Hasta La Ideas

British designer Tom Dixon‘s interiors outfit Design Research Studio used a 1920s cruise liner as a visual reference for interiors at the Mondrian London hotel, which opens today in the Sea Containers House building (+ slideshow).

Design Research Studio created the interiors for the 359-room hotel, which occupies the south wing of Sea Containers House located between the OXO Tower and Blackfriars bridge on the south bank of the River Thames.

Originally intended as a luxury hotel, the building was designed in the 1970s by American architect Warren Platner and became offices for shipping company Sea Containers, from which it takes its name, before being bought by developers Archlane in 2011.

This maritime history was used as the starting point of the interiors concept for the hotel, which “embodies the elegance of a transatlantic 1920s liner” according to the designers.

A giant copper-clad wall shaped like a ship’s hull curves into the lobby from outside, with a reception desk set into the form.

The rectangular sections of copper are riveted together to create a patchwork across the surface, which is edged with cove lighting above and below.

Also located on the 1,500-square-metre ground floor are a riverside restaurant and a breakfast bar.

A 61-seat screening room for TV and film premiers is decorated with blue walls, carpets and chair upholstery, contrasted with brass handrails and step edging.

“The hotel’s 359 bedrooms will be furnished with custom designed furniture from Design Research Studio featuring rich colour palettes contrasted against standout metallic pieces following the nautical theme,” said a statement from the studio.

Public bathrooms feature porthole-shaped mirrors and other details borrowed from marine engineering.

Users of the Agua spa move through a submarine-like space, which changes gradually from white to black, to a hidden water feature.

Brass elements run throughout the building, edging door frames as they continue to the top of the building, where a bar on the roof is designed to look like the top deck of a cruise liner.

The terrace is surrounded by glass balustrades so the views of London to the north and south are unobstructed.

The post Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio
completes Mondrian Hotel interior appeared first on Dezeen.

I’m not looking forward to winter, because the ex-manufacturing space I moved into last year is brutally cold and drafty. I spent last winter making futile attempts to caulk this and shrink-wrap that, only to achieve zero perceptible gains in thermal efficiency; the space is simply too deteriorated on all six sides for me to determine where I can best make a dent.

What I need is a focused plan, a way of determining where the largest heat leaks are so I can tackle those first. And I think I’ve found my solution in this awesome-looking Seek Thermal Smartphone Infrared Camera.

The tiny, three-inch, half-ounce, $199 device brings something close to military- or industrial-grade thermal imaging to the common man with the common paycheck. (A commercial infrared camera would run you four figures.) You plug it into the bottom of your smartphone and bang, you’ve got an image on your screen that can accurately display a range of temperatures from -40 Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit) up to 330 Celsius (626 Fahrenheit).

Here’s a demo of it in action from Android Police’s David Ruddock, and you can skip the first 30 seconds of pitch-blackness:

The camera comes in both Android- and iPhone-compatible versions. And if you’re wondering about the dongle form factor, that’s Seek’s effort to futureproof it; the developers of the closest competing device, the $349 Flir One, made the poor decision to build their camera into an external case–that only fits an iPhone 5 or 5s.

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Entering into its first decade, the Red Dot Awards: Design Concept has everything to be proud about. The size it’s grown to, the power it exudes, the accomplishments that the winners achieve and the impact of the win are magnanimous. Was I expecting this year to be different – possibly – however I was bracing myself for an evening where winners would sashay the red carpet, break into a victory gig and then collect their well deserved prizes.

Predictably, all of this did happen. The curveball came when the man behind it all – Ken Koo – assigned a videographer to tail me. All of a sudden I was to become this news reporter, scouting for interviews and sensational bytes. Oh well, if anything YD has taught me to be a fast thinker and be always ready for a challenge! Pretty soon the evening was all about getting to know designers and talking shop with them.

We did mange to squeeze in some bits of fun and games, all of which you will see in this exclusive video series that we are in the process of developing for you. Until the series is ready for publication, here is a recap of the Luminary Award Winner and what we found to be the hottest Best of Best designs. The photographs are compiled into a gallery, right at the end of this post … do have a look at them as well!

The Copenhagen Wheel by Superpedestrian Inc. & Senseable City Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Luminary Winner

The Copenhagen Wheel transforms your bicycle into a smart electric hybrid, quickly and easily.

Air Lamp by Zhejiang TiHE Instruments CO.,Ltd

Air Lamp combines desktop lighting and air purification functions into one cylindrical device.

Antenna by Jung Younkyu & Jung Jaekyu

Antenna maximizes intuitive usability by replacing the control buttons for power, frequency adjustment and volume with a ball and a bar.

Bubble Toothbrush by Prof. Sun Lingyun, Cheng Zirui, Jin Qi, Li Zhexin, Li Ziyao, Ma Xuna, Shao Shuai, Yu Yijun

Bubble Toothbrush helps children to master the correct technique for brushing their teeth by blowing bubbles when they brush correctly.

City Firefly by Takeshima Kazuyoshi, Uchima Rosa for TBWA – HAKUHODO

City Firefly is a bicycle chain lock system that instantly turns into wearable safety gear for cyclists.

Eco Monsters by Anastasia Bondarenko

Eco Monsters provides a conceptual approach to addressing the problem of environmental protection as early as infancy.

First Aid Blanket by Prof. Chai Chunlei, Qiu Yiwu, Cheng Zirui, Jin Qi, Li Zhexin, Li Ziyao, Ma Xuna, Shao Shuai, Yu Yijun

First Aid Blanket targets the revival of drowning victims. It is placed at areas where drowning accidents often occur, and guides rescuers in the correct methods for first aid treatment.

RoboWorm by Emami Design

RoboWorm is a search robot with an accordion-like body that replicates the movement of earthworms.

Teapot The Dew by Zhang Hongxin

The formation of the dewdrop is a process of accumulation; it will absorb moisture and grow gradually. The same process occurs during the making of tea with this teapot.

Windflock by Emami Design

Windflock is a wind-energy system based on a modular structure. It is an open and flexible ‘add-on’ system made of mini windmills, and works like a LEGO puzzle.

Yogurt Carton 145° by Prof. Li Yajun, Prof. Wang Zhan, E Mingshun, Huang Yueying, Hu Min, Su Xiaochen, Xu Xuan, Xu Yuan, Wang Yujue, Zhang Yun

Cutting one corner at the top of the carton along a 45° angle, the straw is able access anywhere inside the yoghurt carton.

 

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(The Mother Of Concept Designs – Party Hard with 2014 Red Dot Awards: Design Concept was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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2. Munich Musings and the iF Design Awards 2014
3. Top 20 Red Dot Awards: Product Design – Best of Best Winners for 2014

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