Hasta La Ideas

Michael Kendrick Architects has completed a woodland retreat and holiday let in East Sussex, England, featuring timber-clad facades and large windows that allow views right through the building.

Looking Glass Lodge is situated within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and was developed for a client whose parents established a nature reserve there in the 1960s.

The client and his wife wanted to be able to share the location with guests and commissioned architect Michael Kendrick to design a low-impact and sustainable lodge that would allow visitors to feel immersed in the forest.

The building is set on a sloping site in the grounds of the client’s family home. It was constructed without felling any existing trees in a natural clearing that is hidden deep in the woodland.

“For us, the sloping topography of the site offered an exciting opportunity to create an immersive holiday let,” Kendrick told Dezeen.

“As the lodge sits over a natural embankment, we were able to create a design that offers guests a real sense of elevated living, high amongst the trees.”

The project brief stated that the lodge should respect the existing fauna and ecology, so the architects proposed a modestly sized structure that is clad in timber to echo the surrounding trees.

“Though our design for the lodge is subtle and simple in many ways, the uniqueness of its architecture is most evident in its respect for its setting,” Kendrick pointed out.

“From the outset, it was important to preserve as much of the site’s character and tree line as possible,” he added.

“We designed the lodge to sit comfortably around the neighbouring trees and their roots, with particular consideration given to the ancient redwood that the living space looks out upon.”

The use of glass also aims to enhance the building’s connection with its site, with large picture windows providing expansive views of the woodland in two directions.

“It was important to us that both main facades featured generous, seamless glazing, to give the lodge a sense of transparency and belonging within its setting,” Kendrick explained.

The glass allows natural light to flood into the building during the day. Electrochromic glass was used which tints when an electrical charge is passed through it, providing enhanced privacy without compromising the views from inside.

The electrochromic function is triggered by external light sensors when dusk falls, causing the glass to darken. The use of this glass limits the spill of artificial light at nighttime, which minimises disruption to the protected bats found on the site.

The lodge is reached on foot by a narrow path that leads to the large terrace on its south side. Internally, the open-plan layout is configured to make the most of the views.

An L-shaped sofa and armchair at one end are arranged around a suspended wood-burning stove that uses timber sourced from fallen trees around the site.

A compact kitchen is positioned at the heart of the plan on one side of a full-height partition that separates the living spaces from a sleeping area with a freestanding bath.

The lodge was built by local craftsmen in the nearby town of Hastings and features a limited palette of materials intended to complement the natural surroundings.

Western red cedar is used for the external cladding and interior lining. The wood applied to the exterior will weather over time to a silver-grey colour that will echo the nearby tree trunks.

The internal timber will retain its warm hue and is complemented by birch plywood used for the partition wall and for cabinetry that provides plenty of storage throughout the space.

A hybrid steel and timber structure was developed to overcome problems posed by the tricky site, which had limited vehicular access, restrictions on crane use and tree root protection areas to work around.

Looking Glass Lodge prioritised off-site construction to overcome these issues. The structure was erected on screw pile foundations that avoid tree roots and raise the structure above the ground, allowing unobstructed access for wildlife crossing the site.

Kendrick founded his practice in 2018 with contemporary design, creativity and sustainability as its core values. The studio looks to create simple, well-crafted buildings informed by the principles of passive environmental design.

Other recent woodland projects include a cedar-clad hideaway by Ménard Dworkind and Cadaval & Solà-Morales’ black-painted Casa de la Roca in Mexico.

The photography is by Tom Bird.

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Modular display stands modelled on buildings in Burkina Faso feature in the first brick-and-mortar shop that London-based designer Yinka Ilori has created for his self-titled homeware brand.

Taking over a compact retail space in Shoreditch in the leadup to Christmas, the pop-up shop features a colour-block interior designed to match the products on sale, as slime-green walls clash with pink and orange flooring.

This “more is more” philosophy to colour also extends onto the store’s glossy lacquered product displays, designed by Ilori to reference the construction of mosques and homes in Burkina Faso.

“I am really obsessed with their design language which is very African, very rich and very unapologetic,” he told Dezeen.

“There is a recurring use of squares and triangles and you sometimes also see poles sticking out of the structures. I found these poles fascinating. They are structural but also used to make it easy for people to climb up and repair the building.”

In the store, these shapes are reflected in the modular storage units, which are constructed from medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and each topped with a stepped pyramid.

Strategically placed holes can be used much like those on a pegboard to add poles of different sizes and provide storage for a changing array of products.

Longer rails can be slotted in to hang T-shirts and throws, while smaller pegs can hold umbrellas or prop up shelves for presenting mugs, notebooks and other lifestyle items.

Bulkier items such as the designer’s collection of tableware and limited-edition basketballs are displayed on counters panelled in ribbed MDF that is sprayed in a gradient of colours to emphasise their sinuous shapes.

At the store’s entrance, six of Ilori’s hand-painted Square Stools are arranged into a towering window display that shows off their stackability.

The opening of the pop-up also coincides with Ilori’s latest product drop. Themed around “memory-making, togetherness and play”, this includes everything from notebooks and basketballs finished in sunny, childlike patterns to a collectible version of the traditional Yoruban strategy game Ayo.

In line with this idea, the shop will also host different events for the local community, from an Ayo tournament to a tasting of Nigerian palm wine.

Opening his first physical store is “an absolute dream come true”, Ilori said.

“My public projects are all about interaction both between audiences and with the work itself but I don’t often get to interact directly with people and I feel it’s time for me to do that,” he added.

“Through the store, I’m able to get their feedback on my work and also see how they interact with each of the products and the stories I’m trying to tell through these pieces.”

Ilori started his homeware brand in 2020 with the aim of reworking “unexpected, functional household items as artworks” by imbuing them with bold colours and patterns that reference his British-Nigerian heritage.

The products feature many of the same patterns he previously developed for his large-scale installations, such as The Colour Palace pavilion he created for the London Festival of Architecture together with local studio Pricegore.

The post Yinka Ilori draws on “unapologetic” architecture of Burkina Faso for debut pop-up shop appeared first on Dezeen.

Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Lina Chi has created a collection of curvaceous furniture pieces made from single sheets of linoleum to help reinvent the material.

Named Linoleum, the collection includes a bench, a low table and two stools that were designed to show how linoleum, which is typically used as flooring, can also be used to create furniture.

Linoleum is a biodegradable material made from a combination of biomaterials including cork, wood dust and limestone, which are mixed with linseed oil and applied to a jute fabric backing.

According to Chi, the biomaterial is often misconstrued as being made from plastic, likely because of PVC surfaces that have a similar appearance.

Her Linoleum furniture collection aims to maintain a sense of material familiarity while demonstrating how linoleum can be reinterpreted in different ways.

“It’s a rebranding because it’s an existing material and I wanted to show it in a new light, but to me, it’s also a heritage, something we had in the 1970s,” Chi told Dezeen. “If we use it again today in 2022, what does that look like?”

“It’s been around me forever – in schools, hospitals, kitchens – and those were such strong memories because of its visual qualities and also because of the smell and touch,” the designer continued.

“It’s so specific of a period of time that for me it was a perfect material to bring contemporary questions to a material that was already there.”

Chi collaborated with UK flooring manufacturer Forbo to test how samples of linoleum could be bent and curved by hand into sculptural shapes.

As an internal surfacing material, linoleum is water- and fire-resistant. According to the designer, the main challenge in using the material for furniture was making it strong enough to hold a person’s body weight.

To make it stronger, Chi took inspiration from how cardboard was made stronger by adding a corrugated layer between two sheets of paper.

The Linoleum furniture was made without the need for adhesives or permanent bindings. Chi warped a single sheet of linoleum by hand in a heated room, creating a corrugated structural shape with sculptural curved flourishes that harden in place when cooled.

“I realised that the tighter I was making the undulation of the linoleum, the stronger it was getting, and what is interesting is the linoleum changed with the heat of my body, but also the heat of the room,” the designer said.

Chi hopes that the furniture collection will prompt others to experiment with existing materials in unconventional ways, and for linoleum to be used in conjunction with other materials that complement its properties.

“I would love if it once again shaped our domestic space, but in combination with new materials,” the designer said.

Other designers have also developed furniture made from biomaterials in an attempt to provide more sustainable options, including children’s stools made from waste olive pits and restaurant furniture produced from food waste.

The photography is by Sarah Collins.

The post Lina Chi designs furniture made from linoleum to show the material “in a new light” appeared first on Dezeen.

Keeping track of time is a purely human construct that was first invented based on the movement of heavenly bodies. We have since then refined our clocks, of course, but they all still use the Earth as the frame of reference. That won’t do us much good when we start living on other planets, but thankfully we’re just at the cusp of our stellar colonization ambitions. In fact, we just landed our most ambitious attempt at studying our closest planetary neighbor Mars last year, a feat that is sure be highlighted in science and history books in years to come. While there are many new products that celebrate and commemorate that momentous occasion, nothing probably comes closer than a watch blessed by NASA that contains within it dust from the Red Planet and proofs of man’s tenacious nature to persevere and reach out to space.

Designer: Sebastien Colen

Click Here to Buy Now: $495.

On 18th February 2021, the Perseverance rover successfully touched down on Martian soil. It represented humanity’s most ambitious attempt so far to explore our neighbor, searching for clues of life and, more importantly, testing it for future missions and possible colonization. Unsurprisingly, there have been many commemorative products launched since then, but the Interstellar RED3.721 watch definitely takes the cake not just for being approved by NASA but also for being a treasure trove of references to that event, all done tastefully and in a stunningly elegant way.

Number “3,721” – Corresponds to the gravity of the planet observed during NASA mission.

The Red Planet – The dial showcases the pattern and features of Mars.

“7 Minutes of Terror” – The entry, descent, and landing is recognized as the shortest and most intense phase of the Mars 2020 mission.

The Original “Meatball” NASA Logo – This collection has been granted by NASA.

The most obvious is perhaps the historic date that’s engraved at the very top of the watch’s frame, though it is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Scattered on the watch’s surfaces are other clues that space lovers would understand, like the glowing “7 Minutes of Terror” on the 3 o’clock position that honors the seven tense minutes between the Perseverance’s entry into Martian atmosphere and its safe landing on the planet’s soil. On the back of the watch is the Perseverance’s parachute design, which is actually an encoded message that spells “Dare Mighty Things.” Even the name of the watch itself is a tribute to the Red Planet, both in the name as well as the 3.721 figure that corresponds to the planet’s gravity.

Authentic Martian Meteorite – The dust is extracted from a meteorite that has traveled millions of miles to finally crash on earth.

The most direct connection with Mars, however, is the relic housed in that same 3 o’clock position. It contains dust harvested from a Martian meteorite discovered last year in Northwest Africa. Those who opt to claim this one-of-a-kind variant of the NASA x Interstellar RED3.721 watch will be assured of its authenticity with a certificate, not to mention NASA’s authority in this collaboration.

The NASA x Interstellar RED3.721, however, isn’t just a tribute to this historic moment. It is also a handsome watch that combines the best of humanity’s ingenuity and dreams. The watch case, which is either 316L stainless steel or titanium, is colored black to represent the darkness of space. It contrasts nicely with the watch face, which is a 3D relief of Mars’ surface taken from actual scientific data. Although the watch commemorates our work towards the future, the RED3.721 bears classic watch movements, either a Miyota 8215 or a Sellita SW200-1.

The Miyota variant comes in the 316L case and with the original NASA “meatball” logo or you can get the Martian meteorite dust encased watch. Sellita’s movement is housed in titanium. The project has already raised more than $650,000 since it launched in May 2022! Whichever design you claim, you won’t just be putting a beautiful work of horology on your wrist, though you are definitely getting a product of high quality for a very affordable price tag. You will also be carrying a timepiece that represents mankind’s past perseverance, present endeavors, and future hope, all at the same time.

Click Here to Buy Now: $495.

The post NASA x Interstellar RED3.721 watch carries a piece of Mars and human perseverance with it first appeared on Yanko Design.

Following an incredibly successful Kickstarter run that raised nearly half a million from 712 backers, it’s safe to say that the Xeric Scrambler isn’t a watch that anyone can ignore. The timepiece has a relatively benign silhouette with a tonneau body and padded leather straps, but focus your attention on the dial and you realize where the Scrambler’s appeal lies. The dial features a 3-hand wandering-hour style arrangement that’s an absolute pleasure to look at and is easy to read too. Powered by a Geneva gear mechanism, the circular numbers on the wandering hour arm dramatically change during the rotation, lining the next numeral up once every 60 minutes. The best part, however, is the fact that while most luxury wandering hour timepieces can cost between 5 and 6 figures, the Scrambler from Xeric starts at a rather affordable $1,199, destroying the notion that premium-looking watches need to cost an arm and a leg.

Designer: Xeric

The Scrambler, named for how the wandering hour scrambles as it turns, comes with a Caliber 2.2 Automatic movement (based on the popular Miyota 90S5) that powers the time-telling ornament on your wrist. Just like most wandering hours, it takes a little while getting used to reading the time (especially after reading the time on smartphone screens has gotten so damn easy), but once you get the hang of it, it comes almost naturally to you. Reading time on the Scrambler is as simple as looking at the arc-shaped minute window on the top half. The arc shows the minutes, while the moving/wandering hand shows the hour. Locate the hour disc inside the minute window and its position helps you tell the time. For instance, the time on the watch in the image above reads 12:30.

Although all the time-telling happens in just the upper half of the watch’s circular dial, it’s the wandering hour is easily the Scrambler’s crown jewel. The hand features three arms, with four discs each, resulting in a total of 12 discs that each do their rounds of the watch’s dial, rotating on their own axis as well as the hand’s main axis. It’s honestly a pleasure to look at, not just during the day, but even at night when the dial comes to life, thanks to the use of SuperLuminova. It helps that the watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters too, giving you an overall experience that can be enjoyed pretty much anywhere.

Designed with unisex appeal, the Scrambler comes with a 40.5mm-wide stainless steel body made from 316L stainless steel, featuring anodized aluminum hour discs deep-filled with SuperLuminova for long-lasting lume. The watch is topped off with a domed sapphire crystal on the front, and an exhibition back on the rear displaying the Caliber X2.2 movement. The Scrambler is available across a whole variety of color variants, from subtle to sporty, with ribbed American leather straps to match.

The post Gorgeous wandering-hour wristwatch looks like a Christmas ornament that tells time first appeared on Yanko Design.