I hate that I wasn’t raised with the metric system, and have a shop full of tools sized for Imperial dimensions only. With calipers I’ve been exhaustively measuring a broken antique piece of furniture in hopes of reproducing it. Yes, by now I know that 0.3125″ = 5/16″, .375″ = 3/8″, etc. but the conversions are giving me a headache.
I was thrilled to learn that Starrett produces this 1202F dial caliper, even though no other country in the world really needs it. It’s got the dial helpfully laid out in fractions, a boon to American woodworkers:
I was unthrilled to learn these run about $140. Damn you, Imperial.
Also included is a re-issued, miniaturised version of a classic glass lamp by Karakter, an adjustable height table that is operated by a crank handle by Blå Station and a duo of lights by Pholc that reference Japanese paper lanterns.
Designers Stefan Borselius and Thomas Bernstrand partnered with Swedish furniture brand Blå Station on a table that can be raised and lowered by winding a handle.
The Veva table comes in two standard height variations and can be finished in a range of colours to create bespoke combinations.
Sweden-based design brands Form Us With Love and Stolab have collaborated to release a range of seating that offers a spectrum of customisation options for both its frame and colourway.
Chairs in the Alt Collection have a design that references a traditional dining chair. However, they’re intended to be used across an array of spaces, including in workspaces.
Danish designers Maria Bruun and Anne Dorthe Vester worked with Swedish design brand Pholc on a duo of mood lamps that have characteristic paper shades contrasted by rigid aluminium bases.
Meter lamps come in two designs – One Meter, which is one metre tall and suitable for use as a floor lamp, and Half Meter, which at 50 centimetres tall and intended to be used as a table lamp.
Scandinavian design brand Fora Form joined up with design duo Skogstad and Wærnes to design a series of office seats that deviate from conventional office chairs.
Bud chairs feature a low, cylindrical backrest and come in playful colourways that aim to enhance collaboration and discussion in working environments.
Designer Pekka Koivikko and Finnish brand Nikari have created a chair made out of solid birch wood that is specifically designed to be painted.
The Kumu chair has a minimal, smooth design that lends itself to paint applications, creating bespoke colourways depending on the interior design scheme they are used in.
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.
Most if not all of us may have dreamed of writing some form of literature like a book or even a novel. It may be an adventure inspired by the latest bestseller that you read, a tear-jerking drama drawn from personal experiences, or even a technical matter intended to pass down knowledge to future generations. Although we still call it “writing,” the fact is that books today are all typed on some kind of machine or another, be it a computer or even an old-school typewriter, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. A computer, of course, delivers plenty of flexibility and convenience, but those also come at the cost of complexity and, more importantly, distractions. Distraction-free typing devices have been popping up here and there to cater to the needs of writers, but this particular design lets you create your own solution and, if necessary, even repair the digital typewriter yourself.
There are quite a few distraction-free typewriter designs, but almost all of them have one important feature in common: they all use an e-paper display like E Ink. This usually monochrome screen is not just eye-friendly, it is also not that conducive to the colorful images and animations on the Web that distract us from our writing task. The technology is starting to catch up, though, but the advantages of E Ink still make it the perfect screen for such a purpose.
The Tapico Typer is a design that leverages that technology but also goes to the extreme when it comes to offering a distraction-free environment. You basically just have a keyboard with a somewhat small 4.2-inch E Ink screen centered on top. It doesn’t even have a battery, at least in this iteration of the design, so you’ll have to rely on an external power source like a power bank. It does have an SD card slot, however, which is the only way to get your files off the device since it has no network connectivity or even a USB data connection.
If that sounds extreme, it’s because it really is by design. The Tapico Typer is, interestingly, inspired more by a calculator than the old mechanical typewriter. It’s a single-function device that does only one thing but does it to perfection. It also means you have complete ownership of your content, free from subscription services and cloud storage. And, of course, there’s nothing to distract you on the screen, though the phone you place beside it could still steal your focus.
The digital typewriter is mostly 3D-printed and self-made, so it would be possible to follow the original’s design to make your own. Many of the components are available off shelves and there isn’t much soldering involved, so most of the work boils down to designing the chassis. A future plan is to include some internal power source or at least a way to use AA batteries that could last for months thanks to how little power E Ink displays consume. This also means that The Tapico Typerc can also be easily repaired, ensuring it will be your writing partner for a very long time.
In 1961, Spanish industrial designer Rafael Marquina designed this no-drip oil cruet. In so doing, he solved a humble problem that had probably plagued users of oil since oil was invented.
The removable spout’s base is ground to a frosted finish, providing the friction to hold it in place when pouring. A small slot in the spout’s base allows oil to drip back into the vessel. The hourglass shape required to make this arrangement work also yields a handy place to grab the vessel.
“My father became obsessed with the idea of creating an oil cruet that would not drip,” says Marquina’s daughter Nani, “because my grandmother gave him a gentle blow on the head every time he let the oil drip and stain the tablecloth. Thanks to this frustration, his invention was born.”
Marquina won the Golden Delta Award for best industrial design, awarded by Spain’s ADI-FAD design association. His cruet, which provided “millions in sales,” swiftly became “one of the most copied objects of Spanish design,” according to his family.
Years later the humble Marquina, who passed away in 2013 after a long career, said of his design: “My vinegar bottles have no other value than their use. They are designed to solve problems.”
Nani Marquina is more effusive:
“It is the most perfect object that he has designed, but perhaps also the best that has ever been designed in Spain, the one that is recognized as an object with perfect harmony, with clear utility and functionality, which is not car, which has a certain beauty, and when you see it you know what it’s for.”
Today you can find many copies of the design, but the original is still produced and available here.
This peculiar-looking Tamaragua object is by Madrid-based ID firm Disolventes. It might be mistaken for kitchenware.
Alas, its purpose is sobering:
“Manufactured by Precious Plastic Gran Canaria, the piece combines a shovel and rake to remove and excavate the sand, and a sieve to separate and collect the waste for subsequent recycling or disposal.”
“Tamaragua is an environmental awareness project that makes visible the problem of micro-plastic pollution on the coasts of Gran Canaria. Using a beach cleaning tool made from 100% recycled plastic, it seeks to deploy an army of ‘shore dwellers’ who raise awareness in their surroundings about the state of our beaches.”
Sad purpose aside, as an object it’s a great example of form follows function.
Dezeen Showroom: Spanish design brand Nanimarquina has added four new rugs to its Chillida range that reference the work of Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida in the centenary year of his birth.
The four rugs in the Chillida collection bear unique patterns yet all take cues from artwork by Chillida, who specialised in large-scale abstract sculptures made predominantly from metal and concrete.
Four new rugs have been added to Nanimarquina’s Chillida range, which first launched ten years ago
The Dibujo Tinta 1957 and Collage 1966 rugs are both informed by collages created in the development process of one of Chillida’s most well-known works, the Peine del Viento sculpture in San Sebastián, Spain.
Gravitación 1994 is informed by the sculptor’s relief sculpture of the same name, with a pattern that looks as though it has been embossed into the wool.
All rugs are hand-tufted by artisans
The Figura Humana 1948 rug deviates from the other three as it is decorated with an illustration of a female nude taken from the sculptor’s sketchbook.
Both the newly added rugs and the existing pieces in the collection are hand-tufted from New Zealand wool and silk and come in monochromatic colourways.
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.
Designed by Lloyoll Prefabs, this stunning SKALI BackCountry Cubiod unit is a modern marvel designed to offer you a calming haven away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It features a special rusted-looking exterior and has plenty of windows to allow natural light to continuously stream in throughout the day. It occupies 424 square feet, and is a comfy abode that can house you and your loved ones!
The exterior is quite rustic-looking and is designed to withstand extreme landscapes. The home is made using copper, nickel, and chromium, creating a bold and timeless exterior. The SKALI BackCountry Cubiod is a home for those with an adventuring spirit, who need a haven to seek shelter in, after a day of exploring. It looks like a little home right out of an old urban tale!
As you enter the home, you are welcomed by a ground-floor queen bedroom, and space in the lofts for two beds. It features an open floor plan with a wood-burning stove, that keeps the home warm and cozy. There is a spacious kitchen situated on one end and a living space in the middle. The interior of the home has a welcoming ambiance, that instantly makes you feel at ease, allowing you to completely unwind and rejuvenate.
Next to the door, there is a little entryway with a spot to store jackets and shoes. As you walk in further, you are welcomed by a cozy wood-burning stove, and ladders that lead up to the loft area. Massive windows surround the kitchen, creating an open and free-flowing space that feels well-connected to nature. Sunny skies greet you good morning, and starry night skies bid you goodnight. The kitchen is well-equipped with a four-burner cooktop and a little convection oven. The bedroom accommodates a ground floor bed which lets you enjoy the nature-infused view all around you. A closet is placed next to the bed, and two more twin beds have been neatly fit into the loft space. The washroom includes a shower stall and a black toilet. The tiny home is a wonderful abode for those who want a quaint getaway in the woods!
A long time favorite of our editorial team, Paris’ Hotel Bel Ami, nestled in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, hits all the right marks—location, size, service and style. The recent refresh of both the lobby and room design brought us back, and it made us love the hotel even more. Paris has no shortage of all types of hotels, and many serve your basic or out-of-this-world luxury budget busting needs. Finding a place that delivers just what you need and want in a great neighborhood, such as the emotional center of the Left Bank, is what helps make your visit a perfect visit.
<img width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353161" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a6977-hotel-locomo-md/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6977-hotel-locomo-md-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1708" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"14","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693494891","copyright":"","focal_length":"29","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"4","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A6977 hotel locomo md" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6977-hotel-locomo-md-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6977-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6977-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353161″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
Winter in Paris: Is there a more endearing setting? The warm welcome of a bistro and its well worn booths when you need to duck out of the cold; people watching at a corner cafe while sipping hot chocolate; the big museums are more tolerable, the smaller ones hardly crowded at all, even the sidewalks are empty if you get off the beaten path. Seeing Paris in an entirely different light than the warmer months, when the city swells with tourists and swelters in the heat.
<img width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353167" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a7104-hotel-locomo-bd/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7104-hotel-locomo-bd.jpg" data-orig-size="1966,1311" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"8","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693560430","copyright":"","focal_length":"29","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.25","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A7104 hotel locomo bd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7104-hotel-locomo-bd-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7104-hotel-locomo-bd-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7104-hotel-locomo-bd-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353167″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
Does enjoying one of the most walkable cities on earth require a bit more planning during the winter (which is pretty mild compared to many other global style capitals)? Indeed it does, but proper layering and smart footwear choices ensure you’ll be ready to roam as you desire while looking good. You may even get paid the ultimate style compliment—when a local speaks French to you, having mistaken you for one of the city’s own.
<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353160" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a6851-hotel-locomo-md/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6851-hotel-locomo-md-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1708" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"16","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693479371","copyright":"","focal_length":"25","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.4","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A6851 hotel locomo md" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6851-hotel-locomo-md-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6851-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6851-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353160″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
Regardless of what you wear and what you do, the most important bit of planning is where you stay. With an overwhelming amount of hotels in the city, choosing a home base for a visit to Paris can be dizzying. A reliable way for many to tackle this choice is budget, but we’d strongly advise against putting that atop your list. Instead, focus on location, location, location. Keep in mind that it’s not solely about being in a nice neighborhood either, at least not in the sense of it being trendy. Generally if you look for lodging that makes your ideal activities easier to do you’ll find a quality spot and this is especially true in Paris.
<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353159" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a6839-hotel-locomo-md/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6839-hotel-locomo-md-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1708" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"18","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693477703","copyright":"","focal_length":"31","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"1","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A6839 hotel locomo md" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6839-hotel-locomo-md-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6839-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A6839-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353159″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
Doing a bit of high level research like this is how you can find wonderful places like Hotel Bel Ami in the 6th arrondissement just off the iconic Boulevard Saint-Germain. Having undergone a renovation last year that invigorated the property with more of the personal style of Anne and Agathe Jousse, the mother-daughter team behind B-Signature Hotel Group, the Bel Ami feels quite personal. Art on loan from the family collection and furniture collaboratively selected with great attention to detail makes each communal space and all the guest rooms uniquely attractive.
<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353163" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a7006-hotel-locomo-md/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7006-hotel-locomo-md-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1708" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"16","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693499547","copyright":"","focal_length":"34","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.6","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A7006 hotel locomo md" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7006-hotel-locomo-md-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7006-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7006-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353163″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
There are eight distinct categories in the hotel’s 108 rooms, each suiting the needs of different travelers. Unlike boutique hotels operated by big chains, the focus at Bel Ami isn’t on big suites supported by generic smaller rooms. Room layouts are as functional as they are creative, with desired amenities—such as USB-C and USB outlets—where you expect them to be. One appreciable luxury is the ability to connect certain adjoining rooms—and nearly an entire floor by combining apartments and room types. If you travel with a sizable entourage or whole family, as some of Bel Ami’s returning guests do, this is the key to a home-away-from-home atmosphere. There is of course a beautiful top floor suite that has the look and feel of a Parisian artist’s studio, where we would have happily signed a year lease on our dream Parisian pied-à-terre had the offer been on the table. It’s a testament to the design refresh throughout the hotel that makes it feel so intimate and livable—previously it felt more distant. Funky has been replaced by chic, but the design language is by no means contrived. Pops of deep blues, rich reds and faded greens still accent rooms, but the neutral earth tones underpin the elegance that’s found behind each chamber door.
<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353166" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a7063-hotel-locomo-bd/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7063-hotel-locomo-bd.jpg" data-orig-size="1966,1311" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"16","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693505240","copyright":"","focal_length":"17","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"1.6","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A7063 hotel locomo bd" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7063-hotel-locomo-bd-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7063-hotel-locomo-bd-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7063-hotel-locomo-bd-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353166″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
Between the equally attentive and knowledgeable staff, the top notch food and beverage program, the spa and the location in one of Paris’ most iconic, authentic, central and very conveniently located neighborhoods, we enjoyed our time in the hotel as much as we did exploring Paris. The classic European hotel breakfast at Bel Ami Café fueled us up before leaving in search of “second breakfast,” and the Sunday brunch is an impressive affair equally appreciated by locals as it is by guests. The Bel Ami Bar just off the corner of the main lobby took any decision making about before and after dinner drinks out of the equation, with their Negroni becoming an easy favorite to sip on while playing backgammon on one of the many sets. Spending a good deal of time in the lobby coming and going, we quickly grew accustomed to the genuine inquiry from the concierge staff as to how our morning, afternoon or night went. Each conversation went beyond the usual exchange of pleasantries, typically ending up illuminating, full of pleasant surprises and friendly, helpful advice.
<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="353169" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/hotel-bel-ami-_16a7227-hotel-locomo-md/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7227-hotel-locomo-md-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1708" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"11","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS R5","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1693565202","copyright":"","focal_length":"35","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.25","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Hotel Bel Ami _16A7227 hotel locomo md" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
” data-medium-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7227-hotel-locomo-md-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7227-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” src=”https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Hotel-Bel-Ami-_16A7227-hotel-locomo-md-1024×683.jpg” alt=”” class=”wp-image-353169″ />Courtesy of Hotel Bel Ami
It’s also steps from Rive Gauche’s trifecta of Café de Flore, Les Deux Magots and Brasserie Lipp. A few days here and you’re not just doing as the locals do, you’re thinking as the locals think. Instead of checking places off a list (as so many Paris tourists are) you’ll be returning to the same place for a perfect baguette, a proper coffee or pint, or a classic salad or croque monsieur. Though we enjoyed stepping onto the snow dusted sidewalks, it’s safe to say that Hotel Bel Ami would be just as attractive in the warmer months, though denser and busier. It’s a thoughtful property for thoughtful travelers, just the kind of place we’d like to return to again and again.
We love when CH readers send us their work. Artist Nate Nettleton shared his latest project, an ongoing series inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year. Starting with the program’s launch in 2000, he’s created one work for each year, showing both the Color of the Year as well as its circular gradient opposite. Printed on 300gsm cotton rag matte paper, the works are available as single editions in 24″ x 30″ and 40″ x 50″; 16″ x 20″ prints have editions corresponding to the color’s release year—1 for the 2000 color, 25 for the 2024 color, etc.
Czech studio Ehl & Koumar Architekti has revealed a sculptural footbridge made from steel and concrete that features cantilevered viewpoints on both sides.
The footbridge, which creates a pedestrian route across a busy motorway in Litomyšl, the Czech Republic, is made from welded steel supported by exposed concrete pillars.
The footbridge leads across a motorway
“The heavy shapes of concrete pillars contrast to the lightweight steel structure and we like to use the exposed concrete for its almost tactile qualities,” Ehl & Koumar Architekti architect Tomas Koumar told Dezeen.
The bridge is constructed as a continuous beam with two spans and cantilevered ends that function as viewpoints, one of which provides a view of the nearby Loučná River.
It is made from welded steel and concrete
Ehl & Koumar Architekti designed the 56.6-metre-tall bridge using a Vierendeel truss with rectangular frames in order to make its deck as low as possible.
“We wanted to give the new footbridge the human scale, have its deck as low as possible and protect pedestrians from the busy I/35 highway,” Koumar said.
“Therefore, we designed the horizontal part as a spatial 3D Vierendeel girder.”
Cantilevers on both ends provide views
As well as using concrete for the pillars of the bridge, the studio created a concrete elevator tower that doubles as a structural support and faces Litomyšl’s historic city centre.
This is located on the axis of an existing staircase and is designed as a nod to the town’s baroque tower.
“The elevator tower creates a new landmark visible through Ropkova Street from the historical square, where the old town hall is with its baroque tower,” Koumar explained.
“We were very careful designing the Vierendeel girder geometry and details to achieve harmonious proportions. “
The studio also added a staircase on the side of the bridge that didn’t already have stairs.
The bridge references the baroque tower in Litomyšl
Artist Ivana Šrámková created decorative graphics for the elevator entrances and the rear wall of the elevator tower, which the studio said “enlivens” the bridge.
“We have already worked with Ivana Šrámková on another projects,” Koumar said. “She brings a different and sensitive approach to our work. Her art enlivens the very simple structure with the human emotions.”
The project incorporates an elevator tower
The footbridge in Litomyšl was the winner of the 2023 Czech Architecture Award.
“A good bridge is like a good deed in an unkind world, an altruistic investment in the public realm, a way to connect people and places, designed in such a way that it is pleasing to experience and to look at,” the jury said.
“Litomyšl’s new footbridge is exactly that: an entirely convincing synthesis of architecture, engineering and urbanism, connecting two segments of the town, like a contemporary version of the Charles Bridge in Prague.”
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.
