Hasta La Ideas

The way our brain works, we become almost numb and blind to the most mundane things that we see every day. It’s a survival tactic that prevents our brains from blowing up at every external stimulus. For example, we easily take styrofoam for granted in whatever form it comes in, be it large slabs or tiny balls, because they’re easy to ignore in all the packaging, cups, and containers that we see day in and day out. These synthetic objects, however, obviously have a negative impact on the environment, and the measures taken to reduce that ironically still stress both natural and human resources. That’s why these pieces of furniture try to nip the problem in the bud by giving styrofoam a new purpose inside or outside your home without having to travel far from where they’re taken.

Designers: we+

Styrofoam, by nature, is not only non-biodegradable but also potentially harmful to our own health, which makes its use as food and beverage containers sound almost ironic. The good news is that styrofoam can actually be transformed into materials for recycled plastic products after they have been melted and treated, presuming they’re even disposed of properly. The bad news is that these materials are often sent to other countries, which makes the entire process inefficient, wasteful, and still harmful to the environment in the long run.

Japan, for example, often exports styrofoam melted into ingots only to have those become the foundations for products bought in bargain stores. Rather than going through that roundabout and expensive process, Refoam starts and ends in Japan, right where the styrofoam is melted. This recycled goo is then immediately used to build up structures with unique textures and surfaces. Structures that can become tables, chairs, and furniture that will give any space a distinct look.

Whether from near or from a distance, it’s easy to see that any piece of Refoam furniture has a unique and almost odd aesthetic. It’s like a cross between cracked concrete and molten lava that has been cooled after it was given shape. Given the process involved in melting pieces of styrofoam and placing the resulting goo into molds to cool, that’s a rather accurate representation.

The Refoam series’ rocky appearance makes it almost perfect for outdoor use, but it can still fit in some interior motifs, particularly those aiming for cold, earthy tones. More importantly, however, it provides not only a more sustainable process for recycling styrofoam waste but also gives the material new value, even in its raw, melted form.

The post This peculiar furniture set gives styrofoam a new home inside yours first appeared on Yanko Design.

This art and design gallery in Venice, California occupies a former private house where interiors by designer Gabriella Kuti provide a warm, neutral backdrop for the works on show.

Maison Lune was co-founded by French artist and designer Sandrine Abessera and Ukrainian fashion designer Lubov Azria, who set about creating a “dream home, where beauty rules”.

“We want to build an alternative to traditional galleries, which are often perceived as too elitist and intimidating,” said Abessera and Azria.

The duo worked closely with interior designer Gabriella Kuti to turn what was a private house in a protected historical building into a space to showcase a rotating series of exhibitions.

The gallery is organised like a collector’s home, with artworks and design pieces spread across multiple rooms that total 4,000 square feet (371 square metres).

Their intention was to allow visitors to journey through the different rooms and floors, which are designed to exude a warm atmosphere.

The team didn’t need to alter too much of the existing interiors but added storage and lighting to help better display the works.

“The space was already an amazing canvas for this purpose: high ceilings, lots of lights and skylight, white limestone floors,” the co-founders told Dezeen. “We created more shelving with LA artisans and added more lights.”

Architectural features like circular windows, spiral staircases and marble bathrooms all bring character to the gallery.

The house also has a terrace with a small swimming pool and balconies for displaying pieces outdoors.

Everything displayed through the various styled vignettes, from artworks to collectible design pieces, is for sale.

The aim is to spotlight a wide range of both established and emerging artists and designers, who work across mediums and techniques including painting, sculpture, photography, furnishings, ceramics, lighting, textiles and objects.

“The pieces showcased represent the varied and changing cultural landscape of identities, values and beliefs,” the pair said.

Inaugurating the gallery is a group exhibition titled Transcendence, curated by Gaia Jacquet Matisse and including work by her mother, Sophie Matisse, along with artists Bobbie Olivier, Jeannie Weissglass, Edson Fernandes, James Fischetti, Angela Damman and Santiago Martinez Peral.

Together, the show aims to “examine the concept of duality within our existence as humans inhabiting the earth, alongside nature” according to the team.

This debut exhibition will continue until the Frieze Los Angeles 2023 art fair, which takes place 16-19 February, then the gallery is scheduled to host four showcases per year.

Presenting art and collectible design in a residential setting has become a popular way for gallerists and fairs to contextualise the objects, and make them more appealing to potential buyers.

Galleries like The Future Perfect, which operates showrooms in LA and New York under the moniker Casa Perfect, and the Nomad Circle series of travelling design fairs are among those that have found success through this format.

The post Maison Lune gallery in California showcases art and design in residential setting appeared first on Dezeen.

It’s my favorite time of the year – when I get to explore and deep dive into the best tiny homes we’ve encountered in the entire year! Sustainability has been running through everybody’s mind. Ever since the pandemic shook up our world in 2020, we’ve been trying to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our life, including our homes. And, with everyone aspiring toward’s eco-friendly and mindful ways of living, tiny homes have completely taken over the world of architecture and cemented their place as sustainable, minimal, and economical micro-living setups. What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces. You could say that 2022 was the year of tiny homes! And I do believe this will continue well into 2023. They are a space-saving and eco-friendly living solution that reduces the load on Mother Earth. They’re simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And they’re here to stay in 2023. We’ve curated a wide range of micro-home setups that totally grabbed our attention in 2022! From an AI-enabled budget-friendly tiny home to a prefab tiny home that is a smart mobile unit – there’s a tiny home in here for everyone.

1. Coodo

A couple of years ago, German entrepreneur Mark Dare Schmiedel got pretty fed up with the chaos of Berlin and decided to move to the countryside, building his own quaint loft along the banks of the River Spree. The peace, calm, and zen that followed, got him wondering whether it would be possible to create a similar, but a mobile form of home, that could provide the same sanctuary to others. In his quest for such a retreat, he came across a mobile home concept designed by a group of Slovenian architects called ‘Coodo’. Schmiedel went on to procure the design rights of the concept, through his company LTG Lofts to Go and kickstarted the production of the units. The modular homes aim to bring you closer to nature, to a space away from the crowds, where you can truly enjoy the beauty of a moment.

Why is it noteworthy?

It features a curved and minimal steel frame with rounded edges and stunning floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The beautiful glass walls allow a generous stream of sunlight to enter the home. Whether on rooftops in the city, on beaches, on mountains or alongside a river, the Coodo can be easily installed almost anywhere.

What we like

• Integrated utilization of smart home technology
• Adherence to Passive House standards

What we dislike

• No complaints!

2. Cube One

Low-cost, prefabricated, and ready-to-live-in homes are all the rage right now! And tiny home builder Nestron has jumped on the bandwagon with their latest AI-enabled home ‘Cube One’. Cube One is a 156-square-foot home perfect for all kinds of residents – from single youngsters to large families. The value-for-money home has been equipped with built-in furnishings, voice-controlled tech, and a galvanized steel shell that not only lends it a sci-fi feel but also protects it from extreme temperatures and natural disasters.

Why is it noteworthy?

Much like a Rubik’s Cube, the dynamic Cube One can be customized and played around with! The interior can be customized with various add-ons and trimmings, including a kitchen with a bar counter, a wardrobe, a bed, a living area, and a shower accompanied by a toilet and laundry machine. It also comes fully equipped with smart technology which is experienced in the form of color-controllable LED lighting, a television, a sound system, and air conditioning.

What we like

• Built from recyclable materials
• AI-enabled

What we dislike

• Eco-friendly and sustainable elements like a compostable toilet, solar panels, and electric-heated flooring are integrated at an additional cost

3. The Dodo Van

The Dodo Van has been designed for a young couple who wants to live in a smaller place. The 1993 Chevy van was actually purchased for work and travel. Inside the van, you can see a full-sized mattress and a kitchenette with a fold-up dining table, and more.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Dodo Van is a design exercise that challenges transformation, limitations, and spatiality. The designers considered the needs of the young pair working with local communities. They are also frequent travelers who love to explore new places. They only take with them their essentials, so a small mobile home is just right.

What we like

• For thermo-acoustic proper insulation, rock wool was actually used on the ceiling, walls, and the floor
• There is an independent battery connected to the vehicle’s alternator for electricity

What we dislike

• The Dodo Van is small but it can comfortably accommodate a group of people

4. Tind

David and Jeanette Reiss-Andersen, cofounders of the Oslo-based tiny home company Norske Mikrohus, decided to build an eco-friendly and affordable alternative to the pricier standard-size homes available on the market.” We wanted to create something for people looking for a way out of the rental and mortgage markets—something for those who want easy access to nature and to live with fewer possessions,” said David. And their efforts led to the birth of ‘Tind’ – a beautiful wood-wrapped tiny home built in Norwegian style.

Why is it noteworthy?

Not only is Tind built from environmentally friendly Nordic materials, but it was also designed to withstand Nordic weather conditions. Tind was designed with one important goal in mind – to encourage flexibility and freedom. It’s a home you can move around in and take wherever you want to.

What we like

• Sustainable + eco-friendly
• Inspired by Norwegian aesthetics

What we dislike

• No complaints!

5. Base Cabins’s Tiny Home

Tiny home builder Base Cabin collaborated with Matt Goodman Architecture Office to create this super minimalistic tiny home on wheels inspired by the simplicity of livestock sheds.

Why is it noteworthy?

The clean and simple home was designed to beautifully merge with farms, vineyards, or even the Australian bush. The aim was to ensure that the residents feel one with the surroundings and that there is no sense of separation between the home and the landscape.

What we like

• Although the home occupies a tiny footprint, it is made to feel more spacious than it is, owing to the placement of operable windows
• By integrating a lot of the functional storage requirements into the walls, they were able to maximize the floor space

What we dislike

• No complaints!

6. Common Knowledge x Tigín Tiny Homes

Irish social enterprise Common Knowledge has collaborated with Tigín Tiny Homes to create low-carbon micro homes that are meant to provide sustainable and economical housing solutions to people struggling to buy their own homes. Currently, property prices in Ireland are increasing by 11 percent every year, and this project hopes to tackle this ongoing housing crisis, and “empower people to take action on the housing and climate crises.”

Why is it noteworthy?

Besides building these sustainable and affordable dwellings, they are also providing training schemes to teach residents how to build and repair their own homes! The founder of Common Knowledge, Fionn Kidney said, “Ultimately, the plan of our Tigín project is not just to build these Tiny Homes, but to teach more than two hundred people with the skills to build these or any other project themselves, whilst creating and releasing a free-to-use blueprint at the end of this year.”

What we like

• The twenty-square-foot homes feature a facade of corrugated hemp panels, cork insulation, and natural rubber flooring
• The homes are spread out across two levels, giving them a spacious feel, although they are compactly sized

What we dislike

• Not the most aesthetically pleasing homes

7. Buster

Buster is located in Matamata, just a couple of hours away from Auckland, New Zealand. You will be able to hear the sound of spring river water flowing around you as you’re surrounded by trees, stones, valleys, and basically the joys of nature. It’s located below the Kaimai Range “amongst ancient native bush and farmland”. It is a tiny home perfect for one person or a couple who wants to temporarily or even permanently live in such an area and to have something that is built sustainably and with the environment and your comfort in mind.

Why is it noteworthy?

Instead of being made from timber, it uses black corrugate as it will last longer and can survive all the different kinds of weather that the area experiences. They also used plywood to bring “a sense of warmth” to the house and is in fact what is also used in the traditional kiwi trampers huts, giving you even more of a local feel but with modern conveniences. It’s a pretty good combination, having a more natural lodging but using sustainable technology and devices to give you comfort and function.

What we like

• Buster is powered by GridFree solar panels
• The house is oriented to the north so that it will be able to maximize the light during the summer and even during the winter

What we dislike

• The solar energy is only enough to power a small fridge, and lights, and to charge your smartphones

8. The Slope House

The Slope House from the 3D visualizer Milad Eshtiyaghi is an untraditional A-frame cabin that employs a biophilic design inside and out. 3D visualizer and international architect Milad Eshtiyaghi has long been drawn to escapist hideaways perched on rugged, seaside cliffs and isolated cabins envisioned beneath the Northern Lights. Today, he turns his gaze to tiny cabins. A bit more quaint than treacherous, Eshtiyaghi’s latest 3D visualization finds an angular, timber cabin nestled atop an idyllic hillside somewhere in the rainforests of Brazil.

Why is it noteworthy?

Dubbed the Slope House, the timber cabin maintains a signature triangular frame that’s a thoughtful twist on the conventional A-frame cabin. Defined by two modules, one internal volume hosts the cabin’s bedroom while the other keeps the home’s main living spaces, like the dining area, kitchen, and den. The tiny cabin from Eshtiyaghi is envisioned propped atop a truss system that was specifically chosen to minimize the home’s impact on the preexisting landscape.

What we like

• A biophilic design style has been integrated into the cabin’s interior spaces
• Natural plants have been added inside the house as a small garden

What we dislike

• The theme and form of the home may be a bit too eccentric for some

9. Azure’s ADUs

Azure, essentially specializes in ADUs or Accessory Dwelling Units, which are usually placed next to the main residence, or in the backyard of a home. Azure creates several models of these ADUs – from backyard office studios to a two-bedroom tiny home. The structures are modern and futuristic, amped with glass walls, recessed lighting, and pocket doors, providing them with the feel of a complete home.

Why is it noteworthy?

Within 20 hours, Azure 3D prints the homes – including their structural skeleton, exterior sheathing, water control barrier, exterior finish, utility passageways, and the grounding for interior finishes. Azure is taking a more sustainable approach by utilizing recycled plastic in construction. Over 60% of Azure’s printing material will be comprised of waterproof plastic polymer, which is usually found in plastic bottles or food packaging.

What we like

• Builds homes 70% faster, and 30% cheaper as compared to the traditional construction method

What we dislike

• No complaints!

10. MiniMod

Nestled in the redwood forest of the popular and beautiful Sea Ranch community along the Sonoma, California coastline is a 684-square-foot weekend cabin that was originally designed by the acclaimed Bay Area architect Joseph Esherick. Called MiniMod, this cabin was lovingly restored and refurbished by Framestudio after it was purchased by its creative director Chad DeWitt, and his husband James Cook.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cabin was originally built to show how a comfortable and affordable home could be constructed while following the Sea Ranch building guidelines. The midcentury modern cabin has a stunning wooden exterior that allows it to effortlessly blend with the surrounding natural environment

What we like

• Midcentury aesthetics but modern amenities
• The history and heritage of the cabin have been maintained

What we dislike

• No complaints!

The post Top 10 tiny homes of 2022 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Featuring wood-panelled walls, plushy seating and soft fabrics juxtaposed with glossy finishes, this lookbook collects 10 interiors that recall the 1970s.

Having been out of favour for much of the past five decades, the 1970s re-emerged as a design trend in 2022.

The interiors listed below draw on a range of motifs borrowed from the era of glam rock, roller discos and Star Wars, with low-slung, upholstered furniture in earthy tones filling multi-use spaces.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with Eames chairs, living rooms in Victorian homes and open-plan modernist living areas.

Primrose Hill townhouse, UK, by Studio Hagen Hall

Architecture office Studio Hagen Hall channeled 1970s Californian modernism with its transformation of this north London townhouse.

Classically 1970s materials such as velvet, elm and fluted glass were deployed alongside subtle contemporary elements including micro-cement flooring.

Find out more about this Primrose Hill townhouse ›

SRG House, Australia, by Fox Johnston

SRG House was designed in 1972 by Stuart Whitelaw and was once the home of Australian modernist architect Sir Roy Grounds.

Fox Johnston retained this heritage in its renovation of the building, installing wood panelling and thick carpet while also leaving parts of the building’s concrete fabric exposed.

Find out more about SRG House ›

Helios 710, UK, by Bella Freud and Maria Speake

Set inside the former BBC Television Center in London, Helios 710 is a penthouse apartment designed by architect Piercy & Company with interiors by creative duo Bella Freud and Maria Speake that seeks to capture the most vibrant aspects of the 1970s.

Aiming for “bold colour, eclecticism and glamour”, the main living room sees glossy black sofas with burnt orange seat cushions contrast an emerald green carpet and hessian-covered walls.

Find out more about Helios 710 ›

Substans, Denmark, by Krøyer & Gatten

Local studio Krøyer & Gatten designed this Michelin-starred restaurant in Aarhus to feel like a Danish home from 50 years ago.

The architects opted for retro-but-humble materials, such as simple brown tiles in the kitchen and white-painted brickwork for the bar.

Find out more about Substans ›

6 Babmaes Street, UK, by Fathom Architects

The 1970s are often associated with a relaxed, comfortable aesthetic, and so the decade was referenced by Fathom Architects in its post-pandemic design for this London office.

Warm colours are paired with tactile materials to create a cosier atmosphere than the traditional office, as a response to the increased prevalence of working from home.

Find out more about 6 Babmaes Street ›

Palm Heights, Grand Cayman, by Gabriella Khalil

Creative director Gabriella Khalil sought to mimic a 1970s-era Caribbean mansion with the design of this boutique hotel in the Cayman Islands.

Sandy yellows mix with bold blues in each room, while collectible design pieces like Mario Bellini sofas, Ingo Maurer wall lamps and a chequered Ettore Sottsass rug feature in the guest lounge.

Find out more about Palm Heights ›

Youth Lab 3.0, Australia, by Nickolas Gurtler

This experimental space for cosmetic clinic Youth Lab takes on the daring task of balancing the brand’s minimalist identity with a retro style reminiscent of 1970s Milan.

Designer Nickolas Gurtler paired a cooler overall colour palette and mirror wall with plentiful soft textures and shades of gold and olive green.

Find out more about Youth Lab 3.0 ›

Harmay Hangzhou, China, by AIM Architecture

While it may look just like a 1970s office, this interior by Shanghai studio AIM Architecture is actually a retail store for cosmetics brand Harmay.

It features a wool carpet by German brand Findeisen and suspended ceiling tiles, with a colour palette of muted yellows, oranges and browns.

Find out more about Harmay Hangzhou ›

Club Unseen, Italy, by Studiopepe

During Milan design week in 2018, local studio Studiopepe opened a temporary private venue in a 19th-century warehouse that attempted to capture the spirit of 1970s nightclubs.

“Those years are fascinating to us – the colours and materials were very glamorous,” the studio’s Arianna Lelli Mami told Dezeen. The interiors combined graphic shapes, grid patterns, pastel colours and metallic finishes.

Find out more about Club Unseen ›

Vesta, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind

This pizza joint in Montreal, designed by local studio Ménard Dworkind, takes cues from the decor of 1970s New York pizzerias with funky colours and bold use of textures, as well as a smattering of vintage objects.

White wall panelling, dark green ceiling paint, rich oak panelling and red leather seating come together to capture “the spirit of Italian family restaurants” from times gone by.

Find out more about Vesta ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with Eames chairs, living rooms in Victorian homes and open-plan modernist living areas.

The post Ten colourful and comfortable 1970s-style interiors appeared first on Dezeen.

Instead of going to the gym and ‘meeting people’ (ugh), AIMOOV brings the comfort of a gym trainer to your house. Except there’s no trainer – it’s all AI! Designed to be what I can only describe as the world’s smallest gym instructor, AIMOOV is an artificially intelligent smart camera that aids your home workouts by tracking your progress and also correcting you when you’re exercising wrong. It works in real-time, syncs with your fitness-tracking apps, and simply needs to be plugged into a display like your TV to give you an AI-enhanced gym experience right in the comfort of your own home.

Designer: AI BRIGHT

Click Here to Buy Now: $205 $315 ($110 off). Hurry, less than 48 hours left!

Plug the camera into your TV using the HDMI port and your AIMOOV is effectively set up. The camera’s AI can recognize different users, allowing you to create unique profiles and track your own progress on your own time, and it even registers gestures, allowing you to select or skip exercises, toggle between exercise types like Yoga and Pilates, or even pause when the going gets tough and you need a quick breather.

The pandemic created the perfect storm for home-based fitness, but with all the home gyms and tiny modular fitness devices we’ve covered, the one serious flaw that’s remained is the lack of supervision. The one caveat with most home gyms is the absence of an expert telling you whether you’re exercising properly or not – a feature that’s incredibly important if you A. want to stay safe, and B. want to see results. AIMOOV does this by using AI which can track your body movements to see if you’re maintaining the right form and posture. The AI provides feedback in real-time, while also counting your reps just the way a human instructor would. AIMOOV’s app provides a detailed breakdown of your workout, while also connecting to your fitness-app ecosystem (like Apple Health and Google Fit) to help it track your workouts. You can even connect your Spotify to the AIMOOV for a nice, pumping music-filled workout!

AIMOOV on your smartphone and smartwatch.

The entire device is roughly the size of half a soda can, giving a fair bit of credence to the fact that this might just be the world’s smallest gym instructor ever. The smart camera comes with an ultrawide-angle lens and Sony’s STARVIS imaging technology running on a Hexacore CPU. It pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0, and stores data on the cloud in compliance with GDPR for user safety. For added security, the AIMOOV comes with a security cover that lets you physically block the camera when you don’t want it recording you. It doesn’t have a built-in microphone and runs entirely on USB-C (without a battery) so the smart cam is off when the power is off. The AIMOOV experience is split across its hardware (the camera) as well as its software (the app, AI, and training program catalogs). For a limited time, backers can grab the AIMOOV camera for €192 ($205) and receive a free lifetime subscription to the app and its ever-expanding catalog of exercises and virtual coaches.

Click Here to Buy Now: $205 $315 ($110 off). Hurry, less than 48 hours left!

The post This AI-enabled smart camera is like the gym-version of Nintendo Wii first appeared on Yanko Design.