Hasta La Ideas

As part of an installation for Paris Design Week, French design studio Uchronia has taken over the forecourt of the Hôtel de la Marine with a monumental bed that homages the hotel’s 18th-century interiors.

Titled Day Bed, the installation is situated just off the Place de la Concorde in Paris and takes the form of a tiled four-poster bed, complete with curtains and an upholstered headboard, accessed via two large steps.

Day Bed is a homage to the hotel’s Indenants’ Apartments, once belonging to the intendant of the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, which managed the furniture of the French royal household and would later become the Mobilier National.

“Each apartment showcases sumptuous beds adorned with intricate details and vibrant drapes, all contributing to a truly captivating atmosphere,” Uchronia’s designer Clémentine Bricard told Dezeen. “Every element, down to the smallest detail, sparked our imagination.”

The bed is clad almost entirely in ceramic tiles by Dutch company Palet, characterised by their vibrant colours and gradient patterns.

“We wanted to give a contemporary approach to the bed, so ceramic tiles were an obvious choice for the project,” Bricard said.

The tiles feature tones of red, orange, pink and blue, helping the installation stand out against the neutral backdrop of the hotel. The colours also reflect those found in the actual Indenants’ apartments.

“The blue comes from Madame Thierry de Ville d’Avray’s state bedroom, the red from the Salon Diplomatique and the yellow from Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville-d’Avray’s study,” said Bricard.

Curtains are draped from the four-post structure, with curved patterns designed by French brand Casamance.

Selected from the brand’s outdoor collection, the fabrics are made with UV-resistant ink to maintain their colours and patterns, which add to the installation’s graphic appeal.

“The design is perfect for the curtains to add a ripple to the structure,” Bricard said.

The fabric used to form the bed sheets and upholstered headboard was also sourced from the outdoor collection, featuring a blue wave motif against a white backcloth.

A fan produced by Parisan fan manufacturer Duvelleroy is suspended above the bed, “as if its owner were going to lie down in bed and fan herself a little,” Bricard said.

“We wanted to create a poetic dimension by including the fan, with its lightness floating in the air,” she explained.

Golden curtain holders were used to embellish the bedposts and blue cloud-shaped cushions were placed on the bed for added comfort.

The installation also includes six cuboid-shaped benches that surround the bed, covered in paint by American company Tonester that was colour-matched to the tiles.

The Day Bed was designed and produced in collaboration with French bed brand Treca, which built the bed and its headboard, while the installation structure was built by fabricator Studio Gaïa.

Creating work for the Hôtel de la Marine fulfilled longstanding ambitions for Uchronia’s design team, born from a visit and tour of the Indenants’ apartments.

“We were absolutely enchanted by the Hôtel de la Marine,” Bricard said. “It was a cherished dream of ours to take over this space.”

Uchronia hopes that the piece can spark opportunities for young designers to work in the public spaces of Paris. “It’s important to have a new generation to rethink the city and it’s public space,” said Bricard.

Day Bed is on display until 22 September as part of Paris Design Week, which takes place each year around the Maison&Objet trade fair.

Uchronia usually works in the world of interiors and was named emerging interior design studio of the year at the 2023 Dezeen Awards, with projects spread across the French capital including a coffee shop and a colourful renovation for a Haussmann-era apartment.

The London Design Festival takes place from 14 to 22 September 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world. 

The post Uchronia creates giant four-poster bed for Paris Design Week appeared first on Dezeen.

There’s no other way to describe the Trinity Laptop Sleeve than to use the words ‘sheer genius’. A simple origami-inspired sleeve, the Trinity shapeshifts into 5 different forms, going from a portfolio cover to a vertical stand, a 15° angled dock, a 30° angled dock, or even a handheld carry-case. No hinges, no fancy mechanisms. Just some really great design thinking and flawlessly simple execution.

As a laptop user myself, I have two stands (one with a cooling fan, and another made of metal). I also happen to have a separate laptop sleeve, a laptop bag, and I’m currently on the market for a laptop stand that I can use to stash my laptop vertically on my workplace to cut the visual clutter. I’ve described 5 products in just the last two sentences, all of which exist as separate entities, perform separate roles, and aren’t connected to each other. The folks at SleekStrip very casually changed that. The Trinity is an incredibly simple laptop sleeve that lets you carry, dock, or prop up your laptop. Its patented design is made to hold slim laptops (working with all Apple MacBook models from recent years), protecting it from bumps and scratches while you carry it around either independently or inside a laptop bag. When the time comes to use the laptop, you can either open up the Trinity and dock your laptop vertically (sort of like the Nintendo Switch), or use the Trinity as an angled laptop stand.

Designer: Stella Chang Chien of SleekStrip

Click Here to Buy Now: $63 $80 (21% off). Hurry, only 3/45 left!

The Trinity was made for the minimalist who appreciates a bit of multifunction. You don’t NEED to own a bulky laptop stand along with a separate case, dock, etc. With just clever thinking and a bit of inspiration from the art of origami, it’s entirely possible to build a product that serves all those purposes – and serves them well. The fact that the sleeve has 5 functions in 1 would justifiably have you wonder whether it actually compromises somewhere, but truth be told, it really doesn’t. Each feature, be it the sleeve itself, or the dock, or the stand, is immaculate. When carrying your laptop, the Trinity gives it ample protection. When in vertical dock mode, it has enough space for proper airflow. And when used as an angled stand, the Trinity gives you not one, but TWO angle options (with the second one also providing a wrist-pad to rest your hands while typing).

Constructed with a hard shell exterior, the Trinity sleeve provides robust protection against bumps and scratches. The inner lining, made from soft, anti-slip vegan leather, ensures that the laptop stays secure and scratch-free. Additionally, the sleeve incorporates inner foam bumpers that absorb shocks and facilitate better heat dissipation when the laptop is in vertical stand mode. The outer shell is crafted from premium water-resistant vegan leather, offering a sleek, durable surface that can withstand daily wear and tear while maintaining an elegant appearance.

Embedded magnets allow for seamless transitions between the Trinity’s various modes. These magnets are strategically placed to enable quick and easy adjustments, whether you’re switching to a vertical stand to save desk space or adjusting the tilt for more comfortable typing. This level of convenience, combined with the product’s minimalist aesthetic, makes the Trinity sleeve a compelling choice for those who prioritize both form and function in their workspace.

The Trinity sleeve comes in two sizes – for 13-14 inch and 15-16 inch laptops. The smaller sleeve is offered in three colors — Midnight Black, Pebble Gray, and Slate Blue, while the larger 15-16 inch version is exclusively available in Midnight Black, reinforcing its sleek and professional look. Despite its multifunctional design, the Trinity sleeve remains lightweight and portable, making it an ideal companion for on-the-go professionals who need to maintain a tidy and efficient workspace wherever they are.

Click Here to Buy Now: $63 $80 (21% off). Hurry, only 3/45 left!

The post This Brilliant 5-in-1 Laptop Case + Stand will have you throw out every other laptop accessory you own first appeared on Yanko Design.

They say history always repeats itself. Vinyls are making a comeback right now, which means in a few years cassettes and CDs will make a resurgence all over again, and when compact discs do enter the mainstream, you’re going to be glad you had this cute CD player from Semetor. Spotted on the floor at IFA 2024, the K8 is a playfully retro CD player that embraces the design aesthetic of European appliances in the 50s. Designed with an open top that allows the CD to sit on its platter like a vinyl on a gramophone, the K8 comes with a few translucent typewriter-inspired buttons that let you control music playback. But wait, it’s 2024, and just being a CD player obviously won’t cut it… which is why the K8 also has an FM radio, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless speaker, and even an ambient lamp built into its adorable design.

Designer: Semetor

The K8 isn’t a cutting-edge CD player… but it’s cute. It has the adorable demeanor of one of lofree‘s older products, with its retro aesthetic that’s brought about by its rounded form and use of pastel shades. What instantly grabs your eye first is the open-top CD player. While most players usually conceal the CD within a casing, this one does not. You see the CD spin as you play music, and the disc’s radial spectral finish looks absolutely gorgeous.

Playback is easy. For running a CD, just hit the CD button on the panel, and use the controls below to play/pause, or skip tracks. A BT/FM button lets you toggle the Bluetooth player or FM radio. Backlights in the button glow to let you know which mode you’re in, and a seven-segment LCD screen on the bottom allows you to see things like track number (for CDs) or radio station (for FM). A gold-plated ‘gear’ on the right side lets you switch on or off the K8.

If all that wasn’t enough, the K8 also packs a warm glow-light for ambient lighting. Hit the button on the top right and a halo around the CD player lights up. It isn’t enough to light a room, but it does bestow a warm wash of golden light in the immediate vicinity, perfect for late-night listening. Pair it with a nice soft jazz CD and you’re absolutely set!

The post This Retro Open-front CD Player also has an Ambient Lamp, FM Radio, and Bluetooth Speaker first appeared on Yanko Design.

A bench wrapped in pool noodles and lamps informed by New York’s awnings were among the objects shown at the first US edition of the European design fair Collectible.

Collectible showcases design and was previously held solely in Brussels before founders Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisber announced a New York City edition.

New York’s fair was held at arts hub WSA in Downtown Manhattan and displayed objects from over 100 international designers and featured local curator Emily Marant as a director, as well as several guest curators.

The work was spread over two floors and organised into different sections. The fair was on the third and fourth floors in WSA’s skyscraper building, with the different booths and exhibitions occupying the whole of the building, which features tile floors and exposed mechanical systems.

A “logical step” for the fair

New York was a logical next step for Collectible given its “dynamic spirit”, according to Debehault and Vaisber.

“We have been wanting to expand Collectible to North America for a while,” they told Dezen. “We looked at many different cities with rich design communities and New York’s dynamic spirit of constant creativity and innovation stood out to us.”

“As we know, New York is never simply one thing, this city is a melting pot of varying cultures, ideas, and influences, thus creating a perfect foundation for creativity to thrive.”

Exhibitions included pieces from local designers and studios such as Dong-Ping Wong, Hannah Bigeleisen and Studio S II and international counterparts including Golem and Max Radford Gallery.

“Combining Europe’s narrative- and material-oriented design evolution with America’s craftsmanship and fluidity across fields such as design, art, and fashion has proved to be a truly compelling mix,” said the founders.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what more the two scenes can learn from one another.”

Read on for nine highlights from the show.

Move a Little Bit Further by Garza Studio

Mexico-based Garza Studio created a solid aluminium bench topped with a shallow trough of steel bearing balls that support two, thin circular seats.

According to founder Leonardo Garza, the design allows for two people to glide towards and away from one another to represent the “functions” in human relationships.

The Ephemeral Table by Fefostudio and Kamilla Csegzi

Local design firm Fefostudio and architect Kamilla Csegzi created a large table out of mycelium substrate and other organic waste, including paper and leaves.

A series of holes were carved out of the table’s surface that were used as moulds to form a collection of amber-coloured glassware, which sits in various orientations on top.

Lazy Swim Bench by Laura Dominici and Basil Schu

Austrian designer and artist Laura Dominici and Basil Schu collaborated on the Lazy Swim bench, which they made using a stainless steel frame and pool noodles.

The top portion of the frame is the exact proportions used for pool ladder railings, while the bottom half was stretched forward to create a seat.

Domenica table by Federica Zama

Italian designer Federica Zama created the Domenica table, a small breakfast table topped with stainless steel rods that hold a hard-boiled egg, a vase, a teacup and a saucer.

Zama scorched the stainless steel top with an oxyacetylene torch, warping and colouring the metal with iridescent splotches to create a “colourful, fluttering tablecloth”.

JoJo Chaise by Dean & Dahl 

The JoJo Chaise by Gabriel and Brooke Anderson of New York studio Dean & Dahl was part of the booth for local gallery Tuleste Factory and consists of four amoeba-like layers of industrial plaster topped with a mohair cushion in ascending shades of purple.

“Drawing inspiration from the fluid, organic contours of the human body, the piece blurs the line between functional furniture and sculptural art,” said the team.

Palace Stool by Manifold 

Yihan Chen and Fengyi Zhu of New York studio Manifold displayed four pieces of furniture made with stainless steel and aluminium frames topped with soft blue, pink, brown and creme cushions.

For the Palace Stool, the pair created a hand-bent and welded metal frame adorned with small peace and heart symbols and a leather seat to create silhouettes informed by visits to China. 

Untitled Column and Don’t Wanna Know by NJ Roseti and Caleb Ferris

In a section curated by San Francisco-based studio Studio Ahead, New York-based designers NJ Roseti and Caleb Ferris created a pair of columns to “present their own interpretation of an architectural column”. 

Roseti’s collumn juxtaposes “ornate, detailed craftsmanship of wood” with contemporary forms, while Ferris represents New York’s energy and mystery with carved maple appliqués, following the designer’s recent return to the city. 

Speakers by Silence Please

Speaker design studio Silence Please showcased its distinctive speakers, which are amplified with “horns”.

Its main exhibition was “completely analogue” and consisted of a vinyl player and rotary mixer surrounded by two blocks of speakers that deliver “stadium-sized sound” with “very low power”.

Kite lamp by Tang Badham

Shawn Tang and Sachio Badham of New York studio Tang Badham presented two lamps, each with geometric shades that reference the many awnings found throughout New York’s Chinatown neighbourhood.

Standing waist high, the Kite lamp is made with an aluminium and steel frame with a bright yellow, vinyl covering. Alongside the Pine wall sconce, the pieces reflect a “delicacy and resilience” that the design studio said it tries to imbue throughout its work.

The post Nine highlights from Collectible design fair in New York City appeared first on Dezeen.

If Steve Jobs ever knew that YouTube creators would someday run Android on an iPhone and bag a Guinness World Record for it, he probably would have never created an iPhone in the first place. Thankfully there are iPhones – in fact, iPhone 16 lineup is slated for launch today – and we get to see a giant functional replica of the currently top-of-the-line iPhone that measures 6.74 feet tall and weighs roughly 440 pounds.

If you are a DIYer or a tech aficionado there is a slim chance you haven’t heard of Matthew Perks and Arun Maini. The high-profile YouTubers, a.k.a. “DIY Perks” and “Mrwhosetheboss” respectively, have partnered to build a gigantic working replica of an iPhone 15 Pro Max. This humongous iPhone definitely destroys the very idea of a handheld phone, but despite its astounding size, it is immensely functional; which is why it has been adjudged the largest iPhone ever and awarded the official Guinness World Records for the same.

Designers: Arun Maini x Matthew Perks

From the videos about the making and the demonstration of its functionality for the record, I was convinced this is a way more powerful iPhone than Apple would ever make. But the excitement diminished slightly on learning that this Gulliver of iPhones in the Lilliput Island of smartphones runs Android with few tweaks and themed skin to achieve the iPhone appearance and functionality.

Taking nothing away from this highly detailed smartphone build: I’m back and impressed! And why not, this entire thing is built to the tune of $70,000. The construction starts with a massive LG 88-inch LG OLED TV for the touchscreen display, placed inside a specially designed aluminum casing. The hardware inside is no way short of impressive either.

Without going too much into detail, for that you’d enjoy better in the descriptive video above, this big iPhone comes with 128GB of RAM and 4TB of internal storage. The tipple camera array on the back is topped by a 45MP Canon R5 camera, sporting a 28mm lens, and a Sony RX10 Mark 4 to mimic the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto lens. With the details on the screen and in the body matching that off the inspiration iPhone, the largest iPhone can take impressive photos, recording 8K resolution videos, blast music at 50W, send emails, tap-to-pay for purchases, and even play Flappy Bird that iPhones haven’t been able to download in a decade now.

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