Chess is a game that dates more than 1,500 years ago, and while the basic structure of the game has remained the same, it has taken on different visual forms over the centuries. From wood to ivory to even purely digital pieces, you might think that you’ve seen all there is to see when it comes to chess design. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, of course, seeing as how there are so many beautiful but odd-looking chess sets that might even leave you scratching your head in bewilderment. This handmade set, however, doesn’t change how the pieces themselves look but instead gives the board a more mesmerizing appearance of seemingly floating on water, turning a tense chess match into something almost enchanting and relaxing.

Designer: Wood Season (RVRgroup)

Some say that chess is a game of strategy and critical thinking, but others would argue that it has become simply a matter of memorizing and replaying moves these days. Whatever the case might be, the fact is that the game has never changed for hundreds of years now, from the mechanics to the pieces themselves. What has changed is how those pieces are sometimes represented, deviating from the standard medieval theme of kings, queens, and knights to become sometimes unrecognizable pieces of steel, glass, or any other eye-catching material.

The chessboard, in contrast, has remained virtually frozen in time, 64 squares arranged in 8 rows of 8 columns of alternating colors. That almost leaves very little room for creativity, but the Floating Chess defies those expectations. Painstakingly crafted by hand from oak and different coatings of epoxy, this chess set gives the illusion of a tranquil game of chess being played over a pond, in contrast to the tense, nail-biting games you’d see in professional competitions.

What gives the Floating Chess set its almost ethereal visage is the different layers and colors of epoxy used. These range from the transparent liquid used to contrast with the “dark” wooden blocks to the green pigment that submerges dried pine cones to the pearlescent mix used as the base of all of these. An LED strip lies underneath the board, controlled by a phone to shine different intensities and hues of light to add an even more unearthly glow to the chess set. The chess pieces themselves are also made from epoxy to complete the theme.

The Floating Chess is definitely a head-turner, with or without the help of colorful lighting. The use of epoxy resin, though possibly less harmful than polyester resin, might raise a few concerns about sustainability but also leaves the door open for greener alternatives. Regardless, the set creates a completely different environment than what you might associate with the game, making the pieces look like floating on water while you float on air.

The post This beautiful handmade chessboard makes it looks like you’re playing on water first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dezeen School Shows: a helmet that forewarns bike riders of dangers on the road and a device that allows bee keepers to remotely observe their hives feature in Dezeen’s latest school show by students from the University of New South Wales.

Also included is an investigation into 3D printed clay for building structures and a scheme that overhauls an inaccessible creek into a community zone.

University of New South Wales

Institution: University of New South Wales
School: School of Built Environment
Courses: Landscape Architecture, Industrial Design and Computational Design

School statement:

“At UNSW Built Environment, we shape future cities – cities that are resilient, sustainable, connected, healthy, smart, liveable and inclusive.

“We focus on the challenges of cities at every scale, from industrial designed products to the architectural design of buildings and landscapes, as well as urban and regional policy and planning.

“We create sustainable built environments that contribute to tackling the climate crisis, while our human-centred design ethos responds to the needs of the individual as well as society and our cultural landscape.

“We develop skilled and enquiring graduates, with a conscience, who can positively engage, adapt and shape our future cities for the benefit of all people, with the planet firmly in mind.”

Turrella North, Bardwell Valley Parklands, Sydney by Xinyi (Joy) Wang

“This project aims to modify the industrial landscape and offset carbon emissions over time for human and non-human inhabitants.”

“Turrella is an Aboriginal place term for ‘reeds growing in water’. The design is derived from a series of key morphological and functional moves.

“Reeds are adopted as the primary organiser of the spatial character, circulation and design elements. Growing is a generative idea that emerges within temporal scales of the project site.

“Ultimately, all the plants, including reeds, will be grown on the site. This is a place for people to immerse themselves in the rehabilitated ecologies of the Bardwell Valley.”

Student: Xinyi (Joy) Wang
Course: Master of Landscape Architecture
Tutors: Dr. Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard and Marc Deuschle
Email: xinyiwang98525[at]outlook.com

To Think Like a River, Onebygamba/Carrington Newcastle Australia by Jennifer Wu

“Through an entanglement of scales, To Think Like a River explores the interplay between the working port, local communities and the Aboriginal Australian approach to country.

“What if the working port can co-exist and evolve with social-ecological programs, enhancing the wellbeing of local communities and country?

“Across three phases – source, confluence and meander – the design approach adopts principles of adaptive reuse to underscore the country as a living being.

“These approaches reflect the philosophy of to think like a river – where water can take any route, adapting to the changing environment with what we encounter.”

Student: Jennifer Wu
Course: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Tutors: Patrick Franklyn, Ben Allen and Dr Mike Harris
Email: jenniferwu0414[at]gmail.com

Routes of Regeneration, Onebygamba/Carrington Newcastle Australia by Latham Brook

“Can the remediation of coal mines with hemp provide a new economic model and identity for Newcastle? The answer may lie in compost, hemp and oysters.

“Compost and hemp can phyto-remediate mining sites, whilst oysters provide a filtration system for toxins entering the harbour from the former steelworks.

“Lime derived from oysters and hemp can be converted into hempcrete, a carbon negative product. What if areas at risk of rising sea levels could relocate with this regenerative building material?

“Routes of Regeneration offers a phasing strategy to integrate regenerative industries for the remedial transition away from coal extraction in the Hunter Valley.”

Student: Latham Brook
Course: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Tutors: Patrick Franklyn, Ben Allen and Dr Mike Harris
Email: latham.m.brook[at]gmail.com

HeartHub fully implantable ventricular assist device by Dorcas Chu

“Designed to improve clinical outcomes and user experiences of patients with end-stage heart failure, HeartHub is a fully implantable LVAD (left-ventricular-assist-device) that features a long-distance wireless charging system.

“Its high-capacity rechargeable graphene batteries enable a compact and lightweight design without compromising battery life.

“HeartHub pairs with a cloud-based app via Bluetooth, facilitating access to crucial information such as pump statistics and emergency signals.

“In the event of pump failure, the controller will vibrate, sound an alarm, display flashing LED lights, and call emergency services. The patient’s pump information is then transmitted to specialists for immediate analysis.”

Student: Dorcas Chu
Course: Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
Tutors: Mariano Ramirez, Gonzalo Portas and Oya Demirbilek
Email: dorcaschukw[at]gmail.com

Optix smart cycling helmet by Keith Perry

“Designed for cyclists who constantly battle dangerous riding conditions, the Optix smart helmet forewarns of dangers around bike riders while simultaneously alerting other road users to their presence.

“Connected to the C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) platform, Optix notifies its wearer of vehicles pulling out of driveways, parked cars about to open doors, and cars approaching from behind.

“An augmented reality (AR) lens displays maps, weather reports, and imminent hazards. Optix intends to be an aid to the cyclist’s journey, not replace traditional ‘road sense’.

“Its compression zone mesh decelerates the skull slower than conventional helmets, potentially saving riders from serious head trauma.”

Student: Keith Perry
Course: Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
Tutors: Gonzalo Portas and Oya Demirbilek
Email: keith42perry[at]gmail.com

Prototypes of robotic incremental sheet forming by Millicent Marks, Jordan Hong, Ethan Nash, Luke Fadel and Paul Fynes-Clinton

“As part of the BENV2001 Emerging Digital Technologies class, students were exposed to robotics fundamentals as an introductory course for future architectural manufacturing investigations.

“In the course, students investigated robotic toolpaths using Grasshopper and Universal Robots UR5 in three stages.

“First generating 2D toolpaths to draw example patterns with the robot, secondly generating 2.5D toolpaths for incremental sheet forming and finally 3D toolpaths for foam cutting.

“While the aim of this course was not to produce a design outcome but to gain confidence in the use of robots, students gained knowledge in designing for and with robots as a learning outcome and can apply these skills in future robotic design and fabrication courses.”

Students: Millicent Marks, Jordan Hong, Ethan Nash, Luke Fadel and Paul Fynes-Clinton
Course: Bachelor of Computational Design
Tutors: Charlotte Firth and Kate Dunn

Soft robotics acoustic panel by Anthony Franco

“Open floor plans and activity-based work in offices generate different acoustic profiles due to various activities such as in office conversations, online meetings, kitchen use, etc.

“Yet most acoustic panels used in offices cater only for one fixed acoustic profile. The designs were fabricated from silicon and allowed control of each of the acoustic patterns pneumatically.

“The resulting design can be seen as a single element in a group of soft robotics acoustic panels that can direct themselves towards the sound source via the robotic arm and alter its acoustic pattern depending on the activity.”

Student: Anthony Franco
Course: Bachelor of Computational Design
Tutor: Daniel Yu
Email: a.franco[at]student.unsw.edu.au

Terracrete – Clay 3D printing via computationally generated architectural details by UNSW Computational Design Cohort

“3D printing has offered new manufacturing opportunities for architecture and design.

“Yet if one wants to incorporate other building elements such as windows or doors into a 3D printed wall these details need to be designed as a g-code (machine code) to communicate design intent to the 3D printer.

“In addition, when using clay as 3D print material one needs to also consider the shrinking of the material into the design process.

“These were the challenges given to the students to examine when designing and developing Grasshopper scripts for a 3D printed wall to window connection.

“Students explored the shrinkage of different materials to adjust the tool path accordingly.”

Group project: UNSW Computational Design Cohort
Course: Bachelor of Computational Design
Tutors: Kate Dunn and Charlotte Firth

Bardwell Creek, Bardwell Valley Parklands, Sydney by Iris Wang

“Bardwell Creek is located 14km from the Sydney CBD adjacent to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport terminal.

“The site is the largest public green space in the Bexley region, complete with undulating topography, difficult wayfinding routes and high levels of weed invasion within the creek system.

“The research foundation of the project is based on Fitzsimons (2013) theme of correlated elements of walkability within the built environment.

“Through the redesign of the ecological, hydrological, circulation and recreation systems of the Bardwell Creek this project seeks to make the site highly walkable and environmentally sustainable, as well as provide the opportunity for the local community to gather and express their culture and identity.”

Student: Iris Wang
Course: Master of Landscape Architecture
Tutors: Dr. Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard and Marc Deuschle
Email: irisxyw0910[at]gmail.com

Supersend beehive weight monitor by Aidan Whitby

“Supersend enhances the efficiency of commercial apiaries by allowing beekeepers to remotely observe the condition of their hives without having to be on-site.

“Consisting of a landing plate that fits standard beehives and four legs housing weight-measuring cells, Supersend regularly transmits information to an app via the 4G internet-of-things network.

“The product is designed specifically for Australian beekeeping practices, factoring in the unique native flora species, the harsh environmental conditions, and the vast distances between apiculture sites.

“This innovation facilitates the replacement of parts, reduces initial and ongoing costs, and improves data security, reliability, and ergonomics.”

Student: Aidan Whitby
Course: Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
Tutors: Gonzalo Portas and Oya Demirbilek
Email: aidan.whitby[at]outlook.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and University of New South Wales. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post University of New South Wales presents 10 design projects appeared first on Dezeen.

A vaccine against fentanyl, household appliances in the style of Gaudí, the future of clean energy and more

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Fusion Energy Breakthrough

For the first time ever, scientists have been able to produce a nuclear fusion reaction that generates a net energy gain. This is, according to the Washington Post, “a major milestone in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest to develop a technology that provides unlimited, cheap, clean power.” This scientific breakthrough—which could ultimately support impoverished areas with power, and contribute to the fight against climate change—is set to be announced by The Department of Energy, and was orchestrated by California’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Read more about the milestone, which is still at least a decade away from commercial use, at the Washington Post.

Image courtesy of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/AP

AI-Generated Household Appliances in the Style of Gaudí

Amidst all the experimentation that artists, designers and other creative individuals are taking part in regarding AI-generated imagery, few bring an aesthetic collision as clever as art director Marcus Byrne’s household appliances in the style of Antoni Gaudí. Every-day items—including a toaster, vacuum, mixer and microwave—have been embellished with textures, shapes and colors that allude to work by the highly imaginative Catalan architect. Byrne used the AI program Midjourney to counter the minimalism found enveloping the design world. “We live in an age of Apple and Tesla with minimal design taking charge,” he says in a statement to designboom. “All car brands have similar looking models and company logos are stripped back to live in the tiny space world of mobile devices.” Read more about the project and see all the extraordinary images at designboom.

Image courtesy of Marcus Byrne

Digital Artist Neon Saltwater Transforms a Las Vegas Gas Station into a Glowing Beacon

Modifying an abandoned gas station from the 1930s on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, “Mystery Cruise 1990” (2022) is a glowing, site-specific installation by digital artist Neon Saltwater (aka Abigail Dougherty). The neon beacon is part of the city’s annual Life Is Beautiful Festival, curated by creative agency JustKids. “I see ‘Mystery Cruise 1990’ as a nostalgic reinterpretation by the artist of the vintage neon pieces and tourist extravaganzas still visible in the old Vegas, but with new energy,” JustKids director Charlotte Dutoit tells Artnet News. “I hope this artwork will spark curiosity and slow down the passerby, inviting them to escape for a moment in a weird glowing time travel.” Read more about the physical installation and Dougherty’s digital vision for the interior at Artnet.

Image courtesy of JustKids

New Vaccine Protects Against Fentanyl

Scientists at the University of Houston have developed a vaccine that protects against fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that contributes to the risk of fatal overdose. The team of researchers tested the vaccine on 60 rats, finding that it successfully prevented the drug from entering their brain. Once immunized, the rats were able to produce anti-fentanyl antibodies to stop the drug’s effects further. The vaccine—which can work alongside other opioids without creating adverse reactions or negating its treatment for pain relief—helps block the high from fentanyl which can not only reduce the risk of overdose but also help people wean off drugs. Learn more about this life-saving development at Smithsonian Magazine.

Image courtesy of Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

The Mark Hotel’s Façade Glitters with Two Tons of Hand-Applied Swarovski Crystal

Amidst all the festivities aswirl throughout New York City this holiday season, nothing glitters quite like the façade of The Mark Hotel, the beloved Upper East Side destination that’s now encrusted in two tons of Swarovski Crystal. Altogether, millions of hand-applied crystals craft a stunning gingerbread house edifice that wraps the hotel’s Assouline boutique, guest entrance and all the way around The Mark Bar, further embellished with larger-than-life nutcrackers, ribbons and candy canes. The spectacular display—visible to all who pass by—will be be up until 7 January 2023. Read more about it, as well as the two matching holiday carts and their flavorful offerings (including hot chocolate with house-made marshmallows, as well as The Mark x Swarovski Lollipops), at The Mark Hotel’s website.

Image by Thomas Loof, courtesy of The Mark Hotel

Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on social media, and rounded up every Saturday morning. Hero image courtesy of Neon Saltwater/JustKids

As part of our review of 2022, we have selected 10 eye-catching staircases published on Dezeen this year, including stairs that turn, twist or double as seating.

This year’s roundup of staircases features a children’s library in China with two intertwining timber stairs, a 25-metre-tall staircase in the Netherlands and a plywood spiral staircase in a barn conversion.

Read on for Dezeen’s top 10 staircases of 2022:

Casa Thomé Beira da Silva, Brazil, by Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos

This helical wooden staircase anchors the large living space in Casa Thomé Beira da Silva, a Brazilian house designed by Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos.

The winding staircase leads to the bedrooms on the first floor of the home, which features a screen of chevron-patterned wooden planks wrapped around the exterior.

Find out more about Casa Thomé Beira da Silva ›

Escher House, Canada, by Naturehumaine

Informed by the works of Dutch artist MC Escher, Canadian studio Naturehumaine inserted an angular staircase into this family home in Montreal as part of a renovation project.

The centrepiece of the Escher House transformation, the new staircase is top-lit by a skylight and made up of wooden treads with black steel sides and guard rails.

Find out more about Escher House ›

Barn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen

Architectural designer Julia van Beuningen converted a late 19th-century barn into a residence with this plywood spiral staircase as the central focus.

The staircase has a curved, swooping form designed to contrast with the barn’s rustic structure and leads from the open-plan living space on the ground floor to the newly added first floor, where bedrooms and bathrooms are located.

Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›

Kappa House, Japan, by Archipelago Architects Studio

A series of staircases divide the spaces inside Kappa House in Kanagawa, Japan, designed by architecture practice Archipelago Architects Studio.

The first two sets of stairs connect the house‘s three floor levels, while the third staircase extends to the ceiling and is used as a place to sit, eat, drink or read.

Find out more about Kappa House ›

Farleigh Road House, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects

UK architecture studio Paolo Cossu Architects renovated the basement of Farleigh Road House in London, adding a chunky oak staircase to connect the floor with the rest of the house above.

Designed to double as a place for the residents to sit and chat, wooden blocks were inserted on one side of the stairs to define the walking route, while deep steps that align with bookshelves on the adjacent wall provide seating.

Find out more about Farleigh Road House ›

De Niewe Herdgang, the Netherlands, by Architectuur Maken

De Niewe Herdgang is a sculptural staircase designed by Dutch studio Architectuur Maken that rises 25 metres above the landscape to create a viewpoint overlooking the city of Tilburg in the Netherlands.

Built from a galvanised steel frame with thin planks of Accoya wood, the watchtower aims to reconnect people with the landscape, which has been fragmented by roads.

Find out more about De Niewe Herdgang ›

Loft in Poblenou, Spain, by NeuronaLab

This blue stair unit provides additional storage and a mezzanine bedroom in a compact Barcelona apartment renovated by local architecture studio NeuronaLab.

The unit also divides spaces in the residence, transforming it from a studio loft to a two-bedroom apartment with separated work and living areas.

Find out more about Loft in Poblenou ›

Palau Apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture

In another Barcelona apartment, Spanish studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture designed a multi-part staircase made up of micro-cement bottom steps with recessed shelving, timber box steps and suspended timber steps.

The micro-cement base extends and dog-legs to form the backrest of the sofa on one side and a bench for the dining area on the other side.

Find out more about Palau Apartment ›

Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza, Japan, by Kengo Kuma and Associates

Japanese studio Kengo Kuma and Associates designed this student hub for the Tokyo Institute of Technology, which is built partially underground with a stepped roof made up of bleachers.

The stepped roof is accessed by an external staircase that extends into the interior of the building, separated by glazing to blur the boundary between inside and out.

Find out more about Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza ›

Pingtan Book House, China, by Condition_Lab

A double-helix staircase with deep treads and spacious landings provides space for children to read and play in this library located in China’s Hunan province, designed by architecture research studio Condition_Lab.

Accessed from the ground floor, the two spiral timber staircases at Pingtan Book House intertwine around a square void before meeting again on the top level.

Find out more about Pingtan Book House ›

The post Dezeen’s top 10 staircases of 2022 appeared first on Dezeen.

This week on Dezeen, we looked ahead to the FIFA World Cup 2026, rounding up the 16 stadiums across the USA, Mexico and Canada that are set to host the games.

Unlike the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, for which seven out of the eight stadiums were constructed for the event, the 2026 tournament will be held exclusively in venues that are already built.

These include 11 stadiums in the USA, along with two in Canada and three in Mexico.

Saudi Arabia’s Neom development hit the headlines when Peter Frankental, Amnesty International’s economic affairs programme director, said architecture studios working on the project should “think twice” about their involvement.

Frankental told Dezeen that studios should “be well aware of what they’re entering into and the human rights violations that they will be linked to” through working on Neom.

The preservation of UK architecture was in the spotlight as London studio Mikhail Riches shared its redevelopment of the brutalist Park Hill estate in Sheffield, and the architectural charity Twentieth Century Society launched a campaign to give protected status to Peckham Library in London.

If the application is successful, the Will Alsop-designed library would become the first building opened in the 21st century to be listed.

Dezeen’s review of 2022 continued with a roundup of the year’s 10 home interiors, which included a brutalist apartment and a timber cabin with a minimalist colour palette.

We also looked back on the year’s top 10 restaurant and bar interiors and books dedicated to architecture and design.

Design news this week included Vollebak and Living Ink’s design of a T-shirt dyed black with algae, which the team claimed was major breakthrough for sustainable fashion.

BVN and UTS launched a 3D-printed “breathing” system that was designed as a less carbon-intensive alternative to air conditioning.

In the US, Chicago-based architect Carol Ross Barney was awarded the 2023 Gold Medal by the American Institute of Architecture in honour of her work as both a designer and an educator.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro revealed it had been selected to renovate the Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas by Frank Lloyd Wright, while KPMB Architects completed a “vertical campus” at Boston University.

Popular projects this week included the Butterfly House renovation by Will Gamble Architects, redbrick townhouses by Förstberg Ling and the Black Forest holiday cabin by AMUNT.

Our latest lookbook collected ten contemporary interiors with innovative stone furniture.

The post This week we looked ahead to the World Cup 2026 appeared first on Dezeen.