Breaking news: United Arab Emirates’ Wetand pavilion curated by Wael Al Awar and Kenichi Teramoto has won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale.
The UAE pavilion, which investigates using salt as an alternative to Portland cement, was named the winner of the Golden Lion today.
Wetland won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation
Named Wetand, the pavilion won the award for its focus on the construction possibilities of waste materials.
“[It] encourages us to think about the relationship between waste and production at both the local and global scales, and opens to new construction possibilities between craft and high technology,” said the judges.
Award-winning industrial designer, Yohan Lansard, has once again given us a design that we are adding to our “major need!” list. Desk Tidy is both a lamp and a sleek desk organizer (also called desk tidy) for the miscellaneous items that usually cause clutter. The lighting concept is made with machined wood, anodized aluminum, and a diffusing tube.
Both a lamp and a desk tidy, the light turns on when the lightbox is positioned vertically and turns off horizontally – simple, neat, and effective. How the lamp turns on and off is very intuitive as well as the paper-clip-inspired shape makes it even more perfect for your desk. The CMF is minimal and durable, the style would work in any desk or office setup without being distracting.
“Both a lamp and a desk tidy, the light turns on when the lightbox is positioned vertically and turns off horizontally. Available in several forms, this concept makes it possible to respond to different types of objects.” Would be even cooler if the designer could integrate a wireless charging mechanism to provide a distinct differentiation from the metallic charges we see in the market.
The French designer continues to explore this concept which was created for Artemide, an Italian design studio known for its innovative lighting.
Honey Dijon’s partnership with Etsy, for an installment of the Creator Collaborations series, manifests as a gorgeous collection of apparel, accessories, home decor, art and more from 10 makers on the platform. Each piece has been selected by the artist who chose products that connected with her love and appreciation for queer culture of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Our pick is the Stardust and Honey silk scarf from Washington DC-based All Very Goods—founded by Ama Schulman. With Schulman’s design on the 36-inch by 36-inch 100% silk scarf, the accessory features a hand-stitched rolled hem.
We see 3D-printed architecture all the time now, but then Czech Republic-based organization Buřinka thought outside the box and literally took 3D printing outside to create a parkour playground! The 3D-printed parkour playground is the first of its kind constructed from recycled concrete and other eco-friendly construction materials. Parkour is the activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing so the structure was made to be durable and resistant to urban climate.
Designer: Buřinka
Buřinka also made the country’s first 3D-printed house, is adding to its list of 3D construction innovations with a new project. This is a joint project between the private sector, the public sphere, and research ventures. Spanning 14 by 12 meters in size, the parkour playground uses cast rubber for the impact area with individual obstacles made of concrete. Obstacles are printed on a frame printer with materials from Master Builders Solutions CZ to highlight safety and strength. The foundations are printed out of recycled concrete, known as rebetong, in collaboration with researchers from the Brno University of Technology.
The playground, which is designed by Buřinka architect Daniel Samek, is set to open at the end of September 2021 and will be included in the new leisure area at Kupecký Elementary School in Prague. Samek said he was drawn to the project for its accessibility, as parkour doesn’t require any expensive equipment and can be enjoyed by both children and adults. “The playground that is now being created is unique in that it works with rounded shapes,” said the architect. “It brings a revival to parkour.”
In an industry facing many challenges, such as worker shortages and rising building materials, Buřinka maintains that robotics and 3D printing could provide necessary solutions among Czech construction companies. “Housing does not mean just four walls,” said Libor Vošický, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Buřinka. “It is also essential to have a possibility to spend free time outdoors, safely, close to home. There are many playgrounds for preschoolers, but older children don’t have many options, so we decided to use innovative 3D printing technology to create a parkour playground. At the same time, we want to confirm the benefits of using recycled concrete called rebetong. It is another milestone in the use of this innovative technology.”
One of the most spectacular spots in NYC, atop a design-forward hotel on the East River island
When most people think of NYC’s Roosevelt Island, they likely imagine the charming aerial tramway that runs parallel to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge near East 59th Street or perhaps they recall snapping to attention on the slender island (which is actually part of the borough of Manhattan) when the F train passes through for one stop. Some may be aware that Roosevelt Island houses the Cornell Tech campus; others might be familiar with its quiet, ample green space. As of this summer, however, the under-explored East River destination hosts a playful, design-forward hospitality venture known the Graduate Roosevelt Hotel, its first-ever hotel, which is crowned by an 18th floor bar, the Panorama Room, that features stunning 360 degree vistas. It’s NYC like you’ve never seen it before.
The bright, airy and LEED-certified 224-key property is the vision of architecture and design studio Stonehill Taylor along with international architecture and design firm Snøhetta, with the latter also acting as a façade consultant (in order to integrate the building into the surrounding campus). Whimsy abounds—from the book-laden lobby to the retro-inspired ballroom-turned-Big-themed-playroom for all ages. The Graduate hotel brand is used to being in locations that support universities, but between its unexpected yet nearby (for New Yorkers) position, top-tier amenities and superb food and beverage program, it makes for an ideal staycation, as well.
“One of our biggest challenges that we are actually looking forward to is getting people here,” Med Abrous, of hospitality duo Call Mom, tells us on our property tour. Abrous and business partner Marc Rose oversee the food and beverage outlets in this Graduate, as well as the hotel group’s properties in Nashville and Seattle (and, of course, they’re behind LA’s The Spare Room). “But once you get here,” he continues, “you experience these sensations of ‘Where am I?’ and ‘Why is this so close to where I live?’ or ‘I can’t believe I haven’t explored this area.’”
The Graduate Roosevelt Hotel has sentimental value to Rose and Abrous, as both are born and raised New Yorkers. “I think that this is a way to create an experience that is unique and can change the landscape of NYC,” Abrous continues. “It’s been a location that’s idyllic to live on, with almost every sports field around it. But this forward-thinking reinvigoration is important to the city as a whole. It’s a very interesting perspective.”
Call Mom’s ground-floor restaurant, Anything At All, is open all day and flows from the lobby while also incorporating 60 outdoor seats. “It’s a magical space,” Abrous says. He and Rose brought in an all-star, all-woman team to run it, including MINA Group’s Ja’Toria Harper as executive chef; Lindsey Verardo, formerly of Benno and Gramercy Tavern, as executive pastry chef; and beverage director Estelle Bossy, formerly of Union Square Hospitality Group and Del Posto. The restaurant’s menu is comforting and veggie-forward; the cocktail program is thoughtful and innovative.
Public places and meeting spaces are plentiful. Regardless of where one ends up in the property, you can’t help but feel connected to the water. Many guest rooms also provide electric views of the the skyline. Graduate’s in-house design team handled the decor—and Roosevelt Island’s history runs through the rooms (as do nods to Cornell and Cornell alums).
“When we signed on for the project and stood on this half-built building, we really started developing a strong identity for what could be our lure, something that would bring people to the middle of the East River, something spectacular,” Abrous says from the elegant Panorama Room, which blends indoor and outdoor seating. The views really are unlike any other—because one like this has never been built.
“This is a New York story because this view is New York as far as the eye can see. There’s no New Jersey. There’s Downtown Brooklyn, Manhattan, One World Trade, the entire east side. At the bar, the backdrop is the 59th Street Bridge. We’re beside its armature,” Abrous says. “We knew we needed to be like a lighthouse, a beacon to let people know we are here, so we worked very hard with our designers, PLD, to be able to glow.” Nothing is an afterthought. And the only way to understand how it feels is to go yourself, whether that’s by the subway, tram or even the ferry, as Abrous himself sometimes does.
Lucas Couto is a bi-hemispherical industrial designer, hailing from Brazil but currently based in Norway, where he works for Microsoft on UX in mixed reality. “As an Industrial Designer I constantly have to work with physical UIs,” he writes. “I wanted to explore more of these interfaces we encounter on a daily basis. I want to understand better the affordance and semantics of the interactions and what goes on in our minds when we relate to them.”
The result are these explorations in user interfaces:
These were done independently of Couto’s job, on his own time. But “After this pandemic,” he writes, “I’ll try to bring this topic to real-life meetings with my colleagues.”
Dezeen Showroom:Narbutas has expanded its collection of Twist&Sit seating by Christina Strand and Niels Hvass, adding soft lounge chairs and sofas ideal for contemporary office spaces.
The upholstered seating range, dubbed Twist&Sit Soft, retains the design features of the existing collection but gives them a more relaxed feeling conducive to collaborative meeting spaces, rest zones and other informal workspaces.
The Twist&Sit Soft collection features seating with high and low backs
Twist&Sit Soft seating comes in sizes ranging from lounge chairs to two- and three-seater sofas, with the option of either high or low backs.
The low-back seating is ideal for reception areas, cafes or any setting where collaboration is encouraged, while the high-back versions create more private spaces for those looking to separate themselves from distraction.
The seating is ideal for office cafes, collaborative spaces and receptions
The high-back sofas and chairs can also be customised with a swivel table or decorative wooden knobs.
“Twist&Sit Soft invites you to stop, sit down and relax,” said Strand + Hvass.
“When creating the system, we wanted to reflect the hygge, cosy, warm and homey atmosphere in the office,” the design studio added. “A wide variety of colours, low-back and high-back models, and additional practical accessories make you feel welcome.”
About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen’s huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
Japanese studio Kiyoaki Takeda Architects has completed a plant-covered house in Tokyo featuring vaulted slabs filled with soil for growing plants.
Kiyoaki Takeda, founder of Kiyoaki Takeda Architects, designed the Tsuruoka House after reading an article in the scientific journal Nature explaining that the mass of human-made objects had now exceeded that of all living biomass.
Kiyoaki Takeda Architects’ Tsuruoka House was designed to include many plants
Takeda wanted to develop an architectural response to this alarming statistic and chose to design a house incorporating gardens across multiple layers that could support both plants and wildlife.
“Tsuruoka House is an architecture that attempts to hold not only people but also other life forms,” Takeda explained.
“By opening the garden to other available life forms, providing them with a place to inhabit, and co-creating the community, the ‘garden’ becomes an ‘environment’.”
The house’s vaulted-floor slabs contain soil for planting
Rather than merely creating a garden that surrounds the base of the building, Takeda chose to stack the gardens vertically to increase the amount of space available for plants.
Unlike typical green roofs, which feature a thin layer of soil suitable only for growing grasses, sedum or mosses, Tsuruoka House’s vaulted slabs are filled with soil that can support plants and trees with deeper roots.
The roof has deep soil for larger plants
“The thickness of the soil was plotted as deep as possible so that the layered garden would be a small forest hosting a mixture of ground cover plants, shrubs and small trees,” the architect added.
“This approach goes against modern rooftop greening, which pursues thinner soil.”
Rooms inside the house have vaulted ceilings
The slabs for the building’s first floor and roof feature vaulted profiles that contain soil within their hollow cores.
The shape of the vaults allows rainwater to permeate naturally to the lower sections where it then drains away through channels integrated into the main structure.
Concrete and steel are visible throughout the home
A robust construction was required to manage the weight of the compost, the growing plants and the rain that can soak the soil and increase its density.
The architects responded to the challenges by incorporating overflow pipes that come into effect during heavy rain. The soil is also layered so the dense upper layer retains most of the moisture needed by the plants, while the more permeable lower level facilitates drainage.
The living spaces have large windows that overlook a river
The thick layer of soil provides other benefits, including protection from the heat in summer and the ability to store and gradually release heat from the underfloor heating in winter.
Inside the living areas, the irregular form of the vaulted ceilings adds visual interest to the spaces as it changes from a maximum height of 3.5 metres to just two metres in some places.
At its lowest points, the ceiling can be touched by reaching up.
In these places, the architect incorporated bolts and other fixings for suspending hammocks, pendant lights or planters.
Angular planters are integrated into the floors
While the majority of the vegetation is located on the roof and in planted areas encircling the first and ground floors, there are also angular planters integrated into the floors of living spaces on both levels.
The large roof garden contains a pergola and an open-air kitchen overlooking the adjacent river and surrounding neighbourhood.
The bathroom occupies another vaulted space
Once matured, the plants will envelop the house and shield the interiors from view, forming a green barrier that will also help to regulate the internal temperature and improve air quality around the building.
“Over time, the plants will grow and birds and insects will introduce unplanned species,” Takeda claimed.
“Eventually, a small forest could appear. Then, after decades, existing life forms will grow and hide the building entirely, and ultimately their bio-mass must surpass the mass of the human-made architecture.”
Featuring glorious photography by Adrianna Glaviano, the book Edible Flowers: How, Why, and When We Eat Flowers by Monica Nelson is part practical guide, history book and personal story—all organized alphabetically by each bloom’s common name. 100 flowers are featured alongside their Latin name, locations, blooming seasons, flavor profiles and which part is edible. Also outlined are historical practices (from ancient Greeks and Romans drinking violet wine to help with hangovers to medieval women adding borage to drinks as a kind of love potion) and culinary and cultural uses (like hibiscus drinks in Cambodia and the use of rose water in cooking across the Middle East, India and North Africa). There are also various contributions—including recipes—from chefs, writers and artists.
Steve Jobs was famous for disrupting industries. He started with computers, then music, then cellphones, and finally revolutionized the digital marketplace with the app store… Cook continued that legacy by further disrupting watches, and then conveniently reimagining payments, through the newly launched Apple Card. Seems like the iPhone 13 is set to disrupt connectivity as we know it, being one of the first consumer-grade phones to have direct satellite connectivity.
The news comes as a rumor from renowned analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo. While it’s common to make predictions only to have them fall slightly short, Kuo’s analyses and ‘leaks’ have an incredibly high success rate… and the veteran analyst just dropped a big bomb-shell a few hours ago – that the latest iPhone might have the ability to make satellite calls.
In a note to investors, Kuo made claims that the new iPhone would be able to connect directly with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites thanks to a customized Qualcomm X60 baseband chip. Low Earth Orbit satellites recently gained popularity, thanks to Elon Musk’s efforts with his Starlink project – an initiative to flood the lower atmosphere with satellites that would provide internet to all corners of the globe. Operating at a level much closer to earth than traditional satellites, LEOs tend to avoid some of the more common pitfalls of satellite internet, like high latency, and frequent blackouts. Starlink is one of many companies launching these LEO satellites into space, and Kuo hints that the Qualcomm X60 chip in the iPhone 13 may just support some form of satellite connectivity. In layman’s terms, this would translate to better 5G coverage in areas that may not have the 5G towers or infrastructure… or even 3G or 4G connectivity for that matter. Sounds interesting, although my doubt remains… how much more expensive would this connectivity-feature be?
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.
