Dezeen School Shows: a housing project designed according to adaptive reuse and biophilic design approaches is included in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Also included is a project promoting wellbeing through interactions with nature and a museum that comments on racism in the US.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
School: Department of Interior Design at VCUarts
Course: Thesis Studio
Tutors: Roberto Ventura, Kristin Carleton and Seung-Ho Lee

School statement:

“These studios are the culmination of year-long independent, issue-based design exploration.

“Students completing their final undergraduate and graduate years in the Department of Interior Design at VCUarts are challenged to explore how design can engage an issue or idea that has three tiers of relevance.

“First: the project must have relevance to the student to sustain the passion required for a year-long investigation.

“Second: the project must engage with an issue or need in the local community where the project is based – the vast majority of projects are situated in or near Richmond, Virginia, where the university is located.

“Third: the project should invite interest from the larger interior design community.

“Students develop research projects that include primary investigations of their own authorship, programming and site documentation in the fall semester.

“This backbone sets the foundation for developing a design response to the student inquiries in the spring.

“Ultimately, these projects demonstrate the values driving the pursuits of these students and the power and potential they have as emerging designers to transform not only interior spaces but our communities overall.

“We do not know how our students will engage with design after graduation, but we do know that they will all be citizens of our communities who will have the opportunity to build them for the better.

“Our hope is they put their passions and skills to use with interior space as their medium.”

Sacred Cultural Celebration Center by Sara Nicoletti

“In a world often marked by division and isolation, I believe in the power of community and culture to heal, inspire and unite.

“Inspired by the people of the Amazon rainforest integrating natural materials and having an intuitive approach to creation, this third place blossoms into a sacred environment where gatherings and playful exploration intertwine.

“Here, individuals discover solace, inspiration and a profound sense of belonging within a collective of fragments.

“This sanctuary stands as a symbol of inclusivity, where all are welcome to share their stories, traditions and laughter.

“Rejecting the notion of boundaries and instead embracing the fluidity of cultural exchange and coexistence, this exploration seeks to foster a sense of proximity and childlike experience.”

Student: Sara Nicoletti
Course: IDES 401: Senior Interior Design Studio II
Tutor: Seung-Ho Lee
Email: nicolettisc[at]vcu.edu

Bee’ééhózinii Archaeology Lab by Isabel Dingus

“Archaeological dominance by major Western nations has often resulted in the dislocation of cultural artefacts from smaller countries under the premise of better preservation facilities.

“This project presents a solution to mitigate this issue: the design and implementation of The Bee’ééhózinii Archaeological Laboratory.

“Designed to be built with traditional practices and rapid deployment to diverse archaeological locales, it seeks to equip nations with the resources to independently study, conserve and promote their own cultural heritage.

“By doing so, this approach minimises the need for international artefact relocation, ensuring heritage remains in its Indigenous context – not only does this preserve historical value, but it promotes local educational opportunities and prevents cultural displacement.

“This design looks at the impact it may have if deployed to the southwest United States, where there is a rich cultural identity that historically has been stolen and erased by colonial practices and external interventions.”

Student: Isabel Dingus
Course: IDES 401: Senior Interior Design Studio II
Tutor: Kristin Carleton
Email: isabeldingus[at]gmail.com

Alleviate by Mia Daniel

“Alleviate is an athletic wellness and training centre focused on improving the mental and physical performance of active and recovering collegiate athletes.

“Located at the abandoned terminal number three warehouse on the James River in Richmond, Virginia, this design caters to schools in a 20-mile radius and the voted three sports: American football, basketball and soccer.

“The design concept is based on chakras and their associated characteristics and elements – the crown, solar plexus and root chakras are the targeted energy points for resetting the optimal athletic performance and mindset.

“This design seeks to break away from the stereotype of elitist characteristics towards athletic design by putting mental health at the forefront to create a holistic design approach.

“For users, this place is intended as a journey of enlightenment and acceptance while gaining back self-esteem and confidence to help them redefine themselves as athletes.”

Student: Mia Daniel
Course: IDES 401: Senior Interior Design Studio II
Tutor: Seung-Ho Lee
Email: danielmr2[at]vcu.edu

Reflection: Cultivating Creativity and Healing Through Art Therapy by Caroline Ciccone

“This project explores the establishment and implementation of an art therapy centre designed specifically for elementary-aged children, providing them with a supportive and therapeutic environment where they can engage in creative expression as a means of addressing emotional, social and psychological needs.

“Reflection is encouraged in the space through design features that promote the overall health and wellbeing of the client.

“Within the City of Richmond public school system, 31.7 per cent of students are economically challenged and 13.1 per cent of students are disabled.

“Giving more resources in the arts and mental health support to students outside of their school environments was the goal for this project.”

Student: Caroline Ciccone
Course: IDES 699: Creative Project – Thesis
Tutor: Roberto Ventura
Email: cicconec[at]vcu.edu

The Collection by Camille Rovani

“The Collection is a third place library and cafe that aims to unify diverse people, enhance wellbeing and increase community connection in downtown Richmond, Virginia.

“Inspired by the shape of the existing building and its new program as a community library, the design explores books on a bookshelf as a conceptual interpretation for people in a building.

“Undulating and staggered volumes of space represent books while people are highlighted as the stories and substance because, just as books are nothing without the stories within them, spaces are nothing without the people who occupy them.

“The most critical component of third places is the opportunity for people to connect.

“Therefore, it was important to break the regimented levels through a three-storey atrium and a glass stair feature spanning all four levels to emphasise the unity of this diverse community bookshelf.”

Student: Camille Rovani
Course: IDES 699: Creative Project – Thesis
Tutor: Roberto Ventura
Email: rovanicc[at]vcu.edu

Hands in the Clouds by Bryce Carlson

“Creativity is often misunderstood as a given talent rather than a skill.

“Creativity is developed by simply observing one’s surroundings, exercising imagination, making physical ‘things’ and engaging in conversation – it is a practice anyone and everyone can do.

“This project explores creativity by encouraging users to see the potential in the every day and look at their surroundings from a new perspective: to see both what is and what can be.

“Hands become the ultimate tools, household waste becomes raw material for making and obligations become opportunities.

“A ‘half design’ approach is utilised in order to provide users with the freedom to create and alter space as they see fit while providing a framework from which to build.”

Student: Bryce Carlson
Course: IDES 401: Senior Interior Design Studio II
Tutor: Kristin Carleton
Email: carlsonbd[at]vcu.edu

The Mosby by Leen Sylvain

“The Mosby is a jazz club located within an existing hotel in downtown Richmond, Virginia, inspired by the city’s rich jazz history.

“Often misunderstood, jazz played a crucial role not only in African American culture and the fight for equality, but also in women’s rights and liberation, with its improvisation and unpredictability contributing to the liberation of all art genres.

“The Mosby aims to bring together musicians, students and jazz enthusiasts.

“Jazz is more than music, it’s a movement – the Mosby serves as a platform to narrate and educate people about Richmond’s jazz legacy and its historical significance.

“It provides an immersive jazz experience to the community, offering a harmonious fusion of music-inspired spaces resulting in a contemporary and sophisticated experience.”

Student: Leen Sylvain
Course: IDES 401: Senior Interior Design Studio II
Tutor: Seung-Ho Lee
Email: segolene.sylv1[at]gmail.com

Destruction as Creation: The American Museum of Iconoclasm by Nina Gregory

“Iconoclasm, or the breaking of art, has existed as long as there has been art to break – however, the phenomenon is often associated with a barbaric ancient world far from US soil.

“Yet, Richmond, Virginia, recently served as the backdrop to one of the largest instances of iconoclasm in recent history when, in the aftermath of Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020, the city took down its public monuments depicting confederate leaders.

“This most recent occurrence brings up larger questions about the story of iconoclasm in the United States and how a museum should be designed to answer them.

“By investigating different methodologies and philosophies behind immersive museums, as well as the nature of breaking and being broken, this project creates an experience that is rewarding and impactful for visitors of all kinds while reintroducing empathy and humanity into a topic that has been wildly divisive for the nation.”

Student: Nina Gregory
Course: IDES 401: Senior Interior Design Studio II
Tutor: Kristin Carleton
Email: nina.gregory027[at]gmail.com

Inspiring a Ripple: Evidence-Based, Biophilic Design for Affordable Housing by Chelcey Dunham

“This adaptive reuse and affordable housing project, based in a 1930s concrete riverside warehouse, enhances community and individual wellbeing through evidence-based biophilic design.

“Research demonstrates that biophilic design characteristics enhance wellbeing in health care facilities, which suggests great potential for application in affordable housing.

“The concept of ‘ripple’ – inspired by the adjacent river and the metaphoric ripple effect of wellbeing – along with biophilic design informs all the design decisions that make up the project.

“A central courtyard is introduced to the rectangular building to satisfy the primary biophilic design goals of maximising natural light, access and views of nature – providing an outdoor community space, as well as exterior access and bilateral exposure to natural light for each unit.

“Indoor and outdoor plants, as well as recycled and sustainable materials – particularly those with a rippled form or texture – are specified for all spaces throughout the project, making this a thoroughly nature-centric design.”

Student: Chelcey Dunham
Course: IDES 699: Creative Project – Thesis
Tutor: Roberto Ventura
Email: chelcey[at]enlightenedinteriors.space

A Walk in the Woods by Caitlin McLean

“Time spent in nature has been proven to have a positive effect on a human’s physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing, as well as fostering increased connectedness to the natural world.

“A Walk in the Woods explores the interaction between humans and nature.

“The path encourages visitors to interact with and experience the intersection of man-made structures with the encroachment of nature.

“A Walk in the Woods promotes the dissolution of boundaries between the interior and exterior, inspiring heightened environmental awareness and responsibility.”

Student: Caitlin McLean
Course: IDES 699: Creative Project – Thesis
Tutor: Roberto Ventura
Email: caitlinfmclean[at]gmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Virginia Commonwealth University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post Ten interior design projects by students at Virginia Commonwealth University appeared first on Dezeen.

Fourth of July can be a really fun time for the entire country, but a very stressful time for pet parents who have to deal with the extreme anxiety that dogs feel around those loud bangs and other noises. Dogs are highly sensitive to sound, so any loud noises, be it the pop of a firework or even the bang of a thunderstorm, can cause them high amounts of stress. Kirsten Brand nearly lost her dog Emma when a firework show on the 4th of July caused the pet to get so scared that she ran away from home. “After what seemed like hours, we found my furbaby, Emma, down the street. Thankfully, she had been taken into a garage by a neighbor, to ride out the rest of the firework show,” Kirsten mentioned.

That prompted her to design the Pawnix, a pet ‘helmet’ that covers their ears to dampen loud noises, while also playing calming and soothing sounds via Bluetooth. Sort of like ANC Headphones but for dogs, the Pawnix keeps your pets calm with relaxing audio, while also wrapping around their head to make them feel a sense of physical security and comfort.

Designer: Pawnix

Improved over various iterations, the Pawnix now comes with a foam-padded neoprene design, similar to the laptop sleeves you usually see people carry their MacBooks in. The helmet, shaped to look almost like a bonnet for your pet, wraps around the dog’s head, with pockets for the ears to fit in. The design works equally well for dogs with all kinds of ears, whether they’re erect, semi-erect, or hanging down. 4-way stretch Anti-microbial fabric with durable stitching means the Pawnix can go without being washed, and can definitely endure your dog trying to scratch at it or take it off.

On the inside, a set of audio drivers with active noise canceling and Bluetooth 5.0 let your dog listen to calming soundscapes instead of loud noises. Pop the headphones on, and you can connect your phone to the Pawnix via Bluetooth, choosing from a variety of calming sounds (you can actually find dog-calming tracks on YouTube). Alternatively, just the Pawnix itself should be able to drown out less intense noises like a dinner party with loud music. The Pawnix comes in 4 colors, and 4 sizes too, although there’s also an option to custom-make a Pawnix for even larger dogs.

The post Pet getting scared of 4th July fireworks? These quirky yet effective Dog Headphones with ANC can help first appeared on Yanko Design.

When I first encountered a self-checkout system in IKEA a few years ago, I sort of panicked because I didn’t know what to do. But after experiencing it and eventually figuring things out, I thought this was such a convenient way to do your shopping, especially if you want to keep social interactions at a minimum. Now if only there was a also a self-packing system since the packing up groceries stuff is the most difficult.

Designer: MIT CSAIL

Eventually, this can of course come true and one step towards a system like this is the RoboGrocery. This was developed by MIT’s CSAIL department and uses a soft robotic gripper together with computer vision to help you bag groceries and other small items. It’s still in its early stages of course but seeing how it’s working at this time seems pretty promising.

They tested it out by placing 10 objects on a grocery conveyer belt, ranging from soft items like grapes, crackers, muffins, bread to the more solid ones like cans, meal boxes, and ice cream containers. The vision detects the size of the item to determine the order of placing it in a box. The grasper, with the pressure sensors in its fingers, then determines whether the item is delicate and should not be placed at the bottom of the bag.

While we’re still a few steps away from actually having a robot to bag your groceries, it’s an interesting first step towards that. Eventually, after it becomes available for commercial use, they might also be able to develop this for industrial spaces like recycling plants and factories.

The post RoboGrocery is the first step towards robots packing our grocery first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dezeen Showroom: furniture brand Ülii Design Studio worked with designer Natthorn Uliss to create a chair made from wood. The design is informed by elements found in Thai residential architecture.

Sala chairs are available in three types of wood – Mahogany, Oak or Beech – and are characterised by their expansive side panels, which display the natural details and grain of the timber.

The construction of the chair aims to demonstrate the precision and skill of Thai craftspeople. The two corners that make up the front of the seat feature three converging wooden elements, a scaled-down motif found in classical Thai home construction.

“Ülii Design Studio decided to explore the characteristics of Thai-style residences in various places all over Thailand, including details such as joinery, material, furniture, lighting, and shading,” said Ülii Design Studio. “We found out there are many interesting architectural characteristics that could be transformed into iconic furniture design.”

“[The Sala chair] may not exude the machine-like precision of mass-produced items; rather, it radiates the warmth of the human touch, exemplifying the authentic identity of each Ülii piece,” the brand continued.

Woven paper cord makes up the seat – this can be specified to either match the frame of the chair or create contrast.

Product details:

Product: Sala chair
Designer: Natthorn Uliss
Brand: Ülii Design Studio
Contact: natthornuliss@uliidesignstudio.com

Materials: Mahogany, Oak or Beech
Colours/finishes: Mahogany, Oak, Beech or black
Dimensions: 560 x 542 x 824 millimetres

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 Sala chair by Natthorn Uliss for Ülii Design Studio appeared first on Dezeen.

The number of coffee chains spread around the world is undeniable proof of how much people desire or even thrive on the beverage. Unfortunately, that number is also an indirect testament to the waste that the industry produces, especially when it comes to to-go cups. The majority of these cups are made of plastic, though some brands and consumers are becoming wiser and opting for more sustainable drinkware. The problem, however, is when you need to carry more than one of these cups, usually in precarious trays or bags. A paper cup design concept tries to hit two birds with one stone, offering not only a more sustainable cup but a better way to hold and carry them.

Designer: Shenzhen Samore Design & Research

Although iced coffee to go is still usually served in plastic containers, unless you bring your own reusable cup, the more common hot beverage is thankfully put in paper cups with cardboard sleeves. Their designs are simple and handy for holding in one hand, but some people have the unfortunate task of buying for a group. Some stores offer cardboard trays or boxes for carrying two or four drinks at once, though some have to resort to bags that could let the coffee spill as you swing it while walking.

Neither are ideal solutions, especially for long-term use or reusable cups, so someone thankfully thought of a better and admittedly more aesthetic solution to this common problem. It doesn’t have a formal name yet, but the Accordion Paper Cup design offers a simple yet ingenious way not just to carry coffee paper cups but also to hold one in your hand. In a nutshell, the paper cup has a sleeve that expands upward, turning it into a bag of sorts.

The trick to this sleeve design is the accordion-like structure can easily expand and contract without changing its total mass. This same structure happens to also be a good insulator against heat, allowing you to wrap your hand around a hot cup. It might not be an intentional part of the design, but the alternating pattern of holes and divisions also makes it easier to grip an otherwise smooth and slippery cup.

The paper cup and its innovative sleeve are allegedly made of recyclable, renewable, and biodegradable materials, further driving home the idea of an all-in-one sustainable solution for to-go cups. But while the cup itself seems to have that brown hue typically associated with recycled paper products, the sleeve has a gradient that softly shifts from blue to brown, though other colors are also possible. Unfortunately, there is no word on whether this concept has any chance of becoming an actual product, but it’s definitely an interesting avenue to consider for large coffee chains.

The post Accordion paper cup concept makes carrying coffee easier and more sustainable first appeared on Yanko Design.