Good design doesn’t just look good; it also feels good, in all senses of the word. That’s the driving ethos behind The Touch: Spaces Designed for the Senses (Gestalten), a handsome new book—full of polish, warmth, and sophistication—from Kinfolk magazine founder Nathan Williams and Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, of Norm Architects, the Danish design studio whose work spans architecture, interior design, industrial design, photography, and art direction.

Together, the duo muse on the philosophy of sensuous design, spotlighting 25 jaw-dropping projects around the world and discussing everything from the finer points of artful lighting to the essence of finely textured materials. They also interview an older generation of designers, including John Pawson, Juhani Pallasmaa, and David Thulstrup, for their insights; revisit the work of the late Modernists Lina Bo Bardi and Richard Neutra; and take a romp through art history, referencing color theory along the way.