Films — Design
89 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★ - 14 ratingsA comprehensive round-up of the design, architecture, fashion and graphics catching our eye.
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Episodes
Glassblowing with Michael Ruh
April 06, 2023 14:00 - 3 minutes - 936 MB VideoNature is a key source of inspiration for glass artist Michael Ruh, who has hand-crafted pieces for leading architects and brands, such as Fortnum & Mason. We visited his south London studio as production was underway for a new commission for The Birch Hotel to hear about his design process.
Inside Tokyo’s colourful community bus
July 28, 2022 07:58 - 5 minutes - 52.9 MB VideoAn electric bus service has injected a new playfulness into a borough of Tokyo in need of a revamp. We hop aboard and meet Eiji Mitooka, its creator and Japan’s foremost train designer, who explains why he puts fun at the top of his list when designing public transport. All aboard! [Read more in the June issue of the magazine.](https://monocle.com/shop/product/2155569/issue-154/)
Yinka Ilori’s 3D-printed basketball court
October 28, 2021 13:34 - 2 minutes - 31.8 MB VideoDesigner Yinka Ilori discusses the design inspiration behind his temporary installation in London’s Canary Wharf and the importance of play in adulthood. [Hear more on ‘Monocle on Design’ on Monocle 24](https://monocle.com/radio/shows/monocle-on-design/513/).
Rebuilding Beirut
October 04, 2021 14:54 - 2 minutes - 6.43 MB VideoAfter the devastating port explosion of 4 August 2020, Beirut's creative community is battling to rebuild amid power-cuts and petrol shortages. A year on from the blast, Monocle joins its designers and architects on the streets of the city to see how they hope to make the city anew.
Monocle Design Awards
June 03, 2021 09:00 - 2 minutes - 8.52 MB VideoMonocle launched its inaugural Design Awards in early 2021 to celebrate the world’s best and brightest talents in architecture, graphic design and industrial design. We invite you to meet a global cast of winners as we celebrate pioneering design projects that make our lives healthier and happier, our cities smarter and our work more creative.
Christchurch School: sunny modernism
April 28, 2021 09:00 - 10 minutes - 3.49 GB VideoWe explore a New Zealand take on mid-century modern architecture that fused British brutalism with a Scandinavian aesthetic. The simple construction methods of the Christchurch School’s creative homes have endured changing tastes – and earthquakes too.
A different view with David Alhadeff
February 02, 2021 07:00 - 3 minutes - 50.6 MB VideoPerched above the buzz of Beverly Hills sits Casa Perfect, a gallery of contemporary design set in a spectacular modernist home. Its founder David Alhadeff shows us the wealth of remarkable art and architecture that is to be found in the varied neighbourhoods of this sunny city. Monocle Films has partnered with Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau to reveal hidden gems through the eyes of local creatives.
The home of the Finnish art scene
November 18, 2020 11:11 - 7 minutes - 38 MB VideoWe tour the breathtaking studios of artists’ residence Lallukka in Helsinki, which hasn’t changed its purpose since it was completed in 1933. The landmark functionalist building offers spaces at low rents so that its tenants can focus on one thing: making art.
The master craftsman: Shimada Takayuki
October 09, 2020 11:00 - 4 minutes - 25.8 MB VideoThe unassuming Shimada Gama workshop in Gotsu doubles up as an open-air museum of traditional stoneware pottery. It specialises in creating large pieces that are burnt in a sloped wood-fired kiln. We talk to the 73-year-old master Shimada Takayuki about the challenges of passing the rare skill and aesthetic sensibility down to his son and grandson.
The talent-seeker: Ryutaro Yoshida
October 05, 2020 12:30 - 5 minutes - 41.7 MB VideoJapanese company Time & Style knows how to inject innovative spirit into traditional crafts. Over the past two decades its founder Ryutaro Yoshida has criss-crossed Japan to woo reluctant artisans to collaborate on modern designs. We meet him in the remote region of Shimane as he develops a series of handmade washi paper lamps.
The international icon: Kengo Kuma
March 17, 2020 10:46 - 4 minutes - 27.4 MB VideoThe beauty of Japanese design has won fans around the world but it takes great panache to translate it to large-scale projects. We sit down with architect Kengo Kuma in his Tokyo office to talk about the recently completed Japan National Stadium. It’s a building that has given a new lease of life to traditional craftsmanship and stimulated local economies.
The bold business owner: Takeshi Yamanaka
March 13, 2020 14:17 - 4 minutes - 41.2 MB VideoIn 1928 Maruni Wood Industry was born out of a fascination with the masterful carpentry in ancient shrines. Today its furniture is found in the Californian headquarters of Apple as well as airport lounges, galleries and restaurants around the world. We meet the company’s president to talk about the challenges of managing a family-run business.
The future of Japanese craftsmanship
March 13, 2020 12:00 - 2 minutes - 23.6 MB VideoTo celebrate our [book about Japan](https://monocle.com/shop/product/1684416/), we are presenting a film series that dives into the intriguing ecosystem that has preserved Japanese traditional skills over centuries. Meet the people who are future-proofing the age-old know-how.
Building a place for culture
February 06, 2020 10:30 - 6 minutes - 45.5 MB VideoWe visit a Kengo Kuma-designed art museum in Eskisehir that’s set to become Turkey’s new cultural hotspot.
Campus of creativity
May 13, 2019 16:20 - 5 minutes - 52.5 MB Video“Fostering independent thinking” is a key phrase in modern education but it’s not easy to do. We visit Madrid’s Colegio Estudio to meet its enlightened teachers and alumni.
Tbilisi’s architectural revival
May 02, 2019 17:34 - 3 minutes - 18.6 MB VideoRather than erase all evidence of Georgia’s Soviet past, the country’s architectural community is keen to preserve its history and give its once-foreboding buildings another – happier – lease of life.
Zürich: co-operative living
January 24, 2019 10:00 - 2 minutes - 15 MB VideoWe head to Mehr als Wohnen, a unique mixed-use development housing a happy and healthy community.
On design
December 13, 2018 13:00 - 4 minutes - 36 MB VideoTo celebrate the collaboration between Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and Japanese designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, we contemplate the pursuit of perfection to achieve timeless appeal.
Day and night
October 24, 2018 13:00 - 4 minutes - 34.2 MB VideoTo celebrate the launch of A. Lange & Söhne's limited-edition timepiece Datograph Up/Down Lumen, we speak to architect Joe Morris and photographer Polly Tootal about their creative processes – and how light informs their practice. Find out more about the watch [here](https://alange-soehne.com/en/unlimited-facettes).
Nairobi: building better cities
September 25, 2018 11:30 - 4 minutes - 60.8 MB VideoKenya’s Karura Forest offers not only respite from the bustling capital but also a sense of pride for its citizens.
São Paulo: building better cities
September 18, 2018 14:45 - 7 minutes - 64.1 MB VideoBrazil’s business capital has reinvented its city centre through clever urbanism. We meet the architects, gallery owners and transport visionaries powering this change.
In praise of balconies
July 12, 2018 13:00 - 2 minutes - 22.4 MB VideoLook up as you stroll Zürich’s streets and you’ll see these outdoor living rooms everywhere. Monocle Films visited the city to outline this architectural feature and how it improves quality of life.
Venice: finding Freespace
June 07, 2018 14:00 - 5 minutes - 52.8 MB VideoMonocle editor Andrew Tuck navigates the Arsenale to find out how architects have responded to the curatorial theme of this year’s Venice Biennale of Architecture.
Funkhaus: on the same wavelength
January 26, 2018 16:10 - 2 minutes - 11.7 MB VideoWe tour the stunning studios and recording halls of Funkhaus, east Berlin’s former communist broadcasting house.
Jordan's creative scene
November 21, 2017 11:06 - 3 minutes - 36 MB VideoThere's a budding entrepreneurial scene in Amman, Jordan's charming capital. We profile the young people who are making things happen, whether it's by starting design studios, cafés, galleries or small businesses.
The secret to building affordable homes
November 09, 2017 15:01 - 2 minutes - 23.5 MB VideoAs part of our 'Secret to...' series we visit the architecture practice of Andreas Martin-Löf, which is reinventing residential housing in Stockholm.
Arresting architecture
October 06, 2017 09:41 - 2 minutes - 8.85 MB VideoWe explore best practice in the design of prisons and see how modern thinking is forging innovative architecture with a human touch.
Japanese architecture: Toukouen hotel
September 11, 2017 17:30 - 2 minutes - 13.6 MB VideoWe travel to Japan’s least-populous prefecture, Tottori, where we explore one of its most-famous hotels.
The secret to designing outdoor space
August 29, 2017 09:05 - 1 minute - 19.9 MB VideoWe have launched a Monocle Films series, ‘Secret to...’, that will deliver insight from industry experts every week. In our first edition we talk to architect Iliana Kerestetzi about designing courtyards in rural Greece.
Athens’ favourite neighbourhoods
July 24, 2017 14:26 - 2 minutes - 15.2 MB VideoDo you want to visit the heart of Athens but steer clear of the tourist traps? Take a walk around Petralona, Koukaki and Filopappou to discover the best areas of the capital according to Athenians themselves.
The beauty of stairs
June 16, 2017 18:15 - 3 minutes - 23.2 MB VideoStaircases can trigger conversations, provide a sense of arrival and dazzle with ingenuity, so why are they often overlooked?
Parc de Belloch: the home of Catalonian design
May 19, 2017 17:00 - 3 minutes - 23.4 MB VideoShow-stopping design firm Santa & Cole takes inspiration from the Catalonian countryside and being just far away enough from bustling Barcelona.
Animal architecture
March 15, 2017 15:00 - 2 minutes - 16.1 MB VideoFinding a compromise between an animal’s wellbeing, a farm’s efficiency and local architecture traditions is a fine art and often has to be done with limited resources. For Monocle’s 10-year anniversary issue we pulled on our wellies and went in search of the animal architects who are taking the bull by the horns.
Vital signs
February 17, 2017 08:30 - 5 minutes - 40.2 MB VideoFrom traditional calligraphy to rare gold-leaf techniques, hand-worked lettering is back in demand. Monocle Films meets three sign painters whose eye-catching signs lend character to cities – and help businesses stand out.
Healthy cities: vim and vigour
January 27, 2017 13:42 - 2 minutes - 11.1 MB VideoAcross the world governments and developers are waking up to the fact that healthier cities are happier ones. We touch down in three very different destinations to admire some of the best urban design initiatives.
Made in Vienna
January 17, 2017 11:30 - 6 minutes - 44.8 MB VideoCraftsmanship has been at the beating heart of Vienna for hundreds of years; Monocle Films visits three family-run companies that have made tradition relevant.
Baťa: if the shoe fits
September 05, 2016 09:00 - 2 minutes - 11.6 MB VideoThe Czech town of Zlín was transformed by a visionary shoemaker who wanted to house his workers in a garden city. We put our best foot forward to explore his functionalist masterpiece.
Masters of glass
July 28, 2016 09:49 - 5 minutes - 51.8 MB VideoThe small Venetian island of Murano has a grand glass-blowing reputation. In the glow of the furnaces, Monocle Films witnesses a new generation of designers at work.
2016 Venice Architecture Biennale - National Pavilions
June 10, 2016 15:30 - 6 minutes - 68.1 MB VideoOur second film report from the Venice Architecture Biennale focuses on the national pavilions’ responses to curator Alejandro Aravena’s quest for new points of view on the social, political and cultural issues facing the world of architecture today.
2016 Venice Biennale - Reporting from the Front
June 03, 2016 18:00 - 7 minutes - 67.2 MB VideoIn the first of two film reports from the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale we talk to Chilean architect – and this year’s curator – Alejandro Aravena about his chosen theme ‘Reporting from the Front’ and his hopes for stimulating the debate on improving quality of life in the built environment.
Making it in the city: Vienna ateliers
May 24, 2016 09:00 - 3 minutes - 29.6 MB VideoMonocle Films paid a visit to six of our favourite Viennese ateliers and discovers that you can create jobs and wealth with downtown workshops – and the sound of the odd hammer.
Healthy architecture
May 17, 2016 10:00 - 2 minutes - 25 MB VideoHow can architects, designers, retailers and city planners embrace a new vernacular that delivers places that leave us feeling better about our lives? Our fourth Quality of Life Conference film explores the notion.
Time for a hospitality refresh
May 10, 2016 10:00 - 2 minutes - 28.7 MB VideoFrom nation to brand, city hall to hotel, who is doing hospitality well and offering benchmarks for experiences that are genuine, reliable and believable? This Monocle Quality of Life Conference film was the overture to the panel discussion, exploring how cities and brands make visitors and locals feel welcome.
Tracht & Country
May 05, 2016 09:00 - 4 minutes - 51.3 MB VideoThe national dress of the alpine region is experiencing a renaissance. Monocle Films dons its lederhosen and heads to the Tracht & Country fair.
Fuorisalone 2016: Design on display
April 22, 2016 09:22 - 4 minutes - 25.1 MB VideoRunning parallel to Milan’s furniture fair, Fuorisalone is a series of citywide events dedicated to design. Monocle Films spotlights the latest products and ideas on exhibit.
Salone del Mobile: Best in show
April 18, 2016 18:00 - 3 minutes - 24.7 MB VideoSalone del Mobile, the furniture world’s premier event, saw record attendance for its 2016 edition in Milan. Monocle Films visited the fair and showrooms throughout the city to discover the highlights.
Sydney Residence: Harry and Penelope Seidler House
February 26, 2016 16:27 - 6 minutes - 48.5 MB VideoFar removed from the skyscrapers and residential towers for which architect Harry Seidler became known, the house he designed with his wife is governed by Bauhaus aesthetics that are just as forward-thinking today as they were in the 1960s. Monocle Films visits Penelope Seidler in her dream home.
Film report: Milan menswear fall-winter 2016
January 20, 2016 15:00 - 3 minutes - 27.2 MB VideoWhen it comes to menswear the rule is to follow the lead of the Italians. At Milan fashion week Monocle Films visits the showrooms and presentations of leading industry players to see what men will be wearing next autumn.
Film report: Pitti Uomo 2016
January 15, 2016 18:29 - 3 minutes - 36.4 MB VideoWe ask what’s next for menswear as retailers flock to Florence to spot trends and stock up on Italian fashion – a €9bn industry –and foreign brands. Denim is darker, the fit wider and men are starting to move from beards and suspenders to a more elegant English look.
A man's shoe
November 03, 2015 23:01 - 4 minutes - 34.7 MB VideoNorthamptonshire’s shoemaking legacy has stood strong for well over a century and De Fursac’s dapper Derbys and eye-catching Oxfords will keep you in step with the times. We meet the team behind De Fursac’s first footwear collection.