Latest stories
Starship’s “We Built This City”—the “worst” song?
A “worst pop song” label need not end your enjoyment. Six songs trace the changing bands and voices, from Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick to Marty Balin and Mickey Thomas.
Latest stories
Sesc Pompeia: a former factory becomes a neighborhood living room
Sesc Pompeia in São Paulo joins an old metal-drum factory to new sports facilities. Lina Bo Bardi’s complex makes room for performances, reading, and exercise.
Alessi 9093 kettle with bird whistle
Michael Graves gave the Alessi 9093’s whistle the shape of a bird. A working part of an everyday kitchen tool also gives it character.
StoryCorps records the life stories of people close to us
StoryCorps invites people to prepare questions, talk with someone close to them, and record their voice. Preserving a conversation and sharing it publicly are separate choices.
Watching the next drop move at Teshima Art Museum
At Teshima Art Museum, water emerges from the floor as light enters through the roof. Rei Naito’s artwork meets Ryue Nishizawa’s architecture.
Solarcan records months of sunlight in a single photograph
Solarcan records light passing through a tiny hole onto photographic paper over a long exposure. The sun’s changing paths accumulate in one image.
Tripp Trapp, a chair adjusted as a child grows
Stokke’s Tripp Trapp has a seat and footrest adjustable in height and depth. The table stays in place while the chair adapts to a growing body.
Making the food replicas you see outside Japanese restaurants
At Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya, visitors make wax tempura and lettuce. Recreating familiar restaurant displays draws attention to the shapes and textures that make food recognizable.
Muro Box, a music box that plays the tunes you choose
Muro Box uses electronic controls to change what its mechanism plays. Its metal comb produces the sound, within the limits of the N20’s 20 notes.