Blade Runner: The trick to doing the future
Gigantic screens on skyscraper facades, flying cars, no sunshine, constant rain – and AI humanoids used for slave labour: a grim vision of the future once presented on the silver screen […]
Young brands hovering between closeness and distance
A brand-new book about successful brand development in a difficult era: “Brand New Brand”, published by gestalten, exhibits exciting examples of projects by international branding agencies. What can we learn […]
BIG. Formgiving: Gifts that keep on giving
“Formgiving” is the latest book by the Bjarke Ingels Group. It presents some 100 buildings and projects by the Danish architectural firm and takes us on a whistle-stop architectural tour […]
Architecture was the essence of who they were
By Thomas Wagner. Alvar Aalto is considered one of the most influential modernist architects and designers. He was also ahead of his time in his working partnerships with his first […]
How to eradicate eagles with burgers
By Thomas Wagner. “In a world where no less than 400,000 litres of water are used to manufacture a car, it is ridiculous to urge people to use the water […]
Building with nature, not against it
By Thomas Wagner. Many consider Frank Lloyd Wright to be the greatest architect of the 20th century. Sigrid Faltin’s documentary “The Phoenix from the Ashes” examines his visionary architecture as […]
Cheerful and stripy
By Thomas Wagner. Paul Smith is considered a charismatic designer who produces more than fashion. A new monograph published just in time for his brand’s 50th anniversary captures the spirit […]
Have you heard of Dieter Rams?
By Gerrit Terstiege. There is obviously no shortage of extensive, voluminous and richly illustrated books about Dieter Rams and his work. Frankfurt-based design historian Klaus Klemp has now published an […]
Against the forgetting of form
By Thomas Wagner. They drive away boredom, they liberate thought and they civilise people. In a book entitled “Die blitzenden Waffen” [English: The Flashing Weapons], philosopher Robert Pfaller explores why […]
Architects, anecdotes and analogies.
By Thomas Wagner. Exhilarating conversations about absent colleagues: the book „architects on architects“ collects dialogues about the significant architects of the past. It proves that personal understanding is better learned […]
Spotlight: American Look
By Thomas Wagner. A fairy tale of the stylish life. Americans love the freedom of personal choice. The 1958 promotional film „American Look“ is all about the highly stylish life […]
Not of this world
By Thomas Wagner. An analysis of a goddess: Roland Barthes saw a magical object in the Citroën DS; others saw a profane yet well-designed vehicle. Swiss architect Christian Sumi explores […]
Spotlight: Gary Hustwit – Objectified
By Thomas Wagner. Why is it like that and not like this? Gary Hustwit is a popular documentary director in the design community, a status cemented with Rams in 2018. […]
The 100-year washing machine
By Thomas Wagner. Are our technical appliances intentionally made to have a short life? The notion of planned obsolescence alleges that developers and manufacturers deliberately shorten the life of a […]
Spotlight: We do not thirst after scenography. The long story of Alvar Aalto’s church in Riola
By Thomas Wagner. The wonder of Riola The documentary film rediscovers a jewel of modern architecture and tells the fantastical story of its creation. At its heart is Cardinal Lercaro, […]