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Image of solar panels on rooftops of main home and ADU - photo
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

We Are the Rare, Repeat Solar Customers

By Zarkon Group,

Our solar story is a long one, and our most recent installers joked that they don’t usually have repeat customers. We love solar so much that we’ve installed it three times over the past decade and saved thousands on energy bills. If you’ve always thought it was out of reach for you, consider that the cost of panels has fallen from around $8 per watt in 2010 to $2 to $3 per watt today. This is still too expensive for many, but with declining costs, extension of the 30% solar tax credit, and accessible financing, solar is more affordable than ever.

2010

Our first install was on a townhouse that Naomi owned. When Joe moved in, he was so excited about solar that he immediately dumped his life savings into twelve 230 W panels (today’s panels are typically over 400 watts) for the roof. We’re not sure this was the smartest move on his part, as we weren’t married yet, and he had nothing left in the bank. But he justified it as a sign of his commitment to the environment and the relationship.

The total system cost was $20,010. Joe paid $14,490, and the installer received an Energy Trust of Oregon incentive for the remaining amount. Because these were early days, we also received the 30% federal tax credit and $6,000 in state tax credits (that don’t exist anymore), which covered an incredible 75% of the total cost over a period of years. Back then, with more generous subsidies but lower performance, the investment took over 10 years to pay back. With today’s improved performance and lower costs, EnergySage finds that, on average, solar panels pay back in 8.7 years.

Image of solar panels on rooftops of main home and ADU - photo

7.2 kW solar system on our family home in North Portland.

2012

Two years later, we moved and weren’t in a position to put that much cash down, but our new home had a south facing roof that was perfect for solar. At that time, solar leases were all the rage, and that option ended up being the right choice for us. Through Sunrun (currently the largest solar installer in the US), we put down $6,000 (all of which we received back in state tax credits over 4 years) for 13 solar panels estimated to produce 3,257 kWh per year. We have the option to buy the panels from SunRun at the end of the 20-year lease.

Because we don’t need all the electricity our panels produce when the sun is shining, and we don’t have batteries to store it, about a third of the energy powers our all-electric home and the rest goes back to the grid and provides a credit on our utility bill.

 2016

Four years later, we built an addition, which gave us more roof space and room for more solar. We entered into another Sunrun lease, with an estimated 4,054 kWh of annual electricity because the panel efficiency increased that much in those 4 years.

Our now-combined 7.2 kW solar system provides about 60% of our energy needs, and that’s for an all-electric property with regular EV charging and six to seven people living on site. (We are a family of four and have a long-term tenant in an accessory dwelling unit as well as an addition that’s typically occupied by an exchange student or Airbnb guests.)

Combined savings

For at least half the year, our utility bill is only about $12, which is the cost of being connected to the grid. We get credit for our excess summer production, and our bill only exceeds the $12 connection charge for several months in late winter and early spring.

All of our efficiency and electrification efforts, combined with our solar panels, mean we spend a mere $850 per year on energy. That’s one-fifth the national household average and a staggering one-tenth the per capita average! Our solar panels saved us a whopping $7,300 in the 11 years since we installed the first set on this house.

We also subscribe to community solar for the approximately 40% of our energy needs that aren’t met by our rooftop panels, helping us achieve our carbon-free home and transportation.

Are You Ready?

In addition to the 8% of US homeowners who have solar, a recent survey found that 39% have seriously considered solar. If this includes you, you’ll need to first determine your roof viability, which depends on 1. the orientation of your roof (south- and west-facing work best) and 2. the  age of your roof (best practice says fewer than 10 years old so it can age with your panels). If your roof is older than 10 years, you can replace it at the same time you install solar. Many contractors offer both services. The Department of Energy presents a number of online resources to understand your roof’s solar potential.

If your roof is a good candidate, you’ll then need to determine how to pay for the panels. Given the average cost of rooftop solar is currently about $20,000 after tax credits, it’s not feasible for most folks to pay with cash. But there are diverse funding options:

  • Outright ownership: If you can swing it with cash, solar is a great investment with a reasonable payback period. This is the route we went for our first house. A home equity line of credit or cash-out refinance could also provide the funds.
  • Solar loan: Many solar companies now offer financing that requires little to no money down and potentially low interest rates with monthly payments that are offset by lower utility bills. You own the panels outright, receive the tax credits, and are responsible for maintenance.
  • Solar lease: If your state offers solar leases, sometimes called Power Purchase Agreements, a solar company could install, operate, and manage panels on your roof and take the tax credits. You commit to paying that company for the power produced by the panels. This is how we got the 28 panels on our current home.
  • Bulk purchasing and Solarize: It’s also worth checking if your area has a bulk purchasing program like Solarize, through which you could get a discounted install if a bunch of neighbors are also going solar. The nonprofit Solar United Neighbors organizes solar co-op programs for households to benefit from discounted pricing with bulk purchases.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, residential solar systems are eligible for a 30% tax credit through 2032. Your state may also offer additional rebates and incentives.

Cartoon image (evoking WWII) of soldier promoting solar panels. Text reads: Your tomorrow in in your hand today! Buy Victory Panels

Solar panels could be the victory bonds of the war on climate change. Image by Joe Wachunas.

To explore options, reach out to solar companies in your region. We recommend getting three bids in order to compare costs and proposed system design. A basic Google search will turn up lots of local contractors, so pay attention to reviews, and check if your state has recommended solar contractors like Energy Trust of Oregon’s Trade Ally network.

In addition to the decarbonization and financial benefits of solar, we love that our panels give us the independence of being our own energy producer. We’re more insulated from fluctuating energy costs and get the satisfaction of knowing that most of our energy is produced on our own property.

Plus, rooftop solar is fighting the climate crisis. What’s not to love?

 

Decarbonize your life logo

This article springs from a post by Naomi Cole and Joe Wachunas, first published in CleanTechnica. Their “Decarbonize Your Life,” series shares their experience, lessons learned, and recommendations for how to reduce household emissions.

The authors:

Joe Wachunas and Naomi Cole both work professionally to address climate change—Naomi in urban sustainability and energy efficiency and Joe in the electrification of buildings and transportation. A passion for debarbonization, and their commitment to walk the walk, has led them to ductless heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooking, solar in multiple forms, hang-drying laundry (including cloth diapers), no cars to electric cars and charging without a garage or driveway, a reforestation grant from the US Department of Agriculture, and more. They live in Portland, OR, with two young children.

 

Reference

Common Expansion Joint Field Problems and How to Avoid Them
CategoriesArchitecture

Common Expansion Joint Field Problems and How to Avoid Them

By Zarkon Group,

Are you struggling with the aesthetic and functional challenges of expansion joint covers in architecture? These essential components require careful integration and understanding to ensure they meet project needs effectively. This can be quite challenging, which is why many architects don’t like them. However, with the proper guidance, you can transform this challenge into an opportunity for innovative design and effective functionality.

In our recent webinar, we delved into the complexities of expansion joint systems, offering insights and practical solutions for architects and builders. If you missed the live session, don’t worry — the recording is available for you to watch at your convenience.

Register + Access

Exterior waterproofing options via Inpro Corp

Once again, we had the pleasure of hosting Matthew Fisher, the Senior Product Manager for the Expansion Joint Systems division at Inpro. Fisher, with his extensive 25-year experience spanning architecture, construction management and building materials management, brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights. His expertise is particularly invaluable considering his background as a practicing architect and his deep understanding of both the design process and the on-site construction dynamics.During the webinar, Fisher covered a range of critical topics, helping participants to:

  • Examine common floor joint oversights regarding blockouts, concentrated loads and coverplate specification;
  • Discover the types of interior wall expansion joint systems and how to accommodate obstructions, changes in directionand functional requirements;
  • Examine and compare building envelope joints and recognize the importance of proper detailing for transitions;
  • Identify the types of expansion joint fire barriers and the dangers to life safety when seams and intersections installations are not assembled to specifications.

Exterior joint cover types via Inpro Corp

These topics were not just theoretical discussions but were backed by real-world scenarios and practical solutions, making the webinar an insightful learning opportunity for anyone in the field.

Register + Access

Don’t miss this chance to broaden your understanding of expansion joint systems and their critical role in architecture. Access the webinar now and equip yourself with the knowledge to tackle one of the most nuanced aspects of building design.


Kalina Prelikj

Author: Kalina Prelikj

A jack of all trades and a soon-to-be Master of Architecture, Kalina enjoys embracing her creative side and has dabbled in everything from marketing to design to communications. However, her main interest lies in architecture, as she loves to explore how it shapes our communities and transforms our daily experiences. With a deep appreciation for the art of puns, Kalina is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to craft clever wordplay.

Reference

Monroe Street House by TBo
CategoriesInterior Design

Eight homes with light-filled kitchens from Australia to Slovenia

By Zarkon Group,

For our latest lookbook, we’ve chosen eight kitchens in contemporary homes where strategically placed windows and glazing create well-lit spaces for cooking and spending quality time with family and friends.

These light-filled kitchens feature different finishes, including marble, concrete, wood and glass, but are joined together by the sunlight that streams through their large windows, glazed doors or skylights.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

Monroe Street House by TBo
Photo is by Matthew Williams

Monroe Street House, USA, by TBo

New York studio TBo updated a 124-year-old townhouse in Brooklyn to meet the demands of a modern, multi-generational family’s lifestyle.

Featuring a window that stretches from the worktop to the ceiling and glass doors that lead to an outdoor deck, the kitchen has maximised access to daylight and to the outdoors.

Find out more about Monroe Street House ›

Kitchen with concrete flooring, wood ceiling and a large kitchen island with seating
Photo is by Rohan Venn

Sydney bungalow extension, Australia, by Emily Sandstrom

Australian architect Emily Sandstorm restored this out-of-use 1930s bungalow in Sydney with reclaimed materials from the demolition of its small rear kitchen.

She sees the new kitchen, which features a kitchen island with a worktop of recycled Australian hardwood, as the centre of the home. A window wall creates views of an outdoor dining area and fills the room with light.

Find out more about the bungalow ›

Photo is by Nick Dearden

Glazed house extension, UK, by DHaus

As part of the rear extension to a house in Hertfordshire, UK, London studio DHaus opened up the original dark and cramped kitchen with a material palette of concrete, glass and Douglas fir timber.

The studio lowered the kitchen floor by one metre and connected the interior to the garden, with glazing lining the entire end of the extension to create a bright, welcoming space.

Find out more about the glass extension ›

AB design california renovation
Photo is by Jason Rick

Quarry House, USA, by AB Design Studio and House of Honey

West Coast-based architecture practice AB Design Studio renovated the Quarry House in California, a 1954 house that had fallen into disrepair, in collaboration with House of Honey, which was responsible for the interior design.

The kitchen was renewed with textured marble surfaces and a kitchen island, as well as Crittall-style windows and doors.

Find out more about Quarry House ›

House MM by a202 Arhitekti is a home in Slovenia
Photo is by Ana Skobe

House MM, Slovenia, by A202 Arhitekti

A202 Arhitekti transformed the traditional gabled house in Slovenia by removing all non-structural interior elements and adding a timber extension inside while preserving the shell of the property.

The studio built the kitchen with light-coloured materials in a minimalist style, adding a large window with a comfortable window seat for reading or contemplation.

Find out more about House MM ›

The kitchen is covered with marble clads
Photo is by Lorenzo Zandri

House extension, UK, by ConForm

Designed by ConForm, the light-filled kitchen in this Hampstead home is covered with white marble panels.

The patterns of light grey veins on adjoining surfaces were unmatched to “encourage a natural and textural language”, the studio said. Sliding doors open the room up to the garden.

Find out more about the Hampstead extension ›

Photo is by Peter Bennetts

10 Fold House, Australia, by Timmins + Whyte

Australian studio Timmins + Whyte added an extension with a folded roof that brings in extra natural light to this Melbourne home.

The kitchen included in the extended space was combined with the living room through a shared material palette of ribbed wood, marble and grey terrazzo.

Find out more about 10 Fold House ›

Photo is by Jeroen Verrecht

House C-DF, Belgium, by Graux & Baeyens Architecten

Belgian studio Graux & Baeyens Architecten was tasked to maximise the space in a narrow townhouse in Ghent that already had a rear kitchen extension.

The studio changed the gap between the old extension and the original house into a skylight and replaced the wall between the garden and the kitchen with a glass sliding door, which introduced additional light to the ground-floor kitchen.

Find out more about House C-DF ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

Reference

AI turns the page on paper-based pharmaceutical compliance
CategoriesSustainable News

AI turns the page on paper-based pharmaceutical compliance

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Making drugs is big business. In 2022, the pharmaceutical manufacturing market was valued at $566.3 billion, and it is set to continue growing, being forecast to reach just shy of $1 trillion by 2030.

With peoples’ lives and health at stake, the industry faces particularly close regulatory scrutiny. But, while new pharmaceuticals may be at the cutting-edge of science, the compliance systems that underpin their production remain largely paper based. These paper trails are prone to errors, which can lead to higher costs and delays in getting life-saving drugs to patients.

US startup Leucine is looking to change this by riding the wave of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation to make pharmaceutical compliance less onerous. The company’s ‘AI-first’ platform acts as a digital twin of the manufacturing shopfloor, auto-generating digital records and providing insights into potentially compliance-compromising issues and their root causes.

The platform is underpinned by several solutions. Leucine10x is an AI co-pilot that provides critical insights, detects compliance and efficiency bottlenecks, and offers a chat function that helps teams make data-based decisions. The company’s workflow builder, meanwhile, streamlines the process of creating, reviewing, and signing off standard operating procedures that provide directions on how processes and tasks should be carried out. The platform further provides, immutable logbooks for recording events and actions, advanced data analytics, solutions for managing domain knowledge, and systems for detecting abnormal conditions.

There are two main uses cases for Leucine’s platform. The first is for executing compliant and error-free batch manufacturing of drugs (most drugs today are manufactured in batches). The second is for validating cleaning processes in labs to ensure compliance.

The startup recently received $7 million in Series A funding to scale up its platform.

Artificial intelligence is having an impact in several different areas of the pharmaceutical industry. Springwise has recently spotted an AI system for streamlining clinical workflow, a system using AI to detect cancer cells, and  algorithms that help to detect cardiovascular disease.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Reference

The A+List: Architizer’s Top Architecture and Design Firms to Watch in 2024
CategoriesArchitecture

The A+List: Architizer’s Top Architecture and Design Firms to Watch in 2024

By Zarkon Group,

Architizer’s global architectural awards program, the 12th Annual A+Awards, is now accepting submissions, with a Main Entry Deadline of December 15th, 2023. As well as celebrating some of the most innovative, recently completed projects around the globe, the A+Awards also serve as an incredible indicator of which designers will be at the forefront of innovation in the coming year.

In recognition of this fact, Architizer is delighted to present the much-anticipated fifth edition of the coveted A+List, an annual rundown of every firm that scooped an A+Award and A+Firm Award in the previous season. The A+List forms a comprehensive guide to the world’s best architecture firms and is refreshed each year based on the results of the annual A+Awards program. You can see last season’s A+List here.

The A+List is arranged alphabetically, with more information available by clicking on the link to each firm’s profile. We’ve also curated a selection of featured firms, providing some extra background on their A+Award triumphs.

Get Your Firm On the Next A+List

If you missed entering last season’s program and would like to secure your position on the next A+List, we encourage you to enter your firm’s recent projects in the 12th Annual A+Awards. Every winner features in this definitive directory of high-quality firms, and will also see their work published in a stunning, hardbound compendium on the World’s Best Architecture, as well as gaining continual publicity through our year-round global celebration of design.

Start Submission

Without further ado, explore the work of each of these immensely talented firms below, and good luck with your submissions to this year’s program!

AD ARCHITECTURE
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Art

Adjaye Associates
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors)

Aidlin Darling Design
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft.)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (XL >6000 sq ft)

Alencar Arquitetura
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)

all(zone)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Color

Altura Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (S 1000 – 2000 sq ft)

ANT ARCH
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +For Good

Longmenshan Town · Woyun Platform by Archermit, Peng Bai Lu, Peng Zhou Shi, Cheng Du Shi, China | Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Cultural & Expo Centers

Founded in 2015, this Chengdu-based firm has achieved a considerable amount before reaching its first decade milestone. Archermit’s  core concept is to create new multidimensional spatial experiences. This is evident in the poetic environments they create, which break the mold of traditional architectural forms and massing; theirs is an exploration of the contemporary and locality of Chinese architecture. Across their work is an emphasis on reconfiguring the relationship between building users and the surrounding environment. While embracing modern technology, the firm celebrates unique local architectural expression.

Archi-Tectonics
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Innovation

ARCHITECTS 49
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Large Firm (41+ employees)

Arsh 4D Studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)

ASAS arkitektur AS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

ASPECT Studios
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

B² Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft.)

Komera Leadership Center by BE_Design, Rwanda | 11th Annual A+Awards: Jury Vote Winner in Architecture +For Good; Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner in Architecture +Low Cost Design; Jury Vote Winner in Architecture +Community; Popular Vote Winner in Community Centers

After living in Rwanda for several years, Bruce Engel founded BE_DESIGN in 2016 upon his return to New York. The team comprises Alain Yves Twizeyimana, Emmanuel Havugimana, Aziz Farid Shyaka, and Marie Minerve Dukunde. Together, the five are creating progressive educational and community projects that serve rural and underprivileged areas in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana. The young firm is already garnering awards and recognition for their incredibly intricate fusion of local artistic traditions, talents and techniques with program brief and architectural form. Exemplified in the Komera Leadership Center, which swept at the 11th Annual A+Awards, this firm is one to keep a close eye on.

Beijing AN-Design Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Renovations & Additions
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Urban & Masterplan

Birdseye
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces

Blue Temple
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best X-Small Firm (1 – 5 employees)

BRAG Arquitectos
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – High Rise (16+ Floors)

Bureau Fraai
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft)

CAA
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Sports & Recreation Building

CAZA
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Religious Buildings & Memorials

Cumulus Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Bars & Wineries
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Cultural & Expo Centers

D/DOCK
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Coworking Space

Kia Lab by Davood Boroojeni Office, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran | Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

Davood Boroojeni Office’s vast range of experience is evident in one look at the Tehran-based firm’s profile. With over 15 years of professional experience, their team has developed expertise in all areas of architectural production — from preliminary design ideas to schematic design and development, as well as producing submittal packages, visual presentations, construction documents, layouts and details through close dialogue with clients, producers and engineers. This multifaceted approach is evident in projects such as Kia Lab, which take a holistic view of the programmatic brief, embedding the building’s function with the broader urban and cultural environment.

Dedang Design
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Community Centers

Design Workshop
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Landscape Design Firm

Dubuisson
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Gyms & Recreation Centers

DXA studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Residential Firm

ECADI
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sports & Recreation

Edition Office
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

EHDD
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Sports & Recreation Building

Ghaf Majlis by Etereo Design, Ajman, United Arab Emirates | 11th Annual A+Awards: Popular Vote Winner in Best Young Interior Design Firm; Popular Vote Winner in Mixed Use (S <25,000 sq ft.)

Etereo Design is both a singular studio with a unique output and a cosmopolitan firm of the 21st century, which is to say it draws strength from the intersection of cultures. As the firm puts it, “with an astute understanding of architecture, a vibrant and artistically abundant Italian heritage, dotted with influences from the Middle East and harmoniously brought together with passion, Etereo is born.” From this starting point, the firm creates breathtakingly elegant spaces that exude creative force and revel in an expert selection of materials and finishes, which are honored in the painstaking execution of their project’s finer details.

EYAC Arquitec
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Urban Transformation

Foster + Partners
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Stadium & Arena
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Commercial Building
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

gad
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Spa & Wellness

Gensler
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Masterplan
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Commercial Building

GN Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Small Projects

H Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

National Assembly Communication Building by HAEAHN Architecture and H-Architecture, Seoul, South Korea | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Government & Civic Buildings

HAEAHN is the brainwork of over 1,300 employees, spread over offices across the world — from its headquarters in Seoul to new branches in Baghdad, Ho Chi Minh City, Riyadh and Savannah (Georgia) that came about through the firm’s alliance with H Architecture New York in 2011. This radical internationality translates to the broad expanse of the firm’s expertise: employees specialize in a range of fields, from architecture to environmental design to urban planning to interior design and more. Since it was founded in 1990, HAEAHN Architecture, has strove to design ambitious and impactful urban environmental projects, deeply rooted in a spirit of innovation.

HDR
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

Heatherwick Studio
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Shopping Center

HGA
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

HLW
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Adaptive Reuse

HOK
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure

Hooba Design
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (16 – 40 employees)

Inrestudio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Brick
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Office – Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

JSPA Design
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Factories & Warehouses

K-Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Stone

Bundanon Art Museum + Bridge by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), Illaroo, Australia | 11th Annual A+Awards: Jury Vote Winner in Architecture +Environment; Jury Vote Winner in Sustainable Cultural/Institutional Building | Photo by Rory Gardiner

The output of Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) configures architecture as an inherently civic endeavor; to do so, each design has strong multidisciplinary foundations. Indeed, the team has forged strong relationships with engineers, emerging technology specialists and landscape and heritage consultants, and their expertise informs the approach to each project, injecting innovation and environmental sensitivity to the specificities of a given project whilst evolving the firm’s design approach for future commissions. The result is an oeuvre of sensitive, site-responsive architecture that synergize form and function with landscape, resulting in highly meaningful and resilient places.

Kosloff Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Libraries
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Learning

LAAB Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Apartment
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Branding

Laguarda.Low Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Office – High Rise (16+ Floors)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Urban & Masterplan

Landao Design
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Landscape

Laney LA
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (L >3000 sq ft)

Lazor/Office
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Wood

Backcountry Hut Company by Leckie Studio Architecture + Design | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

The Vancouver-based inter-disciplinary design studio was founded on ambition,  with the aim of “pushing the traditional boundaries of architectural practice as a catalyst for cultural change.” Designing across a variety of scales and media, the eighteen person team emphasizes highly collaborative approaches to project development. Impressively, their internal digital visualization lab creates an integrated workflow for testing and developing design ideas. Moreover, the team comprises a variety of specializations including interior design, prefabrication, mass-timber, industrial design, digital fabrication, graphic design and architectural visualization, allowing them to tackle projects of substantial size and complexity.

Leehong Kim Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transportation Infrastructure
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Glass

LUO studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Interior Project

MAD Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Cultural Firm
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Concrete

MADO ARCHITECTS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Institutional

MARS Studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (6 – 15 employees)

McGregor Coxall
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Teamwork

SAWA by Mei architects and planners, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Residential Project

The word “environment” carries many associations, and for Mei architects and planners, the term serves as an anchor for all projects: the history of the location, the current context and future living environment. The Rotterdam-based office is structured around the knowledge divisions of Building Transformation, New Construction and Urban Development. With a dash of courage, the resulting design champion innovative technical applications and user concepts aimed at social and ecological sustainability. With the design and development of SAWA, a fully wooden residential building in Rotterdam, Mei established themselves as pioneers in creating future-proof, nature-inclusive housing.

MESH Architectures
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Multi-Unit Residential Building

Mix Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Hospitality Building

modus studio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Pavilions

Moneo Brock
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Community

Morphosis Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Branding
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Museum

MQ Architecture
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Small Firm (6 – 15 employees)

Xinglong Lake CITIC Bookstore by MUDA-Architects, Chengdu, China | Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Young Firm

MUDA-Architects are an exciting and daring young firm that has dominated the architectural landscape in recent years. The up-and-coming practice is keen to showcase its diverse talent on the global stage, and with a rapidly expanding portfolio of fascinating projects, the young team is already gaining recognition for its creativity and leadership. Initially founded in Boston, the US, in 2015 and currently based in Southwest China, MUDA-Architects occupies offices in Beijing and Chengdu. Their work in the public realm ranges from bookshops to hotels and is united by their dedication to finding the right solution without compromising aesthetics.

Multistudio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Libraries

Multitude Of Sins
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Interior Project

MVRDV
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Facades

NAPUR Architect
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Museum
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Facades

NEWSUBSTANCE
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Pop-Ups & Temporary

NICOLEHOLLIS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)

NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Primary & High Schools

NOA
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Spa & Wellness

Noxon Giffen
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Teamwork

Office AIO
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Interior Design Firm

8899 Beverly Boulevard by Olson Kundig, West Hollywood, California | 11th Annual A+Awards: Jury Vote Winner in Best Large Firm (41+ employees); Jury Vote Winner in Gallery & Exhibition Spaces; 

The portfolio of Olson Kundig is vast, varied and captivating. The Seattle-based firm’s completed works read as a long list of distinctive projects that span more than fifteen countries across five continents. Founded by Jim Olson in 1966, the studio began its life exploring the relationship between dwelling and landscape — a provenance that remains at the heart of the company’s ethos that has since evolved, morphing in productive new directions as applied to a range of typologies and across dense urban and expansive rural settings. Every finished project manifests a “macro to micro” level of attention, from the big ideas to the smallest details.

Omar Gandhi Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (M 2000 – 4000 sq ft)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)

Orange Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Multi Unit Housing – Mid Rise (5 – 15 Floors)

PAN Cabins
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Metal

Park + Associates
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Apartment
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

Perkins&Will
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Sustainable Firm

PPAG architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (L >1000 sq ft)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Hospitality Building

Provencher_Roy
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hospitals & Healthcare Centers

RAAD Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)

House of Light by Rangr Studio, Berkeley, CA, United States | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best X-Small Firm (1 – 5 employees) | Photo by Joe Fletcher Photography

Since 2004, Rangr Studio has deployed the principles of ancient design with contemporary materials and methods to find poetic and harmonious solutions to a wide variety of design challenges. Rather than imposing a structure on an environment, the studio creates essential architectural forms in harmony with the surrounding landscape — whether rural or urban in setting. Founder Jasmit Singh Rangr grew up on the coasts of India, and in the UK, was educated at Yale, and is currently bi-coastal between California and New York. His life experience and training inform Rangr Studio’s philosophy — an approach that is deeply sensitive to the interaction between climate, landscape, culture, and architecture.

RAU
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Residential Project

RIOS
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Workspace

RVAD STUDIO
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Models & Rendering

Sasaki
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Landscape/Planning Project

Featured Firm: SAVA

Thavi Cosmetics Showroom by SAVA, Vinh, Vietnam | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Commercial (Also pictured in top image). 

With headquarters in Borneo, Malaysia and Danang, Vietnam, SAVA draws inspiration from mountains and coastlines. Committed to designing spaces for people from every walk of life, the firm consciously designs to harness locally-sourced materials and building techniques with the aim of bringing people closer to nature — especially those in an urban environment. Indeed, the firm draws on its past experience in masterplanning, housing and bamboo architecture in Asia and Europe to produce architecture that goes beyond aesthetics — even if the result is a visually playful array of perforated geometries with openings that create new relationships to the surrounding environment.

Shape Architecture
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Non-Residential Project

Shejin Space Design
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (<25,000 sq ft.)

SkB Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Commercial Interiors (>25,000 sq ft.)

Sordo Madaleno
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Restaurants (S <1000 sq ft)

SPARK
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Retail

Featured Firm: STARH

Umani Hotel by STARH, Varna, Bulgaria | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Environment | Photo by Dian Stanchev 

STARH is an architecture studio with a mission to overcome stereotypes in the architectural environment. The Bulgarian studio has established a name for itself by creating high-quality designs, from both a functional and material standpoint, with a high level of attention to detail and longevity. Through this approach, the firm achieves innovative design solutions with a distinctive signature. STARH’s portfolio covers projects of different scales and complexity that are united by bold and rhythmic geometries resulting forceful formal statements.

STL Architects
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Institutional

Studio FEI
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Cultural

Studio Gang
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (L >10 Floors)

studio mk27
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (L 4000 – 6000 sq ft)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Art

StudioPOD
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Transportation Project

Superbloom
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sustainable Non-Residential Project

Superkül
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Educational Interiors

SWA GROUP
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Public Parks & Green Spaces

temporary work
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Models & Rendering

Açucena House by Tetro Arquitectura, Nova Lima, Brazil | Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Private House (M 2000 – 4000 sq ft)

Flowing roofs that soar over meandering structures are some of the hallmarks in the remarkable portfolio of this Brazilian firm. Based in Belo Horizonte, the office grounds its work in the careful study of the premises and conditions of the site. This approach is evident in the resulting structures, each highly unique and unrepeatable. In the words  of the firm, “fundamentals such as integration with nature, use of natural materials and exploration of architectural voids are characteristics that permeate every project, from urban scale to furniture design.” This is true across typologies, from museums and venues to commercial, residential and industrial buildings.

TM Light
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Light

tono
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Private House

Turner Arquitectos
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Mixed Use (L >25,000 sq ft.)

UNStudio
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Sustainable Cultural/Institutional Building

West of West
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Multi-Unit Housing (S <10 Floors)

WOJR
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt – Private House (S <3000 sq ft)

Twentieth by WOODS + DANGARAN, Santa Monica, California | Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Best Medium Firm (16 – 40 employees)

Woods + Dangaran’s portfolio boasts an array of warm, elegant residences that exude a timeless California cool and hinge on opening interiors to the outer world. However, going beyond buildings, this Los Angeles-based firm designs at every scale, and their work even includes custom furnishings.  The team prides itself on building collaborative relationships — whether with clients throughout the design process or tradespeople for working out uncompromising in craftsmanship.

XISUI Design
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Joy

XMArchitect
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Metaverse

ZGF Architects
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education & Research Facilities

ZZYY Studio
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Commercial
Jury Vote & Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Transportation

Great architecture comes to fruition through the work of talented teams and collaborators. There are numerous A+Award-winning companies that fall outside of the traditional architectural role, but that deserve recognition for their contributions. They include:

BR+A, L.F. Driscoll and Balfour Beatty (PennFIRST IPD Team)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Health

Chongqing Qimo Architectural Design Consulting
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hotels & Resorts

Deed Studio (photography)
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Photography & Video

feinknopf (photography)
Jury Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Architecture +Photography & Video

Shanghai Rail Transit Line 18 Development
Popular Vote Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors

You can check out previous editions of the A+List here: First Edition, Second Edition, Third Edition, Fourth Edition 

To secure your position on next year’s A+List, make sure to enter the 12th Annual A+Awards before the Main Entry Deadline on December 15th:

Enter the 12th Annual A+Awards

Reference

Fireplace with yellow tiles by Familien Kvistad
CategoriesInterior Design

Familien Kvistad designs colourful Yellow House in the Apple Garden

By Zarkon Group,

Vibrantly coloured tiles and textiles feature in this house renovation in Oslo, Norway, designed by locally based duo Familien Kvistad.

The Yellow House in the Apple Garden is a 1950s house in Oslo’s Voldsløkka area, home to a family of four and their cat, “the rambunctious Caspian”.

Fireplace with yellow tiles by Familien Kvistad
Familien Kvistad has renovated a Oslo home

Familien Kvistad founders, married couple Astrid and Ziemowit Kvistad, have completely remodelled the interior using a palette that also includes solid ash joinery and lightly speckled terrazzo surfaces.

“When they bought the house, the family envisioned painting some walls, moving the kitchen and building two new bathrooms,” the pair told Dezeen. “Over time, things naturally escalated, resulting in a complete change of layout, roof windows, new insulation, siding… absolutely everything was replaced.”

Kitchen with ask cabinets and yellow tile splashback and cat
The kitchen features solid ash cabinets

The three-storey house has an enviable setting in a large garden filled with fruit trees. It was this that primarily attracted the owners, rather than the building itself.

“The house was relatively old, not architecturally distinctive and outdated inside on all levels,” said the designers.

Yellow House in the Apple Garden by Familien Kvistad
The house was originally built in the 1950s

However, shortly after they bought the property, the council enforced new conservation zone restrictions that made it impossible to alter the building’s exterior in any way.

The task for Astrid and Ziemowit was to modernise the house without changing or extending its structure.

“This is obviously a costly project; it would have been cheaper to build a new house,” they explained.

“However, the outer structure had to remain.”

Conservatory in Yellow House in the Apple Garden
A terrazzo floor and ochre sofa are installed in the conservatory

The renovation removed many of the old internal partitions, creating a more open layout. This gives the ground floor a broken-plan feel, made up of various separate but connected living and dining spaces.

The old loft was also removed and replaced with small mezzanines, revealing the sloping roof beams and increasing the ceiling height in the first-floor bedrooms and bathroom to up to four metres.

Entrance lobby by Familien Kvistad
Wooden ceiling joists are exposed throughout

The colour scheme was based on “earthy shades” of the owners’ favourite colours.

On the ground floor, this resulted in a feature fireplace clad in mustard-yellow Kaufmann tiles, a lounge sofa upholstered in a plum-coloured Kvadrat textile and a storage bench topped by forest-green cushions.

Lounge in Yellow House in the Apple Garden
A storage bench topped with green cushions lines the main living space

An abundance of wood brings balance to this bold palette, with Douglas fir flooring from Dinesen and solid ash kitchen cabinets matching the exposed ceiling joists.

This level also includes a sunken conservatory featuring large plants, a terrazzo floor, an ochre-toned sofa and electric-blue cushions. On the wall, an expressive painting displays similar colours.

Bedroom with wall carpets by Familien Kvistad
Custom-designed wall carpets adorn the primary bedroom

“During the renovation, the family sold most of what they already owned,” said Astrid and Ziemowit. “This meant that all the furniture was purchased new.”

“However, they did have some art from before,” they added. “Much to our delight, they fit perfectly into both the colour palette and the style.”

Staircase doubles as a shelving unit
In one of the children’s rooms, a staircase doubles as a shelving unit

Upstairs, the primary bedroom features a pair of tufted wall carpets designed and made by Familien Kvistad, depicting abstract landscapes.

One of the two children’s bedrooms features a playful storage unit that doubles as a staircase, while the other has a ladder to provide access to the mezzanine loft above.

Bathroom with green tiles and terrazzo bath and basin
The family bathroom combines green tones with terrazzo

The bathroom has a more mellow character, combining terrazzo sanitaryware with calming green tones. The basement floor mainly serves as a utility area, although it does include an extra bathroom and a living room that doubles as a guest bedroom.

Other recently completed homes in Norway include a “house of offcuts” by Kolman Boye Architects and a villa on piloti by Saunders Architecture.

The photography is by Magnus Berger Nordstrand.

Reference

Centenniale coffee table
CategoriesSustainable News

Product Sustainability Framework launched by Finnish Design Shop

By Zarkon Group,

Retailer Finnish Design Shop has launched a tool to individually assess and rate the sustainability of more than 20,000 design products featured on its online store.

The retailer’s Product Sustainability Framework intends to support customers in making sustainable design purchases by scoring every item it sells according to a fixed set of criteria tailored specifically for design products.

Scores are determined through a survey directed towards the product manufacturers. The tool assesses five main categories: social responsibility, eco-friendly production, climate impact, sustainable materials, and circular design.

“Each category contains sustainability claims, for which the manufacturer can respond with either yes or no. In total, there are 69 claims,” Finnish Design Shop CEO Teemu Kiiski told Dezeen.

“Manufacturers answer each claim per product, and these claims are based on laws, international agreements, and initiatives.”

This often complex information is assessed and then rated. To make it understandable and comparable for customers, products are badged on the website with one, two or three green leaf symbols, representing good, very good or excellent.

A more detailed breakdown of the product’s score is included in the accompanying sustainability description.

Centenniale coffee table
Nikari’s Centenniale coffee table scored full marks in the climate impact category. Photo is courtesy of Nikari

Explaining why the retailer launched this product-specific framework, Kiiski told Dezeen: “The first reason is the growing demand from customers and professionals for sustainability information regarding the design brands and products. This demand isn’t limited to Finnish Design Shop but extends to the entire design industry.”

“The second reason is that, as a retailer, we have limited means to influence the sustainability of the entire value chain of the products we sell,” he added.

“Through the framework, we can communicate our expectations for product sustainability to manufacturers and guide them towards enhanced sustainability. Simultaneously, we can establish a sustainability standard for the entire industry and lead the way in sustainability matters.”

Puffy lounge chair
A puffy lounge chair by HEM scored highly in the eco-friendly production category. Photo is courtesy of HEM

The specific criteria for each product were developed over two years with Ethica, a Finnish circular design expert partner. They rely on the accuracy of the data supplied by each of their suppliers. “We validate it based on our own data, expertise, and experience,” says Kiiski.

While Finnish Design Shop places a high trust in its suppliers to provide it with accurate information regarding their sustainability practices, it also conducts random spot checks.

“We require product manufacturers to be capable of substantiating the authenticity of each sustainability claim,” Kiiski said.

“We do not conduct audits, and this framework is not a standard, certification, or similar entity; rather, it represents our own criteria for sustainable design.”

Vaarnii's 001 pine stool
Vaarnii’s 001 pine stool achieved 10/10 in the sustainable materials category. Photo is courtesy of Vaarnii

Some of the 24,000 products on the Finnish Retail Shop website don’t have a rating, which means they haven’t yet been assessed or they do not meet sufficient sustainability standards.

Products that score poorly on the Product Sustainability Framework could eventually be removed from the portfolio.

“If some products or manufacturers do not meet our minimum sustainability criteria over time, we have the option to remove them from our selection,” Kiiski said.

However, the retailer believes this could also serve as an incentive.

“The PSF also serves as an incentive for further sustainability improvement, and we hope it signals to the whole industry that sustainability must be taken seriously, leaving no room for irresponsible actions anymore,” Kiiski added.

He is hopeful of the change that the Product Sustainability Framework will bring.

“The framework and its sustainability claims inform our suppliers about what can be expected from their sustainability practices today,” Kiiski said.

“Sustainability is a hot topic in our industry, but finding concrete data on it can still be a challenge,” he added. “The Product Sustainability Framework is our answer to this.”

“Essentially, it’s a 69-step list on how manufacturers can enhance their sustainability. The fact that over 110 manufacturers have participated so far indicates a need for concrete actions.”

Artek lamp
The A805 floor lamp by Artek reached full marks in the circular design category. Photo is courtesy of Artek

The Product Sustainability Framework is part of Finnish Design Shop’s sustainability strategy. Launched during Helsinki Design Week in September 2023, visitors had the opportunity to explore an installation explaining the framework (pictured, top) and its criteria through five sample products.

Last year, the retailer unveiled a logistics centre in a forest that was designed to enable “a more sustainable future”. It has previously provided the furniture for a pop-up restaurant in New York made from recycled packaging.

The photography is courtesy of the products’ manufacturers. Main image courtesy of Finnish Design Shop.

Reference

No more needles: AI detects diabetes from your voice
CategoriesSustainable News

No more needles: AI detects diabetes from your voice

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: According to the World Health Organization, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to the disease every year. Testing of blood glucose levels can spot pre-diabetes, a condition where blood sugar is high but has not yet developed into the full-blown illness. However, this test is not always easy to access – especially in the developing world where diabetes is most prevalent.

Now, research from Klick Health suggests that a very simple test involving speaking a few sentences into a smartphone could reliably determine whether a person is developing diabetes. The study, published recently in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health, outlines how researchers created an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can determine whether an individual has Type 2 diabetes using around 10 seconds of a voice recording and basic health data.

Researchers asked non-diabetic and Type 2 diabetic participants to record a phrase into their smartphone six times daily for two weeks. Signal processing was used to analyse 14 acoustic features from the recordings, and the researchers found that Type 2 diabetes causes detectable changes in the voice, and that these vocal changes are different for men and women.

The technology has the potential to remove barriers to testing, such as cost and time, allowing much earlier and more widespread testing.

Diabetes is not the only disease that can be detected using non-invasive methods. Springwise has also spotted a method for detecting malaria using a smartphone and a toilet seat that can detect kidney disease.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X
CategoriesArchitecture

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X

By Zarkon Group,

Pavilion X’s dynamic dance with materiality

 

Pavilion X is a demountable structure that blurs the boundaries between sculpture and architecture. Conceptualized by Marc Leschelier, the framework of the pavilion is crafted from aluminum enveloped in a cement textile that undergoes a transformative process through the influence of water. The deliberate crumpling and stiffening of the material result in façade panels that are individually distinct, presenting a contrast between the organic, plastic qualities of a sculptural form and the rationality associated with an object. Presented by the Ketabi Bourdet gallery, the installation finds its temporary home in the gardens of the Hôtel de Maisons. Part of the Design at Large program during the inaugural edition of Design Miami/Paris from October 17th to the 22nd, 2023, Pavilion X defies conventional categorization by deliberately eschewing a defined function. Instead, it offers users an experiential space that prioritizes sensory engagement over practical utility.

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X
all images by Ketabi Bourdet

 

 

a demountable structure between sculpture and architecture

 

Marc Leschelier, the Paris-based sculptor and architect behind Pavilion X, is known for his exploration of pre-architecture —constructing structures devoid of conventional functions. These creations often find their place in disused spaces, sculpture parks, or locations exempt from urban regulations. Leschelier’s approach to architecture revolves around the visualization of its inner dimensions, particularly the union of opposing materials and the interplay between fluid and solid matter, brick and mortar. For Leschelier, the essence of architecture is tied to the conflicting union and complementarity of opposites. This philosophy manifests in Pavilion X, where the construction process becomes a visual representation of this duality. The work provocatively questions the traditional purpose of architecture, pushing the boundaries and prompting contemplation on what architecture could be when divorced from utilitarian considerations.

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X
the cement textile has been crumpled and stiffened by the action of water

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X
the function of the building is not defined, however the space focuses on the impression rather than the use   crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion XPavilion X invites reflection on the liberation of form and experience

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X
aluminum framework interacts with cement

crumpled cement drapes over function-free pavilion X
the intricate detail of the panels

 

 

project info:

 

name: Pavilion X

architect: Marc Leschelier | @marcleschelier

presented by: Ketabi Bourdet gallery | @ketabibourdet

location: in the gardens of the Hôtel de Maisons, France

christina petridou I designboom

nov 14, 2023



Reference

Minimalist reception area with built-in lounge seating
CategoriesInterior Design

Appareil Architecture designs Montreal dental clinic like “someone’s home”

By Zarkon Group,

The minimalist interior of this Montreal oral surgery clinic by local studio Appareil Architecture “adopts a residential aesthetic” to help patients and employees feel relaxed.

The Maxillo Tandem clinic in the city’s Technopôle Angus neighbourhood provides maxillofacial surgery, which deals with diseases, injuries and defects of the mouth, teeth and jaws.

Minimalist reception area with built-in lounge seating
Appareil Architecture designed the dental clinic to feel more like a home than a medical facility

The clinic’s founder, surgeon Anne-Frédérique Chouinard, gave Appareil Architecture a “carte blanche” to design the space differently to typical medical facilities.

“The clinic adopts a residential aesthetic with durable materials to create an inviting, refined space that centers on well-being,” said the studio.

Built-in seating wraps around the perimeter of the reception area
Built-in seating wraps around the perimeter of the reception area

Upon entering, patients are met by a reception desk clad in vertically laid, off-white ceramic tiles that also cover the wall behind.

“Their vertical positioning adds texture and rhythm to the wall, bringing the space to life, while remaining functional and easy to maintain,” Appareil Architecture said.

Cushioned seat in front of a linen curtain
Pale upholstery, linen curtains and beige walls all add to the serene atmosphere

The waiting area to the left is furnished with built-in seats that form a U shape around the perimeter and under a large window, while a double-sided island in the central adds additional seating.

Polished concrete flooring and beige walls complement the pale upholstery and linen curtains, together creating a serene atmosphere.

Off-white tiles behind the reception counter
Off-white tiles clad the reception counter and the wall behind, adding texture and rhythm

“All lend a reassuring character to the space,” said the architects. “In addition to a soft, peaceful colour palette, these materials contribute to the soothing, comforting ambiance.”

On either side of the symmetrical reception counter, oak-framed doors with fritted glass panes both lead through to the treatment area.

Oak-framed door with fritted glass pane
Oak-framed doors with fritted glass panes lead from reception to the treatment areas

A central block of rooms for staff – also wrapped in the off-white tiles – runs back from the reception area, dividing the clinic into two sides.

“This central structure naturally delineates the space, creating an efficient traffic flow that allows people to move easily in both directions,” the studio said.

Corridor with white walls and wood-framed doors on either side
A U-shaped corridor connects the dentists’ offices, operating rooms and staff areas

The corridors continue the white and wood material palette and provide access to the dentists’ offices on the left side and operating rooms along the right.

All of these rooms are also sparsely furnished and have a clean aesthetic, and are purposefully placed away from the reception area for patient privacy.

At the back of the clinic is a space with a communal kitchen for employees to take breaks, which is oriented to enjoy afternoon light.

“In the morning, the dentist’s offices, positioned on the window side, are flooded with natural light,” said Appareil Architecture.

Minimally furnished room with a dentist chair in the centre
A minimalist approach was also taken in the consultation rooms

“In the afternoon, this light pours into the staff areas and illuminates the central structure,” the team added.

A wood-panelled wall topped with clerestory windows incorporates the staff kitchen facilities and storage, while a concrete island with rounded ends incorporates a cylindrical structural column.

Communal kitchen with wood-panelled wall and a central concrete island
A communal kitchen for staff is located behind a wood-panelled wall at the back of the clinic

Since Maxillo Tandem is part of an ecological real-estate project, the architects had to comply with strict energy efficiency targets, on top of meeting the medical operating standards.

Overall, the clinic has been well-received by both patients and staff, according to Chouinard. “The customer feedback is very positive,” she said. “They feel like they’re in someone’s home, rather than a clinic. That was my intention.”

A kitchen island with rounded ends incorporates a structural concrete column
A kitchen island with rounded ends incorporates a structural concrete column

Appareil Architecture has applied its minimalist style to many residential projects in and around Montreal, including an updated 1960s home, a stark dining extension to a city residence and a black metal cabin hidden in the forest.

The studio has also designed a handful of more colourful interiors for hospitality spaces, such as a cafe and artist workshop in the city, and a restaurant inside a former factory.

The photography is by Félix Michaud.

Project credits:

Client: Anne-Frédérique Chouinard
Contractor: Hub Construction
Woodworking: Blitz Design
Reception counter lighting: Lambert & Fils
Kitchen island: Béton Johnson

Reference