Happy President’s Day! This weekend former President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at Sneaker Con, a sneakerhead convention, in Philadelphia. Trump was there to announce the launch of Trump Sneakers, a line of kicks led by the $400 “Never Surrender High-Top Sneaker.”
Limited to just 1,000 pairs, each pair is numbered and “At Least 10 [will be] Randomly Autographed by Trump,” the Trump Sneakers Website Says.
There are two additional models (though according to the image captions, the designs are not locked yet): The $199 T-Red Wave…
…and the POTUS 45, which also runs $199.
“The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product.”
The Trump Sneakers website is also selling fragrances. While the POTUS 45 sneakers are named to celebrate Trump’s term as the 45th President, the fragrances are named in anticipation of his possible re-election this year: There’s both a Victory47 Cologne by President Trump and a Victory47 Perfume by President Trump.
Again the package designs are not locked, but the cologne bottle presented is a faceted golden plinth with Trump’s golden head as the cap.
The perfume bottle resembles a female form clad in an evening gown, but in place of her head is the golden letter “T.”
Both fragrances run $99.
The website states that if you buy two items or more, you not only get 5% off of your order, but the following Bonuses As Well:
“Bonus 1: Sneakers Come With Extra Laces & An Exclusive Trump Superhero Charm (Numbered)*.
“Bonus 2: Official Trump Sneaker Launch party. DATE TBD. (No Guarantee President Trump Will Attend)
*”Please Note: the extra laces and Hang Tag (Sneaker Charm) are only available if you buy two or more items that include a Sneaker.”
Each item in the Acoustic Timber range is decorated with wood grain patterns referenced directly from natural timber veneers.
Acoustic Timber comes in three installation formats
The surface patterns are printed onto tiles and panels with UV-cured water-based ink and have a high-end aesthetic.
Like the other panels in Autex Acoustics’ catalogue, Acoustic Timber helps to control noise levels by absorbing excess sound to create a quieter, calmer interior space.
A spectrum of wood grain finishes is available
The treatments can be installed in a range of interiors where sound levels need addressing including lobbies, offices and mixed-use spaces.
Finishes come in a selection of tones and shades including pine, ash, oak, eucalyptus and walnut, which fit seamlessly into a wide spectrum of interior design schemes.
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 Mac mini and its more powerful cousin, the Mac Studio, offer an Apple computing experience that prioritizes flexibility and your desk space over functionality you might not even need. Its compact form allows you to place it anywhere you want while also offering the freedom to connect any kind of monitor, keyboard, or peripheral you need to get done. At the same time, however, the mini PC form factor doesn’t have enough space to keep all these external devices always connected, and you will often find yourself repeatedly attaching and detaching bits and pieces as you work. Over time, these dongles, cards, and whatnot start to pile up and make a mess on your desk, which is where this handmade wooden organizer and riser comes in, offering a uniquely elegant solution to keep those tiny objects out of sight and out of mind.
Designer: Kostiantyn Andriiuk
Although Apple designed the Mac Mini and Mac Studio to stand on their own, there are some desk setups and designs that require elevating these minimalist boxes a bit higher. In fact, their small bodies make it easy to place them on top of anything, but that doesn’t mean they’ll look good on it unless that “thing” was specifically made for the mini Macs. This handcrafted riser is made to match the dimensions of the Mac mini and elevates the metal box not just in height but also in style.
Made from Cherry and Alder veneers, the wooden stand exudes a warmth that contrasts with the cold silver exterior of the Mac mini while also perfectly complementing it at the same time. Both pieces carry an air of elegance, despite their different materials and creation processes. While the Mac mini is mass-produced in a factory, each piece of this wooden riser was measured and crafted manually.
The most interesting part of the riser, however, is the drawer inside that’s hidden behind a tambour door. Unlike a simple organizer that exposes its container for everyone to see, you have to slide the row of vertical slats out of the way first before you can pull out the drawer. The mechanism offers functionality that doesn’t take away anything from the design’s aesthetics, a philosophy that is perfectly in line with Apple’s own approach to designing products.
The design for this unique and distinctive tambour organizer stand is fortunately available for everyone to follow, but the painstaking process will probably scare all but the most seasoned makers. That said, it could be a source of inspiration for other accessory makers to make their own spin on the idea, especially the brands that pay a lot of meticulous attention to details, materials, and finishes that would perfectly match an Apple product.
If you’re a true blue audiophile, or you have a few true blue audiophiles in your life, then you know that all they need are a couple of awesome audio devices to set their mood. All they require is an arsenal of excellent audio devices to blast out some groovy music at their parties or to sing along to their favorite tunes alone in the comfort of their room. Whatever your musical need may be, it is integral to own clear, distortion-free, nifty, and interactive audio devices. And, we’ve curated a collection of unique and innovative audio designs to cater to people’s diverse range of diverse audio requirements. From an invisible turntable to a Nothing-inspired resurrected iPod – there’s an ideal audio device in here for everyone!
1. Nothing x AIAIAI Headphones
The Nothing x AIAIAI’s headphones is a conceptual design that displays how two company’s visions can be merged to create one beautiful and functional product. The headphones feature individual details as seen in the AirPods Max, but they also have the transparent flair and beauty of Nothing.
Why is it noteworthy?
The headphone concept is made up of modular parts that can be easily replaced and swapped out on the fly. They feature stunning transparent housing on the cans, on the ear stem, and on the ear cushions as well. This transparent cushioning on the headrest truly makes the headphones stand out.
What we like
Equipped with slide-out cans, removable ear-cups, and detachable aux cable
What we dislike
There are only two color options – the usual black and white. Since it is a conceptual design, would have been fun if they’d experimented with different colors
2. Black Wheel
Called the Black Wheel, this unique innovation is the latest version of the Wheel design by Miniot. It smartly hides the electronic and mechanical components beneath the record, which seats all the different parts within a thin circular body, which disappears, the second you put a record on.
Why is it noteworthy?
When the Black Wheel is placed upright, the illusion created by it becomes quite obvious. It has a minimalist charm that pulls you in, even if it is placed horizontally. The Black Wheel also has a unique control system, that is felt but not really seen.
What we like
Features an incredibly thin and subtle body without compromising the audio quality
Space-saving design, that doesn’t occupy too much space
What we dislike
The Black Wheel has an old-fashioned charm which may not be preferred by those who like modern aesthetics and contemporary style
3. Wall Hanging CD Cover Player
Meet the Wall Hanging CD Cover Player – a minimalist CD player with an innovative retro design that offers you a distinguished listening experience combined with the beauty of visual art. You don’t need to hide away the CD jacket, you just need to slip it inside the specially-designed pocket, and put it on display!
What makes the Wall Hanging CD Cover Player so unique, is that showcasing this CD player equates to physically displaying digital album art. It also lets you show off the fact that you have your own physical original CD!
What we like
Portable design that you can carry around with you, which also boasts a 40mm full-range speaker and woofer unit
Has a 1800mAh battery that provides 7-8 hours of excellent audio experience
What we dislike
Only offers an analog style of listening to music, it does not facilitate syncing music or playlists with any digital medium
4. Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeaker
Meet the Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers – this portable battery-free iPhone speaker is an innovative and unique version of the typical no-power smartphone speaker. It is made using metal, and offers a product with enhanced functionality and value, unlike other typical speakers on the market.
The Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers are made using Duralumin – a type of aluminum alloy that is used in aviation and aerospace industries, as it has vibration-resistant properties. All you need to do is insert the smartphone into the speaker and let the sound completely envelop you.
What we like
The speaker is electricity-free and doesn’t need any power
Features a minimalist and unique aesthetic that is quite captivating to look at
What we dislike
Will not fit with bulky smartphone cases
5. ERA
This retro-modern portable cassette tape player features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 3.5mm jack that can you plug into your headphones of choice. Called ERA, this unique device features a retro aesthetic with modern functionality, and it truly merges the best of both worlds.
Why is it noteworthy?
The ERA is equipped with a small display beside the physical play/pause and track change buttons. This display adds modern functionality to the device. But, on the other hand, the volume knob looks like the knobs from radio sets of the past.
What we like
ERA can by synced to your smartphone via Bluetooth
Merges modern functionality with old-school aesthetics
What we dislike
It isn’t designed for users who have a bias towards the medium they’re currently consuming music on
6. Ultra Open Earbuds
Bose teamed up with Kith – a fashion and lifestyle brand to create the Ultra Open earbuds. The earbuds were launched at CES 2024, and they mark the integration of Ronnie Fieg, the founder of Kith with Bose – where he will be responsible for merging fashion, culture, and sound to create interesting products.
Why is it noteworthy?
The earbuds are open-style, and they feature a distinctive design amped by a clip-on configuration which is not at all intrusive if you put on glasses or sport sunglasses on a hot day. The buds are cuff-shaped and can be easily hooked onto the outer ear for all-day-long comfort wear.
What we like
Has an easy on-and-off fit for active individuals
Designed to be a “breakthrough audio wearable” for enjoying music while “still hearing the world around you.”
What we dislike
Technical specifications are limited at the moment
7. Urbanista Second Gen Headphones & Earbuds
Urbanista has launched the second edition of their Los Angeles headphones, and Phoenix TWS earbuds. Both the audio designs are currently in production and are expected to be launched in mid-2024. And what’s even better is that they are going to cost slightly less than their first-generation variants.
Why is it noteworthy?
The devices absorb natural sunlight, as well as light from artificial sources to charge the battery. The amount they are charged depends on the intensity and duration of exposure to light. But if exposed to a good share of sunlight, they can offer a week of non-stop listening.
What we like
Feature better-designed components for improved efficiency so they can stay charged for longer
What we dislike
They are still in production, so we are unsure how the actual products will turn out to be
8. Nothing Npod (1)
Named the Nothing Npod (1), this resurrected iPod by Shreyansh Onial and Aditya Pandharpure is designed as a tribute to Apple’s iconic iPod Shuffle and Nothing’s signature transparent aesthetic and glyph interaction. The design signifies how Nothing could transform the music industry by employing tech and nostalgia.
Why is it noteworthy?
It features a signature control panel on the front, as well as a matching circular glyph interface on the back, truly functioning as a fan-made reinterpretation of the iPod Shuffle. It also has a wireless charging coil on the back, as well as a USB-C charger on the bottom.
What we like
The concept perfectly merges the design language of Apple and Nothing, to build an innovative audio device
What we dislike
Lacks a pocket clip that you could attach to your clothes for easy use and control
9. CD Jacket Player
Meet the CD Jacket Player – a new minimalist CD player that merges functionality with visual appeal, creating an innovative product that provides users the freedom to listen to and enjoy their CDs anytime anywhere. It is a true blue portable design, that gives you access to your favorite tunes wherever you are.
The CD Jacket Player serves as a minimalist piece of art, which looks like a picture frame or an oversized Polaroid photo owing to its boxy shape. It also features a transparent middle section. The transparent component unveils the CD’s spinning body, which is an excellent spot to place the CD’s cover jacket.
What we like
Besides being a CD player, it also functions as a decorative element
Portable and easy-to-carry design
What we dislike
10. The Earbugs
Called the Earbugs, this innovative audio accessory offers a unique audio experience, where the goodness of in-ear sound isolation of wireless earbuds is combined with the abilities of bone conduction technology to create a comfy and excellent listening experience for users.
Why is it noteworthy?
Bone conduction teams up with the earbuds’ dynamic drivers to form a 3D soundscape that offers a never-before audio delivery. The earbuds are ergonomically shaped are excellent for fitness and outdoor enthusiasts, and have a decent water-resistant rating.
What we like
Equipped with bone conducting technology, offering superior transparency mode
What we dislike
The Earbugs aren’t great for bedtime listening, as they don’t seem comfortable to use while lying on your side or sleeping
Many people try to deny experiencing physical disabilities for fear of making them look weak. This is especially true when it comes to hearing problems that people feel they can simply ignore or wave off easily. Those who do admit to having some hearing disabilities, however, are hesitant to get hearing aids that are expensive, fragile, uncomfortable, and too conspicuous, as if announcing their handicap to everyone around them. That doesn’t have to be the case, especially with today’s advancements in technology, and fortunately, some people are indeed stepping up to design a less obnoxious and more reliable hearing aid, such as this concept that tries to check all the boxes that would encourage more people to wear them and enjoy the world as it was meant to be heard.
Despite how electronic components can now be so minuscule, most hearing aids still come in a large, two-piece design that, more often than not, clamps to the back of your ear. Such hearing aids are not only uncomfortable to wear, they also tend to put a very visible stigma on wearers, making them feel self-conscious and even ashamed to wear one. This leads to many owners abandoning these devices altogether, willing to sacrifice their happiness for the sake of their image.
Rezonance is a concept design that tries to think of a better solution that isn’t just more discreet but also more affordable and accessible in the long run. Instead of the typical clamping design, Rezonance employs bone conduction technology to be almost invisible. It’s a technology that is already used today on some wireless headphones, so it’s already a proven solution. By using bone conduction, there doesn’t need to be any visible part going into the person’s ear and Rezonance can stay hidden from view behind the wearer’s ear.
Instead of using clamping force to stay in place, the concept suggests an adhesive pad that’s similar to sports tape, ensuring that the material is not only waterproof but also reusable. Additionally, the components used to make the actual hearing aid are claimed to be quite cheap and easily available, which means that the final product itself doesn’t have to cost people an arm in exchange for their ear.
The design doesn’t specify whether Rezonance works only as a single piece or if you will need two for the full audio experience. Even then, it would still be a lot less cumbersome compared to the traditional hearing aid design. Of course, such a design will need to be verified first, especially by professionals, because a design that’s elegant yet ineffective will just end up disappointing and turning away people all the same.
A successful hotelier needs to understand the essence of a location before inviting guests to experience the space. It’s what differentiates a mere getaway from a truly transformative experience. At La Zebra, a boutique hotel in Tulum, a chance on a local artist turned a small beachfront property into a gallery-worthy establishment that favors fun over fancy.
Courtesy of La Zebra
Artist Enrique Diaz had a small but loyal following in Tulum when hotelier John Kendall first met him. After moving to Tulum from Jiquipilas, Chiapas, Diaz would ride around on a bicycle and teach art lessons to local children. His idealism and his curiosity made him the perfect teacher. When he wasn’t teaching, he was painting. Bright colors, supernatural motifs and Mexican folk art weave their way through Diaz’s canvases. He often works with natural materials, and the result is raw and real. There’s no delineation between where the art ends and the surroundings begin. It all melds together.
Courtesy of La Zebra
Kendall immediately sensed something different about Diaz’s aesthetic and knew that if he built and decorated his Tulum getaway while infusing it with Diaz’s spirit, the result would speak for itself. Diaz says, “I showed up ready to work the next day. John believed in me more than I believed in myself.”
Courtesy of La Zebra
Diaz’s art is introspective, soulful and rooted in Mexican tradition. The colors are lively, and that was always important to Kendall. One of Diaz’s most instrumental works is a series of wooden tables that have been painted with prominent Mexican images. The wood is the perfect medium for Diaz’s detailed brushstrokes but there’s something surprising about the way that this art is integrated into the act of eating. A painting on a wall offers viewers the ability to interact with their eyes alone. A dinner table is more tactile. As food is passed around, the art becomes interactive. The lines are blurred between the quotidian and the surreal. And that, at its essence, is what Diaz brings to La Zebra.
Courtesy of La Zebra
La Zebra recently launched an outdoor boutique space dedicated to all things Diaz, as well as items from his wife, Celia Mandujano. Envisioning this gallery space, set amidst Tulum’s lush vegetation, you have an idea of what to expect of Tienda La Zebra—a space to interact with the artist and touch and feel the various ways he manipulates mediums from burlap sacks to coconut shells.
Development company Human Nature has received planning approval to transform a former industrial site in Lewes into a sustainable 685-home neighbourhood that will be the UK’s largest made from timber.
The Phoenix, which was granted planning permission last week, will be built from engineered timber and be the most sustainable neighbourhood in the UK, according to Human Nature.
The buildings in the Phoenix development will have engineered timber structures
“One year after proposals were announced for the transformation of a 7.9-hectare brownfield site into the UK’s most sustainable neighbourhood, the Phoenix development has today been granted planning permission, taking the visionary project a step closer to reality,” said Human Nature.
“When complete, it will be the UK’s largest timber-structure neighbourhood and a blueprint for sustainable placemaking and social impact that can be deployed at scale.”
It will be the largest structural timber neighbourhood in the UK by number of units, Human Nature’s head of sustainable construction Andy Tugby told Dezeen.
The buildings will range from two to five storeys tall and be clad in prefabricated panels made from locally sourced timber and biomaterials such as hemp.
A riverside walk will feature in the neighbourhood. Image by Carlos Penálver
Industrial structures on the site will be repurposed to house most of the community spaces, including a canteen, event hall, taproom, fitness centre, workspace and studios.
The Phoenix’ homes will be designed to be energy efficient and powered by renewable energy sourced from on-site photovoltaic panels and an off-site renewable energy facility.
Aiming to create a place for all generations and for people with mixed incomes, 30 per cent of the 685 residences will be affordable homes – 154 of which will be built to the government’s Local Housing Allowance rates and the remainder built as part of the First Homes scheme.
The Phoenix will be designed as a walkable neighbourhood that prioritises people over cars, with a mobility hub providing electric car shares, car hire, electric bike services and shuttle buses to help encourage a shift away from private vehicle use.
Public squares, gardens, community buildings and a riverside pathway that stretches the length of the site will provide space designed for interaction between residents.
The development will contain energy-efficient homes
The Phoenix masterplan was designed by Human Nature’s in-house design team with UK architecture studio Periscope and Kathryn Firth, director of masterplanning and urban design at Arup.
The fictional mega-estate in sci-fi film The Kitchen was designed to “flip the idea of dystopia on its head”, says director Kibwe Tavares, who is also a co-founder of VFX studio Factory Fifteen.
The Netflix release follows the story of Izi and Benji, played by actors Kane Robinson and Jedaiah Bannerman, who are residents of London’s last remaining social housing complex, The Kitchen.
The movie is set in a future version of London where all social housing is being demolished
The film is set in 2044, at a time when the entire city is being turned into private developments.
Tavares directed the film in partnership with actor Daniel Kaluuya, while his co-founder at Factory Fifteen, the late Jonathan Gales, was the creative lead for the film’s striking visual effects.
Lead characters Izi and Benji are residents of a housing estate called The Kitchen
Speaking to Dezeen, Tavares said the ambition behind The Kitchen was to “create a last bastion of all the things that make London what it is”.
The estate is plagued by issues that include limited running water, drone surveillance and regular police raids. Yet there is a strong sense of community that contrasts with the new Buena Vida developments also featured in the film, which are depicted as bland and soulless.
The Kitchen is in stark contrast to the new Buena Vida developments
“I was trying to show the richness of culture and life that you have in these places,” explained Tavares.
“I wanted to flip the idea of dystopia on its head,” he added. “Is the dystopia here or is it in this more polished version of London?”
The main filming location for The Kitchen was Les Damiers, an estate in Paris
The architecture of The Kitchen is a mix of both real and imaginary, created by “bolting together” several buildings.
The main structure is the 1970s-built Les Damiers, a huge brutalist estate in Paris’ La Défense, which appears to have been transplanted onto a site in southeast London.
This is accompanied by a cylindrical tower block designed by Gales, which features an internal atrium inspired by the Ponte City tower in Johannesburg.
At street level, an expansive street market takes cues from London locations such as the Ridley Road street market in Dalston, east London. The set for this was built at the former London Electricity Board HQ, a 1950s block in east London.
The base of The Kitchen is a street market, which was built on a set in east London
Paul Nicholls, who co-founded Factory Fifteen with Tavares and Gales, said the design developed out of a detailed process of worldbuilding that was 10 years in the making.
This detail-oriented approach reflects the trio’s background – they met while studying architecture at the Bartlett in London.
Before his tragic death in December 2022, Gales produced a series of highly detailed concept visualisations that would come to define The Kitchen as the anchor of the film’s narrative.
Gales’ detailed concept visualisations played a key role in shaping the narrative
“It is quite rare to develop this kind of artwork early on,” said Nicholls, “but we like to put together a huge lookbook because we see the benefit to the process.”
“Jon was right beside me from the start, developing sketches and concepts,” added Tavares.
“He created this visual bible explaining how the whole world fits together, with all the different areas and a timeline, and that became the foundation of the project.”
They formed part of a “visual bible explaining how the whole world fits together”
The timeline places the story six years before the completion of a city-wide building programme called Vision 2050, which sees council housing sold off to property developers with the promise of a cleaner and safer London.
Factory Fifteen’s lookbook explains how The Kitchen complex was built to temporarily house residents of a collapsed tower. But when London’s other estates are demolished, it becomes the only option for the city’s low-income citizens.
The cylindrical tower takes cues from the half-built Torre David tower in Venezuela
Tavares said that this concept was greatly influenced by Torre David, a half-built office building in Venezuela that was taken over by squatters after it was abandoned by its owners.
“It’s this idea of appropriation, of people building their own spaces within spaces,” he said.
“You could view it as a slum, but when you see pictures it feels warm and cosy,” he continued. “You see people just using what they have available to make themselves a home.”
Tavares hoped to convey a sense of community in The Kitchen
Tavares relates this to his personal experience of social housing, particularly of the south London estate where his mother has lived for the past two decades.
He describes a sense of disconnect between how outsiders perceive the estate and the sense of community experienced by those who live there.
“Without support from our ‘village’, there is no way my family could have raised me to be the person I am today. My brothers and I might so easily have been another statistic of young black boys struggling to find their feet,” he said.
Other key locations include an Apple Store-inspired funeral home
Other aspects of the worldbuilding design developed as a result of the lookbook.
Key locations include the flat where Benji lives at the start of the movie, filmed at the half-demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in east London, and “the boundary”, a railway line that becomes a border between the city centre and the de facto ghetto beyond.
Production designer Nathan Parker worked closely with Gales to bring the look and feel of his visuals to the sets.
These include Life After Life, an Apple Store-inspired funeral home where the deceased are turned into plant fertiliser, and the rotunda, the interior of The Kitchen’s cylindrical tower.
Futuristic technology is present throughout
Nicholls draws parallels between The Kitchen and Factory Fifteen’s early work, particularly Tavares’ Robots of Brixton and Gales’ Megalomania, which both made their media debuts on Dezeen.
“Robots of Brixton is all about displacement while Megalomania is all about this idea of the city in perpetual construction. You see both of these things really evidently in The Kitchen,” he said.
“The building becomes one of the last remnants of society fighting back against capitalist development.”
Former US president Donald Trump has launched a trainer collection including golden high-top sneakers, designed for “true Patriots”, that are said to have already sold out.
Dubbed the Never Surrender High-Tops, just 1,000 trainers were released, with each pair numbered and “at least 10” autographed by Trump.
The trainers, which retail for $399 on a merchandise website, are covered in a gold finish and feature a T sign on their tongue and their sides.
An American flag is wrapped around the top of the trainers, which have a white-and-red sole and are described as “bold, gold and tough, just like President Trump” on the website.
The trainers were launched at the sneaker conference SneakerCon in Philadelphia on Saturday and have already sold out, according to the website.
Trainers “shout out to the brave and free”
The site says the sneakers are “for the go-getters who don’t know the word quit”.
“With a standout gold finish and the T badge, these kicks are for true patriots,” it added. “Wrapped with an American flag on the collar, they shout out to the brave and the free. The Never Surrender sneakers are your rally cry in shoe form.”
In addition to the gold sneakers, the website as also taking preorders for two other trainers, the sock-shaped red T-Red Wave and white Potus 45 models, each retailing for $199.
The made-to-order sneakers will begin shipping in July of this year. However, the website states that “the images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product”.
Sneakers “has nothing to do with any political campaign”
In the FAQ section of the website for the Trump sneakers, it states that no money from the trainer collection will go towards helping his campaign for president.
“GetTrumpSneakers.com is not political and has nothing to do with any political campaign,” it said.
“45Footwear is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates. 45Footwear uses Donald J. Trump’s name, likeness and image under paid license from CIC Ventures LLC, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.”
Architecture studios i29 and Namo Architecture referenced birdhouses and nests when creating this holiday home in Arnhem, which is intended to blend in with its woodland setting.
Named Buitenverblijf Nest, the dwelling is located at Buitenplaats Koningsweg, a wooded site at the edge of the Hoge Veluwe National Park in the Netherlands, which was formerly occupied by barracks.
Buitenverblijf Nest by Namo Architecture and i29 is a holiday home in the Netherlands
According to i29 and Namo Architecture, Buitenverblijf Nest is intended to resemble a folly, which it describes as a “bizarre and playful building structure”.
It is also designed to camouflage with the site, which the studios said aims to ensure it is sensitive to the wooded landscape while reflecting the wartime history of the area.
It is intended to blend in with the site
“We came up with the idea to hide our folly high up in the trees, like a bird nest,” i29 told Dezeen.
“And with a birdhouse in mind, Buitenverblijf Nest is not an odd fit in the wooded landscape.”
Namo Architects and i29’s design references birdhouses and nests
Buitenverblijf Nest forms part of a wider masterplan for Buitenplaats Koningsweg, which is now home to a mix of artists and creative entrepreneurs.
There are also 10 other “follies” that have been constructed for use as holiday homes, all designed in line with the theme for the masterplan, which is “camouflage”.
The structure is elevated on black metal legs
Buitenverblijf Nest comprises a gabled volume wrapped in layers of wooden cladding, elevated eight metres above the ground on slender black metal legs.
Nesting spaces are incorporated within the layered facade and under the raised floor, providing homes for birds, insects and other woodland creatures.
Inside, Buitenverblijf Nest comprises a living room, a compact kitchen and a terrace for enjoying both the morning and evening sun. Above, a mezzanine level contains a bathroom and bedroom with a four-person bed.
Large windows and glass doors provide the elevated living spaces with a unique view of the treetops while retaining privacy.
A terrace projects from the living spaces
To maximise space, Namo Architecture and i29 designed the interior with “space efficient solutions in each and every detail”, they said. Storage is, therefore, hidden throughout.
“For example, part of the storage room is combined with a stairs cupboard, which then leads to the bathroom on the mezzanine floor,” said the studios.
Large windows look out over the treetops
Buitenverblijf Nest is complete with all-electric appliances and solar panels on the roof for energy.
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.
