Hasta La Ideas

Dezeen Showroom: the LX671 chair, designed by Christian Werner for Leolux LX, is distinguished by its slim, curved armrests and contoured shell seat.

Suitable for both home and office, the LX671 chair combines an ergonomic design with expressive, mismatched upholstery.

In keeping with Leolux LX’s philosophy of “empowering expression”, the chair’s inner and outer sections can be upholstered separately.

Buyers can mix and match any of the brand’s fabric and leather options, enabling the creation of richly textured, personalised pieces.

There is also the option to add stitching in a contrasting colour.

The versatile LX671 chair is well-suited to conference and meeting rooms, and available with either solid oak legs, a trapezoidal steel base or a swivel base with gliders or castors.

Product: LX671
Brand: Leolux LX
Contact: info@leolux-lx.com

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.

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If a car-motorcycle hybrid electric vehicle is what you mustered up in your wildest dream, then this is it. Even better how about a sci-fi vehicle that connects to you like a second skin? Meet the R RYZR EV designed by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The high-profile studio in London’s Marylebone has broken the shackles of automotive boundaries with a concept that they claim is the “ultimate symbiosis of man and machine.”

Why’s that? Because this vehicle comes with a special jacket that needs to be locked into place into the seat before it can even get going. SAIC aims to bring a sublime EV experience tailored for the fashion-conscious lot. So the RYZR Smart-JKT (the advanced suit) is the key connecting the user to the vehicle by sitting in the driving seat. The bike-car  hybrid adapts the best of both worlds by bringing the agility of a motorcycle and having the reassuring stability of a four-wheeler. The vehicle’s cockpit is open on all ends to make the riders have a “thrilling yet safe urban experience.”

R RYZR is built for the crowded city streets as well as open freeways – that’s the USP of the concept. It has a central spine running the length of the chassis, and two seats are suspended on either side. The drive-by-wire assisted centrally-mounted steering wheel is designed to operate independently of its position. Meaning, both the driver and passenger can drive it from their sitting position by simply sliding it. The central spine gives the EV freedom to pivot on the front and rear arms – this makes leaning and carving through tight corners on the hubless wheels highly maneuverable.

According to Carl Gotham, the company’s Advanced Design Director “R RYZR is an exciting and visceral vision of the future of urban travel. By exploring the unconventional, it unlocks new modes of transport for the future, new experiences, and new emotions.” I can’t help but agree with the vision, since getting the better of mobility challenges demands such vehicles that people would actually want to use.

Designer: SAIC Design

A fairytale-like, five-star Relais & Châteaux escape near the south gateway of the beloved national park

From nature-covered campgrounds to historic lodges in tiny towns, various styles of accommodation populate the wondrous wooded areas in and around Yosemite National Park. None are quite like Oakhurst, California’s Chateau du Sureau, an elegant retreat etched into nine hillside acres with views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Though the Relais & Châteaux property—which also houses a peaceful outdoor pool, spa and fine-dining restaurant—is still roughly an hour-long drive to the national park’s central visitor’s center (but much closer to the south gate and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias), it’s an ideal destination for travelers seeking a charming European aesthetic or an all-around fairytale environment.

The design of the property’s central structure, which features a stone turret and terra cotta roofing, alludes to the Provençal architecture of the south of France. Within, visitors will find 10 spacious guest rooms, with no two alike. A grand living room, with a piano and boardgames, welcomes guests as if they’re members of the family. Nearby, a two-bedroom villa offers a remote, yet equally fantastical escape.

For more than 30 years, the highly-awarded hotel, spa and restaurant have welcomed guests into what is the grand vision of chef, restaurateur and hotelier Erna Kubin-Clanin. Though Kubin-Clanin recently sold the property to hotelier and restaurateur Bernard Rosenson, the enchantment remains intact and Rosenson intends to keep it that way.

In addition to the quiet splendors of the property and the outdoor patios to drink and dine on, Chateau du Sureau also equips guests for their Yosemite excursions. During our stay, they made sure we had acquired vehicle passes to the park, assisted in our itinerary planning and, most deliciously, sent us off in the very early morning with picnic baskets that included ample fruit and water (which we brought with us on our 17 miles of hikes).

“We have a lot of travelers who start in San Francisco or Napa and will pass through to us on their way to Yosemite,” chef Robert Snyder of Chateau du Sureau’s Elderberry House Restaurant tells us. “We hold such a unique position. People feel like they’ve found us. There’s an element of surprise. We blow people away and they don’t necessarily expect that in this area.”

There’s no better spokesperson for the restaurant or hotel than Snyder, who started on the premises 15 years ago. In fact, he came first as a guest to see what he could contribute to their culinary adventures. Snyder’s worked at many prestigious institutions and for several celebrated chefs, from French Laundry to studying under Alice Waters. He’s left Chateau du Sureau a few times—but he keeps coming back.

“It’s just this place. It’s magical. I love it. It’s very guest-oriented,” he says. But regarding the restaurant, and its 100 heads per night, he adds, “I’ve been a lot of places but California’s Central Valley is so unique when it comes to ingredient content. It’s one of the biggest agricultural centers in the world.” Snyder uses the seasons to keep the menu exciting, and 95% of their ingredients come from farms nearby. “Nothing comes in frozen,” he says. “Everything is done in-house. The property has been doing business with many of these farmers for 30 years.”

“I like to compare it to Europe, with the experience, the level of service and the attention of the staff,” Snyder says of both the hotel and restaurant. “We’ve adopted these traditions from European service. We treat our guests like respected members of our family.” Walking through the corridors, or along the pathways on the grounds, it does often feel more like a home than a hotel—with breakfast served in the dining room of the chateau itself and staff often lending assistance right in the entry foyer.

“You get clientele that really enjoy the outdoor experience, and for some of them it might even be their first time going to Yosemite,” Snyder says of those who stay at the chateau. “It’s a gateway to Yosemite and there’s nothing like this anywhere near here. That’s what makes it unique. Four million tourists go through the two gateways into the national park but there’s only one property like ours.”

Images courtesy of Chateau du Sureau

Lithuanian practice Šilta Šiauré has completed a block of four holiday apartments in the coastal resort town of Palanga, which has been shortlisted in the residential rebirth category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

After finding the remains of a fishing hut that had burnt down on the site, the Svencioneliai-based firm drew on its traditional form for the new design, which features a thatched mansard roof and charred timber cladding in reference to the fate of the old building.

Located close to a campsite, the 83-square-metre building is divided into four compact accommodation units, which are operated by the leisure company Jūra Spot and provide space for up to 12 people.

“The foundations of the hut tell stories about the historical Fisherman’s household, and local people found an old picture of the hut which became our inspiration,” said the practice.

“One of the main design goals was to restore the house in a subtly contemporary manner, without losing the unique spirit of the village,” it said.

“It feels old and rustic from a distance and transforms into a new and contemporary building as you come closer.”

Named after the cardinal points – the four main compass directions – each of the four apartments features its own individual access door, as well as a section of an external wooden deck with seating areas that wraps around the perimeter.

A kitchenette, bathroom, small dining area and a living and sleeping space with a sofa bed have been provided for each apartment, with the slightly larger apartments at the eastern and western ends of the block featuring mezzanine sleeping areas.

Accessed via small wooden staircases, the beds in these upper spaces are tucked into the projecting dormer windows, one of which extends outwards to create a covered porch area on the decking below.

“The aim was to design light and cosy apartments, which are close in size to the campers standing in the neighbourhood and accommodate as many guests as possible,” the studio said.

“Privacy was one of our client’s requirements and design challenges, therefore each of the apartments has an individual entrance and a terrace.”

Inside, the apartments contrast this dark exterior with white-painted wood-plank walls and white ceilings, with the floors finished in herringbone paving.

Other projects nominated in the residential rebirth category of this year’s Dezeen Awards include Terracotta House by Austin Maynard Architects and Steel Craft House by Zecc Architecten.

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I wholeheartedly believe that this is a cat’s world, and we’re just living in it! If you have a cat or two, then you know that they are the true masters of our home, and we are their abiding slaves, tending to their every need, always at their beck and call. They’re the apple of our eyes, and we would do almost anything to keep them happy and comfy, including showering them with cat-friendly furniture designs that they can lounge and relax about on. I’m always trying to create a comfortable and interactive living space for my own cats – from a cat tower that doubles up as a vanity mirror to a cat-centered table featuring a cavity and hidden shelf for your petto perch on, I’m ready to invest them in all. And this collection of cat products promise to be the investments that do exactly that! They will cater purrfectly to your cat’s every need! Happy kitties guaranteed!

What could I do to make my bedroom my cat’s favorite place? The Gatrimonial bed frame, made by a company called CatLife, made this dream a reality. They make furniture that doubles as an adventurous cat’s dream. At first glance, the bed frame looks like a hollow base with circular entrances in each corner. It has plenty of space for your cat to stretch its limbs underneath your bed. When you lift the mattress, it reveals an elaborate maze to keep your feline entertained. The frame also has two sections with a splattering of tiny paw-sized holes that could either be peep-holes or a little trap for unsuspecting paw swipes. Your ankles will not appreciate it, but your cat will love the hunt.

Sio is a cat tower carved from natural wood with integrated perch swings and cushioned hideouts for cats to climb and rest until they’re ready for a catnap. The Sio cat tree keeps the same shape as a twin step ladder, providing a semi-enclosed bottom resting area and carpeted steps with connecting slings where cats can relax and keep a close eye on their humans. Constructed from natural wood, the Sio cat tree is discreet enough to fit into most modern living rooms and blend in with the rest of the furniture.

This table designed by Dinos for cat owners is handcrafted by local craftspeople from natural red oak wood to age well over time and remain a place where your cat can perch. The table’s rounded corners are also specially sanded down to ensure safe climbing and jumping for your cat. When you’d like your cats to join you while you work, the table features a center cavity through which they can poke their heads and see what you’re up to. In the center of the table, the craftspeople at Dinos carved a 16cm hole just above a circular shelf where your cat can rest. When your cat isn’t resting on the shelf, it can be used to store items like magazines or even cat toys.

Created from premium quality maple wood, and textured sisal fabric, the collection was inspired by architectural columns, wooden dowels, soft edges, and simple geometric shapes. And it really shows through in the furniture pieces! The collection consists of five interesting pieces. You have a beautiful light maple wood chair, that functions as a pet-human chair! This basically means your cat and you can lounge about on the same chair, spending quality time without invading each other’s privacy. The lower section functions as a safe space for your cat to rest in! The collection also includes a litter box with an arched roof. The upper section consists of columns that provide your cat privacy as he/she carries out their business, and also allows the litter box to integrate with your living space, without actually looking like one! Rise also consists of two cat beds. One is pretty compact and small in size and occupies minimum space. The other one is larger in size and is designed to fit into any corner of your home. It also includes a scratching post. The final design in the collection is a cat climber that also doubles up as a scratching post! The climber keeps your pet engaged, active, and productive!

Developed specifically for small to medium-sized apartments, Co-Living is a full-body mirror and cat tower combined to become a shared, interactive piece of interior furniture for cats and humans alike. When looking at Co-Living head-on, it appears as just another full-body mirror, but a closer look reveals its multi-functionality. With an arched top and bottom, the mirror stands on one wooden peg in front of Co-Living’s rear cat tower. Constructed vertically, Co-Living is designed to encourage cats’ natural climbing tendencies by incorporating multiple carpeted tiers from which they can hop on and off until reaching the top.

The Desco Aluminum Cat Feeder by MiaCara is the perfect cutlery to spruce up your cat’s meals! The set consists of two bowls that are placed on a stand. The stand is made from powder-coated aluminum, and features a crip matte finish! The two bowls, on the other hand, are crafted from stainless steel, hence creating a shiny and attractive contrast to the matte stand. The feeder is a minimal and Nordic-inspired pet product that will perfectly integrate into your home. You can bid adieu to the eyesore-ish feeders that tend to clutter up your living space!

The Petpresso Smart Cat Care Device keeps your kitties as healthy and happy as possible! The system provides food and water to your cats, while also actively monitoring their drinking and eating habits. It keeps tabs on your pet to ensure, they are eating and drinking well since irregular eating and drinking patterns can be the first indicators of any health issues. Weighting sensors also monitor and determine when your cat eats and drinks. A companion app helps you manage how much food is being dispensed and helps you set feeding times as well. This cat care device is the ultimate caretaker for your pet!

Featuring concealed storage areas and tucked-away hideouts, Neko Goten was designed on the basis of understanding the behavior of cats with acute attention to what makes them really purr. On the left side, Neko Goten’s staircase brings cats to alternating jumping perches where cats can leapfrog before heading up to the tower’s plastic hemisphere that hovers above the entire play area. Below the staircase, a hideout offers a covert place for cats to rest without bother. Then, the center section of Neko Goten features a hive-like resting area that’s stationed atop a hollowed-out carpeted ring reminiscent of a hamster wheel, where cats can either rest, scratch, or knead until a cat nap’s in order.

PaiPai Pets’ double basin cat kennel is a cat tower and console storage cabinet in one. Looking at the kennel head-on, two wide doors border a narrower middle door, which opens up to the kennel’s storage unit and jungle-gym interior. On the left and right sides of the kennel, there’s enough space to fit two large litter boxes, which are always accessible through the middle door’s open porthole. Behind the kennel’s center cabinet, storage shelves can be found where cat owners can stow away smaller items like cans of wet cat food and litter scoopers. Painted in bright white, with natural wood accents along the perimeter, the kennel can remain discreet even in busier home spaces like the living room or den. Along the sides of the kennel, smaller portholes allow for plenty of airflows as well as a fun way for you to play whack-a-mole with your cat.

The Wool Felt Castle Bed is what cat dreams are made of! Created from wool felt, fleece, and plenty of cushions, the cat bed is as comfortable as a bed can get. Large enough for pets of all sizes, the little bed provides the perfect private little spot for your kitty, since they always crave their fair share of personal space and isolation.