This transforming autonomous fleet of electric car pods is built for socializing in 2050

Imagine a future where living in close quarters will be the norm, and so will the vehicles in about five decades from now reflect that societal bond. The Arrival Chemie is a true example of a minimalist future that will revolve around simplicity, function and of course human bond!

Automotive design is going through a metamorphosis stage wherein the gradual shift to an eco-friendly set of wheels is becoming the priority of manufacturers and consumers alike. This shift in perception has had a domino effect in the basic design of vehicles since the propulsion mechanisms and their placement in the vehicle have changed. This gives more freedom to experiment with the interior as well as exterior form. More emphasis is now on the comfort and lounging experience while traversing from point A to B. While on the exterior the multifunctional approach takes precedence.

The Arrival Chemie is an interpretation of the socially oriented approach because of economic parity amongst individuals living in the year 2050. Designer Bumsoo Kim believes – we’ll be more considerate about living in groups and hence, the cars we drive will also reflect that conscious decision. The autonomous pod-like Arrival vehicle will have minimalistic, yet comfortable interiors with the ability to open up and connect to another couple of such vehicles for a cohesive approach when parked. Lounge-like seats of the vehicle will encapsulate the two riders in comfort and luxury. The rear of the Arrival Chemie gets a cargo space for hauling luggage or turn into a makeshift ladder to access the roof when in connected mode with other Chemie cars.

Bumsoo’s concept imagines three different forms for the connected vehicle ecosystem – one that has a triangular shape called Form A, the second with a more laidback lounging theme for relaxing dubbed Form B, and lastly the more technology-laden pod for entertainment called Form C. All these three vehicles will be wirelessly charged onboard the charging stations. The lounge area on top of the charging station will give riders some break from traveling to socialize and then get going to their destination!

Designer:  Bumsoo Kim

 

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This cat furniture system features multifunctional modules for cats and their humans both to enjoy!

Me;ow is a modular cat furniture system that features multifunctional modules for humans and cats to enjoy.

The feline urge to scratch the first piece of furniture in the home you see—cats have an instinctual urge to scratch in order to express certain emotions like excitement or stress, to mark objects with their scent, or just to stretch.

Unfortunately, that instinct is usually taken out on our sofas, armchairs, and wooden furniture. In response, many designers have been conceptualizing modular, feline-friendly furniture that looks right at home in any modern living room, not just the cat’s den.

Me;ow, one such modular cat furniture design, takes feline-friendly furniture and makes it palatable for human taste too. Comprised of multiple, colorful sofa modules, Me;ow features differently shaped cushions that link together to form various furniture configurations. The different pieces of Me;ow also have integrated cat-specific features that encourage your cat to get down with their feline urges to their heart’s content.

On one rectangular module that can doubly be used as a seat rest for humans, cats can enjoy an embedded scratching board to paw away at while their human relaxes on the couch. Another cylindrical module can attach to the seat rest module and function as an armrest while providing a fun tunnel in which cats can lounge or play. Then, standalone modules work as buffers between the multifunctional pieces to provide more cushion space for both you and your cat. Me;ow even features a side table module with an integrated bed below the tabletop where cats can get their snooze on.

The colorful modules all link together with a secure fastening mechanism for extended and durable playtime. Equipped with a climbing system, Me;ow also comes with freestanding modules that can mount on any wall to provide a space for your cat to romp and jump a safe distance away from the ever-so scratchable furniture.

Designer: 노-수민

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Seibert Architects designs Florida home for indoor-outdoor living

The Schechter House

A glazed courtyard occupies the centre of this Florida residence by Seibert Architects, bringing light to the interiors and organising the circulation around the building.

Completed earlier this year, the Schechter Residence is a low-slung home that offers its owners a beach-focused lifestyle in Sarasota, Florida.

Glazed courtyard
The Schechter Residence was guided by the concept of indoor-outdoor living

Located just a few metres above from the shore, the 4,000-square-foot (372-square-metre) home enjoys a gently stepped-back garden leading down to the water.

“The pool area and waterfront yard are terraced to provide flat outdoor space for waterfront activities, children at play and to ease the transition down to the water,” said Seibert Architects, which is also based in Sarasota.

Vaulted ceilings
Seibert Architects added vaulted ceilings to the design

The entry sequence into the home leads into a lush courtyard. This exterior space enclosed by glass walls brings light into the building and also offers a space for the owners children to play.

“The courtyard, surrounded by glass on three sides, enriches movement through the house and enhances the entry by bringing light, vegetation, and sky to these experiences,” said Seibert Architects.

Inside, pops of vivid colour are set against white walls

The living spaces and primary bedroom are laid out as an enfilade of spaces facing the water. These rooms have much higher ceilings and are vaulted to make room for clerestory windows.

“These curved forms contrast with the more serious rectilinear nature of the design,” said Seibert Architects. “Its inhabitants describe them as uplifting.”

Open shelving that separates these spaces helps to define each without completely enclosing them.

The western facade of the home is fronted by tall sliding glass doors that lead out to the pool deck.

Florida home by Seibert Architects
The home’s furnishings intend to reflect the Florida lifestyle

This outdoor space is sheltered by a large retractable awning and a screened enclosure to protect users from harsh direct sunlight and insects.

This offers a year-round connection between the inside spaces and the pool and backyard.

Schechter House
The home is located in Sarasota

The remainder of the bedrooms are located on the opposite side of the home, facing the street.

Two children’s bedrooms share a common play area away from the living room, while the guest bedroom has its entrance closer to the foyer, for more privacy.

Schechter House
The Schechter Residence features a waterfront yard

The home’s mostly white finishes reflect Florida’s beach-oriented lifestyle. Seibert Architects provided pops of colour with bright furnishings, while the exposed wooden ceiling vaults add some warmth to the overall palette.

Other residences in Florida include an all-white home by Jeffrey Dungan that was completed in a range of different architectural styles, and a Miami Beach home for an art collector by Shulman + Associates.

The photography is by Ryan Gamma.


Project credits:

Architectural firm: Seibert Architects
Architect of record: Samuel C Holladay
Project architect/designer: Michael Epstein
Structural engineer: Hees & Associates
Contractor: Yoder Homes

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Amazing Microsculptures by Marie Cohydon

Vous allez avoir besoin d’un microscope mais cette fois-ci, il n’est pas question de science. Non. Ici, il est question d’art et plus particulièrement de celui de l’artiste Marie Cohydon. L’artiste réalise des œuvres en graphite, en utilisant cet objet originellement scientifique. Et la raison est toute simple : les œuvres mesurent entre 1 et 3 mm. « Les détails sont imperceptibles à l’œil nu, il vous faudra une loupe X5 ou une loupe de bijoutier x8 à x10 pour les apprécier », explique-t-elle. Pour Marie, le graphite, qu’elle travaille avec minutie, est un matériau « magnifique et qui brille de mille feux lorsqu’il est poli ». Les outils qu’elle utilise pour réaliser ses pièces ont été auto-conçus, rendant l’opération encore plus impressionnante.

Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur son site internet.





Top 10 Apple Watch Accessories of 2021

Nightwatch Magnifying Apple Watch Charging Dock

Currently, the Apple Watch is the most popular watch globally, and this honestly doesn’t come as much of a surprise when you consider the number of people you see jogging or walking on the street with their Apple Watch armed on their wrists. In celebration of this one-of-a-kind watch, and in anticipation of what its latest version may unveil, we’ve curated a collection of nifty accessories that will perfectly complement your beloved Apple Watch. From the most inventive Apple Watch charging dock you’ll ever see to an accessory that lets you wear your Apple Watch as an armband for an improved workout experience – we’ve put together a range of diverse and interesting Apple Watch accessories that even hardcore Apple lovers will go gaga over!

1. The NightWatch

Nightwatch Magnifying Apple Watch Charging Dock

Nightwatch Magnifying Apple Watch Charging Dock

The NightWatch is a pretty simple accessory that enhances your Apple Watch’s abilities. It doesn’t come with its own charger but will let you hook your Apple Watch’s charger into it. Once assembled, you can easily slide your Apple Watch into its unique design, and that calibrated glass lens on the front enlarges the screen like a magnifying glass would, making numbers much more visible when your watch is in Nightstand mode. It comes with a patented system that even lets you tap the glass surface to ‘wake’ up your Apple Watch’s display, so you can read the time clearly… and when your watch’s alarm begins ringing, special acoustic channels designed in the NightWatch charging dock’s base help amplify your watch’s audio, making that alarm much louder. The NightWatch, unfortunately, doesn’t have a snooze button, so you’ll need to pull the smartwatch out of its dock to stop or snooze your alarm!

2. The ActionBand

While we use our Apple Watches outside of the gym, keeping an eye on our workout’s progress with activity tracking always helps to push our limits. Designing a new wristband made specifically for working out with your Apple Watch, Apple-inspired design group Twelve South created the ActionBand, a sweatband that can hold your Apple Watch. When working out, our grips make all the difference. So when sweat comes into play, a tight grip around dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells becomes harder to maintain. No one wants to lose out on activities that might close our rings though, so Twelve South developed a solution.

3. Bellroy’s Apple Smartwatch Straps

Bellroy Leather Strap for Apple Watch

The smartwatch straps from Bellroy come with a durable elastomer base for comfort and to prevent slipping, but are then finished off with a wonderfully eye-catching eco-tanned leather top. The leather-elastomer blend gives the watch the best of both worlds. The leather brings back the watch’s most trusted strap material, giving the watch an authentically classic appeal, while the elastomer base on the strap prevents it from slipping on your wrist. Since the Apple Watch’s main hardware is fairly heavier than most regular watches, it succumbs to the effects of gravity, which is why having a rubbery base to the strap helps. A texture on the underside also promotes breathability, so the strap never makes your skin feel sweaty.

4. The ActionSleeve 2

Apple accessory designer Twelve South has released the ActionSleeve 2The ActionSleeve 2’s unique design ensures the Apple Watch Series 4 (and later) always remains in constant contact with the body, so there is no discrepancy in tracking parameters on the Fitness app. Most of us would prefer wearing the Apple Watch in its default position and deem the band worthless. In fact, that would be the case until you want to put on a pair of boxing gloves! The ActionSleeve 2 armband is meticulously designed to give people more flexibility to keep using the Apple Watch when an activity or sporting gear may restrict wearing it on the wrist or lead to discomfort. “If you’ve ever changed your Apple Watch band, you already know how ActionSleeve 2 works: 1. remove your current Apple Watch band, 2. push the Apple Watch “body” into the back of ActionSleeve 2 and 3. strap ActionSleeve 2 on, tighten and go. Your screen, crown, and button remain fully accessible and functional.” Twelve South explains.

5. The WristCam

With all the possible goodness – health and fitness tracking and everything – Apple Watch cannot click pictures standalone, it remotely triggers the iPhone to pull off the trick. This is where the Wristcam steps in, giving Apple Watch the ability to click pictures by itself. The front-mounted 8MP camera can shoot images in 4K resolution while recording videos in Full HD. The selfie camera can be used for video calling – or either camera for live-streaming. The Wristcam comes with its own 8GB of storage and a battery good enough for a day’s fun. According to the company, the Wristcam is water-resistant up to 1-meter, it connects to the Apple Watch over Bluetooth Low Energy, and with the iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

6. Satechi’s Magnetic Dock

Like all of Satechi’s products, the USB-C Magnetic Charging Dock comes with Apple-certified MFI charging and works across all generations of the Apple Watch. The dock plugs right into the side of the iPad Pro or the MacBook Pro, although you could just as easily use it with any power bank too. The sleek aluminum design does a pretty good job of blending in with Apple’s design language, while inbuilt magnets securely hold onto your watch as it charges, allowing you to dock your iPad on a stand without worrying about the watch slipping or falling off. Neat, eh? Maybe you could even use it as a small extended display too, running a timer, your clock, or the weather app right beside your screen as you work or browse the web!

7. The 2 in 1 Apple Devices Charging Stand

Inspired by the daily sunrise, industrial designer Taesung Yoon has thought of the 2 in 1 Apple Devices Charging Stand (yes, that’s the name of this accessory) that does what it says. Designed after feedback from the data-driven research and realizing what people actually want in their unified Apple charging stand, this accessory has been cleverly designed for form and function. The charging stand’s vertical stance with a slightly arched top means that the iPhone sits comfortably without the fear of accidentally toppling it over with an accidental shove. Likewise, the possibility of using it for watching multimedia content is also there. The same port is used for charging the AirPods Pro when needed. Right behind this port is the space for setting up the Apple Watch for refueling in style. So, you can charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time.

8. The Omnia Q5

The OMNIA Q5 is a nifty docking and charging station that replaces your drawer of cables. Designed as a slick, compact dock that can fit on even the smallest night-stand, or the corner of your work-desk, the OMNIA Q5 lets you organize and charge all your Apple gadgets at once, supplying the right amount of power to each one of them to charge them rapidly and simultaneously. Designed to be an integral part of your ecosystem of Apple products, the OMNIA Q5 acts as an organizer for your gadgets. It docks them in individually assigned areas (so they’re always neatly arranged) and charges them too – wirelessly for the most part, except the iPad which needs a cable with USB-C input.

9. The Wristfit

Elago’s products are just sensible and help you use your Apple products more efficiently. Take for instance the Wristfit, a band for your Apple Watch that lets you conveniently dock your Airpods in them too. At the time of their release, the Airpods were criticized for being too ‘easy to lose’. This spawned a wide variety of products like the Elago Airpods strap that helped you secure your expensive earpieces in place, eliminating the danger of losing them. The Wristfit is another such ‘sensible’ product that simply gives you the ability to dock your Airpods on your Apple Watch. Keeping them in a place that’s easy to access, the Wristfit secures the Watch around your wrist, and the Airpods right on the strap like a sort of holster for your earphones. Push them right in when you’re not using them and you won’t have to worry about them at all.

10. Nisbet’s Apple Watch Packaging

Inspired by the packaging design for the iPod, Nisbet adopted a clear and transparent package for the Apple Watch as well. The transparent packaging comes in two parts, one protects the screen of the watch, whereas the other part forms a protective layer around the strap. But here’s where it becomes interesting, the packaging of the strap has been designed in such a way, that you can slide it on and off! This allows you to try on straps of different styles, letting you mix and match, till you settle on a combination that you like. You can try on the various packaged straps on your hand, so you can see how they would actually look on you! The clear protective layer ensures that no one actually ends up touching the straps, and they are in pristine condition, preventing them from getting dirty or contaminated before they are even sold (especially useful in these COVID-19 times).

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Koto designs twisted holiday home overlooking the Cotswolds

A black timber prefabricated home by Koto

A twisted, stacked form clad in black timber creates both terraces and cantilevering canopies at this holiday home in the Cotswolds, designed by prefab specialists Koto.

Falcon House is the first two-storey modular house completed by the British studio, which designs and manufactures prefabricated cabins.

The black timber exterior of Falcon House
Koto has designed a prefabricated cabin in the Cotswolds

The two-bedroom house is located alongside a lake on the Lower Mill Estate, the development of a former gravel pit by Habitat First Group that originally launched in 1999.

It was constructed from two cross-laminated timber (CLT) cabins which were, stacked on top of one another and slightly twisted to create triangular terraces at either side of the first-floor kitchen, dining and living room.

A black cabin in the countryside by Koto
Falcon House is formed of two CLT cabins stacked on top of each other

Below, this twisted form means that the upper storey cantilevers outwards, creating two triangular canopies that shade the ground-floor bedroom windows.

“The upside-down home was created to maximise views of the surrounding nature from the living spaces,” explained the practice, “creating the feeling of living within the trees, whilst the lower floor was designed to accommodate more intimate spaces.”

“Though the sculptural form is strong, the striking design sits well within the surrounding nature,” it continued.

A black structure cantilevers over a cabin
Triangular terraces border the kitchen, dining and living room

To connect the home to the surrounding landscape, the upper storey is a single, open space with large windows at either end.

A sitting area is organised around a wood-burning stove in one corner of this space, while a terrazzo-topped kitchen counter defines the dining area at the opposite end.

Below, the two bedrooms were placed on either side of a central core that houses the main bedroom’s en-suite, a second bathroom, utility room and stair.

An approach of “quiet luxury” informed the interiors, which were designed by Koto’s in-house interior design arm, Koto Living.

The bedroom of Falcon House
Two bedrooms are located on the lower ground floor

The CLT of the prefabricated cabin has been left exposed in the living space, with minimal fittings focusing attention on the views outside.

The terraces, which are accessed through black-framed sliding glass doors, are decked with wooden planks and surrounded by black steel balustrades.

The kitchen interior of Falcon House
Koto Living used minimalist furnishings for the interior

On the ground floor, a “feeling of character and homeliness” has been created through the use of plaster paint, textured wood headboards and woven rugs in the bedrooms, with smaller windows providing focused views while maintaining privacy.

“This is a house to slow down in, where spaces have been designed to contemplate and watch the leaves rustle in the trees, or to be social and embrace the joy of celebration with friends and family,” said the practice.

Other prefabricated structures designed by Koto include the Work Space Cabin at the New Art Centre’s sculpture park, and designs for prefabricated ADUs or Accessory Dwelling Units in California.

The photography is courtesy of Koto.

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The biggest architecture and design stories of 2021

Richard Rogers Drawing Gallery

To conclude our review of 2021, editor Tom Ravenscroft takes a look back at this year’s most-read stories, including Richard Rogers’ final building, a transparent mid-air pool, Dubai Expo pavilions and a Virgil Abloh-design car.


Biggest architecture stories of 2021
Image is by Brick Visual, courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

January – Supertall skyscrapers linked by planted terraces to be built in Shenzhen by Zaha Hadid Architects

The year began with news that Zaha Hadid Architects was designing a pair of interconnected skyscrapers in China called the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters.

The buildings were part of a trend for the world’s best-known architects to design supertall skyscrapers. Alongside Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, Foster + Partners and Dorte Mandrup are among the leading architects designing these tall buildings.

Read more about Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters ›


Richard Rogers Drawing Gallery
Photo is by Stéphane Aboudaram / We Are Content(s)

February – Richard Rogers balances his final building over Provence vineyard

In February, Prizker Architecture Prize-winning architect Richard Rogers revealed photography of his final building designed before his retirement from Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

Named The Richard Rogers Drawing Gallery, the building cantilevers 27 metres out from a hill at a vineyard in southern France. The year ended with news that Rogers, who was a pioneer of high-tech architecture, had passed away aged 88.

Read more about The Richard Rogers Drawing Gallery ›


Allen key lamp by Gelchop for Ikea Art Event 2021

March – IKEA unveils Allen key lamp in homage to “the most iconic IKEA item of all”

IKEA made headlines in March when it unveiled a lamp shaped like an oversized Allen key.

Created as a nod towards the company’s flat-pack furniture, it was designed by Gelchop so that “arguably the most iconic IKEA item of all” could have its time in the spotlight.

Read more about IKEA’s Allen key lamp ›


A living room with a screw pine tree
Photo is by Tommaso Riva

April – Ten domestic interiors featuring statement plants that help bring nature indoors

The most popular story on Dezeen in April was our roundup of domestic interiors that contain carefully chosen plants.

The piece was part of our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home.

Read more about interiors with plants ›


Photo is by Adrian Gaut for WSJ Magazine

May – Photos reveal Thomas Heatherwick’s Little Island in New York ahead of opening

In May, the long-awaited Little Island designed by Thomas Heatherwick opened on the Hudson River in New York.

Originally called Pier 55, the elevated park supported on 132 mushroom-shaped concrete columns was completed following a lengthy delay to construction amid a campaign opposing the project by advocacy group The City Club of New York.

Read more about Little Island ›


Sky Pool
Photo is by Simon Kennedy

June – Fully transparent Sky Pool provides “a swim like no other” between two housing blocks in London

A video showing a transparent swimming pool that spans between two buildings at the Embassy Gardens development in Battersea, London, was the most popular story on Dezeen in June.

Designed by architecture studio HAL, the 25-metre-long Sky Pool was suspended 35 metres above the ground. According to HAL, the pool was designed to have “a sense of fun” and give people “a swim like no other”.

Read more about Sky Pool ›


Aerial view of forest

July – Planting trees “doesn’t make any sense” in the fight against climate change due to permanence concerns, say experts

During June and July, we ran our carbon revolution series, which aimed to explore how the element could be removed from the atmosphere and put to use on earth.

In interviews conducted as part of the series, key figures told Dezeen that afforestation is an unreliable way of permanently sequestering atmospheric carbon. The story was the most read in the month of July.

Read more about the carbon revolution series ›


A visual of a circular power plant by AL_A
Image courtesy of AL_A

August – Amanda Levete designs world’s first magnetised fusion power station for the UK

A prototype power plant with a nuclear fusion reactor, which is set to be built in England, drew global attention in August.

Designed by architect Amanda Levete’s firm AL_A, the Fusion Demonstration Plant will be built to prove the viability of nuclear fusion technology as a carbon-free energy source.

It is one of a growing number of power plants that combine architecture and innovative energy solutions.

Read more about the Fusion Demonstration Plant ›


Telosa city
Image courtesy of BIG

September – Bjarke Ingels designing “new city in America” for five million people

News that Danish architect Bjarke Ingels is master planning a city for five million people in the US desert was the most popular story in September.

Named Telosa, the city is the brainchild of entrepreneur Marc Lore and is set to be built “from scratch” on a yet-to-be-announced, 150,000-acre site in the western United States.

Read more about Telosa ›


Dubai Expo pavilions
Photo courtesy of Santiago Calatrava

October – Ten must-see pavilions at Dubai Expo 2020

In October, the coronavirus-delayed Dubai Expo officially opened in the United Arab Emirates.

Our roundup of the 10 most interesting pavilions, which were designed by architects including Foster + Partners, WOHA and Santiago Calatrava, was the month’s most-read story.

Read more about Dubai Expo pavilions ›


Munger Hall
Image courtesy of UCSB

November – Architect resigns over mostly windowless Munger Hall dormitory at University of California

Architect Dennis McFadden made headlines in November when he resigned from a University of California committee to protest the design of the Munger Hall university dormitory.

Set to be built on the university’s Santa Barbara campus, the block would reportedly house over 90 per cent of its 4,500 students in windowless rooms.

Read more about Munger Hall ›


Non-fossil fuel car
Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

December – Virgil Abloh and Mercedes-Benz create solar-powered car with transparent front hood

The end of 2021 was marked by the deaths of a trio of architecture and design greats with fashion designer Virgil Abloh, and architects Chris Wilkinson and Richard Rogers passing away.

A Mercedes-Benz with a transparent front hood containing solar cells, designed by Abloh and revealed shortly after his death, was the month’s most-read story.

Read more about Virgil Abloh’s Mercedes-Benz ›

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Five architecture and design events in January from Dezeen Events Guide

Image Still showing workers in an Egyptian limestone quarry from the Film The White Hell by Ahmed Assem, Mahmoud Khaled and Omar Shash

Egypt’s only design film festival and consumer electronics trade show CES, which features a talk about non-fungible tokens with Paris Hilton, are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this month.

Other events taking place in December include Oslo Design Fair as well as two major international exhibitions on British architects Peter Cook and Norman Foster.

Read on for details of our five highlights from January and see Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

Shanghai skyscraper duo in the Bund Finance Centre by Heatherwick Studio and Foster + Partners
Top image: The White Hell is showing at Egypt’s Film My Design festival. Above: Foster + Partners’ retrospective in China includes projects such as the Bund Finance Centre

Urban Visions: Sustainable Communities
Until 18 February, China

Shanghai’s Xintai Warehouse hosts a retrospective charting more than five decades of work from Foster + Partners, including international as well as local projects such as the Bund Finance Centre.

The exhibition collates models, videos and photographs to illustrate the firm’s approach to sustainability, which span a variety of scales from industrial design projects to entire city masterplans.

Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
5 to 8 January, USA

The most important technology trade show in the world is taking place in person this year for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Transport is set to be a major focus, with General Motors CEO Mary Barra delivering the event’s opening keynote while US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg will speak on the industry’s efforts to decarbonise.

Meanwhile, a new programme dedicated to the rise of the “digital asset industry” will include exhibitions of virtual artworks backed by non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and a panel talk featuring “OG Crypto Queen” Paris Hilton.

Instant City illustration by Archigram from Dezeen events guide January
The City Landscapes exhibition in Denmark looks at Archigram’s idea of the Instant City

Peter Cook – City Landscapes
21 January to 8 May, Denmark

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art near Copenhagen is hosting an exhibition of drawings and collages by Archigram founder Peter Cook, charting his contributions to the architectural discourse since the beginning of his career in the 1960s.

The show will explore some of Archigram’s seminal concepts such as the Instant City, which can be set up overnight, and the Plug-In City made of prefabricated capsule homes.

Oslo Design Fair 2022
26 to 28 January, Norway

The 2022 edition of Oslo Design Fair is set to go ahead at the Norges Varemesse conference centre in Lillestrøm, about half an hour east of Oslo.

The show features design products from around the world with halls dedicated to interior design, craft and fashion, food, and home and garden design.

Image Still from the Film Walking on Water by Andrey M Paounov showing artist Cristo in front of one of his installations from Dezeen events guide january
The Film My Design festival will show Andrey Paounov’s film Walking on Water about Christo

Film My Design
27 to 30 January, Egypt

More than 30 screenings, talks and Q&As are scheduled to take place as part of the Film My Design festival in Cairo, which according to the organisers is the “first and only design film festival” in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

One section of the programme will focus on local stories, including four newly commissioned collaborations between emerging Egyptian filmmakers and designers, as well as the award-winning short The White Hell, documenting the working conditions in the limestone quarries of El Minya.

Another section, called Design Across Borders, will showcase a curated selection of design films from across the world including a tribute to Dieter Rams and a behind-the-scenes of Christo’s artwork Floating Piers.

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.

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This bizarre face mask concept proposes using an air-curtain instead of a physical filter… and it just might work

Using air to cut off potentially virally infected air sounds a lot like fire fighting fire, but there just might be some truth to it all. Air curtains are undoubtedly effective at creating an invisible barrier that keeps cold air inside an air-conditioned room from mixing with the hot air outside a room. When correctly installed, an air curtain actually saves energy in the long run by providing an essentially open entrance that allows people to pass through but prevents outside air from mixing with inside air (and potentially putting a higher load on your ACs), and it essentially even prevents mosquitoes from passing through too. So if an air curtain can create a very effective air barrier with large spaces, why can’t that technology be scaled down to work on your face too?

What this conceptual face mask proposes isn’t too far-fetched, honestly. Scientists are actually researching the viability of using air curtains to effectively ‘deactivate’ the coronavirus. If successful, maybe that face mask you’re currently wearing goes the way of the dinosaurs, as everyone essentially begins wearing fans on their foreheads that push filtered air towards your face, and keep bad air out.

In this research paper, physicists Alexander S. Sakharov and Konstantin Zhukov even propose a similar head-worn air curtain that essentially cuts off external air flow for the wearer without the discomfort of a fabric or N95 mask pressed against their faces. At least for the aerosol-based transmission of the coronavirus, an air curtain can be reasonably effective at pushing away particles (both from outside as well as from the wearer) to prevent proximal viral transmission… all while still allowing the wearer to breathe air comfortably.

The Airable is, at least on paper, a rather slim AR-headset-shaped device with air vents on the forehead facing downwards, and a clear plastic visor to prevent the gust of wind from blowing directly in your eyes. One could easily imagine that the Airable has a built-in filter of its own, which ensures that the air curtain only blows pure air (another research paper debates the use of ionized air to kill viruses instantly). Sounds pretty great on paper, and I definitely hope a team of designers and engineers are building or prototyping such a device. Unless the folks at Dyson could come up with a solution, my only concern is the overwhelming noise most air curtains currently make.

Airable is a winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2021.

Designers: Kim Seulgee, Ko Sungchan, Lee Wonho, Park Hyein

The post This bizarre face mask concept proposes using an air-curtain instead of a physical filter… and it just might work first appeared on Yanko Design.

Inspired by Adidas, this wireless mouse is redefining ergonomics with its soft 3D printed mesh design

If you just googled the term Ergonomic Mouse, you’d be met with an entire bunch of mice that looked like they were doing Yoga. The term “ergonomics” refers to the science of interaction with humans covering a wide variety of variables… although a majority of ergonomic mice conveniently focus on just curved form factors. The Squishy Mouse, on the other hand, adds another layer to the meaning behind ‘ergonomic mouse’ – a soft, breathable design.

Arguably enough, what the Squishy Mouse does is look at ergonomics from a broader perspective by considering other products like ergonomic chairs and ergonomic shoes. An ergonomic chair or shoe isn’t just curvaceous, it’s soft and breathable too, and the Squishy Mouse makes the case that mice should essentially follow that same logic. Rejecting the notion that curved hard surfaces are all that an ergonomic mouse really needs, the Squishy Mouse sports a curved lattice mesh body that’s soft and reminiscent of the 3D printed soles seen on Adidas’ AlphaEdge and Futurecraft 3D running shoes. The purpose of this isn’t just to conform to the shape of a human hand, but to actually promote comfort and breathability. With about the same soft experience of a stress ball, the Squishy Mouse lets you firmly grip it during use, and ensures that its mesh surface never gets your palms sweaty, even with hours of constant use.

Designer: Matt Barnum

The mouse was designed originally as a learning exercise for Barnum to perfect his skills using generative design tools. (A GIF image at the bottom shows all the steps)
It rests on a metal base, which makes the mouse easy to use and glide on smooth tabletop surfaces.

The Squishy Mouse comes in the same mint green as the 3D-printed Adidas soles, highlighting that source of inspiration almost instantly. While it’s unclear whether the mouse intends to use the same printing techniques as seen in Adidas soles, it makes sense from a material perspective. Digital Light Synthesis (or DLS) 3D printing allows light to cure resin in complex shapes, creating designs out of flexible elastomers that are much smoother to look at too. In this case, Barnum’s use of the lattice around areas of contact allows those specific areas to remain flexible, while the edges and contours of the mouse are relatively solid, allowing the Squishy Mouse to basically be squeezed or squished without losing its shape. Notably, even the left and right-click buttons have the lattice texture, offering essentially an absolutely new way of input that’s more squishy instead of clicky (whether that’s a win or fail from a haptic point of view is yet to be determined). That, along with the overall texture of the mouse would easily add a new UX dimension during use, and chances are that you’ll either absolutely hate it, or absolutely love it. I, for one, can’t help but feel incredibly curious!

The post Inspired by Adidas, this wireless mouse is redefining ergonomics with its soft 3D printed mesh design first appeared on Yanko Design.