Extra: Norman Foster  

Extra: Norman Foster  

Author: Monocle July 10, 2025 Duration: 5:52

The celebrated architect discusses the future of mobility and his project, ‘Gateway to Venice’s Waterways’, at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition. 

 

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There's a conversation happening about the objects, spaces, and systems that shape our lives, and Monocle on Design is right in the middle of it. This isn't just a survey of pretty things; it's a thoughtful exploration of how design intersects with commerce, culture, and daily living. Each episode feels like a dispatch from a global network of creators, offering a tangible sense of place whether reporting from a bustling Milan studio, a quiet Japanese workshop, or a forward-thinking urban planning office. You'll hear directly from the people behind the products and buildings, understanding the business decisions and cultural currents that inform their work. The scope is refreshingly broad, treating a finely crafted chair, a revolutionary fabric, and the layout of a city park with equal seriousness. By weaving together elements of art, entrepreneurship, and society, this Monocle podcast provides a nuanced, on-the-ground perspective. It’s for anyone curious about why our world looks and feels the way it does, and who believes that thoughtful design is fundamental to a better, more enjoyable life. The discussions go beyond aesthetics to consider function, sustainability, and the stories embedded in everything from furniture to fashion.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Monocle on Design
Podcast Episodes
Extra: Six N Five [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:29
At Milan Design Week, Argentine digital designer Six N Five (Ezequiel Pini) discusses his move into the material realm via a collaboration with the Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau. See omnystudio.com/listener for p…
Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2025 – Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:58
The team report from the Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan, with interviews from architect David Rockwell, the CEO of Italian manufacturer Artemide and the design duo behind the studio Formafantasma. See omnystud…
Extra: Finding relief  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:09
Architect Hugh Broughton and the artist James Lambert discuss their designs at a newly upgraded public facility on the Victoria Embankment in London. Monocle’s Francesca Gilks reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri…
‘Living Modernity’, ‘Solar Biennale’ and ‘Splash!’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
We explore experimental ways of living thanks to a new exhibition in Tokyo and we imagine sunnier futures at the ‘Solar Biennale’ in Switzerland. Finally, a cooling dip in the pool as we visit ‘Splash! A Century of Swimm…
Extra: My First Sony Cassette recorder  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:05
We take a trip down memory lane to find out why this toy offers a glimpse into a much bigger moment in design history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Powerhouse, Tej Chauhan and a ‘Konfekt’ preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:43
We visit a floating office in Rotterdam and meet industrial designer Tej Chauhan in Helsinki. Plus, a preview of some of the design stories in the latest issue of ‘Konfekt’ magazine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privac…
Extra: Orla Kiely: ‘A Life in Pattern’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:44
The National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, Ireland, celebrates the bold patterns and organic shapes found in Orla Kiely’s work in its latest exhibition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vince Frost, ‘The Craft of Carpentry’, Mirkku Kullberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:22
Graphic designer Vince Frost reflects on his decades in practice; plus Japan’s carpentry culture is front and centre at a new exhibition in London. We then meet Mirkku Kullberg, CEO of Swedish rug company Kasthall. See o…
Extra: From fashion to furniture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:24
Monocle’s design editor Nic Monisse reflects on the blurred boundaries between the design and fashion industries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Matter and Shape, ‘Brutalist Japan’, Make Play [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
Highlights from the second edition of Parisian design salon Matter and Shape. Then: we learn about brutalism in Japan. Plus: we visit the Young V&A in London to meet designer Charlie Boyden. See omnystudio.com/listener f…