Swipe Design | Books + Objects

The botlfilter Personal Water Filter System, that is. Created by proudly Canadian company botl Inc., whose mission is to create environmentally responsible products and reduce plastic waste, the botlfilter system has joined the frontline of the tap-water revolution.

It’s small, simple, portable, and best of all, waste free. Just pop a filter bag inside the stainless steel case, drop it into your bottle of tap water, shake for 15 seconds, and drink happily away.

The filter bag (which is fully compostable and biodegradable) uses activated carbon from coconut shells to trap nasties such as chlorine, chloramines, lead, phenols, pesticides and detergents. Shaking the bottle speeds up the process. The filter case is made of North American stainless steel, with food-grade plastic caps. It’s dishwasher (or soap and water) safe, and infinitely reusable. On top of this, packaging is 100% recycled, recyclable and carbon neutral. The whole system meets NSF Standard 42 for chlorine, taste and odour reduction.

One filter bag produces up to a gallon (about 8 bottles) of tasty water: switch to a fresh bag every 1–3 days, depending how much water you guzzle.

One word to the wise: like most filters on the market, botlfilter is intended for use with municipal tap water, not to purify contaminated water or that from unknown sources. So resist the urge to fill your bottle from the nearest puddle (or even the nearest sparkling lake). Or if you must, don’t blame botl (or us) if you grow an extra head.

botlfilter Portable Water Filter Case, with 4 Filter Bags: $12.95
botlfilter Replacement Filter Bags, pack of 16: $12.95

Once again, Doors Open Toronto is just around the corner, and once again, we here at Swipe are thankful to be part of the extraordinary arts and culture complex at 401 Richmond Street West. A prime destination during the festival, 401 is expecting a surge of visitors over the weekend of May 26 and 27. Accordingly, Swipe will also open its doors all weekend: on Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

In celebration of this celebration of our city’s cultural, social and architectural heritage, we’ll be updating our blog with a rundown of current Torontoniana, beginning with a brand-new release from Toronto’s own Coach House Books that documents the changing facades of this city’s streets. Featuring the photographic work of Patrick Cummins, with text by Toronto flâneur Shawn Micallef, Full Frontal T.O.: Exploring Toronto’s Architectural Vernacular chronicles thirty years of local shift and change. (2012: Coach House Books; ISBN 9781551098913)

The book is available at Swipe for $24.95, and until May 31, you can also visit the Urbanspace Gallery’s free Full Frontal T.O. exhibition, with large-scale versions of many of the photographs on display.

Full Frontal T.O.: Exploring Toronto’s Architectural Vernacular
2012: Patrick Cummins and Shawn Micallef
$24.95

Launched in 1997, 2G International Architecture Review, from Barcelona-based Editorial Gustavo Gili, has, in the short time since its introduction, become the most respected chronicle of contemporary architecture. Each issue is divided into three sections. The first two offer a critical examination of the work of a single architect, beginning with an introductory essay by renowned critics and colleagues, and followed by an in-depth presentation of 10 to 15 representative projects documented with full-page photographs and detailed plans and elevations. The final section, called Nexus, provides the featured architect an opportunity to write about their own work and to present their ideas as they see fit. Thus, 2G offers a unique opportunity to contrast the architect’s stated intent with critical interpretations of their work.

2G #60: Lacaton & Vassal
? 2012: Iñaki Abalos, Anne Lacaton, Jean-Philippe Vassal & Karine Dana

With a professional career of more than twenty years behind them, French architects Anne Lacaton & Jean Philippe Vassal, to whom 2G devoted an issue of in 2001, continue to pursue their own coherent, personal approach to architecture. Theirs is a position far removed from formal originality, being based, instead, on an ethical conception that upholds the essential idea of the architect’s social responsibility. Lacaton & Vassal have constructed a discourse of their own that, although seemingly simple, embraces the complexity of contemporary reality. (2012: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425223457)

2G #58/59: Kazuo Shinohara
? 2011: Enric Massip-Bosch, David B. Stewart, Shin-Ichi Okuyama & Kazuo Shinohara

Kazuo Shinohara (1925-2006) has proved to be the most influential architect of his generation in shaping contemporary Japanese architecture. Shinohara carefully selected the photographs and texts that accompanied each project, and even refused Gustavo Gili’s first proposal in 2001 to revisit and photograph his buildings. This publication has only been possible after his death in 2006, thanks to the generosity of the heirs. This double issue of 2G focuses solely on his single-family homes and is the result of a long process of research to identify the site and condition of each of the houses. Some no longer exist, others have been altered considerably, but fortunately the majority remains and have been photographed exclusively for 2G by the Japanese photographer Hiroshi Ueda. Spanish/English. (2011: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425224140)

2G #55: Robbrecht and Daem
? 2010: Ivona Blazwick, William Mann & Paul Robbrecht

Paul Robbrecht and Hilde Daem have been active as architects in the Belgian city of Ghent since 1975. Their buildings address different typologies, from cultural buildings, spaces for art and public spaces to conversions of old offices, in which painstaking construction with traditional materials and schemes that are simple in layout and of great spatial richness inscribe their work within a certain central-European tradition of the ordinary. Issue 55 presents eighteen projects by Robbrecht en Daem, fifteen of them built, which extend from public spaces for various Belgian cities (Antwerp, Ghent and Knokke) and urban amenities of major importance like Bruges Concert Hall to small projects inserted in the landscape, like a cabin the woods, a pair of observation towers and a dovecote. English/Spanish. (2010: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425223747)

2G #54: Joao Vilanova Artigas
? 2010: Joao Vilanova, Guilherme Wisnik & Kenneth Frampton

The Brazilian mid-century modernist master, whose poetic constructions built upon the plastic-concrete language of Sao Paulo school of the 1950s. This extensive monograph on his public works and private residences of the 1940s through 70s illuminate an eclipsed contributor to Brazilian architectural history. English/Spanish. (2010: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425223532)

2G #52: Sauerbruch Hutton
? 2010: Barry Bergdoll, Louisa Hutton, Matthias Sauerbruch & Philip Ursprung

Dividing their time between London and Berlin, Matthias Sauerbruch and Louisa Hutton are known for a practice that eschews the straight line and a muted palette, designing curvaceous buildings with bold, bright colours. (2010: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425223365)

$59.95

2G #51: MGM Morales Giles Mariscal
? 2009: Laurent Beaudouin, Sara de Giles, Jose Morales & Carlos Muro

This issue examines the work of another iconoclastic regional practice: in this case the Sevillean studio MGM Arquitectos. In both their high-density residential projects and public buildings, MGM infuses a distinctly contemporary architecture with the traditional interplay of interior and exterior space typical of Andalusian architecture. (2009: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425223143)

$59.95

2G #50: Sou Fujimoto
? 2009: Toyo Ito & Julian Worrall

Sou Fujimoto is the most representative practitioner of a distinctively Japanese style in contemporary architecture which incorporates traditional Japanese attitudes toward nature and the relationship between interior and exterior space. Fujimoto is one of the youngest architects to be profiled in 2G, and his work has been restricted primarily to smaller residential projects and a variety of conceptual exercises. The issue features a critical assessment by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, in many ways Fujimoto’s conceptual antecedent. (2009: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425222931)

$59.95

2G #48–49: Mies van der Rohe : Houses
? 2009: Beatriz Colomina, Moises Puente & Hans Christian

This double issue focuses an aspect of Mies’ body of work that, up to now, has been poorly documented. All of Mies’ single-family dwellings, in both Germany and the United States, are examined in new commissioned photos from Hans-Christian Schink, along with the original drawings and other archival material. Essays by Beatriz Colomina and Moises Puente provide critical context and a special section catalogues the known unbuilt residential projects. (2009: Editorial Gustavo Gili; ISBN 9788425221880)

$129.95

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To purchase any of the products or titles mentioned here, please visit our downtown Toronto location, call us toll-free at 1-800-56-swipe or e-mail us at: info@swipe.com.

Ever feel depressed at the amount of garbage spewing forth from TV, the internet, social networking sites, CNN news flashes, digital media in general? Toppling out of screens and smart phones into living rooms, streetcars, gallery openings, intimate dinner conversations… We at Swipe can’t really talk: we blog, we tweet, we facebook, we’re total hypocrites. Well, Kyle May and the team at CLOG have decided to paddle out of the digital maelstrom, one cleanly printed magazine issue at a time. (Okay, so they do have a website in order to promote their work, but let’s not get too nit-picky here.)

Their aim with CLOG is to cut the noise. Focus. Pay attention to one thing at a time, and do it properly. From their website: “CLOG slows things down. Each issue explores, from multiple viewpoints and through a variety of means, a single subject particularly relevant to architecture now. Succinctly, on paper, away from the distractions and imperatives of the screen.”

We think we might be in love.

Issue No. 1, BIG, sold out rapidly and is now out of print. Issue No. 2, APPLE, is still available at the time of writing, though happily trotting off our shelves and out the door. We await issue No. 3, DATA SPACE, with anticipation. (If you’d like a call or email when it arrives, drop us a line to avoid disappointment.)

CLOG: BIG (No. 1): $24.95 (SOLD OUT)
CLOG: APPLE (No. 2): $24.95

At last year’s Images Festival, we held a shared pop-up store with Pages, in the Art Bar at the Gladstone Hotel. This year, we’re on our own turf in the 401 Richmond building, with a great selection of film-based books, DVDs and artists’ catalogues available for sale (including a number of imported and really-quite-hard-to-find titles). They’re here for a limited time only, so come and get them while you can.

Find us in the Images Festival “hub” in the Urbanspace Gallery, Suite 119, right next to Swipe headquarters. The pop-up store is open 12pm to 6pm daily throughout the festival, April 12 to 21. (Swipe itself, of course, is open regular Swipe hours, plus Sunday 15 April just for fun.)

Toronto’s second oldest film festival, the Images Festival had its beginnings in 1987 and is now the largest of its kind in North America for experimental and independent moving image culture. This is its 25th year. Visit the Images Festival website for more information, a listing of this year’s events, or to explore their exhibition archive.

It’s sleek, it’s chic, and best of all, it won’t make embarrassing noises in public. In fact, it won’t make any sound at all. Mutewatch is just that: gorgeously silent.

The love child of Mutewatch company partner Johan Thelander and industrial design consultancy Norra Norr, this Swedish-designed timepiece artfully conceals function behind form. The LED display is invisible unless motion activated; the flat screen is also a touch screen, allowing you to tap and swipe through the functions for clock, alarm and timer with ease; and the alarm noiselessly (but effectively) vibrates, so you can wake yourself up or stay time-savvy without annoying those around you.

Want more cleverness? There are no fiddly batteries to insert or replace. Just plug in the included USB connector, charge for a couple of hours, and Mutewatch runs happily for around a week.

Made from a strong, flexible TPU, it features an adjustable “one size” wristband (it fits wrists from 14 cm to 18.5 cm), and the company even offers firmware upgrades to keep you and your Mutewatch up to the minute.

Swipe is thrilled to be the very first Canadian retailer to stock this work of art, which now graces wrists from New York, to Copenhagen, to Dubai. We have limited stock available in Charcoal Grey and Poppy Red, priced at $299.95.

Come by when you’re next in downtown Toronto and have a look. We’ll even let you touch it.

Mutewatch: $299.95

Cheesy gardening-related puns aside, it’s that time again! We are now fully stocked with our favourite design annuals.

2011 One Show Annual: Advertising’s Best Print, Design, Radio and TV

One Show’s newest annuals, covering their awards selections for 2011, showcase the best of current design talent worldwide. As usual, they have produced three colourful volumes: the regular One Show annual, which presents the winners of the 2011 One Show; and the Design and Interactive issues, featuring the winners of the One Show Design and One Show Interactive competitions, respectively. For self-styled renaissance people, these three books are also available in a convenient boxed set. (2012: Rockport; ISBN 9780929837499 Advertising; ISBN 9780929837505 Design; ISBN 9780929837512 Interactive; ISBN 978092837529 Boxed Set)

The One Show, Volume 33: $82.50
One Show Design, Volume 5: $54.95
One Show Interactive, Volume 14: $54.95
One Show Three-Volume Boxed Set: $169.95

Art Directors Annual 90

This volume covers the New York Art Directors Club 2011 ADC Hall of Fame Laureates, ADC Hybrid, and ADC Black Cube awards, with the addition of this year’s new ADC Designism Award, which recognizes design with an eye to social and political change. The publication includes high-quality images of award-winning work. (2011: Ava Publishing; ISBN 9782940411887)

$62.95

46th Annual Society of Publication Design Annual

With its unique mandate to honour the best in editorial design work, the Society of Publication Design draws on a broad base of international talent. Their annual showcases the work of photographers, editorial directors and journalists, among others. (2012: Rockport; ISBN 9781592537501)

$64.95

Typography 32

This eye-catching annual showcases the 208 winning designs from among 1,500-plus international submissions to TDC Communication Design 2011, the awards of the Type Directors Club, a body comprised of industry professionals from around the globe. This year’s volume, designed by New York’s Mucca Design, is notable for its striking cover and eclectic content. The annual covers a wide range of typographic inquiry, including magazine work, logotypes, corporate identity and much more.
(2012: Harper Collins; ISBN 9780061726378)

$74.95

Communication Arts 2012 Interactive Annual (18)

Communication Arts 2012 Typography Annual (2)

Communication Arts renews its commitment to documenting innovative and inspiring work in a range of disciplines. Their newest Typography Annual features 150 winning projects in advertising, typeface design, identity, packaging, periodicals and more, exhibiting a general trend toward nostalgia and the handmade. The 2012 Interactive Annual features projects in information design, advertising, entertainment and self-promotion. (2012: Communication Arts; ISBN 07447092074803)

Each $29.95

D&AD 2011

This extensive volume covers outstanding work in the fields of branding, film production, digital media, photography, general design and creative work, and advertising. Winners receive the Yellow Pencil Award, and the more sought-after    Black Pencil Award. (2011: Taschen; ISBN 9783836528849)

$64.95

Directions 2011

The Advertising and Design Club of Canada annual awards show is widely regarded as Canada’s finest showcase of exceptional work in graphic design, advertising broadcast and print, interactive media and editorial design. The printed annual features an elegant cover design and concise layout. (2011: ADCC)

$65.00

Red Dot Design Yearbook 2011/2012: Living and Doing

This weighty (and surprisingly affordable!) two-volume set is a comprehensive yearly roundup of Red Dot’s product design selections. Living presents products for the home and personal use, and Doing is dedicated to items such as cars, cameras, tools and various electronic devices. (2011: Red Dot Editions; ISBN 9783899391213)

$41.95

German Design Award 2011

The German Design Council is known for its discerning awards criteria, including the stipulation that a company can only enter if it already holds a national or international design award. This two-volume boxed set is a collection of the crème de la crème of current product and communication design, with a focus on work that is both innovative and user-friendly. (2012: Gestalten; ISBN 9783899553499)

$87.95

The Centre for City Ecology and Creative Urban Projects have been actively preparing for the launch of their City Builder Book Club, which is set to kick off on February 1. And what better volume to start proceedings with than that veritable classic of urban discussion, Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities? Fifty years ago, in this enormously influential work on town planning, Jacobs argued that urban diversity and vitality were being destroyed by powerful architects and city planners. Her words, and her demonstration of the value of the experiences of people who live and work in cities, still hold sway today: a 50th Anniversary Edition of Death and Life was published late last year, with an insightful new introduction by the book’s original editor, Jason Epstein. (2011: Random House Publishing Group; ISBN 9780679644330)

CCE and CUP welcome you to strengthen their discussion of this book by joining the conversation on their blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Your experience in your own city is a valuable part of this conversation about what makes a city welcoming and vibrant.

Copies of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, 50th Anniversary Edition are available for sale at Swipe for $25.95.

Bad puns aside, Arne Jacobsen’s sleek Cake Server will add modernist flair to your cake-serving ceremonies this holiday season. Hell, it might even make your cake taste better! AJ cutlery was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1957 for the restaurant in the Royal SAS Hotel in Copenhagen, a project on which he was also the architect. Manufactured in stainless steel by Georg Jensen, AJ has been in continuous production since it was designed. With its modern, simplified lines, AJ was deemed a sufficiently radical departure from traditional cutlery design that it was featured as a prop in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. A range of pieces are available at Swipe, but the cake server, at $69.95, is a perennial favourite.

AJ Cake Server: $69.95

Streamridge Vintage Wooden Toboggan

These steam-bent Ontario ash toboggans are a direct continuation of a Canadian tradition going back possibly a millennium. Distinct from a sled with runners, the flexible toboggan is ideal for use on rough ground and was the standard wintertime sledge for Innu and Cree living below the tree line. Additionally, Streamridge toboggans, from the Bauman Sawmill near Saint Jacobs, highlight a second venerable Canadian tradition: that of rural sawmills producing toys and amusements outside the building season (think Victoriaville).

Six Foot Vintage Toboggan with Pad: $199.95

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To purchase any of the products or titles mentioned here, please visit our downtown Toronto location, call us toll-free at 1-800-56-swipe or e-mail us at: info@swipe.com.