Hasta La Ideas

Volcanic eruptions, futuristic vehicles and open education in our look around the web

Slow Factory’s Open Education Fall Calendar

Founded in 2012 by Céline Semaan, Slow Factory continues its quest to increase “sustainability literacy” in fashion and all that it entails. Once such endeavor is through free, open education—and they have just announced their upcoming class calendar. With courses including Cultural Appropriation and North Indigenous Peoples, Deconstructing Greenwashing Myths, Waste-Led Design and more, registration is free. All classes are for and by “Black, Brown, Indigenous and minority ethnic scholars, thinkers and educators” and Slow Factory is also accepting funding from brands—encouraging them to repurpose their marketing budgets in order to make tangible change. Find out more at Slow Factory.

Image courtesy of Slow Factory

Wired’s Guide to Surviving a Volcanic Eruption

Using the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its impact upon Pompeii as an example, Wired writer Cody Cassidy (author of Who Ate The First Oyster?) delves into the factual ways people survived the perils of magma, raining ash and explosive gas. With the help of Pier Paolo Petrone (forensic anthropologist at the University of Naples) and James Moore (volcanologist and scientist emeritus at the US Geological Survey), Cassidy exposes misconceptions (that heading into the water may help, or that lava travels quickly) and affirms that those who take immediate action survive. In fact, Petrone states, “Probably only those who managed to understand from the beginning the gravity of the situation escaped in time.” Read the details at Wired.

Image via Pixabay

Canyon’s Bike Pedal-Powered Electric Car Prototype

German bike brand Canyon recently unveiled a concept for an electric vehicle that bridges the gap between sedan and six-speed bicycle. The bike pedal-powered EV could reach a top speed of 37mph, maneuver between cars and last for nearly 100 miles on a single charge. There’s room for one—the pilot—but a storage section has enough space for a sizable grocery run. This is still a prototype and Canyon remains open to tweaking their design, which enhances a traditional bicycle’s abilities. Beyond the storage component, a rain-proof glass roof protects the rider and can be opened like a convertible hatch when it’s no longer needed. Read more at Fast Company.

Image courtesy of Canyon

Cannabis Beverage Brand Introduces Rolling Paper Straws

Recently launched Canadian brand Truss Beverages (a collaborative venture from HEXO and Molson Coors) produces a range of THC-infused drinks, along with an apt and playful accompaniment: a pack of rollable paper straws. Taking notes from traditional joint-toking, but tweaking the ritual for contemporary cannabis consumption, each pack opens up to reveal “a dowel for straw-rolling” and instructions. The straws are made from coated polyart paper and feature a food-safe adhesive strip. The brand sells several different beverages, each with a different flavor and potency. Read more at Dieline.

Image courtesy of Truss

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

Chinese studio Onexn Architects has squeezed Joys cafe into a space less than 2.6 metres wide in a street in Shenzhen, which used to house an air conditioner repair shop.

Narrower than one of the parking spaces outside, Joys serves drinks and pastries from a counter behind an entryway framed by built-in shelves and benches.

Seating spills out into the street outside. Inside, private office space on a mezzanine floor above the counter is accessible via a retractable ladder.

Despite its small size, Onexn Architects wanted the nine-square-metre cafe to encourage local residents to connect with each other.

Joys is located in Xiangmi Third Village, a part of Shenzhen that was built in the 1990s. In recent years, the area has lost many of its community facilities, and its green spaces have been turned into high rise developments.

“One of the goals that we shared with our client was to restore a public node on the premise of meeting functional needs,” explained the architecture studio.

“The first time we inspected the site, we found many air-conditioning parts and oil stains were scattered in front of the entrance, so people had to detour to pick up clothes from the laundry or take medicines from the pharmacy next to the repair shop,” added Onexn Architects.

“There was limited space where residents could stay since the site left a mingled, neglected or blurred impression.”

To create a more welcoming entrance, Onexn Architects removed the existing lightbox and created a front with a high porch that shelters the tall glass doors that both swing open.

While the cafe is under 2.6 metres wide, the porch is almost five metres tall, making it almost twice as tall as it is wide.

Spotlights in the porch underneath the cafe sign also light up at night to attract the eye.  A narrow slit window above the door lets daylight in during the day and lights up after dark.

On the other side of the door, a ceiling installation that curves towards the apex of the room changes the dimensions of the interior space.

“It mitigates the oppressive feeling in this cramped and high space and brings a sense of mystery and ritual to it as well,” said Onexn Architects.

Wooden box shelves are stacked in a grid-like formation either side of the door, continuing up over part of the ceiling. This design is meant to be a space-saving solution that doubles as a decorative installation that adds to the cafe experience.

At the base, boxes topped with cushions protrude from the shelves as bench seats for customers. Cupboard doors below conceal extra storage space.

The shelves frame the cafe counter, which faces towards the door. Behind, in the staff area, there are worktops, coffee machines and bakery equipment. The ladder to the office mezzanine floor can be retracted when not in use to save space.

Joys interior and exterior are covered in the same pale grey paint that resembles cement. Dark grey floor tiles continue from the inside of the cafe out over the pavement and end at the curb.

The white shelf and seating system has pops of colour in the form of mustard-yellow inserts. Building in such a tight gap involved negotiating with the shops either side.

“During construction, the warm-hearted neighbours would often offer us advice on design ideas,” said Onexn Architects.

“We resisted initially, but gradually realised that raising opinions and keeping communication in such a symbiotic environment was significant,” added the studio.

“The wall on the right side of the entrance, which we call a spontaneous design, is a cooperative achievement of the neighbours and us.”

Onexn Architects preserved a low flower bed on one side and the space for a community sewing machine on the other.

Founded by Bo Zhang and Jingjing Wang in 2015, Onexn Architects is based in Shenzhen.

More eateries in small spaces include this cafe and pocket park built in the space left by a building destroyed by an earthquake, and a streamlined coffee bar that features zero furniture.

Photography is by Li Jinhui.

Project credits:

Design firm: Onexn Architects Architects
Chief architects: Zhang Bo, Wang Jingjing
Design team: An Bingxiang, Shi Qiuyang, Guo Xiaohong
Construction drawings: Li Nanfang
Construction firm: Essence Atelier Engineering
Lighting design: PUDI

The post Onexn Architects squeezes Shenzhen micro cafe into gap narrower than a parking space appeared first on Dezeen.

As climate change forces architects to reconsider how they design their buildings, we’ve rounded up 10 of the latest off-grid homes by eco-minded designers that facilitate low-impact lifestyles.

The Hut, USA, by Midland Architecture

This treehouse-like house on a cattle farm in rural Ohio and was designed by Midland Architecture as a sensitive, self-sufficient addition to its natural setting.

With no access to mains electricity or water, it is powered entirely by solar energy and has been orientated on the site to maximise solar heat gain and enable natural ventilation.

Find out more about The Hut ›

The Edifice, USA, by Marc Thorpe

The Edifice is a low-impact dwelling that Marc Thorpe created in the Catskill Mountains to serve as a sustainable model for a 12-hectare nature retreat that has been proposed nearby.

To prevent reliance on public utilities, it is fitted out with a composting toilet, a rainwater collection system and a wood-burning stove. It also has rooftop solar panels, though lighting is intended to be provided solely by candles.

Find out more about Edifice ›

Catuçaba, Brazil, by Studio MK27

The prefabricated Catuçaba house in Brazil is elevated on stilts and fronted by floor-to-ceiling glazing that offers views out to its remote setting in a rugged, agricultural landscape.

A nearby wind turbine provides the home’s electricity in tandem with rooftop solar panels, with any excess energy stored in batteries beneath the structure. It also features rainwater treatment systems that are used for irrigation, while a nearby spring is used for drinking water.

Find out more about Catuçaba ›

ZeroCabin, Chile, by Felipe Lüer, Hector Becker, Luis Valladares, Andrés Lüer, Oscar Villalon and Ian Burbulis

This self-sufficient dwelling, named ZeroCabin, was conceived as a replicable “kit of parts” that can be customised based on a user’s needs and the local climate and topography.

It has a predominantly timber structure and its energy needs are met by photovoltaic panels, while heat is provided by sunlight and a wood-powered stove. If the cabin was to be built in other locales, the designers claim it can also be fitted with other power-generating devices such as micro water turbines.

Find out more about ZeroCabin ›

Ashen Cabin, USA, by Hannah

This tiny off-grid cabin by US studio Hannah has no power or running water and is reliant on foam insulation and the wood-burning fireplace to regulate the temperature inside.

It sits on 3D-printed concrete stilts and is wrapped in infested ash wood that would have otherwise been burned or left to rot, chosen by Hannah to demonstrate alternative and sustainable methods of construction.

Find out more about Ashen Cabin ›

House of the Big Arch, South Africa, by Frankie Pappas

The off-grid House of the Big Arch by architecture collective Frankie Pappas nestles within Bushveld nature reserve in South Africa, which is an hour-and-a-half drive from the nearest town.

To reduce its impact on this setting, it was built around existing trees on the site and functions completely off-grid using technologies such as solar panels for electricity and a rainwater collection and filtration system for the building’s plumbing.

Find out more about House of the Big Arch ›

Bruny Island Cabin, Australia, by Maguire + Devin

Bruny Island Cabin was designed by Maguire + Devin for a client who desired a minimalist, off-grid home in Tasmania that had everything she needed built-in.

Alongside rainwater collection and solar panels, it relies on a wood-fired burner for warmth and bottled gas for heating water. Both its firewood and gas bottles are stored in a timber shelter adjacent to the house that doubles as a privacy screen.

Find out more about Bruny Island Cabin ›

Heva, France, by A6A

Heva is a 22-square-metre timber cabin owned by A6A co-founder Michel Hardoin that is intended to be taken anywhere and allow his family to live self-sufficiently.

Electricity is generated using rooftop photovoltaic panels, while a wood stove is used for heating. It also has a dry toilet and a wastewater treatment system, though drinking water is provided from a tank that has to be refilled.

Find out more about Heva ›

The Olive Houses, Spain, by Mar Plus Ask

The Olive Houses are a pair of dwellings that Mar Plus Ask has nestled into the mountains of Mallorca as a peaceful getaway for architects, writers and artists.

They are built around a dense grove of thousand-year-old olive trees and large craggy boulders that jut through some of the walls. Among the utilities that help the modest structures function off-grid is a wood-fire oven and a water supply from a nearby spring.

Find out more about The Olive Houses ›

Boar Shoat, USA, by Imbue Design

Imbue Design created this off-grid retreat in Idaho for a family looking for an isolated place to connect with nature and “distance themselves from social stresses”.

It relies on photovoltaic panels for electricity and passive building designs to regulate its internal temperature. This includes glazed areas that bring sunlight in to warm the interiors in winter, while an overhanging roof provides shade from solar heat in the summer.

Find out more about Boar Shoat ›

The post Ten eco-friendly dwellings where residents live off the grid appeared first on Dezeen.

When it comes to sustainable building design, why stop at the structural level? Lighting is also a hugely important element of green standards and the TEO collection of office lighting is designed in an effort to help provide a more sustainable future. From manufacturing and transport to the actual use and afterlife, each of the three pieces has been thoughtfully crafted to have more aesthetic than environmental impact.

The first in the series is the TEO1 pendant lamp that can be hung based on your need for lighting. The wings of the design light up, providing you with a concentrated spotlighting or a more diffused lighting set up based on your needs. The second in the series is the TEO2 standing lamp. Retaining the minimal family aesthetics, the TEO2 lightens up every corner with its angular design. Use it as a reading lamp or to give a secondary lighting source to your room. Last but not least is the TEO3 table lamp. This sleek table lamp carries the straight lines used across the family but misses on the softness of the fabric. The resulting design is an edgy light design that finds itself at home in any interior setting while occupying minimal space. The family is controlled by a wall-mounted remote control that lets you vary the light intensity, warmth and comes with a standby mode to keep you ready to light up!

Using recycled fabric, recycled aluminum, and a wood-plastic composite, this entire light series uses modern pastel colors with soft textures that invite you to interact with the design. Given the ample light settings and the cool remote, this light is sure to be the mood-enhancer your home needs!

Designer: Christoph Andrejcic, Chris Götze, Jakob Tiefenbacher

TEO 1 – Pendant Lamp

TEO 2 – Floor Lamp

TEO 3 – Table Lamp

Remote Control

Appliances can sometimes look intimidating. The OTE Juicer is far from that.

Its small, bulbous design makes it instantly approachable and friendly, while the form language, pastel color cues, and the judicious use of chrome seems very characteristic of companies like SMEG and Cuisinart. The OTE is palm-sized, with a base-heavy design that gives it an adorable appeal, almost like a pudgy little cartoon character. A clear juice-vessel sits on top (like you’d see in a Nutribullet), and a nifty little chrome key on the side lets you control the juicer, making everything from smoothies to shakes, sauces, and spice-powders.

The upper vessel detaches and comes with a separate cap with a wrist-loop too, allowing you to take your juices and smoothies with you when you step out… a much better alternative than that travel mug of overpriced coffee, I assure you.

Designer: InDare