Hasta La Ideas

Saudi mega-development Neom has unveiled Xaynor, which is planned as a beach-side members’ club on the Gulf of Aqaba designed by Mexican studio Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos.

The latest in a series of tourist developments announced by Neom on the Gulf of Aqaba in the northwest of the country, Xaynor will be a private members’ club set within a valley.

According to Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos partner Javier Sordo Madaleno de Haro, the development was designed to be the “ultimate members’ club” that will “attract a unique community of the most fascinating people in the world”.

The club will have a beach alongside the Gulf of Aqaba, with a series of pools, restaurants and a spa planned within a building topped with large rock-like forms.

“Xaymor is a luxury beach club that’s completely blended in with the natural environment,” said Sordo Madaleno de Haro.

“It’s as though tectonic plates collided to create this magnificent structure that emerges in the Gulf of Agaba.”

The studio hopes that the structure will be fully integrated into the surrounding landscape.

“Nature is the first architect and that’s really what Xaynor is all about,” said Sordo Madaleno de Haro.

“There’s a mathematical language embedded in nature that we translate into our architectural environment,” he continued.

“Xaynor doesn’t just match the landscape, it is the landscape.”

The announcement of Xaynor follows a series of resorts along the Gulf of Aqaba recently unveiled by Neom.

These include a trio of hotels arranged around an “exclusive sanctuary resort” designed by Dutch studio OMA and an “upside-down skyscraper” named Aquellum. The other projects announced in the area include luxury hotel Leyja, hexagonal-pillar hotel Siranna, jagged skyscrapers Epicon, Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura-designed Utamo and coastal yacthing town Norlana.

The projects all form part of Neom – one of the world’s largest and most controversial developments. It will also contain a 170-kilometre-long city named The Line, which was recently highlighted as a “substantial risk to migratory species”, 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.

The photography is courtesy of Neom.

The post Neom unveils plans for “ultimate members’ club” on the Gulf of Aqaba appeared first on Dezeen.

As China prepares to celebrate Chinese New Year tomorrow, Dezeen rounds up the 12 most anticipated architecture projects set to complete in the country this year.

China’s architecture industry has been hit hard by the commercial property crisis in the past year – and that is reflected in the projects selected below.

With no sign of recovery in sight it is a relatively modest group, often with a focus on integrating with urban and natural fabrics rather than ostentatious mega-structures.

The list includes a sundial-like viewing tower by the coast, a translucent concert hall and renovation of a former cement factory.

Here are 12 buildings to look out for in the Year of the Dragon:

Jinghe New City Culture and Art Centre, Xi’an, by Zaha Hadid Architects

The Jinghe New City Culture & Art Centre in Xi’an will meander over an eight-lane motorway and is intended to emulate the “valleys carved by the Jinghe River through the mountains and landscapes of Shaanxi province”.

Designed by UK-based studio Zaha Hadid Architects, it will comprise cultural and recreational facilities interspersed with courtyards and outdoor areas.

Find out more about Jinghe New City Culture and Art Centre ›

Sun Tower, Yantai, by Open Architecture

The design of this 50-metre-high viewing tower in the coastal city of Yantai, by 2023 Dezeen Awards China architect of the year Open Architecture, is informed by a giant sundial.

It will be constructed from two white concrete conical forms connected and braced by horizontal slabs and ramps, containing facilities such as a semi-outdoor theatre, an exhibition space, a library and an observation deck.

Find out more about Sun Tower ›

HKL West Bund Commercial Park, Shanghai, by Group of Architects

This mixed-use development is located on an old industrial site in Shanghai with a 180-metre-long old train station at the centre. The three-span structure is converted into two traverse axes to connect the different programs.

Group of Architects chose a steel truss and wood-grid ceiling to align with the curvy flow of the roof, while the bricks from the old station will be reused on the new facade.

Science City Centre, Guangzhou, by Henn Arkitekten

In Guangzhou, German architecture firm Henn Arkitekten designed a set of twin towers of different heights, 150 metres and 80 metres respectively, that are interlocked at their corners.

A hotel lobby at the middle of the higher tower with a continuous amorphous glass surface cuts through the otherwise sharp geometric facade, into the outside corner of the building, while a glazed sky escalator connects the lobby with the conference centre and event hall at the adjunct lower building.

Shanfeng Les Roches School: Cultural Quarter, Shanghai, by Neri&Hu

Located on Shanghai’s Chongming Island, this 19,000-square-meter campus will not only be used for educational programmes but also serve as a local cultural community centre with amenities such as an art centre, a black-box theatre, a bookstore, a hotel, retail and restaurants.

In addition, architecture studio Neri&Hu said as much importance has been given to the spaces in between.

Lujiatan Wetland Park visitor centre, Chengdu, by MUDA Architects

The sinuous form of this structure in Chengdu, designed by MUDA Architects, is a direct response to the meandering Jinma River where the project is located. A glass facade is intended to maximise views of the surrounding natural landscape.

The visitor centre also features a wooden walkway that connects to a cantilevered hydrophilic platform on one end, a publicly accessible rooftop and a double-spiral observation tower.

China Philharmonic Concert Hall, Beijing, by MAD

The undulating silver facade of this concert hall designed by MAD is intended to be “reminiscent of a piece of jade”.

Once complete, it will become the first permanent residence for China’s philharmonic orchestra.

Find out more about China Philharmonic Concert Hall ›

Gate M West Bund Dream Center, Shanghai, by MVRDV

Dutch architecture firm MVRDV is tasked with the masterplan for a riverside leisure and culture district in Shanghai located on a former cement factory. Elevated terraces and a network of bright-orange staircases and elevators will connect a series of industrial buildings.

MVRDV will also design the buildings on the southern half of the site, including a former warehouse with an external staircase finished in orange cladding and orange-tinted glass.

Dameiyong Winery, Tibet, Trace Architecture Office

Located on a steep mountain top in Tibet, this winery is defined by a bowl-shaped volume punctuated by a series of straight lines that divide the space into various functions.

According to Trace Architecture Office, the building will create a cave-like experience inside, while a viewing platform on the rooftop will offer panoramic views of the mountain.

Xi Rang hotel, Wuxi, by Vector Architects

Part of a local tourism development surrounded by mountains and a lake, the Xi Rang hotel by Vector Architects will be arranged into a series of juxtaposed courtyards, an architecture form commonly used in classical gardens in the region.

Semi-outdoor walkways will connect all parts of the hotel on the ground floor under a continuous roof, allowing visitors to stay close to nature even on a rainy day.

Xinhua Fashion City, Chongqing, by Aedas

This 300-metre-tall mixed-use tower in Chongqing will include a bookshop, a cultural plaza, retail space, apartments, offices and a boutique hotel.

A podium connecting to the main tower will house a bookshop and features a facade in the form of unfolding stacks of steps, which Aedas said echoes the mountainous topography of the city.

iFlytek Global Headquarters, Hefei, by Line+

The new headquarters for iFlytek, a Chinese information-technology company known for its research development on artificial intelligence, will accommodate 15,000 staff at one site.

The development has been conceived as a “campus within a park”, with four office clusters connected by a continuous terrace and a rooftop running track.

The post Twelve Chinese architecture projects completing in the Year of the Dragon appeared first on Dezeen.

Just like with the Apple Vision Pro, Google’s entry into the foldable smartphone market has been a long time coming. Given how the Android maker itself has been rather slow on jumping on trends, there might have even been a chance that it would snub the form factor completely. After all, it showed tablets no true love, even if big Android slates have been around for years. For better or worse, Google did decide to join that bandwagon, which isn’t always an assurance that it will work on a second-gen device. Now it seems that a Pixel Fold 2 is indeed in the works, at least based on a blurry leak, but that small glimpse might be dashing some hopes, as word of Google’s big changes also comes with questions about its design goals.

Designer: Google (via Android Authority)

There are two distinctive elements of the Google Pixel Fold’s design. The most prominent is its camera bar, an approximation of the “visor” design that it uses on its Pixel phones. The other is the external or second screen’s wider aspect ratio, which meant that the unfolded device would also be wider and take on a horizontal or landscape form factor. It’s a design that was more conducive for wider content like videos as well as splitting the screen between two panels or two apps. More importantly, however, it meant that the folded phone was more comfortable to use and hold, almost like a regular phone.

A single leaked photo of the Pixel Fold 2 might be leaving some fans scratching their heads. The external display is noted to be narrower, as per the source, which inches it a bit closer to the awkwardness of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, though thankfully not yet on that level. This also means that, when unfolding the phone, you will be greeted with an internal screen that is more square than rectangular.

The biggest change, however, seems to be the camera, which moves away from the bar design to a bump that sits in a corner of the Pixel Fold 2’s back. It’s not the same square design as older Pixel phones, nor is it even similar to rectangular camera islands that run vertically down. Instead, it seems that this box will march across the width of the phone, taking up almost two-thirds of the space.

Granted, the photo is an alleged prototype only, so there is no guarantee that the final Pixel Fold 2 will take this form. If it does, however, Google might be facing a bit of a backlash for changing the design so drastically and in such an unappealing manner. It will be interesting to see how the Pixel Fold 2 will actually look like in the end, and we might not even see a shadow of it until Google I/O 2024, which should happen sometime in May or June.

The post Google Pixel Fold 2 leak hints at worrying changes, questionable design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Swedish design duo Folkform has presented a series of furniture pieces made using Masonite hardboard sourced from a factory that closed down over a decade ago.

On show at Stockholm Furniture Fair, The Museum of Masonite centres around a patented type of engineered wood board that is made by steam-cooking and pressure-moulding wood fibres.

Folkform founders Anna Holmquist and Chandra Ahlsell first started experimenting with this material 15 years ago, in collaboration with Sweden’s last remaining Masonite producer in Rundvik.

When the factory closed in 2011, the pair took all the remaining stock.

“I felt a responsibility to tell the story of what happened to this material,” explained Holmquist, who has since completed a PHD exploring the cultural significance of Masonite.

“It created the Swedish welfare state in the 1930s, 40s and 50s,” she told Dezeen.

“It was made from leftover wood from the Swedish sawmills so it became bigger here than anywhere else. Everyone was using it, for everything from boats and caravans to houses.”

The Museum of Masonite follows the release of the Production Novellas, a book published by Folkform detailing the results of Holmquist’s PHD research.

Folkform is showcasing this book alongside some of their favourite Masonite designs created over the years.

Works on display include the Masonite Chair, a 2021 collaboration with Åke Axelsson based on an experimental design the Swedish interior architect produced in 1978.

Older pieces include a chest of drawers and a bedside cabinet, both created in 2012, which feature different material samples arranged in geometric collages.

“We combined materials with different ages, with this idea that the furniture becomes an archive,” said Holmquist.

The most recent designs in the show explore a more minimalist approach, suggesting how the material can create the suggestion of solid blocks.

“I feel like the compositions will be never-ending because we still have more of this board,” added Holmquist.

The works are presented alongside photographs, illustrations and artefacts that tell the story of the factory.

Later in the year, the exhibition will move to the Laurel Museum of Art in Mississippi, the city where Masonite was patented in 1924 by William H Mason.

Masonite is distinct from other engineered wood fibre boards, such as MDF, because it is made without glue. Holmquist believes the material could have a future in manufacturing.

“It’s a beautiful material and it’s very sustainable,” she concluded.

“We are already seeing a shift in food, where people increasingly care where the things they eat come from, so maybe it will also happen for furniture and objects.”

At Stockholm Furniture Fair this year, visitors could also enjoy the Wekino With exhibition by South Korean furniture designers and British designer Faye Toogood’s collaboration with Finnish company Vaarnii.

The photography is by Erik Lefvander unless otherwise stated.

The Museum of Masonite is on show at Stockholm Furniture Fair, which is open to the public from 7 to 11 February 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for more Stockholm Dezeen Week exhibitions in our dedicated event guide.

The post Folkform installs The Museum of Masonite at Stockholm Furniture Fair appeared first on Dezeen.

There’s a significant demand for creatively designed power banks, as demonstrated by MChaos’ new on-the-go power bank. This product cleverly attaches to you and whatever you’re carrying. Not only did MChaos backers fund this product, but they also exceeded the funding goal by 650%. So, what makes this product so popular? Let’s delve in and find out.

Designer: Liu Gang

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting at $59 $89 (34% off). Hurry, only a few left!

Following the success of MChaos’ innovative 5,000mAh wearable power bank, launched on Kickstarter in 2023, they are back in 2024 with an even more powerful solution for tech-savvy individuals and those constantly on the move. The new MChaos device offers double the battery capacity with 10,000mAh. This advancement in wearable power technology promises to redefine how we stay charged while on the go.

The MChaos 10,000mAh power bank offers more than just increased power capacity. It improves convenience and efficiency, too. It adds a bidirectional USB-C port to the existing USB-C/Lightning cable, providing more connectivity options. The power bank also features a unique retractable tape cord and a removable carabiner, enabling you to easily attach it to backpacks or clothing for on-the-go power access.

Think about the typical problems of searching for a power bank in a bag, handling it along with other items, or struggling with tangled cords. MChaos tackles these issues directly, making charging as simple as pull, plug, and go. The retractable cord, which can extend to 28 inches, provides continuous adjustment, stopping at any point to fit your needs. The auto-locking adjustments are the best cord management system on a power bank I’ve seen. It is tested for an impressive 5,000 retractions, guaranteeing durability and dependability.

The MChaos 10,000mAh emphasizes user safety and compatibility. Constructed from fireproof materials, it offers protection against overheating and electrical problems. With its 20W max power output, it can charge a device like an iPhone to 50% in just 30 minutes. It’s also compatible with a wide variety of devices, including smartphones and gaming consoles. It takes three hours for a full charge and can charge another device simultaneously.

User feedback has dramatically influenced the design of the MChaos 10,000mAh. An extra USB-C port has been added for additional device connectivity. Responding to user demand, the company also developed a new version with a Lightning port option for the retractable cable, which will be available for an additional $10.

The overall weight measures 246g or 8.7 oz, with an overall dimension of 114.7 x 105.2 x 27mm. It’s both compact and lightweight. On a more practical side, this can quickly hook to the inside of my jack or belt loop during a hike if I’m not carrying a sling or backpack.

It comes in Pearl White and Stellar Gray – depending on your taste, you can’t go wrong with either color. I like the Stellar Gray, allowing for better contrast with the intuitive battery pad that pops up when you slightly tug at the cable.

Click Here to Buy Now: Starting at $59 $89 (34% off). Hurry, only a few left!

The post A Fashionable on-the-go Powerbank that you can wear first appeared on Yanko Design.