Hasta La Ideas

Israeli architecture studio Baranowitz and Goldberg Architects has created Yama, a fishmonger in Tel Aviv with a sculptural interior that was informed by jewellery stores.

The studio completely renovated the space, adding a sculpted ceiling that was designed to “create a ship-bottom-like formation” to underline the connection to the sea.

Yama – which was named after yam, the Hebrew word for ocean – features a display area for showcasing fresh fish as well as prepackaged ready-to-cook dishes made by its owner, chef Yuval Ben Neriah.

The display counters were designed to resemble the shape of a fin and have an all-white finish that contrasts with the fishmonger’s colourful walls.

For one wall, Baranowitz and Goldberg Architects created a bespoke clay-red drawer refrigerator that holds prepackaged goods.

With the brief to “redefine the shopping experience that customers are accustomed to”, Baranowitz and Goldberg Architects designed the interior to emphasise the value of the product being sold.

“We suggested that rather than working with quantities and nonchalant arrangements of the product with the preparation of the fish being exposed, we wished to emphasize the values of the product within an elegant setting,” studio founders Irene Goldberg and Sigal Baranowitz told Dezeen.

“It is this aspect of the carefully set display that promotes the value of what is presented, very much like jewels in a jewellery store.”

Steel shelves in the same red hue as the refrigerated drawers hold delicatessen food that goes with the fish.

The studio chose the colour palette to nod to the graffiti-covered walls in the surrounding area – the up-and-coming Florentin neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv.

“The colour palette is light in its essence, consisting of white and warm grey,” Baranowitz and Goldberg Architects said. “It is only the drawer refrigerator and display shelves that bring in the deep and vivid colour of clay-red.”

“The purpose of the colour was two-fold: to create an assertive and strong backdrop of the central island and to recall the vitality of the downtown neighbourhood it is located at, with its graffiti art walls and vibrant young population.”

Despite designing the store to have a high-end look, the studio used deliberately simple materials as a contrast.

“To balance the experience and merge with the vivid alive-and-kicking neighbourhood the store is located in, the finishes and materials selected for the store are not particularly high-end,” Baranowitz and Goldberg said.

“On the contrary, most of them are simple in their essence and consist of concrete flooring, plaster and paint-finished metal,” the duo added. “The heart of the store is constructed in stone to elevate the display of the fish specifically on the central island.”

To further underline Yama’s connection with the ocean, Baranowitz and Goldberg Architects added a decorative coral motif to the door handle leading into the fishmonger.

The studio said it always designs bespoke door handles for its projects since the entrance is “the beginning of the story”.

“For Yama, which has a very clean and pared-back design, the door handle is the only part that was given a decorative motif,” Baranowitz and Goldberg Architects said.

“We used the graphic design motif that was developed by Anaba studio for all the packages in the fish shop,” the studio added.

“The graphic element reminds [us of] elements from the sea, coral reef indeed, which also reminds us of seawater. We like to combine existing elements, it is part of a story of the place.”

Other recent Tel Aviv projects include an indoor playground with tree-like columns and a pair of apartments with trees growing through the facade.

The photography is by Amit Giron.

Project credits:

Architects: Irene Goldberg and Sigal Baranowitz
Lighting design: Orly Avron Alkabes
Stone Work: Fervital

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Valentino Architects and curator Ann Dingli have presented a proposal to retrofit a historic fortification at the Venice Architecture Biennale to suggest alternative methods of conservation in the face of Malta’s rapid development.

Curated by Dingli, the small-scale exhibition was part of the Time Space Existence showcase and featured an abstracted plan to retrofit the 17th-century watchtower on the north-eastern shore of Malta.

“The Għallis watchtower in isolation is not remarkably significant – it’s been vacant for years,” Dingli told Dezeen. “But it belongs to a network of micro-fortifications that were built along the edge of the islands in the 17th century and tell a part of the islands’ wider military story.”

“Today the tower is a marker along the coast and not much more,” she continued. “The point of the exhibition is to re-charge its significance by introducing new usability and graduating it from just a visual landmark to a habitable space.”

With its proposal, the team suggests changing the use of the building to create a multi-use structure that can be utilised in numerous ways.

“The design reverses the exclusive nature of the tower – conceived as a fortress designed to keep people out – to an inclusive building that invites people in,” explained Valentino Architects.

“Its programme is flexible, adapting to three permutations that allow for varying degrees of private use and public access.”

The tower was showcased at the biennale to draw attention to a wider issue facing Malta – the commercialisation of its historic buildings.

The team aimed to demonstrate that historic buildings could be converted into useable structures rather than being restored as empty monuments.

“Heritage architecture in Malta has a strong focus on preservation of building fabric and less so on functional innovation,” said Dingli.

“This means heritage buildings very often serve one programme – usually as museums of themselves or as institutional buildings – and as a result become inaccessible or redundant to everyday use,” she continued.

“This design moves away from heritage as a product and towards heritage as useful space.”

The team hopes that the exhibition will draw attention to the rapid development of Malta, which it says is happening at the expense of the country’s existing buildings.

“The islands are on a seemingly unstoppable trajectory of hyper-development,” explained Dingli. “Malta is the most densely populated country in the EU, and one of the most densely populated countries in the world.”

“Its built environment hasn’t met this intensity with the right blend of retrofit and newbuild development – the former exists in extreme scarcity, despite a huge stock of existing building fabric crying out to be re-used in smarter ways,” she continued.

Although the exhibition focuses on a historic fortification, the team believes that prioritising reuse over rebuilding should be implemented across the country.

“The argument for conservation needs to be extended to any form of building stock, not just heritage buildings,” explained Valentino Architects.

“Demolishing existing buildings to make way for new ones is almost never sustainable,” they continued. “When there is no alternative but to remove a building, we need to advocate for dismantling as opposed to demolishing.”

“Materials such as Malta’s local yellow limestone – which has traditionally carved out the architectural identity of our island – is a finite resource that needs to be both protected and used,” they added.

Alongside the Għallis exhibition, the Time Space Existence show presented work by architects, designers and artists from 52 different countries in venues across the city. These included a tea house made from food waste and a concrete emergency housing prototype developed by the Norman Foster Foundation and Holcim.

The photography is by Federico Vespignani.

Time Space Existence takes place from 20 May to 26 November 2023 at various locations across Venice, Italy. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Since its foundation in 1976, Apple has always been at the peak of modern innovation! And let’s take a moment to appreciate all the awesome products and inspiration Apple has provided us with. The groundbreaking tech giant never fails to surprise us, we always find ourselves biting our nails and squirming with curiosity, whenever Apple announces a new product launch. And, the launch of a new iPhone every year is also one of the things that gets us going! The launch of the iPhone 15 series this month had us completely swooning over it! With their sleek designs, advanced technology, and drool-worthy camera if you’re planning to buy any of the iPhones, then you’ve reached the right spot. We’ve curated a collection of unique, innovative, and super useful accessories for your new iPhone. Dive in!

1. Apple MagSafe Grip Stand

This unique Apple MagSafe Grip Stand takes inspiration from the Japanese art of paper folding! You can fold it flat and vice versa without the trouble of assembly and disassembly. The innovative accessory is thin, card-size, and lightweight, and you can swiftly attach it to your phone and slip it into your pocket without the worry of snagging or looking weird in your pocket. The stand won’t dislocate from your phone, even if you jump around!

2. HiRise 3 Deluxe

Designed by Twelve South, the HiRise 3 Deluxe is MagSafe certified, and it can charge your iPhone up to 15W. The accessory features a unique and adjustable MagSafe pad, which allows for a 35-degree angle shift to support optimal viewing. The charger favors a front-to-back arrangement, unlike the typical side-by-side layout, which doesn’t occupy too much space on your workdesk and nightstand.

3. Notorious

Called Notorious, this ornate piece by Caviar pays tribute to the Colt 1911 handgun. The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a spectacular makeover, which involves a new aviation-grade titanium plate that is PVD-coated with black and finished in 24k gold details. The frame around the side has been electroplated with 24k gold too, including the rings around the camera lenses.

4. Belkin BoostCharge Accessories

The BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand and the other dubbed BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 are Belkin’s latest accessories for the iPhone 15. The BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand is for people who want a wireless charging pad that can flip upwards so that they can easily watch content. The BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 is for gadget lovers who frequently charge their array of devices in tandem.

5. AirTag Carabiners

These innovative AirTag Carabiners give a refreshing makeover to your boring old metal carabiners. Say good to your standard carabiners and, meet these precision-made metallic carabiners that have been meticulously handcrafted to offer you premium durability. These unique carabiners aren’t just melted metal casings, in fact, each piece is unlike any other as manufacturing conditions can affect the final design.

6. PITAKA StarPeak MagEZ Cases

PITAKA created the StarPeak MagEZ cases for the iPhone 15 series. The cases are visually intriguing and are also stronger and lighter than steel. The unique case provides superior protection without bulking up the phone’s slim and sleek silhouette. It measures only 0.95mm and features a granular texture of woven aramid fibers that form a 3D grip making the phone super comfy to hold.

7. The TORRAS UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate

The TORRAS UPRO Ostand SS ShieldMate is short for “Super Shockproof”, and it is a unique protective case designed to let your iPhone completely shine through while providing seamless protection if you ever drop your phone from any height or angle. The case is constructed from a high-durability TPU material that absorbs 98% of the shock.

8. The Stympro

The Stympro is a 4-in-1 accessory designed for your iPhone, and it functions as a MagSafe Power Bank, a Wallet, a Phone Stand, and a ‘Find My’ compatible Tracking Device. The Stympro is truly the perfect accessory for your iPhone since it charges your device, stores your cards, and lets you track your belongings in case they ever get stolen. The accessory measures 10mm and weighs 100 grams.

9. The Anker 3-in-1 Cube

The Anker 3-in-1 Cube is a MagSafe-compatible accessory that can hold all three devices all at once. It has a simple appearance but power-packed functionality. The charging section can be accessed by lifting the lid like a tiny treasure box, that can be faced in the direction opposite you. This ensures that your phone can be tilted to face you!

10. The Ringo Bottle

This innovative accessory is called the Ringo Bottle, and you can use it to quench your thirst while using your smartphone as a tripod on the fly! The unique accessory merges the practicality of a water bottle, with the functionality and convenience of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone stand. The Ring Bottle helps you stay hydrated take videos and shoot IG reels!

The post Top 10 Unique & Useful Accessories For Your New iPhone 15 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Record players are en vogue again, and thanks to interest in the product, we’ve seen quite a few designs that go beyond the simple task of playing a vinyl record. There’s a wide variety of designs, ranging from minimalist to eccentric, from utilitarian to decorative. The requirements for a record player design aren’t many, as long as it’s able to actually produce the audio quality unique to the medium and have usable controls that don’t get in the way. Thanks to that, there’s plenty of leeway in how to interpret a record player design, and this particular concept takes advantage of that in order to create a fusion of an audio device and architecture, presenting a unique visual and tactile experience for audiophiles.

Designer:

The standard record player design involves a box with a circular plate on top, a tonearm that holds the head reader, and controls on the top or side of that box. There’s no hard rule for that design, of course, just that it’s the most efficient way to cram components and mix shapes. When it comes to space and shape efficiency, however, nothing is more precise than architecture, which is exactly the source of inspiration for this distinctive concept design for a record player.

Right off the bat, you will notice the slats that run across a section of the aluminum chassis that’s not covered by the platter. This design is reminiscent of many architectural forms, but it serves more than just a visual function in this design. One of those slats is actually the tonearm, giving this important part of the record player a home when not in use and preventing accidents due to leaving it exposed.

Three gaps between those slats also hide the machine’s controls in plain sight. While most record players use buttons and dials, the RYTM record player uses less ambiguous sliders for volume, speed (denoted by RPM or rotations per minute), and power. The sliders integrate so seamlessly into the design that you might not even notice their presence unless you look closely. At the same time, however, they offer a somewhat novel way to engage with the machine.

RYTM’s anodized aluminum body gives it a bit of a unique and almost industrial character. It’s not difficult to associate the motif with robot arms, similar to those used in automobile manufacturing plants, on a smaller scale, of course. In an age of mostly digital consumption of music, this interesting record player design concept offers a different and perhaps more memorable way to enjoy your tunes, creating a ritual that involves physical engagement to elevate your listening experience.

The post This metallic record player concept blends music and architecture to create harmony first appeared on Yanko Design.

Local architecture office Superlimão Studio has created a lifted building with a tree-like structure constructed using mass timber for a McDonald’s restaurant in São Paulo.

Located at one of the busiest intersections of São Paulo, the 2,150-square foot (220-square metre) building is part of the American fast food chain’s “Recipe for the Future” initiative and was completed in 2023.

The design utilises a biomimetic approach, drawing inspiration from the trees located in the median of the adjacent Avenue Bernardino de Campos — which are the last remaining trees in the area, according to the studio.

Superlimão Studio employed cross-laminated timber (CLT) pillars with diagonal branching bracing to overcome the maximum spans of the materials to reinforce a  “connection with nature and the sustainability theme throughout the project,” the team said.

The design and its prominent location were also intended to act as a showcase to pedestrians and drivers, modelling sustainable construction practices to the public.  he studio said the building is the “most sustainable McDonald’s in Brazil”.

“Since environmental awareness is just as important as actions, we decided to go beyond the project itself, turning it into a powerful tool for environmental education and awareness,” Superlimão partner Lula Gouveia said.

“From the project’s inception, we have been steadfast in promoting the sustainability narrative and the impact this theme would have when implemented in a democratic environment like McDonald’s,” added Superlimão associate Maria Fernanda Elaiuy.

The design uses engineered wood from floor to ceiling that can be seen from the street through glass curtain walls and exposed to occupants through an opening in the finish layers.

The off-site prefabrication of the CLT structure minimised material loss, reduced energy consumption, and diminished the impact of the construction on the site and the surrounding neighbourhood.

On the ground floor, a glass box and drive-thru line are tucked under a heavy wooden platform that holds the main dining area, which functions like a tree canopy. Horizontal sunshades band along the glazed façade to control sunlight and regulate internal temperature.

The building is topped with a green roof that also helps regulate internal temperature. Rainwater and air conditioner water output is collected for reuse.

Inside, conventional finish materials were exchanged for sustainable alternatives from local suppliers.

“For example, porcelain tiles were replaced by Concresteel and recycled PET laminate was used instead of traditional melamine,” the team said.

The ground floor space contains four self-service kiosks, a checkout area, the McCafé and a dessert kiosk made from 100 per cent recycled propylene. A large staircase with a curving wooden railing wraps up to the upper level.

Inspired by the surrounding schools and colleges, the team installed a set of bleachers in one corner of the upper level to provide a relaxed environment for relaxing, socializing, and studying.

A yellow path on the floor guides customers through the design, and QR codes can be scanned to learn more about the sustainable features.

“This is an innovative step, marking the first time that McDonald’s and Superlimão have created a self-explanatory project, allowing visitors to intuitively understand the principles behind this construction.,” the team said.

Other noteworthy designs of McDonald’s restaurants include AIA Gold Medal-winning architect Carol Ross Barney’s design for the company’s Chicago flagship restaurant.

Some of Superlimão’s other hospitality and retail designs include a sunken tap room and beer garden encased in Gabion walls in Ribeirão Preto and a tea shop with a rope and mirror staircase in São Paulo.

The photography is by Maíra Acayaba.

Project credits:

Architecture: Superlimão
Architecture team: Lula Gouveia, Thiago Rodrigues, Antonio Carlos Figueira de Mello, Maria Fernanda Elaiuy, Ricardo Tortorello, Brunna Dourado, Heloisa Bataier, Liliana Esteves, Amanda Locatelli, Fernando Ferrari, Vitor Curti, Fernanda Martins Rodrigues, Ana Galante, Marilia Vicentini, Paula Melardi, Alexandre Ceravolo, Beatriz Zanella, Anna Julia Senno, Julyana Yamamoto
CLT Structure: Urbem
Incorporation: Noah Tech
CLT structure assembly: Cubicset
Floor and wall covering: Concresteel
Furniture covering in recycled PET sheet: Ibrap and Lamiecco
Lining: Heradesign – Knauf

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