Wake up to the smell of the seaside!

There’s something about scent that’s more efficient at waking someone up than anything else. Having the sun shining in your eye or an alarm clock ringing can jolt you into wakefulness but you’re still bound to be groggy. Smell a nice hot cup of coffee or the ocean breeze and your body and your mind both wake up at the same time!

The Sensorwake employs light, sound, and aroma to wake you in under 2 minutes. Using proprietary aroma cartridges that last for over a month, the Sensorwake can get you out of bed by wafting fragrances in the room. Aside from the regular espresso coffee, the Sensorwake even comes with aromas like Apple-Cinnamon, Peppermint, Fresh Cut Grass, the Seaside and more. Simply slide the cartridge in and set your alarm timer and the Sensorwake gently blinks a light while playing soothing music along with filling the room with fragrances that immediately get you out of bed… although with fragrances like chocolate or espresso, you’re going to wake up with quite the appetite!

Designer: Guillaume Rolland

Click Here to Buy Now

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A Self-Deploying Umbrella For Your Car

This sounds like a Steven M. Johnson Bizarre Invention, but it’s real–and actually appears useful, particularly if you live in a snowy clime. The Lanmodo is a powered device that you stick onto your roof after parking. Hitting a button on the remote causes the object to unfurl its canopy, covering your car from bumper to bumper. It’s strong enough to deflect a falling brick; it keeps your car interior cooler in hot sunlight; and an optional features causes it to vibrate intermittently, shaking snow off of itself while keeping it off of your car.

The Lanmodo has been successfully crowdfunded on IndieGogo, with $53,033 raised at press time on a $10,000 goal. They expect to begin shipping them this May.

Study Reveals Bath Toys Contain Bacteria and Fungi

Bath toys sound harmless enough, but cut one open and you’ll get a nasty surprise. Researchers at ETH Zurich’s Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, in a joint study with the University of Illinois, confirmed the “biofouling phenomenon” by which bath toys become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus “not detectable in the bath water itself.” The flexible plastic materials bath toys are made from, like silicone rubber or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) leach organic carbon, which bacteria can feed on.

Here, we characterized biofilm communities inside 19 bath toys used under real conditions. In addition, some determinants for biofilm formation were assessed, using six identical bath toys under controlled conditions with either clean water prior to bathing or dirty water after bathing. All examined bath toys revealed notable biofilms on their inner surface….

Bacterial community compositions were diverse, showing many rare taxa in real bath toys and rather distinct communities in control bath toys, with a noticeable difference between clean and dirty water control biofilms. Fungi were identified in 58% of all real bath toys and in all dirty water control toys.

Of course not all bacteria is bad, and indeed being exposed to it can help strengthen our immune systems; but what is of concern are the potentially harmful kinds, the “opportunistic pathogens” uncovered in the study: E.coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Chlamydia spp. all appeared in various percentages. So did fungal “black yeast and relatives,” which are linked to human infections.

Buy: The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath

The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath


Author of the excellent essay collection “The Empathy Exams,” Leslie Jamison has written a book that’s part memoir, part literary criticism and part cultural history study in “The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath” (out next week, but available……

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10 restaurant interiors suitable for spring

For the Easter weekend, we’re rounded up 10 restaurants with designs that suit the spring season, including a plant-filled eatery in Tel-Aviv, a vegan cafe in California and a Vancouver restaurant that pairs plants with floral fabrics.


The Botanist, Canada, by Ste Marie

For this Vancouver restaurant, local design studio Ste Marie paired added a variety of plants, along with pastel tones and floral-patterned furniture.

Find out more about The Botanist ›


Madison, USA, by Archisects

Colourful details feature through this cedar-clad restaurant in San Diego, which boasts geometric tiles, vibrant blue alcoves and a dramatic arched ceiling.

Find out more about Madison ›


Cafeteria, Israel, by Meir Guri

Featuring dusty pink surfaces and multicoloured marble tiles, this restaurant by Israeli designer Meir Gur stands out at the entrance of the Gindi Fashion Mall in Tel Aviv. Other features include large plants and brass hanging pendants.

Find out more about Cafeteria ›


Yafo, France, by Studio Sur Rue

This pastel pink deli in Paris is dedicated to hummus and Israeli dining culture. The pink tones extend across the walls and furnishings, and also feature as the grout for the white tiling.

Find out more about Yafo ›


Smallfry Seafood restaurant by Sans-Arc Studio

Smallfry Seafood, Australia, by Sans-Arc Studio

This Adelaide fish and chip combines blue terrazzo, mottled grey travertine and stained wood to create a subtle seaside experience for customers.

Find out more about Smallfry Seafood ›


Stella Collective insert a tropical canopy into a Brighton cafe

Red Roaster, UK, by The Stella Collective

Melbourne studio The Stella Collective combined lush tropical plants with white walls and skylights for this cafe built in a former Brighton post office, to emulate the feeling of being in a jungle.

Find out more about Red Roaster ›


Designer, Morag Myerscough, redesigns the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in London

Bernie Grant Arts Centre cafe, UK, by Morag Myerscough

British designer Morag Myerscough wanted to highlight the “exuberance and enthusiasm” of the staff in this David Adjaye-designed cafe, so created vibrant geometric textiles, tiles and furniture to fill the space.

Find out more about Bernie Grant Arts Centre ›


The Budapest Cafe, China, by Biasol

Inspired by Wes Anderson‘s film The Grand Budapest Hotel, Australian studio Biasol opted for a combination of pastel hues with terrazzo marble surfaces for this cafe in Chengdu.

Find out more about The Budapest Cafe ›


Treves and Hyde, UK, by Grzywinski + Pons

Ochre walls and furnishings are paired with concrete surfaces and an abundance of plants in this London restaurant, by New York studio Grzywinski + Pons. The aim was to create a “warm and welcoming” experience.

Find out more about Treves and Hyde ›


Little Pine by Studio Hus

Little Pine Restaurant, USA, by Studio Hus

Owned by American musician Moby, this vegan cafe in Los Angeles reflects the musician’s love of mid-century modern style. It was designed to mix the light materials and atmosphere of Californian modernism with the rustic charm of Upstate New York.

Find out more about Little Pine Restuarant ›

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Fully rotating house built in Italian countryside

Architect Roberto Rossi has completed a house in northern Italy that can rotate 360 degrees.

Fully rotating house built in Italy

Balanced on a central pillar, the octagonal house can be mechanically rotated in both directions to give its owner varied views. The rotation is also used to direct the house’s solar panels towards the sun.

“The ability of the house to rotate was requested by the client from the very beginning, on one hand to be able to change the point of view on the landscape, but also because of his passion for machines and mechanisms,” Rossi told Dezeen.

Fully rotating house built in Italy

The house takes cues from another Italian home that can be rotated; Villa Girasole is an experimental two-storey house built in the 1930s by architects Angelo Invernizzi and Ettore Fagiuoli, which revolves on circular tracks around a central point.

“There wasn’t an existing project to take inspiration from, but we wanted to rediscovered the futuristic avant-garde appeal of Villa Girasole,” said Rossi. “In a sense, it was like finding a father again.”

Fully rotating house built in Italy

Located near the city of Rimini, Rossi’s house was constructed by Italian building contractor ProTek. The challenge was to keep the building lightweight and to allow it withstand traumas caused by its rotation.

The structure has a steel frame, with walls made of wooden strips, and insulation panels of hemp and wood fibre.

According to the architect, the house generates all of its own energy. The solar panels are fitted on the roof, so are able to take full advantage of the sun at all times of the day.

“From the technical point of view, rotating the house helps gaining the highest efficiency from the photovoltaic panels by having the best orientation throughout the day,” said Rossi.

Along with the solar panels the house is equipped with a heat pump and a solar thermal system, which also generate energy.

Rossi’s house is the latest in a series of buildings that move. Last year the D*Haus Company revealed a house in the UK that has a swivelling top, while Anmahian Winton Architects’ private observatory in the USA rotates to provide different views of the sky.

Images are courtesy of ProTek.

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Subtle And Curvy Illustrations

L’univers graphique de l’illustratrice Mikjung Lee s’exprime à travers de sensuelles courbes féminines qui se déploient au sein de paysages toujours très colorés et parfois mêmes surréalistes. Subtiles et oniriques, les illustrations de cette artiste qui vit à la fois au Texas et à Séoul jouent sans compromis avec les reliefs et la superposition entre géométrie et formes arrondies abstraites qui confèrent aux oeuvres une sensation de délicatesse agréable. Qu’elle soit une montagne, un temple ou tout simplement humaine, la femme est au centre des créations de Mikjung Lee. Pour suivre le travail de l’artiste, abonnez-vous à son compte Instagram.















Five architecture and design jobs available now in Australia

Over on Dezeen Jobs, we’re advertising jobs in a few Australian cities right now. We’ve selected five of the best, including roles with John McAslan + PartnersCox Architecture and The University of Queensland.


University of Canberra Sporting Grounds by COX

Sports architects/interior designers at Cox Architecture

Job openings in Melbourne include an opportunity for sports architects and interior designers to join Cox Architecture. The firm’s previous projects include a facility for sports education and training at the University of Canberra.

View more about this role ›


Kericho Cathedral by John McAslan

Part-II architect at John McAslan + Partners

British firm John McAslan + Partners is expanding its practice in Sydney and looking for a Part-II architect with 3D modelling experience. The firm’s recent projects include a cathedral on the edge of a tea plantation in Kenya.

View more about this role ›


Senior residential/interior architect at Decus Interiors

Sydney-based Decus Interiors is looking for a senior residential/interior architect with eight+ years experience and knowledge of Vectorworks to join its practice. The firm’s portfolio includes a North Bondi apartment, designed to offer an alternative to traditional coastal interiors.

View more about this role›


TREE Restaurant by Koichi Takada Architects

Communications coordinator at Koichi Takada Architects

Designs by Sydney studio Koichi Takada Architects include a restaurant with a tree-like ceiling canopy near Sydney. The practice an job opening for a communications coordinator, to help drive its PR and communications initiatives.

View more about this role›


University of Queensland Oral Health Centre by Cox Rayner Architects

Head of school and dean of architecture at The University of Queensland – School of Architecture

The University of Queensland is seeking a new dean to head up its architecture school. The school’s campus includes a dentist training facility designed by Cox Architects, which performed well in the Inside 2015 interior design festival.

View more about this role›

See all the latest architecture and design roles on Dezeen Jobs ›

The post Five architecture and design jobs available now in Australia appeared first on Dezeen.

IKEA supports marginalised women in India with handmade homeware collection

Banana-fibre baskets and handwoven textiles feature in IKEA‘s seventh Innehållsrik collection, made in collaboration with small-scale producers in India.

The indigo-themed Innehållsrik collection is spearheaded by the Swedish brand’s IKEA Social Entrepreneurs initiative – a programme set up in 2013 to establish long-term partnerships with social enterprises that help marginalised people all around the world.

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

For the latest edition of Innehållsrik – meaning “comprehensive” in Swedish – IKEA Social Entrepreneurs worked with two social enterprises in India, called Rangsutra and Industree.

Both Rangsutra and Industree work with artisans in India to nurture local handcraft traditions. Rangsutra employs over 3,000 skilled artisans, 500 of which are engaged in the production of the IKEA collections.

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

Meanwhile, Industree supports the livelihoods of around 600 artisans. Of these, 510 are engaged in the production of the IKEA collections and 80 per cent are women.

The production of the Innehållsrik collection provides work for the skilled female artisans, helping them to improve their everyday living standards and move from dependency to independence.

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

The collection was designed by product developer Stina Engler and designer Sarah Fager, and developed together with the artisans at Rangsutra and Industree.

As well as the banana fibre baskets, it includes handwoven and hand-embroidered blankets, towels and cushion covers.

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

“We’d already decided that we wanted Innehållsrik to have a beachy theme with a blue colour and natural materials, but it wasn’t until we travelled to New Delhi that the collection really came alive,” said Engler of the design process.

“We saw these amazing blue patterned textiles which just spoke to us straight away. And then meeting the artisans, we were able to bounce ideas off each other, decide on embroidery and what type of weaving to use.”

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

Since 2013, the number of IKEA social enterprise partners has grown from four to 17. Today, IKEA says it contributes to the livelihoods of more than 10,500 people through its partnerships with social enterprises.

“To support the development of our social enterprise partners and to help them grow, we work closely together to share knowledge about design, production, environmental management, export and much more,” said IKEA.

“Most importantly, the social enterprises gain access to a global marketplace – the IKEA stores and online platforms – providing a strong foundation for self-sufficiency and independence.”

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

The Innehållsrik collection is made up of 18 products that will be sold at select IKEA stores.

The handmade items are priced in line with the rest of IKEA’s affordable mass-produced items. An Innehållsrik throw costs £25, the bath towel is £12.50, while a set of textile-lined boxes with a lid are £7 each.

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

IKEA, which ranked at number one on Dezeen Hot List 2017, now has a whole host of philanthropic ventures under its belt.

The most high-profile of these are its refugee shelters, designed to offer an alternative to the unlockable tents that are more commonly used to house victims of displacement. Despite some setbacks, including concerns about the product’s vulnerability to fire, the project won the Design of the Year prize in 2016.

IKEA supports marginalised women with handmade homeware collection

Last year, the Swedish brand announced that it would employ refugees at production centres in Jordan as part of a long-term plan to create employment for 200,000 disadvantaged people around the world through social entrepreneurship programmes.

And, in 2016, the company worked with the Red Cross to build a replica of a real Syrian home inside its Norwegian flagship store. It was intended to give customers a realistic glimpse of what life is like in the war-torn country.

The post IKEA supports marginalised women in India with handmade homeware collection appeared first on Dezeen.

How Dark Patterns Trick You Online

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