While in China, we visited the homely Shanghai studio of Singaporean Kok-Meng Tan (b. 1964) and Japanese Satoko Saeki’s (b. 1973) architecture and design practice KUU. Known for their critical design thinking, KUU applies a direct and simple approach across their design and writing as well as their teaching at Shenzen University. We talked with Kok-Meng and Satoko about Shanghai, sharing and encouraging positive chaos. …(more)

Designer Noriko Daishima runs a small shop, café and creative studio in her home in Shanghai. Located in the French Concession, on Xingguo Lu, she calls her place Le Petit Xiaoxiao (small, small, small) and keeps it open for friends and their friends during the weekends. Last Saturday, we visited Noriko for a chat and green tea. …(more)

In the last part of See, think, do, a series of texts on the relevant elements in the work of an architect today, Tuomas Toivonen (NOW for Architecture and Urbanism) discusses the blurring of boundaries between labour and leisure. Having explored both the context and the content of his architectural practice, the series also creates a foundation for Tuomas’ next music release called Subtitles. …(more)

Oivallus (‘a sudden insight’ in Finnish) project explores the future of education in a networked economy. It is conducted by the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK. The project builds on critical dialogue within multidisciplinary groups of specialists, including Anni, Jenna and Martti from OK Do.

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Tuula Pöyhönen is one of my favourite Helsinki figures for two reasons: she is uncompromising in both what she says and what she does. Fashion designer by background, Tuula runs a family, a studio and a shop called ONNI (happiness or luck in Finnish) in her home, an old textile factory turned into loft apartments. I visited Tuula to discuss the meaning and impacts of working at home. …(more)

See, think, do is a series of texts by Tuomas Toivonen (NOW for Architecture and Urbanism) attempting to articulate the relevant elements in the work of an architect today. The part three of the series sets out to ask how creativity should be harnessed for a better reality. …(more)

Dispersed in Paris and Berlin, Ines Kaag and Desiree Heiss of the conceptual fashion label BLESS always talk about their work together. We learned this when we asked to interview both of them face to face, yet separately, with the same questions, since Jenna happened to be in Berlin and Anni in Paris at the time. Their kind refusal was explained by the fact that BLESS is something between the two, and therefore they don’t do interviews alone. So, we ended up in an email conversation with the twosome on the issues of identity and privacy as well as working together from two different cities. …(more)

Lessons learned is a series of writings by Hans Park depicting the life of a Tokyo architect. The third part of the series deals with hardship and days off. In addition to working for the second largest architecture practice in Japan, Hans is a co-founder of an organisation called Dekimasen that is looking for clues and keys to positive societal change in Japan. …(more)