David Rockwell
David Rockwell’s Book List
The books on my list represent a group of people and things that have influenced my approach to design over the past 30 years—from childhood memories to the magic of theater to some extraordinarily creative individuals.
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One of the things that led me to the Architectural Association in London was Archigram’s work. I particularly love Peter Cook’s Plug-in-City, his futuristic vision for an urban infrastructure that can continuously rebuild and reinvent itself to meet the needs of its inhabitants.
My son Sam developed an interest in ping pong a few years ago, and now plays competitively around the world. I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can about the sport, and this book provides a fascinating historical spin (pun intended) of the game’s impact on U.S. and China relations.
A comprehensive look at the prolific career of one of my favorite designers whose profound interest in theater drove his architectural work.
The design process and work of one of the greatest collaborative design teams of the 20th century, Charles and Ray Eames, is presented in a beautiful, lovingly made tome reminiscent of their slideshows.
An unvarnished, deeply researched biography of one of America’s greatest playwrights.
William Goldman’s depiction of the inner workings of Broadway productions and the big personalities associated with them is very revealing. It was essential reading for me when I worked on my first Broadway show.
Boris Aronson was unquestionably the greatest scenic designer of the 20th century. Frank Rich and Lisa Jalowetz Aronson, Boris’s widow, did an amazing job of presenting the brilliance and artistry of his work.
When my parents moved our family to Guadalajara, Mexico, I started to realize the excitement and potential of life in public spaces. Luis Barragan’s use of color, craft and light in his buildings in Mexico are permanently imprinted in my mind.
One of my passions is cooking for friends and family, and this book is so well written that it enables me to prepare dishes with complex flavors with relative ease. The chicken soup with coconut milk and lemongrass is one of my favorite recipes.
Ever since seeing my first Broadway show as a child, I’ve been fascinated with how ephemeral experiences can have as much impact as permanent structures. I’m always dreaming up and experimenting with portable and temporary structures, so I love this collection of pop-up urban interventions. The mobile skyscraper is pretty great.
Dana Cowin is one of the most knowledgeable people that I know about food. So it was an unexpected and hilarious surprise when she revealed in her new book that for years she didn’t know how to cook. Fortunately, Dana was able to enlist the world’s top chefs to teach her—and us—the craft of cooking.
A quirky, personal and sometimes poignant take on objects—both ordinary and extraordinary – that Maira handpicked from the Cooper Hewitt’s archives.
Announcements
Total Armageddon: A Slanted Reader on Design edited by Ian Lynam
Total Armageddon: A Slanted Reader on Design
Edited by Ian Lynam
Publisher: Slanted Publishers
Published: March 2019
Total Armageddon is about design. And culture. And complexity, notably how we, as a global civilization, deal with science fiction, taste, social media, the cities we live in, aesthetics, PowerPoint, burkas, Big Tech, full-contact sports, and other thorny topics. The book celebrates 15 years of independent publishing and brings together a who’s who of authors and essays from 32 issues of Slanted Magazine.
A Field Guide to Color by Lisa Solomon
A Field Guide to Color: A Watercolor Workbook
By Lisa Solomon
Publisher: Roost Books
Published: August 2019
In this creative workbook you’ll discover fresh ways to connect with color in your art and life. Using watercolors, gouache, or any other water-based medium, explore color theory while playing with paint through a balanced blend of color experiments and loose color meditations. This inspiring workbook will change the way you relate to color
Five Oceans in a Teaspoon by Dennis Bernstein and Warren Lehrer
Five Oceans in a Teaspoon
Poems by Dennis Bernstein
Visualizations by Warren Lehrer
Introduction by Steven Heller
Publisher: Paper Crown Press
Published: September 19, 2019
“From a kidnap note for a world held hostage by an A-bomb, to a Holocaust survivor’s tattooed arms where the numbers just don’t add up, Five Oceans in a Teaspoon re-envisions a poetry memoir via a textual kaleidoscope... Bernstein and Lehrer are the Rodgers and Hart of Visual Poetry.” — Bob Holman, poet, poetry activist and chronicler, and founder of the Bowery Poetry Club
Ballpark: Baseball in the American City by Paul Goldberger
Ballpark: Baseball in the American City
By Paul Goldberger
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Published: May 2019
An illustrated, entirely new look at the history of baseball: told through the stories of the vibrant and ever-changing ballparks where the game was and is staged, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic.
Charleston Fancy by Witold Rybczynski
Charleston Fancy: Little Houses and Big Dreams in the Holy City
By Witold Rybczynski
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: May 2019
Charleston, South Carolina, which boasts America’s first historic district, is known for its palmetto-lined streets and picturesque houses. The Holy City, named for its profusion of churches, exudes an irresistible charm. Award-winning author and cultural critic Witold Rybczynski unfolds a series of stories about a group of youthful architects, builders, and developers based in Charleston: a self-taught home builder, an Air Force pilot, a fledgling architect, and a bluegrass mandolin player.
Teaching Graphic Design History by Steven Heller
Teaching Graphic Design History
By Steven Heller
Publisher: Allworth Press
Published: June 2019
An examination of the concerted efforts, happy accidents, and key influences of the practice throughout the years, Teaching Graphic Design History is an illuminating resource for students, practitioners, and future teachers of the subject.
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