Ahhh, the mad rush of the season. We here at Stout books think that might just be one too many holiday cookies geometrically decorated in a lurid Modrianesque dream of the sugar plum fairies. 

For this special Holiday newsletter we decided to let (us) the friendly and competent staff make recommendations. It was interesting to see what came about (and who has expensive tastes). Keep in mind that since some of the titles are from our out-of-print collection and there maybe limited quantities in stock.

William focused on two stellar out of print selections The Mies van der Rohe drawings from the Museum of Modern Art and Frank Lloyd Wright's Buildings and Plans. He also included the intimate documentation of Bernd and Hilla Becher's house/studio in The Mill. You can see some interior shots of the book on our blog. 

Carolina started her list with a monograph on the Spanish architect / designer Patricia Urquiola. Then two East Coast oriented selections with Cape Cod Modern and The Shakers. She then refocused the Bay Area with the small but powerful publication on San Francisco Neon Signs.  She also included a monograph on the Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres-García.

Possibly not following any of the 115 city construction rules collected in Josh's first pick, Grand Urban Rules, the demolished Kowloon Walled City, is the focus of his second pick City of Darkness Revisited. This new & revisited edition includes photographs, drawings and documents previously unpublished about this mythical city. 

Jonathan, who runs our Solano Avenue shop chose a strong group of out-of-print titles. The first title focuses on the German Postmodernist architect O.M. Ungers' works and thoughts. A monograph on Joze Plecnik, the Classicist Slovene architect who was a student of Otto Vagner, as well as the work of artist sculptor Walter Pinchler are also part of his recommendation list. 

Vernon started his list off with two heavy-hitting art monographs on Franz Von Stuck and Caspar David Friedrick. His recommendations then continued on with some first-rate titles directed at organic forms: Park Güell and Jugendstil Art Nouveau: Floral & Functional Designs. Also don't miss his guide on San Francisco's Necropolis at Colma, it's to die for.

Shanna began her list with the Pulitzer Prize winning author Kenneth Silverman's biography of the enimatic John Cage. Her next two selections examine America's strange political, historical, and social nooks and crannies with the Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar as well as Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo. She also included two visually immersive publications with Takahiro Kurashima: Poemotion 2 and Fabrien Baron's Liquid Light.

At the bottom of this newsletter you will find a colleciton of titles we labeled essentials. These are indispensible publications for anyone looking to round out their personal libraries this season.

We hope you have a safe and happy season.
Be well, 
The Staff at William Stout Architectural Books. 

William

Mies van der Rohe: Drawings in the Collection of the Museum of Modern Art
 1969 - $750

Buildings Plans and Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright
1963 - $650

The Mill
2007 - $65

Robert Irwin
1993 - $40

Cesar Domela
2007 - $55

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Architect
2000 - $50

Carolina