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4 New Gadgets to Elevate Your Workstation and Increase Productivity
CategoriesArchitecture

4 New Gadgets to Elevate Your Workstation and Increase Productivity

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Leading technology brands have released a plethora of exciting new tech products and upgraded devices this fall. Navigating the swarm of recently available products can, at times, feel overwhelming. So, we’ve tried to help simplify the process by recommending four newly released tech products to consider obtaining for your architectural practice.

For the Architect in Search of a Good 2-in-1

Microsoft has just released its Surface Pro 9 tablet, which has been designed to perform like a laptop but move like a tablet. This device boasts a flexible interface and bespoke user experience. This tablet comes with a 13’’ PixelSense™ touchscreen which creates a larger interface to work on and clearer viewing options. It has also been equipped with an adjustable built-in kickstand, which offers a range of angles to work in and creates a bespoke computer experience. One of the handiest features of this tablet is the Surface Slim Pen 2, a digital writing and drawing tool that is perfect for designers who prefer sketching and note taking by hand. Architects who prefer experimenting with freehand sketches can leverage apps such as Adobe Fresco directly on this device.

The Surface Pro 9 comes with a powerful new 12th-Gen Intel Core processor and weighs less than 4 lbs, making it a reliable, durable and easy-to-transport device. Its Windows 11 operating system can perfectly organize active apps into a grid format which is perfect for designers multitasking multiple programs. When architects are in need of writing briefs or responding to emails, they can switch from tablet to laptop with the Surface Pro 9 Signature Keyboard. Meanwhile, designers who require larger views can easily dock the device to a monitor. The Surface Pro 9 remains one of the best 2-in-1s on the market and meets many requirements for an architect-suitable device.

See more info and buy >

For the Architect Who Loves To Capture

Fujifilm’s recently-released X-H2 Mirrorless camera is perfect for the architect who enjoys photographing the built environment as much as they do designing it. The X-H2 camera is the fifth generation of Fujifilm’s X series and boasts a high-quality resolution and unmatched speed. This camera is equipped with a new 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor which unlocks new creative possibilities. This device comes with a pronounced imaging sensor and optimized pixel layout which ensures exceptional detail, color accuracy and video flexibility. The camera’s new X-Processor 5 helps deliver exceptional video quality, an enhanced autofocus and blackout-free image bursts at 15 fps – which makes capturing the small details of a built structure that much clearer. Moreover, the X-H2’s range extends to 13+ stops, which helps ensure a straightforward post-production process. Moreover, wireless image transfers are made simple and hassle-free through Fujifilm’s Remote Camera App. This camera is perfect for the architect looking to shoot professional images or simply pursue their love of photography.

See more info and buy >

For the Architect Looking To Experiment With Something New

Sometimes the most modest tools prove to be the most useful. 3D pens are relatively new to the market but have taken off thanks to their experimental and exploratory nature. Although at first the 3Doodler Create+ may seem more suitable for children, it is a great tool for designers looking to quickly visualize an idea. Without having to turn to large and tedious 3D printing machines, architects can conceptualize a form with the 3Doodler Create +. This device comes with a comprehensive guide, a pack of colorful plastic refills and is ideal for designers looking to explore the possibilities of 3D pens. Designers can create miniature models with the 3Doodler Create+ which uses PLA, ABS and Flexy Plastic to create freestanding lines and shapes. Whether it be to visualize a project, create a quick craft or work into a rendering, the 3Doodler Create+ is a great starting point for architects. This handheld 3D printing device is portable, compact and the perfect addition to any architect’s pencil case.

See more info and buy >

For the Architect Looking To Zone Into Their Work

The Jabra Elite 9 True Wireless earbuds may just be the next investment for architects looking to focus-in on their work. These earbuds have been equipped with the latest Hybrid ANC and HearTouch technology which blocks out ambient noise and reduces wind sounds. This new technology makes for the perfect device for designers working in busy office settings and need to block out distracting noise. These upgraded earbuds are now compatible with Spotify Tap Playback and come with a customizable equalizer which produces a first-class sound quality. The device can also be paired with Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant, offering hands-free help to architects. Whether it be double checking a measurement or reading an email aloud, this new pairing feature helps optimize a designer’s workflow. The Jabra Elite 5 come with a high-performing battery life and are resistant to dust and water, making them a reliable device for on-the-go designers.

See more info and buy >

For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers. 



Reference

Exterior of MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London
CategoriesInterior Design

Nina + Co brings biomaterials into MONC eyewear store in London

By Zarkon Group,

Cornstarch-foam shelves meet mycelium display plinths in this London store that Nina + Co has designed for bioplastic eyewear brand MONC.

Nestled among a parade of high-end shops in Marylebone, MONC sells glasses made from bio-acetate – an acetate produced completely without fossil fuels – which are packaged using recycled leather cases and compostable cornstarch foam.

Exterior of MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London
The first MONC eyewear location sits along a row of shops in Marylebone

When local studio Nina + Co was brought in to design MONC’s debut store, the team was keen to incorporate biomaterials throughout the interior, while also taking the brand’s short-term lease of the retail unit into account.

“Circularity was key,” said the studio. “Almost everything we brought into that building was entirely bio-based or recycled.”

“The furniture is expertly built to last but can be disassembled for re-use, recycling or return to the earth as nourishment.”

Interior of MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London
The store features a ceiling installation made from cornstarch foam

Upon entering the store, visitors find themselves under an undulating ceiling installation crafted from corrugated panels of cornstarch foam.

Thicker blocks of the material were used to create rows of squishy-looking shelves, which can be used for packaging or simply dissolved in water when they eventually start to show signs of wear and tear.

MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London has shelves made from cornstarch foam
The foam was also used to form small shelves

Display plinths made out of mycelium – the vegetative part of a fungus – were dotted across the store to showcase different eyewear models.

In between the shelves, a couple of long mirrors are balanced on hunks of concrete that were salvaged from roadworks nearby.

Interior of MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London
A recycled PET island sits at the centre of the store beside mycelium display plinths

The craggy concrete was chosen as a subtle nod to the rugged Dolomite mountains, which can be seen from the Italian town where all MONC eyewear is produced.

Nina + Co worked closely alongside Welsh manufacturers Smile Plastics and London joiner EJ Ryder to design the store’s recycled PET island and bench seat, which are an apricot-orange hue.

As both furniture pieces were joined with mechanical bolts rather than glues, they can easily be taken apart, flat packed and transported to a different MONC store for reuse.

Walls throughout the interior were finished with VOC-free clay paint while the unit’s existing floor was covered with a water-based sealant.

Interior of MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London
The plastic was also used to form a bench seat

“Previous tenants had ripped up their floor to leave a plywood subfloor, with markings of the adhesive still evident and some paint bucket outlines,” the studio explained.

“After a test patch, we were convinced that a simple water-based sealant would give it a beautiful depth and sheen with the industrial feel of concrete [while being] kinder to the planet and the budget.”

Interior of MONC eyewear store in Marylebone, London
Walls were washed with a calming clay paint

MONC is one of five projects shortlisted in the small retail interior category of this year’s Dezeen Awards.

It’s going head-to-head with the Durat showroom by Linda Bergroth, which is decked out in an unusual mix of colours, and Aesop’s Yorkville store by Odami with its oxblood-red balusters.

The photography is by Handover.

Reference

Sequestered CO2 turned into carbon fibre and wastewater treatment chemicals
CategoriesSustainable News

Sequestered CO2 turned into carbon fibre and wastewater treatment chemicals

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Mars Materials is a California-based startup working to commercialise technology developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Using captured carbon dioxide, the process creates acrylonitrile (ACN), which is a building block for carbon fibre. Carbon fibre is used in plastics, rubbers, and chemicals, as well as in steel and aluminum production. 

By reducing the need to create new chemicals, businesses using the material reduce their production emissions while putting captured carbon to extended use. Financially, the material could be a significant cost saver for companies as the Mars Materials team says that using the new method results in lower production costs than current systems. 

Overall, the company plans to put at least a gigatonne (one billion tonnes) of captured carbon into everyday use. When used in carbon fibre applications and as a base material for chemical manufacturing, the sequestered emissions could soon be in products at every corner shop. Having recently closed a pre-seed round of funding that raised $660,000, the company plans to begin producing product samples to test with manufacturers. The organisation’s two founders were also announced as Breakthrough Energy Fellows, recognition that comes with support for accelerating their innovation. 

Captured carbon is being used in an increasingly varied range of applications. Springwise has spotted onboard emissions being used to power ships and alternative proteins fermented with captured carbon.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Marco Lemmers, CEO of Conscious Hotels
CategoriesSustainable News

Conscious Hotels CEO Marco Lemmers says sustainability can’t cost extra

By Zarkon Group,

Only “hardcore sustainable” customers are currently willing to pay extra for eco-conscious hotels, according to Marco Lemmers, CEO of hospitality company Conscious Hotels.

Lemmers predicts that hotel guests will be prepared to pay more for sustainability in the future, but it will be “a few years from now”.

“I think people will be prepared to pay more for a sustainable solution,” he told Dezeen.

“We’re not there yet, because the hotel business is still quite price-sensitive. You have to be hardcore sustainable to want to pay €10 euros extra for a sustainable stay. But slowly it’s moving in that direction.”

Marco Lemmers, CEO of Conscious Hotels
Marco Lemmers is CEO of Conscious Hotels. Main image: the all-electric Westerpark venue is one of four Conscious Hotels in Amsterdam

Lemmers, who founded Conscious Hotels in 2009, spoke to Dezeen during The Lobby hospitality design conference in Copenhagen in August.

Conscious Hotels has four properties in Amsterdam. These hotels have eco-friendly policies in place for all of their operations, including interior fit-out, energy and water use, food and drink, and cleaning processes.

According to Lemmers, the company’s sustainability ethos has enabled it to build a loyal customer base.

“We’re the most sustainable option in Amsterdam, so we see a lot of returning guests” he said.

The brand’s mantra is “eco-sexy, big smiles”

However this alone is not enough to make the business thrive, Lemmers explained. Conscious Hotels aims to be competitive in terms of design and cost, so it can also attract non-eco-minded customers.

“The only way to make change is to seduce people,” he said.

“We have our sustainable planet promises but we also have to make it sexy. Sexy is about having beautiful places, beautiful food and drink, and beautiful people.”

Looking forward, Lemmers predicts that changes in legislation will soon give eco-minded hotels a competitive advantage over rivals.

He believes that hotel owners in Europe will soon be legally obligated to meet much stricter rules on the sustainability of their buildings and operations.

“We’ve already seen it happen in the Netherlands with offices and the same will happen with hotels,” he stated.

“Even if you don’t believe in sustainability, do a SWOT analysis in the next business planning cycle and see the threat.”

Conscious Hotel The Tire Station
The Tire Station of one of two Conscious Hotels with its own source of solar power

The CEO says that hotels lagging behind need to urgently rethink their approach, or risk playing catchup.

“There’s an opportunity now – if you have sustainability in order, you have a competitive advantage,” he said. “Pretty soon legislation will push you to go there anyway, and there’s usually not a lot to be gained by being one of the last movers.”

Conscious Hotels implements a number of guidelines in order to reduce its environmental impact.

All the materials used for hotel fit-out are either natural products with cradle-to-cradle certification, or they are recycled or second-hand.

Conscious Hotels bedroom
Interiors only use materials that are recycled, second-hand or certified cradle-to-cradle

Conscious Hotel Westerpark is 100 per cent electric-powered, with most of its energy supplied by the brand’s own windmill, while two of the other hotels generate energy from rooftop solar panels.

Restaurants serve organic food, with more than 50 per cent vegan or vegetarian dishes, and almost all produce is sourced from local suppliers.

Other initiatives include green walls, passive heating and cooling systems, organic cleaning products, water-saving showerheads and faucets, refillable toiletries and waste separation.

Conscious Hotels interior
All food and drink is sourced from local suppliers

While Lemmers acknowledges that some of these initiatives require time and investment, particularly for large hotel chains, he claims that others are easy to implement.

He believes that all hotels could easily take at least one step towards improving their sustainability credentials.

“Start with the operation; you can do it today,” he said. “Just procure stuff that’s local instead of having it come from the other side of the world.”

“FF & E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) comes slightly later, but you have to invest in that every seven years anyway, to maintain and renew.”

Conscious Hotels currently has 318 rooms across its four Amsterdam hotels, although the brand plans to increase this to 1,500 as part of a Europe-wide expansion.

Reference

"Architects, We Need To Talk."
CategoriesArchitecture

“Architects, We Need To Talk.”

By Zarkon Group,

Erin Pellegrino and Jake Rudin are the co-founders of Out of Architecture, a career consulting firm helping architects and designers find creatively fulfilling roles beyond the bounds of traditional architectural practice. Nikita Morell is a copywriter for architects and the founder of Architects WordShop. She is on a mission to make architecture websites sound more human, less robot.

Architects, we need to talk.

We need to talk about being overworked, underpaid and undervalued.

We need to talk about how sacrificing your health, sanity and relationships at the altar of architecture and for the glory of good design is not okay. Burnout is like a dormant virus. It incubates in architecture school, spreads through architecture companies and slowly infects your entire life. It sounds grim. Because it is.

We need to talk about the “M” word. Yes, money, money, money. It seems no one wants to talk openly about money and *gasp* profit. Straight out of architecture school, we’re conditioned to believe it’s better to work for peanuts at a Starchitecture firm than to find a role that will help us pay off our student loans.

We need to talk about all the ways we get pigeonholed into exercising only a handful of skills — often the ones we don’t enjoy as much. It’s time we talk about all the skills we have and how they can be applied to roles outside of architecture.

But, why aren’t we already talking about these things…

When your boss gives you a dirty look as you try to leave for the day at 6:30pm. Or when you’re running on coffee and Red Bull as you pull another all-nighter. Why don’t you speak up? Tell your boss to ‘back off’?

Maybe you feel like you’re letting your team down by leaving or that your boss will think you’re not taking your job seriously. Whatever the reason…

It isn’t your fault.

We know not everyone is in a position to talk about feelings of discontentment. You can’t talk with your boss or colleagues (they’ll think I’m ungrateful!). You can’t talk to your family (they’ll question; why do you want to throw away years of study!). You can even post on social media (what happens if my boss/peers see it!).

It’s easier, less awkward, and non-confrontational to quietly daydream about changing your situation or job than to *actually* talk about it. (Come on, be honest, how many times a day do you think: “I can’t do this anymore” or “It’ll get better in the New Year / when this deadline is over / [insert excuse here]”?)

You may not be able to talk about it.

But we can.

We’ve spoken to hundreds of designers, fellow architects and people out there who have come to us in a state of burnout, a state of anxiety and a feeling of helplessness — feeling trapped in a discipline they once loved. We want to speak on behalf of those who have trusted us with these experiences.

And we want to share some insights and possible solutions.

Let’s talk about taking care of ourselves…

Creativity never sleeps… but you should. In fact, you’ll be more productive if you do!. No design solution is perfect, there will always be one more possible iteration. Don’t let your employer pressure or guilt you into putting a project before your wellbeing, your health or your personal relationships.

Architecture companies are structured to glorify long working hours because it benefits their bottom line. At the end of the day, the only person who is going to look after you is… you. Good firms design their business around the need to pay employees well and keep them from burning out in the long run.

If you think it’s impossible — look around. Explore jobs outside of architecture where you can lead rich creative lives and take care of yourself.

Businesses that can afford to take care of employees can also be extremely creative. For example: Design strategy for a software company, computational design for a large hardware producer, community engagement for an education consultant or retail design for a clothing brand.

Let’s talk about better pay…

Why do we feel ashamed about the financial value of the work we do?  We need to get comfortable with speaking about money and understand the financial value our skills bring to their practices and market.

It’s okay to be motivated by financial success.

It’s no secret that we’re driven by passion. We want to enrich lives and make the world a better place. But it’s also okay to want to earn decent money — so you can pay your bills, send your kids to college and buy that gorgeous vintage Eames chair you’ve got the perfect spot for.

Financial gain and passion are not mutually exclusive. You can have both. You can find a job that you’re passionate about and get a solid paycheck —it’s about finding the right company that aligns with your values. And that values you in return.

Let’s talk about doing more of the work you love…

If the work you’re asked to do is not aligned with what you want to do. If 90% of your job isn’t the part of it you love, know that there are other options.

Model making. Rendering. Graphics. Website development. Presenting to clients. Designing that tiny bench in the courtyard. These are all specialty jobs that exist beyond the scope of architecture. You can focus on one thing and this can be your whole job.

Here’s the thing: Not all architects have to be architects. Not everyone wants to be a project architect, project manager or principal. There are other paths you can take.

The skills that you have developed, over the course of your career (no matter if you’ve been working for 2 years or 20 years) can be put to use in hundreds of other roles in dozens of other industries.

If you think you want out, look at your options. Talk to other architects who are out in the world doing other equally amazing things. You owe it to yourself to at least explore what else is out there.

We also realize not everyone has the privilege and the circumstances to quit their jobs or change careers right now. You’ve got families to feed, mortgages, and other financial commitments. All these things may prevent you from taking the leap. And that’s okay.

There’s a whole world beyond the title of Architect…

You can get creative fulfillment, passion and purpose both alongside and beyond the title of Architect. The term ‘architect’ shouldn’t isolate us from other kinds of design. It should celebrate our breadth and versatility across design disciplines. 

You can leverage your skills, discipline, experience and knowledge in other industries. Here are just some of the ways:

You could be a graphic or visual designer at Amazon, a game designer or environmental artist at Rockstar, a design consultant at Doblin or McKinsey, a UX designer at Kayak, a computational designer at Adidas or New Balance, a real estate developer or analyst at JLL. Business development, customer excellence, client-side project manager, set design, service design, workplace design.

These paths and the stories of thousands of people who have transitioned out of architecture and forged pathways into new industries, are documented in our new book Out of Architecture. Instead of tip-toeing around the topic of leaving architecture, we need architects who’ve applied their skills in other industries to share their stories, to show that there are other paths for people who aren’t happy in the field. 

We need to create safe spaces where we can freely discuss our career options. That’s what Out of Architecture stands for, and you can always come to talk with us. 

Take action in your career. Even if that first step is just a conversation.

Architects, it’s time to talk.

References

If you’re thinking about making a career change or looking for support in your job search or negotiation, Out of Architecture is here to help. There are loads of resources including our job board, podcasts, and you can book a free consultation with us all on our website at www.outofarchitecture.com.

Even if you’re looking to stay in the profession, talking about your skills and projects in a different way can accelerate your practice. If you’re looking to reframe your narrative, Nikita Morell specializes in copywriting for architects.

 Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter. 

Reference

Koffee Mameya Kakeru cafe by Fourteen Stones Design
CategoriesInterior Design

Tokyo warehouse revamped into Koffee Mameya Kakeru cafe

By Zarkon Group,

Tokyo-based Fourteen Stones Design has designed the Koffee Mameya Kakeru cafe for barista Eiichi Kunitomo in a former water transportation hub in Kiyosumi Shirakawa.

Set in the Kiyosumi Shirakawa area of Tokyo, the coffee shop occupies a warehouse which Fourteen Stones Design renovated and extended “to preserve the appearance of the old warehouse as much as possible”.

Koffee Mameya Kakeru cafe by Fourteen Stones Design
Koffee Mameya Kakeru is in an old warehouse

The studio removed the shutters from the front of the warehouse, adding a glass facade. The rest of the building, including the interiors, remains as it was – with minimal repairs made to the walls.

It aimed “to make everyday coffee an extraordinary experience” with a full “course of coffee” served by baristas and the renovation has been designed to facilitate this.

A coffee counter in black granite with a timber frame
The white oak structure frames the coffee bar

A staggered rectangular frame of white oak at the entrance of the cafe, which echoes the coffee package design, dominates the interior space and provides a central visual motif for the scheme.

This frame divides the entrance space from the main cafe where a U-shaped bar surrounding the barista workstations was placed.

The barista’s workbenches, which were made from black granite, were deliberately placed at the centre of the space to create “a stage set-up, which enables baristas to fully demonstrate their skills”.

Besides the new seating area, restrooms, a kitchen, a laboratory and office space have all been renovated.

Baristas work at black granite counters

The service and bar countertops were made from “Jura Yellow” limestone. Featuring fossils from the Jura period, it was chosen for its texture and also for allusions to the passage of time – not only echoed in the coffee growing, roasting and brewing processes but also the journey of the brand from its inception 10 years ago.

Fourteen Stones Design’s Yosuke Hayashi designed the custom furniture for the cafe in the same white oak as the frame structure. It was manufactured by Japanese company E&Y for the project.

Barista working at coffee bar with staggered timber frame
The space aims to create a “gastronomic experience” for coffee drinkers

The cafe’s owner Kunitomo believes baristas “act as a bridge between the customer and the roastery” and should be given “a social status comparable to that of a sommelier”.

Baristas at Koffee Mameya Kakeru will serve single cups of coffee through to full courses of coffee, “elevated by the newly designed space to the realm of gastronomy”, according to the practice.

Fourteen Stones Design has been shortlisted in the restaurant and bar interior category of this year’s Dezeen Awards. Other projects in the running include a rattan restaurant in Bangkok by Enter Projects Asia Co. and YODEZEEN’s Japanese restaurant in Kyiv’s city centre.

The photography is by Ooki Jingu.

Reference

Online grocer delivers items in refillable containers 
CategoriesSustainable News

Online grocer delivers items in refillable containers 

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: The simplest way to reduce single-use plastic packaging is to not buy anything in it. Now, UK online grocer Dizzie has created a closed-loop delivery system that does away with the reams of harmful waste generated by most grocery shops. Pantry essentials and cleaning and personal care products are delivered in fossil fuel-free reusable pots. Shoppers can decant products into their own containers or use things directly from the Dizzie pot. Dizzie picks up the empties when the next order is delivered.

Design studio Blond makes the pots from used cooking oil and wood pulp waste from the paper-making process. Strong enough to be cleaned to the highest food safety standards more than 100 times, the pots are available in three sizes, with each size differing from the others by one-third to make measurement and storage easier.

Dizzie uses carbon-neutral delivery companies, and electric vehicles wherever possible. Shoppers can choose to pay delivery fees once a year, monthly, or as a one-off, depending on how frequently they buy from Dizzie. The company recently celebrated preventing more than one million pieces of plastic packaging from entering landfill by shoppers using refillable containers instead.

On-demand production combined with the refill approach to products helps companies keep waste to a bare minimum. Springwise has spotted a create-your-own soap brand that makes bars as orders come in, as well as a campaign encouraging Venetian tourists to ditch single-use plastic bottles of water in favour of refillable containers.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Design for Planet festival graphic
CategoriesSustainable News

Bad design “at the heart of our destruction” says UK’s top climate adviser

By Zarkon Group,

Designers might have had a hand in causing climate change but they are also key to solving it, according to the chair of the UK Climate Change Committee, who addressed the Design Council’s sustainability conference as it kicked off alongside COP27.

“In the past, we have created great wealth through remarkable design, from Newcomen’s steam engine to the very latest in nuclear technology,” John Gummer, also known as Lord Deben, said at the Design for Planet Festival.

“The trouble is we didn’t recognise that what we were designing actually had within it the ability to destroy.”

Design for Planet festival graphic
Lord Deben spoke at the Design for Planet Festival

Gummer, a Conservative former environment secretary and top climate adviser to the UK government, said this means that designers now have both the responsibility and the unique ability to reimagine products in a way that doesn’t harm the planet and its people.

“Sustainable development demands good design,” he said. “We won’t win the battle against climate change unless we design the solutions.”

“It is good design, which will enable us to use the smallest amount of our resources as is possible, that will enable us to reuse, that will enable us to extend, that will enable us to be flexible, that will enable us increasingly to grow – but to grow in a way that is not at the expense of others and the planet.”

Products can be beautiful and sustainable

Gummer made the comments in a virtual address during the Design Council’s Design for Planet festival, which is taking place this week to coincide with the UN’s COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

The two-day event in Newcastle aims to encourage and support designers in taking an active role in solving the climate crisis.

This should involve making sustainable low-carbon designs that are still beautiful and easy to use, Gummer argued.

“I don’t think being attractive is something to be ashamed of because what it means is that we create things, which people want to use and want to use properly,” he said.

“One of the fundamentals of beauty is now going to be that they enhance, extend and enable our lives rather than being at the heart of our destruction.”

Designers “fed up” with industry’s lack of action

Gummer is the chairman of the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee, which is responsible for advising the government on emissions targets and monitoring its progress in achieving them.

Last week, Gummer warned that the UK’s attempts to tackle emissions have so far been “appalling“, leaving the country “off track” for meeting its climate targets.

This has been echoed by experts including Cambridge University engineering professor Julian Allwood, who argued that the UK’s net-zero strategy is as unrealistic as “magic beans fertilised by unicorn’s blood”.

The UK’s design industry had a similarly slow start, launching its Design Declares campaign a full two years after architects, engineers and other creative industries declared a climate emergency.

Announced in September as part of London Design Festival, the initiative hopes to unite studios that are “fed up with a lack of industry momentum”.

The Design for Planet Festival is taking place from 9 to 10 November at the V&A Dundee. See Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.

Reference

oma perigon miami
CategoriesArchitecture

OMA’s first residential tower in miami ‘the perigon’ reveals its sunlit interiors

By Zarkon Group,

interior designer tara bernerd works with oma

 

Sited proudly along the sparkling waterfront of Miami Beach, OMA‘s diamond-shaped residential high rise ‘The Perigon’ reveals a first look at its sunlit interiors. Fit for its exclusive, resort-minded location, the luxury tower will boast hotel-style amenities private to owners to blur the line between condominium and resort. Evoking the atmosphere of a five-star hotel, the interiors have been designed by Tara Bernerd, a renowned hospitality designer who has shaped iconic spaces from Belgravia to Vienna.

 

The architecture itself will take shape as an array of nesting towers, each rotated to enhance views for all residences toward the Atlantic Ocean. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

oma perigon miami
image, header image © Binyan Studios

 

 

the perigon: warm, welcoming, and sophisticated

 

Curating the amenities of The Perigon, interior designer Tara Bernerd looked to the masterful architecture by OMA. Arriving to the building, residents are welcomed by a grand and inviting lobby with honed white travertine flooring showing a diamond pattern, a nod to the project’s distinctive footprint, an Italian stone finish connecting with the natural textures which are recognized throughout Miami.

 

The design team sought an atmosphere which is warm, organic and bright, while at once evoking the sophistication of the European Riviera — a design choice which draws from the future residents’ many seaside travels.

oma perigon miamiimage © The Boundary

 

 

‘We envisaged the residents at The Perigon to be well travelled, design-savvy and highly cultured,’ said interior designer Tara Bernerd. ‘We have created interiors that speak to the architecture of the building, with a conversation between interior and exterior design, that would appeal to this individual and their penchant for an international design sophistication. The amenity collection epitomizes this ethos, with finishes and furnishings chosen to evoke a refined relaxation, so that it truly is a destination in and of itself.’

oma perigon miami
image © The Boundary

 

 

inside the miami beach tower

 

The amenities which have been revealed as part of the first look at OMA’s The Perigon are located along two levels and include a highly anticipated spa. These spaces will be finished with a combination of materials and fabrics selected both for their authenticity to the area and their connection to sought-after natural environments.

 

A billiards room was designed by Tara Bernerd as a refreshing, mature approach to a game room. The warmly lit space is located just off the lobby and features a floor-to-ceiling glass interior wall to invite participation and spectatorship. The building’s signature diamond pattern is repeated here via its clever wood flooring. The sunrise lounge and hospitality kitchen stay consistent with the building’s soft and natural color palette, with light wood paneling and a dramatic stone bar for entertaining and private events.

oma perigon miami
image © The Boundary

 

 

With views over Miami Beach, an awe-inspiring indoor-outdoor conservatory doubling as a breakfast lounge and terrace stands apart as one of the most hotel-like amenities at The Perigon by OMA. Residents will start their days in the serene, dedicated space, where a barista will be available upon request to serve hot or iced coffee to a resident’s liking. The staff at The Perigon will always ensure that every owner’s ideal daily morning routine, from reading the local paper to enjoying sunny-side-up eggs, will be realized.

 

The wine room and garden on the building’s south side is another unique space inspired by serenity, with views overlooking the property’s waterfall garden. The space will keep nearly 450 bottles of the most refined wine selections in stock and will offer storage services to residents with their own prized collections. A top sommelier will be on hand to host private tastings both at the bar and in the garden, while a celebrated chef will design a variety of pairing menus depending on the season.

oma perigon miami
image © The Boundary

 

 

‘When we first launched The Perigon, our buyers were struck by the tower’s remarkable design that is seemingly afloat above lush gardens,’ said Camilo Miguel, Jr., CEO of developer Mast Capital. ‘The architecture’s slender columns, soaring lines and wraparound terraces maximize the indoor- outdoor experience, and we had a clear vision to use this additional space to bring resort amenities and experiences into the condominium setting.

 

‘With reservations successfully converted to contracts, and incredible demand for the limited remaining inventory, we’re proud to reveal how The Perigon’s amenities are as impressive as the residences themselves, and a true extension of one’s home. The amenity collection will cultivate a community for private owners to enjoy this enriched everyday lifestyle together; with every need being met by a team of butlers and expert concierges ready to make any request a reality.’

Reference

A photograph of someone looking at the Ginza Ecological Map
CategoriesInterior Design

Ginza Ecological Map by Hakuten presents the “hidden story of Ginza”

By Zarkon Group,

Design studio Hakuten has created a three-dimensional map of Ginza, Tokyo, that presents the ecology that exists in the district.

The Ginza Ecological Map, which was featured in the Japanese makeup brand Shiseido‘s Hakuten’s window, was designed to “carefully express the impression of the location and the history of the city, with a hidden story of Ginza”.

A photograph of someone looking at the Ginza Ecological Map
The map showcased the local ecology in the area

It spotlighted the natural elements found throughout the district, including samples of trees, plants, insects and earth, with the intention of enhancing the local community’s knowledge of its district’s ecology. Each item was presented in one of 72 windows – similarly to how scientific specimens are exhibited in museums.

The exhibition ran throughout 2021 and across two themes: Organisms, which presented insects and cuttings from plants, and Earth – showcasing the diversity of soils found throughout the district.

The Glothistle arranged in a clock-like motif
Parts of the glothistle plant were arranged in a clock-like motif to represent the district’s Wako clock tower

“We care­fully displayed this ecology in the window as if they were scientific specimens,” said Hakuten.

“The exhibition ran throughout the year across two different ecological themes – Organisms and Earth – and brought to light a new and beautiful Ginza that had not been seen before in the form of the Ginza Ecology Map.”

Ginkgo biloba trees printed with images of the district
Ginkgo biloba trees were planted in Ginza in 1906

The materials were collected during a number of fieldwork studies in addition to the knowledge gained from speaking to people local to Ginza. Once collected, the items were exhibited in creative ways with the aim of becoming a tool to communicate the connection between Ginza’s natural world and society.

For example, the plant named glothistle was collected from under the city’s Wako clock tower, and as part of the exhibition was displayed in a clock-like motif to represent it.

In addition, the district’s ginkgo biloba trees were planted in 1906, and according to the designers, they represent a “turning point for modernisation in the city”.

As a nod to the tree’s heritage in the district, images of Ginza’s buildings were printed onto the collected ginkgo tree leaves as part of the exhibition.

A number of specimens curated in 72 windows
The exhibition showcased a number of plants and insects

“Unlike most window displays that show objects and installations that only suit its occasion, not only did Ginza Ecological Map provide a new perspective of Ginza city, but through research from local residents it also expanded into a communication tool between the city and the people,” said Hakuten.

“By looking at the usually unseen ecology that exists in a metropolis, we were able to rethink the relationship between the city, people, and nature in an attempt to approach a more sustainable society.”

Samples of earth displayed one of the windows
Earth was collected as part of the exhibition

As part of the Earth theme, the colour of the soil across the district was documented, including samples collected from sidewalk ditches and from around various plants such as dogwood and camellia.

The exhibition also shed light on creating a number of creative resources from the city’s soil – including pottery and crayons – and clothing dyed using local plant’s pigments.

Shiseido's Hakuten's window displaying the map
The map featured in the Japanese brand Shiseido’s window

According to the studio, the pandemic provided the opportunity to reflect on the human-nature relationship as Ginza was “emptied” because of the pandemic.

The project was conceived of this change, and aimed to rethink the district’s approach towards creating a society more mindful of enhancing and protecting its nature.

Samples of materials dyed from local plant pigments
The exhibition also presented the ways in which local plant pigments can be used as textile dye

“In Covid-19 where we were provided with more opportunities to deeply reflect upon the global environment, this project allowed us to rethink the relationship between the city, people, and nature in an attempt to approach a more sustainable society,” said Hakuten.

Ginza Ecological Map has been shortlisted in the exhibition design category at this year’s Dezeen Awards alongside, Weird Sensation Feels Good – The World of ASMR, Greenwood Rising: Black Wall Street History Center exhibition and Journey of the Pioneers.

Reference