It has enjoyed a long and illustrious history and it’s not hard to see why. The library: a parallel universe where the literary genius of brilliant books transports adventurous imaginations on magnificent voyages transcending time, geography and genre.

In issue six of Defign Magazine we showcase four of our favourite summer reads. These architecture books are perfect gifts for the designer in your family and look perfectly beautiful on the coffee table.

Mark McLeay of Auckland architecture studio, Creative Arch, won the Commercial Interior Architectural Design Award at the 2018 ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards. The award-winning design was the company’s new office space in Grey Lynn – an elegant industrial build that celebrates team culture and collaboration.

This dramatic alteration and addition to an established Queenstown neighbourhood first began life back in the 60s as a showcase home for the newly-minted Kelvin Heights. With views of The Remarkables to the south and Lake Wakatipu to the north the original high-pitched 100 metre square dwelling was touted as an affordable, alpine style home in keeping with its ‘magic location’.

Last month Tane Cox of Red Architecture won the Resene Colour in Design Award at the ADNZ | Resene Architectural Design Awards. He received the award for his work on a beautifully simple and carefully considered home in Tamahere titled ‘A Cabin & Trees’.