FRANCE 24 English (December 20, 2023) – With a thousand castles and almost as many churches, France’s south-western Périgord region is a paradise for lovers of ancient stones. Aude, 32, has inherited the fortress of Commarque.
The young Parisian left everything behind to protect this 12th-century monument. Gastronomy is also a key part of life in the Périgord. In this region that cherishes quality produce, chef Pierre Corre cooks black truffles like no one else.
The Local Project (December 19, 2023) – On Waiheke Island, New Zealand, an architect designs a hidden home. Offering a distinctive New Zealand experience, Mawhiti House was created for two sisters who were in search of a unique holiday dwelling where they could peacefully retreat to.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Hidden Home 00:43 – Designed for Two Siblings 01:49 – The Form of the Home and its Influence 02:28 – The History of the Gateway Pavilion 03:31 – In Conversation with the Home and the Landscape 04:00 – The Layout of the Home 04:45 – Incorporating A Soulful and Earthy Feeling 05:36 – Proud Moments
A place of restoration and rejuvenation, an architect designs a hidden home that evokes a sense of calm. Built on an expansive plot of land, the Mawhiti House is surrounded by native bushland along with expansive views of the ocean, which can be accessed from the kitchen, bathrooms and living spaces within. Stephens Lawson Architects has designed the form to feel welcoming to the owners and their guests all year round. As seen in the house tour, Mawhiti House combines utility with a deep spiritual atmosphere. Another inspiration for the design was the idea of a rural barn.
Accompanying the Waiheke Island residence is a gateway pavilion, a structural addition that is made out of timber and enhances the living experience. Formed out of raw, natural pieces of wood, the structure offers a unique way to experience the surrounds of Waiheke Island. The house tour also reveals that the home and pine wood gateway are in constant dialogue with each other through the triangular forms and materiality of the timber architecture. Broken into three pavilions, the dwelling is spread across the site and seamlessly blends into the landscape as if it has always been a part of it. Between the pavilions are micro courtyards positioned off the bathrooms. As an architect designs a hidden home, each courtyard is differentiated from one another to enrich the experience of the owners and their visitors alike.
National Geographic (December 18, 2023) – As the rivers of the Okavango Basin pump life into an otherwise dry African region, a team of researchers and local communities, supported by the Okavango Eternal partnership, follow the flow every year to determine how we can preserve these vital water systems.
Matteo Bertoli Films (December 18, 2023) – Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s known for grand examples of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation, especially the Alhambra.
This sprawling hilltop fortress complex encompasses royal palaces, serene patios, and reflecting pools from the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the fountains and orchards of the Generalife gardens.
The Wall Street Journal (December 16, 2023) – How does Google Maps use satellites, GPS and more to get you from point A to point B? What is the tech that powers Spotify’s recommendation algorithm?
Video timeline: 0:00 Google Maps 9:07 LED wristbands 14:30 Spotify’s algorithm 21:30 Tap-to-Pay 28:18 Noise-canceling headphones 34:33 MSG Sphere 41:30 Shazam
From the unique tech that works in seconds to power tap-to-pay to how Shazam identifies 23,000 songs each minute, WSJ explores the engineering and science of technology that catches our eye. Chapters:
The Local Project (December 15, 2023) – Distinctively robust and private, Cloister House I celebrates simple design and timelessness. MORQ creates a refuge inside a family home built around the idea of sanctuary, in a refreshing counterpoint to the busy street it sits upon.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Family Home 01:23 – An Interesting Family Brief 02:09 – A Walkthrough of the Home 03:22 – Incorporating the Idea of Retreat and Refuge 04:29 – The Evocative Material Palette 05:45 – Design Properties of the Courtyard 06:26 – Aiming for Sustainable and Durable Design
“The idea of retreat is very much an aspect of the brief, and we felt that creating a fence and leaving the inside as a void creates a peaceful space,” says Andrea Quagliola, co-founder at MORQ. The home of grandparents, Cloister House I welcomes one inside a family home built around the notion of being able to comfortably house just two, as well as cater for lots of visitors. Inside a family home built around a courtyard, the architecture feels almost fortress-like from approach.
Its concrete structural face and concrete cladding comprise of steel that resembles the red earth that surrounds the Western Australia locale of Perth where the home sits, while the interior design combines Italian design nuances, as per Andrea’s roots. The home is split into two distinct volumes – a space for just two people that relates to the central courtyard and a space for visiting family that relates to the rear of the home. This architecture enables the house to feel appropriate in smaller and larger settings, and a customised glazing system allows one to open and close the spaces as desired.
The Wall Street Journal (December 14, 2023) – As autonomous driving technology becomes more mainstream, automakers like Waymo and Geely are beginning to make crucial decisions about what their next generation of vehicles will look like.
Video timeline:0:00 The future of the car 0:51 Car seats and safety 3:51 Wheel and trust 5:11 Screens and sickness 7:15 Trusting autonomous cars
So could future driverless cars have no steering wheels? And what could the touchscreen dashboards look like? WSJ’s George Downs explores how the car could evolve when you don’t need to be behind the wheel. #Autonomous#Cars#WSJ
MICHELIN Guide (December 13, 2023) – Situated near the Austrian and Italian borders, Milka boasts a superb location overlooking a crystal-clear lake surrounded by mountains in Slovenia.
The restaurant offers a fine gastronomic synthesis of its region and neighbours, all skillfully interpreted and prepared by chef David Žefran, who makes full use of local ingredients. The cuisine served at Milka is revolutionary: David Žefran has had a major influence here, creating tempting dishes in a delightful “boutique experience hotel” which occupies a restored building transformed into a charming and welcoming space where everything has been carefully designed down to the tiniest detail.
Guests eat well (very well!) at Milka, where seasonal produce is of the utmost importance and where much of the focus is on vegetables and freshwater fish. One of the restaurant’s key philosophies states that “engaging responsibly with society and the environment is much more than simply choosing our suppliers carefully – this philosophy underpins every aspect of our gastronomic experience”.
The Local Project (December 12, 2023) – In this considered restoration of a quintessential Los Angeles midcentury modern house, Woods + Dangaran designs a geometrically striking home that moves into the 21st century while acknowledging its past.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Midcentury Modern House 00:36 – The History and Restoration of the Property 01:16 – A Walkthrough of the House 03:52 – The Era-Specific Material Palette 04:51 – A Powerful Outdoor Connection 05:52 – The Balance of Natural Light and Materials 06:18 – A Responsibility of Restoration
“We instantly felt we could improve it but that we could also preserve it,” says Brett Woods, Founding Partner at Woods + Dangaran. Located just west of Beverly Hills, the home is a refreshing departure from the contemporary mansions that line the streets. “Unlike many homes in Los Angeles, it had this courtyard leading up to the entry and the classic hallmarks of a great example of modernist architecture” says Brett.
A courtyard leading up to the entrance acts like a decompression zone before one reaches the front door. Upon entering, an intimate, dark and moody den awaits. There is a formal sitting area to the right that is more bright and complete with warm-coloured furniture and retro décor. The dining room has been relocated to be in close proximity to the kitchen, which enables an outdoor connection to the terrace. The interior design of this culinary space also captures a wealth of natural light and features generous proportions.
Living Walks Films (December 9, 2023) – Located in the extreme north of the Island of Madeira, Porto Moniz features volcanic pools, mystical forests and breathtaking landscapes.
Between the imposing mountains and the calm surface of the ocean, the municipality of Porto Moniz also dazzles with the charm of its picturesque parishes, which overflow with rich customs.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious