Thought Portal

AD joins architect Masato Igarashi of IGArchitects to see how he makes the most of his small Tokyo home. Tokyo has the highest population concentration in all of Japan, so large plots of land have been divided into two or three across the city, making tiny living the reality for many residents. While his home is technically only two floors, Igarashi fits an impressive seven staggered levels into the home with no walls, creating an open space where the seventh floor feels like the same room as the first.

Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD in New York for a walking tour of the city’s mansions. From the early colonial abodes of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to the grandeur of the Gilded Age, and 20th century brutalist design, Michael walks you through 200 years worth of homes belonging to wealthy New Yorkers past and present.

AD travels to Connecticut to tour Tirranna, one of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s final designs. Considered one of the greatest architects of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright produced over 1000 designs in a career spanning 70 years, revolutionizing architecture in the United States. A pioneer of organic architecture, Wright believed any building should exist in harmony with its inhabitants and surroundings–a concept that runs through the veins of Tirranna. Join Stuart Graff, president and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, as he walks you through one of the final designs of Wright’s career.

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed by Ray and Anna Romano to tour their serene desert home in La Quinta, California. The ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ star and his wife worked with AD100 powerhouse Nate Berkus to design a beautiful and comfortable home, perfect for hosting their expanding family as two of their four children prepare to get married. Moving away from the mid-century Americana styles you’d typically find around Palm Springs, Berkus took inspiration from Italian country homes, creating a more muted space with all the charm of the Italian countryside. Before letting Berkus and Anna take the reigns on design, Ray only had a few specific requests for his new desert oasis. “I wanted some kind of cozy feel to it. That’s all. I was very vague,” he says. “And I fell in love with a bunk bed room that we saw at the Ritz-Carlton in Sundance that my kids stayed in. And I said, ‘I want a room like that.’”

From the epic halls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim, New York City is home to some of the most famous museums in the world, each one looking completely different from the next. Today Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects returns to AD for an in-depth look at how the iconic museums and art galleries of NYC developed their unique designs and became some of the city’s best landmarks.

Today Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD for an in-depth look at how bridges transformed New York City into the thriving metropolis we know today. Once upon a time, ferries were the only way to travel between New York’s five boroughs but thanks to the construction of major bridges, like The Brooklyn Bridge and The George Washington Bridge, the city became connected. Join Michael for a closer look at how five bridges helped shape NYC into the bustling city we know today.

my favorite comment on this video:

@smacdonald777 In a country obsessed with productivity, I am deeply moved to see they created a sanctuary for storytelling, contemplation, magic, resting and napping, honoring those who came before them, future visioning, animism and renaissance. They give me hope and faith in a deeply beautiful expression of humanity. Also, honoring and loving the imperfect. Just wow.

an insightful walking tour of the Upper East Side with architect Nicholas Potts. From Central Park and The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Duke Mansion and the Art Deco Carlyle Hotel, come along with Nick as he explores the wealth of history and architectural details waiting to be rediscovered.

architect Nick Potts in New York City for a walking tour of the Upper West Side. At the turn of the century, apartment hotels such as The Dakota and The San Remo started populating the Upper West Side. Servants' quarters, elevators, and the realization of views were making apartment living more appealing to the upper middle classes and increasing the value of the top floors. Join Nick for an in-depth look at how the Upper West Side revolutionized apartment living and became the birthplace of the penthouse in Manhattan.

Today AD welcomes back architect Valery Augustin for a walking tour of Downtown Los Angeles, exploring its diverse architectural design. From Spanish Colonial and 1930s art deco to postmodern deconstructivism, Downtown Los Angeles has become a playground for design, boasting a wide variety of architectural styles spanning centuries–discover the history of this diverse district through Valéry Augustin’s expert eye.

Today AD is welcomed by Troian Bellisario and Patrick J. Adams for a tour of their 1924 Spanish Colonial Revival home in Los Angeles. Designed by one of the lions of the golden age of California architecture, Wallace Neff, its white stucco exterior, colorfully tiled main staircase, and wrought-iron details are all calling cards of his numerous Spanish-influenced homes.

Architectural Digest on the house in Beetlejuice