Emergency on planet Earth

But the Stokholm waterfront is still frozen in time

In her groundbreaking research, Natsai Audrey Chieza employs bacteria as textile workers. ”I think the science– humanities dichotomy is a fallacy”, she says.

During our short existence, humans have crashed nature's party with our immoral behaviour. That is why we are now saying that Earth has entered a new geological epoch: the Anthropocene, or the human era. The question now is: Is the party over?

2016 was a politically tumultuous year. But what made the strongest impression in the world of design and architecture? We sent out three queries to members of the industry. 26 architects, stylists, artisans and journalists responded.

Territorial Agency have created the Anthropocene Observatory and document the oil extraction industry across the planet. Salka Hallström Bornold met the remarkable architect duo in Oslo.

As designer with her own studio and creative director of Swedese, Monica Förster is one of Sweden’s reigning rulers of design. Here, she tells Emilia Engblad about her entire journey, from her childhood in Sápmi, northern Sweden, to the new collaboration with Bosnian carving company Zanat.

Norwegian design studio Bengler conducts a digital guerrilla war from their picturesque office in Oslo. Now they collaborate with the starchitects at OMA.

How do you take a family business into the future? And how do you create an innovative product? The siblings Johan Lindau and Mimi Lindau Rikardson sum up Blå station’s first 30 years in business.

Wood is environmentally friendly, renewable and an inspiration to architects all over the world. Magnus Larsson proclaims a new era: the Lignocene.

The thriving desert cities may get stuck in a permanent heat wave in the future, but Dubai sets its hopes on design and technology. Salka Hallström Bornold traveled to the city’s design fair to take part of 145 student works from 50 schools all over the world, including the Umeå and Aalto universities.

The debate on Spridd’s planned project in Växjö continues. American architect Robert McCarter calls it ”a kind of National Romantic mish-mash”.

The local politicians speak highly about participation. But in the international arena, Gothenburg describes itself as a tax haven. Tor Lindstrand sees a city that aims high but crashes spectacularly.

Urban happiness according to the danish form Cobe

The art gallery of Gustavberg is a true consolation

Design duo Bastion questions society’s given structures from an intersectional perspective. ”It is a quality assurance for the customer,” they say.