Hasta La Ideas

Pool houses that nestle into gardens of homes around the world are the focus of this roundup, which includes a semicircular pavilion in the UK and a pink-concrete shelter in Belgium.

Pool houses are typically free-standing buildings designed to accompany swimming pools, providing swimmers with changing facilities and creating an architectural focal point in a garden.

Ranging from simple shading devices to more extravagant structures for resting, cooking and socialising, they vary in size and style and offer users the feel of a luxury summer retreat just by stepping outside.

Read on for 10 tranquil pool houses that add luxury to gardens:

Pembury Pool House, UK, by Knox Bhavan

Disguised as a brick garden wall, this pool house was designed by Knox Bhavan to be “virtually invisible” within the grounds of a Georgian home in Kent.

To achieve this, the building takes advantage of an existing slope and retaining wall on the site. A short colonnade shelters a seating area and leads into a skylit shower, storage area and plant room, while steps on either side lead up to a walk-on roof.

Find out more about Pembury Pool House ›

Refuge, Belgium, by NWLND Rogiers Vandeputte

Coloured concrete forms the walls of this sculptural pavilion, which can be found beside a pool of water in a wooded garden in Flanders.

Intended to contrast the verdant surroundings, the pink walls also extend out around the swimming pond – a type of pool that uses a natural filtration system.

Find out more about Refuge ›

The Pool House, Canada, by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects

Mies van der Rohe‘s seminal Barcelona Pavilion informed the design of this pool house, which MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects created for a home in southern Quebec.

The minimalist structure features a material palette of concrete, glass and wood and incorporates a shaded terrace, gym and areas for changing and bathing.

Find out more about The Pool House ›

Modern Pool House, Spain, by Roz Barr Architects

Stone walls and trees surround this rustic poolside shelter, which Roz Barr Architects created on the grounds of a farmhouse in the Sierra Nevada region.

It has a whitewashed-concrete structure, built with vernacular construction techniques chosen by the studio to “respect both the local craftspeople and means of construction as well as the landscape and climate”.

Find out more about Modern Pool House ›

La Grange Pavilion, USA, by Murray Legge Architecture

In Texas, Murray Legge Architecture designed a pavilion around the trunks of oak trees in the yard of a hillside house. Holes in its wooden canopy also allow branches to pass through it.

The structure shades an outdoor lounge and a dining space that stretches out across a single horizontal plane.

Find out more about La Grange Pavilion ›

Pool House, India, by 42mm Architecture

This concrete pool house in the garden of a New Delhi house has a smooth, curved shell that its architect designed to evoke “a pebble in the grass”.

“Asserting its presence with a singular, bold and robust frame, this house sits impressively within its surroundings,” said Indian studio 42mm Architecture.

Find out more about Pool House ›

Heathside Poolhouse, UK, by Surman Weston

Heathside Poolhouse is a semicircular pavilion elevated on a round plinth in the gardens of a home in Surrey. It is lined with full-height sliding doors and crowned by a roof made of corrugated metal.

The curved form of the building juxtaposes the long, linear shape of the pool and contains space for a kitchen and seating area, a bathroom and storage, which Surman Weston framed with exposed Douglas fir.

Find out more about Heathside Poolhouse ›

Poolhouse O, Belgium, by Steven Vandenborre

Steven Vandenborre opted for a chunky concrete structure and frameless glazing for this poolside building, which forms part of a house in Bruges.

The pavilion, which has a deliberately simple design, occupies a spot at the far end of the client’s large garden, nestling in amongst the surrounding plants so that it is hidden from view.

Find out more about Poolhouse O ›

Shelter Island Pool House, USA, by General Assembly

Blackened wood clads the exterior of this cabin, which is designed as a garden retreat for the owners of a remote residence at the eastern end of Long Island.

The structure was divided into two volumes that are punctured by expanses of glass and linked by a central pergola and an external terrace that runs along its front elevation.

Find out more about Shelter Island Pool House ›

San Lucas Pavilion, Spain, by FRPO

Architecture studio FRPO designed this Spanish pool house to accompany a group of residences on the outskirts of Madrid.

While providing shelter for swimming, the gridded concrete structure also contains white-tiled counters for food preparation and cooking.

Find out more about San Lucas Pavilion ›

The post Ten tranquil pool houses that add luxury to gardens appeared first on Dezeen.

Industrial designer Min Chen has joined Dezeen Awards China 2023 as a judge. Here he selects five projects that best reflect his work.

Chen’s Hangzhou-based practice Chen Min Design Office has worked with a variety of brands, including jewellery retailer Swarovski, sports brand Nike, fashion brand Loewe and coffeehouse chain Starbucks.

“I consider design as a language, which has its origins, depth, and history,” Chen told Dezeen. “It stays open and evolves over time.”

“My goal is to find the Chinese language in the world of design and establish innovative relations between tradition and modernisation,” he added.

Currently, Chen is working on several projects for clients in Europe, Japan and the US, as well as curating the program for Design Shanghai‘s 2024 Neooold show.

Min Chen among Dezeen Awards China 2023 judges

Dezeen Awards China 2023 launched in June in partnership with Bentley Motors. It is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, celebrating the best architecture, interiors and design in China.

We have announced 10 out of 15 Dezeen Awards China judges, including architects Ma Yansong and Ting Yu, interior designers Ilse Crawford and Andre Fu, as well as industrial designer Michael Young, who will be joining Chen on the design judging panel.

Entries close on Thursday 24 August. Submit your entry before midnight Beijing time on 24 August to avoid late entry fees.

Read on to find Chen’s views on the five projects that best represent his work.

Hangzhou Stool

“Using traditional handcraft techniques combined with modern design theories, the Hangzhou Stool brings out the weight-bearing and flexible characteristics of the bamboo material itself, creating a serene and dynamic design language while expressing the relaxed and free urban atmosphere of Hangzhou.

“Hangzhou Stool was included in the permanent collection of Centre Pompidou in 2021.”

CC mug

“CC is a playful thermos mug. The mug lid displays internal liquid temperature when it is inverted, increasing the safety of consuming hot liquid.

“Every mug is attached with three different filters for brewing tea, fruits or eggs.”

Suit Chair

“Suit is a very sporty and healthy office chair. Its structure is informed by swimsuits.

“While providing a full range of health support for the body, it highlights the support of shoulders, increasing the safety of the office chair when tilting synchronously backwards.

“The smooth lines of the back similar to the drifting belt in Dunhuang [buddhist] fresco is a breakthrough in the study of domestic ergonomic chair form.”

Embodiment

“The form of the window in traditional Chinese architecture is transformed into lighting through modern techniques and materials, replicating light reflecting into the interior through the window.

“The series includes some common shapes in Jiangnan gardens, which can be put on the wall or leaned against, and can change the light atmosphere of the space, making it a flexible lighting.”

Neooold

“Neooold is a permanent exhibition which was commissioned by Design Shanghai in 2019.

“Based on the abundant resources of traditional crafts and materials, it invites creatives worldwide to inherit and carry forward the essence of life. It is deeply rooted in the Chinese culture and tradition.”

The photography is courtesy of Min Chen unless stated otherwise.

Dezeen Awards China 2023

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent in China.

The post Five key projects by industrial designer and Dezeen Awards China judge Min Chen appeared first on Dezeen.

Flower vases are not an uncommon product in interior spaces, but the majority of them are designed for a single style of flower arrangement. This style often involves a handful of flowers surrounded by rich foliage that create an almost bulbous shape, bringing a splash of color to any area. Of course, that isn’t the only way to arrange flowers, but the standard shape and size of vases put a heavier emphasis on the flowers themselves, using leaves as a background and their stems as invisible scaffolding. Sometimes, however, you can have an even more striking presence with just a single flower and a stem with just a few small branches, and this small metal vase provides not only the support but also the flexibility to embrace that minimalist design, using whatever you may have as the base for such an enchanting floral arrangement.

Designer: W DESIGN for Takeda Design Project

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The Japanese Ikebana style of arranging flowers is almost a stark contrast to what most see on vases. Where typical arrangements bundle a bunch of flowers that are mostly in full bloom, Ikebana might sometimes present a bud that slowly opens up over time, much to the viewer’s delight. Just like with many Japanese designs and philosophies, every aspect of the flower comes from a thoughtful decision, including the length of the stem, the cuts made, or the number of pieces used. A regular tall vase that hides those intentional details, however, isn’t cut for such an arrangement, which is where the HANAKUBARI vase comes in.

Named after the Japanese words for “flower” and “twig,” this small metal barrel looks nothing like a vase. Its size can hold just enough water to keep the flower alive, and its short stature means that it will only cover up a few centimeters of the stems, putting the focus on the minimalist arrangement rather than calling attention to itself. Despite its small size, however, it won’t topple over because the center of gravity is maintained by the main body’s 197g weight. There’s also a small 10g adapter that fits inside, allowing the vase to hold thinner stems.

This cute flower vase, however, isn’t meant to stand alone, although it can definitely function that way. Thanks to that diminutive size, you can place the vase on top of or inside anything, turning that thing into an Ikebana vase. You can, for example, put it on a ceramic plate with an oriental design or place it on top of a metal dish to complement the vase’s stainless steel body. You can even place it inside a transparent plastic or glass container to add some visual accent without detracting from the stem’s natural beauty.

Most flower arrangements are made to dazzle and excite, and their large vases are designed to support their weight and even embellish the image. This tiny yet elegant stainless steel vase, in contrast, encourages a more thoughtful, almost meditative, way to make a delightful arrangement, allowing even a singular flower and its stem to enchant the beholder with its natural beauty.

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The post This charming tiny cylinder can turn anything into a lovely Ikebana vase first appeared on Yanko Design.

Even when the folks at Nintendo don’t say anything, they say a lot! The rumor mill has been ABUZZ with speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2, which many people close to the matter say should arrive in 2024. While Nintendo has been extremely tight-lipped about the release of its highly-anticipated next-generation handheld console, it’s rumored that multiple studios have gotten access to the developer kit, confirming that the Switch 2 is, in fact, coming. This would be big for Nintendo too, as they’ve never released a ‘2nd edition’ of any of their consoles – the name has always changed ever so slightly, but the number 2 hasn’t featured in this new name. Take the Wii and WiiU for example, or the Nintendo DS and 3DS, or the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance if you want to look even further back.

The Switch 2’s reputation precedes it, following a 1st gen console so infamous, it remained sold out through multiple production runs and still is the most popular handheld console today, even though it was first unveiled six years ago. This Switch 2 concept, designed and envisioned by Salvo Lo Cascio and Riccardo Cambò Breccia, embodies everything we fans expect from Nintendo, peppered with a few healthy leaks and rumors. Let’s dive in!

Designers: Salvo Lo Cascio & Riccardo Cambò Breccia

Outwardly, the Nintendo Switch 2 concept embraces and really highlights its predecessor’s black, red, and blue color scheme. The format remains entirely the same too, with a few pretty visible tweaks, but all in all, it’s as unabashedly Nintendo as it gets.

We start with the Joy-Cons, which now sport a slightly chunkier, more rounded design that has a playful appeal to it. The controllers are a pleasure to hold as a part of the console as well as independent units, and come with a sliding panel built into its design – but more on that later. The main unit, on the other hand, is significantly different too, with drastically slimmer bezels than on the original Nintendo Switch. Rounded corners give the display unit a cutting-edge tablet appeal, although the only thing missing to make it a tablet is the presence of cameras!

A comparison between the old and new Joy-Con design

The new Joy-Cons’ strange sliding panel has an incredibly clever utility to it. Although designed to be used as a standalone unit, the Switch originally boasted of being able to handle two-person gaming too. All you needed to do was pop the Joy-Cons out and they would transform into dedicated handheld controllers. The problem was that these controllers weren’t designed to be symmetrical when held horizontally. Salvo and Riccardo’s clever design workaround fixes that problem entirely, creating a set of handheld controllers that feel ergonomic and comfortable to use even when held on their own. The GIF below explains how this works.

The designers also hid an easter egg in the Nintendo Switch 2’s speaker grill by shaping it into the waveform of the iconic Super Mario Bros. theme!

The rumor mill has been going on and on about Nintendo probably launching two Switch 2 models together. The second, according to Bobby Kotick (CEO of Activision) is suspected to be as powerful as a PS4, shattering through all benchmarks to make this new Switch model Nintendo’s most capable one yet. Dubbed the Nintendo Switch 2 MAX, Salvo and Riccardo gave this a significantly upgraded design too, in the form of an all-black colorway, and a larger screen sans the lower chin seen in the Switch 2. According to Kotick, the developer kit of the Switch 2 MAX was allegedly powerful enough to handle Triple-A games without breaking a sweat. Most Switch users have complained that the console’s graphics are its biggest limitation, and the Switch 2 MAX may just be exactly what they need.

The Nintendo Switch 2 MAX has a much larger, edge-to-edge display

The all-black controller on the Switch 2 MAX is a deviation from Nintendo’s Blue and Red color-way, but after all, a beast needs its camouflage! The Switch 2 MAX controller also has backlit XYAB keys, allowing for low-light high-octane gaming.

The last part of the Nintendo Switch 2 to receive a redesign is the hub, which docks the screen. Designed to both charge as well as work as an HDMI pass-through for the console, this new dock has an almost smart-home-like quality to it. Its design is soft and pebble-like, and accepts the Switch 2’s screen with absolute ease, mirroring its display onto a larger screen like a television, monitor, or projector.

Salvo and Riccardo’s design couldn’t come at a better time, with gaming technology in a bit of a lull given the uncertain future of E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), the biggest exhibition in gaming. Although the actual device isn’t due till next year, this concept feels like a perfect culmination of fan requests and legitimate rumors. Let’s hope Salvo and Riccardo’s design is on the money, because if the Switch 2 looks anything like this, it’s sure to be a winner!

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Console Renders Hint At Smaller Bezels and Redesigned Joy-Cons first appeared on Yanko Design.