Google Encrypts Gmail

Astronaut Chris Hadfield at TED, Casey Neistat surfs in J. Crew, the origins of Matthew Dear and more in our weekly look at the web

If you look closely at the URL while accessing your Gmail account, you’ll now notice an “S” after the HTTP. To help deter the NSA from intercepting email messages as they move between data centers and servers, Google recently made all Gmail connections more secure with HTTPS encryption. While it certainly won’t stop surveillance attempts entirely, it will slow it down by adding an extra …

Extreme Makeover: Landmark Edition

First kisses, net neutrality, Bill Cunningham and more in our weekly look at the web

The head-to-toe $27 million restoration of the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank headquarters in Brooklyn (built in 1875) was footed by a developer who plans to open a hotel next door. Birdcage elevators, stained-glass skylights, a great dome, hand-cut mosaic floors and even replica doorknob and hinges with the “WSB” logo are some of the beautiful features of the restored building, which will now function as …

Sou Fujimoto’s White Tree

First kisses, net neutrality, Bill Cunningham and more in our weekly look at the web

Set to dominate Montpellier, France’s skyline, Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto’s latest design has been aptly dubbed the “White Tree” (or “Arbre Blanc” in French). The 17-story mixed-use building will feature residential, commercial and office space as well as an art gallery. Structurally, the building resembles a tree with each unit representing a branch and its balcony acting as a leaf. Aesthetically, the building draws equally …