Dark green marble, glossy black tiles and sculptural lighting contrast the rough stone walls of this Montreal restaurant that has been resurrected by local Ivy Studio.
Located in Rosemère, on Montreal’s north bank, Piatti opened 15 years ago in an old stone building that was previously extended to accommodate a larger commercial space.
A pizza oven wrapped in green marble forms a focal point at Piatti
After a fire ripped through the Italian restaurant over a year ago, damaging the roof and the interior, the owners chose to renovate and update the space.
“From this tragedy rose the opportunity to give the space a much-needed facelift,” said the Ivy Studio team, who took on the project.
Entrance to the kitchen is through an arch set into a pistachio-coloured wall
“While the overall aesthetic is very contemporary, the decor was inspired by traditional Italian design and includes textures, materials and colours that project clients directly to the Mediterranean,” the studio added.
The two-storey building is entered on the lower level, where the preparation kitchen, a private event room and the washrooms are situated.
A sienna-toned banquette is installed beneath a mirrored wall
Upstairs are the dining areas, each with a distinct atmosphere. When entering past courses of glossy black tiles, customers are met by a “monumental” pizza oven wrapped in green Saint-Denis marble.
A black stained-wood and marble structure in front acts as a dining and service area, across from a hand-plastered pistachio wall with an arch that leads to the closed kitchen.
The bar area is located in the old stone building
Above a sienna-toned velvet banquette, a mirrored wall helps to make the dining space feel larger – reflecting its cream walls and sheer curtains.
Bistro chairs with green seats and caned backs are placed around tables.
Lighting and stools were custom designed for the bar
A circular wood-topped table sits on zig-zag black and white tiles below a central bespoke chandelier.
The bar occupies the old stone aspect of the building. Here, a U-shaped counter is clad with vertical oak boards and topped with a four-inch-thick travertine slab.
Custom stools made from velvet, steel and wood are lined up against the bar, colour-matching the banquette upholstery in the dining room.
Minimal, custom cream-painted lamps are spaced along the length of the counter, while a steel structure suspended above holds bottles behind fritted glass panels.
A pendant light hangs above a table in the corner of the bar area
“The entire room has recessed lighting going around the ceiling to properly highlight the original stone walls in the evening,” said Ivy Studio.
Montreal is home to a wealth of Italian restaurants with notable interiors, several of which have opened over the last few years.
Ivy Studio based the contemporary decor on traditional Italian design
Contemporary R&B, ’80s-inspired synth-pop, modern jazz and more new music
Q: Stereo Driver
Singer, songwriter and producer Q (aka Q Steven Marsden) returns with “Stereo Driver,” his first single since his debut breakout album, The Shave Experiment. Opening with compressed drums, synths and Q’s smooth vocals professing love, the track sounds like it came straight from the ’80s—if it weren’t for hints of contemporary R&B and funky bass. All these elements make the song a transcendent, rich, timeless jam. Accompanying the track is a kaleidoscopic, shifting music video—replete with Q playing the keytar—which fittingly mesmerizes.
Makaya McCraven: In These Times
The title track from Makaya McCraven’s recently released album, In These Times, is a swirling, otherworldly piece that perfectly sets the tone for the album. The Chicago-based composer, bandleader, producer and multi-instrumentalist’s music artfully combines elements of jazz, hip-hop, Motown, folk, funk and beyond to create an elegant melange. The album itself is an amalgam—made up of snippets of improv sessions and live performances that are rearranged and woven together seamlessly in post-production. Equal parts relaxing and thrilling, this album is hypnotizing.
Pierre Kwenders: Kilimanjaro
Kinshasa, Congo-born and Montreal, Canada-based recording artist Pierre Kwenders (aka José Louis Modabi) shares a moody new video for “Kilimanjaro,” a genre- and language-bending track from his latest album José Louis And The Paradox Of Love. Traversing jazz, Congolese rumba, electronic pop and funk—and shifting from French to English to Lingala—the LP’s ninth track is sultry and pulsating as it unfurls with varied tempos and melodies. The new video is just as captivating, seeing Kwenders perform live under an entrancing spotlight and disco ball.
Madison McFerrin: Stay Away (From Me)
New from singer-songwriter Madison McFerrin, “Stay Away (From Me)” is the Brooklyn-based artist’s first release in a couple years. Minimal but layered, the dynamic and danceable track leaves space for McFerrin’s voice to radiate. It comes accompanied by a neon-hued video directed and edited by Arius Reynoso Sotolongo.
The Soft Pink Truth feat. Jamie Stewart: La Joie Devant La Mort
From Is It Going To Get Any Deeper Than This?, the forthcoming album from The Soft Pink Truth (aka recording artist and producer Drew Daniel), the scintillating gothic-disco single “La Joie Devant La Mort” borrows words from French erotica author Georges Bataille as it delves into the thrill of queer cruising. Rapturous vocals were contributed by Jamie Stewart (best known as the founder of Xiu Xiu). As for the pensive album title, Daniel explains, “Years ago a friend was DJing in a club and a woman came into the DJ booth and asked, ‘Is it going to get any deeper than this?’ and the phrase became a kind of mantra for us. What did she really want? This album was created as an attempt to imagine possible musical responses to her question.”
Listen Up is published every Sunday and rounds up the new music we found throughout the week. Hear the year so far on our Spotify channel. Hero image courtesy of Madison McFerrin
I love traveling, and my travel bucket list is brimming to the top with exotic holiday destinations. And, as any experienced traveler (not that I am one…YET) will tell you, having a set of handy and trusty travel accessories is essential. These are the nifty little products that can help you out in the most impromptu and sudden of situations, and you’ll never regret having packed them in your suitcase. So, we’ve curated a bunch of travel-friendly designs that we think you will absolutely need in your travel kit when you’re jet-setting across the globe next. From an ingenious suitcase that doubles up as a bedside table to a travel cutting board with a built-in knife – these handy products are sure to make your next vacation much more comfortable and easier.
1. Mitchell’s Suitcase
A British designer came up with a concept suitcase that will make it easier for travelers to pack and unpack, especially if they have a tiny hotel room or Air BnB space. It’s carry-on luggage that can also function as a bedside table in case the room doesn’t have one.
Why is it noteworthy?
The product is designed so that you don’t have to unpack everything when you arrive and then repack them when it’s time to leave. It will be especially useful for cramped spaces and if you’re traveling from one place to another.
What we like
The suitcase/bedside table can also serve as a lamp
The storage is designed as drawers that will make it easier for you to access the items that you need at the moment
What we dislike
It’s still a concept!
2. The Blackbriar Allround Duffle Backpack
When traveling with sports equipment or clothes for a few days, duffle bags and backpacks are the go-to solutions. The Blackbriar Allround Duffle Backpack offers both in the same bag, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the flexibility that this travel essential has to offer.
Why is it noteworthy?
For example, many travel-oriented bags have a dedicated pocket for shoes or dirty clothes. More often than not, however, you can’t use the same pocket for both purposes. Blackbriar’s solution is so genius in its simplicity that you’re left wondering why it isn’t more common. This duffel backpack has two such compartments on opposite ends of the bag, allowing you to store two pairs of shoes, shoes and dirty clothes, or just dirty clothes. That way, you don’t have to compromise on storage because your bag doesn’t offer you that flexibility.
What we like
The shoe pockets can become dividers to create sections inside the bag, thanks to a patented S-Partition design
The three-tiered structure of its fabric not only protects it from water and scratches but also helps preserve its shape
What we dislike
No complaints!
3. The SüpKüp
The SüpKüp is a travel mug that is not really a mug in itself but serves more as an alternative to the disposable paper coffee sleeves. It is able to hold the paper cups (medium and large at least) that most coffee shops provide, including the still pretty popular Starbucks.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is made from durable polycarbonate and has a pretty elegant and minimalist design that can still display whatever cup is snugly placed inside. This holder doesn’t need any liquid transfer or constant cleaning that’s why it’s more convenient.
What we like
SüpKüp has an airtight seal when you place the coffee cup inside
Has a double helix screw ejector that lets you eject the cup when you’ve finished just by twisting the rotating base
What we dislike
No complaints!
4. The Folding Kettle
The Folding Kettle comes with a flat-pack design that opens up rather cleverly, expanding its volume while creating a kettle that’s stable enough to stand vertically on any surface.
Why is it noteworthy?
“Due to its unique storage structure, the capacity of this travel-friendly folding kettle after unfolding is approximately 1.2 liters”, says C60 Design’s team lead Chu Wenbao. “It has three main characteristics: simple operation, easy storage, and a minimal aesthetic.” The kettle’s travel-friendly design borrows a lot from a travel iron. It’s compact when you need it to be, and functional when opened. It also has a detachable cable that allows you to connect it to a power outlet to heat water wherever you are.
What we like
Features a flat-pack design making it completely travel-friendly
What we dislike
No complaints!
5. The Plover
Named after the tiny, fearless bird that famously cleans the teeth of crocodiles by plucking the food waste directly out of its mouth, the Plover is a tiny toothbrush that does pretty much the same for humans. Built for travel but also built for health, the toothbrush comes with a two-part design featuring a stick with bristles on one end, and a hollow container that the stick fits right into, transforming from an outer case to a handle for the toothbrush.
Why is it noteworthy?
Although this format is rather popular for foldable brush styles, the Plover has another trick up its sleeve. The hollow cavity of the handle also has built-in UV lights that sterilize the brush after you’re done and before you brush again, killing all the germs on the bristles and keeping your oral hygiene at its high standard.
What we like
Easy to carry around
Compact size
What we dislike
No complaints!
6. The Tripper Backpack
The Tripper backpack isn’t the kind of backpack you see too often. After a two-year hiatus, the world is slowly opening up to full-scale traveling again and the Tripper wants you to be as prepared as you can be.
Why is it noteworthy?
Going above and beyond your average backpack design, the Tripper (as its name suggests) prepares you for extensive trips, whether they’re leisure trips, staycations, business excursions, holidays, or just impromptu getaways. The backpack’s 40-liter capacity provides about as much storage as you’d get from a duffle, although where it outperforms your duffle is in its sheer attention to detail and conscientious modularity. Sounds hyperbolic? Well, I assure you it isn’t.
What we like
It has its own removable IPX8 waterproof laundry bag inside
It has large storage space for your clothes, accessible via a 180° opening flap
What we dislike
No complaints!
7. The BA/CA Board
Portability is a quality that’s often mutually exclusive to kitchen appliances. Or so was the case earlier. Recently, we have been seeing a lot of travel-friendly kitchen appliances being introduced into the market, however, a travel-friendly ‘cutting board’ isn’t something that’s been truly experimented with. But, AK Studios Design decided to change that with the BA/CA Board.
Why is it noteworthy?
The BA/CA Board is a compact, travel-friendly cutting board that’s perfect indoors and outdoors… because it also happens to have a chef’s knife docked right into it! The cutting board doubles as a sheath for your knife, making it safer and easier to carry outdoors, and if you’re not a travel bug, The BA/CA Board works just as well in your indoor kitchen, conveniently organizing your knife and board together so you can easily begin meal prep in just seconds
What we like
Super portable and easy to carry around
A strong magnetic retention system makes sure that the razor-sharp 440c stainless steel knife stays put and safe inside
What we dislike
No complaints!
8. The Terrein Ascent
The German start-up called Terrein has developed a high ankle Ascent boot that will provide advanced freedom to hikers while actively protecting their ankles against potential twisting injuries.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Terrein Ascent is made primarily with the idea to reduce the risk of ankle injuries in adventurers. The adaptive ankle support – touted to be three times more responsive than a human reflex – can reduce the risk of injuries and provide constant support to the ankle. Moreover, the Ascent is made to increase stability with its immaculate construction (we’ll talk about it a bit later).
What we like
The hydraulic ankle protection system is fastened to the outside of the ankle and wrapped around with a Velcro-enabled strap
What we dislike
No complaints!
9. The Lexon Nomaday Biometric Lock
Imagine being able to use TouchID on stuff apart from your phone. The Lexon Nomaday biometric lock lets you secure your backpack, room, locker, or even bicycle just by using your fingerprint.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Nomaday is a tiny yet impressive padlock that ditches the keys for something much more secure – biometrics. Designed to be as easy to operate as unlocking your phone is, the Lexon Nomaday comes with a small fingerprint reader that has a response time of just 0.5 seconds, unlocking faster than the time it would ordinarily take to even find your keys. The Nomaday can store up to 10 different fingerprints and comes with an LED indicator, giving multiple people keyless access to whatever’s behind the lock.
What we like
Tiny + compact form
Designed for indoor and outdoor use
Uses biometrics to secure your belongings
What we dislike
No complaints!
10. The Cue
Smart wristwatches are found dime a dozen. But to everyone’s surprise, smart pocket watches are a thing and the smart version of these timepieces for the pocket has gained a foothold in the niche market. A charm for collectors, these intricate devices have always left me fascinated. No wonder, when I came across the Cue – a concept for a smart pocket watch – I couldn’t help but share the idea.
Why is it noteworthy?
Indian designer Rahul has conceived the idea of a feature-rich pocket watch every adventurer would want to have handy when venturing into the wild. Designed with features to allow travelers to navigate better, track their daily activities, and keep tabs on their health, the minimalistic yet powerful Cue can send out emergency SOS alerts and even remind the user of medication time when traveling.
What we like
Can be mounted to your bike or backpack or carried in your pocket for convenience
Can send out emergency SOS alerts and even remind the user of medication time when traveling
What we dislike
A seven-second long press opens the menu, while a long press of 15 seconds opens up the SOS slider
An ornate wooden structure dating back to the Qing dynasty has been encased in a copper-clad shell to create The Relic Shelter, a teahouse in Fuzhou, China, by Neri&Hu.
The Relic Shelter was designed by the Shanghai-based studio to draw attention to the threat that modern developments pose to traditional architecture and treats the historic building at its centre as an “urban artefact.”
Relocated from its original site in Jiangnan, the wooden structure now frames an atmospheric tea lounge, surrounded by a series of private and public lounges, event spaces and bars finished in rough, earth-coloured concrete, plaster and copper.
The Relic Shelter is a teahouse in Fuzhou that was designed by Neri&Hu
“Conceived as an urban artefact and drawing from the historical roots of the city of Fuzhou, the teahouse internalises a piece of distinct heritage at a time when rapid new development has eroded traditional culture and identity,” explained the practice.
“For this ancient building aspiring to be reborn as a modern tea house, the team adopted architectural strategies that could enhance its new function,” it continued.
Raised on a rammed-concrete podium, The Relic Shelter is topped by a copper-clad roof, with its pitch angled to match that of the original wooden building inside. The building has been shortlisted in the hospitality building category of Dezeen Awards 2022.
The wooden structure dates back to the Qing dynasty
Visitors enter into the concrete base, where a circular arrival lobby leads to office spaces and a wine and tea cellar that opens onto a sunken garden at the rear of the building.
On the first floor, a display area and tea lounge sit beneath the historic wooden structure to the east, while a function room sits on the opposite side of a shallow circular pool of water above the entrance lobby with a skylight at its centre.
On the second floor, a balcony with seating surrounds the historic wooden structure below, giving visitors the chance to view it from above.
Skylights and a thin, glazed gap between the base and the roof illuminate this level, creating a variety of bright, open areas and smaller, more intimate private tea rooms around the edges of the central space.
Earth-coloured concrete and plaster cover the walls and floors
“A series of contrasts play out among elements that are bright and dark, light and heavy, coarse and refined, as visitors enter the grand hall where the structure of the ancient residence is situated,” said the practice.
“Sky wells penetrate the roof, bringing natural light into the depths of the enclosure and illuminating the priceless artefact on display…only upon reading the mezzanine does the structural configuration of the building begin to reveal itself,” it continued.
A holiday home in northern Italy that was decorated on a budget and a Hackney apartment with exposed concrete walls are among the residences in this lookbook, which showcases interiors that have been left purposely unfinished.
Peeling wallpaper, floors that have been left untreated and hanging cables give character to these interior design projects, which look as though they’ve been abandoned halfway through decorating.
By stripping back the properties down to their shells, the interior designers have given the occupants of these homes the chance to complete them according to their own tastes and resources – whether that be filling them with quirky items or keeping them minimalist.
The bedrooms in this fifth-floor Lisbon apartment feature restored Riga pine floorboards that have been left untreated, matching the unfinished quality of the walls.
Elsewhere in the residence, Lisbon-based Studio Gameiro restored several aged frescos found throughout the 1819 building and left the ceiling exposed in places to reveal its original timber support beams.
This apartment in Hackney was overhauled from a lacklustre and light-deprived home by London-based architecture studio Merrett Houmøller Architects.
Hoping to give the space a raw aesthetic, the studio removed the existing wallpaper which revealed the concrete blockwork underneath. The decor has been limited to a handful of industrial pieces such as an exposed-bulb pendant lamp.
“Stripping the walls and ceiling back to the shell was essential for adding character that never made it into the original new build,” explained the studio.
Situated on the ground floor of an early twentieth-century building in Rome‘s Flaminio district, this one-bedroom flat has been left intentionally unfinished by Italian architecture and interiors studio 02A.
The studio hoped that the unfinished look, which is achieved through exposed plaster walls and mismatched furnishings, would spark curiosity and show the beauty in imperfection.
Italian studio Archiplan made very few changes to this apartment, which is situated in a 15th-century building and designed for a couple who wanted a holiday getaway.
Instead, the studio chose to honour its timeworn aesthetic by keeping several of the property’s original features, including a number of frescos. Areas that could not be salvaged are covered in plaster or painted in a minty green shade to complement the bucolic scenes depicted on some of the walls.
Brazilian studio SuperLimão renovated RF Apartment, a residence in downtown São Paulo, by rearranging the layout and stripping it back to reveal several historical details found in the modernist building.
The exposed pipes that run along the walls and ceilings were painted in pastel hues while the edges of the entryways were peeled back to leave large chunks of plaster and brick exposed.
As well as knocking down several walls and highlighting the owner’s impressive art collection, Brazilian studio Memola Estudio’s renovation of Gale Apartment included exposing the building’s concrete structure, piping and ductwork.
Floor-to-ceiling windows, warm woods and furniture in an eclectic mix of styles and eras help make the home feel less industrial and more homely.
After knocking through a number of partition walls that divided this 65-square metre home, Spanish architecture studio CRÜ lined the living zones with different warm-hued tiles, with each tile type defining a particular area.
In the kitchen, white-painted exposed brickwork was paired with terracotta tiles that have been applied back to front, so that the ribbed texture on their underside is exposed. These are set off against a white kitchen island that also serves as a breakfast bar.
Aptly named Tokyo Loft after its positioning on one of the uppermost floors of a 1980s housing block in Tokyo, this apartment features raw concrete walls. Expansive windows allow for plenty of natural light and lift the otherwise industrial mood.
Streaks of white paint were added to the walls and ceilings using a technique that involved spraypainting A4-sized sheets of resin against the surfaces, then removing them to reveal a spiral-like texture intended to resemble Japanese Washi paper.
Brazilian studio Roberto Benito Arquitecto named this single-storey Argentinian dwelling Vivienda Texturas – or Textural House – owing to the unfinished materials used throughout the tactile home.
Intended to provide the occupants with both a place for quiet reflection and entertaining guests, the house has a main space at its core for cooking and socialising.
Here, exposed concrete walls and floors are matched with visible pipes and a beige colour scheme. Two sides of the room are glazed, while the other two are solid, allowing for the display of artwork.
Husband and wife Sandy and Sally Rendel designed and built Slot House, a 2.8-metre-wide skinny house as a “functional” yet “delightful” London residence.
Inside, the architects combined the steel structure with exposed Douglas fir joists, spruce plywood walls and cork and terrazzo floors, creating the house’s striking unfinished interiors.
Mexican design studio Peca has created a monolithic table made entirely from black volcanic stone, which is shaped and finished to express the material’s unique natural qualities.
Led by designer Caterina Moretti, Peca developed the Petra dining table to celebrate the varying textural properties of the porous black stone as well as its cultural significance.
Peca has designed the Petra dining table
The natural, local material was formed through the same volcanic activity that has shaped Mexico’s terrain and is deeply embedded in the region’s traditional craft culture.
“When conceiving the Petra table, two things were in our minds: the appreciation we have developed over the years of working with the volcanic stone but also the symbolism of it,” Moretti explained.
“The Petra table calls to mind the mysteries of nature and their sacred play in our day-to-day lives.”
The table is made from volcanic stone
Moretti’s studio, which is based in Guadalajara, designed Petra to showcase the skill of local artisans who are able to shape the stone into practical objects that harness its unique structure.
The table is entirely hand carved from volcanic stone, taking around 10 to 11 weeks to produce.
It can be used both indoors and outdoors
It consists of three chunky columns supporting a pill-shaped tabletop, with each point of intersection marked by a polished stone disc on top.
A series of straight lines carved by hand across the width and length of the tabletop draw the eye towards these three polished sections.
The smooth, shiny discs were designed to symbolise the molten rock that was thrust up from the Earth’s core to form the rugged mountains of Mexico.
“The piece’s design is one of a kind: a contrast between massive proportions and graceful lines, a harmony formed of delicate forms and bold textures,” Peca said.
The design has tubular legs
Alongside the tabletop’s raw natural surfaces, the lines and circles create what Moretti describes as “an abstract map” of shapes and textures.
Peca says the table, designed for both indoor and outdoor dining, is “filled with the force, warmth and raw beauty that defines what being Mexican at its core means”.
Nothing can be more distressing and demotivating than having to do physical or mental work on a hot day. Our bodies become lethargic, and our minds try to daydream of better days. Sometimes, that condition can even be dangerous, such as when you start to feel drowsy while driving. There is a variety of cooling solutions available these days, ranging from electric fans to air conditioners, but few of them can claim to lower your body temperature in a quick yet comfortable manner. They might even cause other issues, such as allergies or colds. That kind of discomfort, however, might now be a thing of the past, thanks to this innovation that cools your body in a novel way, bringing the world’s first-ever technology to focus on cooling one of the most heat-sensitive body part: your neck.
Our necks are one of the weakest parts of our body when it comes to heat intolerance. That’s why in many cases, people place a cold towel on the back of the neck to help relieve that uncomfortable feeling, especially after a strenuous workout. That need to be cool, literally, applies to other parts of our lives as well. When our body feels like it’s overheating, not only do we feel sluggish, we also tend to be unable to use our mental faculties properly, which adversely affects our productivity.
Thermonecks offers quick relief to this problem by cooling off that sensitive part of our body. With a fashionable design that you won’t be ashamed to wear, the neckband brings the body back to its thermal sweet spot by basically applying an innovative cold material on certain areas of the neck. This isn’t the same as simply putting ice or ice-cold towels on your neck, which can lead to ice burns and skin damage.
Instead, the neckband uses Dual Temperature technology that keeps the temperature at 57°F (14°C) and 68°F (20°C), known to be the ideal low temperatures to effectively cool down the body without damaging the skin.
The secret to this almost magical feat is the advanced Thermo Pads that can freeze in just 10 seconds when submerged in ice water. In a regular cold environment, the packs can freeze in just about 10 minutes. And when the pads are applied to the neck, it only takes 15 minutes to cool down the body by as much as 7 degrees, allowing you to become comfortable enough to get back to work or drive around with a clearer head. And rather than applying a uniform low temperature across the neck, Thermonecks’ Dual Temperature system applies different temperatures where appropriate. The lower 14°C temperature is applied to the central cervical spine, while the 20°C level is better for cooling the carotid arteries on the sides of the neck.
Despite the advanced science behind it, using the Thermonecks is as easy as pie. Simply freeze the Thermo Pads, insert them into the stylish neck support, and then wear the neckband comfortably around your neck. You can even freeze the Thermo Pads on the go with the included “Supercharger” and carrying case. In just 60 minutes, you’ll be ready to slip those frozen pads back into the neckband to let you enjoy its body cooling powers again. Even better, you will have two Thermo Pads right out of the box, allowing you use one while the other is in the Supercharger, and then keep on swapping between them on the go as needed.
We often have to wait for the right place, time, or equipment to beat the heat, sometimes when it’s too late to do any good. Keeping cool when you need it and when you want it is essential to living a healthy life, whether you’re in the house or in your car. Whether you’re trying to cool off after a workout, trying to focus on your homework during a summer afternoon, trying to keep your body cool for good night’s sleep, or simply trying to relax and chill, the Thermonecks brings your body back to its ideal temperature to let you move and live in comfort. For only $109, a special discount for Yanko Design readers, you will get everything you need to keep your body refreshed and your mind focused in no time flat.
A lot of lunar research facilities or architecture on the moon have been created in the past few years. Each concept is always more innovative than the previous one, and architects/designers leave no stone unturned in creating lunar architecture that has been specifically designed to take people by storm! In a world of extravagant concepts, a simple yet smart concept I recently came across was by Jakub Pietryszyn. Called ‘Nishakara’, it functions as a lunar research facility and was designed by him during an AAKA space architecture workshop, with his co-creator Aakansha.
Designer: Jakub Pietryszyn x Aakanksha
Nishakara was specifically designed to be a research facility for Helium-3. Helium-3 is a light and stable isotope of Helium, and the gas can be processed into fuel. Jakub predicts that in the future there will be a major requirement for Helium-3 as a fuel and that the moon could be converted into a ‘fueling station for earth’. Nishakara would land on Mare Crisium on the moon – a well-known lunar mare located in the moon’s Crisium basin. It has been the landing site for numerous Apollo and lunar expeditions and hence is familiar terrain.
Jakub describes Nishakara as an octagonal habitation system with three main expansions. When transporting it to the moon, the module can be folded, and snugly fit into a starship’s cargo area. In its fully folded form, it has a total volume of 155 cubic meters. Once placed on the moon, it unfolds and unveils its entire structure – which has a volume of around 365 cubic meters. Nishakara’s innovative folding mechanism is influenced by the art of origami, specifically the traditional Japanese folding fan. Instead of a traditional airlock, the habitat has been equipped with two spacesuit docks, and security hatches on the inside.
The entire habit is powered by a nuclear reactor and is primarily built from high-grade steel. It is protected by a regolith shield. This shield is created by utilizing lava casting construction techniques. The shield basically features multi-layered moon dunes, which form a natural skin that covers the habitat and protects it from radiation and micrometeoroids The layered texture of the shield, perfectly merges with the bumpy terrain of the moon. On the other hand, the origami-inspired unfolding section is made from Kevlar.
The ‘main lab’ of the facility is located in the north wing and has been equipped with a robotic arms system on the exterior. The interiors are designed to be completely deployable. The kitchen and the bathroom are located inside the octagonal core.
Nishakara’s unfolding origami-inspired mechanism makes it a habitat that is not only easy to transport but also one that expands according to requirement. In the future, where daily expeditions to the moon could be considered ‘normal’, concepts like Nishakara will hold immense value and could become a reality very soon.
Just by their name, you’d almost think that side tables are like sidekicks to your furniture. They serve a useful purpose, for sure, but they’re not exactly critical unless you really designed a room around them. They’re sometimes even hidden in corners where only their tops are seen and accessible. Of course, it’s entirely possible to have side tables become the center of attraction, especially if they look good enough to warrant moving away from the sidelines. They can also do more than just be pieces of furniture you place items on top, just like this side table that provides more than one functionality with a very unique visual. In fact, its unusual form warrants it to be a living room centerpiece, which means it can be more than just a table on the sides.
Compared to a coffee table or a desk, a side table is almost always a smaller piece of furniture where you place cups, books, magazines, or even your phone on top. Given the scarcity of space in most homes and rooms these days, however, such a single-function object almost feels like a waste. That’s why some side table designs and concepts incorporate some sort of storage below the tabletop, turning the side table into a side shelf of sorts.
Linked does exactly that while also thinking outside the box when it comes to design, almost literally. Inside of a straightforward rectangular shelf or even a cylindrical body, the side table is actually composed of three hollow boxes. But rather than have these boxes arranged in an organized and regular fashion, they are instead interconnected with different offsets, creating what almost looks like a random composition of shapes, lines, and spaces.
These spaces are, of course, where you can place objects inside. There is actually only one space in the middle than can be big enough for anything other than books or smaller items. All other open areas are narrow, thin, or have an irregular L-shape that makes them less convenient for other objects. That said, filling these up with objects of different sizes also adds to the whimsical personality of the table. Given that you’ll be placing items where they fit best, you might find the overall aesthetic a bit disorganized or even chaotic.
The Linked side table’s wooden boxes make it perfect for almost any room arrangement, regardless of the motif you’re aiming for. Given its uneven shape, it might not be conducive to keeping it at the sides only. It can, of course, also function as a central table, both visually and functionally, one that can keep more than just your drinks or reading materials within easy reach.
At some point in time, getting toddlers to take a bath becomes almost like a battle instead of just a chore. This problem has given rise to many products that try to make bath time not only safer but also more enjoyable for kids, which also makes it less stressful for parents and guardians. A lot of these kid-friendly products, however, are often not planet-friendly, particularly with the use of plastic containers that get thrown out once they run empty. Sometimes, it doesn’t take too much to think of a win-win solution for both humans and the environment, and this product concept tries to do exactly that with an eco-friendly shampoo and bath packaging that you don’t have to throw away anymore.
Truth be told, packaging for bath essentials for kids like shampoo and soap are more concerned about safety than looking attractive. In fact, it might even be too risky to make shampoo bottles and powder containers look fun to play with, precisely because of the dangers that the substances in them pose. With a little extra care, however, it might actually be possible to have safe products that are also fun to play with, which is what Bebo tries to accomplish.
Bebo is a line of bath essentials products for toddlers that pull double duty. They are, of course, primarily designed to be containers for personal hygiene products like shampoo, gel soap, powder, and lotion. At the same time, however, these containers come in interesting shapes that resemble specific animals. In other words, these containers can become toys that these same toddlers can play with once they’re no longer in use. Of course, they’re also designed so that kids don’t accidentally open them up or squeeze out their contents even when they’re playing with them during bath time.
Each member of the Bebo line has a specific design and a specific way to be used. The shampoo bottle, for example, is an elephant, and the circle that its trunk makes can be used as a bubble maker. The Giant Panda gel soap container is a squishy toy, while the Giraffe powder bottle can be used as a rattle. Last but not least, the Gorilla is a lotion dispenser that also functions as a Roly Poly, thanks to its appropriately disproportionate body.
The choice of these four animals isn’t by accident. They represent four dying species that are also easily translated into cute toys for young children. In this manner, Bebo tries to establish an emotional connection between kids and these animals, which could help raise awareness of these endangered animals when they finally grow up.
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