Tag Archives: books

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books
Bicycle, 1980s; Raleigh; Component count: 893. Photo reproduced with the permission of Thames & Hudson.

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books
Chainsaw, 1990s; Homelite; Component count: 286. Photo reproduced with the permission of Thames & Hudson.

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books
Laptop Computer, 2006; Apple; Component count: 639. Photo reproduced with the permission of Thames & Hudson.

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books
Children’s Wagon, 2011; Schwinn; Component count: 296. Photo reproduced with the permission of Thames & Hudson.

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books
Smartphone, 2007; BlackBerry; Component count: 120. Photo reproduced with the permission of Thames & Hudson.

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books
Swiss Army Knife, 2000s; Victorinox; Component count: 38.

Things Come Apart, 50 Disassembled Objects in 21,959 Individual Parts by Todd McLellan objects books

I’ll never forget the excitement I felt the first time I disassembled a telephone. I was eight years old, on our back porch with just an old screwdriver and a pair of pliers, but seeing what was inside this everyday object was a discovery akin to unearthing a dinosaur. The sudden knowledge that the speaker part was magnetic and contained a mile of thin copper wiring was practically miraculous. When the day was over, I was surrounded by pieces of am/fm radio, an old handheld video game, and a toy car, none of which would ever be assembled again, but that really wasn’t the point. Master disassembler Todd McLellan remarks on a similar childhood discovery in his latest book, Things Come Apart from Thames & Hudson, but for him, it wasn’t fleeting like it was with me. It was the beginning of his life-long career in documenting the technological methods of modern mass production in reverse.

In Things Come Apart, McLellan exposes the inner working of 50 objects and 21,959 individual components as he reflects on the permanence of vintage machines built several decades ago—sturdy gadgets meant to be broken and repaired—versus today’s manufacturing trend of limited use followed by quick obsolescence. Captured in his photography are myriad parts laid flat and organized by function, creating recontextualized images of wagons, chainsaws, computers, and phones. He also shoots high-speed photos of carefully orchestrated drops where pieces are shot in midair as they come crashing down, creating impressive visual explosions. Also appearing in the book is his pièce de résistance: a Zenith CH 650 aircraft photographed as individual components.

The book is officially published tomorrow, but you can order it now on Amazon and Thames & Hudson. All images copyright Todd McLellan courtesy of the publisher.

Update: If you’re in Chicago, McLellan currently has an exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry through May 19th.

By Christopher on May 6, 2013 • books objects

The Book Vase by YOY

The Book Vase by YOY plants books

The Book vase by YOY Design Studio (previously) is a house planter camouflaged as a book. Made of PMMA and PVC for water proofing the vase can be opened up to reveal the dirt inside and when closed can be inserted amongst the rest of your books to save desk space. (via fuck yeah book arts)

By Christopher on April 26, 2013 • books plants

A Library Slide by Moon Hoon

A Library Slide by Moon Hoon slides libraries books architecture

Architect Moon Hoon recently designed the Panorama House (scroll down), in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. One of the most unique features incorporated into the home is a wooden slide built directly into a library which also functions as a stair-stepped home theater seating area. Via the architect:

The basic request of upper and lower spatial organization and the shape of the site promted a long and tin house with fluctuating facade which would allow for more differentiated view. The key was coming up with a multi-functional space which is a large staircase, bookshelves, casual reading space, home cinema, slide and many more. The client was very pleased with the design, and the initial design was accepted and finalized almost instantly, only with minor adjustments. The kitchen and dining space is another important space where family gathers to bond. The TV was pushed away to a smaller living room. The attic is where the best view is possible, it is used as a play room for younger kids. The multi-use stair and slide space brings much active energy to the house, not only children, but also grown ups love the slide staircase. An action filled playful house for all ages.

See many more interior and exterior photos over on Contemporist. (via soft shock)

By Christopher on April 17, 2013 • architecture books libraries slides

Irving Harper: Works in Paper

Irving Harper: Works in Paper sculpture paper books animals

Irving Harper: Works In Paper is a new book from Skira Rizzoli that collects the paper works of industrial designer Irving Harper. Harper worked as the director of design at George Nelson Associates during the 1960s and is known for designing the Marshmallow Sofa for Herman Miller (as well as the firms’ iconic logo) and the ball and sunburst clocks for Howard Miller. Privately the designer was also an artist and created numerous paper sculptures depicting animals, masks, and other figures. Via Rizzoli:

Encompassing influences as diverse as Picasso, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the art of Oceana and Africa, the architecture of Paris, and the American beech tree that shades the Rye, New York home he has lived in for over 50 years, the artist’s private meditations reveal an informed aesthetic consciousness expressing itself as pure joy. Harper’s private work delivers on the promise of modernism: humble materials elevated by brilliant design and craftsmanship, and integrating the natural world to create objects in a universally understood language.

You can pick up the book on Amazon or directly from Rizzoli. All images courtesy Skira Rizzoli. (via grain edit)

By Christopher on March 24, 2013 • animals books paper sculpture

Chuck: A Flexible Wooden Bookshelf

Chuck: A Flexible Wooden Bookshelf wood furniture bookshelf books

Chuck is an awesome shelving concept by German designer Natascha Harra-Frischkorn. The flexible shelving unit is made from six 4mm thick planks of wood that can be adjusted to hold small collections of books and other objects in a beautiful organic shape. Really wish this was actually a thing. (via soft shock)

By Christopher on February 19, 2013 • books bookshelf furniture wood

Lumio: A Portable Light that Folds like a Book

Lumio: A Portable Light that Folds like a Book lighting books

The Lumio is a portable light that folds up just like a book and when opened it becomes illuminated from within. The light is embedded with magnets so it can be mounted on a wide variety of surfaces and when fully charged it remains lit for 8 hours. The Lumio was designed by architect Max Gunawan who launched it as a Kickstarter project just three days ago where demand has been great the project is already 240% funded. Learn more here.

By Christopher on February 16, 2013 • books lighting

Revolution: The Lifecycle of Water Told in a Stop Motion Pop-Up Book

Revolution: The Lifecycle of Water Told in a Stop Motion Pop Up Book water stop motion pop ups paper books animation

This blog has seen it’s fair share of pop-up books, and animation using paper, but this might be the first where everything comes together in a single piece. Revolution is an animated short by photographer Chris Turner, paper engineer Helen Friel and animator Jess Deacon that explores the life cycle of a single drop of water through the pages of an elaborate pop-up book. The book contains nine scenes that were animated using 1,000 photographic stills shot over the course of a year. (via faith is torment)

By Christopher on February 11, 2013 • animation books paper pop-ups stop motion water

A New Stop Motion Short Made Completely with Moleskine Notebooks by Rogier Wieland

A New Stop Motion Short Made Completely with Moleskine Notebooks by Rogier Wieland stop motion paper books animation advertising

Netherlands based designer Rogier Wieland (previously) has just completed another one of his impressive stop motion ads for Moleskin that relies almost entirely on notebooks to create nearly every aspect of the animation including the precisely cut typography. The making-of video is pretty great too and I’ve included it here as well.