Skylab: The Nature of Buildings is the first architectural monograph from Portland, Ore., design firm Skylab. This cleverly conceived book highlights some of the most impressive work out of the Skylab studio since its founding by Jeff Kovel in 1999. Visually, it presents as a double album, with its distinct square shape and circular cutout in "sides" (A, B, C, D) and "tracks" and, like any greatest-hits compilation, it focuses on the creative philosophy of the firm, and its evolution over time.
In her introduction, architecture and design critic Mimi Zeiger lauds the innovation and experimentation of the studio principals: "Skylab is just as much an object lesson in how success depends on possible failure. Ambition necessitates risk." That risk-taking is evident in this volume, and readers will appreciate the creativity and intentional design throughout. As in any speculative endeavor, not every choice will be equally loved, but from the lime-green font to the foldout posters, this book does not shy from bold decisions. Its creators know what the volume is and lean heavily on its strengths. Fans of architecture and design will revel in the images (more than 400 full-color, large-format photos), and the multiple interviews and descriptions behind such projects as the Serena Williams Building on Nike's campus or the Columbia Building in Portland. Hefty and full of quirk, Skylab: The Nature of Buildings would make a great gift for any creative, perfect for coffee-table perusal or the kind of deep dive into the liner notes familiar to the superfan. --Sara Beth West, freelance reviewer and librarian