The most beautiful books in Switzerland

March 24, 2016, 1 Comment

It’s official! Mit 80 Karten durch die Schweiz is one of the most beautiful books in Switzerland. Altogether 18 big beautiful books published in Switzerland last year have been designated as ‘Die schönsten Bücher der Schweiz’, or literally the most beautiful books of Switzerland.

The competition is run by the Federal Office of Culture and dates back to 1943. Every year a jury assesses the hundreds of books published in Switzerland, looking at the concept and originality of the book but also the graphic design, layout and typography.

And the German edition of Around Switzerland in 80 Maps, published by Hier und Jetzt Verlag in Baden, was one of the 18 winners. Quite an honour for me, the publishers and the designers.

All 18 books will be on display in an exhibition that starts in Zurich on 12 May and then travels around the country.

• 12-16 May at Helmhaus, Zurich
• 28 Aug-25 Sept at Villa dei Cedri, Bellinzona
• October at Kunsthalle, Basel (exact dates to be confirmed)
• 3-25 November at Ecole cantonale d’art, Lausanne

The exhibition is also likely to go abroad as well, with plans to hold it in Copenhagen, Oslo, Paris, Venice and Vienna. A catalogue featuring all the books and their authors will be published at the same time by Edition Hochparterre in four languages, including English.

If you haven’t got your copy of the book yet, you can easily find it in your local bookshop in Switzerland or order it directly from the publisher (Hier und Jetzt for German, Helvetiq for English or French).