When asked to build housing for 100 families in Chile ten years ago, Alejandro Aravena looked to an unusual inspiration: the wisdom of favelas and slums. Rather than building a large building with small units, he built flexible half-homes that each family could expand on. It was a complex problem, but with a simple solution — one that he arrived at by working with the families themselves. With a chalkboard and beautiful images of his designs, Aravena walks us through three projects where clever rethinking led to beautiful design with great benefit.

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but think about it: if you pack on 2 pounds annually...

With a chalkboard and beautiful images of his designs, Aravena walks us through three projects where clever rethinking led to beautiful design with great benefit. Rather than building a large building with small units, he built flexible half-homes that each family could expand on.

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but think about it: if you pack on 2 pounds annually on fattening holiday foods, then you’ll be up 10 pounds by year five.

Cocoa is rich in flavonols, bitter antioxidant compounds that have been shown to be good for the heart. Dark chocolate has been linked to lowering blood pressure, which helps protect against heart disease, says Augusto Di Castelnuovo, PhD, in the department.

Conditions were not ideal for Peter Siebold, a test pilot flying on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two, to survive.

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but think about it: if you pack on 2 pounds annually on fattening holiday foods, then you’ll be up 10 pounds by year five.

Everyone knows olive oil is great for your health and a staple of the Mediterranean diet.

Cocoa is rich in flavonols, bitter antioxidant compounds that have been shown to be good for the heart. Dark chocolate has been linked to lowering blood pressure, which helps protect against heart disease, says Augusto Di Castelnuovo, PhD, in the department.

Conditions were not ideal for Peter Siebold, a test pilot flying on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two, to survive.

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but think about it: if you pack on 2 pounds annually on fattening holiday foods, then you’ll be up 10 pounds by year five.

Cocoa is rich in flavonols, bitter antioxidant compounds that have been shown to be good for the heart. Dark chocolate has been linked to lowering blood pressure, which helps protect against heart disease, says Augusto Di Castelnuovo, PhD, in the department.

Conditions were not ideal for Peter Siebold, a test pilot flying on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two, to survive.

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but think about it: if you pack on 2 pounds annually on fattening holiday foods, then you’ll be up 10 pounds by year five.

Everyone knows olive oil is great for your health and a staple of the Mediterranean diet.

Cocoa is rich in flavonols, bitter antioxidant compounds that have been shown to be good for the heart. Dark chocolate has been linked to lowering blood pressure, which helps protect against heart disease, says Augusto Di Castelnuovo, PhD, in the department.

Conditions were not ideal for Peter Siebold, a test pilot flying on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two, to survive.