Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados has cantilevered a glass and red-painted wood house off a forested cliffside near the sea in Chile with layers that create “increasing levels of intimacy”.

Painted a vibrant red, the elevated 2,100-square foot (195-square metre) house is located in Detif, Chiloé, Chile.

Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados (GAAA), a studio based in Santiago, constructed the house from 2020 to 2021.

The design was inspired by the thaumatrope toy, which has a bird on one side and a cage on the other of a rotating panel. Spinning the toy creates an optical illusion that the bird is simultaneously inside and outside the cage.

“The project in Detif is inextricably linked with its surrounding myrtle forest,” the studio told Dezeen.

“Its outer layer is the forest itself, and its interior layers form increasing levels of intimacy within the strong and beautiful surroundings of the archipelago.”

Set up on a platform, the plan is formed by a series of concentric rectangles.

The outermost layer comprises a loggia that runs all the way around the plan, created by a thin, red wooden lattice with a delicate red railing.

“The linear red elements follow the natural rhythm of the copper-coloured spindling trunks of the trees,” the team said.

“These become the outermost layer of the project, a natural skin protecting from winds and rain, prevalent in the temperate climate of the Chiloe archipelago.”

The lattice creates a series of striped shadows along the deck.

Stepping down slightly to the main level, a second rectangle holds the public spaces – the kitchen passing through the dining room, and continuing around to the living room.

The exterior and interior walls are floor-to-ceiling glass.

The layers of wood create insulated spaces that can be easily warmed by wood-fired stoves on either end of the plan.

Narrow, ladder-like stairs rise to the upper level. Above, four identical suites hold the corners of the plan with the exterior glazing looking outward and the interior spaces divided by banded walls in warm raw wood.

Notched clerestory windows bring more light into the bedrooms. The innermost rectangle is a void that creates an open-air atrium that directs views to the sky.

The plan was designed for easy construction. The thin linear elements were raised by a two-person construction team after being transported to the site by a fishing boat.

Constructed entirely out of wood and glass, “the reflections formed in the juxtaposition of these two materials, strengthen the thaumatrope, always being both inside and outside,” the studio said.

Zooming out, the red house provides a stark contrast to the deep blue water and dark green trees.

Using similar red pine and expansive glass, GAAA raised Punta Chilen on stilts nearby on the same island.

The photography is by Cristóbal Palma.

Project credits:

Client: Sergio Prieto, Carmen Covarrubias
Carpenter / constructor: Luis Miranda

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The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Agenda newsletter features the launch of IKEA’s online marketplace for second-hand furniture. Subscribe to Dezeen Agenda now.

Swedish furniture brand IKEA has created a peer-to-peer resale platform, called IKEA Preowned, as part of its aim to become a circular business by 2030.

The secondhand marketplace, which allows people to buy and sell preloved IKEA products, is being trialled in Madrid and Oslo until the end of the year. A global rollout is set to follow if the platform proves successful.

This week’s newsletter also featured Foster + Partners’ designs for a supertall skyscraper in Miami, a proposal to use a yoghurt window-coating to keep UK homes cool during heatwaves and a Barbican-inspired festival stage design for Lana Del Rey.

Dezeen Agenda

Dezeen Agenda is a curated newsletter sent every Thursday containing the most important news highlights from Dezeen. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Agenda or subscribe here.

You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features the hottest reader comments and most-debated stories, Dezeen Daily is our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours and Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design. 

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Dezeen School Shows: a modular system of furniture that promotes sustainability is included in Dezeen’s latest school show by students featured in the Designblok Diploma Selection.

Also included is a 3D-printed water filter made from ceramics and a fashion collection that is crafted from recycled materials and inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi.

Designblok Diploma Section

Institution: Designblok, Prague International Design Festival
Courses: Industrial Design, Interior Design, Product Design and Fashion Design (BA and MA)

School statement:

“The Designblok Diploma Selection talent competition, organised by the festival in cooperation with the EUNIC Cluster Czech Republic to develop and support graduates of European universities, will welcome new jurors on the occasion of its tenth anniversary.

“The chair of the jury for the product design category and director of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, Tulga Beyerle, has invited Thomas Geisler, director of the Dresden State Art Collections, Jan Boelen, independent curator and artistic director of LUMA Atelier, Alexandra Midal, independent curator, filmmaker and professor at HEAD–Genève and Evelien Bracke, curator of the Design Museum in Ghent, to join the jury.

“At the invitation of the chair of the fashion design category jury is journalist and creative director Jan Králíček, with the competition’s jury to include Krzysztof J. Lukasik, Polish designer, creative director and consultant for brands like Loewe, Hermès, Diesel, Lanvin and others, alongside Greek fashion critic and journalist Sotiris Kaberis and lastly, Alexandre Malgouyres, consultant and former Gucci communications director.

“The expert jury of the Designblok Diploma Selection competition will choose winners from thirty final projects, who will receive a financial reward of 4,000 euros and the opportunity to present at the next Designblok.

“New projects will be presented at Bastion Florenc by last year’s finalists Willemsen Esmée, Beau Janek, Julia Huhnholz and Friedrich Gerlach, with a showcase from fashion designer Maria Czarnecka at the Lobkowicz Palace.

“The partner of the Designblok Diploma Selection for 2024 is Ploom.”

Dodola by Žan Girandon, Pia Groleger and Luka Pleskovič

“The thesis designs a solution for unmonitored water catchments.

“It examines a spring in Triglav National Park where high E. coli levels have been detected.

“The proposed solution consists of a ceramic filtration system using 3D clay printing technology, which is suitable for remote locations and does not require electricity or regular supplies.

“Utilising a gyroid structure and an Archimedean screw, they harness water flow to operate autonomously.

“The solution provides clean drinking water and empowers communities.”

Students: Žan Girandon, Pia Groleger and Luka Pleskovič
Course: MA Industrial Design
School: Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana
Email: pjorkkala[at]gmail.com

Réenchantement – Bring back the Magic by Carla Boré

“In response to our world crisis, Réenchantement focuses on reviving the magic and the mystery that we have lost.

“I wanted to highlight the weird beauty of life, poetry and tolerance.

“Inspired by my surroundings, a new mythology transforms chimaeras into beautiful heroes.

“I wanted to honour artisanal craftsmanship, showcasing techniques and the power of human collaborations blending tradition with innovation.”

Student: Carla Boré
School: Institut Français de la Mode
Course: Master in Fashion Design
Email: carla.bore[at]outlook.fr

Break-up Lab by Sophia Reißenweber

“Break-up Lab is dedicated to the end of an emotional relationship: that between the textile and its previous owners.

“Through biotechnological processes, the polyester content in used textiles can be broken down and the recovered building blocks can then be metabolised into a biodegradable plastic.

“Yarns and add-ons made from PHA facilitate the easier separation of impurities and enable fibre-to-fibre recycling.

“Two circular clothing items showcase the aesthetic and functional potentials.”

Student: Sophia Reißenweber
School: Burg Giebichenstein University Halle
Course: Industrial Design
Email: sophia.reissenweber[at]posteo.de

Equilibrium – Womenswear Collection by Wiktoria Król

“My graduate collection Equilibrium is inspired by my health problems related to visual disturbances and the mechanisms of MRI.

“The silhouettes are minimalistic but disrupted in a way where they appear to be stuck between balance and its complete absence.

“The collection includes unique materials such as self-designed jacquards, melted PVC foil, iron filings with magnets and silvered epoxy resin.”

Student: Wiktoria Król
School: Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź
Course: Fashion Design
Email: wiktoriawkrol[at]gmail.com

But by Reflection by Nouka Rous

“Exploring a sense of self within society’s expectations of femininity, my collection takes place in that fictive moment when a person gradually transforms into their true self.

“Using restrictive body language and materiality to tell this story, I have made fragile sculptures, their protective shells and vulnerable transparencies falling away like discarded cocoons.

“I work in slow fashion – handcrafted pieces from deadstock fabrics for an audience who values fashion as a political, performative art form.”

Student: Nouka Rous
School: ArtEZ University of the Arts
Course: Fashion Design
Email: nouka.rous[at]xs4all.nl

Wardrobe by Aleš Hnátek

“The clothing collection combines principles of haute couture seen on catwalks with those of wearable apparel.

“The inspiration of the Arte Povera movement and Japanese wabi-sabi can be seen in the selection of materials which come from dead-stock sources as well as from a personal archive of unique textiles, for instance those used in furniture upholstery.

“The collection thus draws attention to the value of abandoned materials and coupled with meticulous craftsmanship and a timeless aesthetic, it remains firmly dedicated to the idea of sustainability.”

Student: Aleš Hnátek
School: University of Applied Arts in Prague
Course: Clothing and Footwear Design Studio
Email: aleshnatek[at]gmail.com

Up and Down by Tímea Kepová

“The Up and Down collection explores the question of leisure seating.

“In today’s world, where everyone seems to be sitting all the time, I understand leisure as a way of achieving creativity through bodily movement.

“These objects ensure that each sitting is a unique experience.

“They support sitting or laying on the ground by means of higher standard positions.

“The work builds on the motto that ‘nothing changes without a change’ and leaves it up to us to decide how we understand the need for change and transformation.”

Student: Tímea Kepová
School: Interior Design
Course: VŠVU Bratislava
Email: timkepov[at]gmail.com

Reconfigured – A Reuse Strategy for Discarded Furniture by Stephanie Bauer

“Reconfigured repurposes discarded furniture elements using an innovative modular kit system.

“Parts are sorted by type and function, then reassembled into new pieces by using schemes.

“This method preserves the integrity of the original elements while reimagining existing ideas about structures as wholes.

“The resulting reconfigurations are modular and adaptable, promoting sustainability.

“The project emphasises furniture as durable goods and challenges perceptions: is it trash or valuable furniture?”

Student: Stephanie Bauer
School: New Design University
Course: Manual and Material Culture
Email: st_bauer[at]outlook.com

Paradox of Isoëtes: Future of Almost Lost Species by Adam Kvaček

“The Paradox of Isoëtes consists of a speculative approach to research done on the endangered Isoëtes plant across its various interactions based in human-nature relations.

“The project’s speculative aspect is based on the idea that the easiest way to save an extinct species is to make it useful to humans.

“I focus on the process of commodification of plants by creating material from the given species and turning it into a consumer good, depicted in the form of disposable cutlery as a symbol of consumer society.”

Student: Adam Kvaček
School: Academy of Arts Architecture and Design in Prague
Course: Product Design
Email: adamkvacekcz[at]gmail.com

Lost Product of Society by Peter Wertmann

“This diploma work collection captures the essence of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, fused with the freedom of growing up in the Swiss Alps.

“The structure draws on the experience of military life, embodying the contrasts between vast open landscapes and disciplined, confined living.”

Student: Peter Wertmann
School: Royal Academy of Arts The Hague
Course: BA Fashion and Textiles
Email: wertmannp[at]gmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Designblok Diploma Selection. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

The post Ten student design projects featured in the Designblok Diploma Selection appeared first on Dezeen.

Smart rings offer an opportunity to free our wrists from bulky and sometimes gaudy smartwatches, becoming more fashionable alternatives to wearable tech. A ring itself can be considered a fashion item, part of one’s jewelry, but smart rings like the Samsung Galaxy Ring opt for more discreet and minimalist designs. The idea is for these devices to get out of your way and do their jobs in the background while you wear your more luxurious bracelets and watches on your wrist. That’s not stopping the tech giant from trying to build bridges with the fashion industry, and that has given birth to one of the oddest mashups between these two worlds: smart ring-inspired luxury sleepwear.

Designer: Samsung

It’s not the first time that the tech industry has tried to make its presence and products known in the fashion world. From “accessories” like the foldable Honor V Purse to the oddities like Microsoft’s annual ugly sweaters, there are numerous examples of phones and gadgets trying to look chic, one way or another. Smartwatches themselves are supposed to be fashionable, which is why luxury brands once tried to break into that nascent market.

This collaboration between Samsung and famed luxury fashion designer LaQuan Smith, however, is both unusual yet also thankfully not as in-your-face as previous works. This piece of fashion doesn’t flaunt the Galaxy Ring in any form, but it also makes it less evident how the two are related. At New York Fashion Week next month, LaQuan Smith will showcase his Spring/Summer ’25 Collection, including the Lucid Dream line of luxury sleepwear inspired by Samsung’s latest luxurious-looking wearable.

It’s admittedly difficult to immediately discern the connection between these two very unrelated things, and the explanation is also a bit of a stretch. In a nutshell, the fashionable two-piece pajamas can be used not only in bed but also during the day, transitioning from sleepwear to daywear without having to take anything off. This, according to Samsung, echoes the Galaxy Ring’s 24/7 usability, never taking it off unless to charge it after a few days.

Of course, LaQuan Smith himself wears a Galaxy Ring all day, or so the press release states, which includes during his sleeping hours. Sleep, according to the designer, is a critical factor not just in his wellness but also in his creativity, where many of his waking designs were inspired by dreams in his sleep. Whether that will immediately make you think of Galaxy Ring-inspired pajamas is left to your imagination, but those who want a piece of this limited edition fashion item will have to wait after the event to see when and where Samsung will sell them.

The post Samsung Galaxy Ring-inspired luxury pajamas are the fashion statements no one expected first appeared on Yanko Design.

Promotion: the eighth edition of design exhibition Look Book, as part of this year’s design fair International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), hosted almost 70 brands over three days.

Located in New York City’s Javits Center, the exhibition spotlighted furniture, lighting and design objects from 19 to 21 May.

We’ve selected 15 design brands who showcased their furniture at the fair, from welded metal chairs to horse hair-adorned console tables, furniture made to look like pieces of art to functional forms with a contemporary design twist.

Sawyer Made

American chair designer Sawyer Made is based in Vermont and incorporates traditional woodworking skills to make a range of armchairs, bar stools and benches.

The handmade wooden chairs are designed to be durable and timeless in design, using ash or oak wood that has not been dried in a kiln to follow the technique known as green woodworking.

Oš Estudio

Based in Mexico City, Oš Estudio comprises designers Stephanie Fanghanel, Mauricio Vega and Miguel Ángel Carrera who aim to strike a balance between art and design when creating furniture, lighting and objects.

At this year’s Look Book, the collective displayed its Tloque series, made in collaboration with designer Taller Batán and informed by life cycles in nature.

H. Bigeleisen Designs

Characterised by bright colours and textures, Brooklyn-based Hannah Bigeleisen explores materials and form when making sculptural furniture.

Having worked with wood, fabric, glass, plastic, brass and cement, Bigeleisen’s fair showcase included the Walnut Throne, and velvet Lily and Clover pouffes.

Wren + Cooper creates modernism-inspired furniture using hardwood, focusing on functionality and craft when designing storage, tables, chairs and beds.

With each piece designed to develop a patina over years of use, the furniture is often complemented by the introduction of textures such as horse hair, leather and fabric.

Autonomous Furniture

Canadian brand Autonomous Furniture, founded by Kirk Van Ludwig, manufactures wooden furniture with glass, metal and leather elements and clean lines.

The Nieves collection – including a dining table, console table and bench – was spotlighted at the fair.

Andrew Finnigan Works

Informed by his experience with hand woodturning, Andrew Finnigan now makes wooden furniture that is “both classic and subtly unique”, he claims.

Based in the Hudson Valley in New York state, Finnigan’s collections include tables, a range of seating and coat racks.

Bestcase

Charles Constantine and Randy Rollner founded Bestcase, a studio specialising in manufacturing metal furniture using techniques such as welding, laser cutting and 3D printing.

At Look Book 2024, the designers presented their new Vice collection, including a nightstand, bench and chair.

Steph Trowbridge

Woodworker and ceramicist Steph Trowbridge crafts furniture pieces that aim to be as artistic as her design objects while also offering a functional purpose.

Trowbridge’s Look Book display included her Beaded Tables – wooden side tables that can be adorned with clay beads up the legs – as well as lighting and wall hangings.

Eric Owen Moss Home

Architect Eric Owen Moss‘s design brand offers five wooden tables, each with the same circular cut-out motif.

Owen Moss claims the furniture pieces are “developed with the same imagination, craftsmanship, and care” as his architecture practice, but are available to a broader audience.

Juntos Projects

Juntos Projects highlighted its Shadow Play collection – featuring a bench, chair and desk – at Look Book 2024, with each design aiming to utilise lighting to add further dimension to the furniture.

The studio’s name derives from the Spanish term for “together”, which it claims reflects its dedication to collaboration within its design processes.

44 Steel

Handmade in Cleveland, Ohio, 44 Steel‘s furniture is designed by Jason Radcliffe, who has established five core collections for the brand.

This year, the brand displayed its Mouse Desk, which it first showcased at the fair in 2009, along with more recent releases.

Tana Karei

Tana Karei is an interior and furniture design studio based in Mexico City that focuses on simple and elegant designs, created by sisters Norma and Cynthia Maldonado.

The duo spotlighted their Cienega and Emma chairs at this year’s exhibition and participated in a panel discussion moderated by Dezeen’s US editor Ben Dreith as part of the Look Book Live talks programme.

BNF Studio

BNF Studio‘s collections are designed and manufactured in its Chicago space, led by Ben Newman and Mary Numair.

The brand offers customisation for its clients, offering a range of woods, finishes and colours, which was shown at Look Book, where it also debuted its MT. Curve mirror.

Unform Studio

Unform Studio is the work of Ryan Twardzik, who aims to centre the brand around joyful design, local manufacturing in Pennsylvania and usability.

During the fair, Twardzik presented the pop-up collection of modular seating using a metal frame and cylindrical cushions.

Fuugs

Chairs from the Yarrow collection by Fuugs‘ founders Greg Fuguet and Kristen Snow were on display at Look Book’s 2024 edition, with each piece of furniture handmade.

Established in 2016, Fuugs uses material reclaimed from urban trees, Fuguet and Snow claim.

Photos courtesy of ICFF.

The next ICFF event will take place from 18 to 20 May 2025 in Manhattan, New York. Read Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world. Look Book is a part of Wanted (previously known as WantedDesign Manhattan). More information about Look Book and a complete list of designers can be found here.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for ICFF and Wanted as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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