Go-To textile collection by Carnegie Fabrics

Go-To textile collection by Carnegie Fabrics

Dezeen Showroom: American textile company Carnegie Fabrics has expanded its range of fabrics to include new metallic and neutral shades.

The Go-To textile collection combines the brand’s 20 best-selling colourways and 19 new hues, some of which reference organic landscapes from the natural world.

Go-To textile collection by Carnegie Fabrics
Neutral-coloured fabrics and metallic hues make up the range

Carnegie Fabrics launched the collection to celebrate ten years since they first released their Biobased Xorel material – a durable textile that is made from plants.

Available in a range of colours including pearlescent metallic tones and soft neutrals, the fabrics are suitable for a variety of applications, from furniture upholstery to wall coverings.

Go-To textile collection by Carnegie Fabrics
The materials can be used for a variety of interior applications

“There are so many variables to consider when choosing the right material; one that is beautiful, sustainable, high-performing and free of greenwashing claims,” said Carnegie Fabrics.

“Carnegie strives to be the number one go-to resource for designers looking to make responsible material choices by offering textile solutions for easy specification.”

Product: Go-To textile collection
Brand: Carnegie Fabrics
Contact: egrey@carnegiefabrics.com

Dezeen Showroom

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.

The post Go-To textile collection by Carnegie Fabrics appeared first on Dezeen.

Smart display concept puts a cute face on smart home technology

As our homes start to get more connected to devices and the Internet, the number of screens also starts to increase. In addition to the phones, tablets, computers, and TVs that are already a staple of modern life, there are also smart displays that try to offer visual feedback to the things we usually only hear by voice from an AI-powered assistant. While many smart display designs try to blend in with the rest of the room, it’s really hard to hide a large conspicuous screen that needs to always to in view to be useful. This design concept tries to soften the blow of having such impersonal tech products inside your living space by giving a smart display a rather comical face that makes it feel more alive and a little bit friendlier.

Designer: Kai Xia

Smart displays are pretty much the evolution of voice-controlled smart speakers, giving a visual representation of the information you would normally get only through audio. Of course, it could also be used for other purposes, like displaying photos similar to a digital photo frame, playing videos, or even making video calls. The standard design of these devices, however, has more in common with those speakers or, worse, simply look like tablets slapped onto cylinders and boxes.

The Smart Pad concept tries to liven things up by changing the core design of the smart display. Objectively speaking, the 4-inch screen might actually seem too small for its purpose, but that also means you’re forced to show only the essentials rather than flooding the user with information. The smart display is also shaped like an egg, reminiscent of the old, colorful iMacs or even some vintage CRT TVs. This angles the screen at a comfortable level without having to resort to stands and external mechanisms.

The more important feature of the concept, however, is the cartoon-y face that can be displayed on the small screen. It might be a minor and optional detail, but it lends the gadget a bit of personality, making it feel more approachable and even human to some extent. It makes the Smart Pad feel less like an appliance and more like a companion, putting a face to that disembodied voice we always hear when we talk to such devices.

Of course, it’s also capable of the standard things that smart displays can do, at least in theory. That screen can play videos, display photos, and show information, but it might be less expressive because of its small size. That makes the device more suited for desks and bedside tables rather than living rooms, where seeing the screen up close is more natural.

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World's Tallest 3D-Printed Building is Designed to be Disassembled and Moved

Swiss architecture firm Digital Building Technologies has designed a 3D-printed building that can be taken apart, moved, and reassembled.

When it’s erected later this year, Tor Alva (“White Tower”) will be the world’s tallest 3D-printed building at 30m (98′) tall. Designed as a performance space, it’s to be sited in an unlikely location: The remote Swiss mountain village of Mulegns, population just 26 people. (The structure is being funded by Nova Fundaziun Origen, a Swiss charity involved in education, scientific research, the arts and culture. The location of the structure was chosen to draw tourism to Mulegns, which badly needs bodies.)

The tower, which was designed to resemble the confections the region was once known for, consists of 32 concrete columns 3D-printed by robot arms.

“The concrete is only applied where it is structurally needed, thereby massively reducing material consumption. The elimination of formwork results in new design freedom in terms of expressive shapes, surface details and the efficient production of unique pieces.”

“Integrating the concepts of circular building, the tower, planned as a five-year installation, will be designed so that it can be easily dismantled and reassembled at another location.”

I was primarily interested in what type of foundation is required, and how precisely the structure is attached and de-attached to the foundation; sadly those technical details have not been revealed.

The video below provides a better look at the tower, and you’ll note the design is different than what’s in the photos above; in the video, the tower sits rather clunkily atop a block-like structure.

Tor Alva is scheduled to go up this summer.

Groove panels by Autex Acoustics

Patterned Groove wall panels in sage green by Autex Acoustics

Dezeen Showroom: acoustic treatment brand Autex Acoustics has developed a customisable patterned panel system aimed at achieving bespoke finishes for walls and ceilings.

The company’s Groove product consists of a semi-ridged lightweight panel router-cut with precise, angular designs that aim to impart texture and nuance to interior schemes.

Patterned Groove wall panels in sage green by Autex Acoustics
Panels can be router-cut with a spectrum of patterns

Options range from subtle patterns to hinges and joins for 3D sculptures, with six pattern suggestions and five angles available including a standard 30-degree angle.

“Our Groove customisation allows you to explore the realms of possibility within the world of acoustic panels – adding depth, nuance and texture to interior spaces,” said the company. 

Patterned Groove wall panels in blush pink by Autex Acoustics
The Groove system aims to impart texture and nuance

The product features a bevelled edge that’s designed to ensure a consistent join when combining panels for a seamless, cohesive finish.

Available with a self-adhesive backing, the Groove system can be applied to the company’s Cube acoustic panel in half-inch and inch-thick variations.

Product: Groove
Brand: Autex Acoustics
Contact: sales@autexacoustics.com

Dezeen Showroom

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.

The post Groove panels by Autex Acoustics appeared first on Dezeen.

Top 10 Stationery Designs That Are The Best School Supplies For You

If you’re currently in school or university, then you know how important the right set of stationery designs is. You need to have a collection of stationery designs that provide you with value and make your everyday tasks easy to complete with efficiency. These are the objects that are gonna help you get through your day, and directly or indirectly affect your productivity. It’s imperative to have a collection that lets you work easily, efficiently, and effectively. From an everlasting all-metal pencil to minimal Japanese drawing pads – these are the modern stationery designs you need to meet your modern stationery needs at school.

1. Pen Fan

Called the Pen Fan, this nifty and unique stationery design is a must-have school supply. It is designed to be a cross between a Pantone shade card, and a stationery set, accommodating 8 different flat-head sketch pens in a nifty, compact, and pretty easy-to-carry set.

Why is it noteworthy?

The various flat pens are interconnected, creating a cute little Japanese-fan-style layout that proudly showcases all 8 colors, letting you pick and choose from them. The pens are detachable, and you can easily snap on and off the pens, to create a palette that caters to you.

What we like

  • Easy-to-carry portable set
  • Reduces the risk of losing any of the pens

What we dislike

  • There are only 8 colors to pick from, which can be limiting. There could have been more color options

2. Everlasting Metal Pencil

If you’re looking for a pencil to carry to school, you could consider the Everlasting Metal Pencil. It is a Wacom-like style with a tip that doesn’t need to be sharpened or replaced. It is a unique and one-of-a-kind pen that lets you focus on the task at hand – whether it is writing, drawing, sketching, etc.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.95

Why is it noteworthy?

The pencil’s octagonal shaft is built from aluminum, and it has a special alloy core. This may make you feel that it might just leave heavy grooves on your paper, but it draws like a real pencil, without the tip getting worn down, even after dozens of marks. It’s a great tool for school, where you constantly need to be scrolling or sketching something away.

What we like

  • Features a metal core, not a clay or charcoal one, so it wears away quite slowly, and might even outlive you

What we dislike

  • If you’re someone who uses smudging techniques at school, this pencil isn’t recommended, as it doesn’t smear or smudge like normal graphite

3. Japanese Drawing Pad

If you’re a true stationery connoisseur, then you are well aware of the value and beauty of Japanese paper. It’s a wonderful material that has been revered by artists and designers for its quality. And if you want to take some lovely Japanese paper to school with you, then you could get your hands on the Japanese Drawing Pad.

Click Here to Buy Now: $26

Why is it noteworthy?

The Japanese Drawing Pad is a premium-quality pad that freely lets you jot down your thoughts, and sketch out your innovative ideas without the worry of accidentally damaging the durable paper fibers. The Drawing Pad is a catalyst for the explosion and outpouring of your exciting and vivid ideas. It creates a smooth, cohesive, and engaging writing/sketching experience for you.

What we like

  • The Drawing Pad is microperforated, making the sheets of paper easy to tear and separate from the pad
  • It is available in different sizes and colors, letting you pick the pad that meets your stationery needs

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the pad are quite simple, and it seems like an ordinary pad with no USP. But its high quality and value can only be experienced, not simply seen

4. Bowl Sharpener

Designed by Jiachun LV, this adorable Bowl Sharpener is shaped like a cute little soup bowl. The base of the bowl includes a sharper opening, through which you can slip in the pencil, and sharpen it. As you sharpen the pencil, the pencil shavings and residue are collected in the bowl, creating an interesting visual.

Why is it noteworthy?

If you sharpen colored pencils in the bowl, then the multicolored shavings create a beautiful visual. Since all the shavings and residue are collected in the bowl, it is quite easy to throw them away, and they don’t fall or scatter anywhere, causing a little mess.

What we like

  • Collects the shavings in one place, and no shavings go astray
  • Minimalist form and pastel color options add an adorable touch to your desk

What we dislike

  • It is larger than typical sharpeners and isn’t an easy design to carry around

5. Gravity Pen

Called the Gravity Pen, this unique pen is the perfect sidekick to carry to school with you. It places the center of gravity closer to your fingers, creating a cohesive writing experience for you, where the pen is easy to hold and easy to make agile strokes with. It has a larger grip than the barrel, creating more space for a comfortable hold.

Click Here to Buy Now: $45

Why is it noteworthy?

The grip has a faceted form, making the pen easy to hold, while providing a more stable grip. The Gravity Pen has a super ergonomic design since it was designed using the smart application of physics and minimalist design principles. It is a no-fuss and no-nonsense stationery design!

What we like

  • Ergonomic design that is easy to hold with a sturdy grip
  • A durable and lightweight body that is easy to carry around

What we dislike

  • There isn’t a variety of color options to choose from, limited choice of product

6. Serenity Pen Stand

A pen is one of the essentials we need to carry when we’re at school. However, a pen can be quite easy to lose, and if you’re always losing track of your prized pen, then you could procure the Serenity Pen Stand. It is a minimal design with a metallic hint designed to hold your pen upright, keeping it ready for you to use!

Click Here to Buy Now: $39

Why is it noteworthy?

The Serenity pen stand ensures you always have easy access to your pen, safeguarding it, and ensuring you never lose it. Made using aluminum and copper, it forms a well-balanced cylinder, that adds a pop of subtle color and character to your study desk.

What we like

  • Features a heavy copper bottom that lowers the center of gravity, offering it a stable form
  • Sleek minimal design that is easy to carry and set up

What we dislike

  • The pen stand is quite small in size and could be easily misplaced if not handled carefully
  • There isn’t availability in different color options, you are limited

7. ForeverPen

Dubbed the ForeverPen, this pen is made of Ti + Ag, and it sits neatly on your keys! It resolves the issue of you needing a pen and never being able to find one. It is said to be the world’s smallest inkless pen, and it never needs refilling. In fact, it is not just a simple pen, you can even write underwater with it, or open boxes!

Why is it noteworthy?

The pen is made from specialist Silver composite, combined with the choice of material you choose. It is only one inch in length, but strong enough to jot down all your notes, while also letting you slide open packages and boxes, and prying open lids.

What we like

  • Portable and easy-to-carry design
  • Multifunctional tool that can be used as much more than just a pen

What we dislike

  • Not well-suited for users with big hands, can be difficult for them to hold and use it
  • Since it is quite tiny, you can easily lose or misplace it

8. The Horizon Helvetica®

If you’ve come across the Horizon Helvetica®, then you know that it is an artist-oriented piece of EDC that is designed to be an interesting alternative to conventional stationery kits. It is said to be one of the most creative-oriented EDC multitools on the market!

Why is it noteworthy?

It has a credit-card-shaped form that lets you sketch and doodle, form grids and circles for drawings, measure distances, and angles, and even feature a dedicated measuring scale for pixels and picas! It is also an excellent tool for graphic and interface designers who can utilize it to create UI sketch prototypes on paper.

What we like

  • Using the tool you can sketch, ideate, plan, and measure anywhere
  • Portable and easy-to-carry design

What we dislike

  • It is only available in metal, there are no other material options

9. ColorPik Pen

Meet the ColorPik Pen – a super cool and extraordinary pen that accommodates 16 million colors! With the ColorPik Pen, you don’t need to buy different pens, you can simply use it and have fun with an unlimited number of colors. You simply need to scan the item whose color you want to imitate, and then doodle with it.

Why is it noteworthy?

The ColorPik Pen uses a smart color, that is light fast, and water resistant, and can’t just be weathered away. You can control the texture and dimension for writing by selecting any of the multiple tips, allowing you to beautifully and write as well as draw.

What we like

  • Combines 16 million colors into one nifty pen
  • Features re-fillable smart cartridges

What we dislike

10. World Clock

Do you ever find yourself lagging in school, not able to complete your tasks in the expected duration?! Well, this is where this unique clock design comes in, but with a twist. The World Clock isn’t your typical desk clock, and has a dodecagonal shape, with only one hand on its clean minimalist face.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49

Why is it noteworthy?

The design and form of the World Clock is intentional, as it gives you the right information about your country, but also some additional and fun details on the time in other parts of the world. One quick look and you can instantly tell the hour, while a closer inspection will tell you which quarter of the hour it is.

What we like

  • The 12 sides of the clock have individual markings for a city that represents a particular timezone

What we dislike

  • The  World Clock has only 12 set time zones

The post Top 10 Stationery Designs That Are The Best School Supplies For You first appeared on Yanko Design.

REDMAGIC DAO 150W GaN Charger looks straight out of a cyberpunk game

If there was a design style that fits the gamer aesthetic almost perfectly, it would probably be cyberpunk. Bright RGB lighting, geometric patterns, and panel-like decals give a somewhat futuristic tech vibe to many gaming products, be they devices or even just accessories. That’s true not just for PCs and consoles but, lately, also for smartphones. Gaming smartphones have been trying to grab the attention of mobile gamers with their sometimes over-the-top designs. That, however, mostly applies to the phone itself but rarely to the accessories you use with it. As one of the big mobile gaming brands, REDMAGIC is trying to fill in that gap with a charger that doesn’t just look hi-tech but also promises advanced features as well.

Designer: REDMAGIC (nubia)

Phone chargers are often minimalist yet uninspiring blocks of plastic that get the job done and nothing more. Thanks to advancements in charging technologies, specifically GaN or Gallium Nitride, it has been possible to shrink charger sizes or, more importantly, implement less conventional designs and features. This charger, for example, still comes in a traditional rectangular shape, but its visual and technical features are almost out of this world.

For one, it has those RGB lighting effects that gamers just love, shining in different hues in the dark. This goes perfectly with the transparent design of the charger’s metal chassis, making the REDMAGIC DAO look almost like a miniature desktop PC. Its fanciest feature, however, is the LCD screen that is used to display details like current or charging status as well as dynamic wallpapers to truly bring out a sci-fi feel.

That’s not to say the charger is just all looks, at least not on paper. Its 150W output can charge many devices, including laptops, sometimes even simultaneously. It even has a rare DC out port that can be used for devices or laptops that use connectors other than USB. GaN technology promises that all that power won’t turn the charger into a fire hazard, at least with proper use and care.

As eye-catching as the REDMAGIC DAO 150W GaN charger may look, it also raises concerns about reliability, especially with so many extraneous features. The charger will still continue to work even if the RGB lights or screen doesn’t, but it also means paying for features you may end up never using. Still, the accessory is a nice break from the usual black and white affair that chargers seem to be locked into, and hopefully, other brands will start getting similar ideas in the near future.

The post REDMAGIC DAO 150W GaN Charger looks straight out of a cyberpunk game first appeared on Yanko Design.

DS2 Studio Arm

RØDE’s new DS2 Studio Arm has been a welcome addition to our podcast recordings, providing a sturdy, compact, quiet and well-designed stand for our microphones. It also holds your phone, camera, or lights, offering maximum flexibility with its 3/8″ and 1/4″ adaptors. A weighted baseplate keeps it where you need it, cables are neatly managed with its guide slots, and it silently adjusts to most any position.

Word of Mouth: Edinburgh’s New Classics

In a city steeped in history, innovation also abounds

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Word of Mouth: Edinburgh’s New Classics

In a city steeped in history, innovation also abounds

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Courtesy of Design Hotels

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Known for its cobblestoned streets, gothic buildings, steep closes and centuries-old castles, Edinburgh looks like a fairytale. But the Old Town and its charms are just part of this dynamic, ever-evolving city. And while there are plenty of essential, classic places to visit while in the Scottish capital—from drinks at the photo-friendly Witchery to the National Scottish Gallery, or an ice cream at Mary’s—there’s always something new to explore.

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KORA image courtesy of Marc Millar

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KORA image courtesy of Marc Millar

KORA
The most recent of Tom and Michaela Kitchin’s several eateries, KORA is named for the Greek goddess of springtime growth and agriculture (aka Persephone or Kore). The kitchen is helmed by head chef James Chapman—previously at one of our favorite gastropubs, also worth visiting, Scran & Scallie—who focuses on seasonal dishes made using fresh, local produce from sustainable Scottish suppliers, farmers and foragers. From elevated bar snacks to sophisticated starters, the menu consists of dishes like Perthshire pheasant schnitzel with roasted vegetables and roasted North Sea cod with potatoes and watercress veloute, but there’s plenty of plant-based options here too. With a decadent cheese selection, inventive cocktails and an extensive wine list, there’s so much on offer here—including a covetable kids menu.

<img width="683" height="1024" data-attachment-id="352656" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/travel/word-of-mouth-edinburghs-new-classics/attachment/design-hotels-market-street-3121/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Design-Hotels-Market-Street-3121-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="1706,2560" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Design-Hotels-Market-Street-3121" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

Market St Hotel, courtesy of Design Hotels

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Market St Hotel image courtesy of Design Hotels

Market St Hotel

This 98-room hotel could be the most conveniently located in Edinburgh. Directly opposite the city’s main train station, Market St Hotel boasts views across the city to 200-foot Scott Monument and is just a few minutes (walking or driving) from the Royal Mile—where you will find Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh Castle and much more. With a la carte breakfasts available daily, the Nor’Loft (a nod to the human-made Nor’ Loch, which is now home to the Princes Street Gardens and the aforementioned Edinburgh Waverley station) is the hotel’s rooftop hub. Looking across the city, guests can enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea or drinks and snacks indoor next to a fireplace or outside on the terrace. Rooms are comfortable and while not huge, they’re thoughtfully designed when it comes to atmosphere, aesthetics and pragmatism. For example, the windows (which are remarkably soundproof) feature black-out sliding timber doors rather than curtains, which take up very little space and look good whether open or closed. There’s also a free minibar. Bathrooms are well-appointed with plush towels, robes, vegan Votary products and even Dyson hair dryers and straighteners.

<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="352657" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/travel/word-of-mouth-edinburghs-new-classics/attachment/the-spence-gleneagles/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/The-Spence-Gleneagles-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="The-Spence-Gleneagles" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

The Spence, courtesy of Gleneagles

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Courtesy of Gleneagles

The Spence
For a cocktail or meal in a ritzy environment, head to The Spence—the restaurant and bar within the exclusive 33-bedroom Gleneagles Townhouse. The eatery exists in what was the banking hall inside the Bank of Scotland, a Georgian treasure and UNESCO World Heritage site. If the grand setting (with its views of the city, imposing columns, domed glass ceiling, opulent fabrics, marble, parquetry, tiles and lush palms) isn’t enough, the many dining options will be. With a kitchen run by Scotland-born Jonny Wright, The Spence offers breakfast, brunch, a la carte meals, afternoon tea, Sunday roasts and more. For those with a sweet tooth, keep an eye out for the indulgent dessert trolley. 

<img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" data-attachment-id="352647" data-permalink="https://coolhunting.com/travel/word-of-mouth-edinburghs-new-classics/attachment/rare-birds-bookshop/" data-orig-file="https://150102931.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Rare-Birds-Bookshop.jpg" data-orig-size="1744,1163" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Michael Wood","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Rare-Birds-Bookshop" data-image-description="

Rare Birds Book Shop image courtesy of TBD

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Courtesy of Rare Birds Book Shop

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Courtesy of Rare Birds Book Shop

Rare Birds Book Shop

Part event space and part bookstore, Rare Birds is an endeavor dedicated to encouraging people to read books by women. Born from an online monthly book club (that now has thousands of members in over 23 countries) this brick-and-mortar location is a bright, welcoming place that’s brimming with literature. Located on Raeburn Place, it’s not far from Scran & Scallie and the Stockbridge Farmers Market, and hosts various events from workshops to conversations with authors and more.

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Hey Palu exterior image courtesy of the venue

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Courtesy of Hey Palu

Hey Palu

Aperitivo might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Scotland, but Hey Palu offers up an ideal end-of-day experience after hours exploring the city. Located on Bread St, not far from Edinburgh Castle, this bar boasts an extensive amari collection (about 60 different options) and can mix up classic and modern cocktails with aplomb. There’s also wine, beer, alcohol-free options and bar snacks like burrata, salumi, olives, cured meats and more—all set within a playful, laidback atmosphere.

Forbo Flooring and Dezeen launch Marmoleum Design Challenge

Dezeen x Forbo Flooring: Marmoleum Design Challenge graphic identity

Dezeen has teamed up with Forbo Flooring to challenge architects and designers to create an interior space that promotes wellbeing using the brand’s Marmoleum material.

The Marmoleum Design Challenge tasks entrants with creating a small space within a space that can provide respite and enhance wellbeing in environments such as schools, offices or hospitals – anywhere where you can play, learn, work or heal.

The competition is free to enter for anyone over the age of 18 working in or studying architecture or design, from any country around the world.

The challenge is open for entries until 30 April 2024. A shortlist of the best ideas will be published on Dezeen in May with the final result announced in June.

The winner will receive a £5,000 cash prize, as well as having their design realised in collaboration with Forbo Flooring and exhibited in the brand’s showroom in the Netherlands.

The winner will also be invited to attend the launch event in the Netherlands, with the opportunity to meet members of the jury and Forbo Flooring.

Full details of how to enter the challenge can be found in the competition brief and rules.

Entrants challenged to make use of Forbo Flooring’s Marmoleum material

Entrants are tasked with designing a 10-square-metre space that can enhance wellbeing by providing a space for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The space should be designed for installation in interior environments such as hospitals, schools or offices. Residential applications are excluded.

Entrants must use Marmoleum as flooring and the design should be realistic and feasible to construct.

Marmoleum is a linoleum flooring product by Forbo Flooring that is crafted from natural raw materials, including linseed oil extracted from flax plant seeds, wood flour, limestone, pine resin and jute plant fibres.

As a result, it is climate-positive from cradle to gate, without any offsetting. This means that the carbon dioxide absorbed by the biobased materials used to make the product is greater than the carbon dioxide emitted by manufacturing it.

To learn more about Marmoleum, prospective entrants can register on the Forbo Flooring website to receive an invitation to a webinar in which the company’s design team will lead a product deep dive and live Q&A session.

The webinar will take place on 28 March and entrants will need to register by 21 March to join.

Entrants will receive free Marmoleum samples and a brochure to inform their design once they register.

Register to join the webinar and receive free Marmoleum samples ›

Entries to be judged by Ilse Crawford among other leading designers

Competition entries will be judged by an expert panel comprising Dezeen editors and design professionals, including interior designer Ilse Crawford, HOK senior interior designer Christine Vandover and Studiopepe co-founders Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto.

The panel will be joined by Dezeen editorial director Max Fraser and Forbo Flooring linoleum senior designer Tamar Gaylord.

Judges will be looking for innovative but buildable ideas for a wellbeing space. Entries will be judged against the following criteria:

› Strength of the overall idea
› Aesthetics
› Functionality and practicality
› Originality
› Positive impact on the user’s wellbeing
› Use of Marmoleum
› Positive environmental impact

Competition closes for entries on 30 April

The Marmoleum Design Challenge closes for entries at 23:59 CEST (Central European Summer Time) on 30 April 2024.

A shortlist of the best ideas will be published on Dezeen in May, with the winner announced and published on Dezeen in June 2024.

The winner will receive a cash prize of £5,000 and have their design realised in collaboration with Forbo and installed in the Forbo Flooring showroom in the Netherlands.

The winner (one representative only) will also be invited to attend a launch event in the Netherlands.

For more information about how to enter, including the full brief and rules, visit www.dezeen.com/forbo-flooring-marmoleum-design-challenge.

Partnership content

The Marmoleum Design Challenge is a partnership between Dezeen and Forbo Flooring. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Mark Foster Gage Architects designs "secret garden" spa resort for Neom

Elanan spa and hotel at Neom by Mark Foster Gage

Saudi mega project Neom has revealed the design of the Elanan spa and hotel that is set to be built on a natural oasis on Gulf of Aqaba as its latest development.

Designed by American studio Mark Foster Gage Architects, the Elanan resort will contain 80 rooms and suites along with well-being facilities.

It will be built on a natural oasis that is fed by natural springs and is intended to feel like being in a “secret garden”.

Neom spa by Mark Foster Gage Architects
The Elanan spa will be designed by Mark Foster Gage Architects

“Elanan is a resort in the Gulf of Aqaba that is nestled in a beautiful and natural environment, almost like a kind of secret garden,” said Mark Foster Gage Architects founder Mark Foster Gage.

“You see it’s this cube popping up from the treetops. And you’re like, what is this incredible place. And once you step through that doorway you’re in another world,” he continued.

“Architecture and nature come together and form something that is more beautiful than either of them would have been independently.”

Elanan in Neom
It will contain 80 hotel rooms arranged around numerous pools

The resort will have hotel blocks, villas and golden observation towers arranged around numerous pools. At the centre of the resort will be two large swimming pools connected by a waterfall.

According to the studio, the resort was designed to contain a series of spaces that visitors can discover.

“As you approach Elanan you see a shimmering gold tower that is peaking behind the dunes,” said Mark Foster Gage Architects architect Bashayer Bamohsen.

“As you come closer to it the golden facade starts to reveal itself. It doesn’t reveal itself at once the visitor goes through a journey to discover various experiences.”

Neom spa resort on Gulf of Aqaba
It was designed as a “secret garden”

Elanan is the latest hospitality development revealed by Neom that will be built on the Gulf of Aqaba coast in northeastern Saudi Arabia.

It follows Xaynor, which will be designed by Mexican studio Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos as the “ultimate members’ club” and an “exclusive sanctuary resort” designed by Dutch studio OMA.

Also planned for the coast is an “upside-down skyscraper” named Aquellum, the Leyja luxury hotel, hexagonal-pillar hotel Siranna, jagged skyscrapers Epicon, Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura-designed Utamo and coastal yacthing town Norlana.

Oasis in Saudi Arabia
It will be built on a natural spa

The projects form part of the wider Neom development, which is one of the world’s largest and most controversial developments. It will contain a 170-kilometre-long city named The Line as well as an Octagon-shaped port city designed by Danish studio BIG and a ski resort named Trojena.

The project has been criticised on human rights grounds, including by human rights organisation ALQST, which reported that three men were sentenced to death after being “forcibly evicted” from the Neom site. Last year experts from the UN Human Rights Council expressed “alarm” over the imminent executions. Saudi Arabia responded to the UN by denying abuses had taken place.

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