Craig Dykers and Kjetil Thorsen are the founders of Snøhetta, an internationally renowned practice that integrates architecture, landscaping, interiors, product design and graphic design. It began as a collaborative architectural and landscape workshop, and still remains true to its transdisciplinary way of thinking. Some of their most famous works include the Oslo Opera House, Under in Norway and the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion in New York.
Which three books would you recommend?
Animals in Translation Temple Grandin
Anyone interested in a deeper understanding of human behviour. Although the book is related to animals, it is essentially true for humans since a human being is also an animal. The book allow us to see ourselves as part of a larger continuum of earth's ecosystem rather than a stand alone, priveleged or segregated world.
Le Petit Prince Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This was a childhood book that helped me appreciate exploration. It is surreal and poignant in its wild journey through human nature. When reading it as a child I remember feeling I was floating between all the worlds the author described. I also felt a kinship with the nature of questioning what is routinely accepted. PS: I would couple this book with an atlas of the world, that I loved to read as though it were a story.
Beginner's ChineseYong Ho
I love the Chinese language and although this an instructional book rather than fiction, the Chinese language is a story unto itself. Learning, reading and writing Chinese gives me great joy. Yong Ho's book is one of many but I find it the most insightful and pleasurable to keep re-opening. The aesthetic of the language is unmatched.
Whose reading list are you most curious about?
I enjoy reading books about artist's work by the artists themselves, rather than through a critic or historian's eyes. There is a freshness to an artist's honest expression. Even when they lie, they let you know. Van Gogh's letters are a great read. These writings bring them to your doorstep and invite you to theirs.