Michal Matlon
@michalmatlon.bsky.social
Psychologist helping to create architecture good for people.
Before investing billions into projects like The Line, let’s pause and think. Let’s look at what people need, what will truly improve their lives. And only then decide what needs to be innovated.
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ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-...
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ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Before investing billions into projects like The Line, let’s pause and think. Let’s look at what people need, what will truly improve their lives. And only then decide what needs to be innovated.
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ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-...
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ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-...
Workplace Elements I Don't Want to See Again No. 43: Open collaboration areas near workstations.
Do you know what happens when people talk? They make speech sounds. And what is the most distracting sound in an office? Speech.
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Do you know what happens when people talk? They make speech sounds. And what is the most distracting sound in an office? Speech.
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November 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Workplace Elements I Don't Want to See Again No. 43: Open collaboration areas near workstations.
Do you know what happens when people talk? They make speech sounds. And what is the most distracting sound in an office? Speech.
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Do you know what happens when people talk? They make speech sounds. And what is the most distracting sound in an office? Speech.
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One reason I find deep purpose in my work is that I am able to connect two worlds - empathy and evidence. A place that works for the full human being will not be built only on numbers (as they often are), but it also will not come purely from the intuition of its authors (as they often are).
November 13, 2025 at 10:32 AM
One reason I find deep purpose in my work is that I am able to connect two worlds - empathy and evidence. A place that works for the full human being will not be built only on numbers (as they often are), but it also will not come purely from the intuition of its authors (as they often are).
Just as Cleo Valentine's study on how simple repetitive patterns on facades increase stress came out, they finished this building in my hometown. 😅
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Just as Cleo Valentine's study on how simple repetitive patterns on facades increase stress came out, they finished this building in my hometown. 😅
My friend Sarah wrote me this beautiful and heartfelt inscription that speaks deeply to the qualities I'm striving to bring into my work and life. I'm looking forward to reading this classic from Bachelard!
October 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
My friend Sarah wrote me this beautiful and heartfelt inscription that speaks deeply to the qualities I'm striving to bring into my work and life. I'm looking forward to reading this classic from Bachelard!
Maybe we can't all agree what is beauty, but we can at least set out to design buildings that the public, not just the architects, will find beautiful. #architecture #beauty
Who should decide what makes a building beautiful?
Everyone agrees that we need more homes, and fast — and that we want them to look good. But who should be the judge: architects, governments or the general public?
www.ft.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Maybe we can't all agree what is beauty, but we can at least set out to design buildings that the public, not just the architects, will find beautiful. #architecture #beauty