The new book «Architects of Eastern Switzerland» is (also) a story of emancipation: It presents historical and contemporary female role models and injects dynamism into the feminist architectural discourse. The book compiles remarkable buildings since 1900: pioneering studio houses by Hedwig Scherrer in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley (1906/07) and by Sophie Taeuber-Arp outside Paris (1927/28), a postmodern garage with a sports center (1988) in St. Gallen by Vreny Gross, or the ongoing development of Herisau by Eva Keller since the 1990s.
Author Nina Keel prioritizes teamwork and solidarity over individual stars and sheds light on the changing structural working conditions. The chapters on influential female architects and their projects answer questions such as: What inspires them and which building tasks are important to them? How do they organize their offices? What (informal) networks existed and exist? In a detailed conversation, architects Astrid Staufer and Kathrin Gimmel discuss design tools, collaboration in their architectural firms, and the importance of architectural ventures. In photo essays created for the book, artist Jiajia Zhang showcases five female architects in their own buildings, while Nina Keel photographed buildings by Eva Lanter (BATIMENTS), Corinna Menn, or Trix Haussmann-Högl during walks through St. Gallen.
An event by Park Books publishing house and Never Stop Reading, followed by a book sale and aperitif. Admission is free. The presentation will be held in German.
The book "Gertrud Vogler. Social Hotspots. Photographs from a Time of Change. 1975–2000" presents the work of Zurich-based photographer Gertrud Vogler (1936–2018) in a comprehensive manner for the first time. Authors and editors Stefan Länzlinger and Silvan Lerch have curated around 200 of her photographs, contextualizing them with insights into the era as well as Vogler’s life and work. The book also features essays on selected topics: cultural scientist Daniela Janser writes about Vogler’s portraits, sociologist and urbanist Christian Schmid explores the urban development of Zurich, and a cross-generational conversation between historians Elisabeth Joris and Anne-Christine Schindler is dedicated to the feminist movement.
As a self-taught photographer, Gertrud Vogler became a unique chronicler of everyday life. Her eye for the social hotspots of the late 20th century captured themes that remain relevant today: emancipatory movements, the integration of social minorities, housing shortages, and the misery of open drug scenes. Vogler’s photography is both casual and poignant. Thanks to her open nature, she gained access to places and scenes that remained closed to others or seemed too dangerous.
An event hosted by Scheidegger & Spiess and Never Stop Reading, followed by a book sale and drinks. Admission is free. The presentation will be held in German.
Since the late 1980s, photographer Andri Pol, born in Bern in 1961, has helped shape the visual identity of magazines such as "Das Magazin," "ZEIT Magazin," "Stern," and "GEO" through his images and photo columns. His portraits feel both spontaneous and precisely composed; his reportage offers surprising perspectives on social, cultural, and political realities and identities. With his unmistakable style and ability to capture complex subjects with precision, Andri Pol is one of the most compelling voices in contemporary documentary photography.
The newly released book "Andri Pol – World" is part of a comprehensive overview of his versatile body of work. Pol captured these reportages, portraits, and observations of everyday life around the globe, with recurring geographical focuses including Switzerland, Japan, and China. The collection spans from his early work to current long-term and book projects. Approximately 700 images are accompanied by texts from historian and author Valentin Groebner.
Published in conjunction with a major exhibition at the Fotostiftung Schweiz in Winterthur, this volume is an invitation to marvel, smile, and discover—visually clever, close to the world, and full of character.
An event hosted by the publisher Scheidegger & Spiess and Never Stop Reading, followed by a book sale and drinks. Admission is free. The presentation will be held in German.
A very special guest at Never Stop Reading! As part of the "FeelAustria Days", which aim to bring the Austrian way of life to Zurich and its residents through around 30 events from September 16 to 20, renowned Austrian comic artist Nicolas Mahler will be joining us for his fast-paced reading performance, "My First 66 Books in 66 Minutes."
In this lightning-fast presentation, the artist, born in Vienna in 1969, dissects his entire published body of work to date—from his beginnings as a self-publisher of mini-comics in the 1990s to his current graphic novels such as "Komplett Kafka" or "Ach die dumme Literatur" for major publishing houses, which have been translated and released in 19 countries worldwide. The 66 minutes are packed with images, short comics, anecdotes, and both deep and shallow insights into the cultural scene.
Mahler, known for his minimalist drawing style, subtle humor, and adaptations of literary classics, also publishes in newspapers such as the "NZZ am Sonntag," "Die Zeit," and the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung," as well as in the popular satire magazine "Titanic." He has received numerous awards for his extensive work, including the 2010 Max and Moritz Prize for "Best German-Language Comic Artist" and the 2015 Prize of the Literature Houses. Since 2024, Nicolas Mahler has served as the artistic director of the Vienna School of Poetry.
An event by "FeelAustria Days" and Never Stop Reading. Tickets cost 15 francs, including a complimentary drink, and can be purchased via this Eventfrog link. The presentation will be held in German.
PLEASE NOTE: Seating is limited.