Power strips or extension cords are no longer foreign sights in public spaces and homes. It’s almost as if the architecture of buildings and houses hasn’t caught up with modern times, neglecting the growing need for accessible power outlets. Then again, some establishments intentionally limit those sources of power as deterrents to loitering and lounging that deprive customers of space and businesses of added income.

As common as they may be, the design of power strips hasn’t exactly changed that much over the past years. Aside from designs that include individual switches and fuses per socket, the dominant power strip design has remained the same uninspiring white box as it has been for decades. It is useful but not particularly pleasing. This concept design tries to give the power strip a facelift to turn it into a simple yet eye-catching display that makes every use feel more alive and engaging.

Designer: PTPC

These days, there are many “modern” designs that try to inject a bit of life into gadgets and appliances by adding AI and displays to their feature lists. While those definitely upgrade the experience, they are not the only methods available to change the formula. There are plenty of other ways to make a design look more interesting, one that doesn’t need anything more than a play of light and shadow.

The Lightbox Power Strip, as the name pretty much states, is a combination of a three-socket power strip and a small lightbox. The idea is pretty simple, with the box providing not only power but also a pleasant sight that contrasts with the potential mess of cables coming out from the top of the rather large box. That source of fun and entertainment comes from the light shining inside and out through translucent plates that give character to an otherwise boring piece of equipment.

The translucent plate with prints and stickers slides in and out of the body, hiding behind a ridged plastic surface that adds visual texture to the design. A knob on top of the box controls the light color and intensity, allowing the owner to mix and match images and colors to their whims. It’s a simple, low-tech design that adds a bit of vibrancy to a mundane object that we use almost mindlessly every day.

Having only three sockets is admittedly a bit limiting, even with USB ports on the side. The bulk of the Lightbox Power Strip also makes it impossible to carry around with you, limiting its use to your house or semi-permanent locations. Nevertheless, it could be a source of attraction and interest, further fanning the flames of power outlet wars.

The post Power strip and lightbox concept makes charging feel a bit more fun first appeared on Yanko Design.

As usual, we saw all manner of tools this year, and they continued to split into ever-finer categories: Utilitarian, artisanal, DIY, hi-tech, designey. Here are 25 that stood out to us.

Eye-catching handmade outdoor tools by Neru Design Works.

Festool’s new ExoActive exoskeleton.

Specialty tools: A straw splitter.

A smart design for dispensing dangerous chemicals: The Justrite Plunger Can.

Woodworker Takurou Seino’s clever jig for producing the naguri pattern in wood.

Ergonomic Partners’ zero-gravity tool arm.

The BullseyeBore is a laser gizmo that helps you drill straight.

Collet fans are a clever, low-tech solution for clearing chips while CNC milling.

This crazy on-body camera rig provides pivoting POVs.

A space-efficient tool storage system for firefighters: Slide-out and swing-out tool boards.

A look at the design of quick-release tool mounts for firefighters.

A portable alternative to the bench vise: A DIY panel wedge.

An incredible sidewalk craftsman demonstrates using a bow lathe.

Workshop jigs with beautiful forms.

Hatchet as objet d’esign.

A different design approach to stair-climbing handtrucks.

A combination carabiner/rope tightener.

This Jetlaser strips finishes in just seconds.

Clever design: A face shield that integrates with a baseball cap.

Hozo Design’s laser level with better UX.

A designey, no-mess fire extinguisher from Sweden

Arrowmax’s designey hand tools.

The Mambapod, a mini tripod with an F-style clamp in one leg.

And finally, a guy clearing ice off of a roof with a leafblower.

In 2024, we saw the world of furniture design evolve, blending innovation with artistry to create pieces that not only serve practical purposes but also enhance our living spaces with style and flair. This year, designers have pushed the boundaries of creativity, embracing new materials, sustainable practices, and multifunctional concepts that cater to modern lifestyles. From minimalist masterpieces to bold statement pieces, the top furniture designs of 2024 showcase a diverse range of styles that are sure to inspire and captivate. We have curated a collection of ten furniture designs – each providing a unique perspective on what it means to live beautifully and comfortably in the contemporary world.

1. Flow Wall Desk

Called the Flow Wall Desk, this wooden furniture design showcases a brilliant use of wood while boasting a clever space-saving form. It merges functionality with visual appeal and folds and unfolds depending on your need or requirement for a desk. As you unfold the desk, it transforms into a neat workspace.

When unfolded, the desk looks like a ‘spiraling caterpillar’. When folded, it takes on the form of geometric artwork, not like a typical old piece of furniture. The desk is marked with clean lines, geometric shapes, and a lovely attention to detail. It converts any space into a home office when needed.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since the desk is made from wood, it is quite eco-friendly. It will occupy minimum space in your home and will offer a bunch of functionality. The Flow Wall Desk can be folded and kept away when needed. It is the ideal culmination of functionality, aesthetics, practicality, and craftsmanship.

What we like

• Equipped with flatpack form that can be folded and unfolded when needed.
• Serves as a decorative and aesthetic piece.

What we dislike

• Folding and unfolding the desk whenever you need to use it means you don’t have access to a constant setup.

2. The CONNECT Tree

Named the CONNECT Tree, this sophisticated and functional cat tree serves as a literal sanctuary for feline friends. Designer Vazken Karageozian conceptualized the tree based on the specific needs and preferences of his two cats, Gray and Ella.

The CONNECT Collection embraces a modular and innovative design philosophy, transforming the traditional concept of a cat tree into a versatile and customizable playground. It features a multi-level system, which can be tailored to fit your cats’ unique preferences through a variety of attachable accessories.

Why is it noteworthy?

This design offers a cozy and comfortable environment, providing endless opportunities for recreational activities beyond the usual scratching and climbing on household furniture. Serving as the centerpiece of a multi-accessory system, the CONNECT Tree ensures your cats remain entertained and engaged.

What we like

• Features a scratching pad, cushion, tray platform, and a hanging toy, all designed to enrich your cats’ playtime experience.

What we dislike

• Currently, no option to customize the material and color, which may limit personalization for some pet owners.

3. KURVE Furniture

Introducing the KURVE furniture collection – a stunning example of minimalist design that emphasizes the beauty and functionality of curves. This wooden furniture line is distinguished by its exclusive use of curved forms, which elegantly wrap around to create a hollow space.

This clever design provides a practical nook for storing a variety of items, from books and accessories to shoes and other personal belongings. It features a throne-like appearance and a unique legless design. Its base consists of a gracefully curved, backless box, offering both stability and aesthetic appeal.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair is also blessed with an innovative construction: the arms, backrest, and seat are seamlessly crafted from a single sheet of layered plywood. This sheet is skillfully bent along the back and sides, forming the distinctive and cohesive structure of the chair. This approach not only highlights the ingenuity of the design but also ensures a harmonious blend of form and function.

What we like

• Designed to blend effortlessly with a variety of interior styles and living spaces.
• The hollow spaces within the furniture pieces provide a convenient and accessible storage solution.

What we dislike

• The minimal design may not appeal to everyone.

4. Space-Frame Series

Created by designer Gustav Düsing, the Space-Frame series breathes new life into the concept of childhood 3D wooden puzzles. These intricate furniture pieces are crafted from Baltic Birch plywood, resulting in visually stunning yet highly functional designs. The Chair23D, in particular, takes inspiration from iconic lobby chairs such as the Barcelona Chair.

This chair is characterized by its complex structure, ingeniously assembled without the use of screws or adhesives. Its design mimics the human skeleton, providing both stability and functionality while showcasing a commitment to sustainability. The flat-pack design further enhances its eco-friendly credentials by reducing shipping costs and minimizing environmental impact.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Space-Frame series is an impressive example of innovative and sustainable design practices. By eliminating the need for binding materials, each piece offers a unique assembly experience and a visually captivating appearance. The use of Baltic Birch plywood underscores the importance of renewable resources, and the flat-pack design aligns seamlessly with eco-friendly principles.

What we like

• Can be assembled without adhesives or screws, highlighting the ingenuity of its construction.
• The use of renewable materials and a flat-pack approach emphasizes a commitment to sustainability.

What we dislike

• The intricate design may require patience and skill during assembly, which could be challenging for some.

5. Altitude Shelf

Say hello to the Altitude Shelf – a minimalist and elegantly crafted shelving unit designed by Evan Clabots. This piece draws inspiration from the graceful lines and simple forms characteristic of traditional Japanese woodworking. The Altitude Shelf is not just a practical storage solution; it embodies a fusion of functionality and aesthetic appeal, deeply rooted in Japanese design principles. Its eco-friendly construction, emphasizing a wooden ethos, further enhances its appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Altitude Shelf stands out due to its harmonious blend of influences from both Japanese and Danish furniture design. The clean, minimal lines and the absence of a back panel create an open, airy feel, allowing the shelf to integrate seamlessly into various interior styles. This openness not only enhances its visual appeal but also offers a versatile platform for displaying items. The design’s simplicity and elegance pay homage to traditional craftsmanship while incorporating modern sensibilities.

What we like

• Inspired by both Japanese and Danish furniture.
• Offers a modular design that can be adapted to suit various needs and spaces.

What we dislike

• Can be somewhat bulky and may not be ideal for homes with limited space.

6. Coffin Chair

Working a job can be tedious, and this intriguing office chair captures the emotions and feelings you may have for your dead-end corporate job. It is shaped like a coffin, and it is a unique furniture design for those who hate their jobs but can’t leave. The chair allows them to process their emotions in a healthy and fun manner.

The chair adds a fun and fascinating element to mundane office spaces. It captures and represents the feelings you feel during your workday but without a negative outburst or connotation. It adds a humorous perspective to it, letting you have a laugh and lighten up a little.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair perfectly embodies the range of emotions you might encounter during a monotonous workday. Its design captures the essence of the routine and fatigue that often accompany long hours at the office. As you settle into its contours, you are reminded of the seemingly endless cycle of tasks and obligations that define your workday.

What we like

• Inspired by a painting, giving it an artistic context.
• Captures the emotions of a dead-end job perfectly.

What we dislike

• Lacks cozy cushioning, so not a good option for sitting for long periods.

7. Quarter Sofa

Dubbed the Quarter Sofa, this pet-friendly and modular sofa is made using wood and fabrics, including a whole bunch of various circular and square modules. The different modules can be assembled and disassembled and moved around to create different configurations, making it an adaptable design.

The Quarter Sofa is one of those unique furniture designs that meets the needs of humans and cats alike. Adding the furniture piece to your home will add a comforting design that will feel great for you and your furry friends!

Why is it noteworthy?

The sofa’s innovative configurations are quite functional and interesting, as you can use them to create a fun cat playground. Your cats can jump around and move, allowing them to play together, especially if you have multiple cats. The pet and human-friendly nature of the sofa makes it a versatile addition to your home.

What we like

• The different modules can be arranged to seat different numbers of people.
• You can use the empty spaces to store and display different items.

What we dislike

• Cleaning up the hollow spaces is no easy feat.

8. Stilk Side Table

The Stilk Side Table is an impressive piece of furniture that defies conventional design norms with its gravity-defying structure. Crafted entirely from wood, this table features a tabletop that intriguingly rests on a slender, off-center monolith. This precarious balance is achieved through the strategic placement of a stack of wooden discs on one side, while the tabletop’s edge is subtly folded to enhance its impressive hovering effect.

This simple yet ingenious design incorporates a hidden height-adjustment feature, allowing users to select from three different heights by repositioning a small wooden rod.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Stilk Side Table challenges traditional concepts of balance and stability, serving as both a visually captivating piece and a functional table. By employing counterweights and a folded edge, it showcases the potential of wood to create innovative and unexpected forms.

What we like

• The table’s hovering illusion and off-center structure create a striking visual effect, making it a standout piece in any room.
• The ability to change the table’s height enhances its versatility, allowing it to adapt to different needs and settings.

What we dislike

• The unconventional off-center design might not appeal to everyone’s taste.

9. Tokyo Shoe Rack

Meet the Tokyo Shoe Rack – a multifunctional piece inspired by the elegance of traditional Japanese architecture. Designed by Joao Teixeira, this innovative piece goes beyond the typical shoe rack by incorporating elements reminiscent of the graceful torii gates. It seamlessly blends form and function, serving as a bench and a tray in addition to its primary role.

Crafted with bent plywood, the Tokyo Shoe Rack boasts a minimal yet detailed aesthetic that exudes sophistication and simplicity. This versatile design is well-suited for modern homes, featuring a cushioned top for comfortable seating and a tray for storing small items. Its thoughtful design makes it an ideal addition to entryways or hallways, providing both utility and style.

Why is it noteworthy?

It combines three distinct functions into one sleek and compact package. The use of bent plywood not only enhances the structural integrity of the rack but also adds a touch of elegance to its overall appearance. Its versatility makes it a valuable addition to any space, offering seating, storage, and display options in a visually appealing form.

What we like

• Provides a clever combination of seating, storage, and display, maximizing its utility in any space.
• The clean lines and elegant design complement a wide range of interior styles.

What we dislike

• May require a significant amount of space, which could be a consideration for smaller areas.

10. Dice

Called Dice, this innovative and multifunctional furniture piece is designed by the creative minds at Zurich-based Kosmos Architects. This versatile design serves multiple purposes, functioning as a stool, coffee table, leg bench, and lamp. Its unique construction allows you to rotate and position it in various ways to suit your needs, much like the faces of a dice, which is where its name and concept originate.

The Dice furniture piece draws inspiration from the multifaceted nature of traditional dice, with its ability to transform into four distinct types of furniture. This makes it a unique and versatile addition to any living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

While it doesn’t resemble a dice in appearance, its multifunctionality captures the essence of this classic object. The Dice is lightweight and portable, making it easy to move around and adapt to different spaces and uses. Adding to your home would make for an exciting new element that sparks conversation.

What we like

• It is crafted through a precise 3D-printing process that ensures durability and intricate design details.
• It resembles a modern wooden sculpture, adding an artistic element to any room and serving as a conversation piece.

What we dislike

•  The design is quite distinctive and may not align with everyone’s taste.

The post Top 10 Furniture Designs of 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.

An exposed grid of structural steel was used to bring a feeling of “industrial elegance” to House XO in Kerala, India, which has been designed by local architecture studio 3dor Concepts.

The 205-square-metre dwelling was designed for a client with a background in the steel industry and is located on a site surrounded by large mango trees in the coastal town of Tanur.

3dor Concepts aimed to blend “natural beauty with industrial design elements” for the home’s design, using an oversized steel frame to create loft-style spaces with high ceilings and full-height windows overlooking the surrounding garden.

Resembling a game of tic-tac-toe, a large white metal X and O have been inserted into the steel grid on the home’s facade, while a section of ash-brick wall above has also been carved with a grid and letters.

“The tight site required careful space planning to accommodate parking, privacy, and functionality, all while fostering a strong connection to nature through expansive windows and an open layout that invites the outdoors in,” explained the studio.

“The design features clean lines, minimalist furnishings, and industrial elements like exposed steel beams and large glass windows, creating an aesthetic that is both striking and functional, seamlessly blending with the tropical surroundings while maximising space and maintaining openness.”

Set back from the front of the site to create space for a driveway alongside a covered porch, the living, dining and kitchen area occupies a long, narrow area in the home’s northeastern corner, with fully-glazed walls that can be slid open.

On the smaller first floor, an additional living space overlooks the ground floor and connects to two en-suite bedrooms with full-height windows that are sheltered by metal grids on the home’s exterior.

“Material choices focused on sustainability and efficiency. I-section and C-section steel beams were used to reduce construction time and add industrial flair,” explained the studio.

“Concrete walls were minimised, and lightweight fly ash bricks, made from recycled materials, were used throughout the house,” it added. “The durable deck-sheet roof offers thermal insulation, completing the modern industrial aesthetic while ensuring energy efficiency.”

The interior finishes were kept minimal and largely white to create a simple backdrop to the natural surroundings and a feeling of “openness and airiness”, with wooden grids on the walls referencing the home’s facade.

3dor Concepts was founded in 2013 by architects Muhammed Jiyad CP, Ahmed Thaneem Abdul Majeed and Muhammed Naseem M. The studio’s previous projects include another home in Kerala that is sheltered by an oversized tiled roof.

Also in Kerala, Tropical Architecture Bureau recently designed a home that blends “old-world charm with the modern”.

The photography is by Studio Iksha.

The post Gridded steel frame envelops Indian home by 3dor Concepts appeared first on Dezeen.

Brooklyn-based studio Group Projects Architecture has nestled a long gabled house clad in corrugated metal in a meadow in North East, New York.

The 2,800-square-foot (260-square metre) house sits in a clearing on a 30-acre wooded parcel looking out to the Catskills Mountains. The team set the house below a rocky ridge to shield it from prevailing winds, opting for a more serene and secluded location that didn’t require clearing existing trees.

Residents approach the longitudinal house, which sits parallel to the ridge, from a winding driveway on the ridge that descends into the clearing, which also holds a guest house and pool.

Group Projects Architecture excavated a section of land from the downslope of the ridge and cast a concrete wall to form a narrow, intimate forecourt and outdoor room between the house and the slope, “offering a contrasting experience to the wide-open meadow setting to the building’s west”.

The main and guest houses are muted black, gable-shaped structures with steep roofs and long overhangs, allowing the colours and textures of the site to serve as the foreground of the design.

“This was achieved by taking a totalized approach to the exterior materials, cladding the buildings’ facades and roof surfaces in the same black corrugated metal,” the team said. “The waves of corrugation give subtle texture to the forms.”

The long sides of the house are opened with floor-to-ceiling glass, while the short sides are punctuated with symmetrical, rectangular windows.

“Open eaves at the roof express black painted rafter tails, supplying another layer of detail and rhythm to the project.”

The central entrance hall divides the private primary sleeping spaces on the north side of the plan from the communal areas and secondary bedrooms on the south.

“To add variation to spaces within the home, the ceiling above the living, kitchen and dining room has been given a gable-shaped vault, while the private rooms have more intimate ceiling heights,” the team said. “The vault’s eaves and peak are softened into gentle curves, diffusing the light spilling onto its surfaces, giving it a cloud-like appearance.”

The home’s long exposures maximise views out to the east and west, through two wide banks of sliding glass doors.

Four linear blocks of millwork – wrapped in warm Douglas fir veneer with varying heights and tints – float in the communal space, designating the boundaries between public and private areas of the house and containing core elements.

The blocks house the attic stair, conceal the kitchen appliances, serve as the kitchen counter and enclose the living room fireplace – the latter two of which incorporate cast-in-place concrete for durability and fire suppression.

The remainder of the interior palette includes white walls and ceilings, grey concrete floors and dark bronze-coloured aluminium sliding door frames.

Other black-clad homes recently completed in the state of New York include a solar-powered house in the Catskills by Marc Thorpe Design and a set of “cousin” gabled buildings on a renovated farm property by Worrell Yeung.

The photography is by Nicholas Venezia.

The post Group Projects Architecture clads Catskills house in corrugated metal appeared first on Dezeen.