BOOKSHELF

Escape the humdrum with summer reads that offer adventure through the lens of design, craftsmanship and the natural world

MOROCCO: DESTINATION OF STYLE, ELEGANCE AND DESIGN BY CATHERINE SCOTTO, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLAS MATHÉUS, PRESTEL, £29.99

Embark on a journey of cultural discovery in this curated guide to the names shaping design in a country considered the gateway to Africa. Step inside Villa Mabrouka in Tangier, the former retreat of Yves Saint Laurent, where lightfilled rooms are the perfect blend of modernist and Moroccan architecture; meet the custodians charged with preserving the vibrant botanical beauty of Jardin Majorelle; and be inspired by the stories of those reimagining traditional Moroccan craftsmanship for the modern age.

JULIA MORGAN: THE ROAD TO SAN SIMEON BY GORDON FUGLIE, RIZZOLI ELECTA, £55

Perched atop a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Simeon, California, lies Hearst Castle, the sprawling estate of one-time newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. An architectural masterpiece conceived over 28 years, this hardback celebrates the life and legacy of the pioneering visionary behind its design and that of several hundred other landmark buildings in the State: Julia Morgan. A visual feast, this tome is a must for any design enthusiast’s collection. ON THE HIMALAYAN TRAIL: RECIPES AND STORIES FROM KASHMIR TO LADAKH BY ROMY GILL, HARDIE GRANT, £27

A culinary adventure in every sense of the word, celebrated chef Romy Gill delivers a love letter to the people of Kashmir and Ladakh in a book that is at once an exquisite travelogue and a curated guide to the culinary gems of a region. As Gill traverses the foothills of the Himalayas, she is introduced to a fusion of flavours and influences that inform the 80 tantalising recipes just waiting to be recreated by home cooks everywhere.

WHAT A SHELL CAN TELL BY HELEN SCALES, ILLUSTRATIONS BY SONIA PULIDO, PHAIDON, £16.95

Once the umpteenth sandcastle has been built and every rockpool explored, ignite your young explorer’s imagination with this exquisitely illustrated guide to the wonders of shells. In this rich, sensory experience, marine biologist Helen Scales highlights the revelations to be enjoyed on further inspection of a shell’s shape, colour and texture before detailing the habitats of the molluscs who create these natural marvels.

FADED GLAMOUR BY THE SEA BY PEARL LOWE, CICO BOOKS, £45

The stylish boho renovation of her 1940s clapboard bolthole near Hastings has inspired designer Pearl Lowe to put pen to paper once again to deliver page after page of interior inspiration drawn from homes by the sea. The author’s beautifully whimsical vintage aesthetic is very much in evidence as she enchants the reader with her latest labour of love, while there’s pure escapism to be enjoyed as Lowe explores the dreamy homes of her friends (including model Helena Christensen and stylist Rachel Ashwell), who, like her, have found solace in living by the coast.