Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Turntable Tuesday :: 1%

99% INVISIBLE is, well lets say, very often gratifying and that’s reason enough to listen to anyone for any period of time. It’s name was inspired by Buckminster Fuller - American born architect, designer, futurist (the enchanting list goes on), who said Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable”. 


Paris Windows Surface
SURFIN’ STATE OF MIND IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
This engaging podcasts covers mostly little known or rarely covered architectural stories as Bubble Houses - homes that were made out of inflatable balloons in Virginia, USA in the 1940’s conceived by WALLACE NEFF, “The California Style” architect.


02_Neff_ch2_0061B
VIA 99% INVISIBLE (HUNTINGTON LIBRARY. COURTESY OF JEFFREY HEAD)
Another fine example is Reversal of Fortune; who knew the Chicago river actually flows backwards? It was an epic city design project all to save the city from poo. 


LostPanoramasGuysinCrane_zpsd0fa7ac8
VIA 99% INVISIBLE \ THE LOST PANORAMAS
But it’s the production of the show that communicates all this best. The host Roman Mars  blends music into his stories or perhaps it’s the stories that already have the essence of music and he just amplifies it, whatever the case, it’s magic. 

In the studio: HEL AUDIO - his latest episode noted Utah based electronic & experimental independent label.

99% Invisible is a project developed in cooperation with AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS IN SAN FRANCISCO and KALW LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO.