Light Reading
A curated selection of books on light and design, bringing together titles from our own catalogue alongside a set of collaborations.
Photography:
In the face of meandering, textureless digital life, the book is intimate and focused. It is a truly superior experience, to dive into a book, take from it, get into its world. Light Reading is an ode to this experience, which is one reflected in Santa & Cole’s depth of thought, and in that the printed page needs one added thing to be read: light. It doesn’t have its own glow, as a screen, it is illuminated.
Reading is also not something that happens in a vacuum, it interacts with space and people – as does light. And Light Reading explores this too. Books are flicked-through, shared, dog-eared, photocopied even, maybe read allowed. Are you sitting in a comfortable chair? Are there people around? A light that is ambient or directed just at the page?
This is what Light Reading holds onto: reading as a bodily, social, imperfect act, made possible… beautifully, deliberately possible… by light.
In collaboration with David Michon, founder of For Scale.
New York during NYCXDesign
Chapter One: A selection of books on light and design. Elegant, empathetic, radical, odd.
Book titles included
Chermayeff, S. (2022). Beasts. Apartamento Publishing.
Kahn, M. (2023). Casually sauntering the perimeter of now. Apartamento Publishing.
Koren, L. (2024). Arranging things: A rhetoric of object placement. Apartamento Publishing.
Macdonald, H., & Whitehead, R. (2024). The modern architecture of Cadaqués: 1955–71. Apartamento Publishing.
Marcus-Bello, N. (2025). Oríkì: Material affirmations in three acts. Apartamento Publishing.
Milá, M. (2025). Essential: A design guide for life. Apartamento Publishing.
Morrison, J. (2025). The unimportance of form. Apartamento Publishing.
Muller Van Severen. (2026). A lot of work. Apartamento Publishing.
Nicola L. (2023). Nicola L.: Life and art. Apartamento Publishing.
Aulenti, G. (1997). Gae Aulenti. Rizzoli.
Albini, F. (1990). Architecture and design, 1934–1977. Princeton Architectural Press.
Fronzoni, A. G. (2017). A lesson with AG Fronzoni (2nd ed.). Lineeette.
Mari, E. (1996). Arbeiten in Berlin. Skira.
Magistretti, V. (1991). Vico Magistretti, designer. Rizzoli.
Nivola, C. (2024). Tino Nivola in America. Silvana.
Ponti, G. (1990). The complete works 1923–1978. MIT Press.
Rossi, A. (1982). Teatro del Mondo. Cluva Libreria Editrice.
Sarfatti, G. (2014). Designing light. Triennale Design Museum.
Scarpa, C. (1998). Villa Ottolenghi. The Monacelli Press.
Sottsass Associati. (1989). Sottsass Associati (2nd ed.). Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt.
Calvera, A. (2024). Miguel Milá: Emocionar con lo simple. Santa & Cole.
Chillida, A. (2024). El Sr. A en la casa U. Santa & Cole.
De Fusco, R. (2026). El gusto. Santa & Cole.
Izquierdo, M. (2026). Antoni Arola: revelar la luz. Santa & Cole.
Solaguren-Beascoa, F. (2024). Arne Jacobsen (Rev. and expanded 4th ed.). Santa & Cole.
Various Authors. (2024). Brossa. Santa & Cole.
Various Authors. (2025). Spheres and potatoes: Undisciplined portrait of Gabriel Ordeig Cole. Santa & Cole.
Vercelloni, V. (2005). Dino Gavina. Santa & Cole.
Copenhagen during 3daysofdesign
Chapter Two: A selection of books on light and design. Ephemeral, together, public, fun.
Book titles included
Gether, V. P. (2016). Gunnar Aagaard Andersen. Strandberg Publishing.
Gregersen, F. (n.d.). Plates. Plates.
Harkær, G. (2010). Kaare Klint. Klintiana.
Høstbo, M.-L. (2020). Secret Places: The architect’s guide to distinctive buildings in and around Copenhagen. Strandberg Publishing.
Mikkelsen, L. S., & Jakobsen, G. (2018). Tommerup Keramiske Værksted I-II. Forlaget Wunderbuch.
Morrison, J. (2025). The unimportance of form and other arguments. Apartamento Publishing.
Rasmussen, S. E. (1957). Om at opleve arkitektur. G.E.C. Gads.
Typologie. (2019). The Wooden Crate. Les Presses du Réel.
Typologie. (2025). The Camping Tent. Les Presses du Réel.
Calvera, A. (2024). Miguel Milá: Emocionar con lo simple. Santa & Cole.
Chillida, A. (2024). El Sr. A en la casa U. Santa & Cole.
Various Authors. (2024). Brossa. Santa & Cole.
Vercelloni, V. (2005). Dino Gavina. Santa & Cole.
De Fusco, R. (2026). El gusto. Santa & Cole.
Various Authors. (2025). Spheres and potatoes: Undisciplined portrait of Gabriel Ordeig Cole. Santa & Cole.
Izquierdo, M. (2026). Antoni Arola: revelar la luz. Santa & Cole.
Solaguren-Beascoa, F. (2024). Coderch. Santa & Cole.
Solaguren-Beascoa, F. (2024). Sert. Santa & Cole.