The Book
A compendium, a daily design diary, an almanac, a calendar and a yearbook of the great, the unknown and the infamous figures of architecture, design and art world across history. Written and posted on Instagram every day of 2021, this collection of short biographical essays is at once informative, amusing, occasionally vexing and always opinionated, as told from the POV of the author.
The surprisingly hefty volume, designed by Michael Bierut of Pentagram, conveniently includes a silk ribbon to mark the gift recipient’s birthday, or just keep your place as you jog through the breezy text. It answers the question “who shares your birthday?” and that of every single person you know!
Buy the Book
Or support a local bookstore
“It’s – by far – the most creative, funniest, informative book on architecture and design I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen hundreds if not thousands. I love how you inject yourself into the profiles. And your honesty in a profession that’s often pretentious is unbelievably refreshing.”
George Smart, US Modernist
(obviously a very smart Smart!)“James Biber’s The Architect & Designer Birthday Book (PA Press, $45), is a happy contrast, a sugary treat between floppy covers. It is exactly what it claims to be: every page is dedicated to a date in the calendar, with a short essay on a notable architect or designer born on that day. I’m sure just about everyone who picks it up immediately flips to see who shares their birthday. April 15? That’s Leonardo Da Vinci. March 5? Louis Kahn. October 5? Maya Lin. Biber (March 3) is not only a gifted designer but a friendly authorial companion, offering personalized capsule histories of every birthday boy and girl. A perfect gift. Or just get one for yourself.”
Mark Lamster
Architecture Critic
Dallas Morning News
Debuting on Amazon in the top spot...
(well, top spot in New Releases, Architectural History, an admittedly nano-slice of the book world)!Events
June 25, 2024
Publication Date!
We made the Docomomo Summer Reading List!
On Scratching the Surface with Jarrett Fuller
June 29th, 2024: Launch
John Johansen House in Stanfordville, NY
On John Johansen’s 108th birthday. Print Magazine
Book Club
August 22, 4:00pm by Zoom
Details here
Hudson Valley
Merritt Books, Millbrook, NYMillbrook Farmers’ Market
Saturday August 31, 10:00amLabor Day Weekend, Book Signing and Sales
NYC
The Century Association
Happy Birthday
Charles Follen McKim
Architect of the Century Association, and partner in McKim, Mead & WhiteThanks to all who attended!
Albert Frey’s bio from the book featured on Dwell.com here on Frey’s birthday, October 18!
US Modernist Radio podcast: November 18
(Gio Ponti’s bday!)
LA
To be announced
Summertime, or wheneverNamaste.
London
To be announced
Keep Calm and Carry On. Paris
To be announced
Á plus tard!Milan
To be announced
Da annunciare!Madrid
To be announced
Muy prontoSer anunciado