Senoner Tammerle Architekten places reflective mountain shelter in Italian Alps

Mountain refuge by Senoner Tammerle Architekten

Italian studio Senoner Tammerle Architekten has created a mountain shelter in the Alps, distinguished by galvanised steel cladding chosen to reflect the hues of the sky.

Sat at an altitude of 2,735 metres, the structure is designed as an updated version of the Shelter Santnerpass – a single-storey structure originally in the Italian Alps in the 1950s.

The Shelter Santnerpass in the Italian Alps
The triangular structure is wrapped in galvanised steel

“The exterior of the building, made of galvanized steel sheets, adapts its color to the lighting conditions of the respective time of day and season,” said Senoner Tammerle Architekten co-founder Lukas Tammerle.

“It absorbs the colors of the surroundings, aiming to blend in and become part of the landscape: orange-yellow during sunset, white on cloudy days, and blue in clear weather,” he told Dezeen.

Bar and restaurant interior at mountain refuge by Senoner Tammerle Architekten
Its spruce structure is offset by metal fixtures

The two-storey shelter has a triangular structure made from spruce wood. This was designed for quick construction in adverse weather conditions of the high alpine region.

This tapered form also gives the ground floor a larger area, creating space for shared public facilities including a bar and restaurant. These are fronted with large openings and a terrace overlooking the mountains.

Access to the shelter is provided via a cable car that enters through an opening at the back of the ground floor, adjacent to a kitchen, small office, storage space and restrooms.

On the smaller upper levels are an arrangement of bedrooms in various sizes for overnight guests, alongside shared bathroom facilities.

Wooden bedroom interior at The Shelter Santnerpass
Bedrooms are provided on the upper floors

The spruce structure is exposed throughout the building’s interior, offset by simple metal fixtures and detailing and yellow-painted walls in the restrooms.

Small windows protrude from the facade, framing views of the surrounding landscape and drawing light into the bedrooms.

External terrace at a mountain refuge by Senoner Tammerle Architekten
A terrace provides views across the mountainous landscape

“Today, undoubtedly, wood is the most suitable building material for constructing a mountain shelter – transport weight, good insulation properties, the possibility of prefabrication, and the ecological aspect all speak for it,” Tammerle said.

The building is complete with a basement level with sleeping quarters for staff, as well as laundry and drying rooms.

Yellow bathroom
The bathrooms are painted yellow

Senoner Tammerle Architekten is an architectural office in South Tyrol, Italy, led by Lukas Tammerle and Paul Senoner.

Other projects recently completed in the Alps include a tent-like refuge with panoramic views and a restaurant perched on top of Mount Gütsch.

The photography is by Lukas Schaller.

The post Senoner Tammerle Architekten places reflective mountain shelter in Italian Alps appeared first on Dezeen.

Logitech’s Latest MX Brio Webcam Has 4K Output, A Privacy Shutter, and Apple-style ‘Desk View’

While the Brio line isn’t new, Logitech’s new MX Brio marks the first time their MX Series gets its own webcam. Tuned for creatives, professionals, and anyone who needs an online presence for their work, the webcam comes with top-notch hardware, infinitely adjustable software, a focus on privacy, and a little feature called ‘Show Mode’ that lets you capture your desk setup quite similar to Apple’s Desk View feature from 2022.

Designer: Logitech

This is the first time Logitech’s MX Master Series gets its own webcam. The Brio webcam line has been around for long enough (and has shot in 4K since as early as 2017), but the MX Brio is quite literally a different beast. It comes after an extensive survey of nearly 2200 individuals across both WFH and office-based setups that found that users weren’t just looking for high-res video, they wanted other features like image adjustability, better performance in low light and backlight scenarios, accurate color representation for different skin types, compatibility across popular meeting apps, privacy focus, and hi-res audio.

The MX Brio boasts a slew of impressive features, starting with its video quality. Capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30 frames per second and 1080p at up to 60 frames per second, it sets a new standard for clarity and fluidity in video calls and content creation. This leap in quality is supported by an advanced sensor and Logitech’s custom lens design, ensuring that users enjoy a wide field of view without sacrificing image precision. In challenging lighting conditions, the MX Brio shines—literally. Its back-illuminated Sony sensor excels in low light, making sure you’re seen clearly regardless of your environment. Coupled with its innovative autofocus system and face-based exposure adjustment, the webcam offers unparalleled image quality that automatically adapts to maintain natural skin tones and balanced lighting.

Beyond video, the MX Brio takes audio seriously too. It features dual-integrated microphones that utilize beamforming technology to focus on your voice while filtering out background noise, ensuring that you’re heard as clearly as you’re seen.

The MX Brio’s Design is a classic example of Logitech going down the ‘Form Follows Function’ route. It tries not to reinvent the wheel, but sticks to the most effective format, with a lens in the center and two beam-forming microphones on each side. Given its MX status, the webcam gets an upgrade with an anodized aluminum body (available in pale gray, graphite, and black), and features the universal monitor clamp that lets you attach your webcam to a desktop or even a laptop. The webcam now sits on a hinge that lets you angle it on the vertical axis, facing either directly at you, or even downwards. Angle it down and you can access Logitech’s new Show Mode, which does some image processing to capture a perfect birds-eye view of your desk. Quite similar to Apple’s Desk View mode that they introduced with their Continuity Camera feature, the Show View is a great way to record your notes, sketches, or just a wonderful way to capture your PoV as you work. Like every good webcam, the MX Brio also comes with a privacy shutter that covers the lens when you twist the webcam’s outer ring.

Sustainability is another cornerstone of the MX Brio’s design. Logitech has made a concerted effort to reduce the webcam’s environmental impact, utilizing low-carbon aluminum, post-industrial recycled aluminum, and up to 82% post-consumer recycled plastic in its construction. The packaging further reflects this commitment, being made from FSC-certified paper.

Being a part of the MX Series, the MX Brio is fully integrated with Logitech’s software ecosystem, including Options Plus and G HUB, allowing users to tweak settings for optimal performance across various lighting conditions and applications. Whether for professional use in Microsoft Teams and Zoom or streaming on platforms like Twitch, the MX Brio adapts to your specific needs, and can even be controlled using dedicated keys on Logitech’s other MX devices like the keyboard and mouse.

The MX Brio comes in three colors – Pale Gray, Graphite, and Black, with a $199 price tag. Enterprise users can opt for the MX Brio 705 For Business, which also has the same price tag, compatibility with Tune and Sync, and comes with Logitech’s RightSight Autoframing. A purchase of the MX Brio also gets you a 1-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud’s ‘All Apps’ plan, or a 2-month subscription to the ‘Photography Plan’ along with 20GB Creative Cloud storage.

The post Logitech’s Latest MX Brio Webcam Has 4K Output, A Privacy Shutter, and Apple-style ‘Desk View’ first appeared on Yanko Design.

Modulyss' carpet tiles aim to "foster an environment of comfort and inclusion"

Interior with beige carpet tiles

Promotion: Belgium-based flooring design company Modulyss has created a range of carpet tiles that aim to aid in the design of interiors that consider inclusivity and neurodiversity.

According to Modulyss, carpet tiles are an often overlooked element of interior design schemes. Its new collection aims to shed light on both the physical and psychological benefits of considerately specifying carpet tiles in mixed-use interiors.

Interior with grey and beige carpet tiles
Modulyss has nine carpet tile collections that each offer numerous design variations

Carpet tiles can help both to zone areas and to indicate spatial transitions to people who have visual impairments through their striking patterns and their use in tandem with each other, says the company.

Changes in pattern go hand in hand with changes in texture, which can serve as navigational markers for spatial users with impaired eyesight, according to Modulyss.

Interior with beige carpet tiles
Shifts in pattern and texture can indicate spatial transitions for people with visual impairments

The company says that the colour of tiles can also cater to people with diverse sensory needs by helping to either stimulate or calm the atmosphere of the space.

Meanwhile, the sound-absorbing qualities of tactile carpets can also help to minimise sensory overload for those who are sensitive to sound, says the brand.

Interior with grey carpet tiles
Carpet tiles can help shape the atmosphere of multi-use spaces

“Flooring plays a crucial role in crafting spaces that embrace this diversity,” said Modulyss. “Well-chosen carpet features can elevate your design and foster an environment of comfort and inclusion.”

The company has developed an extensive selection of carpet tile collections aimed at supporting inclusive interior design.

Interior with dusky burgundy carpet tiles
The company has a spectrum of colourways designed for an array of interior schemes

Artcore, one of Modulyss’ ranges, is informed by the way landscapes fade into one another topographically and can provide visual and tactile cues when used throughout interior schemes.

Another of the company’s collections, Modus, contains multiple subtly patterned finishes that reference the passage of time and various natural processes, including the way that rust forms on metal.

Interior with blue-grey carpet tiles
Carpet tiles serve both aesthetic and practical purposes

The four patterns in the Handcraft collection represent the relationship between craftspeople and the natural world, including Leaf, which is based on the appearance of fallen leaves, and Grind, which draws on the rough pathways trodden by people through nature.

All of Modulyss’ collections are cradle-to-cradle certified, meaning they are globally recognised as products that support the circular economy, which is dedicated to eradicating waste and repurposing materials at the end of a product’s lifespan.

Interior with grey, green and black carpet tiles
The tiles can be mixed and matched between patterns and collections

Modulyss is a Belgian brand that designs and manufactures floor tiles that can be used in a variety of interiors.

For more information on Modulyss, visit its website here.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Modulyss as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Studio Bark designs water-powered Breach House that enables off-grid living

Breach House by Studio Bark

London-based practice Studio Bark has unveiled plans for Breach House, a water-powered family home located in Leicestershire, UK.

Designed to enable the owners to “live off the land”, the proposal by Studio Bark will be powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels and micro-hydro energy, creating a home capable of running off-grid.

Render of water-powered home by Studio Bark
Breach House will be powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels and micro-hydro energy

The 430-metre-square proposal will comprise the new home, along with the restoration of an existing agricultural barn and extensive landscaping.

Making use of the site’s location among a network of small brooks, streams and ponds, run-off water from the surrounding fields will be used to provide a portion of the home’s energy needs. It will also be harvested on-site and filtered for use within the house.

View of 'water tower' within Breach House by Studio Bark
The ‘water tower’ connects the home’s two wings

“The concept is a rural home which establishes a reciprocity between ecology and human needs through water,” studio director Tom Bennett told Dezeen.

“The massing echoes the typology of a traditional farmstead, blending contextual influences to create a contemporary building which resonates subtly with its setting.”

Interior render of Breach House in Leicestershire
The design references the typology of traditional farm buildings

Drawing on the local typologies, the home will be arranged in clusters complemented by courtyards and sheltered outdoor spaces formed by deep overhanging eaves.

A ‘water tower’, which will sit centrally on the site, will house ventilation and circulation functions as well as water filtration.

It will also hold a staircase and corridor to connect the home’s two wings and was designed to be a visual reference to the use of water throughout the scheme.

Low carbon and natural materials suggested for the proposal include reclaimed brick, UK-sourced timber and reclaimed tiles, which were chosen in response to the character and heritage of the surrounding landscape.

Renders of the proposal reveal a largely timber structure, with exposed beams interspersed with skylights featuring on the home’s interior.

On the exterior, trapezoidal-shaped roofs will be clad with decorative tiles and provide shelter for a balcony adjacent to the bedroom on the upper floor.

Render of living interior at water-powered home by Studio Bark
Exposed timber beams and skylights will feature on the home’s interior

According to the studio, the residual carbon impact of the building is expected to be countered by landscaping proposals – including the planting of around 200 trees – that will accelerate carbon drawdown on the site.

Calculations undertaken by the studio suggest that these landscaping proposals will sequester roughly three times the amount of carbon that will be released over the building’s lifetime.

Render of living space within Breach House in Leicestershire
Run-off water will be harvested and filtered for use within the home

“Proposed works include a new woodland area, wet meadow, enriched wildflower meadow, reinstated historical copse, successional tree planting, new ponds and reinstated field boundaries,” Bennett said.

“These measures will sequester carbon, greatly enhance the ecological value of the currently agricultural site, in addition to assisting with natural flood management in the locality.”

Proposed bedroom interior within Breach House by Studio Bark
Breach House is expected to result in a 65 per cent biodiversity net gain

The proposal is anticipated to result in a 65 per cent biodiversity net gain, with additional habitat measures incorporated into the home set to include a bat attic.

Other architectural projects with a heavy focus on sustainability include the UK’s “most sustainable” and largest neighbourhood made from timber and a neighbourhood in Paris made up of limestone buildings.

The render are courtesy of Studio Bark.

The post Studio Bark designs water-powered Breach House that enables off-grid living appeared first on Dezeen.

This Portable Body Composition Tracker Revolutionizes Fitness and Health Monitoring

A portable body composition tracker offers detailed health insights anywhere and anytime. The third-generation Fitrus Plus 3.0 retains its portability while introducing numerous upgrades, making it a versatile health companion accessible whenever and wherever needed. It measures body fat, skeletal muscle mass, body mass index (BMI), basal metabolic rate (BMR), heart rate, and body water all at once. This tracker aids in setting attainable fitness goals and tracking progress, which helps maintain motivation and improve health outcomes. Tracking your body’s reactions is crucial for individuals following specific fitness or diet plans. With its portability, the Fitrus Plus 3.0 easily incorporates health monitoring into daily routines, thanks to the additional features of the third generation.

Designer: ONESOFTDIGM CO., LTD.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149 $249 ($100 off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $80,000.

Over 15+ Types of Body Data Analysis

These data are obtained from a physical tracker combined with intelligent software. The new Fitrus Plus 3.0 features a significant improvement in battery life, extending from 4-5 days on the Fitrus Plus 2.0 to 20 days. The charging port has been upgraded from Micro 5-pin to USB Type-C. A full charge takes 3 hours. The device features a 1.3” OLED display with a resolution of 128 x 64 pixels. This makes it easy to read data such as body composition, skin temperature, object temperature, heart rate, stress index, and battery life.

Hold the four electrodes with your thumbs and index fingers, stretch your arms forward. Keeping your elbows straight, and avoid touching your hands together. Wait until the results appears!

The new design is as smooth and user-friendly as the software that powers it. The updated health tracking functions, including protein, mineral, and swelling indexes, make the upgrade from the previous generation worthwhile. These additions allow for a more comprehensive health analysis. Gaining insights into your body’s changes is valuable. However, further benefits can be derived, such as receiving personalized health recommendations for meal plans and workout routines. These are based on the collected and analyzed data. As our bodies change over time, whether we notice it or not, these personalized recommendations continue to adapt, enabling you to achieve your best self.

Like the temperature sensor in the Google Pixel 8, an IR sensor can be used to measure skin temperature without contact. It instantly displays the temperature on the OLED screen, eliminating the need for a smartphone. This device is especially useful for parents with young children, as it can also measure the temperature of soup or milk to prevent burns. Measuring 4.96 inches long, 0.54 inches thick, and 1.34 inches wide, and weighing just 1.41 ounces, the Fitrus Plus 3.0 champions portability. Using the Fitrus is straightforward – hold the four electrodes with your thumbs and index fingers, then extend your arms forward. Ensure your elbows are straight and your hands are not touching. Maintain a straight posture and the results will display. The device automatically turns off after taking the measurement, which adds convenience as you don’t need to turn it off manually.

The Fitrus Plus 3.0 revolutionizes personal health tracking by combining portability with a rich array of health metrics, making it an essential tool for anyone committed to maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Its extended 20-day battery life, user-friendly USB Type-C charging, and clear OLED display ensure that users can access detailed insights into their body composition, heart rate, and more anytime and anywhere. With its enhanced features and the ability to provide personalized health recommendations, the Fitrus Plus 3.0 not only tracks health data but also helps users achieve their fitness goals with greater precision and motivation.

The Fitrus Plus 3.0 requires no subscriptions or additional payments. The application for iOS and Android is free, and the company has stated that they have no plans to implement a subscription fee in the future.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149 $249 ($100 off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $80,000.

The post This Portable Body Composition Tracker Revolutionizes Fitness and Health Monitoring first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Storage-Centered Desk Designs For Home & Commercial Offices

Desks are the most integral part of any office – whether corporate or modern. And I do spend most of my day on it! Either I’m working away, or watching some Netflix in my free time. Hence, having a great desk is essential! Simply a ‘good’ desk won’t do either. A great desk helps us work comfortably and effectively. It puts us in the right mindset, helping us achieve our daily productivity goals and checkmark all the tasks on our to-do list! Not only should our desks be clean, but they should also sport an ergonomic and functional design! And if a desk has some storage space as well, it checks all the boxes for us. And, we’ve curated a collection of innovative, highly functional, and aesthetically pleasing desk designs, that will end your hunt for a great desk once and for all!

1. Diag Desk

Named the Diag Desk, this modern minimalist desk is designed to optimize desk space while integrating storage elements like removable leather compartments. The Diag Desk is an example of how a simple desk can provide a lot of practicality while maintaining a subtle and stripped-down design.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since the desk is minimalist, a lot of space is given to the desk’s tabletop, and it integrates storage systems that ensure the users have a lot of desk space while keeping the essential stationery designs within reach.

What we like

  • Makes sure your stationery doesn’t fall off
  • Minimalist build that will perfectly complement any living space

What we dislike

  • Not much to differentiate the desk from other desks on the market in terms of aesthetics

2. Hideaway Swing Desk

Called the Hideaway Swing Desk, this desk doubles up as a sleek and sophisticated sideboard. You can transform it from a desk to sideboard, using its different forms for when different needs arise, all you need to do it place it at a different angle. In both states, it is better suited for smaller homes.

Why is it noteworthy?

In its original state, the Hideaway Swing Desk functions as an excellent sideboard that is perfect for smaller homes. But when you move the furniture piece at a 90-degree angle, it transforms into a functional and sturdy workspace.

What we like

  • Intended to be a flexible storage solution that meets various needs in modern homes

What we dislike

  • There seems to be no option for customization

3. Three-Six Desk

Designed by Deniz Aktay, this conceptual desk is is both functional and appealing. It is made from walnut desk, but has an intriguing oragne metal inlay surrounding it. But the inlay isn’t only for aesthetic purposes, it lets you place stuff around your desk without them taking up any place on your desk.

Why is it noteworthy?

The front inlay is an element of the drawers, and they are used to open them. The angular sides can accommodate office accessories like scissors, staplers, and pens. The desk can also store your mobile phone, tablet, and other media devices allowing you to easily reach them.

What we like

  • Can hold a variety of items such as office accessories, devices, books, plants, pen holders and etc

What we dislike

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

4. DEN Desk

Named the DEN Desk, this innovative desk design is truly one-of-a-kind. You can build your desk just the way you like it, but playing around with it, and creating the desk design that perfectly meets your needs. The unique design makes you feel as if you’re playing with LEGO, but you’re building a furniture piece!

Why is it noteworthy?

You can start with the most basic setup and then grow your desk by adding other parts or accessories, from monitor mounts to even a cabinet on the side. You can slot in a desktop at an angle, and build a corner desk if you like!

What we like

  • You can assemble and disassemble the various pieces with relative ease, allowing you to build a desk that caters to your needs and requirements

What we dislike

  • It is a bulky, space-consuming design not well-suited for smaller homes

5. Nice Chair

I love the Nice Chair, because it is not simply a chair, it is also a desk that you can rock back and forth! It is designed to occupy minimum space, and it can be easily assembled and disassembled, it also rocks you back and forth, giving a smooth and enjoyable motion to break the lull of a boring workday.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Nice Chair can function as an ordinary chair to sit on, or as a rocker that moves back and forth. The rounded bottom edges of the chair enable it to rock back and forth, creating a mesmerizing lull that can guide anyone to sleep. You can also slide a tabletop between the ridges on the arms of the chair, to convert it into a workspace, that can hold and store your work accessories.

What we like

  • Multifunctional furniture design that can switch between two different modes

What we dislike

  • There is no way to stop the chair from rocking while working, which can be quite uncomfortable

6. Buddyhub Desk

Offices can be quite overwhelming and stressful, and sometimes you just need to take a break from the office chaos. Called the Buddyhub Desk, this cute-looking desk features rounded edges and gives you some private space in the hectic environment of offices. It is equipped with a sound-absorbing fabric panel that lines its outer edges.

Why is it noteworthy?

Designed to be a private cocoon, it lets you work without being disturbed by your co-workers and other external factors. It features a sound-absorbing fabric panel that is available in a range of colors, creating a colorful and cute desk, that brightens up any space it is placed in.

What we like

  • Can be customized with a wide range of optional accessories

What we dislike

  • There are similar designs in the market, there is nothing to make it really stand out

7. Linea Desk

The Italian furniture brand Porro created the Linea collection that was designed by late postmodernist architect and designer Medini a couple of years ago. The collection includes a quirky and colorful writing desk that is ideal for those who need to indulge in some creative writing.

Why is it noteworthy?

Mendini created the designs by defining them with stunning cellulose acetate surfaces that feature inlays in primary colors. The writing desk is an excellent space to write and get your creative juices flowing.

What we like

  • Characterized by bold and bright colors, with playful contrasts between light and dark colors

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics may be considered too quirky by some people, and not preferred by everyone, as it may not suit all interior styles

8. Kabinett

Named Kabinett, this sturdy cabinet works not only as a cabinet but also as a work desk. It was designed by Stockholm-based designer Alexander Lervik and is intended for modern home offices, where its dual functionality lets it serve as an excellent furniture piece for homes and offices.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Kabinett is designed to be an ergonomic set-up for home offices, and it functions as an efficient work table, but also as an elegant and sophisticated dresser. It serves as a stylish and elegant dresser, and you can use it to store your various knick-knacks, books, and etc.

What we like

  • Multifunctional + ergonomic design
  • Its minimal aesthetics are a plus point since this allows the furniture to seamlessly merge with all kinds of home offices

What we dislike

  • Bulky + space-consuming design, not ideal for small homes, or small rooms

9. Pill Writing Desk

Called the Pill Writing Desk, this unique and rather unusual-looking desk has a spherical shape that you don’t really see in desks. When closed it is quite eye-catching, and when open it is quite functional. It functions as a furniture design that also looks like a minimalist piece of art.

Why is it noteworthy?

The desk has an innovative circular form that can be wall-mounted, which makes it look like a wall-hung painting rather than a four-legged floor-resting desk. It stands apart from other desks and has a clean contemporary look that can make any room stand out.

What we like

  • The upper semicircle functions as a writing space with sufficient storage for your belongings

What we dislike

  • Because of its unique shape, the desk looks difficult to clean and maintain

10. Eleven Desk

Eleven Desk Details

Concept Eleven Desk

If you hear Eleven you either think of the number or the popular fictional character from a TV series, and now Eleven is also a special desk that makes your work-from-home routine more fun and productive. It is a unique desk that amps your productivity and makes storage also a breeze.

Why is it noteworthy?

The desk has ample space for everything you need for work. It can hold your laptop, monitor, mouse, and keyboard. There is lots of space for your books, documents, pens, and a mug. There are also hooks beneath the table to hang your bag, headphones, and an additional level for other stuff.

What we like

  • The desk is an excellent option for those who own a lot of stuff, and need them organized and neat
  • It is buildable, and you can quickly assemble it

What we dislike

  • The Eleven Desk is still a prototype, so we are unsure how the final product will be

The post Top 10 Storage-Centered Desk Designs For Home & Commercial Offices first appeared on Yanko Design.

YouTuber Turns Tesla’s Cybertruck Into A Full-Blown Snowmobile With Tracks Instead Of Wheels

We’ve seen the Cybertruck handle off-road tasks with the ease of a machete cutting through soft butter… Whether it’s asphalt, gravel, sand-dunes, or even a shallow riverbed, it seems like Cybertruck drivers have managed to push the electric pickup truck to its limits to have it conquer those surfaces, but what about snow? YouTuber Heavy D Sparks decided to test the truck’s off-road abilities by having it run on one of the trickiest surfaces for any vehicle, snow-capped hills. Except, he wasn’t planning on just taking the Cybertruck as is, no… Heavy D Sparks decided to build the world’s first (and only) Cybertrack – a truck/snowmobile hybrid with treads instead of wheels. Borrowing a Cybertruck from fellow YouTuber Supercar Ron, Heavy D Sparks (also known as Heavy Diesel) decided to give the truck its biggest hardware upgrade ever.

Designer: Heavy D Sparks

The aim was to outfit the Cybertruck with “hell tracks,” a modification promising unparalleled off-road prowess. This endeavor was not without its hurdles, though; given the Cybertruck’s sheer weight and output, multiple parts and brackets ended up needing reinforcements because of how heavy the truck was. Parts would break, fold like cardboard, or even completely disengage, causing the truck to lose control or stop working entirely.

The truck was sourced from Supercar Ron, who happened to have an early Founder’s Edition of the Cybertruck, and very graciously gifted it to the Diesel Brothers team to modify however they saw fit. The journey of modification was a meticulous process involving the creation of custom parts such as bumpers and the addition of extra batteries in the back to support the massive lights installed on the top and the front courtesy Baja Designs. Finally, the truck got a custom wrap featuring a unique camouflage pattern that mimicked the Cybertruck’s angular design.

Testing the modified vehicle revealed a stark duality of success and challenge. On one hand, the Cybertruck demonstrated enhanced stability and performance, a direct result of the thoughtful modifications. On the other, the project was met with significant mechanical setbacks, including a broken spindle—a clear indicator of the factory parts’ limitations under rigorous testing conditions.

However, when the Cybertrack DID work on snow, Heavy D (who was piloting the vehicle) pointed out that the truck was handling the snow incredibly smoothly. “It feels so stable,” he mentioned. “I would feel totally comfortable loading this thing full of skiers and going to the top of any ski resort around, like the steepest runs.” The truck could comfortably cruise around at 40 to 50mph on snow, although there’s a fair discrepancy between what the speedometer says versus your actual ground speed. The speedometer outputs nearly double of what your actual ground speed is (because of how the treads rotate and how that translates to actual ground movement). It held its own on steep inclines too, but there was a bit of a malfunction right towards the end of the video.

Unexpectedly, the project received an encouraging nod from Tesla, an acknowledgment that perhaps was not anticipated. This support not only underscored Tesla’s openness to seeing its vehicles pushed to new boundaries but also cemented a deeper appreciation for the brand and its leadership, marking a positive shift in perception among the project team.

There’s a Part 2 video coming soon, with probably more repairs and modifications to the Cybertrack. You can follow Heavy D Sparks on YouTube for more.

The post YouTuber Turns Tesla’s Cybertruck Into A Full-Blown Snowmobile With Tracks Instead Of Wheels first appeared on Yanko Design.

These Comfy & Stylish Chairs Will Bring Some 1960s Elegance & Flair To Your Living Room

The Danish design studio Karakter rereleased a dining and lounge chair that was created in the 1960s by design duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa. I love it when modern design brands recreate, rerelease, or revamp iconic designs of the yesteryears, it gives them a chance to shine again while allowing us to enjoy and experience the excellent design philosophies and styles of the past. They serve as sources of inspiration, letting us draw from the design lessons of the old, allowing us to use them to elevate the designs of the present.

Designer: Karakter

Dubbed the 925 Scarpa lounge chair, and the 121 Scarpa dining chair, both the chairs feature a characteristic keyhole-shaped cutout in their backrests, double trestle frames, and rounded joinery, forming elegant and sophisticated furniture pieces that have a sturdy personality. The 121 dining chair was inspired by a sketch made by architect and designer Carlo Scarpa and was produced with the 925 lounge variation.

The dining chair has a narrow and upright composition and form, while the lounge chair has a lower, wider form with a generous and cozy set. Both the chairs feature a sturdy wooden frame that is beautifully contrasted by the soft and supple leather upholstery of the seat and back. The end result is stylish pieces that seem to stand out on their own, without calling too much attention, or being a tad bit obnoxious. They’re simple, style, yet statement pieces that can truly uplight the appearance and appeal of any living space.

Both the chairs are available in frame options made from a wide range of solid wood species, including ash. The seats can be finished in fine European leather, and you can pick from a choice of colors, including black, red, brown, and cognac, creating classy and impressive furniture pieces that will harmoniously merge your living space, and complement your other furniture possessions. They’re perfect for adding some 1960s flair and elegance to your home!

The post These Comfy & Stylish Chairs Will Bring Some 1960s Elegance & Flair To Your Living Room first appeared on Yanko Design.

Laptop cooling system concept extends its back to let air flow even better

Laptops today have become quite powerful beasts, capable of handling AAA games and even multimedia creation that their predecessors would choke at. But with great power comes great heat generation, the bane of CPU performance and battery life. Keeping a laptop cool has been a very big puzzle for laptop designers, mostly because of the problem of squeezing an efficient cooling system inside an extremely thin chassis. There are many existing solutions available today, ranging from extra large fans to vapor cooling chambers, but this particular concept offers an additional level of thermal management where a portion of the laptop’s rear extends to facilitate better airflow to and from the internals.

Designer: Wistron

Laptop cooling systems might come with different names and gimmicks, but they all function with the same principle. You draw heat away from the processors and battery and blow out the hot air while simultaneously drawing in cooler air. Whether it’s passive cooling with vapor chambers or active cooling with fans, proper airflow is still a critical element in the system. Unfortunately, due to design requirements, laptop air vents are actually small and too few.

This design concept tries to fix that problem by almost literally opening up a part of the laptop in order to create more and bigger openings for air to pass. Dubbed “dynamic airflow,” the design has one part of the laptop extend and move, exposing more vents for better airflow. In this case, it’s the back of the laptop that moves further back once you open up the lid. Conversely, that rear panel retracts again as you close the lid.

This moving part can house the laptop’s “heat module,” which can be, for example, small fans that move the air around. Normally, thermal cooling systems are placed on top of the laptop’s motherboard, which ironically leaves little room for the air to flow. Separating this thermal component not only frees up more space for airflow, it also makes it theoretically possible to make the laptop even thinner with this arrangement.

Of course, it’s easier said than done, as the design will also have come with its own consequences. For one, it makes the laptop design more complicated with more moving parts and mechanisms to extend and retract that component, which, in turn, could introduce structural compromises and new points of failure. Given the company behind the design, we might actually see this dynamic airflow concept tested in the wild by some major laptop manufacturers, which will then give us a better handle on how effective the solution really is.

The post Laptop cooling system concept extends its back to let air flow even better first appeared on Yanko Design.

Construction commences on SOM skyscrapers at former Chicago Spire site

400 Lakeshore Drive construction

American developer Related Midwest has resumed construction on the 400 Lake Shore skyscraper in Chicago on a site that has experienced more than a decade’s worth of revisions and delays.

Construction teams in Chicago have begun work on the foundation for the 72-storey skyscraper designed by SOM.

Images show workers filling the giant foundation hole that has been left at the site alongside the Chicago River on Lake Michigan for nearly twenty years.

Chicago Spire hole being filled in
Construction has commenced on a pair of SOM-designed skyscrapers at the ill-fated site of the Chicago Spire

The site was originally slated to hold The Spire, a mega-tall skyscraper designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava that was ultimately cancelled due to the financial and logistical problems. The original plan for the structure would have made it the tallest building in the world at the time, if completed.

In 2016, after years of legal disputes, the plan was finally scrapped, and Related Midwest, a creditor on the original project, commissioned Chicago-based SOM to completely redesign the site. In 2020, the developer announced that the height of the proposed towers had been reduced.

The result was a pair of skyscrapers, the tallest having 76 storeys – a design approved by the local planning commission.

Spire hole aerial shot
Construction teams began pumping concrete into the hole to serve as a foundation for the 76-storey skyscraper

Currently, construction is underway on the taller of the two towers, the northern one, with massive amounts of concrete and steel being added into the hole to create the foundations for the SOM skyscraper.

The construction began on 29 February, with hundreds of trucks working to pour nine million pounds of concrete to form the initial foundation for the new building.

Construction will not start on the second tower until completion of the first tower, which is due to open in 2027.

Adjacent to the skyscraper site is DuSable Park, a public park that the original developers pledged to remediate during the initial design phases for the Spire.

SOM skyscrapers for Spire site Lakeshore Drive
SOM has designed two skyscrapers for the site, the first of which will be completed in 2027

Eventually, the park was cleared of thorium deposits from its prior industrial usage, and was made home to an installation by local architect and AIA gold medal-winner Carol Ross Barney during last year’s Chicago Architecture Biennial. A further build out of the park is part of current development plans.

Other skyscrapers currently under construction in Chicago include 1000 M by local architecture studio Jahn in South Loop.

Images courtesy of Related Midwest.

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