Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Farewell to Florence Knoll Bassett, Sweden's affinity for erotica, how germs communicate and more

Pioneer of Office Design, Florence Knoll Bassett Dies at 101 Anyone familiar with open floor plans, straight lines and simplicity within their office knows the work of Florence Knoll Bassett. The acclaimed architect and designer reimagined corporate workspaces through her system of “total design,” which removed heavier drapes and desks and championed sleek, modern additions. As the design director of Knoll Associates, for more than 20 years, …

China’s Spectacular Molten Metal “Fireworks”

A 500-year-old Lunar New Year ritual in Nuanquan, China (a short span, considering the nation has celebrated the holiday for 3,800 years), Da Shuhua involves Chinese blacksmiths tossing molten iron at an icy door to create a riveting shower of sparks. The name translates to “beating down the tree flowers,” which refers to an agricultural practice that stimulates growth in fruit-bearing plants. It was developed as a …

Sweden’s Affinity for Erotic Audio Books

Some 37% of the Swedish population listened to at least one audio book last year. “‘Feel good’ novels and eroticism” are driving the explosive growth in this category, Anna Riklund (the head of content curation at audiobook streaming service Bookbeat) explained to Swedish broadcaster SVT. In turn, several publishers in the country have launched imprints dedicated solely to new erotic content. Because of the privacy the …