Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
Developed amid British colonisation in the 1940s, Tropical Modernist architecture adapted the simple designs and functional philosophy of Bauhaus for the climate of West Africa. Following decolonisation, the style evolved to become a symbol of a newly free Ghana before being abandoned in the 1960s amid political and economic collapse. This short documentary from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London captures the complicated legacy of Tropical Modernism while looking ahead to the potential for ‘a future African architecture’ that captures the spirit of its people and responds to the changing climate. Featuring images of significant structures born of the movement, and commentary from scholars and other experts, the film frames architecture as both a form of cultural expression and an inevitably political act.
Video by the Victoria and Albert Museum
Directors: Christopher Turner, Bushra Mohamed, Nana Biamah-Ofosu
Producers: Holly Hyams, Justine Sambrook
video
Wellbeing
Born in China, Zee seeks a gender-affirming life in the American Midwest
11 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A whale hunt is an act of prayer for an Inuit community north of the Arctic Circle
8 minutes
video
Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
video
Politics and government
How it looked to Afghan women to see the Taliban return to power
33 minutes
video
Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
13 minutes
video
The ancient world
The six priestesses who kept the flame of ancient Rome alight at risk of death
5 minutes
video
Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes