Adèle Renault est une artiste originaire des Ardennes Belge, aujourd’hui basée à Los Angeles, qui sait comment dépeindre, avec talent, ce que la plupart des gens trouvent banal. Des pigeons aux personnes, elle se concentre sur les représentations réalistes des habitants ordinaires de la ville, sur des toiles ou des peintures murales massives. Pour le London Mural Festival, 2020, mais aussi pour l’Artscape Festival en Suède, en 2020, l’artiste a représenter, en taille réelle, un ensemble bien fourni de plumes qui présente un magnifique travail sur la couleur. Dans sa série « West Adams », son travail est différent. Elle y a réalisé les portraits des personnes qui l’entourent dans son studio de Los Angeles. « Des visages familiers que je voyais quotidiennement et auxquels je voulais rendre hommage », explique-t-elle sur son site internet.
Canadian design studio Untitled [design agency] has used materials that will age gracefully, such as limestone and fir woods, to create a calm ambiance within its renovation of this Vancouver home, which has been shortlisted for a Dezeen Award.
The 223-square-metre duplex residence, called the Still Life house, is located in the beachside neighbourhood of Kits Point in Vancouver.
Still Life house features fir wood elements
Invited to give the interiors a complete overhaul, the design studio set out to balance the house’s traditional architectural forms with contemporary interventions. It called the design process “a practice of restraint.”
“During the early stages of the project, the homeowners were after an unapologetically modern interior, which proved to be challenging,” explained the studio, which is led by designer Daniel Ching.
Oak cabinetry in the living space
“The dialogue between the intrinsic architecture of the home and a true-to-form modern interior became disjointed,” the studio said.
“As the interiors were developed, a softer interior language came to light. While a strong language of clean lines was maintained, the material palette was steeped in old-world traditions, which became a key design element.”
A neutral colour palette is used throughout the house
The studio selected a palette of unifying materials and colours that were used throughout the house. These include traditional materials such as limestone – used on the counters and fireplace hearth; fir wood floors, and oak cabinetry.
To balance the design’s minimalist appearance, the studio avoided modern-engineered finishes and instead opted for unadorned materials that will patina over time.
Functional elements such as kitchen appliances and storage are concealed behind oak cabinetry.
“With an absence of adornment, materiality and proportion were key design elements of this project,” said the studio. “Every visible angle was studied. As such, a great amount of time and energy was put into developing harmonious details, which can be appreciated throughout each room. ”
The interiors are furnished with vintage furniture collected by the homeowner, including collectible pieces by George Nakashima, Hans Wegner, Charlotte Perriand, Poul Kjaerholm, and Norman Cherner.
Limestone and wood were also used in the bathroom
Influenced by the owner’s collectible furniture pieces, Untitled [design agency] also created bespoke furniture specifically for the house including a dining table, bookshelves, writing desks, beds, and night tables.
“We believe in design defined by modern minimalism and clean lines while emoting a sense of warmth,” concluded the studio. “The Still Life house is a manifestation of this philosophy.”
Designer Yuan Youmin explains how he created a special edition of Rado‘s True Square watch by drawing from traditional Chinese measuring instruments in this video produced by Dezeen for the Swiss watch brand.
Yuan drew inspiration from a traditional measuring device called a steelyard to design the watch for Rado, which is called Rado True Square True Heart.
Chinese designer Yuan Youmin has created a special edition of Rado’s True Square watch
Steelyards work by using a sliding counterweight to counterbalance the load of an object placed in a tray at the end of a rod to indicate its weight.
“Steelyards have been anchored into Chinese life for almost two thousand years,” Yuan explained in the video, which Dezeen filmed at his studio in Hangzhou.
“They consist of a graduated measuring rod, a weighing tray and a movable counterweight.”
The design of the watch draws from traditional Chinese measuring instruments
Yuan took the dot graduation marks on a Chinese steelyard rod and used these as the basis for the hour markings on the timepiece.
“I used the dot graduation marked on the beam of a steelyard as a motif for the watch,” he explained.
“The lever arms of the scales become the slender watch hands, the round dial represents the weighing tray.”
The markings on the watch face are gold coloured. The back of the watch case features the representation of a phoenix.
“On the back of the watch case is an image of a phoenix, which symbolises rebirth of traditional elements,” said Yuan.
The back of the watch features an image of a phoenix
Like all True Square watches, Yuan’s watch for Rado is produced using the Swiss brand’s injection-moulding technology and signature ceramic material.
“The watch is made from Rado’s high-tech ceramic material, which is lightweight, scratch-resistant and pleasant to touch,” said Yuan.
“The importance of craftsmanship is what unites ancient Chinese culture with the precision of Swiss watchmaking.”
The watch is made from Rado’s high-tech ceramic material
Rado has collaborated with a wide range of designers around the world to create special editions of its True Square watch.
Yuan is a graphic designer, lecturer and curator based in Hangzhou, China. He runs a design agency called STUDIO0909 and is a professor at the China Academy of Art.
Yuan Youmin is a graphic designer, lecturer and curator based in Hangzhou, China
Yuan believes that the strength of his design lies in the rich history that inspired it.
“The watch brings together thousands of years of Chinese culture with contemporary minimalist design to create a sophisticated timepiece that combines different cultures and epochs,” he said.
This video was filmed by Dezeen in Hangzhou, China.
Partnership content
This video was produced by Dezeen for Rado as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen’s partnership content here.
Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has designed a curved structure that pays homage to Qatar‘s coat of arms for the country’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Calatrava’s Qatar Pavilion opens today with the rest of Expo 2020 Dubai, which was rescheduled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will now take place until March 2022.
The Qatar Pavilion is informed by the country’s coat of arms
Representing Qatar at the international event, the pavilion was informed by the country’s national emblem adopted in 1976.
Qatar’s coat of arms includes two curved and crossed swords, illustrated to look as if they are holding a patch of seawater, on which a traditional dhow boat and an island with palm trees are positioned.
Neutral colours are used for the pavilion’s interiors
According to the architect, the sweeping shape of Qatar’s pavilion echoes the essence of this insignia, through a design that exudes “movement, mobility, strength and tradition.”
“The Qatar Pavilion pays tribute to the country’s coat of arms, which is rooted in its rich history and cultural heritage,” said Calatrava, who heads his eponymous practice.
“Each element informed the curvilinear design of the pavilion which evokes the image of sails on passing ships,” the office of Santiago Calatrava told Dezeen.
“The structure’s surroundings tell as much of a story as the building itself. The entrance to the pavilion is marked by a sculptural monument that represents two intertwined palm trees and is surrounded by water features that serve as an homage to the Arabian Gulf which encompasses the nation of Qatar.”
A gold-coloured structure represents palm trees
The pavilion’s curved structure is the same neutral colour as a lower building that intersects it, with both volumes encompassing 960 square metres.
Nearby, a gold-coloured structure intends to echo the palm trees on Qatar’s coat of arms, while the pavilion’s soaring angles reference the curved form of the dhow.
“The pavilion’s design emulates a modern interpretation of Qatar’s progressive outlook of the future and history,” the studio said. “We hope visitors will walk away truly understanding the essence of Qatar.”
Inside, two main galleries and exhibition spaces aim to provide an immersive and experiential education on the history of Qatar, along with sections that focus on the country’s present and future.
“The project draws inspiration from the urban fabric from which it rises, to serve as an extension of the country,” added Santiago Calatrava CEO, Micael Calatrava.
Galleries inside the pavilion provide information on Qatar’s rich history
Though Santiago Calatrava isn’t a Qatari studio, it feels “part of the nation,” it added.
“We have a team on the ground in UAE, run by Micael Calatrava (Santiago Calatrava’s son),” the studio said. “The Calatrava International office was settled in Doha, Qatar, before relocating to Dubai many years ago, so we are very much a part of the nation and understand it on a deep level.”
“Aside from that, our firm process always includes immersing ourselves in the region’s built environment before designing a structure.”
Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava founded his international architecture office in 1981. The firm is currently constructing The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York as part of the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site.
The photography is courtesy of Santiago Calatrava.
Expo 2020 Dubai will run from 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
Other events taking place this month include Archtober, a New York City-based celebration of architecture and design, and Design Korea, which will comprise an exhibition and three business events in Seoul that address carbon neutral design.
Read on for details of five highlights and see Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.
Top and above: Dutch Design Week takes place in Eindhoven
Taking place across various locations in Eindhoven, Dutch Design Week returns over nine days from 16 to 24 October.
After last year’s virtual edition, which was limited due to the coronavirus pandemic, the design week returns this year as a physical event.
A series of exhibitions, debates, lectures, awards ceremonies and networking opportunities will be hosted at over 100 locations across the city, with an emphasis on the themes of innovation and experimentation.
Flexform and Perrier-Jouët are among the brands that will host exhibitions during Designart Tokyo, an annual festival that takes place in Japan and provides creatives with an opportunity to connect.
With the theme of “chance,” this year’s edition will continue its tradition of aiming to provide a platform for young artists and designers to publicly showcase their work.
Design Market will be a new digital feature at Design Week Mexico
The month of October sees Design Week Mexico return to the country with the theme “design is the answer”, and will honour the culture of Oaxaca as this year’s chosen guest state.
The event will take place at locations across Mexico and online and span four main exhibitions, with participants including GG Architecture, Studioroca and ADG Workshop.
Design Week Mexico’s 2021 edition includes a new feature called Design Market. This commercial platform will provide a digital space for designers from all over the country to exhibit and market their products.
Despite being rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai retains its original name and will run for six months in the city.
Themed Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai will exhibit work from 190 countries, including pavilions built for the expo titled Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.
Attendees to Copenhagen Architecture Festival will experience a series of events including film screenings, debates, exhibitions and art performances under the theme Landscapes of Care.
Discussing architecture’s impact on daily life, this theme aims to explore issues related to climate change and inequality at Copenhagen’s annual architecture festival, which is the largest of its kind in Scandinavia.
Among the featured events is a debate about the longevity of architecture with curator Joseph Grima, and a documentary about architect Dorte Mandrup.
About Dezeen Events Guide
Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.
The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks, as well as up-to-date information about what events have been cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Inclusion in the guide is free for basic listings, with events selected at Dezeen’s discretion. Organisers can get enhanced or premium listings for their events, including images, additional text and links, by paying a modest fee.
In addition, events can ensure inclusion by partnering with Dezeen. For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide and media partnerships with Dezeen, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.
It was pretty common in medieval castles to have rooms and hallways with built-in torch sconces – wall-mounted metal holders designed for you to put your burning torch in, so it would light up the room or hallway. In its essence, the torch was like a portable lamp that also worked as an area light when docked into the torch holder. Gingko’s Smart Baton Light builds on that medieval interaction, giving it an incredibly modern, minimalist design refresh!
Designer: Paul Sun of Gingko Design
Click Here to Buy Now: $55.20$69 (20% off with coupon code “GINGKO-YD”). Hurry, sale ends October 5th and for YD readers only!
The Smart Baton Light is essentially a baton-shaped lamp with a wooden base that you can carry around with you. Each baton, however, comes with a magnetic wall-mount, allowing you to attach the Smart Baton Light onto a wall when you don’t want to carry it – essentially transforming it from a handheld torch to a wall-light. The baton-shaped light comes with a Scandinavian-inspired design, boasting a simple cylindrical shape with a wooden grip, and a frosted acrylic diffuser on top that helps scatter the light.
It runs on an internal battery that can be periodically recharged, sports a nifty motion-sensor that can automatically activate the lamp in the dark, and is accompanied by a minimalist wooden wall-mount, that lets you easily attach the lamp to it using powerful rare-earth magnets. The minimalist mounts come with adhesive stickers on the back that allow you to attach them anywhere, and they can be screwed into the wall too, as a permanent fixture.
The lights provide a sophisticated, elegant way to illuminate your home. When mounted, they work as ambient area-lights that fill your room/hallway with a faint glow, and if you need a torch to carry to the next room, you can simply unplug a baton from its mount and carry it with you. The batons are magnetic too, which means you can even attach them to metallic surfaces like cupboards, fridges, or the side of your car. Their handy, portable design makes them perfect for the outdoors as well, and you can easily pack/store them in your suitcase or backpack, or carrying them in your car on a camping trip.
Although the Smart Baton Lights have a simple on-off button on the grip, they come with a built-in motion sensor too that works in the dark, activating the light for 15 seconds when you walk by. This clever little design detail means you never need to struggle to find the baton or feel around for the switchboard in the dark. Just walk by the Smart Baton Light and it automatically illuminates, casting a comforting warm glow to help you see in the dark. The motion-sensing Auto Mode can be disabled too if you want to simply control your Smart Baton Light using the simple On-Off Mode.
The Smart Baton Lights come with real wooden grips, offering a choice between darker walnut wood and lighter white ash wood. On the opposite end of the baton is a cylindrical diffuser made from frosted acrylic glass, with a 1W warm-white LED on the inside. An internal 500mAh battery gives the light 15-30 days of illumination (depending on your usage) and can be recharged using the USB cable provided along with the light. Each Smart Baton Light comes with a 2-year warranty, and ships internationally.
Click Here to Buy Now: $55.20$69 (20% off with coupon code “GINGKO-YD”). Hurry, sale ends October 5th and for YD readers only!
Four Leaves Villa designed by Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS) is a form of organic architecture with a gently twisted, multi-tiered roof that mimics the sloping curve of fallen leaves and a central garden courtyard, the home’s concealed centerpiece.
150 kilometers from the buzzing city streets of Tokyo, Japan, a forested plot of land in Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture of Japan, is home to a weekend retreat designed to mirror the fallen leaves that surround it. Dubbed Four Leaves Villa, the privately-owned residence is a form of organic architecture with a split-level roof designed by Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS) that mimics the undulating, overlapping pattern of fallen leaves.
Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture with a primary goal of harmonizing human habitation with nature. Following the philosophy of organic architecture, the varying orientations of Four Leaves Villa’s living and dining spaces were specifically chosen with consideration to the use of each space and the amount of natural sunlight that might benefit each room’s function.
The living and dining areas face southeast to collect pools of natural sunlight, brightening each room during the day for meals and social gatherings. Then, the bedrooms are posed west to catch views of the forest’s dense brushwood that provides a sense of privacy during the day and coziness at night.
The gently twisted roofs also provide plenty of overhangs to brace guests against the blaze of sun rays. The constructional combination of a concave and convex roof makes for a dynamic interior volume. Where the roof inclines outside, the interior ceiling, lined with exposed wooden beams, reaches lofty heights.
Describing the roof in their own words, KIAS notes, “Every roof has been designed as a Ruled Surface in which straight Laminated Veneer Lumber joists are arranged continuously to form an organic geometry. A series of wooden joists are exposed on the ceiling highlighting the dynamic spatial characters of each living space.”
The interior living, dining, and sleeping spaces are split between three interconnected structural volumes placed on site amongst a preexisting lot of trees. From above, the open-air garden courtyard functions as the home’s centerpiece and the point where the three structural volumes meet, offering an outdoor leisure area where the home’s guests can come together and spend time in nature.
“Displaying vegetables and fruits makes me remember to eat them”, said one of the target users in an interview with designer Tati Ferrucio while she was developing The Fresh Fridge.
The Fresh Fridge relooks the very brief of the refrigerator. Most fridges are designed to perform one prime function – keeping your food fresh for long. The Fresh Fridge, however, also considers other aspects like the contents of the fridge and the behaviors of the user, and promotes a lifestyle that gets you to eat healthier, more nutritious food like fruits and vegetables. With a transparent door, the Fresh Fridge feels like the produce section of the supermarket. The fruits are kept on display, reminding you to eat them when you’re hungry, and the transparent window actually discourages you from wanting to keep unhealthy food in the fridge, in case other people see it and judge your eating habits.
The Fresh Fridge is an ecosystem featuring the fridge itself, and a smart display above it. Designed by IDSA Student Merit Award-winner Tati Ferrucio, the Fresh Fridge focuses on the complex system of a healthier lifestyle, rather than just on individual food items. The smart display above the fridge comes with a touch-sensitive surface and a built-in camera. It acts as a sort of hub for all information, allowing you to manage inventory, order fresh food online, watch recipe tutorials, and bond with friends or family members while you prepare food or while eating (you also get the added bonus of being able to show your mum you’re eating healthy!)
Underneath the smart display sits the main fridge, designed to be a slightly more compact companion to your regular fridge (where you’d store all your day-to-day meals, groceries, drinks, leftovers, etc.) The Fresh Fridge comes with compartments designed specifically for different kinds of healthy foods – leafy greens go on top, where it’s cooler, while fruits and veggies occupy the lower spaces. The trays even account for prepared/cooked items like salads, burrito bowls, smoothie bowls, or cut fruits, with slide-in areas for airtight containers.
The top of the Fresh Fridge becomes the perfect area to prep your food. The ingredients remain easily accessible below, while the smart display on top lets you tick off items from your inventory and even prepare meals by watching recipe videos or chatting with your nonna who guides you with their tips. Plug-points built into the top of the Fresh Fridge let you hook up appliances like blenders, induction stoves, or rice-cookers, while a slide-out tray makes mise en place easy, allowing you to chop, dice, peel, mash, season, or garnish your food.
As you take food from the Fresh Fridge, the smart display on the top lets you tick it off, helping the fridge track inventory for a more planned grocery shopping experience. It’s not entirely clear if the Fresh Fridge also reminds you when food’s spoiling, although that would be an extremely handy feature in making sure you don’t waste anything!
The Fresh Fridge approaches the appliance’s design rather uniquely. The clear (slightly textured) glass on the front really helps inform the interiors, which Ferrucio designed keeping organization in mind. Each of the trays (made from recycled plastic) come with horizontal shelves that help you neatly organize and present your food. The trays feature a modular section on the right too, letting you add containers with dividers, airtight storage boxes, microwave-friendly lunchboxes, etc. Lastly, a mild light on the inside helps illuminate the Fresh Fridge like the refrigerated aisle at supermarkets. The light activates the minute the camera on the smart display notices someone approaching the fridge or walking by, and the fact that the healthy food’s put on display for you really helps condition the mind into eating healthier, more nutritious meals!
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.
![Still Life house by untitled [design agency]](https://i0.wp.com/static.dezeen.com/uploads/2021/09/untitled-design-agency-still-life-house-vancouver-architecture-sq-852x852.jpg?resize=852%2C852&ssl=1)
![Wooden floors and oak cabinetry by untitled [design agency]](https://i0.wp.com/static.dezeen.com/uploads/2021/09/untitled-design-agency-still-life-house-vancouver-architecture_dezeen_2364_col_12.jpg?resize=2364%2C1576&ssl=1)
