It’s a nice idea: “Everything we create and release into the world should be Designed to Disappear™,” writes materials technology company Loliware. “Waste truly is a design flaw. We believe regenerative design is the future and what we create as humans should contribute to a healthier, more resilient, and equitable planet.”
The reason the company has trademarked Designed to Disappear™ is because that’s what their SEA Tech line of resins do. Derived from seaweed mixed with minerals and “natural colors” (I’m not sure what that means, no explanation is provided), these resins “look and feel like traditional plastic resins, are compatible with existing plastic manufacturing equipment” and “decompose at the same rate as a banana peel.” (As in, throw it in the yard. No industrial composting facility required.)
The company says that seaweed offers environmental advantages over other bio-based plastics, like those derived from corn or canola, because seaweed doesn’t require fresh water nor fertilizer. And like bamboo, the stuff is fast-growing. “We also use farmed seaweed,” the company points out, “which means the seaweed blend that goes into our products does not come at a cost to sensitive coastal habitats.” A good thing, as we now know that kelp (the brown algae type of seaweed that grows in the ocean) captures and sequesters carbon faster than land-based forests do.
The company has been around since 2015, and as a reminder of how long it takes to bring a new, revolutionary material to market, to date Sea Tech is being used in just one product: Drinking straws. The company reckons that being both common and single-use, it’s an ideal fit for their fast-decomposing resin. And being plastic-like, it presumably won’t draw the complaints that the picky have about paper-based straws.
Don’t let life’s ordinary moments hold you back. Get ready to embark on thrilling expeditions, push your limits, and create memories with the 2024 Polaris Xpedition. This groundbreaking side-by-side off-road vehicle defies all norms and takes your outdoor adventures to new heights.
Polaris Xpedition is for those who love to embrace the extraordinary. It is your gateway to freedom, exploration, and the great outdoors. So, hop onto the new Polaris unleash your wild side and answer the call of adventure.
Crafted from the ground up, the Polaris Xpedition boldly ventures into the realm of overlanding. Recently unveiled at a virtual event, this exceptional vehicle is the perfect fusion of a UTV and an overlanding rig, catering to the desires of adventure enthusiasts.
Meant for unparalleled excitement, this large two- or four-door off-roader offers an abundance of interior space for riders and an array of storage and accessory options, ensuring you’re fully equipped for your escapades in the wilderness.
The fully-enclosed two-seat Xpedition boasts removable panels, including a windscreen, windows, and roof, much like other acclaimed Polaris models. What sets it apart is the availability of roof and side covers in both cloth and hard materials, allowing for modular configurations that perfectly suit your needs.
By enclosing the Polaris Xpedition, it becomes more capable of comfortable ride. Add to that the convenience of cabin heating and other amenities and you have a mean machine for an enduring journey. The new Polaris is equipped with formidable power and impressive suspension, making it a smooth conqueror of all types of terrain.
Its impressive fuel range of 200 miles ensures that you can venture deep into the wilderness without worry. With a robust 114 horsepower and a generous 14 inches of ground clearance, this off-roader is your steadfast companion, whether you’re camping, hiking, fishing, or mountain biking.
Standout feature yet is the innovative lock and ride system of the Polaris Xpedition which enhances the ride’s adaptability. This cutting-edge storage and cargo attachment system redefines convenience, providing ample space to pack everything you need for your immersive outdoor adventures.
Starting at $29,000, the Polaris Xpedition comes in a slew of models ranging up to $40,000 sans any accessories, such as the rooftop tent. The 2024 Polaris Xpedition offers incredible value for money and is expected to be available toward the end of 2023.
Whether you’re working from home, or in a corporate office, the one thing that’s pretty much consistent in both these scenarios is a desk! A desk is probably one of the most important pieces of furniture in our modern lives, only because we spend the majority of our day on it. You may be typing away to glory, munching away on a snack, or simply fidgeting with a random object – you do end up spending hours on your desk. And hence, it’s really important that your desk be neat, tidy, and uncluttered. Not only will this improve your work routine and productivity, but it will also help you maintain a clearer and more streamlined mindset. And, I’ve discovered that adding limited, quality, and innovative products to my desk setup can help me in achieving these goals! The desk accessories you place on your desk are an integral part of your home/corporate office. From a note-taking desk accessory that puts a small twist to your productivity to a recyclable, minimal and functional keyboard – these ingenious desk accessories are all you need to achieve your desk setup goals!
1. The Altar I
The London-based electronics startup Electronics Materials Office has unveiled its first product made from sustainable materials. To be precise crafted out of post-consumer waste-derived plastic. The low-profile keyboard is a unibody aluminum framed peripheral.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Altar I’s keycaps are also forged out of recycled polymers, thereby making it a sensible accessory that goes with the sentiments of nurturing the planet. The company’s vision is to be a “future-oriented consumer hardware corporation” that’ll be centered around designing durable electronics made out of earth-friendly materials.
What we like
The accessory tailored for touch typing can be used with two devices simultaneously
Rates high on aesthetics and sustainability
What we dislike
There’s no word on the pricing or availability as of now
2. The Levitating Pen
Much like its name, the Levitating Pen actually does seem to be levitating! It looks as if the pen is suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle. Designed to be a grand writing instrument, the pen features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and super easy to hold and creates a smooth and luxurious writing experience. And once you take a break from writing, the pen doesn’t go back to a boring old pen stand, it goes back to levitating!
Why is it noteworthy?
When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!
What we like
The pen is super fun to interact with
Quite easy to hold and write with
Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster
What we dislike
No option of personalization or custom color variations are available
3. Note
Paper can be simple, and apps can be quick, but not everyone needs all the commitment that these two different note-taking methods sometimes require. There are those that just need to jot down quick notes or even draw a diagram that can be discarded before the day is over. Note, which is the most generic name ever, is pretty much a small desk whiteboard that lets you do that with efficiency, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve that a bit of spice and fun to your work.
Why is it noteworthy?
The “whiteboard” twists or rather flips over, giving you twice the space to write your notes down. One side can have a dotted grid surface to help with diagrams, while the other can be plain, or they can have the same design on both sides. As with any vertical slate, you can also place sticky notes on it, in case scribbling notes down on paper is quicker for you.
What we like
What makes Note unique is the addition of a multi-purpose vertical screen to its left side, this allows you to also have a view of the time, the calendar, and your appointments which are synced from your phone
What we dislike
The screen doesn’t show videos, a function that some people may need for their work
4. The Slope
The Slope is a “personal desktop whiteboard with pen” that you can slot right in between your monitor and your keyboard. So yes, it is simply a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard but instead of being on your wall or on the side, it is right in front of you and angled in such a way that it is perfect for your list-making or reminder-listing writing needs.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is made from bent steel sheets and is powder-coated so it’s pretty smooth and easy to use as well as giving you a premium dry-erase surface. It is also magnetic so you can attach your whiteboard markers if they’re magnetic. If not, there’s a space at the top to place them as well as space at the back to store your separate eraser. There’s a silicone phone holder if you need to have your mobile device in front of you and there’s also an opening in it so you can place your charger.
What we like
If you’re not using your keyboard, you can slip it under the sloped whiteboard
Smooth and easy to use
What we dislike
You can’t save what you were writing into the cloud nor can you digitize it if you need to save what you wrote
5. Hexcal Studio
British company Hexcal created the Hexcal Studio desktop organizer, which aims to be the ultimate desktop organizer and workspace accessory you need!
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to be a monitor stand and a desktop organizer, the Hexcal Studio attempts to eliminate clutter, hide wires and provide shadowless lighting. The goal is to create a neat, tidy, and destressing workspace where wires are smartly hidden, and multiple screens can be installed to support a conducive work environment.
What we like
The organizer’s distribution system can support up to 14 devices, including those on AC, DC, and wireless power
Its patented cable management system will make all your wires disappear, providing you with a wire-free desk
What we dislike
Large + space-consuming design. It will take up a lot of space on your desk
6. Fusion
To-do apps are a dime a dozen these days, and they exist on phones, computers, and everything in between. This allows people to make rapid changes that sync between devices, increasing their efficiency and productivity. Tapping or clicking on checkboxes, however, doesn’t exactly have the same satisfying feedback as checking it off from a list, and you might find yourself driving on autopilot, mindlessly tapping things even unintentionally. Fusion is a combination of hardware and software that tries to bring that active participation to your electronic to-do list without going back into the pen-and-paper territory.
Why is it noteworthy?
The concept is divided into two parts, with the first being the simpler and more straightforward half. This is an E-Ink display the size of a large, wide phone that displays your task list. This can be magnetically attached to a wall mount so that you can have an eye-level view of what’s on your plate. The e-Paper technology means that the screen won’t consume much power even while it’s on, making it more power-efficient and environment-friendly.
What we like
Easy-to-use and effortless experience
What we dislike
E-ink display means we have no option to use colors to differentiate or highlight the tasks
7. Everlasting All-Metal Pencil
Wouldn’t it be grand if, like a Wacom stylus, you rarely have to replace a tip or barely sharpen your pencil at all? That sounds almost like a pipe dream, but that dream has fortunately become real with this everlasting metal pencil that lets you worry less about lead and focus more on your creative process.
Why is it noteworthy?
At first glance, it looks like the all-metal cousin of the second-gen Apple Pencil, and that is almost an accurate assessment. The octagonal shaft is made of aluminum and houses a special alloy core. Knowing that, you might think that all it will do is leave heavy grooves on your paper, but your mind might be blown away when it draws like a real pencil without seeing the tip wear down even after dozens of marks.
What we like
It uses metal for the core rather than the usual clay or charcoal, so it wears down so slowly that you might think your all-metal pencil will actually outlive you
What we dislike
It doesn’t smudge or smear the way normal graphite does. That might be a bummer for those who use smudging techniques
8. Create
Designed by Naya, Create is the kind of keyboard that will ensure you don’t need any other additional peripherals! It is highly customizable to perfectly cater to every person’s individual self-expression. It eliminates the issue of a cluttered desk, which can often occur when you constantly need to switch between different peripherals.
Why is it noteworthy?
The split keyboard with the customizable form factor and various configurable modules onboard can seamlessly fit into any workflow. Thus, it intends to become a go-to option for casual keyboard enthusiasts and serious creative professionals.
What we like
The keyboard is split and customizable
The creator in you can leverage the convenience of 9 degrees of freedom with the 3D navigator
What we dislike
Some users may find Create more complex to operate than a conventional keyboard
9. Summy
Summy is a dedicated device designed to keep students connected while still setting up limits to how many interruptions they can do. At its most basic, the device is a voice messenger, a timer, a daily planner, and a sort of social network among friends, most likely students in the same class or level. The idea is that you only get to send short voice messages to those in your circle, at least only when they’re available.
Why is it noteworthy?
The device uses a UI made of concentric circles and icons represented by old-school monochrome 8-bit characters. Tapping on a friend’s icon allows you to send a voice message, which is more limited and less disruptive than a voice call. You can view other friends’ daily schedules, and if they’re free, you can send a “Study with Me” request so that both of you can set a synchronized timer to study for the same time period.
What we like
Summy creates a rather playful atmosphere around the concept of studying together
Summy can also be a fun gadget to keep tabs on their own time and maybe have a retro display on their desk to keep them entertained
What we dislike
It can also be quite a distracting device if misused
10. Reck_Cone
Reck_Cone is a concept design that tries to combine different products into a single artful piece. It is, of course, a headphone holder, but you might not immediately identify it as one because of its shape. Unlike typical holders, it does hang the headphones down but instead lets them wrap around the almost conical structure.
Why is it noteworthy?
The headphone holder, however, can also serve as a container. The large empty space in the middle is an obvious place to put items, and it’s easy to imagine it holding pens, rulers, and other long objects. The base, however, also separates from the body to reveal a shallow basin where smaller items like paper clips and pins can be hidden
What we like
Multifunctional design that is a culmination of multiple products
What we dislike
The form is bulky and not effective on a small desk setup
Rustic contemporary architecture amidst vineyard rows and working farmland on the southern edge of Napa Valley
Perhaps the most enveloping, serene and picturesque destination in Napa Valley, Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection populates 712 rolling acres with 135 standalone cottages as well as the farm-to-table restaurant Bear and gardens known as the Grange, from which the award-winning culinary establishment draws produce. Luxury amenities are abundant (from two stunning pools to a state-of-the-art wellness center and a movement studio), but it’s Stanly Ranch’s particular blend of indoor-outdoor living—and its use of rustic contemporary architecture amidst vineyard rows and working farmland—that sets it apart from California wine country peers.
With such a substantial footprint, the acreage itself—on the southern edge of Napa Valley—is an attraction. “The connection between the land and community is a huge aspect of Stanly Ranch,” Ed Gannon, the resort’s general manager, tells COOL HUNTING. “Guests can enjoy numerous one-of-a-kind experiences that are rooted in discovery, and are right on property.” These guests can stroll the property’s winding pathways, ask reception for a golf cart to traverse it or simply gaze out at the mountains in the distance.
“Stanly Ranch seamlessly blends indoor with outdoor living,” Gannon continues, “whether it’s guests sitting by their fire pit on a private patio overlooking the vineyards or the outdoor communal seating to gather for live music outside of Gavel [the on-site cafe]. The property lends itself to exploration, from walking up to the famed Infinity Sculpture, or relaxing by the pool.”
This is the third Auberge property in Napa Valley and although it epitomizes Auberge standards, it’s unlike any other. “Stanly Ranch is what we are calling the New Napa,” Gannon says. It’s both a sanctuary unto itself and an exceptional access point to the region’s activities. “Our experience program offers everything from helicopter wine tours to all terrain off-roading and exclusive vineyards tastings,” he continues. “All three properties offer something different, but make up a holistic Napa Valley experience with incredible food, wine and experiences that are all part of the Auberge Resorts Collection ethos.”
Of the 135 cottages, more than two dozen are suites. Within, a palette of warm, welcoming tones contributes to comfort and relaxation. Picture windows slide away to welcome the outside world and an outdoor fire pit. For some cottages, an outdoor shower complements the already luxuriant bathroom. “The setting is a crucial part to what makes Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection so special,” Gannon adds. “The accommodations were all designed to be casual and welcoming, as well as feel intimate and personal. The rooms are surrounded by ranch land and vineyards, and the design team wanted the guests to be able to see where they are sleeping, and truly feel as though they are living the agrarian life by bringing the outside in.”
To step from one’s room and stroll to Bear is a must. The spacious restaurant and its elemental cuisine refresh and replenish. According to Gannon, Bear is “the keystone of the property’s culinary program. Each meal highlights the ingredients of the Valley through techniques such as grilling and fermenting, alongside more traditional preparations to enhance flavor.” Produce from Grange is paired with sustainable sourced ingredients. The result is an elevated, seasonally-driven menu.
The Grange is more than a garden for executive chef Garrison Price; it’s an outdoor epicenter of activity. “Guests are not only invited to tour the Grange with farmer Nick Runkle, they are also invited to plan and design their very own menu through his expert guidance,” Gannon says. “This allows a true farm-to-table experience for the guests on property and diners of Bear, as farmer Nick works hand-in-hand with our executive chef, Garrison Price.”
Aligning with other luxury resorts looking toward the future, wellness is an integral part of the Stanly Ranch experience. The allure here may begin with the exquisite spa, of course, but there’s much more on offer. “Halehouse Spa is an astounding wellbeing destination that is dedicated to helping guests achieve their personal wellness goals,” Gannon explains. “It truly is a one-of-a-kind facility that combines world-class practitioners with impressive, state-of-the-art technology. In addition to the circuit program Springhouse, and recovery center, Fieldhouse, Halehouse is just the beginning of the wellness experience on property.”
“For example, Stanly Ranch offers an entire itinerary for the ‘wellness warrior’ guest,” Gannon adds. “From massages at Halehouse and nutritious meals at Bear to private fitness classes and self-care classes, wellness goes way beyond the spa.” Stanly Ranch is comprehensive in its capabilities, but turning into the lengthy entry road it becomes evident that its true intention is to support the natural splendors of Napa Valley and let guests settle in and discover as they so choose.
From Vacation, this baby oil looks, feels and smells retro, but contains proper protection from the sun. Made with naturally derived oils, the SPF 30 formula is also Hawaii Reef Act 104 compliant—meaning they are void of Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. The delicious, nostalgic scent was developed in collaboration with ARQUISTE Parfumeur and will conjure up images of carefree beach days and pool parties of yesteryear.
Our next editorial series, named AItopia, will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact design and architecture.
The winning design will form the artwork for Dezeen’s upcoming AItopia series
We are asking Dezeen readers to create the illustration for the series using AI text-to-image generators such as DALL-E 2, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.
As well as having their work featured on all articles in the series, the winning designer will receive £1,000.
The deadline for submissions is 25 May, so if you fancy your skills with AI image generators and are yet to enter then get prompting! Entry is quick, free and open to everyone.
For more information about the competition and the AItopia series, including important guidelines on how to enter, click here.
Atelier Kaiser Shen has used straw bale-construction to create an interlocking semi-detached house in the village of Pfaffenhofen, Germany.
Appropriately named Straw Bale House, the dwelling near Heilbronn uses the material as insulation to improve the building’s thermal performance.
Straw Bale House was designed by Atelier Kaiser Shen
Clad in silver fir wood with a steeply pitched roof, the building subtly adopts both the grain and the roof shape of its village setting.
Atelier Kaiser Shen aimed to create a model for higher-density living in rural areas made from natural and renewable raw materials.
It was constructed from straw and timber
“Everything was based on the idea of using bales of straw combined with clay plaster as a thermal envelope for floors, ceiling, roof and walls,” the studio told Dezeen.
To insulate the dwelling, locally sourced bales of straw were pressed into a wooden frame to a thickness of 36.5 centimetres. Excess straw was simply trimmed off using hedge cutters.
The home has a large pitched roof
All facades of Straw Bale House use the straw bale construction method, including the floor slab and the roof. The house is raised from the ground by an entire floor and rests on a concrete cross and four columns to protect the floor slab from water.
This raised floor creates four “unfinished” open spaces on the ground floor that can be used as workshops or an outdoor kitchen. One space has been enclosed and configured as a granny flat.
The home is raised off the ground
Comprising two interlocking duplexes, Straw Bale House is designed with flexibility and transformation in mind. Each home has an entrance on the ground floor and is accessed by a single flight of stairs.
The two-storey duplexes have views in all four directions. On entering, each floor has eight uniform square rooms measuring four by four metres.
“Since all rooms are virtually identical, they can be used alternatively as kitchens, bedrooms, living or dining rooms,” explained Atelier Kaiser Shen.
“This means they can change their function over the building’s entire lifespan without many extensive structural alterations being necessary.”
The building contains two duplex homes
Each duplex can also be divided floor by floor, meaning there are numerous ways to subdivide each dwelling into smaller units. This allows the homes to respond flexibly to changing circumstances and to grow with their occupants.
The interiors of the duplex reflect the simplicity of its exterior, with the walls and ceiling clad in both untreated and white-washed spruce wood, providing warm and natural finishes to all spaces.
The interiors were designed to reflect the exterior
An array of integrated rooftop solar panels and a heat pump mean that Straw Bale House has a negative annual total energy requirement. The regenerative energy sources combined with the straw bale insulation mean the house meets the Efficiency House Plus Standard.
“Compared to a new conventional semi-detached house of the same size that is made of bricks or tiles and with classic insulation, 95 per cent of CO2 has been saved,” said the studio.
It was clad in untreated and white-washed spruce
Atelier Kaiser Shen was founded in 2017 in Stuttgart.
Spanish practice Arquitecturia has completed a home in the Catalan town of Caldes de Malavella, which is comprised of six small buildings organised around a courtyard at its centre.
Girona-based Arquitecturia, led by Josep Camps and Olga Felip, designed House 016 to foster a close connection to both its site, which is surrounded by lawns and trees, and the internal garden.
Arquitecturia designed six buildings around a central courtyard for House 016
“The house offers three ways to look at and relate to the outside: an intimate one into an inner courtyard…a horizontal one with framed views to different pieces of garden…[and] and open and wide view of the sky,” explained the practice.
“The size and proportion of each volume responds to its use, [and they] are all connected through a kind of cloister where the entrance is located,” it continued.
Board-marked concrete covers the lower portion of the exterior
Around the central courtyard, a U-shaped corridor space connects each of the home’s blocks. This is fully glazed on one side to overlook the courtyard and on the other to look out at the landscape.
On entry, this corridor creates a long axis through the entire depth of the building, visually linking a living, dining and kitchen space to the northeast with three en-suite bedrooms opposite.
The buildings have a glazed facade facing the courtyard
For the bedrooms, this organisation allows light to flood the spaces while maintaining privacy, with large windows looking inwards onto the planted courtyard.
Each of the home’s blocks is topped by an angular butterfly roof finished with green ceramic tiles, designed to channel rainwater down into the central garden.
The form of these sloping roofs has been used to give each block a triangular strip of windows, which are set in deep frames to minimise glare.
“The sloping gabled roof collects water like a leaf through the use of green-glazed ceramic tiles, which reflect and blend in with the trees,” said the practice.
The buildings have mono-pitched roofs
“Some of this water is used to irrigate the garden, designed according to the principle of saving water with plants that require little watering,” it added.
Externally, the pale, board-marked concrete base of each block has been left exposed, contrasted by dark wooden frames for windows and doors and topped by a roofline finished in white timber batons.
Cross-laminated timber ceilings were left exposed
Inside, the large ceilings of cross-laminated timber have been left exposed, complemented by wooden panelling to the walls and polished concrete floors that help to bounce light around the spaces.
The simplest of structures, such as tents and huts, can teach architects lessons, British architect Norman Foster said in an exclusive interview at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Speaking to Dezeen at the Ca’di Dio hotel in Venice, Foster said that basic buildings that are created without architects, constructed with local materials and with passive design strategies can all serve as valuable reference points for the industry.
“As a student, I was fascinated by what would now be called the vernacular and studied buildings that were not considered architecture in a school of architecture, like barns and windmills,” Foster explained.
“I think that there are lessons from what is called ‘architecture without architects’, where people have created a response using local materials, working with nature, creating environments in a desert before the age of cheap energy by passive cooling, thermal mass and so on,” he continued.
“I think that those are our valuable lessons.”
Norman Foster cutting the ribbon on his Essential Homes Research Project
Designed as part of the Norman Foster Foundation with building materials company Holcim, the project is aimed at improving the living conditions of people displaced by natural and manmade disasters.
It focuses specifically on improving the kind of shelter provided by traditional tents that typically define temporary settlements while retaining their simplicity, affordability and ease of construction.
Project team forced to go “back to basics”
The project began in June 2022 at the foundation’s Shelters Workshop, where students were invited to go “back to basics” and develop solutions for emergency shelters over five days.
“You can’t think of anything more extreme than how you create an instant dwelling, and, obviously, the tent is an immediate response to that,” Foster said.
“Challenging and trying to do something which is more durable than a tent, but has to be ultra economic and has to be realised by unskilled labour, and you’re only allowed the luxury of days to do it, that concentrates the mind and I think it brings you back to basics.”
The Essential Homes Research Project exhibit at the Biennale includes a full-scale prototype in Giardini della Marinaressa, supported by an exhibition at Palazzo Mora.
The exhibition outlines how the structures can be built in just three to four days and, while serving displaced communities, they can also be used as an affordable housing model.
“We should be doing more”
Foster believes that the architecture industry has a huge potential when it comes to developing these kinds of philanthropic projects and that it should be doing more of them.
“I think the profession has a huge amount to offer,” he explained. “I think it’s a profession that is well equipped to make a contribution,” he continued.
“Of course, you can always do better, you can always do more, whether it’s an individual, whether it’s a collective, whether it’s a practice, a partnership, an enterprise, or a profession. And I think that we should be doing more.”
Foster unveiled the Essential Homes project in Venice
However, he also acknowledged that personal priorities and commercial realities are often a barrier to this.
“The foundation is able to do what a practice by virtue of its commercial reality can’t,” he said.
“In other words, any practice, whatever it says, if it continues in practice unless it’s got a private income, it has to be able to pay the people who work for it.”
He said that this is “perhaps why there is absolutely no link” between his studio and the foundation.
“It’s in the nature of a foundation that it can address those issues, which in the commercial world, there’s no there’s no circumstance that could enable you to address that.”
Biennale is “a reflection of the individuals who steer it”
According to Foster, presenting the Essential Homes Research Project at the Venice Architecture Biennale was a motivation for the project, encouraging its rapid nine-month development.
“The workshop was successful to the point that it got everybody who was involved with it felt, how can we bring some of these ideas to reality? How can we push the boundaries, how can we test it out? We need an opportunity. We need an excuse. And nothing works better than a deadline,” he said.
“The Venice Architecture Biennale, where there are enough outlets for experimental projects, it became a goal, it became a deadline,” he continued. “If we hadn’t had that deadline, I don’t think we would have ever got to the point where we’ve got to.”
The Essential Homes Research project is the second collaboration presented by the Norman Foster Foundation and Holcim at the Venice Architecture Biennale, following their collaboration in 2016 on Droneport – a full-scale prototype of a hangar for drones for the distribution of medical supplies in Africa.
While Foster was yet to visit this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale when Dezeen spoke to him, he said he expects it to be a reflection of its curator Lesley Lokko.
“[Venice Architecture Biennale] is very much a reflection of the individuals who steer it”, Norman Foster told Dezeen. “It’s a combination of who’s behind it, behind the scenes here in Venice, and the curators who are invited.”
“I think the curators in the past, they’ve all had the individual points of emphasis. So one curator has an interest in the city, another curator has an interest in issues of materials, another curator sees the role of history as important,” he continued.
He said he was also told to expect that “this is a different Biennale” to previous years.
“I was just saying at the end of the conference [yesterday] in the [Hotel] Monaco, ‘what should I see here?’ and somebody was saying this is a different Biennale,” he continued.
“You’ll see the architecture of the Arsenale, there’s less interruption, it’s more about the fabric of the of the buildings.”
Follow the live coverage on Dezeen live: Venice Architecture Biennale. The Venice Architecture Biennale takes place from 20 May to 26 November 2023. See Dezeen Events Guide for all the latest information you need to know to attend the event, as well as a list of other architecture and design events taking place around the world. All times are Venice time.
Link comprises a series of storage solutions and additional functionalities that can be used to connect Askia Furniture‘s Kameleon work pods together.
Link contains storage solutions as well as decorative items
“We realised that, whether they are single-person cabins or larger, Kameleon pods are frequently positioned next to each other,” said Askia Furniture designer and creative director Dragos Motica.
“By connecting the pods with diverse storage modules available in the Link system, Askia Furniture offers the possibility for clients and architects to insert Kameleon acoustic pods in a much more harmonious and efficient way within a workspace.”
Kameleon office booths can be connected and enhanced by Link
Link includes cupboards and lockers for storage, as well as shelves, hooks, plant pots, peg boards and other accessories to personalise the pods.
All components come in a range of colourways and finishes to suit the design scheme of any workplace interior.
Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen’s huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.
Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
