We’re giving away 5 signed copies of ‘London Buildings: An Architectural Tour’ by Robin Farquhar and Hannah Dipper (published by Batsford). Enter our competition to win a copy! (This competition is now closed).

Created by the founders of People Will Always Need Plates, this new title offers outstanding graphic illustrations of London’s architectural icons appearing for the first time in book form.

Farquhar and Dipper began their business with a focus on the buildings that they love, namely Modernist examples from the 1930s as well as now-iconic concrete structures of the 1950s, -60s and -70s.Their unique and colourful illustrations have been used before by the company on a successful range of plates, mugs and other objects.

Covering a range of architectural styles, well-known buildings such as the Barbican, Battersea Power Station and Sir Christopher Wren’s 1675 Greenwich Royal Observatory feature in the book, as well as the 1920s modernist masterpiece – the Isokon Building – and Brutalist icons, the controversial Trellick Tower and the Royal National Theatre.

The pair are just as eager to celebrate the unsung architectural heroes as much as the well-loved, famous ones so have also included new images of 30 St Mary Axe, Butler’s Wharf and the Commonwealth institute. Each image is accompanied by text summing up why the authors love the building they depict. The foreword is written by LDG editor, Max Fraser.

COMPETITION: This competition is now closed. Thank you to all of those who entered.

Congratulations to our five winners: Carla Seppe, Jennifer Taylor, Sarah Anguish, Belinda Hendry, Carolina Johnson.

Design duo Hannah Dipper and Robin Farquhar of People Will Always Need Plates have created three new teatowel designs to raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and boost awareness of the charity’s Love Maggie’s Day on 26th March 2010.

Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres run exceptional support services across the UK, which are available to anyone living with, through and beyond cancer. Their care centres are places where you can access help with information, benefits advice, psychological support, courses, and stress-reducing strategies.

The charity has always embraced the importance of well-designed spaces. The founder, Maggie Keswick Jencks understood first-hand “the importance of an imaginative, inspiring place for people to be able to turn to at such a critical moment in their lives, somewhere which feels joyous, a beacon of hope.”

There are several Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres across the UK and more in development. The teatowel designs above are graphic representations of three centres which were designed by leading architects Richard Rogers (Maggie’s London – top image), Zaha Hadid (Maggie’s Fife – middle image), and Frank Gehry (Maggie’s Dundee – bottom image).

Pledge your support for this charity by buying a teatowel for only £8.50, with 50% going to the charity. Otherwise, consider making a donation to the charity – click here.