Snøhetta’s New “Peace Bench” at the United Nations

Officially named The Best Weapon, a “peace bench” installation designed by Snøhetta will take up a temporary position outside the UN Headquarters in NYC starting this Nelson Mandela Day (18 July). Fabricated with the assistance of Hydro and Vestre, the six-and-a-half meter-long arc (or smile) is composed of anodized aluminum. After NYC, the bench will move to its permanent location in Oslo—closer to its commissioning …

Norwegian Island Wishes to Eradicate Time

On the island of Sommaroey, which doesn’t see a sunset for 69 straight days each year, residents are lobbying for a “time-free” period in which no one abides by the ticking of the clock. Traditional business hours would be pushed aside and bedtimes would occur naturally in an effort to allow citizens to enjoy the sunny months—as their situation is inverted from November to January …

3D Light Projecting the Buddha in Bamiyan, Afghanistan

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in danger, the Buddha complex and surrounding cliffs and valleys in Bamiyan, Afghanistan survived 1,500 years before the Taliban blasted away the two giant statues in 2001. Today, many archaeologists oppose restoration for fear of future Taliban action and concerns that the damage is already far too great. While the focus turns to conservation and stabilization, Chinese family Janson Hu …