Keepin' Cool

It's 100 degrees Fahrenheit out there and, while bowing down before the summer gods called Friedrich and Carrier, we decided that our June issue should supply its own brand of cool. We call it organic eclecticism, a refreshing mix with no fluorocarbons needed. Just look at the cover! Takashi Sugimoto, aka Super Potato, used a lot of old clock parts to construct that screen, and others at the same restaurant are built from paper pinwheels, empty soda bottles, or antique tools. You'd never guess that this guy spends most of his time designing hotels for Hyatt. But he's not the only one blending textbook intercontinental design and genuinely local needs and crafts, flawlessly. It's happening everywhere from the desert of San Miguel to the streets near the Forbidden City.

Yes, my friends, it's all about energy. Speaking of which, Chicago had plenty during NeoCon '08—I'm just back. For videos of me in action at the Mart, click on our Web site's "TV" link. And stay cool.