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Holly Hunt Reissues Two Vladimir Kagan Classics
With his penchant for graceful curves and careful forms, Vladimir Kagan came to define a kind of generous midcentury modern throughout his storied career. But it all began at home: after learning the carpentry trade alongside his father, Kagan designed an initial pairing of table and chair for his parents’ home. His future is all here, in the comforting slope of the chair-back and the just-right balance of the table’s pointed legs. It’s finally available in the present, thanks to a reissue campaign from Holly Hunt. The First Chair and The First Table, produced in 1948 but phased out two years later, are now offered with arms just slightly more sculptural, and in two iterations: one honoring the original dimensions and a second pair whose dimensions were scaled up to fit today’s bigger homes.
Humanscale, purveyor of ergonomic office furniture, is now a certified B Corporation.
Humanscale, the designer and manufacturer of ergonomic office furniture, has achieved B Corp certification, affirming its leadership in sustainability and commitment to high standards in social and environmental performance. This recognition marks a major milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability deeply into its business practices. “We have led the industry in embracing systemic change for multiple decades, from implementing transparency labels on our products and eliminating many of the commonly used Red-List chemicals, to launching the world’s first task chair made from reclaimed fishing nets,” Bob King, Humanscale’s founder and CEO, said in a statement. “By putting in the hard work and making tough decisions, we hope to lead the rest of our industry to be more responsible.”
After an earthquake strikes New York, the city’s aging building stock may pose a threat.
After a magnitude 4.8 earthquake rattled New York and New Jersey earlier this month, New York City’s vulnerability to earthquakes has come under a microscope. The city is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes owing to more than 200,000 of older multifamily buildings being constructed mainly using un-reinforced brick from the mid-1800s to the 1930s, posing a high risk of collapse should a major seismic event occur. Although infrequent, earthquakes also pose a threat to the city’s dense and aged infrastructure, potentially causing extensive damage to buildings, utilities, and transit, necessitating advanced emergency responses and repairs.
Álvaro Siza has completed an extension to the Monastery of Leca do Bailo near Porto.
Álvaro Siza has completed an extension to the Monastery of Leca do Bailo near Porto. It will now serve as the headquarters for the Livraria Lello Foundation, which is aimed at promoting literacy and critical thinking. The extension includes a contemplative sculpture by Siza named Viandante, adding to the Pritzker Prize–winning architect’s portfolio of work for the Serralves Foundation, including the recent Serralves Museum expansion.
Venice’s scheme to start charging tourists small entry fees kicks off during the Biennale.
Venice will start charging day-trippers a €5 entry fee on select days between April and July in an effort to manage overtourism, making it the first city to implement such a charge directly at entry points. The fee, part of a pilot program, aims to reduce the number of short-term visitors who contribute minimally to the local economy and exacerbate congestion and infrastructure strain.
Research shows that botanical gardens offer greater cooling effects than parks in cities.
Research from the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) has demonstrated that botanical gardens can reduce city air temperatures by up to five degrees Celsius, outperforming other green spaces like parks due to their dense plant variety and water features. The study underscores the importance of integrating diverse green and blue infrastructure into urban planning to enhance city cooling and improve liveability during heatwaves.
Today’s attractive distractions:
Here’s an AI contrarian’s account of speaking at a conversational AI conference.
The party has ground to a screeching halt for Coachella’s glitziest rental mansions.
The late O.J. Simpson’s infamous white Bronco is parked at a Tennessee museum.
Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday is celebrated with a charity sale of nature photography.
