Hasta La Ideas

This video, shared exclusively with Dezeen, shows the living area of a Milanese apartment by Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass being dismantled and rebuilt inside the city’s Triennale di Milano museum.

The apartment, named Casa Lana, was originally designed by the Italian architect in 1965 for his close acquaintance Giovanni Lana, a lithographer and printer.

Now, with the help of donations from the architect’s widow Barbara Radice Sottsass, Casa Lana’s brightly-hued living room has been reconstructed within the Triennale di Milano as part of a permanent new installation.

Italian architect Stefano Boeri, who is the museum’s president, said putting the Sottsass-designed room on display to the public is like “giving the world a wonderful surprise”.

“Milan is now home to an authentic time machine, created by one of the international geniuses of the twentieth century,” Boeri said.

Staff from the archive and restoration team at the Triennale di Milano visited Casa Lana and carefully documented the layout of the living room before taking it apart piece by piece.

The parts were then transported to the museum and painstakingly put back together to form a display on the first floor.

At the heart of the room is a three-sided wooden enclosure, where Lana would retreat to listen to music or conversate with guests. Inside, there’s a trio of sofas – two upholstered in indigo-blue fabric and the third in a similar pink hue to the magenta carpet.

Winding around the top of the structure are a few built-in shelves where artworks and other ornaments can be displayed. There are also a couple of square openings inset with beaded wooden screens.

Beyond the enclosure, the rest of the room has been kept largely open plan as Sottsass wanted it to have a piazza-like layout that allowed inhabitants to roam and interact freely.

As a result, furniture items like storage cupboards and desks are pushed to the room’s periphery.

Throughout 2022, a series of Sottsass-focused exhibitions will run alongside the Casa Lana display, put together by Triennale di Milano curator Marco Sammicheli and designed by Christoph Radl, who was a frequent collaborator of the Memphis Group founder.

The current show, Struttura e Colore, uses paintings, photographs and drawings to examine Sottsass’s interest in daily rituals and domestic spaces.

Il Calcolo, which is set to run from May to November, will look at how the designer’s work intersected with technology.

The third show, La Parola, will kick off in December 2022 and delve into the narrative and literary significance of Sottsass’s designs.

Other major shows taking place at the museum this year include the 23rd edition of the Triennale Milano International Exhibition.

Under the theme Unknown Unknowns: An Introduction to Mysteries, it will see scientists, artists and intellectuals from across the globe collaborate to answer complex questions about human existence.

The photography is by Gianluca Di Ioia.

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Russian studio Nido mixed different volumes and neutral sandy colours to add depth to this minimalist apartment in Moscow.

Located in the centre of the Russian capital where apartments are notoriously small, the 111-square-metre apartment – called RS_D – features creative solutions to maximise space.

The studio aimed to create a multi-functional and “convenient” home that would include both private and more social open-plan areas.

“The assessment of all possible life scenarios and the creation of a convenient structure and floor plan were the primary points of the project,” Nido told Dezeen.

“For us, this project is interesting due to the work with a variety of volumes, textures and materials,” it said.

To maximise space, the studio focused on improving the layout and creating a savvy floor plan for RS_D.

The designers moved the kitchen into the apartment’s foyer so that it is easily accessed when entering the house. From this area, the space opens up into the living and dining room.

The studio also decided to place the living room on a raised platform in an effort to create multiple layers for the interior

A master bedroom and a smaller children’s bedroom are located on the other side of the apartment, offering the client some private space.

Wooden cupboards used for storage are tucked out of sight along the walls of the hallway.

“Navigation is organized in such a way as to preserve through traffic in the main part of the apartment while providing privacy and visually clear boundaries of each of the functional areas,” the studio said.

Materials were chosen to “soften” the neat and compact layout. The furniture textures are smooth, soft and natural with a warm color palette – terracotta and sandy shades are designed to recall beaches and travelling.

Natural light enters through a large living room window, which provides views out onto the apartment’s terrace.

A large travertine stone sink runs along one wall, while Mutina blocks designed by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola have been used to decorate another wall.

“Neat and tight forms are softened by the choice of the materials and their diversity,” said the studio. “It is minimalistic in structure and assembly but simultaneously rich in details you want to look at.”

Other apartments in Moscow include The Pomegranate Apartment by Russian practice Archetype which is covered in rich burgundy tones and an apartment by Shkaf Architects that has asymmetrical walls.

Photography is by Sergey Krasyuk.

The post Nido adds pale wood and stone furnishings to compact Moscow apartment appeared first on Dezeen.

Artificial Intelligence has catapulted in recent years, and the advancements being made in this field make me feel as if it won’t be long before we have robots walking amongst us all the time! There was a point in time when the only forms of robots that we could see were toys or vacuum cleaners! But we have come a long long way since then. Most gadgets and tech designs these days are being powered by AI. The world at large is slowly moving away from the perception of robots as evil beings who want to take over the Earth, and accepting that they may have vast and undeniable utility in even our day-to-day lives. These AI-enabled products are intelligent and self-sufficient devices that help make our lives a whole lot easier. From a lawnmower that can identify her own path to an AI-enabled bicycle helmet with spatial awareness – we’ve curated a whole collection of AI-powered gadgets that will help make your daily life much easier.

1. Noa

Meet Noa, a detachable phone case that comes with an AI-enabled e-ink screen to learn the user’s response to particular notifications. What I find the most intuitive about Noa’s design is the fact that it can be detached right off the case whenever needed. This in a way physically segregates you from your phone’s inviting notifications to prevent any untimely disruptions without worrying about missing out on what matters to you the most. It can also be used as a kickstand to set up a notifications center and have the phone out of sight. Designer Darren Wells designed it such that it can also send quick replies thanks to the Quick Reply AI, which comes with Summarization AI to organize longer notification messages and automatic scheduling based on the important times and dates in the user’s calendar. Noa is in a true sense a gadget that does the hard work for the user without missing out on vital notifications that matter the most.

2. The Toadi

Powered by the kind of AI you’d find in autonomous vehicles (with 4K cameras and sensors that can accurately identify objects in her path), the Toadi is practically the Tesla of lawnmowers. Designed to work less like a robot and more like a living organism, the Toadi reinvents a category that hasn’t seen a significant-tech upgrade… and yes, Toadi is a ‘her’. The Toadi uses 4K cameras to ‘see’ the way humans do. She accurately differentiates between grass, gravel, cemented paths, and even identifies and avoids objects like animals, toys, flowerbeds, and fences. Using a sensing and tracking system that’s much more superior to the LiDAR sensors and GPS chips found in home-cleaning robots, the Toadi effortlessly moves around the lawn on her own, mowing in straight lines, crossing over to other parts of the lawn if need be, avoiding flower-beds, objects, or pets (and other garden animals), and staying clear of fences.

3. CAMEY

Meet CAMEY, a tiny camera that fits in your pocket or hooks onto your backpack! It’s more like the EDC of the camera world. SangHyeon Na imagines this concept as an automatic camera with AI-enabled functions for making clicking pictures an enjoyable and creative task. Use it for shooting sharp portraits or high-octane action sports – CAMEY is built for any creative moment you want to hold on to. You can bend it any which way, just like a Gorilla Pod, to capture unique perspectives. The companion app lets you share pictures or videos directly with friends or even filter them by location or other metrics. You can even communicate with the CAMEY community.

4. RAEDA

This equipment, inspired by the weights and other gym gear, comes paired to a base that has a concave design in between resembling the imprint left on the ground when a heavy object is dropped on it. This symbolic appeal gives RAEDA a weighted feel to it. The artificial intelligence (AI) enabled RAEDA, as a personal trainer, leads an individual through correct posture, technique, and form, which are a must for strength training. This experience of a personal trainer guiding you remotely at the comfort of your home will help reduce injuries and allow people to work out more confidently and at their convenience (instead of the time slot of the physical trainer in the gym).

5. The savAR helmet

Called the savAR helmet, this piece of bicycle accessory is loaded with augmented reality and artificial intelligence components to naïve the traditional helmet protection methods. The ever-evolving smart software of the helmet and the AR waveguide technology enhances the rider’s awareness of the crowded streets and other motorists nearby by quite a few notches. With time the AI learns the riding behavior and in a way looks out for the rider with the 360-degree camera vision to the rescue. Even before an impending danger can turn ugly, the software anticipates the unusually fast approaching vehicle from any direction and alerts the cyclists to take the lifesaving action to avert any collision. The AI calculates the potential course of collision and the time to the impact. This is aided by the waveguide tech embedded in the visor of the helmet which gives the rider a full picture of the incoming dangerous vehicle. To enhance the warning systems’ capability, there are both visual display warnings and audio alarms via the embedded speakers.

6. The HUENIT

Reminiscent of those modular robotic arms you see in mega factories that do everything from assembling iPhones to putting cars together, the HUENIT scales that tech down, bringing it into the household. HUENIT is an AI camera and modular robotic arm that can practically be your everyday sidekick. It supports a screen and camera that can recognize objects, people as well as their voices. It also has a modular attachment system that lets you connect HUENIT’s different modules allowing this robot arm to perform activities like picking objects up, sketching, 3D printing, laser engraving, and way more. Think of it as your own personal J.A.R.V.I.S. , sir!

7. The Nike AIRBUDDY

Designed as a response to several restrictions imposed during the lockdown, the NIKE AIRBUDDY is a conceptual drone that ‘spots’ you while you exercise. It can be carried around via a shoulder strap located on the base of the drone and can be deployed anywhere. Once in the air, the drone connects with your Nike Fitness App and tracks your performance, giving you a comprehensive breakdown of your routine at the end. The drone embodies a clean, sophisticated design language, with 4 rotors branching out of a capsule-shaped body. The drone’s body is outfitted with a single camera that acts as a watchful eye, observing every movement you make like a trainer would. This would hint at the fact that the drone doesn’t come with any obstacle avoidance, so it’s best used in open fields (as opposed to densely forested parks or the woods).

8. The BlueBreath

The BlueBreath builds on two core ideas. A. Masks can be difficult to breathe through, and B. Masks can be a visual barrier at certain times. With these two directions in mind, the BlueBreath comes with two interchangeable modules that solve these problems. One module is its AI-powered ventilation system, which increases the mask’s breathability by physically pushing air in using an internal fan… the other module is a transparent shield, that filters your air like a normal mask would, but gives you visibility, allowing you to communicate more openly with people, and occasionally unlock your phone without needing to constantly touch it. The BlueBreath’s base, which straps securely around your face, lets you easily swap modules on the fly, allowing you to go from AI-assisted breathing to aesthetic face-shield in a matter of seconds.

9. BB

BB can distinguish the intended litter from things like towels, sandals, or other things beachgoers might have brought along with them. The BeachBot only picks up butts for now since it is programmed to do so in conjunction with the Microsoft Trove app. The app has a database of images submitted by responsible citizens worldwide of littered cigarette butts. This helps BB distinguish them from other things, and it keeps learning with each attempt at picking up the butt. According to Bos, “the most interesting part of our concept – we have a human-robot interaction where the public can help make the robots smarter.” He elaborated that they started with cigarette butts which are the world’s most littered item, and soon, they want such robots to “detect a range of other litter.”

10. CookingPal Julia

Say hello to CookingPal Julia, the smart all-in-one cooker that is going to be your new sous chef. Julia was unveiled at CES 2020 where she also won the Innovation Award in the home appliance category and we were all shook…or shall I say shaken and stirred? It will be impossible to mess up a recipe with this Smart All-in-One Cooker, it is a countertop assistant that will assist you in preparing your meals quickly and efficiently. There is a step-by-step process and Julia is going to be there all along to guide you through chopping ingredients with exact, weight-based measurements. To make it easier, it also includes a scale that is accurate within five grams so say goodbye to fiddling with that set of measuring cups! Julia is truly a countertop kitchen assistant, she can cook, chop, blend, knead, boil, steam, grind, grate AND emulsify – she knows it all and does it all but you still get the credit.

The post AI-enabled designs to make your day to day life easier first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sleek, stylish and surprising home decor pieces from the Italian outfit

In addition to producing colorful clothing and accessories, Milan-based SUNNEI (founded by Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo) has the OBJECTS collection, a range of decor pieces for the home. All the items respect the company’s style, with plenty of color blocking, stripes, generous proportions and high-quality Italian materials and production from Biella, Murano, Padua, Varese and beyond. A few weeks ago, we visited as they unveiled their second OBJECTS collection, which comprises products that align with their DNA, along with a few surprises.

Like the last collection, this one includes woven cushions, bedding, slipmats, and kaleidoscopic Murano glass (this time even thinner, but in larger sizes). Alongside these pieces, the 2022 collection sees the arrival of glazed clay bowls, an inflatable Almost Swiss Ball covered in denim, and dinner plates that have been made and painted by hand in Padua.

The only exception to their made-in-Italy rule, the made-in-NYC Champ Stool was developed in collaboration with Matter Made and is available in two exclusive custom colors.

One of our favorite pieces, the BBPR Candle serves as a replica of the Torre Velasca—one of Milan’s equal parts loved and despised skyscrapers. But the real surprise is the four Pleasure Objects, various cheeky Murano glass sculptures that have been blown and molded by hand. These unique pieces are great conversation starters, but obviously have other uses.

Hero image courtesy of Paolo Ferrarini

Ah! Look at that keyboard! When the world is transitioning toward a smart future where a mechanical keyboard with a built-in LED screen will rule the roost, a designer dares to give us a cushioning of air bubbles to type on. When I think of laying my finger on this keyboard, I’m hopeful it’ll start popping up like bubble wrap and that would be overly satisfying.

Anyway, that’s nothing like what the Air Type – yes, that’s what it is called – intends to achieve. The tactile keyboard comes with inflated, bouncy keycaps that should be a satisfying experience, not for popping, but to type for long hours. Suddenly the keys on my Dell laptop are hurting my fingertips. I don’t have the leisure to order the Air Type in and continue this article, but hopefully Running Guy Studio will pull off the design to fruition in my lifetime.

Designer: Running Guy Studio

This is not the studio’s first attempt at toiling with an inflated design. They’ve tried to inflate a PlayStation controller and near perfected an Air Case for smartphones. The airtight, inflatable lining for smartphones can protect the device during falls and is super tactile and pleasing to work with. After improving and optimizing that inflatable phone case to produce a couple of worthy copies; Running Guy has found the keyboard as the third best option to try the inflation technique.

From the renders of it, the keyboard looks intriguing to type on with each individual inflatable key. The concern of bubbles popping up with each menacing thud on the keys, still looms in my mind. But hopefully, issues with usability, quality, and reliability have been addressed and we shouldn’t bother; instead, we should see this as a stepping stone for the future where like our jackets and tents, electronics will also be inflatable!

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