Hasta La Ideas

Dezeen can exclusively reveal photos of technology company Apple‘s new events venue, which is built into the hillside at the Apple Park campus in California.

Set to officially open later today, The Observatory is the most significant building to be completed on the campus since the Steve Jobs Theater opened in 2017.

Designed “as a contemplative space”, the subterranean building will be used for launch events and to showcase the brand’s latest technology.

“When we built Apple Park, we wanted the entire campus to be seamlessly integrated into the landscape, and this building follows that same approach,” Apple global head of design (real estate and development) John De Maio told Dezeen.

“With its stunning views of the campus greenery and the mountains ringing the horizon, The Observatory truly is an extension of Apple Park, showcasing the best of California and the best of the natural environment around us,” he added.

“The building brings in the natural stone, terrazzo and wood elements that are featured in The Steve Jobs Theater and across Apple Park. It’s a design that complements both the landscape and its neighboring buildings on campus.”

The building is located to the south of the circular, Foster + Partners-designed main building in the meadows near the Steve Jobs Theater.

And much like the theatre, The Observatory is embedded into the landscape with around 90 trees removed from the site and then replanted following the building’s construction.

To enter the building, visitors travel down a curved path that leads to a domed entrance hall topped with a circular, three-metre-wide oculus, which is open to the sky.

From this antechamber, a stone sliding door leads to the main events space, which opens onto a large terrace with a “portal-like opening” that frames a view of the Apple Park landscaping and the mountains beyond.

Along with being a space for product demonstrations, Apple hopes that the building will be a space for contemplation.

“Embodying its name, The Observatory was designed as a contemplative space, optimally placed for observing the natural landscape at Apple Park and the hills beyond,” explained De Maio.

“We designed the building and its surroundings to be a welcoming space for visitors to share a wide range of new experiences,” he continued.

“Every detail of The Observatory has been carefully considered — from the materials used inside the building to the preservation of the meadow landscape. We wanted to bring care and creativity to every detail of this space, and we hope visitors can sense that when they come to enjoy Apple Park.”

Designed to complement the Foster + Partners-designed main building and Steve Jobs Theatre, The Observatory has a material pallet of natural stone, terrazzo, timber and glass. Like the other buildings on the campus, it is powered by renewable energy .

“Like all Apple spaces, The Observatory embodies Apple’s rigorous design approach to materiality and detailing,” explained De Maio.

“The Observatory builds on Apple’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity, which is factored into every aspect of Apple Park. As with all Apple facilities, The Observatory is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, including on-site solar,” he continued.

“From the selection of the concrete to the air filtration system to rainwater capture, every decision was made with the environment in mind.”

The Observatory is the latest building on the campus, which opened in 2017. The heart of the campus is the giant ring-shaped main office complex designed by Foster + Partners.

It is surrounded by 9,000 oak, redwood and other native and drought-resistant trees and other buildings, including the Apple Park Visitor Center and Steve Jobs Theater, which were also both designed by Foster + Partners.

The photography is by Apple.

The post Exclusive photos reveal Apple’s subterranean The Observatory appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen Showroom: a streamlined pendant light informed by the aerodynamic design of cars is among six new products featured on Dezeen Showroom.

La-De-Da light by Nightworks Studio

A duo of undulating aluminium fins placed one on top of the other form the sculptural shade of this pendant light developed by New Zealand brand Nightworks Studio.

The La-De-Da light is informed by the sleek nature of automotive design and comes in a selection of coloured and metallic finishes.

La-De-Da was recently featured on Dezeen Showroom alongside a window system that creates small circular openings for ventilation and a pouf that creates informal seating zones in workplace interiors.

Read on to see more of the latest products:

Poetry tile collection by STN Cerámica

Spanish company STN Cerámica has created a tile that replicates the cloudy appearance of Rapolano marble.

The Poetry tile collection comes in a selection of sizes and can be treated to achieve a tactile, three-dimensional texture.

Find out more about Poetry ›

Ublo window by Ublo

Korean start-up Ublo has created an aperture that allows for an openable porthole to be installed into otherwise fixed sheets of glazing.

The Ublo window comprises three components and is 15 centimetres in diameter. It comes with a range of lid options including ones that incorporate artwork, lighting fixtures and planters.

Find out more about Ublo ›

Marmora Nero Antico tile by Casalgrande Padana

Italian tile maker Casalgrande Padana has created a tile with a realistic marble-like appearance that can be combined with a textural, three-dimensional surface finish.

Marmora Nero Antico tiles have a dark grey background striped with white veining and come in a range of sizes and shapes.

Find out more about Marmora Nero Antico ›

Truffle pouf by NaughtOne

Contract furniture brand NaughtOne has created a series of biomorphic, pebble-like stools that can be used alone or in clusters to create informal seating arrangements.

The Truffle pouf can be upholstered in a variety of fabrics and materials to suit a spectrum of interior schemes.

Find out more about Truffle ›

Conscious collection by Carnegie

American brand Carnegie has launched four new products in its Conscious collection, which are all united by their sustainable materiality.

The collection includes fabrics for a range of purposes that come in a spectrum of colours.

Find out more about Conscious ›

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 La-De-Da light by Nightworks among six new products on Dezeen Showroom appeared first on Dezeen.

SANAA founders Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa have been named the recipients of Le Prix Charlotte Perriand for 2025 by the Créateurs Design Association & Awards.

Sejima and Nishizawa were chosen as the year’s winners for being “at the forefront of architectural innovation” and in recognition of their “minimalist yet profound designs”, said Créateurs Design Association & Awards (CDA).

The 2025 award marks the fourth edition of the competition, which was launched in 2021 by the CDA to spotlight architecture and design trailblazers and honour the legacy of French modernist Charlotte Perriand.

It is the first time the prize, also known as the Charlotte Perriand Award, has been awarded to two people.

“It is a great honour to receive an award that bears such a great name,” said Sejima and Nishizawa.

“Charlotte Perriand is one of the masters of modern architecture, and we admire her delicate interior and furniture designs.”

Sejima and Nishizawa were born in Japan in 1956 and 1966, respectively. Sejima studied at Japan Women’s University, completing an architecture master’s degree in 1981, before working for Toyo Ito and Associates.

In 1987 she started her own practice, Kazuyo Sejima & Associates, where she employed Nishizawa while he was studying architecture at Yokohama National University.

The pair founded SANAA in Tokyo in 1995. Since then, the studio has gained global recognition for projects such as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa in 2004, the New Museum of Contemporary Art in the US in 2007 and the Louvre-Lens Museum in France in 2012.

Recent projects by SANAA include the Bocconi University New Urban Campus in Italy and the Sydney Modern extension to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Sejima and Nishizawa were awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2010. Other accolades they have received include the Architectural Institute of Japan Award in 2006 and the Praemium Imperiale award for architecture in 2022.

Last year, Sejima was named the recipient of the annual Jane Drew Prize for Architecture for her contribution to raising the profile of women in architecture.

Sejima and Nishizawa will receive Le Prix Charlotte Perriand at the Créateurs Design Awards ceremony, which will take place in Paris on 18 January 2025.

Last year’s winner was Mexican architect Frida Escobedo, who was chosen by the CDA for “ushering in a new era of architecture”. In 2023, Studio Gang director Jeanne Gang won the prize and was celebrated for her design of Aqua Tower, which was once the world’s tallest building designed by a woman.

The portrait of Sejima and Nishizawa is by SANAA.

The post SANAA’s Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa win Le Prix Charlotte Perriand appeared first on Dezeen.

Wood is a wonderful and preferred material choice for furniture designers since like forever. And no wonder! There’s something about wood that instantly adds a sense of zen and calm to any living space it is placed into. It puts your mind at ease while managing to radiate a feeling of warmth and tranquility. It’s a minimal material that holds a strong personality without any additional frills and tassels. I truly believe a well-crafted piece of wooden furniture can add a magical touch to even the simplest of living spaces. Minimal, clean, and almost always soothing, beautifully designed wooden furniture helps add the ultimate finishing touch to a room. We’ve curated a collection of wholesome wooden furniture designs for you – from a dice-inspired wooden furniture design to a desk that transforms from a work of art into a functional table.

1. Flow Wall Desk

Dubbed the Flow Wall Desk, this one-of-a-kind furniture design is functional and decorative. The desk has a basic design philosophy, making it a great fit for corporate and home offices with space constraints. The desk is also pretty eco-friendly since it has been constructed from wood.

Why is it noteworthy?

Amped with a flexible and unique form, the Flow Wall Desk can be stored and folded away when not used. When folded away, the desk seems like a visually intriguing piece of wall art. When you unfold it, it resembles a spring caterpillar which functions as a desk for you to read, work, and write on.

What we like

• Multifunctional and eco-friendly furniture design
• Equipped with a convenient flatpack form

What we dislike

• Since you need to fold and unfold the desk, you don’t have a constant setup

2. KURVE Furniture

Called the KURVE furniture collection, this minimal wooden furniture design utilizes only curves in its form. The curves are wrapped around a space, forming a hollow nook for your stuff. You can use the hollow space to place your belongings – ranging from books to accessories to shoes as well.

Why is it noteworthy?

The KURVE chair is throne-like and has no legs. It is equipped with a curved backless box for its bottom half. The furniture design is interesting since the arms, backrest, and seat are built from a single sheet of layered plywood. The sheet is bent on the back and sides, building the chair.

What we like

• Merges well with different living spaces
• You can place it near your entryway to easily store keys and shoes

What we dislike

• The aesthetics are pretty simple, and may not be preferred by everyone

3. Flat Stool

Designed by Joao Teixeria, this flat-packed furniture design is made using no extra parts, no screws, and no glue even! It still serves as a multifunctional furniture design with a unique and appealing aesthetic, unlike those mass-produced flat-packed furniture products we tend to come across in the market.

Why is it noteworthy?

What makes the stool pretty unique is how the sides can curve and bend, even though it is flat-packed. Named the Flat Stool, it uses a pretty unconventional design and even uses kerf bending on the bent areas to build a gentle curve, making it seem like the piece was shipped like that from the start.

What we like

• The kerfs and ribs serve as visual accents making the stool look pretty interesting

What we dislike

• It is a conceptual design, so we don’t know how well it will translate into a tangible product

4. Dice

Dubbed Dice, this innovative furniture piece is designed by Zurich-based Kosmos Architects. The design can be used as a stool, coffee table, leg bench, and lamp. You can turn the piece in different ways, to use it as any of the furniture variants. The piece’s multifunctionality is where the dice reference comes in.

Why is it noteworthy?

Inspired by the various numbers and dots on a dice, the Dice furniture has a four-in-one piece which makes it quite similar to a dice, although it looks nothing like one. The Dice is portable and can be moved from one place to another with ease.

What we like

• 3D-printed through KUKA robotics technology
• Looks like a wooden sculpture when not being used

What we dislike

• The aesthetics are pretty unique and eccentric, and may not be preferred by everyone

5. Altitude Shelf

Named the Altitude Shelf, this minimal and clean shelving design by Evan Clabots is inspired by lines and the simple form of traditional Japanese woodworking. It serves as a nifty storage solution that is functional and influenced by Japanese aesthetics. It is eco-friendly as well since it has a wooden ethos.

Why is it noteworthy?

Drawing inspiration from Japanese furniture design, the Altitude Shelf also has hints of traditional Danish furniture. Amped by minimal lines, and the lack of a back panel, the design is quite open and free-flowing.

What we like

• Serves as a modular design inspired by Japanese and Danish furniture

What we dislike

• Bulky space-consuming design, not well-suited for homes with space constraints

The post Top 5 Minimalist Wooden Furniture Designs To Enhance Your Home Decor first appeared on Yanko Design.

At IFA 2024, it became clearer than ever: traditional TVs might be yesterday’s news. As home theaters evolve, the focus is shifting from bulky flat screens to sleek, powerful projectors that deliver a true cinematic experience right in your living room. The days of settling for a fixed screen size, limited by where you can hang a TV, are being replaced by projectors that offer flexibility, portability, and, thanks to innovations like 4K laser technology, image quality that rivals—and in some cases surpasses—what any high-end TV can deliver.

Projectors have come a long way from the dim, pixelated displays many still associate with them. Today’s models, especially those from companies like JMGO, are becoming the go-to choice for those looking to upgrade their home entertainment setups. Whether you’re a movie buff, gamer, or just someone who wants a more immersive experience, projectors have quickly gained ground. They offer more screen for your buck, and when it comes to high-definition, they’re not cutting any corners.

That was the vibe at IFA 2024 when JMGO introduced the N1S Ultimate 4K and N1S Pro 4K projectors—both packed with features designed to take advantage of this projector renaissance. Powered by their patented MALC 2.0 Triple Laser Optics technology, these devices prove that projectors aren’t just an alternative to TVs anymore—they might just be the future of home entertainment.

Designer: JMGO

A Deep Dive into MALC 2.0 Technology

One of the key highlights of the N1S Ultimate is JMGO’s proprietary MALC (Multi-Layer Adaptive Laser Control) 2.0 Triple Laser Optics. According to JMGO, the typical trade-off in laser projection—where increasing brightness tends to compromise color accuracy and contrast—has been successfully tackled through MALC 2.0. This system delivers exceptional brightness without sacrificing visual quality, offering users a seamless experience.

The N1S Ultimate 4K projector is capable of producing a whopping 3500 ANSI lumens, which ensures vivid picture quality even in environments with high ambient light. Coupled with a 1600:1 contrast ratio and 110% BT.2020 color coverage, the N1S Ultimate is designed to deliver stunning visuals that don’t lose their luster in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. With an ∆E (Delta E) of less than 1, the color accuracy is spot-on, ensuring faithful reproduction of even the most subtle shades. This combination of brightness, contrast, and color precision makes the N1S Ultimate ideal for both daytime viewing and cinematic experiences.

The JMGO N1S Pro (left) versus JMGO N1S Ultimate (right)

N1S Ultimate vs. N1S Pro: What Sets Them Apart?

While both the N1S Ultimate and N1S Pro share JMGO’s MALC 2.0 technology, there are notable differences between the two models that will help users decide which one fits their needs better. The N1S Pro, positioned as a more budget-friendly option, offers 2400 ANSI lumens, compared to the 3500 lumens of the Ultimate. This difference in brightness may be a key factor for users who need a projector for bright rooms or daytime use.

However, both projectors maintain the same level of contrast (1600:1) and color performance, which speaks volumes about JMGO’s commitment to delivering a high-quality experience across their product range. Whether you choose the Pro or the Ultimate, you’ll get stunning visuals with a ∆E of less than 1 and 110% BT.2020 color accuracy, which ensures rich, lifelike images.

Versatility in Every Direction: The Iconic Gimbal

One feature that sets the JMGO N1S series apart is its integrated gimbal design, first introduced in 2022. This allows the projectors to pan 360 degrees and tilt 135 degrees, making it incredibly easy to adjust the projection angle. Whether you want to project on the ceiling for a laid-back movie night or angle it toward a wall to create an impromptu gaming setup, the gimbal provides exceptional flexibility.

This design also adds a futuristic touch to the device, setting it apart from conventional projectors that require cumbersome setups or fixed installations. JMGO’s emphasis on creating a portable and versatile entertainment device shines through in the N1S Ultimate, positioning it as an ideal choice for users who value both style and functionality.

A New Kind of Home Entertainment Ecosystem

Beyond the hardware, JMGO has integrated Google TV into both models, providing access to a wide range of streaming services, including certified options like Netflix. This makes the N1S projectors a true all-in-one entertainment solution—no external streaming devices are needed. Whether you’re watching a movie, streaming a TV series, or projecting a home video, everything is seamlessly managed from the projector itself.

Pricing and Availability

Both the N1S Ultimate and N1S Pro are now available on Amazon in the U.S. and across Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The N1S Ultimate 4K is priced at $2,799 in the U.S. and €2,999 in Europe, while the N1S Pro 4K comes in at $1,999 or €2,299, offering a more affordable option for those who don’t require the full brightness of the Ultimate.

The post JMGO’s N1S Ultimate Could Make Your TV Obsolete: The Future of Home Projection at IFA 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.