About: #3
262 x 380 mm, 260 pages
Milan, Italy (Italian and English language)
Editor-in-chief: Alessandro Valenti
Art director: Kuchar Swara
This big, bold new magazine from the Italian branch of Hearst Magazines looks to harness an indie aesthetic, bringing in designer Kuschar Swara (previously of Port magazine) to oversee the design, alongside architect Alessandro Valenti, also in charge of editorial at Elle Decor. It’s part of a major new initiative, a platform for architecture with a website, social channels and events alongside this print biannual.
This latest edition, themed ‘Radical Reuse’, showcases detailed case studies ‘exploring the life cycle of ordinary everyday structures.’ Featuring plenty of plans and drawings (a 1970s east London warehouse revamped into a low-carbon, steel clad office block, and a Belgian church transformed into an arts centre), alongside broader, more philosophical articles: ‘Radical change begins with the rootstock’ and ‘The many lives of reinforced concrete’. Plus, flick to the back for an open call encouraging readers to share their own projects against demolition with the About: editorial team.
Full-page photography and bold typography fill the large pages and, along with the wide range of stories, make About: an exciting new addition to the architecture shelf.