In this video industrial designer Eric Strebel continues along the prop vein from last week. This time he shows you how he hacks up an LED-illuminated skull cane, and reveals a nifty (and cheap) trick for how you can tint polyester body filler to a dark grey:
In January, we took a trip to Vegas to attend and exhibit at CES. Here’s a taste of what we saw, from tricked out cars to personal robots.
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More CES Coverage:
4 Trends Designers Should Actually Care About From CES
Companion Robots Seen at CES: Some Useful, Some Scary, All Off-Putting
Whether you believe Valentine’s Day is a holiday created to sell greeting cards, or that it’s crucial to expressing your adoration for those around you, every year on the 14th of February things go a little heart-shaped. We at CH are firm believers……
Continue Reading…
Tom Dixon’s Delaktig bed has launched at IKEA stores, alongside a furry fabric cover and a collection of modular elements that allow users to customise and “hack” the furniture.
Branded by Dixon as a “living platform”, the modular bed was first announced last year – but is being rolled-out across Europe stores from today, 1 February 2018.
Designed to adapt according to different uses, it comes with a series of add-ons that change the furniture’s purpose.
Labelled as “hacks”, these add-ons follow in the footsteps of the popular IKEA trend that sees buyers revamp the affordable furniture to suit their own styles and specifications.
But Dixon called the Delaktig bed the first “authorised hack” of an IKEA product during an interview with Dezeen at Milan design week last year.
“So, this is the plan – you can go to IKEA and you can buy yourself a bed. It’s an affordable bed. If you want, you can add components to make it into a sofa. Once you’ve got this bed sofa you can add on our hacks, other people’s hacks, or you can hack it yourself,” he said.
When plans for the bed were first unveiled last year, IKEA and Dixon said it would come with a variety of additions, allowing it to be modified to fit different functions throughout its lifetime – but didn’t go into detail about what these would be.
Now available for purchase, the pair has revealed these hacks to include heavy-weight task lamps, coffee and side tables, magazine racks, and soft furnishings.
“The general idea is that, just like with your iPhone, people can build apps around this sofa which will allow them to adapt it for a longer life,” Dixon told Dezeen at Milan design week 2017.
“The success of this will be if, in 30 or 40 years people have changed its functionality, it’s still survived rather than just being discarded,” he added.
Made from extruded raw aluminium, both the frame and the hacks are said to be “robust enough to last a lifetime”.
A series of grooves running down the structure allows users to clamp, slot or bolt the hacks onto the sofa to change it into a space suitable for work, entertainment, or sleep.
These grooves enable the Delaktig to be transformed from a single bed into a chaise longue or a three-seater sofa – but it also has the potential to become a twin bed, a bunk bed, or a four-poster bed.
Extra accessories, such as the Boom Light floor lamp and an attachable side table, can then be used to further expand its functions.
Other hacks include a magazine rack, which also doubles up as an attachable side or back panel.
IKEA and Dixon also worked with Swedish textile design company Bemz to create three luxury soft upholsteries, including a shower-proof striped sofa cover, an electric blue boucle throw, and an Icelandic sheepskin cover known as “The Beast”.
As well as capitalising on the trend for hackable IKEA furniture, this type of modular product is in keeping with IKEA’s move towards more sustainable production, which recently saw it create a chair using reclaimed wood chips and recycled plastic.
The post IKEA and Tom Dixon launch modular bed with collection of “authorised hacks” appeared first on Dezeen.
The final wave of regeneration at brutalist Park Hill estate will see 350 student homes, designed by British practice Whittam Cox Architects, built within the iconic concrete framework of the social housing complex in Sheffield, England.
Urban Splash, the developer overseeing the renovation of the Grade II*-listed estate, has brought Whittam Cox Architects and student housing developer Alumno on board to complete the final stage of the scheme.
The architects, which has offices locally in Chesterfield as well as Leeds and London, will create a 350-capacity student halls of residence within the estate’s southern block.
The fully-serviced apartments will be joined by a common room, study centre and shops. Students will also have access to an on-site laundry room, cinema, gym, and garden.
Rooms are expected to be arranged in a “townhouse” model, with pods of four or eight sharing a living space.
“We’re definitely not targeting the luxury end, the key focus for us is about community and place,” said Alumno managing director, David Campbell.
“Our Park Hill development will offer a spectrum of rents and a blended offer, with options for most students on various budgets.”
The project is intended to increase student housing provision in the east of the city, with the majority of students currently living in the west.
There is currently no university affiliated with the proposed scheme.
“Park Hill is captivating and infectious; its original design has timeless value and integrity architecturally,” said Whittam Cox Architects’ director Nick Riley.
“Our responsibility is to interpret what is there and create a design response, which ensures a long-term future for both the fabric of this historically important asset, whilst also seeking to promote a sustainable and diverse community.”
The plan follow two prior regeneration phases at the estate known for its “streets in the sky” layout – a common feature of post-war housing.
Phase one, which was completed by architects HawkinsBrown and urban designers Studio Egret West in 2013, involved creating 260 homes, 10 workspaces, and a nursery within the derelict concrete structure.
Urban Splash received planning permission for the second phase of the scheme in December 2017, which is to include a further 200 homes, as well as workspace and landscaping devised by architecture practice Mikhail Riches.
Concerns have been raised by local residents about the lack of social housing provision in this second phase of the regeneration, as all the homes are expected to be sold at market value.
As 40 per cent of the 260 homes in phase one were deemed affordable according to government regulations, phases one and two combined offer a 30 per cent social housing provision.
Carmody Groarke is also overseeing the conversion of a 7,200-square-metre block into live/work artists’ studios and a purpose-built gallery.
“We always intended to create a mixed community at Park Hill. With the first phase complete and fully occupied, we now have hundreds of people from mixed backgrounds and all ages living and working at Park Hill,” said Mark Latham, regeneration director at Urban Splash.
“We look forward to students being a significant and positive part of that community.”
A public consultation event for the latest plans will take place at the Urban Splash sales office in Sheffield between 1.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday 8 February 2018.
A planning application for the project is expected to be submitted following the event in spring 2018, with the building due to be ready for occupation for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Phases two and three are expected to be delivered concurrently.
Architects Ivor Smith and Jack Lynn designed the 1,000-home Park Hill estate for Sheffield City Council as part of slum clearance in the city following the second world war.
It opened in 1961 to great success, but by 1980 its reputation had been tainted by crime, antisocial behaviour and poverty. In 1997, a change in fate saw the complex awarded listed status by English Heritage and its redevelopment by Urban Splash began.
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We’re thrilled to announce that we now have over 750,000 followers on our Pinterest page, where we post all of the best images from Dezeen.
To celebrate this huge milestone, Bristol-based illustrator Øivind Hovland created this illustration for us.
Follow us on Pinterest for more of the latest updates, or alternatively find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Line.
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Since the 52nd Super Bowl is taking place this weekend at a new stadium in Minneapolis, here’s a look at some of the other giant venues that have previously hosted, or will host, the NFL’s annual American football championship final.
US Bank Stadium by HKS, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Super Bowl LII
This year’s Super Bowl will be held at the new home of the Minnesota Vikings, recently completed by international firm HKS, which is behind several stadiums on this list.
The Philadelphia Eagles will play the New England Patriots on 4 February 2018 at the 66,200-seat venue in Minneapolis, which features angular protrusions, zinc cladding and a roof partly made of plastic film.
Find out more about US Bank Stadium ›
Mercedes-Benz Stadium by HOK, Atlanta, Georgia
Super Bowl LIII
Looking ahead to next year, America’s most-watched sporting event will take place at another new stadium: HOK‘s for the Atlanta Falcons, which features a roof of ETFE plastic “petals” that retract like a camera aperture.
Opened in August 2017, the stadium was built to replace the Georgia Dome, which occupied a site next door before it was demolished in November 2017. The new structure has an exterior made up of giant triangular panels that overlap to surround seating for 71,000 spectators inside.
Find out more about Mercedes-Benz Stadium ›
Georgia Dome by Scott W Braley, Atlanta, Georgia
Super Bowls XXVIII and XXXIV
Brought down after 25 years in just 12 seconds, using 240 tonnes of explosives, the Georgia Dome met its fate at the end of last year during a controlled demolition.
Despite hosting two Super Bowls and undergoing extensive renovations, the stadium’s distinguishable fabric top proved problematic in inclement weather, so its replacement was designed with a retractable roof.
AT&T Stadium by HKS, Arlington, Texas
Super Bowl XLV
The AT&T Stadium, previously known as the Cowboys Stadium, played host to the Super Bowl two years after it completed in 2009.
The building’s curved roof is supported by two giant trusses that span end to end, and has operable panels that allow the pitch to be opened to the elements.
MetLife Stadium by HOK, Bruce Mau and Rockwell Group, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Super Bowl XLVIII
Located in easy reach of New York City, this giant open-air venue can hold up to 82,500 people watching New York Giants and the New York Jets play their home games.
HOK worked with designers Bruce Mau and Rockwell Group to create a variety entertainment spaces throughout the complex, which was completed in 2010 and hosted the Super Bowl in 2014.
University of Phoenix Stadium by Peter Eisenman and Populous, Glendale, Arizona
Super Bowls XLII and XLIX
Architect Peter Eisenman‘s first foray into stadium design resulted in this metal-wrapped venue in Arizona, which boats the world’s first fully retractable playing field.
Working with stadium specialist Populous, Eisenman chose a set of huge curved panels to enclose the seating and playing field, which shimmer in the desert sun.
Lucas Oil Stadium by HKS, Indianapolis, Indiana
Super Bowl XLVI
This stadium in Downtown Indianapolis looks more like an oversized factory building that a sports venue, but the Colts have been playing there since it replaced the RCA Dome in 2008.
Its pitched roof slides down sloped tracks, supported by large metal trusses on either side, while external walls are clad in terracotta-coloured panels that add to the industrial aesthetic.
Memorial Coliseum by John and Donald Parkinson, Los Angeles, California
Super Bowls I and VII
Back in 1967, the pastel-toned Memorial Coliseum was the first stadium to host the Super Bowl, and did the honours again for the seventh edition.
Located in LA’s University Park, the venue opened in 1923 and has also been used for two Olympic games, with plans for its participation when the city welcomes its third in 2028.
Superdome by Nathaniel C Curtis, New Orleans, Louisiana
Super Bowls XII, XV, XX, XXIV, XXXI, XXXVI, XLVII
New Orleans’ Superdome has thrown more Super Bowls than any other stadium, notching up seven championship games so far.
Nathaniel C Curtis’ 1975 stadium was also thrust into the spotlight in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as thousands made homeless by the storm took shelter under its white domed roof. The building itself suffered major damage during Katrina, and underwent refurbishment before reopening the following year.
SDCCU Stadium by Gary Allen, San Diego, California
Super Bowls XXII, XXXII, XXXVII
Recently renamed from Qualcomm Stadium after rights expired, the roofless SDCCU Stadium takes advantage of San Diego’s fair weather.
The three-time Super Bowl host venue, completed in 1967, takes the form of a continuous bowl of seating, supported by large concrete column and rings.
Levi’s Stadium by HNTB, Santa Clara, California
Super Bowl L
Also without a roof, the home of the San Francisco 49ers since 2014 is dominated by the team’s bright red across its 68,500 seats – two-thirds of which are located in the lower bowl, one of the largest of any NFL stadium.
The venue is also expandable to accommodate 75,000 for events like the Super Bowl, which it hosted in 2016.
Sun Devil Stadium by Edward L Varney, Tempe, Arizona
Super Bowl XXX
Modernist architect Edward L Varney, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and worked in the Phoenix metropolitan area during the mid-20th century, was behind this venue for the Arizona State University campus.
His stadium has changed size multiple times since it was completed in 1958, and is currently undergoing a $256 million renovation that is scheduled to be ready for the 2018 season.
Hard Rock Stadium by Populous, Miami, Florida
Super Bowls XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII, XLI, LIV
The Miami Dolphins play at this five-time Super Bowl host stadium, which had a vast flat roof added over its stands during upgrades in 2015.
The building’s other architectural features include pairs of spiral walkways that connect its various levels at each corner, and huge white spikes that carry the tensile cables holding up the canopy.
Raymond James Stadium by Wagner Murray Architects and Populous, Tampa, Florida
Super Bowls XXXV, XLIII, LV
With two Super Bowls under its belt and scheduled to host another in three year’s time, this open-air stadium is nicknamed Ray Jay and home to the Tampa Buccaneers.
Most notably, it includes a 103-foot (31-metre) replica pirate ship made from steel and concrete, which fires fake cannons each time the Bucs score.
Los Angeles Stadium by HKS, Los Angeles, California
Super Bowl LVI
HKS’s new stadium and entertainment complex for LA is still under construction, but the venue has already been awarded the 56th Super Bowl, to take place in 2022.
Located in Inglewood, just east of LAX airport, the structure will feature a giant sculptural roof made of perforated metal and transparent plastic film.
Find out more about Los Angeles Stadium ›
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Philips has installed a system of LED lights in an office in Prague that are designed to support workers’ circadian rhythms throughout the day.
The lights, installed in the refurbished Czech Republic headquarters of energy company Innogy, could provide the same energy hit as drinking a cup of coffee, claim the designers.
“We’ve taken our knowledge of how light physiologically benefits people from successful projects in hospitals and schools and applied it to the offices space,” said Jiří Tourek, country manager at Philips Lighting.
“We know that exposure to a certain comfortable bright light setting for one-hour can provide a mild energy stimulus similar to a cup of coffee and supports wakefulness.”
Along with light intensity, which is measured in lux, energy levels can also be affected by the colour temperature, which is measured in kelvins.
According to Philips, exposing the human body to light settings of 5,000 kelvins at 780 lux for between one and four hours has been shown to increase alertness.
Based on this research, brightness and colour warmth levels have been programmed to change at set points throughout the day to increase office workers’ energy at key times.
“At the beginning of the day the office lights mimic natural daylight, providing a useful energy boost,” said Tomáš Michna, senior manager for facilities and services at Innogy.
“The light levels decrease until after lunch when we give another boost to help staff over the post-lunch energy dip.”
Workers can override the light settings depending on their needs, and the system can also be set to perform a specific task by using wall-mounted touchpad controls. These can also be used to raise or lower the window blinds.
The new lights are part of a complete renovation of the company’s 10,000-square-metre headquarters in the Limuzská district of Prague.
A new open plan office design and the adaptable lights were part of an overall plan to “enhance the comfort, wellbeing and productivity” of the 550 employees who work across the three buildings.
The office redesign replaced fluorescent tube lighting with 2,000 LED lights, blinds and control systems, as well as adding a new restaurant serving healthy food and “creativity spaces” for workers.
Also installed were 150 sensors that can detect human presence and automatically turn the lights off should a room become empty.
Combined with the use of energy efficient LEDs, the designers estimate this new system will use 50 per cent less electricity for lighting than the previous fluorescent lights.
On a more public scale, Philips has also started testing the effects lighting can have on the mood of a crowd.
In collaboration with the Intelligent Lighting Institute at Technical University Eindhoven, the lighting designers are currently investigating ways of improving public safety outside the clubs and pubs of the Netherlands longest nightlife street.
Sensors and cameras on the street combined with real time data gleaned from weather reports, social media activity and visitor numbers help build a picture of when the mood might turn ugly. LED lights fitted to lamp posts can then change colour to calm the crowd, and change angles or go brighter to encourage “peer monitoring”.
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I’m often asked how long it will take to complete an organizing task: organizing a garage, a kitchen, a closet, an office, etc. As with almost everything related to organizing, the only honest answer I can provide is, “It depends.” And it depends on a number of factors.
How much stuff is currently in the spaces you want to organize?
Rooms of the same size and same basic purpose may hold drastically different amounts of stuff. Drawers can be stuffed to the brim or only half full. Garages may have been unable to accommodate a car or truck for years or may have plenty of room for vehicles.
What kinds of things are in the spaces?
Papers take a long time to go through, because each paper must be reviewed, and each paper takes very little space. You’re making a decision about each paper the same way you’d make a decision about a shovel, a toaster, or a couch — but you won’t see results as quickly.
Also, sentimental items take a longer time to unclutter because of the emotions involved.
What kind of decision maker are you?
Some people make decisions quickly: Keep that, toss that, donate that. Other people need more time to make their decisions. Someone might want to tell me the story behind an object before deciding on its fate, and that’s perfectly normal and understandable.
How long can you reasonably work at an organizing task?
When organizing, you want to avoid both physical and emotional fatigue. Uncluttering involves making one decision after another, and you want to avoid decision fatigue — because that’s when you’re likely to make decisions you may regret later. If you find yourself dreading one more “keep or not” choice or your body is getting uncomfortable, take a break or just decide you’ve done enough for the day.
How many people need to be involved in the decisions?
If you live alone and can make all the uncluttering and organizing decisions, things are likely to go more quickly than if multiple people need to agree on the decisions — especially if the people involved have different organizing styles and will need to reach compromises.
What do you want your final organized space to look like?
A number of your organizing choices will affect the time required. For example:
If you’re organizing a new kitchen, do you want to put down shelf liner first? If so, it will take longer than if you decide you don’t need shelf liner.
Do you want all your books organized in a very specific order? If so, that will take longer than if you just want them in general categories.
How do you want to dispose of unwanted items?
The organizing project isn’t really done until the items you aren’t keeping are no longer in your space. If you want to sell them, that’s likely to take longer than if you choose to donate them. But very specific donation goals can take time, too. I know people who have kept things around for months because they wanted to donate them to a specific charity’s once-a-year garage sale.
Unless you need to clear out a space quickly, I’d generally advise working at whatever speed feels most comfortable to you. Once you’ve begun the process, and see how much time it’s taking you to do parts of it, you’ll have a decent idea how long it might take to do the rest.
Post written by Jeri Dansky
Scroll below and you’ll see a product, and then just pictures of people enjoying themselves. What’s happening?! You’ll ask… Well, look a little closer and you’ll see that everybody in those pictures has a tiny blö attached to them. It’s small (perhaps the size of an asthma inhaler) and virtually unnoticeable on your person, but it does something no wearable does.
The blö is the world’s first and smallest wearable cooling device. It draws air from the honeycomb-patterned outlet on the top, passing it over peppermint essential oils, and pushes the air out the bottom, allowing your skin to feel cool and stay comfortable. Its design easily lets it be worn over gym clothes, or even your regular apparel, keeping you on top of the weather even when it’s sweltering outside. The blö can be plugged near your chest, upper back, or even lower back to ensure you don’t have those sweaty patches, while making sure the heat never gets to you.
Leveraging the power of essential oils and aromatherapy, the blö may seem like a seasonal device, but it’s quite the opposite. In the monsoons or the winters, switch the peppermint for lemongrass or citronella and you’ve got a device that repels mosquitos! The blö can run for 4-8 hours, depending on the speed, and charges within an hour and a half, via MicroUSB. Pretty ‘cool’, isn’t it?
Designer: Robert Lupi
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
