5 Books for Brooklyn Design and Architecture Lovers on Your Gift List

For those hunting for something that will appeal to the design or architecture enthusiasts on their holiday gift lists, a bevy of new books give a glimpse into both public and private spaces in Brooklyn.

We have rounded up five volumes published this year that are packed with enough illustrations to inspire and entertain.

BLK MKT Vintage: Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories
Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart

The founders of BLK MKT Vintage, who closed their brick and mortar location in Bed Stuy this year but still have an online presence, have pulled together a selection of ephemera from the wealth of items they have discovered over years of hunting for stories of Black history. In addition to pages packed with a curated selection of objects, the richly illustrated book includes interviews with Black artists, archivists, and collectors and provides a peek into their personal collections. There are also tips on how to begin collecting and displaying objects that illustrate your own experience.

Brooklyn Storefronts
Illustrated by Joel Holland with text by David Dodge

The character-filled storefronts of small businesses from around the borough are captured in colorful illustrations in this new tome. Covering all manner of shops from auto repair to a puppet theater, the jaunty sketches are accompanied by a brief description of the more than 230 businesses included.

Brooklyn Bridge Park
Edited by Michael Van Valkenburgh and Elijah Chilton

Get an in-depth look at the design process that transformed waterfront property, parking lots, and piers into the 85-acre public space that is Brooklyn Bridge Park. Illustrated with over 250 drawings and photographs, the substantial volume documents the years-long planning, design, and review process.

Elizabeth Roberts Architects: Collected Stories
Elizabeth Roberts, with contributions by Christine Coulson and Alanna Stang, and a foreword by Wendy Goodman

Brooklyn design enthusiasts will be familiar with the work of architect Elizabeth Roberts, whose Gowanus-based firm has renovated many residences in the borough. Her first book includes details, and many photographs, of 18 projects, including some Brooklyn properties like a petite dwelling in Warren Place Mews. In addition to the photographs documenting the projects, there are sketches, historic photographs, and maps to illustrate the creative process. Fictional vignettes by Christine Coulson add an unexpected layer of interpretation to the designs.

For the Love of Renovating: Tips, Tricks and Inspiration for Creating Your Dream Home
Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum

Brooklyn-based renovators and bloggers Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum, aka the Brownstone Boys, share what they have learned from their own home as well as design and management projects for clients. Illustrated with copious photos of their work, the book includes practical advice on buying a fixer-upper, renovating specific rooms, and what you need to know about elements such as windows and trim.

Related Stories

• Nonbinarian Book Bike’s First Store Will Open Next Month in Crown Heights
• Check Out These Early Brownstone Revival Books for Some Renovation Inspiration
• Green-Wood Cemetery: The Place to Go When You’re Gone

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on X and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.