Design Considered #20 – Monthly Edition
A new schedule, fresh design and better ways to work...
#01 - Opening Thought
Hopefully not too many of you are already pondering whether you’re working to live or living to work. One thing worth bearing in mind in planning the year ahead is to use scenery shifts as productivity boosters. Ian Fleming found what writer Cal Newport calls “intentional slowness” at an untamed 15-acre plot of Jamaican land where he built a modest timber retreat. Negotiating with his employer - Kemsley Newspapers - a 10 month work year; he proceeded to spend two British winter months per year hammering out James Bond novels, snorkelling and drinking, at his own pace.
Fleming’s retreat, Goldeneye (where you can, yourself, stay today), was more than a getaway; it became the creative incubator for some of the 20th century’s most enduring fiction. It’s a testament to the idea that stepping away from the usual grind—finding a rhythm dictated not by deadlines but by the natural world—can produce fine results.
#02 - Seasonal Shift
Firstly, cheers for subscribing in 2024 and following this evolving project. Thanks to all the talent who participated in interviews and allowed me to republish their remarkable work, words and imagery. 2025 brings change to this newsletter to make it a more digestible and enjoyable read. You’ll notice tweaks to the schedule (and a nice new cover concept from Hyo Jung Lee) as new newsletters are introduced and a rhythm is settled on that makes sense to readers.
Right now, design media relies too much on repurposing other people’s work. Time-poor website writers regurgitate press releases with no added insight, while social media creators aggregate “aesthetic” photos of architecture - rarely name-checking the original image-maker. Besides promising to use the word ‘aesthetic’ correctly, the main aim of 2025 for this newsletter is to serve the design & architecture industry more original, opinionated and useful material. This means sit-down interviews with the world’s top design talent and guest columns from those who know much more about their craft than I do. The image-driven design and architecture curation will continue alongside a sprinkling of fresh illustrations from Korea’s Jiye Kim.
I won’t reveal too much, but the main newsletter in its current guise will remain as a monthly release, while other punchier, topic-specific dispatches, will also find their way into your inboxes. As things change I am interested in people’s opinions. I’m also keen to hear of relevant studios or projects to profile. So do drop me a note via email if you have something to say.
#03 - Design Selection
Home improvers and declutterers this January should take some inspiration from William Morris’ sage advice: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” True to this philosophy, E15’s (1) sculptural paperweights serve as functional forms for your desk while adding a touch of neo-Bauhaus artistry—both useful and undeniably beautiful. Shipping from next month, Louis Poulsen’s new (2) VL 45 Radiohus Portable Lamp, a modern take on Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen’s classic pendant, travels effortlessly with you around your home or garden. Available in opal white, soft rose, or yellow, it emits a warm, ambient glow wherever you need it.
Charnon Nakornsang’s cherry wood (3) Day Bed’s clean lines and warm tones make it the perfect spot to relax, contemplate, and dream up your next project. That next project may indeed be visiting Nakornsang Studio, which offers woodworking classes in Thailand. Launching next week, Nordic Knots’ (4) Pavilion rug series are cosy, handsome additions to your living space. Handcrafted from New Zealand wool, the various minimalist styles are inspired by Swedish ‘funkis’ design, a 1930s movement focused on clean lines and practical beauty.
For the eco-conscious, this sleek (5) Mill Food Recycler from US-based startup Mill transforms leftovers into nutrient-rich fertiliser overnight, helping you reduce waste while nourishing your home’s green spaces. Finally, for stylish storage, exclusively from Abask, British artisan Otis Ingrams’ (6) Ample Leather Large Storage Basket is both practical and elegant, offering a refined solution for tidying up your home.
#04 - For Your Consideration
LVMH-owned Belmond’s on-point marketing makes you want to holiday within days of returning to work from your last one. This month the brand launched ‘Long Shots’ simple, but creative 60 minute films of ‘slow’ viewing - allowing you to visually luxuriate in the fine grounds and surrounds of their properties on your laptop.
Paris Design Week has kicked off and those in town shouldn’t miss aforementioned Nordic Knots at its exhibition, The Grand, in collaboration with the respected arts & sculpture institution Galerie Chenel. Also worth checking out is Porto-based Origin Made’s latest collection of furniture, designed by a unique roster of talent, unveiled at Maison et Objet.
New York design title Curbed claims timber can transform our cities for the better. In an in-depth piece it cleverly goes about proving its point by asking four firms to come up with a “speculative but realistic public projects” in timber for New York. A solid read for architects in the audience.
Also, for architects, urban planners and developers with a sustainability agenda - there are four weeks left to enter the Holcim Foundation Awards. For the Swiss-based non-profit, I worked with Bangladeshi filmmaker Piplu Khan, to cover the work of a past winner, WOHA’s BRAC University in Dhaka, truly one of the world’s best new sustainable buildings of scale. Watch here.
Finally, for myself, leaving the sunny beaches of Australia’s East Coast and returning to freezing Europe this month has been bitter. So, with quiet amusement, I’ve enjoyed following news of the ‘Cabana Wars’ back home. Beach furniture causing summer turmoil on Australia’s pristine coastlines.
#05 - Through The Lens
German photographer Markus Edgar Ruf says that he’s spending more and more time in Italy’s South Tyrol region these days - drawn to the abundant natural beauty of the place alongside its excellent architecture and hospitable culture. One destination that encapsulates this all is Miramonti, a refined retreat, which Ruf has been documenting for the past eight years, highlighting both the sensitively design interiors from Harry Thaler, and the fine architecture that allows the resort’s buildings to appear to have always been there. “When you’re designing in these alpine regions, the best architecture is architecture looks like it belongs with the nature,” Ruf notes.
Ruf’s photography reflects an honest sensibility, favouring a restrained, almost minimalist aesthetic. He shoots Miramonti with natural light, allowing the majesty of the landscape and the cabins’ clean lines to speak for themselves against a natural backdrop. When it comes to its fine interiors, which pay homage to the region with locally quarried stone - and fittings and furniture all made in South Tyrol, Ruf patiently waits for the perfect moment. "I just look around and follow the light across the day taking notes - then I wait,“ he explains. “The next day you might find me lying spa area, waiting, as I know in 15 minutes time when the sunlight hits there will be a beautiful photo to be taken.”
Südtirol is indeed where Italian creativity and German efficiency merge in splendor. Here's another architectural masterpiece that we just wrote about: https://stories.aestheticnomads.com/p/freiform-mountain-guesthouse
Nolan does it again! Excellent writing on interesting projects and topics. Reference to Australia's current 'Cabana' wars is hilarious. The video on WOHA's BRAC University project in Bangladesh - Winner of a Holcim Foundation Award - is the best thing I've seen all week.