Dec 29

Curved brick protrusions fill Hainan cinema by One Plus Partnership

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Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema by One Plus Partnership

Chinese studio One Plus Partnership used red bricks to create wave-like surfaces inside this cinema lobby in the city of Haikou, China, emerging from the floors and ceilings to form a reception counter, tables and chairs.

The setting of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema in Hainan Island‘s coastal capital informed the use of shapes that evoke the rippling surface of the sea.

Lobby of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema
One Plus Partnership used red bricks to fit out the lobby of a cinema in Haikou

“We wanted to create something related to the ocean because Haikou is surrounded by the ocean,” One Plus Partnership said. “But we also wanted to create something unique.”

“We didn’t want to use the colour blue like the ocean, so we decided to use brick for the theme of our design because bricks are made of sand, which lies on the beach.”

Side view of cinema by One Plus Partnership
The wave-like surfaces are informed by Haikou’s coastal location

The application of a single material throughout the space contributes to an immersive experience that emphasises the interplay of light, texture and colour on the brick surfaces.

Unlike typical cinema interiors, the architects incorporated openings that allow natural light to enter the lobby and cafe area. This results in a dynamic effect of shifting shadows throughout the day.

Seating of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema
Brick forms rise from the floor to create countertops and seatings

Several brick forms rise up from the floor to create countertops and booths with curved profiles, while arched shapes suspended from the ceiling like stalactites help conceal lighting and air vents.

Bricks covering the floor and ceiling contain integrated lighting that shines through perforations in their surface at nighttime. Uplighting was also used to introduce soft, indirect illumination to the overhead arches.

The various protrusions are arranged to create a layered aesthetic that adds to the dynamism of the space. The reception counter is flanked by bench seating that appears to grow from the surrounding floor.

As a safety measure to prevent collisions, the sides of the wave-like forms and some of the overhanging elements are painted grey so they stand out against the otherwise monochrome backdrop.

Counter of cinema by One Plus Partnership
Perforated bricks in the ceiling and floor feature integrated lighting

The cinema’s main auditorium is enveloped by curving wooden forms that reference the way the South China Sea wraps around Hainan Island. Integrated lighting enhances the layered composition.

One Plus Partnership wanted the cinema to eschew conventions associated with this type of space and provide the sort of memorable and communal experience that cannot be replicated by home viewing.

Auditorium of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema
The cinema’s main auditorium is framed by curving wooden forms

The Hong Kong-based firm has worked on several similarly bold designs for cinemas in China, including one in Shenzhen where sculptural spotlights produce dramatic lighting effects.

The photography is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.

The post Curved brick protrusions fill Hainan cinema by One Plus Partnership appeared first on Dezeen.

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Dec 29

Curved brick protrusions fill Hainan cinema by One Plus Partnership

Posted in: Uncategorized
Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema by One Plus Partnership

Chinese studio One Plus Partnership used red bricks to create wave-like surfaces inside this cinema lobby in the city of Haikou, China, emerging from the floors and ceilings to form a reception counter, tables and chairs.

The setting of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema in Hainan Island‘s coastal capital informed the use of shapes that evoke the rippling surface of the sea.

Lobby of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema
One Plus Partnership used red bricks to fit out the lobby of a cinema in Haikou

“We wanted to create something related to the ocean because Haikou is surrounded by the ocean,” One Plus Partnership said. “But we also wanted to create something unique.”

“We didn’t want to use the colour blue like the ocean, so we decided to use brick for the theme of our design because bricks are made of sand, which lies on the beach.”

Side view of cinema by One Plus Partnership
The wave-like surfaces are informed by Haikou’s coastal location

The application of a single material throughout the space contributes to an immersive experience that emphasises the interplay of light, texture and colour on the brick surfaces.

Unlike typical cinema interiors, the architects incorporated openings that allow natural light to enter the lobby and cafe area. This results in a dynamic effect of shifting shadows throughout the day.

Seating of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema
Brick forms rise from the floor to create countertops and seatings

Several brick forms rise up from the floor to create countertops and booths with curved profiles, while arched shapes suspended from the ceiling like stalactites help conceal lighting and air vents.

Bricks covering the floor and ceiling contain integrated lighting that shines through perforations in their surface at nighttime. Uplighting was also used to introduce soft, indirect illumination to the overhead arches.

The various protrusions are arranged to create a layered aesthetic that adds to the dynamism of the space. The reception counter is flanked by bench seating that appears to grow from the surrounding floor.

As a safety measure to prevent collisions, the sides of the wave-like forms and some of the overhanging elements are painted grey so they stand out against the otherwise monochrome backdrop.

Counter of cinema by One Plus Partnership
Perforated bricks in the ceiling and floor feature integrated lighting

The cinema’s main auditorium is enveloped by curving wooden forms that reference the way the South China Sea wraps around Hainan Island. Integrated lighting enhances the layered composition.

One Plus Partnership wanted the cinema to eschew conventions associated with this type of space and provide the sort of memorable and communal experience that cannot be replicated by home viewing.

Auditorium of Haikou Gaoxingli Insun Cinema
The cinema’s main auditorium is framed by curving wooden forms

The Hong Kong-based firm has worked on several similarly bold designs for cinemas in China, including one in Shenzhen where sculptural spotlights produce dramatic lighting effects.

The photography is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.

The post Curved brick protrusions fill Hainan cinema by One Plus Partnership appeared first on Dezeen.

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Dec 29

This Sleek 3-Screen Laptop Will Change How You Multitask Forever

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I totally get the irony of writing this article on a browser with 17 other tabs open, along with Photoshop, Slack, and WhatsApp Web (yes, we use WhatsApp) open on my desktop. My brain is capable of focusing only on one thing at a time, but somewhere deep down I feel like it isn’t my brain holding me back, it’s the fact that my laptop only has one screen. I’ve dabbled with the idea of setting up an external display, but I live a fairly nomadic life (and I plan on shifting to a coworking space soon), so that idea goes out of the window. Remarkably enough, there’s a tech company out there with a fairly simple solution—a laptop with more screens. And no, I’m not talking about a screen like the MacBook’s Touch Bar—I’m talking about something more substantial… like sizeable 10-inch tablets on the side of my main display. Like Batman and his sidekicks (ahem, protégés) Robin and Nightwing.

The Greyshork X3 isn’t solving a problem you’ve never noticed—it’s solving one you’ve resigned yourself to accept. We’ve grown used to alt-tabbing, minimizing windows, or lugging external monitors around in pursuit of efficiency. But this laptop challenges that compromise, not with incremental improvements, but by asking, “What if you didn’t have to choose?” With its ambitious design and unapologetic focus on creating space—literal and figurative—the X3 doesn’t feel like a tweak to the status quo. It feels like a shift forward.

Designer: Greyshork Team

Click Here to Buy Now: $773 $1,289 ($516 off). Hurry, 297/300 left!

The Greyshork’s crown jewel (and perhaps the first thing you ever notice about it) is its bold, multi-screen design. A 16-inch main display anchors the system, flanked by two 10.5-inch auxiliary screens that fold out like wings, transforming your workspace into an immersive command center. The screens offer sharp, vivid visuals, with resolutions of 1920×1200 on the main display and 1920×1280 on the sides. That’s a lot of pixels working together to create a seamless multitasking experience. For professionals juggling spreadsheets, designers mapping out ideas, or gamers chasing precision, the screens feel less like an addition and more like an evolution.

Of course, three screens would be a challenge if portability weren’t part of the equation, but the X3 handles this smartly. Its slim-yet-accommodating design allows the auxiliary screens to tuck away neatly when closed, turning the laptop into a sleek, manageable device. At 2.6 kg and just over an inch thick, it’s portable enough to slip into a bag without becoming a burden. Sure, you’d say your current laptop’s a lot thinner, but think about the fact that this has practically two iPads attached to either side of the screen. The thickness may seem like a first-world problem, but it’s a whole lot more portable than a laptop WITH an external monitor.

Under the hood, the Greyshork X3 is just as impressive. Powered by an Intel i7-12650H processor, it has the muscle to handle demanding tasks without breaking a sweat. Whether you’re running complex design software, managing data-heavy projects, or diving into the latest AAA games, the performance stays smooth and reliable. With up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and support for up to 2TB of storage on an M.2 SSD, the laptop scales easily to meet a wide range of needs. There’s even the option to connect an external graphics card using Oculink, making it adaptable for those who want even more graphical firepower. The X3’s final surprise? A fingerprint-reader built into the trackpad for biometric unlocking.

So why have a laptop with three screens? Well, aside from the obvious productivity boost, three screens can prove to be pretty handy throughout the day. The interconnected screens allow you to drag windows from one side to another seamlessly, creating a multi-window setup that’s perfect for meetings. Run your video-meeting app on the main screen, with your notes and data on the auxiliary screens. Once that’s over, the three screens can run a combination of work and social media, keeping you engaged and entertained while you work. Alternatively, the three screens can be used to dock multiple windows – a feature that’s perfect for graphic designers or video editors who often need to access multiple tools at one stretch. The obvious final pitch is for gamers who want an immersive experience that covers their peripheral view. Imagine playing Forza or F1 with a wide-angle view of the front as well as the sides!

When it comes to design, the build quality speaks volumes. The laptop feels solid and well-made, with a balance of durability and elegance that inspires confidence whether you’re carrying it around or setting it up on a desk. Despite the complexity of its engineering, the X3 avoids feeling bulky or unwieldy – it retains the aesthetic of a slick premium laptop like a MacBook, a Surface Laptop, or a Framework laptop.

The Greyshork X3 starts at a very affordable $773 for backers, shipping without RAM or SSD, so you can pretty much bootstrap your machine with as much memory or storage as you require. That, for a 3-screen laptop, is ridiculously budget-friendly by any metric. The price will, however, rise to $1,289 once the Kickstarter campaign ends and the X3 goes retail. Grab yours now – it’s a lot cheaper than paying $800 for a laptop and then another $500-600 for a portable external monitor… let alone two!

Click Here to Buy Now: $773 $1,289 ($516 off). Hurry, 297/300 left!

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Dec 29

Vase concept shows off a flower’s entire aesthetic cycle

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Most of the time, flower vases are meant to hold a bunch of flowers in their “prime”, when they’re fresh and beautiful. Once they start to wilt, they’re almost always thrown away or at best, some parts are cut away to press, preserve, upcycle, or put into junk journals. We rarely see the flowers in its entire cycle since most of the time we like them when they’re aesthetic. But what if you could see how the flower looks from beginning to end?

Designer: Kim Taeyeon

Inner Beauty of vase is a concept for a home decoration that shows the journey from water to flower, in concept and in the actual design of the accessory. Unlike other vases, this one is meant to hold just one stem of your flower of the moment as there’s just a small hole in the round container. It also comes with a tray to hold the glass flower vase and to add to the aesthetic feel. It’s really more about the look and feel rather than a fully functional vase.

The vessel itself is meant to convey a water droplet as it is round, made from glass, and transparent. The tray that holds it is also like a water drop, after it has splattered onto a surface. It’s meant to not just hold the vase but also the petals as they eventually fall from the stem. You can also probably put other items on the tray since it’s big enough to hold small items. If you’re going for the aesthetics though, you’ll just leave it alone and let the falling petals fall dramatically on it.

This is a pretty nice concept for a vase if your purpose is to have something nice to look at but with a minimalist feel. It may occupy a bit of space though because of the tray aspect so if you don’t have much space in your table, it’s not the most practical.

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Dec 29

This Space Efficient Tiny Home Gives Us A Masterclass On Maximizing Storage

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Designed by the architectural studio Clemens Kirsch, this lovely house in the Viennese hills is called the Villa Minimale. The home is a remarkable and impressive structure, designed for a family of four. It is a wooden retreat that efficiently utilizes space, creating a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation, socialization, and the love of gardening. The home serves as a calming oasis, a space that nurtures familial connections, allowing family members and friends to interact and engage with one another in a peaceful atmosphere.

Designer: Clemens Kirsch Architektur

The home occupies a maximum floor area of 35 sqm and a height limit of 5 meters, constrained by strict building regulations. The architects are inspired by the iconic Villa Rotonda and the Kings Road House. The end result is a home that feels timeless and contemporary, creating a mesmerizing effect. In a world where modern homes with no personality seem to reign supreme, the evergreen and subtle Villa Minimale is a welcomed escape. It serves as a heartwarming and serene space with charm and passion amidst the tsunami of cold and drab homes that seem to have taken over.

The ground floor of the Villa Minimale includes a central dining area, a well-equipped kitchen, a bathroom, a WC, and a cozy alcove. The upper level includes three bunks, which mimics the experience of “camping”, allowing the residents to admire the sky from the vantage point. The home was constructed using prefabricated timber elements, while the exterior features light-glazed timber battens and a copper roof.

The interior is a warm and inviting space, on account of the use of veneered marine pine blackboards. A copper roof crowns this timber structure. Inside, the combination of soft-toned furniture and paint creates a serene atmosphere. Large square and oval windows and doors allow fresh air and natural light to fill the space. At the heart of Villa Minimale’s design is a cozy alcove that serves as a striking focal point.

Villa Minimale is made up of four identical wooden boxes with shed roofs, that have been arranged in a windmill-like configuration, placed around a central oculus. The circular air space in the center offers natural ventilation, while also maintaining a connection to the surrounding landscape.

The home beautifully blurs the boundaries between the interior and the exterior. It seamlessly merges with the surrounding landscape, offering access to lovely views from all directions. Nature and architecture harmoniously play with one another to create a living experience that feels free-flowing, unique, and inspired.

The post This Space Efficient Tiny Home Gives Us A Masterclass On Maximizing Storage first appeared on Yanko Design.

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Dec 28

Geometric speaker concept creates a futuristic ambiance in your living space

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Speakers started out with rather boxy designs that were meant to be more efficient than elegant. This situation has changed over the years, thanks to developments in technology and manufacturing that left a bit of wiggle room for the critical components that make up these pieces of audio equipment. Some home speakers even come in the form of art objects that inject a bit of elegance and sophistication into the room.

That’s not to say that angular, geometric shapes are unappealing, especially if they can be tweaked and embellished with a few details that take them beyond their polygonal appearance. This set of speakers, for example, mash together nature and architecture in a design that makes them look like imposing yet striking rocks. If rocks came from outer space, that is.

Designer: Santiago Lopez

1

Although a monolith technically refers to a geological feature, the word has also taken a different meaning throughout history and culture. On the one hand, you have monolithic man-made structures like obelisks dating as far back as Ancient Egypt. On the other hand, you also have fictional objects like the iconic black monolith from Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey science fiction series. It is a word that inspires both awe and creativity, combining both natural formations and artificial creations in a single thought.

Those are the kinds of emotions that this Monolith speaker concept design tries to convey. On the one hand, they resemble large boulders naturally rising from the floor of your living room. On the other hand, their sharp angles and clean lines clearly convey an artificial nature, keeping their technological roots clear and unambiguous. The dark motif, paired with a few discreet light indicators, also gives it a sci-fi vibe, as if the speakers were miniature spacecraft from an advanced alien civilization.

There are also a few subtle details that give the Monolith speakers some added charm. The front and the back of the speakers use triangular grilles to visually set themselves apart from typical perforations, but the front also utilizes a transparent fabric to make that pattern less conspicuous and distracting. Physical buttons lie on top of the speakers to control volume and power, while the rest of the connectors and switches are conveniently hidden on their backs.

It’s possible to connect all three speakers of the set using cables, creating the semblance of a starship fleet ready for take-off, or they can be distributed across the area and communicate over Bluetooth instead. The Monolith speaker concept doesn’t drastically change the design formula but combines inspiration from nature with technical sensibilities to deliver a more striking aesthetic that doesn’t compromise on space efficiency for the components inside.

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Dec 28

Squid Fork makes eating your Cup Noodles easier and more fun

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Sometimes, at the end of a long and stressful day, the only thing that I can think of eating is a cup of instant noodles bought from my neighborhood convenience store. It’s best eaten with a pair of chopsticks while slurping down the soup but there are times when there are no chopsticks around and you have to make do with a fork, which isn’t the most convenient.

Designer: Nissin

Nissin is one of the main proponents of instant noodles culture with their ubiquitous Cup Noodle products. They’re now making it more fun and easier to eat your favorite noodles with the Ika Fork or the Squid Fork (ika is of course Japanese for squid). It solves the problem of your noodles slipping out of your ordinary plastic fork’s grasp by redesigning the fork and also making it unique and fun.

The fork is designed to look like a real squid, with actual details of the cephalopod included in the utensil. It’s around 8 inches in length and made from heat-resistant materials that can withstand really hot noodles up to 100 degrees Celsius. It prevents your noodles from slipping so you can enjoy the cup without being annoyed.

It’s designed for the cup noodles but you can also use it for other food things that require a fork. It’s included in a limited-edition set which has several Cup Noodles flavors and can be ordered through Nissin’s official store and Amazon Japan.

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Dec 28

WORKac and Ignacio Urquiza use Green concrete for Mexico City community centre

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Green building

Studios WORKac and Ignacio Urquiza Architects have completed a green-tinted concrete building as part of the PILARES programme, which works to build supportive public facilities in vulnerable and impoverished areas across Mexico City.

Located in Azcapotzalco, a borough in the northwestern part of the city, the building was designed as part of the government-backed PILARES programme, which stands for Points of Innovation, Freedom, Art, Education and Knowledge.

Green building in Mexico City
WORKac and Ignacio Urquiza Architects have created a community centre in Mexico City

“PILARES are a series of strategically located public buildings across Mexico City, sited in areas experiencing high levels of vulnerability and poverty,” the team said.

“Each PILARES building is designed to support various kinds of classes and workshops in support of skill building, as well as bringing cultural programming, learning opportunities and safe spaces for leisure and cross-generational gathering to each neighbourhood.”

Green building in Mexico City
It was made with green-tinted concrete

This is the second PILARES project designed by New York’s WORKac and Mexico City’s Ignacio Urquiza Arquitectos. The other is a blue-tinted-concrete community centre in the Lomas de Becerra neighbourhood.

The Azcapotzalco facility follows a similar approach as that first project.

Green building in Mexico City
The building hosts classes and workshops as part of the PILARES program

Designed on a tight budget, the three-storey building is located on an irregularly shaped, corner property in a dense area.

The team took into account existing trees while designing the 447-square-metre (4,800-square-foot) building, which features an angled ground-floor plan lined by a plaza.

Green building in Mexico City
It is three stories and located in an irregularly shaped, corner property

“Diagonal cuts on the ground floor provide clear and free-flowing pedestrian routes in any direction, inviting users to walk around the park and enter the building,” the team said.

Glazing on the ground level helps diminish the boundary between inside and out. Wide glass doors slide open and closed, further strengthening the connection to the neighbourhood.

The upper floors were conceived as platforms arranged around a central staircase.

The interior is configured in a way that facilitates natural illumination and ventilation. Daylight flows in through expansive windows and a large skylight.

Green building in Mexico City
Natural illumination and ventilation keep the interior comfortable

Some areas of the building have a prescribed use, such as studio-like spaces fitted with desks and computers.

Other rooms, however, have been left open and flexible. They are commonly used for physical activity, such as classes focused on yoga, hip-hop dancing and martial arts.

The architects said the building has been a valuable addition to the area, drawing in multi-generational users and meeting a local need for a space “in which to move, learn and live.”

Other PILARES projects in Mexico City include a community centre by Rozana Montiel that features bridges, walkways and exterior staircases. The building won the public vote for civic building of the year in the 2022 Dezeen Awards programme.

The photography is by Ramiro del Carpio.

Project credits:

Architects: WORKac and Ignacio Urquiza Architects (IUA)
WORKac team: Amale Andraos (principal), Dan Wood (principal), Wuyahuang Li (design lead)
IUA team: Ignacio Urquiza (principal), Michela Lostia di Santa Sofía, Eder Hernández, María del Mar Carballo, Ana Laura Ochoa, Anet Carmona, Noé García, León Chávez, Fernando Tueme, Sacha Bourgarel
Structure and engineering: BVG (César Barquera, Eduardo Barquera), Ecomadi
Landscape: Genfor Landscaping (Tanya Eguiluz)
Development: Mexico City government and ZV Studio (Carlos Zedillo)
Client: Mexico City government

The post WORKac and Ignacio Urquiza use Green concrete for Mexico City community centre appeared first on Dezeen.

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Dec 28

Top 5 Exercise Equipment To Achieve Your 2025 Fitness Goals

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As we move into 2025, the fitness industry continues to innovate, offering equipment that helps you achieve your fitness goals and seamlessly integrates into your home environment. Whether you want to build strength, improve flexibility, or enhance cardiovascular health, these top five exercise equipment will help you stay on track.

These designs offer a range of innovative features and benefits to help you achieve your 2025 fitness goals. If you’re getting into the fitness zone, then these products are definitely worthy of consideration for anyone looking to enhance their health and well-being in the coming year.

1. Tempo Move

Tempo Move is more than just an exercise assistant; it’s a revolution in home fitness design. This compact home gym is crafted to blend effortlessly with your living room furniture, eliminating the need for a separate gym space or frequent trips to the storeroom. With a sublime blend of materials, colors, and finishes, Tempo Move transforms your living area into a sophisticated home gym.

The equipment discreetly hides behind a fabric cabinet, while the top features an iPhone dock compatible with iPhone XR and upwards. By connecting to any large-screen TV, Tempo Move allows you to follow exercise routines and receive real-time coaching from trainers.

Why is it noteworthy?

Unlike traditional gym setups, its elegant design ensures it doesn’t disrupt your living space’s aesthetic. The ability to connect to a TV via HDMI enhances the workout experience, allowing users to follow along with trainers on a large screen. This innovative approach not only makes fitness more accessible but also encourages consistent workouts by eliminating common barriers like space and inconvenience.

What we like

  • Blends with home decor, making it an unobtrusive addition to your living space.
  •  Connects to a TV for an immersive workout experience with trainer guidance.

What we dislike

  • Limited to newer models, potentially excluding users with older devices.
  • Although compact, it still requires a dedicated space in the living room.

2. RitFit BUFFALO Multifunctional Smith Machine

Called the RitFit Buffalo Multifunctional Smith Machine – this one-of-a-kind machine is designed to provide fitness enthusiasts with a comprehensive workout experience at home. It merges convenience and functionality, converting your home into a dynamic fitness hub. You can add this machine to your home gym setup, thereby improving your strength training routine.

The machine saves space while improving and elevating the quality of your workouts. It offers you a whole bunch of different exercise options, allowing you to smash your fitness goals. It merges a Smith machine, lat pull-down, and cable crossover, and will provide a workout that hits every major muscle group with precision. The machine is versatile, ensuring your workout is dynamic and effective.

Click Here to Buy Now: 2,379.99 $2,699.99 ($320 off, use coupon code “RFBC-320”). Hurry, the deal ends in 48 hours!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Buffalo Multifunctional Smith Machine features a multifunctional pull-up bar with enhanced grip material that adds a layer of utility. It allows you to perform wide, narrow, neutral, and reverse grip pull-ups, ensuring the different muscle groups are efficiently targeted. It also includes enhanced grip material for comfort, ensuring your workouts are challenging, enjoyable, and interesting. It boasts a dual-sided design, integrating a Smith Machine, power rack, and functional trainer.

What we like

  • Equipped with 14 adjustable settings and a 2:1 pulley ratio.
  • Ideal for family and group workouts as well.

What we dislike

  • Even though it is multifunctional, eliminating the need for multiple machines, it will occupy some space in your home.

3. IKEA DAJLIEN Collection

Called the DAJLIEN collection, this pastel-colored collection by IKEA includes a range of versatile and compact exercise and fitness gear designed to complement your exercise routine. It includes 19 pieces, and this collection offers everything from ring-shaped dumbbells and exercise mats to step-up boards, all in a harmonious blend of subtle green, yellow, and white hues.

These items can be easily stacked away when not in use, maintaining the aesthetic of your home. The collection also includes unique items like an air purifier, slippers, two distinct ponchos, a portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker for post-workout sessions, kneepads, yoga straps, and more for recovery.

Why is it noteworthy?

It can seamlessly integrate fitness into everyday life without compromising on style. The pastel hues allow the equipment to blend naturally with home decor, making it less obtrusive than traditional gym gear. This collection also emphasizes the importance of recovery and stress relief, offering accessories that cater to holistic well-being.

What we like

  • Offers a wide range of equipment that can be easily stored, ideal for small spaces.
  • Includes recovery and stress relief gear, promoting overall well-being.

What we dislike

  • Lacks advanced features found in more specialized fitness equipment.
  • Some items may not withstand intense or prolonged use.

4. Handy Gym

Dubbed the Handy Gym, this revolutionary flywheel device is designed for professional training. It is a compact and portable solution for effective and dynamic workouts. It weighs only two pounds and uses inertial technology to offer efficient eccentric training. The device is ideal for elite athletes, physiotherapists, and personal trainers.

It includes an array of accessories, allowing users to perform up to 200 different exercises targeting all muscle groups. With its mobile app, users can access exercise videos and descriptions, and if equipped with an encoder, receive real-time statistics of their physical activity.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Handy Gym utilizes cutting-edge inertial technology to deliver a high-quality training experience, reducing the need for heavy weights. Its compact design is ideal for diverse fitness levels and goals. The accompanying app enhances the user experience by providing guided workouts and tracking progress, making it an ideal tool for those seeking flexibility and convenience in their fitness routine.

What we like

  • The lightweight design allows for easy transport and a wide variety of exercises.
  • Inertial resistance provides effective training without traditional weights.

What we dislike

  • May require time to understand and master the use of inertial technology.
  • Full functionality depends on the use of included accessories and apps.

5. AROUND

The AROUND spinning bike concept presents a softer and more approachable design compared to traditional exercise bikes. Its light gray color and flywheel body design make it an ideal addition to home environments, whether in the living room or bedroom. It draws inspiration from mollusks and portable water purifiers.

It features a unique tuyere-like handle that provides a gentle breeze as you spin, simulating outdoor biking. A small monitor on the handle allows users to watch videos or track statistics like heart rate, speed, and calories burned, enhancing the indoor cycling experience.

Why is it noteworthy?

AROUND redefines the traditional spinning bike by prioritizing aesthetics and user experience. Its approachable design encourages more people to incorporate cycling into their fitness routines, while the innovative handle design adds a refreshing element to workouts. The built-in monitor enhances engagement by allowing users to watch content or track progress.

What we like

  • Soft colors and unique features make it inviting for home use.
  • Allows for entertainment and progress tracking during workouts.

What we dislike

  • As a concept, availability and final specifications may vary.
  • This may lack advanced functionalities found in high-end spinning bikes.

The post Top 5 Exercise Equipment To Achieve Your 2025 Fitness Goals first appeared on Yanko Design.

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Dec 28

Adrienne Lau creates Acute and Obtuse outdoor furniture from salvaged materials

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Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau

Architect Adrienne Lau combined steel parts from old planters with beams from a demolished army barrack to create chairs and benches for a food-growing community in east London.

Acute and Obtuse is a series of outdoor furniture developed by Lau for Abbey Gardens, an open-access park and harvest garden in Newham.

The furniture was entirely made from reclaimed materials, including a collection of raised beds installed 15 years ago following the formation of the community garden.

Collection Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau
Adrienne Lau has created an outdoor furniture series made from reclaimed materials

The trapezoidal planters were constructed from wooden boards and fastened by galvanised steel corner sleeves, but over time they had begun to deteriorate and were in need of replacement.

The beds were dismantled by local volunteers and members of the Abbey Gardens community, who identified the potential for them to be reused.

Lau allowed the materials to steer the outcomes, with the shapes of the galvanised steel brackets informing the configurations of the various seating solutions.

“The specific angles of the steel corners lend themselves well to forming the structure of different furniture types – 150 degrees for a lounger, 110 degrees for a chair, and the smaller angles as supports for benches,” explained Lau.

Lounge of Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau
Lau repurposed old wooden planters fastened by galvanised steel corner sleeves

Once the steel sections were unbolted from the wood boards, it was necessary for Lau to find new ways of forming joints due to the toxicity and risk of welding the thin galvanised metal.

The steel sleeves were combined with sections of Douglas fir beams and pine joists that were reclaimed from a demolished Victorian army barracks by designer and maker Rosie Strickland, who provided technical design and fabrication support on the project.

Angles of Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau
The angles of the steel corners inspired the furniture’s configurations

Lau and Strickland developed furniture forms that optimise the shapes of the angular inserts. Several of the designs feature rounded shapes that contrast with the angular steel.

The salvaged timber sections display evidence of their past use, with notches and nail holes left exposed and untreated to add character to the furniture.

Mortise and tenon joints were used to attach simple, square-profiled legs to the seating surfaces. The visible fixings contribute to the overall approach of celebrating the furniture’s materiality and production processes.

According to Lau, the project demonstrates how waste materials can be reused to create new objects that evoke the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, where flaws and signs of ageing are intrinsic to the outcome.

Bench of Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau
Several designs feature rounded forms that contrast with the angular steel

“Instead of hiding them, imperfections should be embraced creatively to make material reuse more widely desirable,” Lau explained.

“Making the collective material story evident inspires people to take good care of it,” she added. “After all, objects are kept from waste when they are valued.”

Chairs of Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau
Simple square legs are joined to seats with mortise and tenon joints

The Acute and Obtuse furniture formed part of a larger project called Let’s Meet On The Edge developed by Lau and her partners at Edgy Collective for the 2023 edition of the London Festival of Architecture.

As one of three nature-based installations that linked disconnected green spaces around Edgware in north London, the outdoor furniture was installed in the High Street to encourage residents to experience their local area in new ways. The project won the Community Prize at the New London Awards 2024.

Following the festival’s conclusion, the furniture was relocated to Abbey Gardens where the steel corners originated from. The pieces provide flexible seating for the garden community and customers at Spring Cafe.

Holes of Acute and Obtuse by Adrienne Lau
The notches and nail holes were left untreated to add character to the furniture

As part of Edgy Collective, Lau works with Leila Taheri on projects aimed at revitalising urban spaces by reconnecting them with natural, cultural histories and present day realities.

Her personal practice focuses on addressing social and ecological concerns by applying creative solutions to projects spanning architecture, furniture design, urban installations and scenography.

Other recent Dezeen stories featuring chairs include 14 designers and studios reimagining a Dutch Invertuals chair and a furniture collection crafted from reclaimed spruce and oak.

The photography is by Raquel Diniz.

The post Adrienne Lau creates Acute and Obtuse outdoor furniture from salvaged materials appeared first on Dezeen.

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