Trétiack and Ristelhueber's 'L'architecture fait du lèche-vitrines' examines shop windows as societal mirrors.

Philippe Trétiack and Véronique Ristelhueber have collaborated on 'L'architecture fait du lèche-vitrines', a publication that explores shop windows as indicators of changing societal interests and aspirations. The text, authored by journalist and traveler Trétiack, is complemented by Ristelhueber's visual contributions. The book covers five distinct eras, starting from the early 20th century's modernity, which includes Adolf Loos's critique of ornamentation as a crime, and extends to contemporary times where innovative marketing and shopping tactics lead to notable architectural works, like Herzog & de Meuron's Prada store in Tokyo. Each chapter features an introductory passage followed by photographic evidence with various author references, integrating literary, political, and technical insights, including the 1929 economic crisis that spurred self-service to cut labor costs and the influence of neon lighting on nighttime architecture. The authors express concern over the scant information regarding the dates and circumstances of the projects' disappearances, highlighting the critical need to safeguard these fleeting architectural endeavors.