Hasta La Ideas

In collaboration with Colorado-based Prometheus Materials, architecture studio SOM has created a spiral installation made of bio-bricks for the 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial.

The installation was made using the Bio-Block building material developed by Colorado-based material company Prometheus Materials, a masonry block created from micro-algae and aggregate that offers an alternative to standard concrete.

“Extending our history of material research and prototyping at the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Bio-Block Spiral introduces our collaboration with Prometheus Materials to develop an algae-based, zero-carbon alternative to the concrete blocks found everywhere in our buildings and cities,” said SOM design partner Scott Duncan.

The only installation located in the Fulton Market District for this year’s biennial, it was installed underneath a covered walkway at The Mews building in Downtown Chicago.

“Echoing the shell-like material composition of the bio-cement, [we] conceived of a spiralling form that invites Fulton Market visitors to step off the busy street and explore the installation,” said the studio.

The entrance to the spiral faces inwards towards the site’s walkway, while at its centre, several blocks were rotated to create apertures that look out onto the site’s surroundings.

It was assembled using a conventional stacked masonry technique carried out by the International Masonry Institute and J&E Duff.

The ends of the spiral, which form the entrance and the interior wall, were constructed using an offset arrangement that forms undulating walls.

“Pleated ends demonstrate the versatility of the block form and improve the structural stiffness of the installation, allowing the Spiral to be self-supported,” said the team.

Prometheus Materials was established in 2021 by professors at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

As of 2022, the material was going through testing to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and today it is in the “midst of ongoing performance testing”. The team hopes it can be a direct substitute for Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs).

The process eliminates the use of portland cement, which is the most common type of cement used around the world. Made largely of crushed and burned limestone, it, along with concrete, contributes to about 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

“This project demonstrates how product development, design, and construction can come together to address the climate crisis in a meaningful way,” said Prometheus Materials president Loren Burnett.

Dezeen recently rounded up seven alternatives to bricks made of reclaimed waste and materials. Well-known architecture practices have been working to use more of these materials in construction. For example, UK-based studio Grimshaw recently worked with the University of East London to develop a brick made of sugarcane.

The 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennal features work from more than 70 global architects, artists and designers. This year’s theme, This Is a Rehearsal, “investigates how architecture is integral to collective care and the improvement of urban life.”

The photography is by Dave Burk courtesy of SOM.

Chicago Architecture Biennial 2023 runs from 21 September 2023 to 11 February 2024.  See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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Gridded fibre-cement cladding and a swimming pool with underwater windows feature at the East Van Residence in Vancouver by Canadian firm SMStudio.

The project is in Hastings-Sunrise, a residential neighbourhood in East Vancouver, a mixed residential and industrial area that borders the city’s harbour.

The home replaces a “tired, 1950s bungalow” that did not accommodate the client’s needs, said SMStudio, a local firm led by Simon Montgomery.

“This house was designed for a small family that loved their neighbourhood but needed a more functional house and floor plan that would suit their lifestyle and needs,” the studio said.

The studio conceived a 251-square-metre, three-storey house that was designed to be a “bold yet friendly addition to the neighbourhood”.

In addition to its three levels, the house has a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool and a 48-square-metre studio and pool house complex in the backyard.

The exterior of the primary structure was clad in board-formed concrete and white, square-shaped panels made of fibre cement. The concrete wraps the lower level and consists of thin strips that give the appearance of wood.

The cladding choices were a response to strict building codes that required non-combustible siding.

“Originally this was a challenge, but it provided an opportunity to explore how we could utilize a standard, lower-cost building material in an interesting way,” the team said.

“The result is a bold, playful facade that plays with light and shadow, creating interest and intrigue.”

For the interiors, the studio incorporated a mix of natural and industrial materials.

“Materials such as natural stone, board-formed concrete and Douglas fir are used throughout the project and create a sense of calm and a neutral backdrop for the owners to show their personality through art and furniture,” the team said.

Designed to capitalise on views from the communal spaces, the home features a reverse floor plan.

The ground level contains the main entrance and two bedrooms, while the top floor holds the kitchen, dining space and living room.

Contemporary decor was placed throughout the minimal spaces, including plush furniture and a custom-made DJ stand.

“A custom, welded-steel shelf and DJ setup were designed as a focal point in the living room, allowing the clients to display and listen to their extensive vinyl collection,” the team said.

The home’s levels are connected by a staircase lined with metal mesh, which runs from the basement to the roof. Atop the stairwell, an oversized skylight carries daylight to the spaces below.

The upper level has ceilings crossed by beams made of Douglas fir, laminated-veneer lumber (LVL), which enabled a wide span without the need for additional supporting columns.

Large stretches of glass create views of the adjacent park, the water and the mountains to the north of the city.

The basement level holds a den and media room, a guest suite that doubles as a workout area, and storage and mechanical space. A sunken, concrete courtyard brings in natural light.

The ground floor leads to a sunken courtyard framed with board-formed concrete walls with windows that look into the swimming pool.

“Pool windows are cut into the board-formed concrete and allow for a playful conversation between swimmers and bystanders,” the team said.

The detached building in the backyard has multiple functions, as it can be used as a garage, workshop, creative studio and pool house. A rolling garage door connects to the adjacent park.

Other projects in east Vancouver include a narrow, century-old house that was renovated by D’Arcy Jones Architecture and a caramel-coloured bakery by Ste Marie that has furniture influenced by the American Shaker movement.

The photography is by Ema Peter.

The post SMStudio includes pool with underwater windows in “bold yet friendly” Vancouver house appeared first on Dezeen.

Content creator Omozoc, who specializes in stop motion animation, was hired by Casio to make a G-Shock 40th Anniversary commemorative video. Omozoc’s video depicts the fanciful creation of a unique package design to house a G-Shock:

“This is a video made by splicing unprocessed and uncensored photos,” Omozoc notes. “No CG or effects are used.”

Dezeen Showroom: first created in 1988, Spanish brand Expormim and studio Lievore Altherr Molina are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Lapala chair with an updated woven version.

The 25th-anniversary edition of the Lapala chair has a textured woven shell seat made from natural wicker, informed by the materials used for the original version.

Designed for both domestic and hospitality settings, it has an ergonomic, gently curving silhouette and can be stacked.

“We want to remain faithful to our roots, combining tradition and innovation in order to provide our clients exclusive furniture with the highest quality and minimum environmental impact,” said Expormim.

“Features like its soft, gentle curves and its stackability guarantee its adaptability to any environment.”

Lievore Altherr Molina originally designed Lapala as an indoor chair for Expormim.

In 2015, Expormim updated the chair to be made from resistant materials, including nautical rope and stainless steel, to make it suitable for outdoor use.

Product: Lapala
Designer: Lievore Altherr Molina
Brand: Expormim
Contact: press@expormim.com

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Summertime means there is excitement in the air, pina coladas in our hands, and of course beads of sweat on our foreheads.  But, unfortunately, summer 2023 is coming to an end! As we gear up for fall, it is only fair that we pay tribute to the excellent summer we had with a few super cool products such as the Pool Pasta collection. The quirky collection is something you definitely would love to get your hands on to prepare for summer next year.

Designer: Jumbo x The Standard Hotel

The Standard Hotel teamed up with NYC design studio Jumbo to create the adorable Pool Pasta collection which is basically a range of pasta-shaped inflatable pool floats! Inspired by Italian cuisine and the various types of pastas, these pool noodles provide pool lovers with a playful and amusing experience. The collection includes large macaroni, farfalle, rigatoni, lasagna, tortellini, ravioli, and shells. Pick the pasta float of your choice, and float around as if you’re in a massive pot of water.

The collection of giant pastas was launched in December 2022 at Art Basel Miami. The floats were designed to add some whimsical fun to the iconic pool at the Standard Miami. The pool floats perfectly replicate the type of pasta they are mimicking, and in fact, they feature an Emoji-like essence, that makes them even more animated and quirky. The pasta shapes have a personality and identity of their own! They’re all a standard pasta yellow, and we do wonder if wouldn’t it have been more fun if the pastas were made in various color options. Imagine the Standard Miami pool scattered with myriad pasta shapes in pink, blue, orange, magenta, or even purple!

These supersized pasta shapes will have more installations in Ibiza, Hua Hin, Bangkok, and the Maldives. But if you’re in the mood to relax and unwind on a massive tortellini, and or catch a nap on a ginormous macaroni in your pool, then you can check out the Pool Pasta collection online, and grab a few for yourself! Pick the pasta shape that perfectly defines you and your pasta preferences and adorn your yard pool with them!

The post Bid Farewell To Summer 2023 With These Supersized Pasta Pool Floats first appeared on Yanko Design.