Hasta La Ideas

Mumbai-based architecture studio Sanjay Puri Architects has designed a swirling community centre with a sloping green roof in Rajasthan, India.

Conceived as a memorial to the clients’ father, the curvilinear complex was designed to serve the surrounding Nokha district villages and integrates a courtyard, amphitheatre, library and museum behind an undulating sandstone facade.

“The Nokha Village Community Centre is a vibrant hub for all age groups, providing a space for music, talks, and social interaction,” Sanjay Puri Architects told Dezeen.

“The project exemplifies how thoughtful architecture can create expansive community spaces without a large footprint.”

The complex’s main functions were enclosed below the 9,000-square-foot ‘swirl’ and surrounding grassy berms, which carve a network of tilting pathways with views of the surrounding desert.

“Taking a cue from traditional Indian courtyards and sand dunes simultaneously, the built space swirls from the ground level to a nine-metre height, creating a semi-sheltered open amphitheatre & allowing the roof to be accessible as a garden space,” the studio said.

The lower edge of the structure houses a small museum and inclines towards the building’s ovoid-shaped high point, which hosts a digital library for the local schools.

Between the museum and library, further multifunctional spaces curve through the building and flank the stepped amphitheatre and stage outside.

Gatherings and event spaces are located in a rectilinear amenities block at the site’s entry that comprises a cafeteria, bathrooms, parking and storage.

In collaboration with local craftspeople, the building was constructed with a reinforced-cement concrete frame and clad in regionally sourced sandstone and lime plaster finishes.

“The use of traditional crafts and materials from its location, as well as the planning of an open courtyard sheltered from the southern side, imbibe from the heritage of the region and makes the design responsive to the desert climate,” said Sanjay Puri Architects.

Sanjay Puri Architects encased the library with triangulated screens punctured by decorative patterns designed to play with light and shade throughout the day.

The community centre’s internal spaces also receive natural light through a set of “scooped recesses” that were arrayed around the roof garden and extend underneath the grassy mounds.

Sanjay Puri Architects designed the facade to play with light and shade throughout the day

In addition to creating a bold visual statement, the centre’s sweeping form and screened facade were designed to reduce the solar heat gain to enclosed areas.

“The rooftop garden and grass-covered berms on the southern side also help to mitigate heat gain in response to the hot desert climate,” said the studio.

A rainwater harvesting and recycling system was also integrated through the inclined roof planes to increase the building’s sustainability.

Sanjay Puri Architects was founded in 1992 by Sanjay and Nina Puri, who have built a global reputation for climate-responsive designs spanning the housing, education, cultural and commercial sectors.

The studio has previously designed a boxy and brightly coloured housing complex in Raipur, India, and an earthy, scallop-walled home in Bhilwara for a multi-generational family.

The photography is by Vinay Panjwani.

The post Sanjay Puri Architects unveils spiral-shaped Nokha Village Community Centre informed by sand dunes appeared first on Dezeen.

Thousands of wooden cubes inspired by the computer game Minecraft conceal utilities and create casual seating areas at this office in Prague designed by architecture studio Collcoll.

Having previously designed one floor in the Meteor Centre Office Park for pricing software company Pricefx, Collcoll was tasked with outfitting the floor below as part of the client’s commitment to flexible and creative working practices.

“The management and employees of Pricefx use their offices primarily for meetings that stimulate creative dialogue,” said Collcoll.

“By their very nature, they are an open space for variable use, not subject to the stereotypes of work cubicles or traditional open space.”

The need to link the two levels presented an opportunity to do something interesting with the circulation and service core at the centre of the floor plan.

Collcoll chose to enclose the staircase with a wooden structure that conceals staff lockers, changing rooms and utility spaces. It also contains a slide that can be used as an alternative to the stairs.

“Vertically connecting two floors tends to be problematic if the natural flow of the space is to be maintained,” Collcoll explained.

“The two floors are tectonically connected by a structure composed of thousands of wooden pixels, which modulates the space around it and becomes its internal landmark.”

The composition of 40-centimetre-wide cubes references the blocky, pixellated world of the video game Minecraft. Its external surfaces form semi-enclosed alcoves and amphitheatres that can be used for informal work and presentations.

The cubes are wrapped in wood veneer that intentionally does not align so the pixels can be arranged in a completely random configuration.

The pixel motif is continued by a lighting grid that covers the entire office ceiling and by a projection screen incorporated into a bar counter that also functions as a reception desk.

The LED light fixtures, which are clearly visible from the street, can be dynamically adjusted to provide optimal lighting during working hours or create a party atmosphere for events.

The entire office floor can operate like an open conference hall containing pockets of dedicated functional space such as the cafe with its professional kitchen, bar counter and informal seating.

A large conference room at one end of the space is equipped with a long table that can seat up to 50 people. The table and the room itself can be divided to form smaller hot-desking spaces or meeting rooms.

A sliding acoustic partition enables the space to function as a recording studio, while transparent walls along one side can be turned opaque to provide privacy.

The office has no corridors and instead includes various unprescribed zones and circulation areas containing casual seating or lounges with amenities such as a pool table and a punchbag.

A range of presentation spaces are scattered throughout the floorplan. These include dedicated conference rooms and tiered amphitheatres with retractable screens.

Collcoll chose a neutral material palette comprising concrete, grey carpet tiles, light-grey plasterboard and black-painted ceilings to lend the office a modern, industrial aesthetic.

“The heavy black-metal tubular furniture corresponds with the concept of technological wiring,” Collcoll suggested.

“In contrast, the ephemeral changing grid of light chips and sensor systems embodies the direction of industrialism towards the world of software and information.”

Collcoll’s name stands for “collaborative collective” and reflects the collaborative approach of its team of architects, designers and researchers.

Other recently completed office interiors featuring wooden structures include a workspace in Edinburgh by Kin and a design office in Melbourne that aims to be zero-waste by using recycled materials.

The photography is by BoysPlayNice.

The post Collcoll hides stairs and seats in pixellated wooden structure at Pricefx office appeared first on Dezeen.

For fur parents that have bikes and need to bring their babies with them outside, having somewhere to place their pet safely and conveniently can sometimes be a challenge. Fortunately, a lot of pet-related brands have been coming up with different products to make life easier for both the owner and the pet. And we’ll probably be seeing even more innovations as they have realized there is a huge market out there for pet owners willing to spend money on their precious babies.

Designer: Waggin

Waggin is a new pet product company that wants to create products that are “sleek and innovative” and for their hero product they came up with Waggin G1, a pet bike trailer and backpack in one. Initially, the trailer is attached to the backpack so it’s easy to assemble and disassemble and carry it around. At the same time, there is storage space in the backpack so you can put stuff in either for your pet or for yourself. It can fit in snacks and toys for your pet and even a laptop and maybe some books and notebooks that you will need for your outing.

The trailer is easy (and safe) to attach to your bike so both of you can travel in comfort and in style. It uses lightweight materials including a rip proof mesh, performance nylon, and a security D-Ring to securely attach it to your bike. It has two entrances, a sunroof, a padded bed, and a safety clip so your pet will feel right at home even as you’re traveling. It is only able to accommodate small to medium sized pets so you may have to look for alternatives if you have a large fur baby.

The backpack also has padded straps and a backpack pad so you will feel comfortable carrying it around while you’re biking, with the pet trailer trailing at the back. It’s a pretty innovative product that makes it convenient to have daily outings with your dog or cat when you’re feeling bored working from home and your babies need some outdoor activity.

The post Bring your pet while riding your bike with trailer and backpack in one first appeared on Yanko Design.

London design studio Sella Concept has designed interiors to balance modern and classical elements for the latest Locke hotel in Zurich, Switzerland.

Called Locke am Platz, the hotel in Zurich‘s Enge neighbourhood is surrounded by parks and botanical gardens, with Lake Zurich nearby.

Sella Concept co-founder Tatjana Von Stein aimed to reflect the area’s cultural identity through her design, which draws upon Swiss Riviera aesthetics combined with modernism.

“Zurich has so many layers, an old school elegance mixed with brutalist modernist architecture,” Von Stein told Dezeen.

“Everything pointed towards a very layered concept, juxtaposing modernism with a classic theatrical flair.”

Set across six floors, Locke am Platz contains 80 units, including 40 hotel-style rooms for shorter stays as well as studio apartments, each with their own living area and kitchenette alongside a bedroom and en-suite.

With warm red and yellow tones, strong patterns and rich upholstery, apartment interiors have been curated to resemble a series of boudoirs – the traditional term for a woman’s bedroom or interior space.

Red velvet bedspreads were paired with matching decorative curtains that frame the bed.

“It is important to create a little sense of drama, moments of subtility to moments of indulgence,” Von Stein said.

Kitchenettes were designed with contrasting red cabinets and petrol-blue marble backs.

Wooden shelves are decorated with books, sculptures and ornaments, while parquet wooden flooring is arranged in a mosaic-like pattern.

Downstairs, the reception area continues the juxtaposing material palette with deep orange velvet drapes and carpets alongside stainless steel, wood and high gloss finishes. According to the designer, materials were chosen as part of a careful “balance between hard and soft”.

“We clad the existing staircase walls in stainless steel in contrast to its warm terracotta-coloured carpet, traditional statues and marble plinths,” Von Stein described.

Shared social spaces include a lounge, bar, restaurant and private dining area. Velvet-lined curtains wrap around the lounge area, which sits on a raised, carpeted platform overlooking the wider common area.

“When planning the spaces on the ground floor, I introduced various apertures between the spaces, a typical modernist character trait,” said Von Stein.

“My aim is always to create a sense of intimacy while still being connected.”

A central bar connects the lounge and restaurant spaces.

Taking cues from the modernist era, the front of the bar was decorated with geometric wood panels and topped with a marble surface. It was paired with stools upholstered with green velvet.

Choupette, the main hotel restaurant, echoes the wider interior scheme and includes yellow curtains and green velvet-skirted banquettes by London textile company Yarn Collective.

The restaurant and lounge areas incorporate bespoke furniture designed by Sella Concept and manufactured by Parla.

“Designing bespoke furniture makes it so unique to the project, allowing us to work perfectly into our space, and for our materials and forms to reflect the narrative set,” Von Stein explained.

Connected to the restaurant, a separate private dining area was adorned with a classical mural on the ceiling by decorative painter Magdalena Julia Gordon.

“We commissioned Magda to create the ceiling mural to bring this dark room to life through artistry and a little touch of humour,” said Von Stein.

Since its first location opened in 2016, Locke has expanded to include 15 sites across the UK and mainland Europe.

Other projects by Sella Concept recently featured on Dezeen include office interiors for a tech company in New York and the London headquarters for fashion brand Sister Jane.

Photography is courtesy of Locke and Sella Concept.

The post Sella Concept adds “classic theatrical flair” to Locke am Platz hotel appeared first on Dezeen.

We all know that keeping the floor clean is important but this seemingly simple activity turns out to be tedious and time-consuming. Robot vacuums have been around for quite some time now to ease that pain, but few are able to go beyond just sucking up dust and small particles. And those that can wipe the floor tend to be inefficient, ineffective, or both. A leader in the smart home market, eufy is presenting its latest design that will keep your floor clean without getting your hands dirty, saving you time and energy to spend on the more important things in life.

Designers: Simon Kim (Senior Design Manager, eufy), Jaewan Jeong (Design Director, eufy)

Click Here to Buy Now: $999 $1499 ($500 off). Hurry, only 207/700 left! Raised over $1,300,000.

It might have “robot vacuum” in its name, but the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro is definitely more than just that. It’s an all-in-one floor-cleaning machine that makes no room for compromises when it comes to getting the door out of your floor space. Its 8,000 Pa suction power makes short work of dust and solid particles on your floors and carpets, but that’s only the beginning. Its real power comes from its revolutionary floor washing system that ensures no dirt or stain is left to mar the beauty of your floor.

100% Clean Under UV Light See the visibly different cleaning results of S1 Pro compared with a normal robot mop.

Spinning at a rate of 170 RPM and exerting a downward force of 10N, this 290mm TurboWash roller mop mimics how a human would scrub a floor to get those stubborn stains out. Unlike other robot vacuums with the bare minimum mopping function, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro has two separate water tanks in the device itself, separate clean and wastewater to ensure that the mop itself stays clean and doesn’t drag its own dirt across the floor it’s supposed to be cleaning.

Eco-Clean Ozone Eliminates 99.99% of Germs. Built-in ozone sanitization for the highest standard of cleanliness.

Once the robot is done with its task, it retreats to the innovative All-in-One Station where it not only charges its batteries but also initiates a completely hands-free cleaning process. It automatically empties the dust bin and disposes of wastewater, cleaning the mop and drying it with hot air to prevent the growth of bacteria and odors, and then refills the robot’s tank with clean water for the next session. It even has a built-in ozone generator that sanitizes not just the mop but also your floor with a sterilization rate of up to 99.99%, creating a safe environment for children and pets even during high-risk seasons. All of these happen without human intervention, and you only need to empty the dustbin after 68 or so days!

Automatically detects carpet edges and lifts the mop to protect the material.

While it already sets itself apart with its revolutionary cleaning features, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro stands out even more with its groundbreaking design and advanced intelligence. Eschewing the traditional circular form that has dominated this market for decades, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro adopts a unique square body that is compact, sleek, and modern, adapting to the needs and tastes of today’s sophisticated homeowners. Winner of the iF Design Award 2024 and Good Design Award, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro delivers a fresh and memorable design that doesn’t compromise on functionality. In fact, it’s thanks to that square shape and low 96mm profile that it can reach within 1cm of walls and corners and glide under low furniture with ease.

Even the All-in-One Station itself is a testament to eufy’s commitment to excellent design. Its minimalist aesthetic and narrow body not only saves space but also enhances the visual atmosphere with its elegant appearance. That simplicity, however, belies intelligent features that bring convenience and comfort to users’ lives. An effortless touchscreen allows the user to directly access features without having to fumble with a smartphone. The transparent water not only lets you easily check water levels at a glance, it also gives the design a modern and hi-tech vibe. Finally, the station’s ergonomic golden height means you won’t have to bend over and strain your back just to open the lid or change the water in the tank.

Despite its compact size, the robot actually packs quite an impressive assortment of technologies, like a 3D MatrixEye Depth Perception system that utilizes the same RGB camera with active binocular technology used in self-driving cars for obstacle avoidance. Its TrueCourse Mapping, powered by a dToF LiDAR, the same LiDAR technology used in NASA’s Landing project, ensures precise mapping of your home, while the powerful eufy mobile app gives you the ability to schedule cleaning times, set no-go zones, and manage multi-floor mapping. Whatever the floor cleaning task, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro promises a stress-free experience that will leave your floor clean and sanitized so that you and your family can live better, safer, and more enjoyable lives.

Click Here to Buy Now: $999 $1499 ($500 off). Hurry, only 207/700 left! Raised over $1,300,000.

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