Charged: Leo Villareal Interview

The light sculptor on his Burning Man origins and how "The Bay Lights" has changed everything

by Michael Slenske Two decades ago, New York-based light sculptor Leo Villareal attended Burning Man (the annual week-long art event in Black Rock City, Nevada, which culminates around a wooden sculpture of a man set on fire) and the experience changed his life. A few years later Villareal returned to the Nevada desert with a 16-strobe light beacon of his own design, which he fixed …

BASE Bar, Tokyo

A venue interior that tells a long, insightful story—because nothing has ever been taken off the walls

by James Rodrigues BASE Bar’s walls are thick with layers of posters, pictures, license plates and business cards; the ceiling is draped in faded flags. Wu-Tang posters are hung opposite of signed Uruguyan soccer jerseys. This bar’s incredibly storied design has been created organically, simply because the venue’s owner—Matsu-san—has never taken anything down in the 22 years he’s owned the clandestine Tokyo establishment. The design …

Heritage-Paris

Custom bicycles for those who want to ride an objet d'art

by Dora Haller When a navy blue Aston Martin with a cream-caramel interior stopped in front of Heritage-Paris‘ atelier, founder and owner Cyril Saulnier figured the driver must be lost. Turned out it was a new client, wishing to order a bicycle that would match his car. When it was finished, he took the navy blue made-to-order bike (with a cream-caramel saddle) home to hang …