Hasta La Ideas

Architecture studio CAN has added a blue and white striped extension to a Victorian terrace in London, which features a statement pink curtain.

CAN extended and renovated the house’s kitchen adding a side extension that expanded the room to fill the entire width of the site and a small rear extension. The studio named the project A Brockley Side.

The studio used different materials to define the three volumes – the original building and two extension – on the rear facade.

The small white rear extension has slatted-timber stripes painted in blue to create a stripped look. The colour was chosen to complement both the exterior patio and resin floor inside.

“The blue was a happy medium between the dark blue patio and light grey used elsewhere,” Mat Barnes, founder of CAN, told Dezeen.

The side extension, which has a glazed roof, is finished with a white ribbed facade. Its boundary wall is clad in square, glossy white tiles, which continue inside behind a shelf of plants that runs towards the back of the extension.

The third volume is the original house, which is made from the original brick masonry painted white.

The studio installed a large, glazed pivot door at the rear of the room to give unobstructed views to the garden.

A pink curtain can be drawn for shading and privacy, and adds a “visual counterpoint” to the extension’s pastel colour palette.

On the wall beside the pivot door, the studio placed a strip of tiles to reference where the previous exterior wall used to be.

“We wanted to visually separate the new from the existing when you look down the new side extension towards the garden,” Barnes explained. “The tiles also frame the window better and the glossy finish bounces light around.”

The existing stepped decking on the side of the previous extension was removed, and the kitchen and dining area extended to meet the garden wall.

A new glazed roof with vertical fins encloses the top of the space.

The kitchen counter was relocated to the centre of the extension and faces a new breakfast perch. The expansion also made room for sofa seating under the glazed roof.

Throughout the space the floor was sunk to be level with the patio, giving the extension a higher ceiling height than the main house.

For the interior, whitewashed Douglas fir, which has naturally occurring pink hues, has been used for the furniture, cupboards and roof fins. CAN chose the pink curtain to match the fir, whilst contrasting the blue panels on the exterior.

A white enamel top with a black-splatter pattern sits on top of the breakfast perch and kitchen counter.

Other London house extensions featurning Douglas-fir interiors include the black timber-clad A House for Four and Douglas House, which is named for the abundant use of the material.

Photography is by Jim Stephenson.

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The Kamibot Pi has figured out how to make learning fun for children… by making learning fun for everyone! The toy’s approach to learning is universal enough to convince adults to buy it, even if they don’t have children! The lovable robotic toy comes with a build-to-control interface and endless possibilities to help learn through playing. The robot can transform into a racecar, an autonomous sketching tool, a walking dinosaur, a game of rock-paper-scissor, and even Pac-Man!

Tell the Kamibot Pi what to do using its app-based interface, and the robot comes to life, executing your commands by moving and turning the way you want it to. What makes the Kamibot Pi even more fun is its ability to don paper costumes that help it assume the role of different characters and play different games.

The Kamibot Pi is roughly the size of a hockey-puck, and comes with wheels on its base, accompanied by a color-sensor on the bottom, and proximity sensors where the Kamibot Pi’s eyes are. The bot sports a magnetic body, and a rotating top with a hole running all the way through to the bottom (for that sketch-pen I mentioned earlier). Powered by an 850mAh Li-Po battery that controls 3 stepper motors (along with an LED ring and a piezo-buzzer speaker), the Kamibot Pi comes to life.

The bot can either be controlled via Kamibot Pi’s remote control called the RoCoCon (short for Robot Coding Controller), for basic actions like moving forward, backward, and turning, or by KamiCards that rely on the bot’s color sensor to ‘read commands’ that control aspects like precise movements, decision making, the color of the LED ring, or the sound that it plays out. For nuanced control, you’ve got the KamiCard app that lets you use virtual action cards to create sequences for the bot and more advanced users can rely on the KamiBlock 3.0 coding app (based off the Scratch coding language) to control multiple bots, giving them more complex actions and roles. The app’s complexity level even allows parents to chime in, either teaching their kids or learning while playing with their children. Seasoned coders can even use Python to send their Kamibot Pi commands.

Kamibot Pi’s genius is its ability to turn into a real-life RPG of sorts. With free printable paper maps and action boards, the Kamibot Pi transforms from a humble robot to a dinosaur, a fish-catching cat, a flexible caterpillar, characters from Pac-Man, the moon and the earth, or even (and this has to be my favorite), a real, playable rock-paper-scissor game! The bot can even play games like solving obstacle courses or mazes, racing on a pre-determined track, and its ability to dock a sketch-pen in its center allows it to turn into command-driven drawing bot that can literally sketch anything!

The Kamibot Pi’s versatility truly makes it a great learning tool that helps you overcome different challenges without ever getting bored. Its variety of controls allow everyone from beginners to advanced learners play and experiment with the bot, and the amount of fun that’s waiting to be had really goes on to make the Kamibot Pi a truly enjoyable toy for kids, teens, and even adults!

Designer: Kamibot Pi

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $99 ($20 off). Hurry, only 10/30 left!

Kamibot Pi: Coding with a STEM Toy Robot Through Storytelling

Kamibot Pi is a creative coding robot that can teach your child coding step-by-step through fun activities outlined in their curriculum.

Code your Kamibot Pi to escape a maze, race, play soccer, draw, multi-bot sync movement & more!

Coding Easy to Learn!

Ever worry about how to teach your child or students coding? You’re not alone. Many teachers in the world were just as lost as you might be. They created a curriculum to guide your child or students step-by-step to becoming self-sufficient coders. Kamibot Pi also complies with Japanese National standards for STEAM robots used in coding education.

4 Different Ways to Learning Coding

Level One: Unplugged Coding for Beginners

Coding with Action Cards.

Kamibot Pi is codable with command cards straight out of the box. Kids can feed the cards to Kamibot Pi and see the commands come to life. Not needing a smart device to code their robots is a relief for many teachers and parents who do not have access to a tablet device.

Coding with the RoCoCon (Remote Control)

Kamibot Pi is also codable with the RoCoCon (Short for Robot Coding Controller)! The remote control will only be available to backers at specific reward tiers.

Level Two: Coding With KamiCard App

Graphical coding with our Kamicard app allows users to pick commands based on the images on each card.

Level Three: Coding With KamiBlock 3.0

Block-based coding with our KamiBlock 3.0 introduces more structure and more advanced commands for coding Kamibot Pi.

Level Four: Coding With Python

Seasoned coders can take Kamibot Pi to the next level with Python coding.

Coding Boosts Creativity!

Drawing. Children can explore their artistic creativity through coding. A few adjustments to your code here and there show up as new shapes and drawings.

If you can code it, Kamibot will draw it.

Code with multiple robots. Collaborate with your friends on cool projects like recreating the solar system. Code the path of Earth’s orbit around the sun and the Moon’s orbit around the Earth.

Team up with your friends and play an arcade classic.

Work together with your friends to clean up our oceans of trash.

Challenge your friends to see who can code their robot to catch the most fish.

Upgrade papercraft skills. Their Kamibot skins give children a hands-on approach to purposeful coding.

Coding Helps Build Critical Thinking!

Their in-depth curriculum and multitude of activities will help boost your child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

What Teachers Think About Kamibot

Click Here to Buy Now: $79 $99 ($20 off). Hurry, only 10/30 left!

A 3D-printed neighborhood, at-home insemination tools, alternative education and more innovation from around the globe

Hawaii Moves to Ban Single-Use Takeout Containers

Part of a comprehensive plan to drastically reduce single-use plastic reliance within the state, Hawaii passed a ban on plastic takeout containers—plates, bowls, cups, utensils, straws, foam containers, and more. The plan (formally named Bill 40) will roll out over two years, allowing restaurants and other purveyors the opportunity to convert to more sustainable options. Two exceptions will remain even after two years: raw fish and meat will still be packaged in single-use plastics to prevent food-borne illness from spreading or contaminating other goods. Read more at Mic.

At-Home Artificial Insemination Tool

Typically, artificial insemination is a sterile, clinical process, but Polish designer Kamila Rudnicka is changing that with an at-home tool that doubles as a sex toy. This pink-hued dildo, called Way, allows those hoping to conceive to make insemination part of their sexual experience. It’s also a practical and playful way for the non-conceiving partner to be involved. The device can be used two ways: either fully assembled (when the “veins” are embedded in the device’s shaft) or with the squeezable bladder attached to a person’s palm and fingers (for manual use). Read more at Dezeen.

Arete Project is Alaska’s Newest Alternative Higher-Education Option

Inspired by Deep Springs College, a collaborative higher education school where students self-govern and study in classrooms and outdoors, Laura Marcus’ Arete Project proves more inclusive. Until 2018, Deep Springs only accepted men, but Arete Project—located on a remote island in Alaska’s wilderness—accepts everybody, and as NPR’s Anya Kamenetz describes, is “at the crossroads of liberal arts, place-based education and experiential learning.” It’s free for all those accepted, and is funded by donors and family members, and maintains its independence in order to remain a place where lessons are personal, emotional and, oftentimes, applicable far beyond their strip of bay shore. Read more at NPR.

Tabasco’s New 3D-Printed Neighborhood

Helmed by housing non-profit New Story (in partnership with Icon and Échale), the city of Tabasco’s 3D-printed neighborhood has received its first two homes. Using a 33-foot Icon Vulcan II printer, New Story built the pair of 500-square-foot, single-story cement houses in significantly less time and for less money than traditional homes. The walls went up in 24 hours and then human workers added the windows, roofs, and furniture. Once finished, this neighborhood will have 50 homes—each with two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The other 48 families, who will live there at a rate of $20 a month, will begin moving into their new homes in 2020. Read more at designboom.

Explore Google’s Summary of 2019

Annually, Google surveys its own data to offer insight (through graphs and detailed rankings) on the lifespan of news cycles and cultural interests, and, perhaps solely for our entertainment, they present a handful of the funniest searches we’ve all made. From a list of the US population’s most searched babies (number one was Baby Yoda from Disney+’s The Mandalorian) to the most sought after recipes (Shepherd’s Pie) and song lyrics (Old Town Road), the results prove occasionally unexpected, but oftentimes reinforce the significance of the particular moments and people that formed 2019. Google also takes this opportunity to share their own interpretation, this year informed by an encouraging revelation in the data: “Throughout history, when times are challenging, the world goes looking for heroes. And this year, searches for heroes—both superheroes and everyday heroes—soared around the world,” Google explains in their visual wrap up of the year, which spotlights fictional Marvel characters, firefighters, parents, athletes, philanthropists, activists, and more. Watch the full video on YouTube and peruse the data on Google’s site.

Pursuing Life on a Planet That’s 1,000 Years Away

Earth will not be hospitable to humans forever, and if we wish to prolong our existence we need to consider the idea of relocating. Mars, while conveniently close, likely cannot host life without extensive adaptation. Proxima b (which orbits the star Proxima Centauri) proves more possible, as its surface temperatures could accommodate water and thus life. But the journey in a ship big enough to carry passengers (and supplies) would take over 1,000 years. Generations would be born in-flight and be raised solely to control the vessel. Food would be produced without sunlight or soil, and—in many’s eyes—humans would exist in conditions that aren’t conducive with mental health. Wild as it may seem, there is a large network of scientists, astronauts and more researching options for this kind of “multi-generation space travel.” Read more at OneZero.

The World’s First Fully-Electric Commercial Flight

Though it was a seaplane and not a jet, Harbour Air and magniX’s fully-electric flight was a first-ever for the industry, signaling potential for adoption on larger planes. That change surely would be welcomed by travelers, who’d see no notable difference in their flight experience but the output of emissions would be drastically reduced. This is especially pressing as emissions from commercial flights are set to be the largest polluter of our ozone, if no significant changes are made. Read more at BBC.

Google Launches Assistant Interpreter Mode

Available today on iOS and Android, Interpreter Mode translates conversations in real time through a process similar to Google’s preexisting Translate page. According to the company, the feature can be prompted by saying phrases like, “Hey Google, help me speak Thai” or “Hey Google, be my German translator.” Simply recite a phrase and an automated process will translate it and play it back in the selected language—radically improving the ease and speed of cross-language conversing. Read more at The Verge.

43,900-Year-Old Cave Art Depicts Ancient Hunting Scene

Predating the next oldest depiction of a human/animal hunting scene by 4,000 years, this 43,900-year-old scene painted on cave walls on Sulawesi (an island in central Indonesia) is now believed to be the oldest—and includes one of the most complex discoveries yet. It reshapes our long-held conceptions about the practice of hunting by depicting therianthropes, predominantly human figures with a distinguishing animal feature. In this scene, eight therianthropes approach wild pigs and dwarf buffaloes. But researchers are uncertain if this is part of a grander chase and ambush scheme or a shamanic ritual led by “animal helpers,” prominent figures in such practices. Also a significant discovery for the timeline of modern art, this discovery proves that figurative painting originated outside of Europe, contradicting the long-held belief amongst academics. Read more at The New York Times.

Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on social media, and rounded up every Saturday morning.

Architecture practice Gartnerfuglen and architect Mariana de Delás have hidden a hut next to a secluded lake in Norway with a layer of birch branches.

Gjemmested, meaning hideout in English, sits at the bottom of a steep slope in the Telemark region, and is accessible only by rowing boat or by skis when the lake is frozen over.

The hut was designed to be a place to retreat and disconnect from any technological distractions, a place where the occupants can fish and nap in peace.

“When not in use, the hideout sits quietly and modestly in nature as if it were one of its creatures; blending in with the forest behind and even serving as a pitstop for thirsty birds on their way to the lake,” explained the studio.

The family who own the land the Gjemmested is built on live on a secluded farm on the other side of the lake.

They have gradually seen the surrounding area be discovered and used by more and more people, due to the public right of access laws in Norway – called Allemansträtten.

While not wanting to prevent this access, the owners sought to create a space that evoked the isolated, secluded feeling of the forest. The fishing hut has no internet or mobile phone connection.

“Elements that could be considered inconvenient in the past are more and more becoming luxurious nowadays,” said Gartnerfuglen.

Gartnerfuglen and Mariana de Delás dug the scree out by hand and used the rocks to create a pier for the owners to dock their rowboat at. The hut is made from a skeleton of timber.

The birch branch thatch provides a layer of insulation against snowy winters and and helps camouflage the hut.

Bright red windows and a door provide a splash of colour to the shaggy exterior of the fairytale hut.

The hide’s interior contrasts its rough and textured exterior, with plain white wooden walls accented by the large red surrounds of the window and door.

One small room has a built-in desk looking out through a large window to the lake.

A set of steps leads up to a second room large enough for two people to lie down, which is illuminated by a high skylight.

Gartnerfuglen and Mariana de Delás have previously collaborated on another, equally nature-focused project in Mallorca, where they designed a raised wooden platform for an equestrian to use for grooming.

Photography is by Gartnerfuglen Arkitekter & Mariana de Delás.

Project credits:

Studio: Gartnerfuglen Arkitekter and Mariana de Delás
Architects: Astrid Wang, Olav Lunde Arneberg, Ole Larsen, Mariana de Delás

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This week on Dezeen, Maurizio Cattelan’s $120,000 banana at Art Basel Miami Beach was removed from display and Foster + Partners launched its sustainability manifesto.

A banana taped to a wall by Italian artist Cattelan, named Comedian, was removed from its display at Art Basel Miami Beach after “several uncontrollable crowd movements”, which included another artist eating it.

In its place, the white wall onto which it was taped has been marked with red-lipstick graffiti that reads “Epstien (sic) didn’t kill himself” – vandalism believed to have formed part of an art performance.

It is the second art scandal that Cattelan has been embroiled in this year, after his solid gold $5 million toilet was stolen from an exhibition at Blenheim Palace.

This week also saw Foster + Partners introduce an eight-page sustainability manifesto that outlines its methodology for designing buildings.

The document says the studio will go beyond current environmental certification schemes, stating that these standards will not reduce carbon emissions enough to meet the Paris climate agreement.

In the design world, Kamila Rudnicka stole the spotlight as Dezeen reported on her design of an at-home insemination kit for use as part of sex. The Polish designer hopes it will help restore pleasure to the often clinical process.

The gold folding phone designed by Pablo Escobar’s brother came under fire as Holly Brockwell shared an opinion piece addressing its sexist advertising, which features “lingerie-clad glamour models”. 

Architecture news this week included the reveal of BIG and Field Operations’ design for a resilient park and skyscrapers in Williamsburg, and LOHA’s proposal for an affordable housing complex made from stacks of shipping containers.

Arkansas architect Marlon Blackwell also became the 76th recipient of the AIA Gold Medal, which is awarded annually to architects in recognition of their legacy to the industry.

Eyes turned to the rural Canadian town of Innisfil as architecture studio Partisans unveiled its plans to transform it into “the city of the future”, using fibre optics, autonomous vehicles and drone ports.

Israel was also in the spotlight when Asaf Mann told Dezeen that “there’s something very inspiring happening again”, likening its thriving architecture scene to the Bauhaus boom in Tel Aviv.

Dezeen shared highlights from an exclusive two part interview with Snøhetta’s co-founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen this week, who shed light on the firm’s ambition to make buildings for the betterment of society.

As a pioneer of eco-friendly architecture, Thorsen also spotlighted the climate crisis and warned architects that they must plan for “armageddon situations”.

Dezeen also continued its review of 2019, with roundups highlighting the best furniture pieces and  transport designs of the past year.

We also rounded up the most impactful British architecture projects of 2019, including a museum for boats and a football stadium.

Projects enjoyed by readers this week included Takero Shimazaki Architects’ overhaul of a Barbican flat with Japanese details, a store in New York City filled with green plywood cabinets and Richard Chivers photography series of England’s remaining gas holders.

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