Hasta La Ideas

Campers provide a haven to continue your adventures, no matter the weather conditions or terrain. We’ve seen innumerable examples of stellar off-road campers, ones fitted with luxury that would put any apartment to shame, and some that break the convention with their innovative design.

Meet the T1 micro camper by Michigan-based startup Grounded, which is an odd combination of an e-trike and tractor-trailer. This has to be a one-of-a-kind micro camper, and Grounded’s claim as the world’s first trike camper cements the fact. The concept is based on the company’s flexible camper module that can be towed with a range of vehicles. This contraption for electric tricycle hauling is one of them.

Designer: Grounded

The micro camper is 44 inches wide which makes the interiors crammed for room but still good enough for short adventure trips to places that don’t warrant enough space for big or even normal-sized campers. Standing height of 6.7 feet up to the ceiling should however be roomy enough for tall people. The camper should be good enough for a single person or a couple given the interior carpet area is around 280-cu-ft. Driving the thing around isn’t going to be a rosy ride as the driver is seated outside the cozy interiors of the camper. Keep inclement weather conditions and safety in mind.

360-degree panoramic windows on all sides keep the space well-lit and airy, and the wide door entry somewhat compensates for the cramped interior space. For two people the micro-camper comes with a full-length double bed that doubles as a two-person dining table. Opposite this convertible bed is a compact kitchenette that has its own induction cooker, fridge and sink. Grounded also gives the users the option to fit the thing with an optional dry flush toilet and outdoor shower. For quality-of-life additions, the maker fits the camper with a full range of electronics controlled via the companion app.

T1 micro camper comes with 500 Watts roof-mounted solar panels, and boasts an overall range of 150 miles on a single full charge. The 15-kWh battery feeds all the camping amenities and of course the trike’s 750-W electric drivetrain. The electric drive system creates 390 lb-ft of torque for respectable muscle while pulling the loaded trailer. However, the top speed of 15 mph will keep you limited to the city outskirts. Grounded has opened a $100 preorder booking for the micro camper, and confirms that the T1 micro will launch in the Northern Hemisphere in spring 2025. The starting price of $30,000 should call out all solo travelers who want to explore city limits.

The post This e-trike micro camper loaded with smart features is a handful to drive around first appeared on Yanko Design.

A circular courtyard for gazing up at the stars sits at the centre of this stone-clad holiday home in Mexico, which has been designed by Guatemalan practice YDR Studio.

Named Casa Suna, the 700-square-metre home sits between the sea and mountains in La Ribera, and has been finished in a palette of pale stone and timber in order to visually complement the surrounding, sandy landscape.

“The core concept for the design was to create a seamless integration with its diverse landscape, which includes beach dunes, desert vegetation, and mountains,” YDR Studio founder Yolanda De Rueda told Dezeen.

“The design emphasised a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, using materials that complemented the local environment,” she added.

Set back from the road, the home is accessed via a pale concrete path that leads between a service house and garage and across a large, “desert-inspired” courtyard planted with cacti.

The axis of this path leads directly into the heart of the home, where the circular courtyard features a stepped seating area around a central fire pit and connects to a living, dining and kitchen area through a large set of folding wooden doors.

Facing the beach, a wall of full-height windows provides this living area and the main bedroom with panoramic views, as well as access onto a concrete terrace finished with seating and hammocks and a stepping-stone like patio and swimming pool.

“A distinctive circular patio serves as the home’s centrepiece, featuring a fire pit and circular sofa for relaxation, meditation, and social gatherings. Its open design frames the night sky, creating an ideal setting for stargazing,” Rueda told Dezeen.

“The front of the property extends to the beach with a spacious terrace where sculptural concrete cubes form the pool, jacuzzi, and steps that lead directly to the sand, ensuring a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living.”

“These sculptural blocks, reminiscent of playful beach memories, unite the house with the sea in a fun and functional manner,” she added.

The bedrooms wrap two sides of the central courtyard, positioned to offer views both towards the beach and across the courtyard at the front of the home.

The gently sloping roof of Casa Suna is punctured by several small, round skylights that pull light into the bathrooms and bedrooms, while a roof terrace above the living area provides panoramic views out towards the mountains.

The neutral tones of the home’s local stone and concrete exterior are carried through to the interiors, with pale painted walls, stone finishes in the bathrooms and dark wood accents.

“Local stone and beige concrete reflect the natural hues of the sand, while warm wooden accents echo the desert environment. Travertine marble in the bathrooms adds an elegant touch, ensuring consistency with the overall material palette,” said Rueda.

Other homes recently completed in Mexico include a secluded retreat by Carlos H Matos, finished with thick, sculptural walls of ochre-coloured concrete.

The photography is by Luz Imelda Castillo.

The post YDR Studio organises house in Mexico around stargazing courtyard appeared first on Dezeen.

A wave-like reservoir made of concrete and elevated on nine columns forms Våga Water Tower, which Swedish studio White Arkitekter has created in Varberg, Sweden.

Situated on a hill in the village of Träslöv, Våga Water Tower has been built to meet the increasing water demand of the municipality, which has experienced rapid population growth since the year 2000.

White Arkitekter‘s primary goal for the tower was to create a functional yet sculptural landmark for the area, given the visibility of its elevated site from the E6 motorway and nearby houses.

The studio said it hopes this will showcase “a new way to design water towers”, which are typically cylindrical in shape, and demonstrate that infrastructure can also have aesthetic value.

“Våga holds a prominent place in the landscape, but the tower is also designed to be appreciated up close,” said studio architect Agnes Orstadius.

“Our ambition was to create a structure that will stand for centuries and always remain beautiful.”

White Arkitekter first revealed its design for Våga Water Tower in 2018 after winning an invited competition held by the municipal water company Vivab.

The competition called for a landmark structure that could be built entirely of concrete and hold 10,000 cubic metres of water – five times the capacity of the original tower.

White Arkitekter’s design was selected for its long undulating form, which measures 187 metres in length and nine in width, and pays homage to the coastal setting of Varberg.

The studio appropriately named it Våga after the Swedish word for wave, which can also mean dare.

“The sleek, elongated form represents innovative thinking about what a water tower can be while maintaining functionality and ease of maintenance,” said Vivab representative Margareta Björksund-Tuominen.

Våga Water Tower’s undulating, concrete reservoir is supported by nine slender columns, with the central one slightly widened to house an elevator and staircase.

The reservoir itself is divided into eight segments each with a concave facade, designed to create decorative play of light and shadow over the day.

“All these elements – the slender shape, wave motif, concave facade and interplay of shadows – make the tower appear entirely different depending on the time of day and viewing angle,” said lead architect Per Hultcrantz. “This dynamic ensures the tower never ceases to surprise.”

The concrete structure was cast against form-plywood sheets to achieve a smooth finish, with all the joints deliberately and carefully aligned “for a harmonious overall impression”.

This clean-cut aesthetic is furthered by plugs in the holes left from the formwork ties, which the studio said helps with “eliminating unwanted shadow effects”.

Våga Water Tower sits beside an existing land plateau, which has been retained to create an accessible viewpoint of the structure, where visitors can also enjoy distant views out to sea.

Completing the project is a landscape of wildflowers, sown beneath the tower with Varberg’s municipal ecologist, while the service road takes the form of a deliberately simple gravel path.

White Arkitekter was founded in 1951 in Gothenburg by Sidney White. Today it is headed up by Alexandra Hagen, who has overseen recent projects by the studio including a hyperboloid observation tower in Sweden and the regeneration of a London housing estate.

Other water towers featured on Dezeen include a mesh-covered structure supported on angular legs by V+ and Mathias Klotz’s funnel-shaped reservoir in Chile.

The photography is by Anna Kristinsdóttir and the drone photography is by Joacim Winqvist.

The post White Arkitekter completes sculptural water tower “that will stand for centuries” appeared first on Dezeen.

Finnish airline Finnair has unveiled new lounge areas at Helsinki Airport, envisioned by local designer Joanna Laajisto to combine Nordic style and comfort.

Laajisto led the conversion of the airport’s former congress centre to give Finnair a more generous lounge offering for first- and business-class travellers flying within the border-free Schengen Area.

Her scheme showcases Finnish designers and brands from past and present alongside others across the Nordics, aiming to create a sense of understated luxury.

“Today’s luxury is about functional and calming spaces where you can spend a moment surrounded by understated, elegant design,” said Laajisto.

“Our goal was to create spaces that allow travellers to relax and let their shoulders drop.”

The palette combines soft shapes, a mix of warm tones and deeper colour shades, granite stone surfaces and plenty of natural wood.

Echoing the curved furniture, Laajisto designed new ceilings that take cues from aeroplane cabins, improving acoustics while offering a greater sense of intimacy.

“We introduced softness through shapes and materials to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere,” said Laajisto.

“We wanted to make the Finnair brand appear softer, so the white shade is warmer than the typical Finnair white and we introduced texture with fabrics, wall elements and Finnish stone,” she told Dezeen.

The hand-carved wooden Traces table by Finnish designer-maker Antrei Hartikainen marks the entrance to the main lounge area, which is open to business class travellers and Finnair Plus Gold members.

A curved wall of iridescent tiles leads through to a more exclusive area for Platinum and Platinum Lumo cardholders, framed by heavy, sound-absorbing curtains. Both tiles and curtains match the deep blue tone of the Finnair logo.

The lounge is divided into three zones: an airy cafe serving food and drink, a casual living-room-style space filled with relaxed seating, plus a study and work area featuring soundproofed booths and bar seating.

Standout furniture pieces include Thomas Sandell’s Goma bar chair designed by Finnish brand Made by Choice, Louise Liljencrantz’s Margas LC2 lounge chair by Danish brand &Tradition and the Biennale stool by Kari Virtanen for Finnish brand Nikari.

The design also includes a series of Artek‘s 1960s Karuselli chairs, retained from the previous lounge, which were reupholstered to look as good as new.

“We wanted to introduce the lesser-known choices from Finnish design along with the classics,” Laajisto said.

These are accompanied by lighting designs such as the 1950s Cobra wall lamp designed by Greta Magnusson and produced by Danish brand Gubi and the w163 Lampyre designed by Inga Sempé for Swedish brand Wästberg.

“We paid special attention to the lighting to make it soft and comfortable, but to provide light where it was needed,” added the designer. “I believe a good ambience needs light and shadow in good balance.”

Laajisto won the Finnair commission after topping a design competition held by the airline in 2023.

The designer has worked on numerous high-profile projects in Finland, including the Finnish Design Shop headquarters and the Helsinki store of fashion label Nanso.

Finnair previously revamped its lounges for non-Schengen flights, which opened in 2019.

The photography is by Mikko Ryhänen.

The post Joanna Laajisto brings classic and “lesser-known” Finnish design to Helsinki Airport lounge appeared first on Dezeen.

Family dinners are more than just meals; they’re moments of connection, joy, and shared experiences. I love family dinners because they’re a chance to reconnect with your family and discuss what happened throughout the day. To make these gatherings truly special, having the right kitchen and tableware essentials is crucial. We have curated a collection of the top 5 designs that will elevate your family dinners, each bringing a unique blend of functionality and style to your dining table.

If you’re looking to upgrade your family dinner style, these five kitchen and tableware essentials not only enhance the functionality of your family dinners but also add a touch of elegance and style to your dining experience. By incorporating these products into your routine, you can create memorable meals that bring your family closer together.

1. Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors

When you’re dining with your family, you definitely need a pair of sturdy meat shears. Called the Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors, these scissors are a versatile tool created to make food prep easy. They feature sharp, curved, and serrated blades that are ideal for cutting through meats, veggies, and even pizza! They feature an elegant black finish, making them a sophisticated and aesthetic addition to your dining table.

The ergonomic build ensures the blades don’t touch any surfaces when placed down, hence ensuring hygiene and cleanliness. If you’re preparing a family dinner or even hosting an intimate gathering, these scissors will help you deal with culinary tasks with precision and ease.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors can streamline food preparation and serving during family dinners. Their sharp blades make cutting meat and other ingredients quick and easy, reducing prep time and allowing you to focus on enjoying the meal with your loved ones. The scissors’ elegant appearance means they can be used directly at the dining table for serving, adding a touch of style to your dinner presentation.

What we like

• The serrated blades make cutting through various foods quick and easy.
• The elegant black finish adds a touch of sophistication to your kitchen.

What we dislike

• The sharp blades require careful handling to avoid accidents.
• Regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary to keep the blades in optimal condition.

2. Smart Tea Pot

Sitting around a table, sipping on tea is one of the best ways to connect as a family. The simple act of a warm brew somehow helps us step away from the daily grind along with the consistent pings of your phone notifications. The only thing that can distract from this experience is sipping a tea that is not brewed as well. That’s where the Smart Tea Pot comes in. This tea pot’s revolutionary technology transforms every your tea, making every moment a song of flavor and aroma.

The Smart Tea Pot achieves this by connecting the tea type to the brewing process it needs. And it’s not just about the tea, it’s also about the person drinking it – which is why this tea pot measures the users heart rate, finger temperature along with the conditions around you to tailor your tea for you. With this precision, when you do take a break, this smart tea pot ensures you get the best quality of your brew to amplify the zen-ness of that moment.

Click Here to Buy Now: $349.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Smart Tea Pot boasts a patented rotary brewing system that replicates the nuanced wrist movements of a Japanese tea brewer as they practice their craft. The result is a rich and full bodied tea that delivers the perfect aroma and taste your tea time deserves. The tea pot also has a vast database that logs in an array of teas – from green tea to herbal tea.

What we like

• The Tea Pot designs a personalised experienced – taking your tea type from the app, your environment and your personal status to craft the perfect brew for you.
• Its patented rotary brewing system brings the craft of the Japanese masters to your kitchen, delivering the best experience.

What we dislike

•  Its unique design might require delicate handling to avoid damage.

3. DraftPro Top Can Opener

Another functional and wonderful addition to your dinner table would be the DraftPro Top Can Opener. This opener isn’t another typical tool, but a pretty revolutionary one that converts your average canned beverages into a premium, draft-like experience. It can fully open the top of any can, building a wide drinking surface that will allow you to truly enjoy your drink.

If you’re serving some soda or tea on the dinner table, the DraftPro can ensure your family members sip and enjoy their beverages with glee. It is made from timeless materials that deliver sleekness and durability, making it a valuable addition to your kitchen tool arsenal. Picture a family dinner, where each canned beverage is transformed into a fascinating and aromatic delight.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The DraftPro Top Can Opener can elevate any family dinner by turning canned beverages into a sensory experience. Its design allows for a draft-like pour that enhances the aroma and taste of drinks, making them feel more luxurious and enjoyable. This feature is perfect for family dinners, where sharing and savoring every moment is key.

What we like

• Compatible with a variety of beverages, it’s perfect for both everyday meals and special occasions.

What we dislike

• Some users may need time to get accustomed to the opening mechanism.
•  Its unique design might require specific storage space to avoid damage.

4. Sakura Petal Grater

Called the Sakura Petal Grater, this beautifully crafted tool is the perfect specimen of culinary art meets Japanese heritage. It draws inspiration from the iconic Sakura blossoms and the historic Ōkōzu Diversion. It is an elegant and functional piece equipped with precision-crafted blades that promise to offer a razor-sharp performance. You can pick between pink aluminum alloy or silver copper.

The grater is encased in commemorative packaging, hence celebrating the beautiful cultural heritage of Japan and the artistry of Tsubame City artisans. You can grate ginger, wasabi, or citrus zest with the grater, and watch as it converts mundane meal prep into something artful and exciting.

Click Here to Buy Now: $35.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Sakura Petal Grater will elevate food preparation during family dinners, turning a simple task into a moment of artistry. Its sharp blades ensure efficient grating, enhancing the texture and flavor of your dishes. This functionality is especially valuable during family gatherings, where fresh ingredients can be grated directly at the table, adding a touch of elegance to the dining experience. The grater’s compact size and beautiful design make it an interesting conversation piece on the table.

What we like

• The sakura-inspired shape adds a touch of beauty to your kitchen.
• The sharp blades make grating quick and easy.

What we dislike

• Its small size may require frequent emptying when grating larger quantities.
•  The aluminum and copper options may require specific care to maintain their appearance.

5. Obsidian Black All-Around Tongs

Dubbed the Obsidian Black All-Around Tongs, these unique kitchen and tableware tools will bring convenience and style to your dinner table. They feature a generous length of 9.45 inches, making sure that you have no problems while flipping burgers on the grill or serving some delicate pastries. They are accompanied by a built-in stand which ensures the tongs never touch the counter or table surface.

The tongs are built from durable SUS821L1 stainless steel, and they’re twice as strong as the traditional variants. They will last for years to come in your kitchen. They feature a stunning black color, which is achieved through a special Black oxidation process, adding some Japanese-inspired elegance to your dining table.

Click Here to Buy Now: $25.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The tongs can seamlessly transition from kitchen to dining table, making them perfect for family dinners. Their elegant design and practical functionality allow you to serve dishes with ease and style. The tongs’ length and grip make them ideal for serving a variety of foods, from grilled meats to pasta, ensuring that everyone at the table can enjoy their meal without hassle. The built-in stand keeps the tongs off the table, maintaining cleanliness and reducing clutter, which is especially beneficial during large family gatherings.

What we like

•  Made from high-strength stainless steel, these tongs are built to last.
• Crafted from leftover steel sheets, they embody sustainable practices.

What we dislike

• Their robust construction might feel slightly heavy for some users.
• While the black finish is durable, it may require occasional maintenance to keep it looking pristine.

The post Top 5 Must-Have Dining Essentials Of November 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.