27 June 2019
05 minutes
Photo: ALAMY
We head to the top of the Focsa building in Havana, which arguably boasts one of the Cuban capital’s best views. Over the years it’s hosted wealthy landowners, Russian spies, foreign dignitaries and academics. We lift the veil on its mysterious past.
27 June 2019
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle’s email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
Monocle on Design - latest episodes
The London Festival of Architecture
To celebrate the London Festival of Architecture, we meet its director, Rosa Rogina, and the photographers behind two exhibitions featured in this year’s edition, Jim Stephenson and Jack Lovel. Plus: design journalist Katie…
Extra: A Chicago river cruise
The Chicago Architecture Center's river cruise celebrates its 30th season this year. Monocle’s Chris Cermak finds out why it has become such a beloved staple for architecture enthusiasts.
Ruth E Carter, rebranding the Sundance Film Festival, Man Ray and fashion
We speak to the Oscar-winning costume designer, Ruth E Carter, and to the duo behind Sundance Film Festival’s latest rebrand. Plus, we catch up with the curator of Momu’s current exhibition on the visual artist and fashion…
Extra: New York Design Week
Monocle’s US editor, Chris Lord, reflects on this year’s edition of the annual festival, which celebrates the city’s gallerists, studio and designers.
Venice Biennale: Architecture
We report from the Venice Biennale in Italy, one of the world’s most important architecture events. We speak to artist Theaster Gates, Mariam Issoufou Kamara, and the team behind the Nordic pavilion.
Extra: Kara Pecknold
Monocle’s Helsinki correspondent, Petri Burtsoff, meets Kara Pecknold, vice-president of regenerative design at Frog.
‘The Offbeat Sari’, ‘Styled by Design’, ‘Moon Jar’
We head to a new exhibition at London’s Design Museum to find out how the sari has had a makeover and visit a showcase of 20th-century modernist textiles. Plus: we learn how contemporary potters are reimagining Korea’s…
Extra: ‘Made by Fire’
A landmark exhibition of Czech glass and porcelain brings together almost 100 artworks and design pieces. Though the industry is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the energy crisis, it’s fighting back with…
Eurovision, Arctic homes, Carolina Castiglioni
We meet the production designer behind this year’s Eurovision Song Contest stage and, in Alaska, find out about the challenges of designing for cold climates with architect Aaron Cooke. Plus: Carolina Castiglioni, founder…
Extra: Hemmo Honkonen
Finnish furniture-maker Hemmo Honkonen takes us through his Audible collection, which draws on his experience as a luthier.
Architectural drawings, Cocol, Meghan Preiss and Marc Newson
Industrial designer Marc Newson discusses his experiments with metalwork techniques and we visit Cocol, a shop in Madrid that celebrates craft traditions. Plus: an exhibition of architectural drawings in London.
Extra: Objects of Common Interest
Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, co-founders of design studio Objects of Common Interest, discuss their exhibition ‘Poikilos’ at Nilufar Depot and why they continue to work between Athens and New York.
Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile, part two
In the second edition of our special coverage of Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile, we meet the architect who gave away a selection of collectable pieces to the public and step into the trade hall with Luca Nichetto…
Extra: Loro Piana at Milan Design Week
Argentinian industrial designer Cristián Mohaded and Francesco Pergamo, director of Loro Piana’s interiors division, discuss their collaboration on a new furniture collection and an installation called “Apachetas”.
Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile, part one
We meet experimental and independent designers showcasing at Alcova. Plus: the collaborators behind the ‘Bar Flora’ installation share their collection, which utilises venetian glassblowing techniques.
