Zarkon Group, Author at Zarkon Group Real Estate Builders & Developers

Architecture

frida escobedo takes on brooklyn with pleated bergen homes

By Zarkon Group,22/03/2024

a new neighbor for quiet boerum hill

A new residential project has been announced for Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, with architecture by Mexico City-based Taller Frida Escobedo. Those who live in the historic New York neighborhood are drawn to its low, brownstone streets and tree-lined sidewalks. For most, it’s a place to spend a Sunday morning, rather than a Saturday night. Contemporary additions are welcome to the quiet neighborhood provided the architecture is subtle and sensitive to its landmark neighbors.

Avdoo & Partners Development aims to help Bergen strike that balance between unique and contextually sensitive. Thus, it is designed with a low-stance and rhythmically-pleated facade to create proportions that echo the surrounding townhouses. From its renders, the seven-story structure will be washed in a muted, pinkish hue. This marks Frida Escobedo’s first foray into condominium design, and will be constructed concurrent with her ongoing redesign of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new wing across the river (see designboom’s coverage here).

the seven-story condominium project, is under construction in Boerum Hill | visualizations © DARCSTUDIO.

frida escobedo responds to low-rise brooklyn

Shlomi Avdoo, principal and founder of Avdoo & Partners, expressed his enthusiasm for Bergen in Brooklyn, highlighting Frida Escobedo‘s ‘strong design vision.’ He elaborated on Bergen’s intended role as a respectful addition to the neighborhood, built with ‘a keen sensibility of material and scale.’ The 209,000-square-foot building will introduce 105 luxury condominium units, ranging from studios to five-bedroom residences across 49 unique floorplans, all curated by interiors studio Workstead. The project prioritizes a dialogue between indoor and outdoor living. Driven by this philosophy, seventy-five percent of the units will open onto private outdoor gardens. Residents will also have access to a beautifully landscaped, private park designed by DXA Studio and Partick Cullina.

the pleated facade takes shape with precast concrete brick in muted tones

a pleated facade along tree-lined bergen street

The architectural concept for Brooklyn’s Bergen development is the result of a collaborative effort between Taller Frida Escobedo and DXA Studio. This exchange of ideas led to the creation of two distinct residential wings flanking a central amenity space with a transparent facade. Working closely with GF55, the architect-of-record, Escobedo ensured Bergen pays homage to its context while carving its own unique identity in the Brooklyn skyline.

The building will be sited along a postcard, tree-lined street, and will express the influences drawn from Boerum Hill. The pleated facade, constructed with custom-made blocks that vary in size and opacity, celebrates the interplay of light and air. Escobedo strategically leveraged the building’s orientation to maximize natural light from both the east and west. The overall design is shaped with a cohesive rhythm in terms of scale, materiality, and color, with porosity and transparency woven throughout the building’s form.

residents will have access to 12,000 square feet of outdoor space, including a public garden

the community-focused building

At the building’s core lies the so-called Glass House, a transparent, rectangular volume that serves as the main entry point from both Dean and Bergen Streets. This central hub connects the two residential wings, encouraging a sense of community within the building to reflect that of Boerum Hill itself.

Bergen offers residents over 14,500 square feet of amenities across four levels. Accessed by a cylindrical stairwell, these amenities — which include a cold plunge, a podcast studio, and a steam room — cater to a range of interests encompassing health, wellness and entertainment. In addition to the exceptional indoor offerings, residents can relax and socialize in over 12,000 square feet of gardened outdoor spaces, including Dean Park and two communal rooftop terraces designed by the landscape team. Parking, storage, and bike storage are also available for purchase.

the building will introduce 105 luxury units, ranging from studios to five-bedroom residences
architect Frida Escobedo | image © Zack DeZon

project info:

project title: Bergen

architecture: Taller Frida Escobedo | @fridaescobedo

location: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

developer: Avdoo & Partners | @avdoo_partners

interior design: Workstead | @workstead

landscape design, master planning: DXA Studio | @dxastudio

landscape design, horticulture: Partick Cullina | @pjctwo

architect-of-record: GF55 | @gf55architects

visualizations: © DARCSTUDIO. | @darcstudio_

photography: © Zack DeZon | @zackdezon

Reference

Living room designed by Furnishing Futures

Interior Design

Children in social housing “sleeping on a blanket on a concrete floor”

By Zarkon Group,21/03/2024

Increasing numbers of people in social housing are living in inhospitable conditions because they are unable to afford even basic furniture and flooring, Dezeen reports as part of our Social Housing Revival series.

In the UK, social-rented homes are usually handed over to new residents in a sparse state – lacking basic elements of decoration and furnishings, as well as essential appliances.

As the cost of living continues to rise and the availability of crisis-support services diminishes, a growing number of people are unable to afford to furnish these homes, meaning they are sometimes forced to live in a harsh environment for months at a time.

“For the families who we work with, the point that is most distressing is the void condition – the homes are given and [social landlords] don’t bother painting the walls, and there’s absolutely no flooring down,” said Emily Wheeler, founder and CEO of Furnishing Futures.

“Most people over time can manage to get some furniture together that’s gifted to them from the local church or friends or family or whatever, but it costs thousands and thousands of pounds to put flooring down, even in a one-bedroom flat.”

London charity Furnishing Futures was recently established to address the issue among women fleeing domestic abuse, creating interiors to a high standard using furniture donated from brands.

Furnishing Futures CEO and founder Emily Wheeler — Emily Wheeler founded Furnishing Futures after realising that the poor condition of social housing was driving women back to abusive partners. Photo by Penny Wincer

Domestic-abuse survivors and people leaving care or who were previously homeless are particularly at risk of furniture poverty since they are less likely to have items to bring with them.

Wheeler said Furnishing Futures is seeing increasing demand for its services as more people come under financial pressure.

“Initially we were only working with women who were in receipt of benefits or experiencing severe poverty or destitution,” explained Wheeler.

“But now we’re working with families who are using the food bank but the woman is a midwife, or she’s a teaching assistant, or she is a teacher, and that is new.”

Social home in dilapidated condition — The charity increasingly encounters families living in destitute conditions

Sometimes the conditions the charity witnesses are shocking, Wheeler told Dezeen.

“People are experiencing real hardship,” she said. “We’ve frequently come across people who have no food, no clothes, no shoes for their children.”

“The kids are sleeping on a blanket on a concrete floor – there’s nothing in the flat whatsoever,” she continued. “And those people might even be working as care assistants, or teaching assistants. So it’s really, really difficult at the moment for people.”

Interior created by Furnishing Futures — Furnishing Futures seeks to deliver interiors that “look like show homes”. Photo by Michael Branthwaite

According to the campaigning charity End Furniture Poverty, more than six million people in the UK lack access to essential furniture, furnishings and appliances – including 26 per cent of those living in social housing.

Only two per cent of social-rented homes in the UK are let as furnished or partly furnished, the charity’s research has found.

Wheeler is a trained interior designer who formerly worked in child safeguarding.

Furnishing Futures volunteer working on a home — The charity decorated and furnished 36 homes in 2023. Photo by Michael Branthwaite

She was prompted to set up Furnishing Futures after discovering that many women in social housing who had left dangerous homes were driven back to their abuser by poor living conditions.

“When women were placed in new housing after having escaped really high-risk situations, they sometimes felt that they had no choice but to return because they couldn’t look after their children in those conditions – there’d be no fridge, no cooker, no washing machine, no bed, no curtains on the windows,” she explained.

“People are expected to go to those places at a time of great trauma and distress, and recover, but those places are often not conducive to that because of the design and the environment.”

Shot of interior by Furnishing Futures — Wheeler said the interiors industry could be doing more to have a bigger social impact. Penny Wincer

The charity overhauled 36 homes in 2023, helping 99 women and children. It takes a design-led approach with an emphasis on finishing interiors to a high standard.

“We professionally design them and they look like beautiful homes – they look like show homes when they’re finished,” Wheeler said.

“And the reason we do that is because it’s really important that the women feel that they have a beautiful home and they feel safe there, that they feel for the first time that someone really cares about them,” she added.

“It also supports the healing and the recovery journey for those women.”

To help ensure quality, the charity only works with new or as-new furniture. It works with brands to source items that would otherwise be sent to landfill – usually press samples or items used at trade shows, in showrooms or on shoots.

Donating partners include Soho Home, BoConcept, Romo Fabrics and House of Hackney.

Wheeler is keen for Furnishing Futures to expand beyond London but the charity is currently held back by limited warehouse capacity and funding.

“If we had more money and more space we could help more people, it’s as simple as that, really,” she said.

Furnishing Futures warehouse — The charity relies on donations from furniture brands

The charity continues to seek donations from brands, particularly for bedroom furniture and pieces for children.

As well as calling for social-housing providers to let their properties in a better state, Wheeler believes the design industry could be doing more to help people facing furniture poverty.

“I do think that where the industry could catch up a little bit is working with organisations like ours,” she said.

For example, charities are unable to take furniture lacking a fire tag – which tend to be removed – so imprinting this information onto the items themselves would make more usable.

Children's bedroom designed by Furnishing Futures — The charity is often in need of items for children’s bedrooms. Photo by Michael Branthwaite

In addition, donating excess items as an alternative to sample sales could be a way to reduce waste with much greater social impact, she suggests.

“There’s probably millions of people across the country living without basic items and yet there’s massive overproduction, but the waste isn’t necessarily coming to people who actually need it,” Wheeler said.

“There are things that the industry could be doing that will create a huge social impact very easily.”

The photography is courtesy of Furnishing Futures unless otherwise stated.

Social Housing Revival

This article is part of Dezeen’s Social Housing Revival series exploring the new wave of quality social housing being built around the world, and asking whether a return to social house-building at scale can help solve affordability issues and homelessness in our major cities.

Reference

Sustainable News

AI monitors leaks and water use through sound

By Zarkon Group,21/03/2024

Spotted: The average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water at home each day. And while water is essential for a whole host of daily activities, a lot of it is wasted, whether through user behaviour or leaks.

In fact, startup Conservation Labs has calculated that, in the US, the cost of unwanted water use amounts to $62.64 billion per year. To tackle this issue, the company is deploying machine learning and sound-monitoring sensors.

When water flows through a plumbing system, whether to a toilet, a sink, or a bathtub, it creates a distinct sound. And machine learning algorithms can be trained to identify different sound patterns and what they mean for the system.

Conservation Labs’ technology, called H2Know, uses a WiFi-connected sensor, which is attached to a house’s inbound pipe. This sensor can be clipped onto the pipe easily and links to a user-friendly app that provides continuous water use monitoring.

Users can compare their usage to weekly averages, and the system provides email and text notifications for leaks. The technology can also integrate with a third-party water shut-off device, which kicks in if a catastrophic leak is detected.

Other water-saving innovations spotted by Springwise include greywater-recycling showers, a system that recycles household water, and a fibre optics system that detects leaks.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Reference

Exterior of the Arario Gallery in Seoul by Schemata Architects

Architecture

Schemata Architects embraces rough material finishes for gallery in Seoul

By Zarkon Group,21/03/2024

The rough finishes of an existing concrete and brick structure are contrasted by white exhibition spaces at Arario Gallery in Seoul, completed by Japanese studio Schemata Architects.

The gallery is located at the rear of the Space Group Building, a modernist icon in South Korea that houses the Arario Museum.

Designed by architect Kim Swoo-geun, the grey-brick, heritage-listed building was completed in the 1970s and converted into the museum in 2014.

Alongside this building is a glazed extension from the 1990s by architect Jang Se-yang, a student of Swoo-geun, as well as a traditional South Korean home, or hanok, which was relocated to the site when it reopened in 2014.

Amid this architectural backdrop is a brick and concrete structure added to the site in the 1980s, which Schemata Architects was tasked with converting into the Arario Gallery.

“It was a great challenge for me, a Japanese architect, to work on the third building – excluding the hanok – especially after seeing the perfect contrast between the two buildings already created by the master and the disciple,” said Schemata Architects Principal Jo Nagasaka.

Interior of the Arario Gallery in Seoul by Schemata Architects — The gallery spaces are contained in white rooms

Looking to create a space that “looks unchanged on the outside”, the studio retained the building’s structural frame and dark brickwork, originally chosen to complement the Space Group Building.

“In this context, we thought that inserting another unique feature into the landscape would not be appropriate,” explained Nagasaka.

White gallery interior with grey brick floors — Brickwork extends across the floor of the basement

Organised across four floors and a basement level, the white-walled gallery spaces sit alongside the existing staircase, lift, service and storage areas, where the structure’s rough material finishes have been left exposed.

In these more industrial-feeling spaces, walls have been made using plywood on metal frames. Teamed with metal doors and white metal balustrades, they deliberately stand out against the “skeleton” of the existing building.

In the basement, the dark grey brickwork of the adjacent museum is mirrored in a brick floor that extends throughout the space.

On the third floor, sections of the exterior wall were removed to create a full-height glass wall in the VIP area. This looks out towards the nearby Changdeokgung Palace and a surrounding park, also visible through windows in the stairwell.

Concrete stairwell with white stairs — White metal accents highlight new additions to the Arario Gallery

“In this way, we established repetitive patterns where visitors would emerge from the white cube into a skeleton space and see the palace beyond as they ascend to the upper floors,” said Nagasaka.

Lounge area in Seoul by Schemata Architects — Large windows in the Arario Gallery overlook Changdeokgung Palace

Schemata Architects is a Tokyo-based studio, Founded in 1998 by Nagasaka after he graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts.

Its previous projects include a public bathhouse in Tokyo finished with turquoise tiles and a hillside guesthouse and bar for a home on the coast of an island in the Seto Inland Sea.

The photography is by Yongjoon Choi.

Reference

Bar at The Pinky Ring surrounded by golden drapes

Interior Design

Bruno Mars and Yabu Pushelberg design cocktail lounge in Las Vegas

By Zarkon Group,20/03/2024

Musician Bruno Mars and design studio Yabu Pushelberg have teamed up to create the interiors of a cocktail lounge and live music venue at the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas.

Named The Pinky Ring, the 5,000-square-foot (465-square-metre) lounge is accessible directly from the casino floor, but designed as an entirely separate experience away from the bright lights, bustle and noise.

Grammy Award-winning artist Mars collaborated with Canadian studio Yabu Pushelberg to craft an elevated and luxurious space within the Bellagio Resort and Casino.

The bar serves a curated collection of cocktails and hosts live entertainment by top musicians and DJs – though no phones are allowed inside.

View from VIP area at The Pinky Ring — A huge crystal chandelier hangs in the centre of the lounge and is visible from all corners

The entry sequence begins with a dimly lit mirrored passageway, where Mars’ collection of Grammy trophies is displayed.

“Inspired by contemporary museum design, the corridor was designed as a soothing and discreet exhibition space where guests can cleanse their visual palette from the outside world and begin to submerge into The Pinky Ring,” said the design team.

VIP area lined with faceted mirrored panels — A VIP area is lined with faceted mirrored panels that create infinite reflections

Guests arrive at the main bar and lounge in front of a sunken conversation pit, wrapped with a wavy banquette and furnished with soft armchairs gathered around a series of small tables.

The carpet, the leather and the velvet chair upholstery are shades of green – colours also found in the richly veined stone tabletops.

Seating area in a niche featuring dark wood-veneer panels — Other niches with additional seating feature dark wood-veneer panels

A giant halo-like chandelier with tiers of glowing crystal hangs from the ceiling above, providing a central focal point that can be seen from every corner.

At the rear of the space is a gently curved, dramatically patterned stone bar, topped with a row of metallic Flowerpot lamps by Verner Panton.

Conversation pit with carpet, chairs and banquettes in various shades of green — In the central conversation pit, various shades of green were chosen for the carpet, chairs and banquettes

The back bar is housed within an elongated pill-shaped, mirrored recess, which displays a wide range of liquor bottles and is ringed with stepped cove lights.

Golden drapes run floor to ceiling across the back wall and are reflected in more mirrors on the ceiling.

Seats and banquette surrounding a table with a richly veined stone top — The green hues of the seating are echoed in the richly veined stone tabletops

Off the main lounge are various niches and VIP areas that offer additional seating, some lined with dark wood-veneer panels.

“See or be seen, each area is composed of its own suave and purpose that echoes into the next,” said the team.

One organically shaped space is lined with faceted, smokey mirrored panels that create infinite reflections, and features a banquette that wraps around a large table fitted with a giant ice bucket for chilling drinks.

An important factor in the design was the lighting, which comprises under-seat and ceiling coves, along with wall lights with five globe-shaped diffusers attached to vertical brass rods.

Patterned crushed velvet and leather banquette — Patterned crushed velvet covers the curved banquette back, while the seat is wrapped in leather

“In the pursuit of perpetual allure, where lighting not only transforms spaces, but perceptions, The Pinky Ring unveils a strategic lighting innovation, schemed to make people look and feel their best,” the team said.

“Through a strategic interplay of low-level, contrast, and accent lighting, The Pinky Ring lighting design unveils the unseen.”

Mars joins a long line of famous musicians to open entertainment venues. Among others is singer Justin Timberlake, who put his name behind an AvroKO-designed Nashville dining and drinking destination in 2021.

Bathroom with a large circular mirror and walls lined in pink-red stone tiles — Pink-red stone tiles across the bathroom walls nod to the lounge’s name

Yabu Pushelberg was founded by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg in 1980, and the studio has designed some of the most recognisable hospitality interiors over the past four decades.

Shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2021 design studio of the year and judges for the program in 2023, Yabu Pushelberg’s recent projects include the Moxy and AC Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles – of several they’ve completed for the Moxy brand – and The Londoner hotel on Leicester Square in the UK capital.

The photography is by Sean Davidson.

Reference

Sustainable News

FranklinTill lists nine principles for a shift to regenerative materials

By Zarkon Group,20/03/2024

Design research agency FranklinTill has compiled a list of principles to help designers, makers and brands avoid greenwashing when sourcing textiles.

By making it easier to identify textiles that have a greater positive impact on people and planet, FranklinTill hopes to enable a shift towards regenerative materials.

“We can only move towards a regenerative approach to textiles by understanding the full lifecycle of our materials,” said co-founder FranklinTill Caroline Till.

“As designers, makers, brands and manufacturers, we need to think of materials not as static and linear, but as dynamic, evolving systems, to holistically consider the full impact to the wider ecosystem they are a part of.”

The defining characteristic of regenerative materials, according to Till, is that they restore and nourish the ecosystems they are part of.

“Sustainability, by its very definition, is all about maintaining the status quo, while regeneration seeks to actively heal and put back better,” she said.

FranklinTill first unveiled its nine principles of regenerative design in an exhibition at the Heimtextil trade fair in Frankfurt in January, with a second show planned for the Techtextil fair in April.

In an online exclusive, we are also unveiling them here. Read on to see all nine, with captions written by FranklinTill and examples of material innovation in practice:

Agave textile production in Mexico — Designer Fernando Laposse works with local communities in Mexico to process sisal, a fibrous material made from agave leaves, which he turns into hairy furniture

Enriching Communities

“To go beyond sustainability and become regenerative, we must focus on both the social and the environmental impact of production.”

“This means spotlighting how materials are made and by whom, looking to improve livelihoods with better pay, working conditions and future prospects.”

Bulrush plants used for BioPuff material — British manufacturer Ponda produces BioPuff, an insulating fibre filler material, using bulrush plants grown on natural wetlands

Replenishing the Land

“Focused on high yields with an over-reliance on pesticides and water, modern industrial farming damages land.”

“Regenerative farming works holistically to reverse this, rebuilding organic soil matter and sequestering carbon in soil, wetlands and trees, retaining water and reducing the use of artificial pesticides and fertilisers.”

Yak khullu wool is made by nomad families on the Tibetan Plateau — Lifestyle brand Norlha creates apparel and homewares from yak khullu wool, which is handcrafted by nomad families on the Tibetan Plateau

Preserving Heritage

“Many indigenous practices are regenerative by nature, working with the land and local communities.”

“By acknowledging and celebrating the value of cultural heritage and craftsmanship and learning from its ecological wisdom, we can protect valuable skills and knowledge from being lost to technology and globalisation.”

Textiles made from sunflowers — British textile brand Climafibre produces fabrics from sunflowers, a species that can be grown with minimal intervention, fertilisers or watering

Restoring Biodiversity

“Regenerative practices must take a multispecies approach to encouraging biodiversity.”

“Acknowledging the threat of extinction, addressing the causes of loss, and reviving habitats for diverse plants and wildlife aids ecological restoration.”

Charlotte Werth has developed a printing process that uses bacteria to create pigments — Designer Charlotte Werth has developed a fabric printing process that uses bacteria to create pigments

Biological Fabrication

“The convergence of science and design offers huge potential for new materials, from living microbial systems to synthesising nature’s regenerative powers.”

“Growing and extracting next-generation materials using innovative, highly productive processes can create plentiful resources from minimal input.”

Keel Labs produces a textile industry yarn from kelp — US-based Keel Labs produces Kelsun, a seaweed-based yarn, using an abundant polymer found in kelp

Naturally Abundant

“Highly productive, resilient raw materials that grow with little human intervention offer naturally high yields, strengthen soils and capture carbon.”

“These abundant, versatile crops could help move the focus away from traditional natural material fibres that require high levels of water, pesticides or fertilisers.”

Desso carpet tiles by Tarkett use post-consumer waste — Circularity is built into all of the design and manufacturing processes for Tarkett’s Desso carpet tiles

Reclaiming Material

“Extracting raw materials, making products, then discarding them and their byproducts is contributing to the global waste problem.”

“By putting useful waste streams back into production, we can better utilise existing resources and avoid waste altogether.”

Haelixa is bringing transparency to material supply chains by applying distinct DNA codes to raw materials, using a customised spraying system

Radical Transparency

“By using science and technology to create tools and processes that capture and record data along supply chains, we can understand the social and environmental impact of the materials we consume.”

“Encrypting materials helps brands track their footprints and life cycles, and communicate this information to customers in a meaningful, trustworthy and accessible way.”

Sanne Visser works with human hair — Dutch designer Sanne Visser uses traditional rope-making techniques to turn human hair into handspun yarns

Cultivating Localism

“By supporting the local sourcing, production and consumption of materials, we can avoid globalised transportation and reduce carbon footprints.”

“Focusing on availability, seasonality and resourcefulness means embracing non-standardisation, often improving local environments as well as extracting from them.”

Reference

Sustainable News

Revolutionising recycling with AI-enabled robots

By Zarkon Group,20/03/2024

Spotted: Even in areas that have established comprehensive recycling systems, very often huge amounts of recyclables don’t actually end up getting recycled. In the UK, recycling rates have ‘plateaued’ at around 43 per cent in recent years, while in the US, almost 70 per cent of municipal waste doesn’t get recycled or composted.

Enter Glacier, which has developed an AI-enabled sorting robot to help materials recycling facilities more efficiently separate individual recyclables. The robots can accurately identify more than 30 different types of recyclables as they move along conveyor belts. In addition, the robots collect real-time data on the volume of recyclables, contamination rates, and other details.

The robot takes up about the space as a human, can achieve cost payback in as little as six months, and can be installed with no downtime or heavy machinery. The company’s co-founder, Areeb Malik, told Springwise that “existing sortation solutions were too expensive, difficult to install, and expensive to maintain and repair.” Glacier’s robot, in contrast, is “purpose-built to solve these exact pain points.”

Glacier, which is led by a female CEO, earlier completed a $4.5 million (around €4.1 million) seed round led by venture firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA). More recently, the company has received an additional $7.7 million (around €7 million) in funding from NEA and Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, with additional participation from other investors. Malik explained that the technology is already live in about a dozen facilities across the US and the company expects significant growth going forward.

There is increasing urgency in finding solutions to the world’s growing waste problem. Springwise has recently spotted the use of plastic waste as a bitumen replacement and AI technology that combats food waste.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Architecture

7 Top AI Tools for Interior Design

By Zarkon Group,20/03/2024

Architizerâs Tech Directory is a database of tech tools for architects â from the latest generative design and AIÂ to rendering and visualization,Â 3D modeling,Â project management and many more. Explore the complete library of categoriesÂ here.

Interior design holds one of the most “intimate” scales of space. It focuses on ambiance, color, materials and textures, lighting as well as the objects and furniture that people interact with on a daily basis. With AI technologies rapidly evolving, designers now have access to an array of innovative tools that streamline processes, enhance creativity and revolutionize the way spaces are conceptualized and brought to life.

From generating design inspirations to optimizing layouts and recommending color schemes, AI tools can become integrated into every designer’s workflow, allowing them to create stunning visual imagery, produce 3D flythroughs and videos and even design custom 3D objects and furniture to populate their designs. So, which AI tools should an architect lean on when designing interior spaces?

Without further ado, here are the top seven AI tools that unlock unprecedented capabilities in interior design.

Best AI Tool for Highly Detailed Iterations

Prome AI is one of the most versatile tools for interior design. From turning sketches to fully realistic renders to using text prompts for producing stunning imagery, Prome AI is the ideal tool for generating an array of design proposals in a few clicks. Features such as Creative Fusion and Image Variation allow interior designers to preserve the structural integrity of their initial sketch, while testing different styles, perspectives and layouts of their design. PromeAI also includes post-production tools for image editing such HD Upscaler, Erase & Replace and Outpainting (i.e., image resizer). Finally, it can transform static images to breathtaking videos, using both image and text prompts.

Best AI Tool for Ideation

Interior AI Screenshot Interior AI is considered the best AI tool for ideation. Interior designers can “feed” the software photos of an existing space, select specific styles — such as minimalist, bohemian etc. — and let it generate a series of design proposals. Virtual Staging is one of its most powerful tools, through which interior designers can quickly furnish empty spaces through text prompts. Interior AI can also transform sketches as well as SketchUp models into photorealistic renders and 3d flythrough videos.

Best AI Tool for Customisation

Gaia_Generative AI Architect Screenshot Created by a team from Cornell University, Gaia: Generative AI Architect redefines the concept of AI as a tool. It is an innovative artificial intelligence system that becomes the designer’s personal assistant. By using its Sketch-to-Render capabilities, text prompts and predefined templates, Gaia gradually learns the distinct style of its users as well as each project’s unique requirements, becoming the designer’s “right-hand AI tool”. Using Gaia’s AI prompt guide along with its community feature, architects and interior designers can communicate effectively and exchange ideas for using AI technology to improve their workflow. Finally, Gaia’s future ambition is to become integrated with existing architecture software such as AutoCAD.

Best AI Tool for Turning 2D Plans to 3D Renders

Coohom is an AI tool that seamlessly transforms 2d drawings into 3d renders. Through its simple, interactive interphase, interior designers can draw plans that can be viewed in both 2D and 3D. Furthermore, using Coohom’s extensive 3D model library, designers can furnish each room and produce multiple layout iterations, which can then automatically become realistic images, videos and 360-degree panoramas.

Best AI Tool for Space Remodeling

MyArchitectAI Screenshot MyArchitectAI is an AI tool that creates photorealistic renderings through a combination of quick sketching and the use of predefined prompts. Interior designers can upload their sketch onto the platform and select specific styles, materials and even locations to create their renders. For example, they can specify the building’s type (e.g. apartment or villa), their preferred style (e.g. industrial loft or beach house) and even lighting setup (e.g. task or ambient) to set up the scene for their proposal.

Best AI Tool for 3D Modeling

Even through Kaedim is primarily used for game design, it is an excellent AI tool for creating custom 3D models of both spaces as well as objects (e.g. furniture). With its powerful Image-to-Model feature, Kaedim can transform static sketches, precedents or AI generated imagery into editable 3D models, which can then be imported into existing software. Its models are low poly meshes made by quads and separated into watertight parts that can be seamlessly edited by most available 3D modeling programs.

Best AI Tool for Image Editing

Adobe Photoshop is the bread and butter of interior designers. For many decades, its image editing capabilities have surpassed any other software tool on the market. Powered by Adobe Firefly, Photoshop’s new, groundbreaking AI integration is a game changer. With features such as Generative AI, Content-Aware Fill and Object Selection, Interior designers can add elements to their compositions, experiment with different background using text prompts as well as remove or replace content from their images.

How to Better Leverage AI Tools in Architecture

The following tips and considerations will help you maximize the potential of AI in interior design, as well as avoiding common pitfalls associated with this fast-emerging technology.

Beware of Technology Over-reliance: Sometimes automation can become creativity’s killer. Without a doubt, these AI tools offer an array of possibilities to interior designers. Nevertheless, when working in such a small and “intimate” scale it is important to try and preserve originality in each design. Although features such as style selection, 3D model libraries and predefined templates can be a useful to quickly visualize design iterations, it is imperative for interior designers to not forget their own individual, human creativity.

Aspire for a Level of Detail: Another challenge when working with small scale projects is the amount of detail interior designers have to address in order to produce high quality and fully resolved designs. Although AI tools often generate impressive visualizations in a matter of seconds, interior designers need to essentially play a game of ‘spot the difference’, where they closely identify potential issues that may arise during design implementation.

Take Advantage of Customization: Admittedly, the most immediate use of AI technology is to use it directly for generating design iterations and impressive visualizations. Nevertheless, AI tools can become great assets for designing and creating personalized libraries with custom-made materials, color pallets, furniture and even lighting systems. In other words, instead of relying on predetermined templates found on the market, AI technology allows interior designers to easily design and update their own unique “kit of parts” to use in their designs.

Reference

Colourful illustrations in Rixo Marylebone

Interior Design

Cúpla decorates Rixo Marylebone store with hand-painted murals

By Zarkon Group,19/03/2024

Interior design studio Cúpla has completed a boutique for fashion brand Rixo in central London that features hand-painted illustrations and colourful zellige tiles.

The clothing store on Marylebone High Street was revamped by Cúpla, whose creative director Gemma McCloskey is the twin sister of Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey.

The interior designer had previously designed the brand’s flagship store on the King’s Road and wanted the refurbished Marylebone location to have a similar feel.

“We wanted the store to embody everything we had previously created for Rixo’s flagship store but within its own right,” Gemma McCloskey told Dezeen.

“A sense of escapism paired with a welcoming warmth within a boutique setting were the key emotions we wanted the customer to feel.”

As the brand sells hand-painted prints, the designer wanted the store’s interior to feature illustrations to reflect the style of the clothes.

Blue patterned sofa and archways in London fashion store — It features modified vintage furniture

“Understanding Rixo’s roots and the fact their USP is hand-painted prints, it felt tangible to represent the brand’s values and beginnings with the illustrations,” Gemma McCloskey said.

“Given the space is quite small, we treated it almost like a living room space within a home and felt we could make it all-encompassing and personal.”

Mirror in London clothing store — Artist Sam Wood created colourful illustrations for the store

Artist Sam Wood hand-painted murals and illustrations throughout the store, which has a bright and playful colour palette and also features traditional glazed Moroccan zellige tiles.

“We wanted the colour palette to feel really fresh and bright,” the designer explained.

“Although there is an abundance of colours used, every line of the mural or the ‘random’ coloured zellige tile layout was methodically composed to ensure a right balance between the colours was struck.”

The studio added decorative arches and classical mouldings to the store in a nod to the architecture and heritage of its Marylebone neighbourhood.

The store also features bespoke fitting room curtains with pickle-green and flora-pink stripes by fabric brand Colours of Arley.

Zellige tiles in Rixo Marylebone — Moroccan zellige tiles add to the playful interior

Cúpla used vintage furniture pieces throughout the store, which sells Rixo’s full collection including ready-to-wear and bridalwear.

“We actually modified existing pieces of vintage furniture, which had been previously sourced by [Rixo founders] Orlagh and Henrietta years ago in the early days of Rixo,” Gemma McCloskey said.

“They were the perfect fit for the space but didn’t have the functionality we required, so we decided to alter these instead or replace them.”

Illustrations at Marylebone store — The store is located on Marylebone High Street

“It was much more sustainable and because the pieces were from the early years of Rixo, they had sentimental value so we didn’t want to replace them,” she added.

Other recent London stores featured on Dezeen include a Camper store with a giant foot sculpture and a stationery store with a demountable interior.

The photography is courtesy of Rixo.

Reference

Sustainable News

AI provides insights for industries sensitive to weather

By Zarkon Group,19/03/2024

Spotted: Traditional weather platforms tend to offer raw data but without much contextual interpretation. This can make it difficult for organisations to usefully act on the information. ClimaLinks was founded to bridge what the company refers to as the “final mile of innovation” and turn weather data into useful, actionable insights.

The ClimaLinks platform is powered by Generative AI and provides weather relations management (WRM) software and ‘Data-as-a-Service’ that enable companies in weather-sensitive industries, such as construction and agriculture, to operate more efficiently and safely. ClimaLinks connects weather insights with organisational planning tools, making it a part of decision-making processes.

The WRM platform includes both a standalone dashboard and an API that links to existing SaaS management tools. It is designed to be responsive to user’s needs and transform complex meteorological data into actionable insights, so that tasks are performed in optimal conditions. The platform includes a task monitor to help optimise operations, an asset monitor to conduct risk management, and a schedule tracker that can help organisations plan ahead and prepare for extreme and potentially dangerous weather.

ClimaLinks has seen recent investment from student-run venture fund S2S Ventures. The pre-seed funding is intended to accelerate development of the startup’s platform.

Climate change is making weather forecasting more important and Springwise has spotted innovations such as a platform that identifies environmental risk to utilities and a system that makes hyperlocal rain predictions.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

frida escobedo takes on brooklyn with pleated bergen homes

a new neighbor for quiet boerum hill

frida escobedo responds to low-rise brooklyn

a pleated facade along tree-lined bergen street

the community-focused building

AI monitors leaks and water use through sound

Schemata Architects embraces rough material finishes for gallery in Seoul

Bruno Mars and Yabu Pushelberg design cocktail lounge in Las Vegas

FranklinTill lists nine principles for a shift to regenerative materials

Revolutionising recycling with AI-enabled robots

7 Top AI Tools for Interior Design

Best AI Tool for Highly Detailed Iterations

Best AI Tool for Ideation

Best AI Tool for Customisation

Best AI Tool for Turning 2D Plans to 3D Renders

Best AI Tool for Space Remodeling

Best AI Tool for 3D Modeling

Best AI Tool for Image Editing

How to Better Leverage AI Tools in Architecture

Cúpla decorates Rixo Marylebone store with hand-painted murals

AI provides insights for industries sensitive to weather

Get in touch

about us

Company info

Useful Links

Newsletter