Neville Brody and Nike design "modular and slightly industrial" typography for England women's kits

Neville Brody and Nike England Women's kit typography

Graphic designer Neville Brody has collaborated with Nike to create a typography for the England women’s football kit that references the original Wembley Stadium’s art deco origins.

The lettering and numbers are an updated version of the typeface that Brody created prior to the 2014 World Cup for the England men’s team football kits.

Stencil-like typeface by Neville Brody on the back of a football shirt
Neville Brody designed the typeface in collaboration with Nike

This typeface is taller and lighter to accommodate reduced sizing and features more angled elements with stencil-like lines “to bring more of an inventive and creative narrative,” according to Brody.

“It evolved from the same core spine and approach [as the 2014 typeface] but was reconfigured according to the different form and proportions of the kit,” the designer told Dezeen.

Typeface showing blue and white lettering spelling out the names of England Lionesses
It was created for the England women’s football team

The blue and white characters take cues from the recently released kit on which it is emblazoned, designed by Nike to pay homage to 100 years of Wembley Stadium, which first opened in 1923.

Art deco-style patterns and a chalk-coloured hue modelled on the original stadium’s brick facade characterise the kit’s blue and white shirts respectively.

Stencil-like slits on numbers on the back of an England football shirt
The typeface’s numbers feature stencil-like slits

“We incorporated many architectural and stylistic elements, which were also featured as a central part of the pattern Nike’s team had created for the textile print,” explained Brody.

“These included angled cuts, strokes and use of negative space and a geometric approach to how curves joined straight lines.”

The typeface’s stencil-like design also featured in its 2014 iteration and cuts through the large numbers displayed on each player’s shirt.

“The stencil feel functions as a means to create lettering that feels modular and slightly industrial, emphasising team dynamics and efficient organisation,” added the designer.

Typeface designed by Neville Brody and Nike
Legibility was a key concern when creating the lettering and numbers

Brody said that while some of the original ideas for the typeface were more “adventurous”, the designer and his team worked with Nike to ensure that the typeface remained legible – especially on-screen during a fast-paced match.

“Exploring the boundary between legibility and abstraction was a major part of our development process, seeking the sweet spot between expression and function,” explained Brody.

The England team – also known as the Lionesses – debuted the kits during the first-ever Women’s Finalissma, in which the winners of the UEFA Women’s Euro cup meet the winners of the CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina, which the team won against Brazil last week.

On Tuesday, the Lionesses wore the kit to play Australia in an international friendly game, but one in three players’ names were removed from their shirts to highlight the statistic of people born in the UK today who are expected to develop dementia.

The kit also features period-conscious blue shorts that are fitted with an ultrathin absorbent liner so that players can bleed more comfortably and discreetly during a match.

Known for his typography design, Brody previously created Coca Cola’s first own-brand typeface.

The images are courtesy of Brody Associates

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Constellation lighting by David Rockwell for Lasvit

Constellation by David Rockwell for Lasvit

Dezeen Showroom: American architect David Rockwell has created the Constellation lighting collection for Lasvit, referencing the celestial motifs of New York City’s Grand Central Terminal ceiling mural.

The Constellation series includes ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, a floor lamp and a table lamp, all with glass lighting domes connected to resemble star charts.

Constellation by David Rockwell for Lasvit
The Cassiopeia ceiling sconce features five glass domes connected by metal elements to resemble a star chart

The Cassiopeia and Ursa Minor fixtures expand horizontally across the ceiling in configurations of five or seven, while the touch-activated Polaris floor lamp is meant to evoke the beacon of the North Star.

There is also a table lamp — Gemini, a small-scale twin of Polaris — and wall sconces in two designs: Tri Star, which echoes Orion’s Belt, and Cassiopeia, a dramatic vertical interpretation of the ceiling fixture of the same name.

Constellation by David Rockwell for Lasvit

“Each lighting fixture serves a dual function: to dazzle the eye as a focal point and to unify any setting in which it is placed,” said Rockwell.

The Constellation series’ glass domes have a metallic coating that intends to emit depth and vibrancy even when off and their metal structures come in Champagne Gold or Titan Black.

Product: Constellation
Designer: David Rockwell
Brand: Lasvit
Contact: anna.minarikova@lasvit.com

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Dezeen Events Guide launches digital guide to Salone del Mobile 2023

Illustration of some at a furniture fair

Dezeen Events Guide has launched a digital guide to this year’s edition of Salone del Mobile, the world’s largest design fair.

Salone del Mobile takes place from 18 to 23 April 2023 and hosts 2,000 exhibitors, as well as installations and a talks programme.

As part of the fair, biennial lighting exhibition Euroluce also returns in 2023, and showcases new lighting designs from a number of international brands and designers.

Salone del Mobile is located at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre.

Dezeen’s guide to Milan design week 2023

The fair runs alongside Dezeen’s guide to Milan design week, which has previously received over 50,000 page views.

The guides serve as a resource for the week in Milan, providing information about the key events during Fuorisalone and the brands at Salone.

The fair guide features a list of brands, their hall and stand locations, and information about the exhibitions.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year. The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.

For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide, including in our guide to Milan design week, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.

The illustration is by Justyna Green.

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"Salone cannot be stagnant and living on its past success" says Maria Porro

Photo of Maria Porro

With Salone del Mobile returning to its April slot for the first time in four years next week, president Maria Porro tells Dezeen what to expect from the design mega-fair in this interview.

Porro says that the organisers have developed the 2023 edition to focus on a new role for Salone del Mobile, the trade centrepiece of Milan design week.

This year’s programme includes the relaunch of lighting fair Euroluce, a refreshed supply chain, new custom installations and talks from international designers.

“Unthinkable” to ignore disruption

According to Porro, the aim is to ensure that the world’s largest design fair is not “stagnant and living on its past success” following three years of disruption caused by covid.

“The idea of simply reverting to our traditional spot in April as if nothing had happened was unthinkable,” said Porro, who became the first female Salone president when appointed in 2021.

“We worked on giving shape to the suggestions and visions that have emerged over the last few years, based on a couple of simple questions: what is the new role of the Salone? How and where to start redesigning its evolution?”

“Salone is not standing still: the new challenges lie in fleshing out a vision of the furnishing system that, of necessity, is more ethical and aware – design that besides being functional and good-looking is also capable of engendering conditions and spaces for wellness, refuge and inclusion,” she added.

This year, Porro is prioritising environmental, economic and social responsibility.

Following the 2021 and 2022 editions of Salone, which focused on themes of sustainability, the fair has acquired an ISO 20121 certification and joined the UN Global Compact, a voluntary venture for organisations to commit to more sustainable practices.

Photo of hall at Salone del Mobile
Salone del Mobiles has has acquired an ISO 20121 certification and become part of the UN Global Compact

“Salone is making efforts to identify suppliers of recycled, recyclable and/or reusable materials for building the common parts, and will endeavour to regenerate the resources consumed and absorb the waste produced,” Porro claimed.

“We are also choosing institutional partners whose strategies are built around genuine concern for people and the planet, and fleshing out the guidelines for sustainable trade-fair installations circulated amongst the exhibiting companies last year.”

Fair invites 2,000 exhibitors

Despite a proliferation of global design fairs in recent years, Salone remains the biggest event in the industry calendar. The fair expects 2,000 established and upcoming exhibitors to take part this year, 30 per cent of whom are international designers.

“Salone, being the international point of reference for the furnishing and design sector, leads the Milanese design week simply by being what it is,” Porro said.

“Salone is not really responding or behaving in a certain way to compete with other fairs,” she added. “Salone is one of the oldest ones and it cannot compete with younger ones which do not have behind it the same furnishing system and district, that is its history.”

The biennial lighting exhibition Euroluce returns to Fiera Milano for 2023 under the theme “The City of Lights”, promising to serve as a “positive hub of emotions and knowledge” with a new ring-shaped layout.

Photo of signs at Salone del Mobile
Lighting fair Euroluce will be held as part of Salone del Mobile 2023

Alongside Euroluce, Salone presents four exhibitions curated by architect Massimo Curzi, interior stylist Martina Sanzarello and curators Matteo Pirola and Michele Calzavara, as well as installations at Salone Satellite and a series of talks presented in a plaza designed by Italian design studio Formafantasma.

Speakers at the fair include Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, New York-based designer Nao Tamura, Norwegian architecture practice Snohetta and Beijing firm MAD Architects.

“There has been much reflection”

Despite the continuing popularity of Salone, Porro believes change is necessary for all design fairs moving forward.

In addition to the cultural events and stated focus on sustainability, this year’s show will have a different layout, with stands laid over the lower floor of the Rho Fiera Milano fairgrounds only Euroluce having a new “ring-shaped” setup.

“Salone cannot be stagnant and living on its past success,” she said. “Salone has always been testament to an extraordinary curiosity, willingness and openness to comparison and a huge desire and ability to improve, innovating consolidated formulas.”

“Over the last few difficult years, there has been much reflection, research and questioning around the future of trade fairs, leading to a concrete revision of the exhibition format – as this year for Euroluce and one-level fairground – in a bid to be able to continue to generate value for the entire design community.”

Salone del Mobile is taking place in Milan from 18-23 April as part of Milan design week. See our Milan design week 2023 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.

The photography is courtesy of Salone del Mobile.

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Kith releases New Balance trainer informed by Frank Lloyd Wright sketches

Kith Frank lloyd Wright

Kith founder Ronnie Fieg has teamed up with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to release a New Balance sneaker that was informed by Wright‘s utopian Broadacre City sketches.

Called New Balance Made in USA 998 – Broadacre City, the shoe is a celebration of American architect Wright’s sketches.

New Balance sneakers on a rock
Kith and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation collaborated on a New Balance sneaker

Fieg, the founder of American lifestyle brand Kith, worked with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to come up with a shoe that reflects the textures and colours of Wright’s sketches for Broadacre City.

This was an unbuilt utopian city project that appeared first in Wright’s 1932 book The Disappearing City.

Sneakers on table with red modernist couch behind them and china on the table
It was inspired by Wright’s sketches of utopian Broadacre City

The sneaker features the classic mesh upper of New Balance shoes, accented by pigskin and hairy suede overlay panels, which Kith said adds a “varied sense of texture to the design.”

It has been produced in two different colourways that draw from Wright’s sketches. Each has earthy greens and reds alongside off-whites.

Shoes on table with architectural plans in the background
They have multiple textures and colours drawn from Wright’s sketches

The campaign imagery was shot at Taliesin West in Arizona, Wright’s last home and the current headquarters for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which manages the intellectual legacy of the late architect.

“The campaign is shot on location and features Taliesin West staff members,” said Kith.

The sneaker will be available to customers through a drawing opening on 14 April through Kith’s app and will also be sold at Kith’s Tokyo store the same day.

On 15 April, a pop-up will occur at the theatre at Taliesen West, where additional units will be sold.

Frank Lloyd Wright Kith sneakers on a dusty stone surface
Two colourways were produced

A number of other iterations of Wright’s legacy have been released through the foundation in the last year, including a series of furniture by Steelcase based on the chairs and tables found in the SC Johnson Administration Building in Wisconsin.

Additionally, Spanish architect David Romero has been creating visualisations of Wright’s unbuilt work, which includes a model of Broadacre City.

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Longest-range e-bike by Erik Buell lets you zip through traffic with ease and in style

Personal transportation devices have become a bit more common in the past years, thanks to growing traffic congestion and the rising awareness of carbon emissions. E-scooters are more popular for those who just want to get from point A to point B without exerting any effort, but it isn’t always the best way to travel, especially when taking sustainability into consideration. E-bikes, on the other hand, have the perfect synergy of motor power and human power, but many of them fall short of going the distance without taxing the rider’s legs. Fortunately, that kind of compromise is now a thing of the past. The brainchild of Buell Motorcycle Company founder and former Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell, the FUELL Flluid-2 and Flluid-3 offer not only the longest ranges in the market but also provide comfort, convenience, safety, and style that will give you the confidence to traverse any road, whether for work or for adventure.

Creator: Erik Buell

Click Here to Buy Now: $4,099 $5,995 (31% off). Hurry, only 4/20 left! Raised over $485,000.

Flluid-2

Unlike electric scooters, electric bicycles can be driven using either pedal or motor, with the latter often acting as an assistant for more difficult terrains. Sometimes you can even go full electric to give your legs a break, at the expense of battery life, of course. Given limitations on size and weight, you might think that e-bikes have short ranges, but FUELL’s newest generation of electric bicycles is clearly an exception.

With a full charge of its 2000W battery, the Flluid-2 can go for up to 225mi (350km), the longest recorded range for e-bikes across the globe. For example, that lets you go from New York to Boston on a single charge. The Flluid-3 doesn’t fall far behind with a long range of 110mi (180km).

Automatic Shifting with the All-new Valeo Cyclee Mid Drive – Its integrated gearbox (450% ratio) offers seamless and smooth automatic shifting that adapts to any terrain.

Uphill Rides Made Easy – Their Valeo Mid Drive delivers a whopping 130 Nm of torque.

But FUELL’s new e-bikes aren’t just about long ranges. They’re also fast, with a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph in the US (25 km/h for EU), or up to 28 mph (45 km/h EU) for the S models. And when you combine power from your feet and the motor, the Valeo Cyclee Mid Drive Unit’s whooping 130Nm of torque makes short work of uphill battles — even on the steepest of inclines. The Valeo Cyclee Mid Drive can do much more than that and is one of the most advanced e-bike systems in the market. For one, it features an integrated automatic gearbox with predictive shifting that automatically shifts to the optimal gear for a smooth and seamless experience on hilly roads. It can also predict when to make that shift by taking into consideration your speed and cadence so that you don’t have to worry about shifting gears on your own and just enjoy the smooth riding experience.

In Control, Whenever, Wherever with the “Fuell Rider” App

All that convenience and power mean nothing if the e-bike gets stolen and is no longer in your possession. Thankfully, the “FUELL Rider” mobile app provides all the security and peace of mind you need when it comes time to leave the e-bike out in public. The app includes features such as remote locking/unlocking, motion sensing and theft warning, as well as GPS tracking for worst-case scenarios. You can also keep tabs on your usage and statistics through the app, and be notified when it’s time for a checkup.

The Flluid-2 and Flluid-3 aren’t just built to be powerful; they’re also designed to be eye-catching and stylish on any road. Made in collaboration with leading brands in the market, the sleek and modern design of the e-bikes will make you proud to ride yours anywhere, while its aerospace-grade aluminum alloy banishes fears of rugged terrains. The Large 27.5-inch Pirelli Angel Urban GT tires are both elegant and functional, providing strong traction that grips the road with confidence. Tektro hydraulic disc brakes take safety to the next level with reliable stopping power. The bright Roxim Z4E Pro headlights and the dynamic tail lights bring safety as well as class to the e-bike, especially in the dark. The 2.3-inch Valeo display provides all the details you need at a glance, while the easy-to-use Shift Gear brings all the control you need under your thumb.

Flluid-3

Traveling to work doesn’t have to be a boring ritual, and going from one point to another doesn’t always have to be tedious. With the FUELL Flluid-2 and Flluid-3 e-bikes, not only do you get a high-performance, stylish, and sustainable vehicle, you also gain the freedom to enjoy the journey, no matter how far it takes you.

Click Here to Buy Now: $4,099 $5,995 (31% off). Hurry, only 4/20 left! Raised over $485,000.

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LEGO’s most detailed Land Rover Defender comes with swappable engines, functional steering, and even a toolbox

Easily one of the most intricately detailed models you’ll find of the classic Defender 90, this might just be LEGO’s most brilliant build kit yet. A treat for Land Rover lovers and LEGO fans alike, the model comes with 2336 pieces to it, and when fully assembled, features active steering, real suspension, a functional hood underneath which you’ve got swappable engine models, a working winch on the front, and an entire kit of accessories including a functional jack as well as a tiny yet somehow openable toolbox. The only thing it doesn’t come with at this point is the new car smell…

Designer: LEGO

Click Here to Buy Now

This LEGO Icons build represents 75 years of classic Land Rover design, capturing all the iconic elements from the silhouette to the details, the front end, and the Land Rover’s anywhere-anytime attitude. The LEGO model is highly authentic and modular, with three different versions available (featuring two hood types), and varying features including off-road accessories and a top rack for transportation.

Unlike other LEGO builds, especially from the Ideas community, the LEGO Icons series requires great amounts of research and work from LEGO’s team. For the classic Defender, LEGO’s Design Masters went to Land Rover’s manufacturing centers to study how each automobile was built. This construction process helped inform the end-result’s design, allowing LEGO to understand the chassis shape, how the steering connects to the wheels, and how the suspensions are factored into the automobile. The brick-based result wonderfully mimics the original, with iconic detailing including even the headlights which capture the Land Rover aesthetic, and the minimal overhang on the hood, which results in the front wheels practically being located inches behind the headlights. To help realize this build, LEGO even designed a new part in the form of a squarish wheel-arch, to match the arch seen on Land Rover models.

In fact, the car’s build is so realistic that people apparently began referring to the actual car as a bigger version of the LEGO model. The 2336-brick model comes with a stunning amount of realism, including opening doors, an opening hood, functional steering, responsive suspension, and the choice between two incredibly realistic engine models – a V8 engine and a 5-cylinder turbo diesel. You’ve even got a working winch on the front, making the LEGO Land Rover as authentic as it gets.

But that isn’t all. Builders can completely max out their model with the complete off-roader adventure kit. This includes even more bits and bobs, like a complete set of outdoor tools including a pickaxe, shovel, hammer, and axe, along with a smaller red tool-box (with opening doors), two Jerry cans, a functional car-jack, and finally a fire extinguisher… all of which sit either on the car’s body or on top of its detachable roof tray. I’d be tempted to take this bad-boy out for a spin, but I’d be afraid of getting even a speck of dirt on this beautiful build!

Click Here to Buy Now

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Solar-powered, all-electric Living Vehicle 2024 HD trailer lets you experience true freedom without limits

Freedom from everyday mundane life; freedom from the RV parks; and freedom to live in the outdoors for as long as you desire: The ability to provide this level of independence is the most critical feature that sets the Living Vehicle 2024 HD apart from the rest.

For the desirous of freedom without limits, a travel trailer can be a great option. With a travel trailer, you have the flexibility to go wherever you want, whenever you want, without being tied to a fixed location. But when you want true freedom, you’ll require a sustainable living solution designed to face challenges of extreme weather, power crises, and water scarcity. Enter 2024 HD trailer, loosely “the most powerful trailer on Earth,” designed as all-electric trailer with reliance on solar energy for its power and functionality.

Designer: Living Vehicle

Made as an ultimate off-grid travel trailer, the Living Vehicle’s HD line-up thrives on advanced energy storage capabilities that permit full-time off-the-grid living with backup fuel options and perpetual resource generation. This system ensures a self-sustaining and resilient living experience with its coveted solar power, which is more than most residential homes.

Talking about the unparalleled off-grid livability and emphasis on luxury mobile living, the Living Vehicle Co-Founder Joanna Hofmann narrates a befitting scenario. “Imagine being surrounded by snow-capped mountains and having all the amenities of a 5-star hotel, such as a king bed, spa-style rain shower, and a chef-designed kitchen. All made possible without any connections to utilities.”

On the outside, the ‍Living Vehicle HD is built with marine-grade materials. Available in HD Core, Max, and Pro models; each is custom-built to offer meaningful facilities for the intuitive needs of the user. The setting inside allows multiple bedroom configurations to make the HD compatible for up to 6 people.

One extreme end of the trailer features the king bedroom suite in 150 sq ft with sectional overhead storage and a 6-foot height closet. For its ability to withstand the harshest environments, the Living Vehicle HD is fully insulated with 100 percent rigid closed-cell foam, which ensures the interior is cool at 120°F and moderate in sub-zero, -4°F (coupled with a Mini-Split electric heating system).

Provided on the other extreme is a convertible lounge to queen bed and mid-way the trailer is an option for a EuroLoft bed for additional two guests. Deploying the lift bed is as simple as a press of a button and the bed is ready in a matter of seconds. Adjacent to the lounge cum dining is the 4K Home Theater system with an integrated Hi-Fi wireless audio system.

With electrified chef’s kitchen and spa-style bathroom, comprising a compost toilet, outdoor extendable shower, and ample water storage tanks, the all-season electric trailer has a foldable deck for outdoor living. The innovative system onboard creates water from humidity in the air, while 72kWh of energy storage and 18kW of power take care of all the energy requirements. And to render the trailer capable of operating entirely off-grid, a 98-pound propane tank is also included.

Inventive siding roof with solar panels, or solar awning, if you like, the Living Vehicle HD trailer can double the amount of solar when camped than when it is being towed. The roof slides on both sides opening up more PV panels underneath and this extension becomes an awning for the patio deck. According to the Press Release, the Living Vehicle HD lineup is expected to begin shipping in 2024 starting at about $459,995.

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Don't Move, Improve! 2023 shortlist names London's best home renovations

CLT House entrance

A low-energy house and a bright yellow extension are among London’s best new home renovations according to this year’s Don’t Move, Improve! shortlist.

There are 15 projects vying to win Don’t Move, Improve! 2023, the latest edition of the annual New London Architecture (NLA) competition that celebrates the capital’s residential architecture.

This year’s theme is called Green Ambitions, which prompted several entries focused on reducing their environmental impact, said NLA.

Among them is Low Energy House by Architecture for London, an Edwardian home that has been retrofitted to improve its energy efficiency for the studio’s founder Ben Ridley.

Meanwhile, Mike Tuck Studio has been shortlisted for its transformation of a Victorian terrace, named Breathable House, using natural materials such as cork and timber.

Interior of Office S&M's Graphic House
Top image: A low-energy house by Architecture for London is shortlisted for Don’t Move, Improve! 2023. Photo by Lorenzo Zandri. Above: Office S&M’s Graphic House is also on the list. Photo by French + Tye

Another stand-out theme in this year’s shortlist is the use of bright colours, as seen in the Graphic House renovation by Office S&M that draws on the owner’s penchant for graphic design and art deco forms.

Other colourful renovations include Colour Casing, an extension to a one-bed flat designed by District Architects, and the CLT House by Unknown Works, which has a bright yellow exterior to help distinguish between its old and new elements.

However, minimalism remains a relevant trend in residential architecture, with a number of pared-back designs also selected for the 2023 shortlist from over 130 entries.

These include Elizabeth Mews by Trewhela Williams, a mews house renovation in north London with a louvred oak facade, and DB Apartment by Studio Hallet Ike, a dark brick extension to London flat.

Several homes on the shortlist prioritised establishing a connection to nature and the outdoors, such as Banya and Garden Studio by Cooke Fawcett and Black and Milk – a garden room with large, glazed sliding doors that overlook surrounding woodland in Camden.

Kitchen in the Woods by A Small Studio and Walled Garden by Nimtim Architects are other shortlisted projects in which celebrating surrounding landscapes was a key element.

The remaining projects on the shortlist include The Secret Garden Flat by Nic Howett Architect and Brückenhaus by R2 Studio.

White Patio House by Pashenko Works, Rotherfield Street by Atelier Baulier and the Lubetkin apartments by Studio Naama also made the cut.

Elizabeth Mews by Trewhela Williams
Elizabeth Mews by Trewhela Williams is among the minimalist homes to be shortlisted. Photo is by Lorenzo Zandri

The Don’t Move, Improve! 2023 shortlist was selected by Buro Happold associate Anna Beckett, Coffey Architects director Phil Coffey, engineering firm Hilson Moran’s sustainability director Marie-Louise Schembri and Wallpaper Magazine‘s architecture editor Ellie Stathaki.

This year’s overall winner will be revealed at a ceremony on 24 May at The London Centre, alongside other prizes including the Environmental Leadership Prize and Compact Design Prize.

Previous overall winners of the Don’t Move, Improve! include Archmongers’ “practical and playful” refurbishment of a home on Dulwich Estate and The House Recast by Studio Ben Allen.

Scroll down for the full Don’t Move, Improve! 2023 shortlist:


Banya and Garden Studio by Cooke Fawcett and Black and Milk
Photo is by Philip Durrant

Banya and Garden Studio by Cooke Fawcett and Black and Milk


Elizabeth Mews by Trewhela Williams
Photo is by Lorenzo Zandri

Elizabeth Mews by Trewhela Williams


Breathable House by Mike Tuck Studio
Photo is by Luca Piffaretti

Breathable House by Mike Tuck Studio


CLT House by Unknown Works

CLT House by Unknown Works


Brückenhaus by R2 Studio Architects
Photo is by Andy Stagg

Brückenhaus by R2 Studio Architects


Colour Casing by District Architects
Photo is by Megan Taylor

Colour Casing by District Architects


Kitchen in the Woods by A Small Studio
Photo is by Manuel Vasquez

Kitchen in the Woods by A Small Studio


The Secret Garden Flat by Nic Howett Architect
Photo is by Henry Woide

The Secret Garden Flat by Nic Howett Architect


DB Apartment by Studio Hallet Ike
Photo is by Ståle Eriksen

DB Apartment by Studio Hallet Ike


Rotherfield Street by Atelier Baulier
Photo is by Henry Woide

Rotherfield Street by Atelier Baulier


Graphic House by Office S&M
Photo is by French + Tye

Graphic House by Office S&M


Low Energy House by Architecture for London
Photo is by Lorenzo Zandri

Low Energy House by Architecture for London


Lubetkin Apartments by Studio Naama

Lubetkin Apartments by Studio Naama


Walled Garden by Nimtim Architects
Photo is by Jim Stephenson

Walled Garden by Nimtim Architects


White Patio House by Pashenko Works
Photo is by Stijn Bollart

White Patio House by Pashenko Works

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Gorgeous gem-like coffee tables might make you feel like grabbing a soda

It might not have been the original intention, but coffee tables have pretty much become more decorative than functional these days. Of course, they still serve as tables you put things on, including your coffee, but they are mostly designed to have more visual impact these days. It’s not unusual for this kind of table to have some eye-catching shape or color or both, acting as a center of attraction as well as a conversation starter. These glass-blown coffee tables are perfect examples of such furniture, capturing your visitors’ eyes, imaginations, and probably even appetites with their elegant forms, gem-like colors, and dynamic surfaces that may entice you to pour yourself a bubbly drink.

Designer: Yiannis Ghikas

A glass table might not be the most practical piece of furniture because of its fragility, especially if the entire table, including the legs, is made up of that material. Things get even more complicated if you’re attempting to make a sizable table out of a single piece of glass that is air-blown like traditional glass pieces. It’s that technical difficulty that makes the Soda coffee tables all the more impressive and mind-blowing, pretty much like a glass-blown art piece.

The production of such a masterpiece is no easy feat. It’s made upside-down, blown from a single glass volume, and shaped by no less than three master glassmakers. Complicating things further is that while the tabletop is a conventional circle, the stem is formed into three intersecting circles that resemble the petals of a flower. That unusual shape not only provides a beautiful form but also helps spread the weight around.

Unlike what you might expect from a glass table, the Soda coffee table isn’t completely smooth, at least not visually. The top has a hammered surface that seems to freeze ripples in time. It creates an impression of dynamism and almost literal vibrancy, almost like a colored drink that bubbles and ripples at the slightest movement. It reflects and refracts light in seemingly random and interesting ways as if the table is a gigantic drinking glass with soda trapped inside for eternity.

Soda is more than just an elegant coffee table. It’s also an exercise in pushing the envelope of a glass-blown design, especially when it comes to large proportions and complicated shapes. The result is a beautiful piece of furniture that’s no different from a piece of sculptural art that combines a play of light and colors that will surely make you the talk of the neighborhood.

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