New Ways of Telling the Same Old Stories

From Vitruvius and Palladio, to Delirious New York  and Learning from Las Vegas, some of history’s greatest architects have also been its most prolific writers. But throughout this history, the way we communicate – about architecture or anything else – has never ceased to evolve. This roundtable event brings together two London-based presses to discuss the changing nature of publishing. Elinor Jansz and Richard Embray of Four Corners Books and Anna Gerber and Britt Iverson of Visual Editions will discuss their projects and experiences working as editors and publishers. 

Established in 2004, Four Corners Books publishes a small number of titles each year. The Familiars series, which features artists’ responses to classic novels and short stories, was nominated for the Brit Insurance Design Awards 2011. Four Corners’ recent releases include See Red Women’s Workshop: Feminist Posters 1974–1990 and a new edition of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, accompanied by an LP of original music.

Visual Editions launched in 2010, with the aim to create new kinds of story experiences. Their six titles are now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s permanent collection. In 2015 one of these novels – Tree of Codes, by Jonathan Safran Foer – was adapted by Wayne McGregor and performed as a contemporary ballet. Visual Editions are now working with Google’s Creative Lab in Sydney on Editions at Play, a space for books powered by the magic of the internet.