Hermès takes over MVRDV's Crystal Houses in Amsterdam

Hermès Amsterdam store

A glass-fronted townhouse designed by MVRDV now serves as a store for luxury fashion brand Hèrmes, with warm-tone interiors by French design agency RDAI.

Hermès Amsterdam store in MVRDV's Crystal Houses

Dutch architecture firm MVRDV completed the townhouse’s partially see-through facade back in 2016, using hundreds of specially-engineered glass bricks and a transparent high-strength glue.

Named Crystal Houses, the building is nestled amongst a parade of stores of popular Amsterdam shopping street Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat.

Three years ago it played host to a one-storey Chanel boutique, but its new tenant – luxury French fashion brand Hermès – will now occupy two floors.

Hermès Amsterdam store in MVRDV's Crystal Houses

The overhaul of the store’s interiors by Paris-based agency RDAI has seen the removal of a blank wall from behind the upper half of the facade.

This means that passers-by on the street can now more clearly see the glass elements subtly merging with townhouse’s terracotta brickwork, which is meant to give the illusion of a dissolving wall.

MVRDV says the facade is “finally as open as originally intended”.

Hermès Amsterdam store in MVRDV's Crystal Houses

“With the upper floor open, you now sense even more clearly the transparency of the facade,” the firm’s founder, Winy Maas, told Dezeen.

“Before, the glass bricks enabled a visual connection between the street and the ground floor of the store, so you could see people moving on the other side of the brick wall. Now, that connection includes the first floor too, and the facade is twice as dynamic.”

Hermès Amsterdam store in MVRDV's Crystal Houses
Photo by Barbara Kieboom

On the inside of the store, mosaic floors feature a geometric pattern inspired by a motif seen in the Hermès branch on Rue du Fauborg Saint-Honoré in Paris.

Mens and womens accessories are presented on chunky wooden plinths, while the brand’s signature silk scarves hang from full-height gridded frames.

Hermès Amsterdam store in MVRDV's Crystal Houses
Photo by Barbara Kieboom

Towards the rear of the space is a carpeted area where a few ready-to-wear clothing pieces are displayed alongside shoes.

A curved, dark-wood staircase with a red-leather bannister leads up to the first floor, which is dedicated to homeware and precious goods like watches and jewellery.

The warm brown and caramel hues that have been applied throughout the store are also meant to be a nod to the colour palette of Amsterdam’s architectural landscape.

Hermès Amsterdam store in MVRDV's Crystal Houses
Photo by Barbara Kieboom

RDAI is in charge of the design of Hermès retail spaces across the globe. In 2010 it constructed a store for the brand inside a 1930s swimming pool, where collections were displayed within nine-metre-high wooden pavilions.

Hermès has previously also worked with Apple to produce a line of high-end leather straps for the Apple Watch and Studio Toogood to create a blood-red installation for its London flagship.

Photography is by Daria Scagliola and Stijn Brakkee unless stated otherwise.

The post Hermès takes over MVRDV’s Crystal Houses in Amsterdam appeared first on Dezeen.

Nienke Hoogvliet's Kaumera Kimono is dyed with wastewater

Nienke Hoogvliet Kaumera kimono

Dutch designer Nienke Hoogvliet used a byproduct from the wastewater treatment process to create the dyed pattern on this kimono, which is intended to be passed down through the generations.

The Kaumera Kimono was an outcome of an exploratory project undertaken by Studio Nienke Hoogvliet for the Dutch Water Authorities.

The government body has been examining ways to transform wastewater treatment plants into ‘factories’ capable of producing clean water, clean energy and valuable raw materials.

Nienke Hoogvliet Kaumera kimono

As a world leader in water management, the Netherlands is actively engaged in trying to understand and improve the water purification process.

One of the byproducts of this process is an alginate-like material with unique functional properties.

The raw material known as kaumera is recovered from wastewater during the Nereda purification process, which was developed by the Delft University of Technology.

Nienke Hoogvliet Kaumera kimono

The extracted sludge granules contain bacteria that form a biopolymer with the ability to bother repel water and retain it.  The versatility of the material and its ability to change when combined with other substances led to it being named kaumera, which means ‘chameleon’ in Dutch.

To explore potential new uses for kaumera and other byproducts of wastewater treatment, the Dutch Water Authorities established the Energy and Raw Materials Factory.

This organisation invited Nienke Hoogvliet to curate an exhibition around kaumera for Dutch Design Week 2018, which included the kimono.

Nienke Hoogvliet Kaumera kimono

During her research, Hoogvliet discovered that kaumera enables textiles to absorb dyes better, so less water is needed.

The designer used two natural dyes extracted from wastewater to add colour to the textiles.

Hoogvliet is also critical of the disposability of modern fashion and the amount of waste it produces. She designed a kimono because these Japanese garments are made to last for decades rather than being worn a handful of times and disposed of.

“The Kaumera Kimono is an act of rebellion against fast fashion,” the designer said.

“Kimonos are passed on for generations, cherished and valued. I want to encourage consumers to think of their clothing that way.”

Nienke Hoogvliet Kaumera kimono

Hoogvliet used kaumera along with anammox and vivianite to dye panels of fabric that were assembled to form the kimono.

The minimum amount of water necessary was combined with the dye and the fabric was laid on top to absorb it. The result is a unique and organic pattern that reflects the natural materials used in the garment’s manufacture.

Nienke Hoogvliet Kaumera kimono

The other designers involved in the Dutch Design Week exhibition, Billie van Katwijk and Jeroen Wand, also identified new applications for the kaumera material.

Bio-Binding by Wand explored the possibility for kaumera to be used as a glue, while Van Katwijk’s Mudernism project used the material as a ceramic glaze.

Following its presentation at Dutch Design Week, which took place in October 2018, the Kaumera Kimono exhibition was shown last month during NYCxDesign as part of Ventura New York – The Dutch Edition.

Hoogvliet has also turned wastewater into a bioplastic material that she used to create alternative cremation urns called Mourn.

The post Nienke Hoogvliet’s Kaumera Kimono is dyed with wastewater appeared first on Dezeen.

Cersaie bathroom furnishing and surfaces exhibition comes to Bologna in September

Cersaie promotion

Bathroom furnishing and surfaces expo Cersaie returns to Bologna this September, offering the chance for visitors to meet designers, contractors and retailers in the industry.

Cersaie promotion

Described as “the foremost international event for ceramic, other surface coverings and bathroom furnishings”, Cersaie attracts key industry players from around the world.

It runs from 23 to 27 September in a 161,000 metre-square Fiera di Bologna exhibition space in the central Italian city of Bologna.

Cersaie promotion

Last year the exhibition attracted more than 111,000 visitors, with almost half of these coming from outside Italy, and many from Europe and Asia.

Attendees were able to view the collections of more than 800 exhibitors, with the same number expected to show their latest products this year.

Cersaie promotion

“Each year, architects, designers, contractors, retailers and Italian and international exhibitors converge on the exhibition to get up to speed with the latest developments in the industry while building high-level professional relationships and exploring the innovative products and projects showcased by leading Italian and international companies,” said the event organisers.

Products on show include ceramic tiles, other non-ceramic wall and floor coverings, and a broad range of bathroom furnishings, as well as materials and tools for installation, showroom mock-ups and technical services.

Cersaie promotion

Four newly built halls will host a wellness salon with large meeting space flooded with natural light.

The exhibition will be bolstered by a cultural programme, including the Building Dwelling Thinking series of architectural meetings with a keynote speech by Chilean architect Felipe Assadi and other unannounced speakers.

Cersaie promotion

Cersaie Business missions for international architects will take place during the exhibition, as well as the opportunity to meet with magazine publishers at design and lifestyle meetings in the Press Cafes.

For the more practically minded, Tiling Town, a training space that will host demonstrations of how to become a master tile layer. Special attention will be paid to the host nation’s expertise in ceramic surfaces with the Italian Style thematic shows.

Cersaie promotion

The exhibition coincides with Bologna Design Week that takes place from 23 to 28 September, with more than 200 events across the city.

Cersaie runs at Fiera di Bologna from 23 to 27 September. Free registration is available on Cersaie’s website.

The post Cersaie bathroom furnishing and surfaces exhibition comes to Bologna in September appeared first on Dezeen.

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PATRI create city parklets in central London

The London Cablet by Fatkin

A decommissioned black cab and curb-side art gallery are among the mini parks designed by the London-based architects and designers as part of this year’s London Festival of Architecture.

The three miniature landscaped spaces, designed by architecture studios Fatkin and PATRI and artist Patrick McEvoy, are dotted across the capital’s historic financial district.

The city parklets were created to address important questions about the boundaries between the individual and public realm within the city, which reflects this year’s London Festival of Architecture (LFA) theme – boundaries.

The London Cablet by Fatkin
Fatkin has created a place for sitting, relaxing and playing within a decommissioned cab

London-based architecture practice Fatkin has transformed a decommissioned black cab into a playful public space for seating and relaxing.

Named The London Cable, the project aims to address show how vehicles could be recycled to benefit the public spaces of cities as we are approaching the end of the fossil-fuel era.

Pollution-absorbing plants were planted around the cab to provide a habitat for insects and adding extra greenery to the street.

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PATRI create city parklets in central London
The Pavement Gallery, by Patrick McEvoy, allows passers-by to draw

Artist Patrick McEvoy has transformed an unused space in St Martins le Grand into an open-air art gallery, which encourages passers-by to draw on pavement stones that are placed on a series of timber easels.

The york slabs on the easels are commonly used by pavement artists throughout the city, with their pieces of art existing for a limited amount of time.

The final project in the trio of parklets is Rocks and Reeds, a whimsical bench and planter designed by architecture studio PARTI.

The artwork mixes local landscape with ecological construction and playful architecture. Materials to realise the project were taken from nearby demolition works. Wild flowers and grasses add extra greenery whilst also tackling local pollution from the road and neighbouring construction sites.

Rocks and Reeds by PATRI
Rocks and Reeds by PATRI mixes local landscape with ecological construction and playful architecture

“City Parklets not only showcases London’s talented pool of emerging and established architects, but also highlights often forgotten, and overlooked kerbside space as a key opportunity to address the City’s need for an increase in greenery and enhanced public realm,” said Tamsie Thomson, director of the London Festival of Architecture.

“Each proposal has really delved deep into our 2019 theme of ‘boundaries’, creating a beautiful yet practical public space which will bring additional life to the Square Mile throughout the Festival.”

Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PATRI create city parklets in central London
The parklets will remain in place until September

Architects, designers and artists were invited to submit a proposal for a custom public parklet, allowing for the transformation of an unused space into a place where people can relax, rest and enjoy the city.

The parklets aim to promote additional greenery, pedestrian amenity and additional life throughout the city’s annual LFA event. They will remain in London until September.

A colourful pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery and an installation of paper architecture at the V&A are among the 10 best installations and talks to see during the festival picked by Dezeen.

Photography is by Luke O’Donovan.

The post Fatkin, Patrick McEvoy and PATRI create city parklets in central London appeared first on Dezeen.

OXO’s Cookie Press lets you mass-pump perfectly shaped cookie-treats

Much better than any cookie-cutter you’ll ever use, OXO’s Cookie Press doesn’t cut cookies, it pumps or extrudes them. The Cookie Press is a hand-operated cookie-pumping machine that relies on a stainless-steel die to push out intricately formed cookies with speed and consistency. Just load the die-disc of your choice into the Cookie Press’s base and fill the cylinder with cookie dough (your dough needs to be neither too wet nor too dry) and attach the pumping handle on top and you’re ready to go. The Cookie Press comes with a rubberized non-friction base so that the device doesn’t slip as you pump out cookie after cookie, and OXO’s die-discs offer the ability to make some beautifully shaped cookies for all seasons (you’ve got flowers, seashells, snowflakes, even a Christmas tree). The Cookie Press is faster to operate than traditional cookie-cutters, and works without generating the waste a cookie-cutter would, with all its discarded edges. It’s just perfect, really…!

Designer: OXO Good Grips

Click Here to Buy Now

Click Here to Buy Now

Novus is a modular device that can be your child’s first smart phone, watch, and speaker

As far as giving children access to smart technology goes, there are two broad schools of thought. One is that children shouldn’t be introduced to screens, apps, and media at a young age because it has a major effect on their attention span, while another approach is that children should be gradually introduced to technology because it holds the potential to enhance everyone’s lives, while also giving them the tools of (digital) discovery from an early age. Novus was a product designed for the latter school of thought. A small watch-shaped smart-device, Novus is a modular computer that is capable of being your child’s first smartphone, smartwatch, or even their smart-speaker.

The Novus is basically a distilled version of a smartphone, built for a child. Its small form-factor allows it to dock into a variety of Novus’s accessories, allowing it to be used as a phone, a watch, or even an AI-aided speaker. The smart-device comes with a touchscreen and a user-interface built for child-use. Children can text, voice and video-call each other as well as parents, click pictures and selfies, or even use the Novus as their fitness wearable, thanks to the internal pedometer and activity tracker. It has an in-built GPS, SOS feature, and most importantly, a day’s worth of battery. Novus offers most of the features we look for in our smart-devices, without the addictiveness of apps, media, and social networks. Kids can even use Novus as a smart-speaker by relying on the device’s inbuilt Google Assistant, giving you all the child-friendly power-features of cutting-edge tech.

For the parents, Novus is the best way to give the children a smartphone without actually giving them a smartphone. It allows you to stay in touch with your kids, via voice or even video. It keeps the children engaged with its features (and a pretty neat front-facing camera), but doesn’t distract/addict them or, as my mother says, turn their brains to mush. The SOS and GPS feature is a heaven-sent for parents too, letting them keep track of where their children are, and parental controls within Novus’s guardian app give parents overriding controls over who their kids can voice-call or video chat with. Designed to support most 4G networks, Novus runs on a sim, giving it great range too… so you’re always in touch with your young ones, and they won’t clamor for the iPad because they’re bored!

Designer: Abardeen

Snøhetta reveals masterplan for 1960s Blaisdell Center in Honolulu

Architecture firm Snøhetta has unveiled a plans to renovate and extend a mid-century arts and performance complex in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Snøhetta designed the plan for the Neal S Blaisdell Center, a 22-acre (nine-hectare) complex on the island of Oahu. Constructed in 1964 as a living memorial for Hawaii’s veterans and war heroes, today the centre forms one of the state’s “premiere arts and cultural venues”.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
Snøhetta has designed a masterplan for the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu

Developed in collaboration with local firm WCIT Architecture and AECOM, Snøhetta’s proposal involves upgrading the existing mid-century arena and concert hall, adding new additions and improving circulation across the site.

“The Blaisdell Center draws nearly 800,000 visitors a year,” said Snøhetta in a project statement. “As a fixture of the local community, it is known as a place where memories are made, where most locals attend graduations and cherish fond memories of the fish pond.”

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
The scheme includes a suite of water features that take cues from an existing fish pond

This existing pond prompted Snøhetta to add a series of water features across the complex, including fountains, jets and waterfalls. These, when paired with lush tropical pathways, are intended to promote community gathering, and better connections across the site.

“Inspired by local perceptions of space and environment that emphasise a deep connection to the land and a reverence for natural resources, the project is conceptually guided by the significance of water in Hawaiian culture,” said Snøhetta.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
The masterplan adds a number of new entrances to the Arena on the complex

The Arena and Concert Hall currently anchor opposite ends of the property, and the campus has long-struggled to balance pedestrian and vehicular movement between the two venues.

The masterplan aims to connect these two structures together by adding a new Performance Hall with 1,500 seats, and a new Arts Ensemble building, in between them. A new Exhibition Hall will also be built to replace the existing one, and join the Performance building via a lobby.

These new structures will feature stratified basalt bases and perforated terracotta screens around the tops, which Snøhetta says takes cues from existing structures on site.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
The existing Concert Hall and surrounding Coconut Grove will also be updated as part of the project

“Referencing the unique breeze block facades found throughout Honolulu and Waikiki, the glazed screen provides a contemporary expression of the historic barrel tile screen walls found in the Concert Hall lobby,” the firm said.

Renderings of the interiors show sculptural pale wood spaces, designed to add warmth and be “reminiscent of the swells of water and wind”.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
Another feature of the plan is a terraced garden with fountains and pools

Other new additions include The Gardens and Event Plaza, which will be used for performances and recreation activities.

Snøhetta has also developed a renovation proposal to update the existing Concert Hall and Arena with a “light touch”.

The Concert Hall, which hosts the Honolulu Opera Theatre and Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, will retain its rectilinear structure and low arches at its base, preserving the architectural vernacular of the open-air lanai. The refurbishment will fill voids on the lobby’s upper balconies with glass volumes.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
A new plaza will be used for outdoor events. Rendering by Moare

The Coconut Grove surrounding concert hall will be given wider pathways and plenty of tropical plants, to make the outdoor area suited for intermission, receptions, cafe seating and small gatherings.

Other amends will be made to the scalloped, circular complex The Arena. While its exterior features will be preserved, the interiors will be overhauled to better suit hosting performances and rock concerts.

Snøhetta has also proposed enclosing the arcade wrapping the building, to create a more comfortable, air-conditioned space. Additional details include feathery, slender louvres that will be added to control the building’s sun exposure.

Completing the masterplan is a new pathway that connects back-of-house facilities with a single, below-grade service area. Tropical plants and gardens will be used to conceal this new support space.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
The top of the Exhibition Hall will be wrapped in perforated terracotta screens. Rendering by Moare

A stormwater management system will be placed along the street edge to filter groundwater, and the centre’s original fish pond will be preserved. Also included are a new parking structure and sporting facility.

Blaisdell Center is located in the hub of Honolulu, with the capital city’s skyscrapers and beaches nearby. It is flanked on by major roads on three sites, and is also near the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Honolulu is home to a 41-storey residential tower by Studio Gang and the Obama Presidential Centre. Recently completed projects include Shoreline Waikiki hotel by BHDM, a skyscraper with a cantilevering glass-bottom pool by SCB, a renovated hotel by OMFGCO and a property sales centre by Woods Bagot.

Blaisdell Center by Snohetta
The volume underneath will be formed of stratified basalt

Founded in 1989 by Craig Edward Dykers and Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Snøhetta is an architecture and design office based in Oslo and New York City, with other outposts in San Francisco, Stockholm, Innsbruck and Singapore.

Other new civic projects also by the firm include an Italian mountaintop museum, a major new opera house in Shanghai, and an island-like student district in Budapest.

Renderings are by Snøhetta unless stated otherwise.


Project credits:

Design team: AECOM, Snøhetta, WCIT, Theatre Projects, Gensler (master plan phase)
Client team: City & County of Honolulu Department of Design & Construction, Department of Planning & Permitting and Department of Enterprise Services

The post Snøhetta reveals masterplan for 1960s Blaisdell Center in Honolulu appeared first on Dezeen.

Currently Crowdfunding: Wake Up With Mark Zuckerberg's Sleep Box, Make Pour Over Coffee on the Go, and More

Brought to you by MAKO Design + Invent, North America’s leading design firm for taking your product idea from a sketch on a napkin to store shelves. Download Mako’s Invention Guide for free here.

Navigating the world of crowdfunding can be overwhelming, to put it lightly. Which projects are worth backing? Where’s the filter to weed out the hundreds of useless smart devices? To make the process less frustrating, we scour the various online crowdfunding platforms to put together a weekly roundup of our favorite campaigns for your viewing (and spending!) pleasure. Go ahead, free your disposable income:

The Cubo AI baby monitor stands out from the crowd with a unique set of features: it uses face detection technology to alert you if your baby’s face is covered and also includes security camera technologies that let you set up “danger zones” around the house and let you know whenever your baby is getting too close. Vigilant parents will most likely be impressed by the 1080p HD Sony Night Vision Lens which offers unprecedented clarity. The camera comes with automatic photo capture capabilities so you won’t miss any adorable moments.

If pour over is your go-to coffee method, you no longer have to settle for less when you’re traveling. The Pakt Coffee Kit has everything you need for your ritual (including an electric tea kettle!) in a sleek, black carrying case that weighs less than four pounds and takes up about as much room as a pair of shoes in your suitcase.

Remember Mark Zuckerberg’s sleep box and the eager commenter who jumped at the opportunity to take his idea into production? Well, in less than two months, he crafted a campaign for the Zucklight Sleep Box, which was fully funded in mere hours. You can opt for the Lite version, which is a faithful rendition of Zuckerberg’s design, or upgraded options with wireless charging and environmental sensors.

The Mikme Pocket audio recorder & clip-on microphone is designed so that anyone can capture professional-quality sound—without the need for a ton of bulky equipment.

Laptop users in need of more screen real estate should check out the TRIO monitor system. The add-on screens can rotate up to 270 degrees, which will come in handy for taking your work presentations to the next level.

Do you need help designing, developing, patenting, manufacturing, and/or selling YOUR product idea? MAKO Design + Invent is a one-stop-shop specifically for inventors / startups / small businesses. Click HERE for a free confidential product consultation.

Twist to extract the juice, then easily discard the block of compressed fruit pulp!

The Coolest Juicer (no modesty in that name there) was designed to be a proverbial slap in the faces of companies like Juicero and Juisir that design products that perform ridiculously simple tasks like squeezing fruit, but demand thousands of dollars for hardware that basically does what a pair of hands can do.

Using simple mechanics and a robust design, this is the Coolest Juicer. It does what the Juicero does, but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It also makes cleaning incredibly easy, because the compression action doesn’t just extract juices from the fruit, it also compresses the fruit pulp into a single block that you can literally pick up and throw away.

The Coolest Juicer comes with a base, a rotating handle, and a series of containers that you can easily store your cut/sliced/peeled fruit in. Just load the containers into the juicer’s frame and you’re ready to get juicing! A silicone ring around the side of the container’s lid not only keeps the lid fastened securely, but also works as a squeegee that cleans the container as you squeeze, making it easy to rinse off tiny bits of fruit when you’re done.

Designer: Eddie Han

Join Our Final Sketching Challenge: Pool Toy

This is it! Your last chance to get in on the sketching portion of our Core77 Design-Athlon, a summer-long race where designers get to flex their three core skills of Sketching, Prototyping and Rendering. To make it a bit more interesting, we are adding a $200 USD cash prize for the overall winner of the sketching leg of the Design-Athlon! Get your Pool Toy sketch in by Noon EDT July 4th!

On top of the chance to win the ca$h – you will be on your way to earning a free t-shirt. Participate in at least one challenge in each skill (this is the final sketching challenge!) and we’ll send you something along the lines of this t-shirt (final design TBD) …

Again we have lined-up special guest-star judge Reid Schlegel, sketching guru, educator and Senior Industrial Designer at Aruliden, to help us choose the winning entries. We are excited to see what you can cook-up…

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The Brief

Everybody into the pool! Bring your waterproof markers and get sketching on this theme: Pool Toy. Is there more to say? Not really. It is a toy for a pool 🙂 Wow us hanging out poolside with your unique flair and technique.

Pool Toy C77Sketching Deadline is Thursday, July 4th at Noon Eastern!

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

How To Enter

1. Follow us on Instagram

2. Explore the concept of “Pool Toy” via sketching and take a picture or screenshot of your best work

3. Post your picture to Instagram, posting must tag us, @core77, and include the hashtags #c77sketching, #c77challenge

Good luck!

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Rules

• The contest ends Thursday, July 4th at Noon – 12:00PM – EDT . Winner and runner-ups will be announced within 7 days of close.

• Multiple entries are permitted but a participant can not have more than one winning entry per challenge.

• Winning entries will be selected by a panel of design professional(s) and Core77 staff based on skill, presentation and ideas.

• The contest is hosted by Core77 and there are no eligibility restrictions.

• This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

To learn more about our entire Summer-long design skill series, check out our announcement of the Core77 Design-Athlon.

**Dad Shoe and Flying Rideshare Vehicle contest participants: this is a reminder that winners will be chosen at the end of the month along with the other sketching challenges!

Pool pic by Etienne Girardet