Ando We’ll Always Love You: Start your week off right with this beautiful video profile of Tadao Ando. Produced by NOWNESS, this sub-three-minute short lovingly portrays the master at work, musing on boxing, New York, and his own approach: “I would like to create something that only a Japanese person could do.” A must-watch for sure.
“Buildings should work as natural environments”: Speaking of which, Ando’s fellow countryman Kengo Kuma was recently profiled (in words) on Quartz: “Kuma’s campaign to bring Japanese-ness back to architecture has had fascinating results.”
In Brief
A Different Kind of Beach Ball: We previously reported that Snarkitecture would be creating a beach in their own image at the National Building Museum this summer; they’ve since launched a crowdfunding campaign to transform the Great Hall into a great ball pit.
If Europe for It: ArchDaily has compiled a list of this summer’s top architecture and design exhibitions in Europe.
148: That’s how old Frank Lloyd Wright would be today had he not passed away in 1959. However, the renowned architect has a better chance of existing in perpetuity than most of us can hope for: 10 of his projects were recently nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
L: American Standard DXV faucet, via Designboom; R: Long Museum West Bund, via Dezeen.
Eye Candy
Fluid Dynamics: American Standard have set a new high-water mark for plumbing fixtures with their new DXV line of 3D-printed faucets. (Via Designboom).
Light Industry: Dezeen has published some stunning new photos of the Long Museum West Bund shot by Hufton+Crow. Designed by Atelier Deshaus, the contemporary art gallery is designed around an existing structure that was originally designed for coal processing.
Non Sequitur
“Not to be Confused with Lord’s Prayer”: Remember that wild “sideways elevator” system that made rounds last year? The original concept actually dates back to the 19th century: as an early predecessor to the elevator, the Paternoster is so named for its resemblance to rosary beads — giant, closet-sized rosary beads that are are constantly moving. The few that are still in service, mostly in Germany, are a perennial novelty, of sorts; here’s Tom Scott’s take (via Digg):
Image at top via Nowness.
