Monocle Radio Podcast (November 14, 2024): As Russia moves forward with its attempt to retake Kursk, Maria Avdeeva and Jenny Mathers join Georgina Godwin to discuss what options might still be available for Ukraine.
Plus: Trump meets Biden in the White House and Frances Colón details Cop29.
The Local Project (November 12, 2024): Inside an iconic mid-century home designed by Steven Harris Architects, Palm Springs Residence is a study in restraint, honouring both the existing structure and the work of those who came before. This sensitive renovation reimagines the original house, known as Charney House, designed by Donald Wexler in 1956.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Iconic Mid-century Home 00:52 – The Original Plan and Inspiration 02:18 – A Minimal Layout 02:48 – The Afternoon Light and Vibes 03:46 – A Very California House 04:05 – Proud Moments
“Wexler was brilliant, with an extraordinary sense of syntax and grammar; everything lines up with everything,” says Steven Harris, partner at Steven Harris Architects. Interestingly, Harris and his partner bought the house accidentally. “We were helping another friend with their house and fell in love with the place,” recalls Harris. After spending time inside an iconic mid-century home designed by Wexler, Harris’s vision was rooted in preserving as much of the original as possible. “Almost everything here is original to the house,” he notes. “For me, the greatest liability would be for someone to drive by on the street and immediately say, ‘oh! that’s a Steven Harris house.’”
Alterations inside the iconic mid-century home designed by Wexler were largely stylistic and inspired by a Wassily Kandinsky painting. “If you look at it from the air, you will see flashes and curves and various shapes, which on one hand is quite graphic, and on the other, almost every view is perspectival because the things you’re looking at are only oblique. Things shift off of each other in a very curious and interesting way.” Stepping inside an iconic mid-century home designed by Wexler, the front door is indicated by a covered passage, flanked by an oblique terrazzo sidewalk extending from the driveway.
The Economist (November 12, 2024): At a time when Russia is making gains in Ukraine and Donald Trump has been re-elected as president, Europe needs strong leadership. Instead, Germany’s ruling coalition has collapsed. A study that hinted at racism among white doctors in America may have been flawed (9:18). And the wondrous revival of King’s Cross in London (17:23 ).
Monocle Radio Podcast (November 11, 2024): We discuss who is assembling in Mar-a-Lago as Trump’s cabinet picks begin, consider why soldiers have been deployed on the streets of Mozambique and hear the highlights from Dubai Design Week.
Then: we check in with World Travel Market London and deliver the latest arts and culture news. Plus: today’s auction of the diamond necklace linked to Marie Antoinette’s downfall.
DW Travel (November 10, 2024): Here are 5 secrets hidden within France’s famous Versailles palace! At the beginning of the 17th century, the palace was just a small hunting lodge in the forest. But then came Louis XIV.
Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:24 Practical information for your visit 01:10 Secret #1 – a secret door 02:22 Secret #2 – hygiene at Versailles Palace 03:34 Secret #3 – a hidden office for secret diplomacy 04:16 Secret #4 – a private library 05:00 Secret #5 – a hidden room for chemical experiments
The so-called Sun King transformed it into a fairytale palace. Today, it attracts millions of visitors. We show you 5 things that you might not know yet about the Palace of Versailles.
0:15 Finfluencer financial advice revolution – A finfluencer is a content creator on social media who shares information on budgeting, saving and financial investments, among other topics. Finfluencers use blogs, podcasts or videos to get their message out. They help widen financial access to groups who didn’t have it before.
3:49 These vegetables grow in-store without soil – Instead of soil, they use plugs of rockwool, irrigated with nutrient-rich water in a method called hydroponics. They come in different sizes producing from 2,000 to 15,000 plants monthly. These farms have a tiny environmental footprint. The largest models can grow as much as a 3-hectare farm.
5:44 Telehealth platform empowers millions – Altibbi offers 24/7 access to online doctors along with accessible, up-to-date medical information. It offers a cheaper, more accessible alternative to in-person consultations but it also aims to ‘change the narrative’ around the patient-doctor relationship.
8:43 ‘Underwater tractors’ replant seagrass – They were created by Reefgen, an UpLink Top Innovator. The robot scoots over the seabed, steadily and carefully restoring the ecosystem. Reefgen’s technology aims to aid conservation efforts by augmenting the efforts of human restorers.
Monocle on Saturday (November 9, 2024): After a “magnificent victory” for Donald Trump in the US election, Charles Hecker and Vincent McAviney unpack this week’s news. They discuss Musk’s call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the three men charged with an “Iran-linked” assassination attempt and how world leaders will win Trump’s favour in his second term.
Plus: journalist HJ Mai speaks to voters in Washington and Monocle’s Chris Cermak on the health of democracy with Moldovan election officials.
Cabana Magazine (November 8, 2024): “I believe in the future of Venice, otherwise I would not do this job,” says curator and restorer Toto Bergamo Rossi, speaking to Cabana from the spectacular surroundings of the X.
The director of Venetian Heritage is protecting and preserving his native Venice for future generations, always working within the architectural fabric of the historic water-locked city.
“I find that the ego of the architect who restores [these buildings] must disappear, never trying to compete with what’s over 300 years old, ever,” he tells Cabana. “Because we are temporary, but this remains.” Join Cabana Films and Toto Bergamo Rossi on a journey through Venetian heritage, as he paves the way for the city’s future.
The Local Project (July 26, 2024): Inspired by structures found near New Zealand’s Southern Alps, The Shepherd’s Hut is the worlds most secret home. The minimalist house – designed by Fearon Hay in collaboration with interior designer Paul Kennedy – sits comfortably in the landscape while offering a flexible set of interiors.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the World’s Most Secret Home 01:07 – Behind the Design and Name 02:31 – The Arrival Sequence 02:58 – A Playful and Relaxed Brief 04:29 – The Floor Plan and Layout 06:25 – The Interior Material Palette 07:59 – The Exterior Material Palette 08:48 – Proud Moments
Settled on the Wānaka lakefront, the worlds most secret home is often in the path of cold wind crossing from Makarora. “When there are storms, you can feel very alone, but with the warmth of the fires, my two dogs rugged up with sheepskin, you essentially become a shepherd,” says Matt Chapman, custodian of the property. “When we created the home, I didn’t want too much space for an abundance of possessions. I’d reached a point in my life where minimalism and simplicity were the ways I wanted to exist.”
While maintaining a minimalist focus, the design brief for the project proposed a spatially flexible home that enables new experiences. “When we encountered the site, it was an opportunity to build a structure with length,” says Tim Hay, architect at Fearon Hay. “We liked the idea of a very simple silhouette … we wanted the building to have a sense of retreat and integration with the landscape.”
Monocle Radio Podcast (November 8, 2024): With Europe bracing for a second Trump presidency, we discuss what’s next for the EU and Ukraine. Then: Germany heads for snap elections as the ruling coalition crumbles.
Plus: highlights from the 2024 World Architecture Festival and a special interview with the minister of tourism of Greece, Olga Kefalogianni.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious