Dwell September/October 2022

Even after years in New York, I’ve never seen anything like it. The rental market in the city has long been a brutal and defeating arena, but the fallout from extreme home prices, rising interest rates, and landlords recouping revenue lost to Covid deals has led to a singularly dispiriting period of life-upending rent increases and bidding wars for the few apartments available. Other less notoriously expensive cities—and whole regions—are feeling a similar squeeze. And it has affected people across economic divides, including the designers out there who rely on studio space, access to marketplaces, and creative communities to produce their work. As we put together this year’s Dwell 24, our annual survey of the best emerging designers around the world (p. 29), a sense of anxiety about where we…

Utkarsha Laharia Utkarsha Laharia noted that her subjects’ journeys were all so different. “All the designers that I interviewed did not start as designers at all,” says Laharia. “Their education and background are in such varied fields,” which is something that Laharia knows well. After becoming an architect in India, she studied architecture journalism in the U.S. to become, as she puts it, an architect who writes as well as a journalist who designs. Ilya Shrayber Ilya Shrayber, a San Francisco–based writer and Dwell editorial fellow, fell in love with print media in college, doing deep dives into music, architecture, downtown culture, and technology for the California Aggie. For this issue, Shrayber delved into his subjects’ creative processes. “There’s nothing quite like watching a designer’s face light up when they’re…

“Now that’s just a little slice of perfection. That sandstone is sublime.”—Bobby Vilas, Dwell.com Re: “Tropical Storm: Hawaii is drowning in a flood of the same factors creating a housing crisis all over America. Will the state become a model for finding a way out—or a cautionary tale?” July/August It would be amazing if strong leadership could actually break ground for desperately needed housing, but it will take an enormous amount of education to overcome the local skepticism. CHRISTA VIA DWELL.COM Re: “An Idea With Legs: Inspired by an errant arachnid, a designer couple weave contemporary elements into a traditional Kyoto townhouse,” July/August Gorgeous story, gorgeous family, gorgeous design. This whole thing has feel-good vibes all around. Gotta say I’m feeling slightly jealous! @IDEMOLISHRAMEN VIA INSTAGRAM Re: “The Cube One…

My grandparents had caning as a wall treatment in a guest room, and I fell in love. @gimmemynikkers Expensive and not very sturdy when exposed. Rarely worth the money. Sold my Cescas. @planteidyll The texture and rhythm are gorgeous (unless made with virgin plastic). @prettysharppencil Gets dusty. @noshsense It reminds me of my childhood dinners with family. @kt.june It’s too often used in generic contemporary designs to evoke a sense of “craftiness” without really engaging with technique or tradition or saying anything new. Jack Balderrama Morley, Managing Editor Grandpa used to cane our chairs. It’s an art. @gminger It’s too fragile. @mindypinz It’s comfortable and tropical and adds texture. Suzanne LaGasa, Creative Director It’s a reminder of artisans and ancestors. Love it! @day.to.day.sara Reminds me of Grandma. And plastic on…

“When honest materials and the construction process result in gorgeous texture, it’s a beautiful thing.”DUNCAN NIELSEN, NEWS EDITOR Designed by Mexico City practice Estudio MMX for a family with three kids and two live-in grandparents, this home is all about maintaining intimacy while also offering separation. It wraps around a central patio and includes large windows and terraces that give the interior spaces more sunlight and outdoor access without compromising privacy. Its corrugated, red cast-concrete facade “came to mind after a visit to Portugal,” says Estudio MMX cofounder Diego Ricalde. “Looking closely, you’ll find two different scales of the ribbed texture on the concrete, marked from plywood scaffolding.” The walls in the grandparents’ area have a slightly different texture than those in the rest of the house. “Each familial part…

“There’s something refreshing about a curved shelf because it ensures a specific kind of safety. If you bump into it in the night on the way to the bathroom, you probably won’t break a toe.”MEGAN REYNOLDS, SENIOR HOME GUIDE EDITOR Tucked into a seven-story residential complex in Riga, Latvia, known locally for its distinct oblong shape, this apartment is decked out with fun colors, vibrant patterns, and unusual forms. “The geometry is inspired by pairing new and old, as seen in the diversity of floor coverings and how they piece together,” says Open AD lead architect Zane Tetere-Šulce. The firm reconfigured the unit’s floor plan to include three bedrooms and an office, a playroom, a walk-in closet, and an open living room/kitchen. A lofted play area with ovular portholes sits…