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P H OTO S BY O L I V E R P I LC H E R ( A S S O U L I N E ) , E M I L I O M A D R I D/C O U R T E S Y O F A S S O U L I N E ( M U S T I Q U E ) , M AT T H A R R I N G TO N /C O U R T E S Y O F T H E AC H I L L E S A LVAG N I AT E L I E R BH S living lexandre Assouline, the 33-year- old president of his family's eponymous publishing house, oversees not only the myriad components that go into publishing 100—yes, that many—high-gloss art, design, and lifestyle books per year, but also an increasing number of accouterments surrounding these tomes. Think: the pieces in the rooms where these books are kept and proudly displayed, including the fixtures, the soft goods, even the lighting. At present, Assouline has launched and is continuing to develop The Library Collection for just this purpose—a broadened, supporting constellation of literature-centric products that is conceived, in Assouline's phrasing, to "elevate" the library beyond its traditional trappings. But he plans to go further, creating a branch within Assouline that actually designs libraries from the studs up and the rafters down. Below, Assouline shares some of his favorite things from The Library Collection, an upcoming travel book he's excited about, and more. AN OPEN BOOK, OF SORTS "I want to really elevate the conversation around the library—and to own the library space as a brand. While designing libraries for clients, it struck me that it wasn't just about books. To make a library more special, you need some negative space, you need some air. Objects can fill that in and complement the books— figuratively and literally. So, I started this project, and the response has been incredible. Where I want to take it next is, really, a full takeover of the library space: games, bar sections, cigar sections, and more." LITERARY OBJECTS "There are two pieces I love from The Library Collection. First is the Pebble—an organic-shaped object I designed with a friend in Paris. The idea came from a story I told him, connected to the Arabic root of the word Assouline, which actually refers to a stone or rock. The Pebble became a kind of tribute to our origin, and our future. But my favorite piece is really the bookstand, which FROM ABOVE Alexandre Assouline; Lagoon Beach, from "Mustique Icon"; the cover of "Miami Beach"; Achille Salvagni Atelier in New York City A This year, publishing scion Alexandre Assouline has taken the top seat at the family-run house. Here, he gives us a preview of some of his most personal—and beautiful—projects. BY NICK REMSEN beyond the stacks we call the Collector's Stand. The shape, the tilt—it's beautifully functional. That tilt took quite some time to perfect! It's the piece I love most in my own library." FORM AND FUNCTION On the design side, I admire Achille Salvagni, who has galleries in New York and London where he shows his limited-edition furniture and lighting. I met with him last year after purchasing one of his lamps; we became close and decided to create a book together." AN ICONIC ISLAND "For 'Mustique Icon,' our newest travel series book out in October, we wanted to pull back the curtain on a place that's been very private for so long. The story is fascinating—how, in the mid-1900s, it became such an important place, with celebrities, aristocrats, and artists all building homes there. We have contributions from residents, and photography from their homes. Some of the people we worked with were incredibly generous with their personal archives. It was important to distinguish that this wasn't an interiors book; we had to capture the essence of the island—the people, the stories, the emotion." LOCAL FLAIR "We've launched 60 books in our travel series thus far, but 'Miami Beach' is one of our most recognized. I love the images of the lifeguard stands; the wooden structures painted in bright colors. They're so distinctive. I actually had one as my computer background for a while." GOOD QUESTION "I'm currently taking a journalism master class. We've recently launched a podcast, and I want to get better at interviewing—how to read people, and to improve as a communicator." improve as a communicator." Assouline's Pebble trinket box; Achille Salvagni's Lancea Gear table lamp bright had while." BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M

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