Each bookstore will act as a concierge, recommending "must-read books" to FASHION HEADLINE readers. Every Friday, Daikanyama T-Site (17-5 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) will introduce its most recommended title from the 2014 publications.

■ "The Architecture of the Book 'XXL'" by Irma Boom

Irma Boom, based in the Netherlands, is a rare designer specializing in book design. She has earned global acclaim, with the New York Times calling her "the greatest book designer of our time." Her books, crafted with an almost obsessive attention to detail in printing, binding, and paper quality, are included in the permanent collections of New York's MoMA, Paris's Pompidou Center, and the University of Amsterdam.

This book covers her entire work from 1986 to 2013, measuring 800 pages and measuring 360mm wide x 475mm high. A smaller version of the same content was published in 2010, and this is its XXL edition. The preface and the "BOOM" logo on the cover were written by Rem Koolhaas, a longtime friend of Irma.

This book is the most expensive of the many visual design books available at Daikanyama T-Site. While this price defies common sense for a book, it's actually a bargain when you consider it a work of art. Many of Irma's books are housed in art museums, and this one is sure to be one of them. Limited to 150 copies, this work is an art piece, so prices are expected to rise in the future. Therefore, this is a recommended book for early investment as a future asset.

[Book Information]
Author: The Architecture of the Book "XXL"
Publisher: Lecturis
Language: English
Softcover / 800 pages / 360 x 475 mm
Published: 2014
Price: ¥295,650