With a dynamic capsule-shaped design that can be pivoted to face pretty much anywhere, the Zebronics Zeb PixaPlay 54 is far from those boring box-shaped projectors of yesteryear. It feels refreshing, artistic, and worthy of placing on a mantelpiece from which it can cast images and videos onto a wall. The pivoting capsule design feels fairly similar to a conceptual projector we saw back in 2018 or more recently, the $900 Samsung Freestyle. At practically a third of the price, the Zeb PixaPlay 54 feels like quite the deal, although it does come with its fair share of compromises – none too drastic if you ask me. You get exactly what you’re paying for… if not more, considering the projector has a few nifty features like auto-keystone, multiple connectivity options, and the ability to cast a 140-inch screen on any wall you point it at!

Designer: Zebronics

The Zebronics PixaPlay 54 LED projector is an intriguing entry-level option for those looking to enhance their home entertainment setup without breaking the bank. Positioned within the Indian market, this projector aims to deliver a solid viewing experience while keeping the price tag accessible. Despite its marketing claims of 1080p support, the PixaPlay 54’s native resolution is 720p, which is a crucial consideration for potential buyers who prioritize image clarity and detail (even more so considering the Freestyle does output 1080p). This slight dip in resolution might be a drawback for some, but it doesn’t negate the fact that the PixaPlay 54 can still provide a satisfactory visual experience for casual movie nights or presentations. Personally, 1080p at a slightly higher price would absolutely seal the deal.

The Zeb PixaPlay 54’s internal light source outputs up to 3,800 lumens of brightness. This should suffice for most indoor settings, ensuring that images remain vivid and clear even in rooms that aren’t completely dark. Moreover, the LED light source is touted to have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, translating to years of use without the need for a replacement bulb. This longevity is a significant advantage, especially for users who plan on using the projector frequently. However, it’s important to note that while the brightness is commendable, the native resolution may not fully leverage this feature, leading to a trade-off between sharpness and luminosity.

The cylindrical pivoting shape is perhaps the projector’s biggest visual highlight, which not only gives it a modern appearance but also allows for practical adjustments. The adjustable stand is a thoughtful addition, enabling users to tilt the projector to achieve the optimal viewing angle without the need for additional mounts or tripods. Automatic keystone correction further enhances the user experience by ensuring that the projected image remains rectangular and undistorted, even if the projector isn’t perfectly aligned with the screen. The inclusion of a lens adjustment wheel allows for fine-tuning the focus, which is essential for achieving the best possible image clarity given the projector’s native resolution limitations.

Connectivity options on the PixaPlay 54 are robust for its price range. The device supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.1, offering a range of wireless connection possibilities, from streaming content directly from your smartphone to mirroring your laptop screen. Considering its positioning as a smart speaker, it DOES come with its own OS, although you won’t find every app you need. Personally, as a Zebronics projector user myself, I find it easier defaulting to an Amazon Fire Stick for seamless content. The projector also features various ports, including HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, and AUX, which provide ample options for connecting external devices such as gaming consoles, laptops, and sound systems. The built-in speakers are a convenient feature, though they may not deliver the audio depth that dedicated external speakers can provide. Your best bet is to pair an external speaker with the projector – preferably using the aux to avoid any audio lag.

The Zebronics PixaPlay 54 is competitively priced, with an introductory offer bringing the cost down from ₹27,999 ($333 USD) to ₹10,999 (approximately $131 USD). This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers who are looking for a versatile projector without the premium price tag. Don’t expect to turn your home into an IMAX studio, given the 720p output… but rather revel in the fact that your projector looks like a million bucks, and gives you a whopping 100-plus-inch display on command!

The post The Samsung Freestyle Projector gets a $335 competitor from Zebronics first appeared on Yanko Design.

Local studio Reigo and Bauer has completed a Toronto house clad in diamond-shaped panels that present a “quiet tension of that contrast” between the cladding’s decorative and minimalist qualities.

Called Neville Park, the three-level house sits on a narrow lot in an East End Toronto residential neighbourhood. It is characterised by a tall profile with a sharply sloped rooftop and off-set rows of elongated windows framed by black-painted aluminium casing.

According to Toronto-based studio Reigo and Bauer, the brief was to design a well-connected space for a family of two adults and two children and make it comfortable while catering to the client’s “contemporary” taste.

The site slopes from the street to the back of the lot where there lies a thick grove of mature trees, whose form Reigo and Bauer said influenced the final slope of the roof.

But the architecture studio said the form is also practical – the slope allowed for the off-set stacking of floors, so that long windows and steep ceilings create a greater sense of internal space for the second-storey bedrooms.

“The slope of the roof was studied to create pleasing internal volumes while still working within the height limits of the zoning,” studio founding partner Merike Bauer told Dezeen.

“The steeper pitch allowed the upstairs rooms with compact footprints to feel lofty and more spacious.”

A practical move that also creates visual interest is the half-barrel cut-out on the entry side of the building to make room for the entry steps that begin at the garage level.

Another vertical cut-out on the side was placed around the door and runs the height of the structure.

The negative space on the envelope also created more vertical planes on that side of the building.

Bay windows were placed on the sides and look out from the face at nearly 45-degree angles to avoid direct lines of sight with the neighbouring house.

The diamond-shaped panels that clad most of the exterior carry through the sharp-angled design language of the house. Made of fibre cement, the panels have a grey tone and a scale-like appearance.

According to Bauer, the cladding was chosen because it has both minimalist and decorative qualities.

“The slates provided excellent technical performance, while also representing a very traditional type of roof cladding,” said Bauer.

“We’re often drawn to traditional materials and methods of construction that can be realized in unconventional applications,” she added.

“The diamond shape, for instance, was selected for its decorative nature, yet installed as it is, uniformly over the roof and walls, even the garage door is more minimalist in its first reading. I love the quiet tension of that contrast.”

Inside, the angles of the exterior are reflected in curved and faceted ceilings.

The street-facing dining room has windows that run past the ceiling, which has a gap on one side where it meets the wall.

This ceiling plane runs back over the kitchen and to the rear-facing living room, where it curves up to meet with the top of the window panes there, giving the whole primary floor a sloped impression.

The kitchen sits in between the dining and living room and also acts as a passage between the two spaces. To bring in additional light, a series of “pill-shaped” openings were cut between the cabinets on the green-painted wall that runs between the kitchen and the staircase.

More colour was used for the furnishings in the living room, which features a deep-blue Elkin sofa by furniture brand Mobilia. The living room looks out over a fenced backyard.

In the upstairs hallways, angular ceilings and skylights bring in light. The gap seen in the ceiling in the dining room opens up slowly as it leads towards the staircase, creating a double-height space that allows further light to filter downstairs from the skylights. The design gives the upstairs passageway the character of a mezzanine.

The centre of the second-storey plan holds bathrooms with doors facing towards the bedrooms on the periphery. Above this central volume, another void has been included between it and the roof plane.

The bedrooms are also characterised by sloped, angular ceilings as they stack within the narrowing roof profile, with the master on the street-facing side and the two smaller children’s rooms on the front.

One of the children’s bedrooms sits directly under the primary slope, with two stacked windows. The other has a single rear-facing window and a window provided by the vertical cut-out on the southside of the envelope.

Another bathroom was placed on the garage level below grade.

Other recently completed houses in Toronto include one by Partisans with a “pixelated” brick facade and a “raw and unvarnished” prefabricated home.

The photography is by Doublespace Photography.

The post Reigo and Bauer uses diamond-shaped cladding for angular Toronto house appeared first on Dezeen.

We’ve selected seven managerial roles available on Dezeen Jobs including positions at Herzog & de Meuron, SCP and Knight Architects.

Project manager at Herzog & de Meuron

Herzog & de Meuron is looking for a project manager to join its team in Basel, Switzerland.

The studio’s Kornmarktplatz project in Austria is an arched structure comprising a hotel and an apartment. Situated on the top two floors, the apartment living room overlooks Lake Constance, with the kitchen and dining room on the other side overlooking the Pfänder mountain.

View more jobs in Europe ›

Marketing manager at Tom Faulkner

Tom Faulkner is hiring a marketing manager to join its team in London.

The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include organising and overseeing all marketing and communications activities to enhance sales and increase brand awareness.

View more marketing roles ›

Assistant showroom manager at SCP

SCP has an opportunity for an assistant showroom manager to join its team in London.

For their One Tree project, the British furniture brand tasked ten designers to create products from a single dying ash tree. Showcased at London Design Week in 2022, the collection included a handcrafted bench by Wilkinson & Rivera.

View more London-based roles ›

Studio manager at Morrow + Lorraine

Morrow and Lorraine is hiring a studio manager to join its team in London.

The studio’s Clifftops development in Dorset comprises five holiday homes, designed to sit unobtrusively in the historic UNESCO-protected site, whilst complementing the coastal landscape.

View more UK-based roles ›

Owners representative/associate project manager at DTSalazar

DTSalazar is seeking an owners representative/associate project manager to join its practice in San Francisco, USA.

The key requirements for this role include at least five years’ experience in the fields of project management, construction management and/or ultra high-end residential architecture/real estate development.

View more US-based roles ›

CAD manager/3D designer at Knight Architects

Knight Architects is recruiting for a CAD manager/3D designer to join its practice in London.

The studio has collaborated with engineering firm WSP Finland to design Kruunusillat, a tram, cyclist and pedestrian bridge stretching 1.2 kilometres across Helsinki’s Kruunuvuorensilta bay.

View more roles in architecture ›

Area sales manager at Verpan

Verpan has an opportunity for an area sales manager to join its team in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Among the studio’s collection is its sculptural Cloverleaf sofa. Designed by Verner Panton in 1969, the modular sofa references the curvaceous shape of a clover leaf.

View more sales roles ›

See all the latest architecture and design roles on Dezeen Jobs ›

The post Seven management roles featured on Dezeen Jobs appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: the adaptive reuse of a department store into a shelter for victims of domestic abuse is included in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at West Dean College.

Also featured is a bar designed using recycled materials including glass and perspex and a café within a chapel featuring biophilic design elements.

West Dean College

Institution: West Dean College
School: KLC School Of Design
Course: BA (Hons) Interior Design and Diploma HE in Applied Interior Design

School statement:

“The West Dean KLC School of Design offers a range of industry-leading courses in Interior Design and Garden Design, which provide students with the opportunity to develop industry-focused knowledge and skills that enable them to enter professional practice.

“Working closely with employers, suppliers and other design professionals, students learn the practical and the creative aspects of design.

“With a team of experienced academics, industry-active professionals and a worldwide alumni network, the programmes at West Dean’s KLC School of Design combine design development, technical knowledge and visual communication in projects that engage with real-world issues, real clients and professional practice.

“The KLC School of Design is located in Bloomsbury in the heart of London’s thriving Knowledge Quarter – in close proximity to the British Museum, the British Library, Wellcome Collection, University of London and SOAS.

“This London campus is paired with West Dean’s idyllic Grade II listed rural campus in the stunning South Downs, providing students and staff with the best of both a vibrant city setting and an inspirational countryside retreat.

“The dual-campus setup offers students a diverse array of courses and subjects, enhancing their educational experience.”

Offbeat by Iszi Kelly

“Offbeat is a destination that embodies the spirit of youth culture and provides a setting for young adults to exchange and explore transgressive ideals – with reimagined features of a traditional bar to create a space where guests experience a service that skews expectations, sheds conventions and overrides existing norms.

“The multi-functional space evolves throughout the night as the tables and integrated seating are moved to create space for guests to dance under the DJ booth – its distinct spherical shape in the otherwise rectilinear environment is a visual precursor to the relaxed basement area of the bar, which is filled with conversation pits to provide an opportunity for more intimate hangouts.”

Student: Iszi Kelly
Course: Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design

Radiate Liminally From Department Store to Women’s Shelter by Alexandra Hunt-Dallison

“This adaptive reuse project transforms a historic department store into a shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence – incorporating principles of trauma-informed design, the aim is to create a liminal space where residents transition from traumatic pasts to empowered futures.

“By addressing the difficulties of shelter life, the design offers women a better option than returning to abusive situations, breaking the cycle of violence, supporting therapeutic needs in an urban setting with no outdoor space to prioritise residents’ safety.”

Student: Alexandra Hunt-Dallison
Course: BA (Honours) Interior Design

The Courtauld Social Club by Mary-Jane Vaughan

“Inspired by similar arts projects that have reversed years of post-industrial decline, The Courtauld Social Club is a cultural hub, reflecting Coventry’s rich heritage and resilience.

“This space prioritises local participation while encouraging visitors to discover the city, with a design that draws on Coventry’s urban setting – combining materials, textures and a colour palette that represents its revolving fortunes.

“The project features a public gathering space, exhibition rooms, an open archive, revenue points, a private members’ bar, a library and workshops, with essential facilities like back-office space and climate control to ensure it meets world-class standards.”

Student: Mary-Jane Vaughan
Course: BA (Honours) Interior Design

Vivienne Westwood Bar by Natalya Traill

“The Vivienne Westwood Bar is designed to pay homage and celebrate the designer’s legacy – its purpose is to provide a space for connection, creativity and community in a vibrant and inspiring environment, with an adaptive reuse strategy to ensure that the new design honours and celebrates the historic site.

“Light, colour and materials heavily influence the essence of the space, with contrasting colours and vivid patterns that create excitement and encapsulate the essence of Vivienne Westwood.

“The moving stained-glass installation, with the dynamic mezzanine cut-out and extruding architectural forms, make the bar’s design come alive with visual interest and excitement – providing a space for visitors to thrive and celebrate the creativity of Vivienne Westwood in an invigorating environment.”

Student: Natalya Traill
Course: BA (Honours) Interior Design

Flux by Alexandra Buckley

“Flux explores how residential design can better support ‘ageing in place’ – through a modular approach, based on a series of 900 by 900mm modules linked to swivelling base units that are anchored to the floor structure of the house, the design provides flexibility and ease of reconfiguration.

“Flux allows for a multitude of configurations in an open plan space to be achieved quickly and easily depending on the occasion or time of year – the design enables the home to be completely flexible while maintaining a sense of structure.

“The aim of Flux is to spark debate about how to support ageing in place, focusing on how we enable a home to feel continually new and evolving – prompting creativity and adding interest to daily life at home.”

Student: Alexandra Buckley
Course: Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design

Chemistry by Andrée Cooke

“Chemistry is a cocktail bar for over 21s offering an escapist environment which is theatrical and immersive, inspired by the processes of chemistry – where change occurs when elements combine to create something new – the bar proposes a playful space, where people, cocktails and design interact to generate new attractions.

“The bar contains unique areas – the LAB, a communal, amphitheatre experience, where people are actively invited to socialise and ‘centre stage’, a floating glass bar where staff ‘perform’ cocktails.

“The styling echoes the concept, combining solid and fluid-looking sustainable materials – the majority of which are sourced locally, such as oak and steel – and recycled materials including glass, perspex and sustainable flooring.”

Student: Andrée Cooke
Course: Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design

The Metropole by Camilla Phillips

“The Metropole is a two-storey bar and speakeasy, nestled in an English seaside town, aiming to transport guests to an exciting period where a visit to the theatre offered escapism to palaces of entertainment.

“Inspired by the performative nature of cocktail making, the bartender is the performer and the bar is their stage to showcase the cocktails being made.

“Upon entry, guests are greeted by a tiled façade and an illuminated sign designed to capture their attention – paying homage to the theatre signs that lined the streets during the golden age of cinema.”

Student: Camilla Phillips
Course: Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design

M+I+X by Kim Kirchner

“M+I+X cocktail bar embodies a fusion of innovative design and practicality, providing a carefully curated guest experience to the Gen Z target market – the design serves as a dramatic centrepiece, commanding attention with its typographic forms.

“As guests step inside the bar, they are greeted by the impactful glow of the overlapping M, I and X illuminated structures, made of ribbed dichroic acrylic sheets which create a striking visual and guide guests through the space, which features mixed secondary colours and textures.”

Student: Kim Kirchner
Course: Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design

Kudu Community Restaurant by Emily Garth

“Through an innovative design and adaptive reuse of the historic Asylum Chapel, this project seeks to bring together a restaurant and community kitchen and break down the stigma of those experiencing food insecurity within Southwark.

“The venue not only provides nutritious meals but also fosters an inclusive environment that aims to mitigate inequalities, combat loneliness and promote social inclusion by facilitating new and strengthening existing relationships.

“The design concept balances inclusivity and exclusivity, demonstrating that community kitchens and traditional restaurants can coexist and thrive together whilst encouraging the shared experience of dining to move away from the traditional charitable food access models.”

Student: Emily Garth
Course: BA (Honours) Interior Design

Kip Hideaways Asylum Chapel by Alexandra Cummings

“Preserving its rich history of Asylum Chapel, a Grade II listed chapel in Peckham, creates the opportunity for a unique boutique hotel with a café and bar space.

“The proposal incorporates the distressed appearance of the existing with the signature style of client Kip Hideaways – local artists and makers are engaged to create a collaborative interior and promote local talent and community support.

“Overall, the project seeks to bring a harmonious balance between old and new, allowing users to make their imprint on the space while making new memories.”

Student: Alexandra Cummings
Course: BA (Honours) Interior Design

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and West Dean College. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post West Dean College spotlights ten interior design student projects appeared first on Dezeen.

MotorSkins is revolutionizing the way we interact with technology with their cutting-edge SELK technology. This innovative system exemplifies the powerful fusion of ambient computing and programmable matter, promising to profoundly transform our relationship with both the digital and physical worlds.

Designer: Motorskins

SELK technology is the flagship innovation from MotorSkins. It integrates soft robotics, fluid logic, and software/API into a cohesive and intelligent system. This sophisticated multilayered textile structure, known as programmable matter, has the ability to sense, react, and adapt to its surroundings. This makes SELK not just a piece of technology, but a dynamic and interactive material.

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, ambient computing is emerging as a visionary concept for the future. It imagines a world where technology is seamlessly integrated into our environment, working effortlessly and becoming an inherent part of our daily lives. Complementing this vision is the field of programmable matter, which involves engineering materials to dynamically change their properties, such as shape or function, in response to user input or environmental changes.

MotorSkins’ SELK technology sits at the intersection of ambient computing and programmable matter. This technology transcends traditional interfaces, offering a tactile, responsive medium that not only coexists harmoniously with its environment but actively enhances it. By incorporating SELK’s smart textile actuators into everyday products, MotorSkins showcases a forward-thinking approach to material science. These actuators transform static objects into interactive, adaptable interfaces, allowing materials to respond intuitively to user inputs and environmental changes.

The company is applying SELK technology to create dynamic orthoses in the healthcare sector. These orthoses, made from SELK’s versatile material, combine simplicity in design with enhanced functionality and performance. This wearable interface adapts to the user’s movements, providing support and flexibility where needed.

In the automotive industry, SELK technology is set to revolutionize car interiors. Imagine a car cabin that adjusts to your needs, with buttons, comfort features, and haptic feedback appearing only when required. This leads to safer and more intuitive interactions between drivers and their vehicles.

MotorSkins is also exploring how SELK can improve human-machine interfaces, creating more ergonomic workspaces and interactive, responsive environments. By merging programmable matter with the principles of ambient computing, MotorSkins is not just developing advanced tech interfaces; they are fundamentally reshaping the way we interact with technology.

These efforts predict a future where technology seamlessly integrates into our daily lives, enhancing our experiences in natural and unobtrusive ways. Motorskins’ innovative work demonstrates how design and technology can synergistically improve human life, making our interactions with the world more intuitive and connected.

The post Motorskins’ SELK Technology Is Bringing Textiles To Life For A Smarter Future first appeared on Yanko Design.