The holiday season is upon us once again, and if you’re searching for gift inspiration, look no further.
Our hand-selected curation of design items runs the gamut from budget-friendly stocking fillers to home decor and lavish statement pieces (when else to dream big?) – all chosen with architecture in mind.
Dumbo bookends
This thoughtful gift for bookworms adds fun pops of colour to your shelf while supporting your library. The powder-coated solid steel bookends are designed by Madrid-based studio Ciszak Dalmas and feature a double arc design, available in three sizes. And they’re sold individually, so you can mix and match for a personal touch.
$32
Reebok x Eames Classic Leather sneaker
The flecked uppers of this leather Reebok trainer are inspired by the patinaed fibreglass of Eames’ classic shell armchair. The Reebok x Eames Classic Leather Fiberglass Pack is the latest collaboration between the brands and comes in three colourways: Pink, Sea Foam Green and Parchment. The leather effect mimics the ageing fibreglass of the iconic 1950 chair, and the shoes are packaged in boxes that reflect Case Study House No.8 – better known as the Eames House in LA.
From £90
Richard Ginori x Luke Edward Hall plate collection
Luke Edward Hall lends his whimsical illustrations to Ginori 1735’s Profumi Luchino home fragrance collection of illustrated porcelain plates and trays, which commemorate his travels. Among the designs is Rain Rock Creek – and a rustic A-frame in Big Sur, Northern California.
€150
‘Remote Experiences: Extraordinary Travel Adventures from North to South’, published by Taschen
Belgian photographer David De Vleeschauwer and travel journalist Debbie Pappyn take readers on 12 epic adventures across the globe in this gorgeous Taschen coffee table book. Among the highlights is a nautical journey through the icefields of the North Pole and a boat safari through the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Less replicable, though no less fascinating, are images from the ideologically remote ‘hermit kingdom’ of North Korea, which is normally restricted to outsiders – with the exception of politically-curated package tours.
$60
A-frame dollhouse
Whether you’ve got an architecturally-inclined child – or an imaginative inner one – this A-frame style beach house offers fantasy design on a miniature scale. The unfinished kit has a classic chalet layout with a loft, stairway and landing rails, as well as criss-cross piling, a cross-buck door, and wooden windows. Would-be interior designers, big and small, can unleash their imaginations across its rooms.
$149
Concrete MGCT ring by ORTOGONALE
Lightweight concrete and Italian marble dust are cast by hand to create this bulky brutalist ring by Studio Mondocubo – part of a modernist architecture-inspired series of designs for ORTOGONALE. The raw, crumbling crown lends this one its unique aesthetic, though the range also includes rings and necklaces with a more streamlined concrete appeal.
€42
DÉVÉ Two Metres, Five necklace
Looking for a big-ticket item that will fit under the tree? With its fluted sides and modernist silhouette, this multipurpose 18k gold vermeil necklace doubles as storage for a small lighter and has a robust but delicate architectural vibe. It’s available via Alex Eagle Studio and dangles from a 70cm long 1.8mm box chain.
£1,150
Illustrated Neutra print by Sander Patelski
Amsterdam-based artist and book illustrator Sander Patelski brings Richard Neutra’s VDL Studio to life in this limited edition print of the Modernist Los Angeles landmark. Also known as the Neutra Research House, the 1930 building was the home and office of Richard Neutra and his wife Dione, and incorporated Neutra’s ideas from his widely acclaimed Lovell Health House on a more modest and widely-applicable scale. It’s printed on 310gsm Giclée Hahnemühle German Etching paper and is limited to a run of 95.
€80
‘Come Stai?’: Gaetano Pesce x Matthieu Blazy resin chairs for Bottega Veneta
Gaetano Pesces’s gloopy, colourful resin chairs turned almost as many heads as Matthieu Blazy’s SS23 runway presentation in Milan this past September, and the playful pieces are headed for sale at Design Miami from 29 Nov to 4 December. There are 400 chairs in total, each with its own colourway, slogan or motif. A selection has been released online via Bottega Veneta’s website, though, as you might suspect, they command a hefty price tag.
Between $6,500 to $10,900 (with shipping and returns)
Muralla Roja puzzle by Sonniewing
At the other end of the scale is this colourful geometric puzzle by artist Sonniewing, inspired by Ricardo Bofill’s postmodern landmark Muralla Roja in Spain. It’s available in three sizes and skill levels (30, 252 and 1,000 pieces).
€32
Dough mugs by Faye Toogood
Solid and satisfying with a playful twist, the dough mug by Faye Toogood features a minimalist vessel paired with an oversized super chunky handle. The mugs are made in Portugal and come in sets of two – each with a unique speckled finish.
£76
Conic coffee pot by Alessi
Architect Aldo Rossi created the Conic for Alessi in 1984, and it became an instant icon. Inspired by classical forms, reinterpreted through neo-rationalism and the freedom of postmodernism, the conically-capped coffee pot has been in production for over 35 years and is a kitchen staple for design aficionados.
From €176
Vesper Quattro lighting pendant by Lee Broom
Brutalist geometry and cathedral lighting inspire this sculptural, statement lighting fixture by London-based designer Lee Broom. The Vesper Quattro Brushed light comes in anodised gold or silver and comprises a series of interlocking rectangular cubes suspended from cables and inset with glowing orbs.
From €4,600
