Metropolis Magazine - Metropolis Magazine April 2009

A working-class community in Rotterdam gets an economic boost, thanks to an ingenious snack truck.

Maybe it’s a response to the gloomy economy: polychromatic products are suddenly everywhere. Reminiscent of the Color Field paintings of the 1960s, these pieces are lively without being chaotic, occupying a welcome middle ground between out-of-control patterns and bland neutrality.

Paola Antonelli talks about her job, her love of obituaries, and Battlestar Galactica.

In reinventing two faded inns outside of London, Ilse Crawford honors the age-old desire for comfort and companionship.

A pair of French graphic designers creates an elaborately ornamental sideboard for Bd Barcelona.

With the earth seeming more fragile by the minute, many people are looking for ways to reconnect with the natural environment and behave in more eco-friendly ways. Product design can help, whether through a giant fan that gently cools a…

Trying to save money by cooking at home? Investing in the right equipment can ease the burden.

Fritz Hansen produced some of the 20th century’s most iconic pieces. Now the company turns to a new designer for fresh ideas on the 21st-century chair.

­New York tourism gets a 21st-century interface.

Having conquered the consumer market, a modern-lighting retailer sets its sights on design professionals.

With an inspired new adolescent facility, a Massachusetts school at last has architecture befitting the spirit of its mission.

An online service from Symmons delivers prototypes to designers—free of charge.

­Muji’s latest collection has two high-profile designers updating Thonet standards.

The House of Blue is the main attraction at Droog’s new 5,000-square-foot store in New York. You might find yourself wondering what exactly it is—even after a visit to the space. The ever-morphing display can be purchased in part or…

Plenty of retailers are trotting out their green credentials lately, but the building-products supplier Green Depot—which opened a new flagship store in Manhattan two months ago—distinguishes itself with its rigorous transparency. Each item in its diverse stock is labeled with…

Flouting the five-star mentality, Rabih Hage designs a unique London hotel around the refreshing premise that the best experiences cannot be standardized.

The shifting demographics here in the United States, and in Europe, are producing bathrooms that defy the traditional trappings of old age.

The low-key firm of Bentel & Bentel could be the most famous restaurant designers you’ve never heard of. That may change with their newest creation, Rouge Tomate.

An American designer and his Japanese collaborator prepare to take on the big contract-furniture companies, pretty much all by themselves.

In our winter of discontent, a perfect day in Green Bay can renew hope for a brighter future.