Tokyo-based, Japanese designer Daisuke Yamamoto, utilised discarded Lightweight Gauge Steel (LGS), commonly used in construction framing systems, to create the FLOW furniture collection. The design prioritises deconstruction to avoid a 'scrap and build' construction process. Yamamoto advocates for a 'fluid material lifecycle minimising industrial waste' approach, seeking to shift from a conventional 'think → build → waste' model to a more sustainable 'waste → think → recreate' process. Photo of Enzo Mari Homage Chair by Masayuki Hayashi. © Daisuke Yamamoto Design Studio. Daisuke Yamamoto
MORECCA create a community centre in Tabasco, Mexico
Mexico City-based architects, Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica (CCA) have designed the Community Development Centre (CDA) as part of the Urban Improvement program in Jalpa de Méndez, Tabasco, Mexico. The project was conceived as a sculpture created from eight giant concrete panels perforated with arches, forming spaces for workshops, a multi-purpose room, a library, and an auditorium. Void spaces within the arches provide interior gardens, while a central communal garden offers views from the interior spaces.
MORELightly chair designed by Formway for Noho
The lightweight, stackable Lightly chair is designed by design studio Formway for furniture company Noho, both of which are based in Wellington, New Zealand. The high-strength polymer frame of the Lightly chair is made from castor beans, and the seat is made from recycled waste. The design allows for efficient stacking, with 10 chairs stacking one meter high. This, together with its low with weight of 6lbs (2.75kg), reduces the shipping carbon footprint. Noho
MOREVilla Tarika at Lake Garda, by architects Bricolo Falsarella
Italian architects Bricolo Falsarella designed Villa Tarika at Lake Garda in Italy, allowing the inhabitants to experience the intensity of the landscape. The approach was to create a combination of spaces that allow views of the lake and those that restrict the view.
A large stone wall and a slatted wall enclose the villa at its entrance. A small opening at the entrance level on the first floor leads to a semi-enclosed space that frames views of the Rocca di Garda, Monte Luppia and the dense surrounding vegetation.
MOREApartment building in Aarau, Switzerland by Gautschi Lenzin Schenker
Swiss architects Gautschi Lenzin Schenker have designed a building with six small apartments to replace a residential building in Aarau, Switzerland. The three-storey building comprises six 2.5-room apartments across three floors and an attic, with ancillary rooms in the basement. A covered area with space for bicycles leads to the ground floor, which is raised for flood protection.
MOREThe 10th edition of Spain’s Concéntrico festival
25 April to 1 May 2024 | Logroño, SPAIN
Concéntico is the annual Logroño (Spain) International Festival of Architecture and Design, featuring installations, exhibitions, and activities throughout the streets of Logroño. Since 2015 Concéntrico has brought together national and international architects, along with designers, to create more than 100 urban installations, with the aim of reflecting on the urban environment and the city.
MOREHouse in Fukui City, Japan by Mizukami Architects
Japan-based studio Tetsuya Mizukami Architects has designed a house for a young couple in a residential area of Fukui City, Japan. The site is accessed by climbing a slope that offers mountain views in front and, from the southern end of the site, views of the city with mountains beyond. The architects aimed to incorporate this experience into the house by creating bright, open spaces that are offset by half a floor, providing views through openings onto void spaces that connect to the surrounding landscape. Photo Ken'ichi Suzuki. Mizukami Architects
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El Croquis 222. David Chipperfield 2015 2023
El Croquis 222 is dedicated to the recent works of British architect Sir David Chipperfield. Sir David Chipperfield founded his architecture practice in 1985 and now has offices in London, Berlin, Milan, Shanghai, and Santiago de Compostela. He has received numerous prestigious international awards, including a CBE, a knighthood for services to architecture, an appointment as a member of the UK's Order of the Companions of Honour, and most recently, the Pritzker Prize in 2023.
MORESelldorf Architects designs David Zwirner’s headquarters in Chelsea, New York
New York City-based Selldorf Architects have designed the headquarters for the contemporary art gallery David Zwirner, which has galleries in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Hong Kong. The headquarters span 36,000 sq ft over two floors of a historic warehouse building in Chelsea, New York City. The flexible, open-space work environment accommodates a library, two pantries, a wellness space, and an outdoor terrace.
MOREEN collection of tables and chairs designed by Cecille Manz for Maruni
The EN collection of tables and chairs was designed by Danish designer Cecile Manz for the Japanese furniture company Maruni, which was founded in 1928. The original EN chair, with its curved backrest and loop frame legs, was launched with a soft-coloured fabric upholstery seat. An all-wood version with a solid wooden seat was released in 2023. The chairs are manufactured in a natural finish, rusty red, dusty green, clay white, and black. The round EN table is made of maple wood with colours applied to the legs. Maruni
MOREWinery in Jenins, Switzerland by Bearth and Deplazes
Swiss architects Bearth and Deplazes have created Winery Obrecht at the eastern entrance to the village of Jenins in Switzerland. The architects have formed a courtyard by adding a new building to the 'assembly' of existing structures, which include the former 'Zur Sonne' inn and wooden stable, with later additions including an additional stable, a shed, and a barn.
MORE30th anniversary of Maison & Objet in 2024
18-22 January 2024 | Paris, FRANCE
The interior design trade fair Maison & Objet 2024 celebrates its 30th anniversary with the theme TECH EDEN.
The fair highlights three trends in retail: sustainable minimalism, responsible brutalism (re-use and recycling of materials), and organic fluidity.
MORELuis Barragán Archive at the Vitra Design Museum
Barragán Gallery, Vitra Schaudepot, GERMANY
The Barragan Foundation has been caring for the estate of Luis Barragán (1902-1988), widely regarded as the most important Mexican architect of the 20th century. The archive material was recently moved to the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Luis Barragán drew international attention with his first works in his hometown of Guadalajara. After moving to Mexico City in 1935, he developed his architectural language, combining international modernism with traditional elements of Mexican culture and landscape.
MORETime Space Existence biennale architecture exhibition 2023
20 May - 26 November 2023, VENICE.
The 6th edition of the Time Space Existence biennale architecture exhibition in 2023 takes place in parallel with the Venice Biennale and is hosted by the European Culture Centre. This year, the exhibition focuses on sustainability, showcasing projects that investigate new technologies and construction methods aimed at reducing energy consumption through circular design, as well as projects that explore organic and recycled building materials.
MOREJohn Morden Centre by Mæ wins the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023
The RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 for the UK's best building has been awarded to the John Morden Centre by Mæ, a retirement day centre in Blackheath, London
MOREStudent accommodation in Berlin by Sehw Architektur
Berlin-based Sehw Architektur has designed a building comprising 159 apartments for students in Oberschöneweide, Berlin. The corner building with similar treatment of its walls and sloping roof gives it a monolithic appearance. The external colour divides the building into two parts, and the slight horizontal shift in the windows provides the facade with a 'playful dynamic’. The building features open-plan kitchen-living rooms, common areas to promote social interactions, and compact apartments with large windows. Photo Helen Bereket. Sehw Architektur
MOREPinto coffee table designed by Skrivo for Miniforms
The Pinto coffee tables are designed by the Milan-based studio Skrivo for the Italian manufacturer Miniforms. These tables are made from a fully recyclable concrete, which comprises fragments of marble and stone without metallic impurities. The material is weather resistant and structurally strong, even with its slender 18mm profiles. Miniforms
MOREZanotta adds storage elements and a mirror to the Quaderna collection by Superstudio
Italian design company Zanotta, that was established in 1954, has added a low storage unit, cupboard and mirror to its Quaderna collection. The furniture features the 3cm chequered mesh laminate that was created by Print and designed by Superstudio. Digitally printed laminate is hand-applied to the furniture's body, a task that requires precision and takes several hours to complete. Each piece of furniture is made from a single sheet of laminate to ensure continuity of the mesh pattern. Photo of the Quaderna storage element / sideboard by Simone Barberis. Zanotta
MOREThe anniversary edition BACKENZAHN™ black oak side table designed by Philipp Mainzer for e15
Frankfurt-based furniture brand e15 celebrates 15 years of the BACKENZAHN™ side table with the launch of a black oak edition. BACKENZAHN™ is designed by e15's founder, Philipp Mainzer. The side table is made from wood from the centre of the tree, which forms characteristic cracks as it dries. A vinegar solution is applied to the untreated oak to loosen the iron particles, followed by a mixture of natural ingredients to transform it to a matte black finish, which is then sealed with wax. e15
MOREHigh-rise H1 building in Zurich by Bolthauser Architekten
Swiss-based Bolthauser Architekten has designed the high-rise H1 building on the Zwhatt site, in the Banhoff Nord development area of Regensdorf, near Zurich. The building is a response to a pavilion designed by artist Alexander Brodsky and is part of Peter Märkli's masterplan, which includes a second high-rise building designed by Märkli. The 24-storey, 75-meter tall building is constructed with a three-floor concrete 'table' supporting a timber structure above. The ground floor is accessible to the public and includes a bistro, while the next two floors comprise co-working areas. Above this, there are 150 apartments of various sizes, configured according to the timber structure.
MORELudwig Mies van der Rohe – Villa Wolf in Gubin, History and Reconstruction
DOM publishers have released 'Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - Villa Wolf in Gubin, History and Reconstruction', a book edited by Dietrich Neumann. Villa Wolf in Gubing, Mies van der Rohe's first modern building, was constructed between 1925 and 1927 but was destroyed at the end of the Second World War.
This publication documents the history of Villa Wolf, its significance within van Mies van der Rohe's body of work, and the excavation of the basement and foundations in 2021.
MOREKori Collection of lighting designed by TAF Studio for Artek
TAF Studio has designed the Kori Collection of lamps for Finnish furniture company Artek, which architect Alvar Aalto founded. Kori translates to 'basket' and refers to the core element of the light fitting, designed to create a soft and diffuse light. The collection includes a table, floor, and three pendant lights, available in a deep matt white powder-coated finish. The floor and table lamps are also available in bright matt orange. The Kori Collection is manufactured in Italy, with the die-cast light basket made from recycled aluminium. Artek
MOREJonathan Tuckey Design refurbishes farmstead in Piedmont, Italy
London-based architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design has refurbished and converted a 200-year-old farmstead in Piedmont to create a home and studio. The project, named Cascina, aims to open up the facade to reconnect the building to the landscape and also to strip back additions made in the 1990s. With the methodology of 'elegant appropriation', the original fabric, including the stone walls and roof timbers, together with roof tiles, are reused. New repairs and upgrades are woven into the existing structure, creating a rich tapestry.
MOREAl13 furniture collection by Massimiliano Locatelli
The Al13 furniture collection was designed by Italian architect Massimiliano Locatelli and named after the symbol for Aluminium and its atomic number. The collection includes a table, stool, chest of drawers, cabinet, and a bed, and is available in natural, polished and anodised aluminium in various colours. Extruded aluminium window frame profiles are used to support differing thicknesses of glass; both materials have the benefit that they can be recycled indefinitely. Image of the Al13 Chest of Drawers. Massimiliano Locatelli Editions
MOREFrieze London 2023 marks its 20th anniversary
11-15 October 2023, REGENTS PARK, LONDON.
Contemporary art fair Frieze London returns to Regents Park to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. Frieze London focuses on contemporary art and living artists, featuring emerging to iconic artists. Over the past few years, it has attracted around 60,000 visitors annually. The art fair is accompanied by Frieze Masters, which displays works created before the year 2000, and free access to major outdoor works at Frieze Sculptures. This year, a new initiative 'Artists-to-Artists' invites world-renowned artists such as Olafur Eliasson and Tracey Emin to nominate artists for solo exhibitions at Frieze London. Photo by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/Frieze. Frieze London
MOREModern Paris Map by Robin Wilson and Nigel Green for Blue Crow Media
Blue Crow Media has published The Modern Paris Map / Carte Paris Moderne, by writer Robin Wilson and photographer Nigel Green, covering 50 examples of 20th-century architecture in Paris. The publication features architecture by Le Corbusier, Adolf Loos, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Pierre Chareau, Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Fernand Pouillon and Marcel Breuer. Buildings include the Maisons La Roche and Jeanneret, Maison de Verre, Maison du Peuple and the UNESCO Headquarters. Blue Crow Media
MOREAlpina outdoor chair by Massimiliano Locatelli
Milan-based architects Massimiliano Locatelli have designed the Alpina outdoor chair as part of their Editions collection. The weatherproof Alpina chairs are a re-design of the 1960s bar chair. The chairs are constructed of double U-shaped tubular iron, with back and seat support made from over 120 meters of hand-woven mountaineering rope. Massimiliano Locatelli Editions
MORELAMA Pavilion in Chile by Pezo von Ellrichshausen
Chile-based architecture studio Pezo Von Ellrichshausen has created the LAMA Pavilion in Yungay, Chile to provide views of the Andes Mountains. The pavilion consists of two stacked towers with an extended, cantilevered plate dividing the two. The plate holds a shallow volume of rainwater reflecting the upper part of the tower, suggesting the presence of the lower part. Inside, a spiral staircase is surrounded by murals of 30 native flowers, leading via a timber staircase, to a blackened room with four peepholes. This, in turn, leads to a rooftop firepit, giving the building the appearance of a chimney when viewed from a distance. Pezo von Ellrichshausen
MOREOpen House Zurich 2023
30 September - 1 October 2023, ZURICH.
This is the 8th year of Open House Zurich and over 130 buildings and outdoor spaces, that are normally closed to the public, will be accessible with guided tours by architects, curators, building users and volunteers. Buildings include the extension to the Landesmuseum Zurich by architects Christ and Gantenbein, Casa Zentner by Italian architects Carlo Alberto Scarpa and the apartment building on Forsterstrasse by architects Christian Kerez.
MORElahznimmo architects design a new building at the Museum Discovery Centre in Sydney
Sydney-based studio lahznimmo architects has designed a new building for the Powerhouse Museum's Museums Discovery Centre (MDC) in Castle Hill, Sydney, Australia. The new 9,000 square-meter building, known as Building J, adds to the six buildings currently on the site. This building provides storage for the Powerhouse collection and archives, and includes a public viewing space capable of housing planes, trains and automobiles. There are additional spaces for workshops, events, laboratories, photography and research work.
MORELehni Table Flex 2.0 designed by Hanspeter Weidmann
Table Flex 2.0 is a revised version of a table designed in 2011 by Swiss designer Hanspeter Weidmann for Swiss manufacturer Lehni. The lightweight table is made of thin curved aluminium in three parts, the legs and the tabletop, which are screwed together without the need for welding or glues. The finish is anodised aluminium or powder-coated, and the table is designed to be used as a dining, office or garden table. Lehni
MOREGlass Houses by Phaidon features 50 architect-designed houses
New York and London-based publishers Phaidon have published Glass Houses, a volume featuring a collection of 50 houses constructed almost entirely of glass. The book features houses from over 20 countries designed by iconic mid-century architects, as well as established and lesser-known contemporary architects.
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Hawthorn House in Victoria, Australia designed by Edition Office
Melbourne-based Australian architectural studio Edition Office has designed Hawthorn House in Victoria, Australia. The house features two arched structural concrete shrouds linked by a walkway and a courtyard garden. Ground floor formal and informal living spaces are separated into two pavilions connected by a north-facing garden and courtyard. Sleeping and bathing spaces are located on the first floor, set in from the concrete shell, creating space for private courtyards. The rough-sawn formwork timber boards used for the concrete shell are reused for the perimeter fencing.
MORESydney Design Week 2023
15-24 September 2023, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Powerhouse, the largest museum group in Australia, launches the 27th edition of Sydney Design Week with over 60 events including tours, workshops and public architecture across the city. With reference to the work of French philosopher Bruno Latour, the theme this year is Amodern. This is explored via six 'fields of enquiry', namely Eco-Systems, Material Cultures, Communal Cities, Micro Cycles, Connected Threads and Photofields. Powerhouse / Sydney Design Week 2023
MORERIBA Stirling Prize 2023 shortlist announced
The RIBA Stirling Prize awards have been presented since 1996 to 'the architect of the building thought to be the most significant of the year for the evolution of architecture and the built environment'. The award is 'judged on a range of criteria including design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction'. The winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2023 will be announced live in Manchester at the Stirling Prize ceremony on 19 October 2023.
MOREThe Polish Army Museum in Warsaw was designed by WXCA as part of one of the largest museum complexes in Europe
Polish architectural studio WXCA has completed the South Building of the Polish Army Museum in the Warsaw Citadel as part of a plan to create one of the largest museum complexes in Europe. The South Building consists of eight separate blocks connected by glass walls providing glimpses of the surrounding park. The blocks are constructed of coloured architectural concrete, similar in colour to the Citadel's walls, and they feature a chevron pattern with a military reference, scaled to the size of a human hand.
MOREBLOC side table with storage designed by Pauline Deltour for Established & Sons
Paris-based designer Pauline Deltour designed the BLOC side tables for London-based British brand Established & Sons, with the aim of 'recreating a hand-drawn cube, using different tones and shades to suggest an optical illusion'. The BLOC side tables are manufactured in birch plywood with high-pressure laminate finishes in contrasting colours and a soft-open drawer hidden in the plywood structure. The tables are available in three sizes and are supported by black stained oak dowel feet or optional caster wheels. Photo © 2020 Established & Sons © Rory Gardiner. Established & Sons
MOREOpen House Festival London 2023
6-17 September 2023, LONDON.
Open City organises Open House Festival 2023 which is a two-week event in London where the public can visit buildings that are not accessible to the public. Note that booking may be necessary. Last year the festival included over 800 buildings in London. Internationally, almost 60 Open House festivals attract around 750,000 visitors per year. Buildings open in London this year include the BT Tower, 10 Downing Street and the former home of architects Richard Paxton and Heidi Locher. Photo of a low-energy house in Halliwick Road, Muswell Hill. Open House Festival
MOREZurich Design Weeks and Design Biennale Zurich 2023
31 August - 19 September 2023, ZURICH.
In 2023, Zurich Design Weeks returns for its second edition centred around 'TRANSITION', exploring 'a world undergoing complex changes'. There are over 60 programs comprising exhibitions, events, talks, and walks around the city. Additionally, this year's focus on the Circular Circuit highlights Zurich's role as the first Swiss city to establish a legally recognized circular economy. The information hub for Zurich Design Week is the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.
MORELondon Design Festival 2023, the 21st edition
16-24 September 2023, LONDON
The 21st edition of the London Design Festival provides a platform for designers to present their work at events, exhibitions and installations at various Design Districts throughout London. Last year 360,000 UK and international visitors attended the festival.
MOREUrbanizing Suburbia published by JOVIS
JOVIS has published 'Urbanizing Suburbia. Hyper-Gentrification, the Financialization of Housing and the Remaking of the Outer European City'. The book is edited by Tahl Kaminer, Leonard Ma and Helen Runting. Urbanizing Suburbia looks at how increasing house prices have displaced residents from inner cities, created opportunities that have changed densities and demographics in the suburbs, and subsequently made outer cities less suburban. This is examined in the context of four European Cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Stockholm and London. Photo Berlin page 312 © Leonard Ma. JOVIS
MOREFont occasional table designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune for Kristalia
Grain House in the Jutland region of Denmark by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Norway and Denmark-based architects Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter have created the Kornets Hus (Grain House), a centre in the Jutland region of Denmark that informs visitors about the importance of grain locally and its significance for human civilisation. The region has a rich food and farming culture, and the new centre is situated on the grounds of an existing farm and bakery in Hjørring, a town with some of the country's oldest settlement remains.
MOREApex lamp collection designed by John Tree for HAY
‘Garden Futures’ Designing with Nature at the Vitra Design Museum, Germany
25 March - 3 October 2023, WEIL AM RHEIN, GERMANY.
The Garden Futures exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum explores the history and future of modern gardens. The exhibition explores various gardens including vertical urban farms, contemporary community gardens and gardens by designers and artists. After the show closes at the Vitra Design Museum it is expected to move to other European venues. Photo of Oudolf Garten on the Vitra Campus by Piet Oudolf, Weil am Rhein, 2020 © Vitra, photo by Dejan Jovanovic. Vitra Design Museum
MOREEmeco ‘On and On’ collection of chairs and stools designed by Barber & Osgerby
The 'On and On' collection of lightweight and extremely durable chairs and stools is the result of a collaboration between American furniture manufacturer Emeco and London-based designers Barber & Osgerby. The chairs and stools are manufactured from 70% rPET (waste plastic bottles), 10% non-toxic pigment, and 20% glass fibre for strength; furthermore Emeco aims to recycle used chairs to manufacture new ones. The chairs are suitable for interior and exterior use and can be stacked up to six chairs high. Photo by David Brook Shoot Studio. Emeco
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