Fortresses: A Catalogue Designed to Look Like a Used Officer's File

Designing a Book to Age Well

Studio Tumpić/Prenc treats a scientific catalogue on Pula's 19th and early 20th century fortifications as if it were a naval officer's paperwork. The book is built from kraft paper, a black binding cord, a paper disc button and a metal eyelet on the front board, so it reads as something taken out of a drawer and used. Pages vary in format and tone, drifting from off white to pale blue, and heavier tabbed dividers turn the six sections into file labels.

The typography follows the same logic. A high contrast serif sets the titles in black on raw kraft, while typewriter-style monospace handles archive lists, credits and captions. Loose grid decisions and a printed reader notes page make the object feel open to pencil marks and wear. For brand builders, it is a useful case of a material concept carried through every layer of a print object, and a reminder that a finish can be a deliberate statement rather than decoration. Designers working on editorial, cultural or heritage projects should read it closely.