Welcome to DesignBook.

Great design starts with a flash of inspiration

Our cities have been shaped by the great designers and architects of the last centuries. Their influence on our lives has been profound, as they alter, improve and inspire the people who pass, enter and use these buildings every day.

DesignBook Mag is taking a look at some of the truly great architectural designs of our time, starting with breathtaking Shard, Lloyd's Building and The Gherkin in London, before moving on to the instantly recognisable interior of Grand Central Station and the iconic exterior of the Empire State Building in New York.

Whether they are homes, concourses, offices or places of business, these buildings have shaped the skylines of our cities and changed the way we live and work.

Along the way we will have a look at some of the designs created on a less extravagant scale that have nevertheless had an impact on designers and architectural concepts worldwide, such as Farnsworth House in Illinois. We hope you enjoy the journey.

"Architecture has to be greater than just architecture. It has to address social values, as well as technical and aesthetic values. On top of that, the one true gift that an architect has is his or her imagination. We take something ordinary and elevate it to something extraordinary." Samuel Mockbee