i + D - September/October 2020 - 14

Mixed
Media

© Designing History:
The Extraordinary Art
& Style of the Obama
White House by Michael
S. Smith with Margaret
Russell, Foreword by
Michelle Obama, Rizzoli
New York, 2020.

PRESIDENTIAL STYLE

ADFF GOES VIRTUAL

Perhaps not since Jacqueline Kennedy's
historic update to the White House
did the interior design of the symbolic
residence receive as much attention as
when designer Michael S. Smith was
commissioned by President Barack
Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
Now, a new book from Rizzoli details
that collaboration through extensive
photography, behind-the-scenes stories,
and rich archival material.

Like many events this year, the Architecture & Design Film
Festival is going virtual this fall, allowing for A&D enthusiasts
across the United States and Canada to experience the films
from their own homes. From November 19 through December 3,
ADFF will present a curated selection of uplifting films
that tell stories of humanity and design. As the in-person events
have previously done, the two-week event also will include
introductions by special guests and Q&As with directors.

The tome places the Obama White
House within the context of the
building's past and evolution, as it
chronicles Smith's process for updating
the presidential home, revealing how the
revamped interiors reflected the youthful
spirit of the first family and their
vision for a more progressive, inclusive
American society.

Included in this year's lineup is Charlotte Perriand, Pioneer in
the Art of Living. Directed by Stéphane Ghez, the film looks at
the life of the free-spirited and politically engaged designer and
architect whose work contributed to the invention of modern
dwellings that were in harmony with their inhabitants and the
environment. Also on the schedule is Hollywood's Architect: The
Paul R. Williams Story. Directed by Royal Kennedy Rodgers, the
film highlights the life of the African American architect who was
orphaned at age 4 and grew up to earn the nickname "Architect
to the Stars," designing homes for the likes of Frank Sinatra,
Cary Grant, and Barbara Stanwyck, to name just a few.
The fall program is being presented by Eventscape. For more
information and the full schedule, visit adfilmfest.com.

1.

CROSSING
BOUNDARIES
New from ORO Editions is Live
Learn Eat, a book from architect
Anthony Poon and editor/author
Michael Webb. The book explores
the architect's vibrant work,
including attainable houses, learning
environments, and hospitality
projects, and it looks at how Poon's
passion for music inspires his work.
It uses Poon's designs to illustrate
how smart design can enrich the
human experiences of living, learning,
and eating, and how a strong
creative vision can positively impact
every sector of design and all who
experience it.

1 & 2.
Charlotte Perriand,
Pioneer in the Art
of Living directed
by Stéphane Ghez.

2.
© Live Learn Eat,
Architecture by
Anthony Poon, edited
by Michael Webb,
ORO Editions, 2020.

The monograph tracks Poon's
process from concept sketch to
model to completed project,
highlighting his consistent efforts
to make sustainability, quality,
and innovation in design
synonymous with affordability.

14

i+D - September/October 2020
http://www.lmfest.com
i + D - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i + D - September/October 2020
