Monocle on Design Japan’s future plazas with Met Team Architects and sculpture as jewellery with Giles Miller
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Feb 10, 2026 
Ángel Estevez-Calbo, Tokyo-based chief architect at Met Team Architects, on a maglev plaza that favors timber joinery, open park space and the Japanese idea of ma. Giles Miller, British sculptor-designer, on shimmering, fractal surfaces, kinetic artworks and scaling sculptural motifs into jewellery. They discuss material honesty, biophilic cues and how design can shape public experience.
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Dulles Mobile Lounges Minimized Passenger Walking
- Washington Dulles' original Saarinen design prioritized passenger comfort by using mobile lounges to minimize walking between terminal and plane.
- The mobile lounges were 30m long, furnished waiting-room vehicles that docked at the terminal and drove passengers directly to aircraft.
Design Clear Wayfinding To Reduce Airport Stress
- Prioritise clear, consistent wayfinding to reduce stress even when distances are long.
- Use directional clarity (visible arrows, turn indicators and level-change signs) so travelers always know where to go.
Grace's Ninth Birthday Stranded At Leipzig Airport
- Grace Charlton recalls being stranded at Leipzig airport for eight hours on her ninth birthday due to snow, turning a flight delay into a memorable childhood ordeal.
- She spent the time with her dad, played with a ball that got stuck in ventilation, and reflected on the disappointment of a lost competition.