for literature at the heart of Ba Đình’s district
Since 2001 the bookstore has been interconnecting Hanoi’s community of readers by creating a space for dialogue, participation and literary exploration
Motto, Berlin. From distribution company to international-bookstore with over 20.000 titles
«Countries and cities have contexts to adjust to. The idea that you should be a master in one field is outdated. Working on a worldwide scale requires versatility». In conversation with founder Alexis Zavialoff
Passport Bookshop, Bangkok. Championing reading with travel related books
Choosing not to cross swords with subsisting bookstores in terms of quantity, Founder Noom made the choice to showcase and sell books of quality instead
Walking BookFairs, Bengaluru. A bookstore that encourages society to read
Travelling around India, Walking BookFairs has become a source of providing books to the under-privileged across communities and educational platforms
Under the Cover, Lisbon. A magazine’s cover is a part of the selection criteria
The world of independent zines and alternative press has had a metamorphosis over the years. It started with fanzines in the Thirties
One Half In, China. A bookstore should be part of everyday existence
Individuals and university students from cities within a distance come to browse and read books and magazines which can be purchased through their online store
Book and Bed, Tokyo. A goodnight’s sleep is something you will not find here
Books are the point for each Book and Bed Tokyo location and are a tool for literature-inspired installations. Set on the eighth floor of the Kabukicho Apm Building, it provides a birds-eye view of the city
Monograph Bookwerks, Oregon. A spot for art and ephemera
Artists John Brodie and Blair Saxon-Hill opened Monograph Bookwerks in 2010 for people to study, explore and purchase books about art, politics and theory
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»
Edicola 518, Perugia. From the ashes of an abandoned kiosk
An unused kiosk rises to a life between art space and bookstore. Four square meters and an argument about independent publishing
Arcana: Books on the Arts, California. Do we have to maximize every purchase?
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
Type Books, Toronto. Social issues and concerns make a community bookstore
Conserving the fading notion of classic book stores. Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm began with an art gallery in the basement and a bookstore above it
Livraria Lello, Porto. How do you stay contemporary?
It is said that J.K. Rowling drew inspiration from the atmosphere and the labyrinthine scale of the bookstore to conceive the Hogwarts school of magic
Theatro, Portugal. Gravitating to the world of prose and poems
A town’s population of 64,000, and a market permeating with booksellers, it was not a viable proposition to open another stand-alone bookshop
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 online
Librairie Candide, Belgium. Books have stories which make people want to escape
Prior to taking over the bookstore, Eric Haegelsteen spent twenty-five years of his life in administering services as an auditor in Kongo, Cameroon, Ivory coast and Senegal
Bookstore in 798 Art Zone, Beijing. Conveying the memoir of its Jewish American heritage
Architect He Wei’s design philosophy is to not have one. «We do not want to use the architectural language and form that has been applied in prior works»
McNally Jackson Books, New York. Inside the Nolita indie scenario
Founded in New York in 2004 by Sarah McNally, a former editor at Basic Books and daughter of Holly and Paul McNally, the owners of the Canadian McNally Robinson Booksellers chain.
Ona, Barcelona. How a Barcelona bookstore is reviving a lost language through literature
A store that vies to preserve Catalan culture through literature, spearheaded by Taxto Benet: «Catalan needs people to read in Catalan, to write in Catalan, to purchase Catalan books»
YJY Maike Flagship Centre, China. How 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
Livraria Mandarina, São Paulo. Where mandarins are metaphors for growth and resistance
Former marketing and communication professionals, Daniela Amendola and Roberta Paixão, founded a two-story bookstore with twelve-thousand titles in 2019
Harbook Hangzhou, China. Lifestyle involvements in an expenditure of arches
Incorporating a showroom for Danish furniture brand Norman Copenhagen, the bookstore toys with intersection, complexity and contradiction
Altlife Bookstore, Ningbo. From a bicycle parking lot to the reprisal of culture
The structure of the mezzanine in metal imposes limits that exclude the possibility of loading it with the weight of the books – In conversation with architect, Pietro Peyron
Wuguan Books, Taiwan. The illusion of books that appear to be floating
Misfortune cookies and sex toys. Jettisoning the taboos that surround sexual desires Chu Chih Kang describes human nourishment in the darkness of a bookstore
The Moon, Singapore. Introspection led to feminism in Singapore based Pakistani, Sarah Naeem
«I wanted to create a space, no matter who you are, if you come from a community, when you enter, you will find your representation on the bookshelves»
Mzin, Leipzig. Interdisciplinarity and interaction, in a gallery-like magazine store
Turning a university project into a career, Philipp Neumann renews Leipzig’s history in publishing through a magazine store for culture
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
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
Casa Bosques, Mexico City. What the digital era cannot offer, is to be found here
A bookstore that dates back to the beginning of the Twentieth century generating a style that belonged to the period of Mexican dictator, Porfirio Diaz
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 books
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
Le Notti Bianche, Italy. A bookstore grounded in Vigevano
«The idea is to encourage the participants to discover books that they would not choose», Ludovica Giuliani talks about her activity in a city that is reference for North Italy lands
OWSpace, China. A seaside bookstore of 590 square meters, a space designed for solitude
Boxes and corners provide a shelter for those who seek solitude and quiet with levels of interaction at OWSpace Bookstore, on the Golden Beach of Qinhuangdao
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 business
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
9 ¾ Bookstore, Colombia. European aura and Colombian coffee inside a children’s bookstore
Inspired by the Harry Potter book, bookstore and leisure space: educational activities to encourage children to read, in a Columbian setting inspired by Italy
Will books become the next extinct species in a hundred years?
The forest whose tree rings are chapters in a book. How understanding what is inherently human in the natural world can help save the environment
Import News, New York. Are we living in an era of content overload?
While print has long been deemed as ‘dead’, that does not apply to independent magazines. In conversation with Import News founders, Sasha Laing and Ken Miller
Choisi Bookshop, Lugano. A theatrical display of art publishing
«At a bookshop you can see the final product, not the research and experimentation behind it». In conversation with curator Giulia Brivio
Artwords Bookshop, London. A reflection of our ‘here and now’
The cleanliness of the backdrop allows the books to take center stage. One says ‘never judge a book by its cover’, but in Artwords that’s exactly what you do
Helsinki, Stockmann Centre. Northen Europe’s largest department store
It was 1852 when Heinrich Georg Franz Stockmann of Lübeck arrived in Finland to work as a bookkeeper and cashier at the Nuutajärvi Glassworks
Kinokuniya, San Francisco. A world of culture without boundaries
Books have the power of connecting countries and cultures – as demonstrated by the tie between United States and Japan created by Kinokuniya
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»
Fashion Books, Milan. Niche attitude reminiscent of the Eighties
Fashion books from the Fifties, avant-garde magazines and catalogues line the walls of Alessandro Andrei’s private studio
Pro qm, Berlin. Interdisciplinary debates in Berlin’s Mitte
The city and its relation to questions of design, politics, pop culture, economy, art, sound, and the field of theory. In conversation with founder Katja Reichard
Daikanyama T-Site, Tokyo. Disrupting the model of the traditional bookstore
The future of commerce is headed in two directions: niche and mass-market, whilst one bookstore transforms into a center of culture and commerce
Word On The Water, London. The halcyon haven for bibliophiles
Moored on Regent’s Canal, a century-old Dutch barge houses an island of quirkiness. In conversation with co-founder Paddy Screech
Yvon Lambert, Paris. On artistic recurrences
A return to Marais—but this time, as a bookseller and modern publisher—or Yvon Lambert Paris, the bookshop in the center of Paris.
Libreria Luxemburg, Turin. Northern Italy in Northern Europe
Echoes of Edinburgh and of activism, among museum books and archives. Culture is curated by selection, whereas success is guaranteed with curiosities
A social and cultural catalyst for the community
As a response to the disappearance of libraries and cultural facilities, Gogol & Company became a café, a co-working space, and an art gallery
A soft spot for local authors with a hint of oddity
«Last year, someone submitted a squirrel census, and we bought that». Thriving in the digital era, in the words of owner and founder Emma Straub
Books and Books, Coral Gables. The unspoken literary spot of the sunshine state
The first shop was started in a 1972’ building, following completely the Coral Gables architecture with a typical Mediterranean Revival style very dear to this southern Miami’s suburb
IGOR Libreria, Bologna. An LGBTQ+ sanctuary in the city of the niche
«In Italy, Bologna stands out for its civic sense. It’s the ideal city for a niche, LGBTQ+-themed bookstore like ours»
Head Hi, New York. Brooklyn’s spot for dialogue, community, and curiosity
Head Hi in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene is a state of mind, an exchange of opinions, a hearty cup of coffee, the spark of an idea, a call for justice
Gudberg Nerger, Hamburg. The future of digital is print
A design studio, concept store, art gallery and publishing house that believes in the art of synergy and in the irreplaceability of physical books
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
Kubrick Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong. The development of the hub effect
The expansion of a record store into the world of publishing, all in the Yau Ma Tei and Kwun Tong neighborhoods in Hong Kong
Athenaeum Boekhandel, Amsterdam. The palace of printed paper
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 more
Roppongi Tsutaya Books, Tokyo. Catering to the needs of an international community
Tsutaya was founded in 1983 in Osaka as a realization of the idea of a need to create a stronghold of culture for grown-ups
Worms Magazine, London. Reading and writing with Clem MacLeod
Books as protection against existential fears. «If you’re reading this, you are a Worm. We’re all Worms, and in the end, we’re going to be eaten by them»
Artazart, Paris. The design bookstore dedicated to the image
Open 363 days a year, Artazart doesn’t stop to take a breath. Often making it to top-bookstores-around-the-world listicles and guidebooks, the bookstore is currently celebrating its twenty years
FUEL, London. Changing the perception of traditional graphic design
After thirty years, the FUEL team remains to be a duo. They never employed assistants or interns, nor had ambitions to enlarge the design company
Papercut, Stockholm. Trust in local support is a prerequisite
Opening a retail store in an industry, in which online media and webstores are overtaking control seems precarious for many. Trust in local support is prerequisite
Paper Planes, Mumbai. A milestone in the history of indie magazines
In conversation with Paper Planes founder Nupur Joshi Thanks on her digital startup focused on the evolution of design and print in India
0fr, Paris. In conversation with Alexandre Thumerelle
In conversation with the cofounder 0FR, the bookshop in Paris’ Marais district selling over 200 different publications, original or not, old or new, founded in 1996
Beige Habilleur, Paris. A collaboration with KDPresse
In conversation with Eric Namont and Alexandre Baret, managers at KDPresse, on their unexpected alliance with Beige Habilleur
In conversation with Silvia Peron of Soul Studio
The online store Soul Studio selects curated products and publications and includes a collective collaboration among designers, artists, and brands to create limited edition prints and objects
The Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht. A Third Place for many
Three things happen. You lower your voice. You look up and realize the enormity. You make the way to the altar – in a gothic church it is all about space and light
Magalleria, Bath. An informed vision of the print industry
The current pandemic is making it hard for magazines to go into print and distribution. Internet is guaranteeing information but digital cannot replace print for good
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’
Eslite, Hong Kong. Connecting the dots between three stores
In 2012 the first Eslite Bookstore outside Taiwan opened, located at Causeway Bay, aiming to build a peaceful dock in the busy area
