08 Apr Design Elements: Books

Inspired by Place Written by Chase Reynolds Ewald

Architecture and design powerhouse CLB Architects’ first monograph, Inspired by Place, is a passion project named after the firm’s guiding philosophy. Written by Chase Reynolds Ewald — with forwards by Ian Volner, Tom Kundig, and Agnes Bourne — the monograph features 11 of CLB Architects’ renowned designs.

Since its inception in 1992, CLB has “established an architectural language for the Mountain West” that speaks as much about nuanced design as it does breathtaking landscapes. Inspired by Place introduces readers to the modern-meets-rustic scope of organically informed architecture, while offering an enchanting glimpse into iconic Western places and spaces. “This monograph captures our vision of timeless design,” says CLB partner Eric Logan. “We believe that architecture is inseparable from the land on which it rests, and we have always used the principle ‘inspired by place’ as the driving force for our practice. Presenting our work in this monograph is a venue for bringing an extension of the American West into the homes of architects and design lovers alike.”

$75 | oroeditions.com

Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects Written by JLF Design Build with Seabring Davis

JLF Design Build, along with award-winning journalist Seabring Davis, introduces its debut monograph, Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects, which is slated for release May 24, 2022. Whether working with reclaimed antique timber or indigenous stone, the esteemed firm brings decades of experience to bear on rustic and modern design solutions in some of the world’s most breathtaking locales, which is beautifully captured in this unique volume by photographer Audrey Hall.

More than 40 years since its founding, JLF has grown to include offices in Bozeman, Montana, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Park City, Utah, all working to build in partnership with the land through environmentally responsible, artful designs. Summing up the firm’s steadfast philosophy, the book states: “The most sustainable thing we can do is design a house that will still be here in a hundred years, a place where people can gather for generations to come. Nature is perfect. So, when we design a house, looking to regionality, craft, and belonging are key to our approach so that the dwelling won’t be a scar on the landscape, but instead will act as something that honors it.”

$55 | rizzoliusa.com

A Home in the Wine Country Written by Heather Sandy Hebert & Chase Reynolds Ewald

For aficionados of great architecture in scenic locations, At Home in the Wine Country, co-authored by Heather Sandy Hebert and Chase Reynolds Ewald, showcases the work of some of California’s top architects and landscape designers. Published by Gibbs Smith, the book features 21 homes, barns, and pool houses that stand out against the stunning scenery of Napa, Sonoma, and Carmel, California. The architectural styles in this book range from contemporary farmhouses and refined rustic homes to updated agrarian and unapologetically modern ones. Each structure documents a terroir-derived style that embraces the indoor-outdoor experience and sublime views.

$50 | gibbs-smith.com

On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains: The Botanical Legacy of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Written by Sarah Chase Shaw

Colorado-based author and landscape architect Sarah Chase Shaw’s newest book is a celebration of the global reach of the alpine ecosystem and the unique climate that supports and sustains the hardy plants and animals that inhabit it. On the Roof of the Rocky Mountains: The Botanical Legacy of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens focuses on the gardens in Vail, Colorado that were named in honor of the former first lady, an avid gardener and part-time resident of the town. The gardens showcase over 3,000 plant species and are open to the public from dawn to dusk. Shaw’s descriptive writing is accompanied by captivating photography of landscapes that few visit and even fewer inhabit. Published by Gibbs Smith, it’s sure to be a hit with garden lovers.

$45 | gibbs-smith.com

George Carlson: The American West Written by George Carlson with contributions by Todd Wilkinson

Artist George Carlson’s work has been likened to French and American Impressionists who turned to nature’s beauty for relief in an industrialized world. A frequent award winner at the famed Prix de West exhibition at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Carlson has won many distinguished awards in both sculpture and landscape painting. George Carlson: The American West is written by the artist, with an essay contributed by journalist and author Todd Wilkinson. Carlson is an American treasure, and this book demonstrates how he’s making an impactful contribution to the canon of art history. For collectors of Western art and American landscape painting, this comprehensive volume is an incomparable addition to one’s library.

$60 | rizzoliusa.com