av edition GmbH to be dissolved; publisher to cease distribution by year-end

After 35 years of successful publishing, av edition GmbH—a Stuttgart-based international specialist publisher for architecture and design—is being dissolved. Distribution of the publisher’s catalog will continue as usual through KVS Klett Verlagsservice in Stuttgart until the end of December 2026.

Publishers Bettina Klett and Petra Kiedaisch are taking this step in response to significant shifts in reading and purchasing habits. "For small publishing houses like ours, the environment has become too challenging for the kind of beautiful printed books we love and stand for. Sales have declined internationally, particularly among younger target audiences, as digital and AI-generated content continue to gain ground," the two publishers explain.

The decision to dissolve the company also opens up several positive prospects for the book trade, customers, and the international design community: the established yearbook series "Sustainable Architecture & Design" and "Experience Architecture & Design" will be continued by the Swiss publisher Park Books starting in 2027. Furthermore, several authors have already received offers from other publishing houses for future projects.

The publishing legacy of av edition will also be preserved: the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart (Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart) is taking over the entire publishing archive, incorporating it into its university library and making it accessible to students and researchers.

To mark its conclusion, the publisher is planning an exhibition at the "Raumgalerie" in Stuttgart-West for late 2026. Further details will be announced later this year.

"We would like to thank all those who have accompanied us on this journey, our authors for their appreciation, and all the booksellers who have supported us over the years," say Bettina Klett and Petra Kiedaisch. Both intend to remain active in the future through new projects in the fields of culture and consulting.

One final chapter – and a bright future

It’s time to say goodbye! av edition will be ceasing operations on 31 December 2026. Our online shop will also be closing its doors at the end of the year.

But before our publishing house bids farewell, we’d like to offer you a few more wonderful opportunities – and make our farewell a little sweeter with some special offers.

The books from av edition live on: continued by Park Books

From 2027, the Zurich-based publisher Park Books will continue to publish selected series, titles and authors from av edition. These include, amongst others, the annual series on Sustainable Architecture & Design and Experience Architecture & Design, as well as Werner Sobek’s trilogy non nobis. Selected, well-established titles from their  backlist will also be available from our Swiss colleagues in future.

Favourite titles as a farewell: Discover our special offers now

To mark our farewell, we’ve reduced the prices of some of their popular titles. Discover special books, snap up your personal favourites and take the opportunity to browse our catalogue one last time – whilst stocks last. Click here to view our farewell offers.

Special price