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Architecture

Dezeen Debate features David Adjaye’s “wonderful” first skyscraper

By Zarkon Group,30/06/2023

The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features David Adjaye’s reveal of the 130 William skyscraper in Lower Manhattan. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

Ghanaian-British architect Adjaye has completed the 130 William skyscraper in Lower Manhattan, which is the first skyscraper finished by the architect and his studio Adjaye Associates.

The tower is 800 feet tall and has an exterior that is covered in hand-troweled concrete panels.

Readers were fascinated by the tower. One thought it was “wonderful” that the skyscraper is not “just another blue glass box”, whilst another disagreed, describing the building as “another pointless skyscraper for the super-rich to live in”.

Hotsat 1 satellite — Hotsat-1 satellite launched to identify energy-inefficient buildings

Other stories in this week’s newsletter that fired up the comments section included British technology company SatVu’s launch of a satellite that will map the energy efficiency of buildings from space, architecture studio Hickok Cole’s use of AI chatbot ChatGPT to design a large mixed-use building and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Moody Nolan’s reveal of a museum in South Carolina.

Dezeen Debate

Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.

You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Agenda is sent every Tuesday containing a selection of the most important news highlights from the week, Dezeen Daily is our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours and Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design.

Reference

Battersea Powerstation Apple store by Foster + Partners

Interior Design

Ten Foster + Partners-designed Apple Stores

By Zarkon Group,29/06/2023

With Apple opening its latest Foster + Partners-designed store in the newly renovated Battersea Power Station, our latest roundup spotlights 10 Apple Stores designed by the British architecture studio.

Apple has been working with Foster + Partners since 2014, when the technology company and architecture studio initiated its almost decade-long relationship to complete a retail location in Istanbul, Turkey.

Apple describes its first stores as looking “like nothing else”, but is now more focused on renovating and restoring buildings such as its Los Angeles store, Champs-Élysées store and Rome flagship.

“I think that the evolution of retail for Apple is really interesting – starting with very bold statement with stores that look like nothing else,” said Bill Bergeron Mirsky, a global retail design lead at Apple, at the opening of the brand’s Battersea Power Station store.

“And then over time, you move to the Apple Store being very ubiquitous. And now it’s come around to being a responsibility approach,” he continued. “As we see the rise of Apple in the world and the importance people place on the brand and the values that it represents.”

With Apple now having stores in 526 locations across the world Dezeen has selected 10 striking recent stores from its archive:

Battersea Power Station, UK, 2023

Apple’s most recently opened store is located within the newly renovated Battersea Power Station in London, which marks the technology company’s 40th UK store.

The store is set on the ground floor of the shopping centre within the power station’s 1930s Turbine Hall A. The interior was organised around four original brick columns and beneath steel roof supports that were left exposed.

Find out more about Battersea Powerstation Apple store ›

Mumbai, India, 2023

India’s first flagship Apple Store contains a wooden canopy made from 450,000 hand-crafted oak elements that form 1,000 triangular ceiling tiles.

The walls of the store were made from stone sourced from Rajasthan and have a fine grain that is meant to convey the texture of Georgette fabric. It was enclosed by two eight-metre-high glass walls that allow light to flood the double-height interior.

Find out more about Mumbai Apple store ›

Brompton Road Apple store by Foster + Partners — Photo by Nigel Young

Brompton Road, UK, 2022

An arched timber ceiling with seven-metre tall interiors defines the Brompton Road Apple store in west London. The arched timber ceiling mirrors the profile and shape of the window bays located at the facade of the building.

The studio removed a mezzanine level from the shop interiors and incorporated six Castagna stone columns, four Ficus trees and a terrazzo floor made from castor oil resin, aggregate and recycled glass.

Find out more about Brompton Road Apple store ›

Abu Dhabi Apple store by Foster + Partners — Photo by Nigel Young

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2022

Apple’s Abu Dhabi store on Al Maryah Island was built on top of a raised podium and surrounded by a stepped waterfall around all of its four sides.

The podium the building is set on is pyramid shaped and constructed from black granite stone. The store is accessed via two bridges that extend over the water feature from a waterfront promenade.

Find out more about Abu Dhabi Apple store ›

Los Angeles Apple store by Foster + Partners — Photo by Nigel Young

Los Angeles, US, 2021

In Downtown Los Angeles, Foster + Partners worked with Apple to renovate a historic 1920s, baroque revival-style movie theatre that was designed by American architect S Charles Lee in 1927.

The sensitive renovation of the formerly abandoned theatre saw the studio restore its corner clock tower, terracotta facade, exterior canopy, and grand entry hall that is complete with bronze handrails and marble columns.

Find out more about Los Angeles Apple store ›

Istanbul staircase — Photo is by Nigel Young

Istanbul, Turkey, 2021

Two large travertine walls flank the interior of Istanbul’s Bagdat Caddesi Apple store. Benefitting from a column-free interior encompasses two levels with a sunken double-height space at its rear.

The building is set back from the street and appears to be a single-storey structure as a result of its sunken lower level. The structure was topped with a large overhanging roof.

Find out more about Istanbul Apple store ›

Via Del Corso, Italy, 2021

Another restoration project saw Foster + Partners convert and restore a historic palazzo in Rome, which is located in the centre of the Italian city.

Palazzo Marignoli was constructed between 1873 and 1878 and served as a home for Italian politician Marquis Filippo Marignoli. Foster + Partners wanted to celebrate the building’s history by restoring and highlighting its grandeur and historic features. Hand-painted patterned ceilings and frescos were restored throughout.

Find out more about Rome Apple store ›

Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore by Foster + Partners floats in Marina Bay

Singapore Apple, Singapore, 2020

Noted as Apple’s “most ambitious retail project”, its Marina Bay Sands store in Singapore is a spherical glass structure that is completely surrounded by water and accessed via a 45-metre-long underwater tunnel.

The store’s interior is an open-plan space that measures 30 metres wide beneath a self-supporting glass and steel dome, which is made from 114 pieces of glass with 10 steel vertical mullions that provide structural support.

Find out more about Singapore Apple store ›

Central World by Foster + Partners — Photo by Bear and Terry

Bangkok Apple, Thailand, 2020

Named Apple Central World, this Bangkok store is organised around a timber-clad column and a large overhanging roof that was designed to resemble the canopy of a tree.

The store has a 24.4-metre diameter with a timber column that is clad in 1,461 slats of European white oak at its centre. The column fans out at ceiling level and adjoins the roof and extends past the glass perimeter of the store, forming a three-metre cantilever over the glazing.

Find out more about Bangkok Apple store ›

Miami, US, 2019

An undulating white concrete roof, which draws on Miami’s art deco buildings, tops the Apple Aventura store that is located in Aventura Mall in the north of Miami.

The structure is a boxy, two-storey building with glass walls and indoor trees. The roof of the store is made up of seven, precast six-metre-wide white concrete arches to form a barrel-vaulted ceiling.

Find out more about Miami Apple store ›

Reference

Sustainable News

Creating biochar from wastewater, organic waste, and coffee cups

By Zarkon Group,29/06/2023

Spotted: The volume of edible food waste created around the world is estimated to be 1.3 billion tonnes a year, with a lot of that ending up in landfills. Once in landfill, this waste breaks down and releases CO2 into the atmosphere. While some are doing important work to reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills, Edinburgh-based Carbogenics is going in another direction and turning this waste into a material that is useful in multiple agricultural and industrial processes.

The company produces a product called CreChar. This is a type of biochar – a carbon-rich, porous material that can be used to enhance the production of biogas from food and farming waste. While most biochar is made from virgin wood, Carbogenics’ process uses organic waste, such as wastewater screenings and difficult-to-recycle food, farm, and paper waste instead.

CreChar is made by heating biomass in the absence of oxygen. This process, known as pyrolysis, produces carbon-rich biochar alongside oil, synthetic gas (syngas), and heat. This versatile material could be a gamechanger for the biogas and wastewater treatment sectors, but it can also be used as a plant fertiliser and for soil restoration and carbon sequestration. When used in place of biochar in biogas production, for example, CreChar increases biogas yields by up to 15 per cent.

At the same time, because the carbon locked in CreChar during its production process cannot easily be broken down by microorganisms, it can be sequestered in the material for hundreds or thousands of years.

Carbogenics recently secured £1 million (around €1.2 million) in investment from Green Angel Ventures, Scottish Enterprise and Old College Capital. The funds will be used to build a production and research and development (R&D) facility in Scotland. It’s anticipated the facility will be operational by the end of Q1 in 2024.

Researchers are working on a number of projects that aim to maximise the efficiency of converting biomass to energy. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted a project at EPLF that uses food waste in the pyrolysis process, as well as a small-scale biowaste processor that turns food waste into cooking gas and compost.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Architecture

AI Architecture: 15 Breathtaking Modern Residences (Prompts Included)

By Zarkon Group,29/06/2023

This article was produced using AI tools such as Midjourney and Chat GPT, with additional edits by our editorial team. Follow Architizer’s Editor in Chief Paul Keskeys on LinkedIn for more tips on harnessing AI in your architectural workflow!

In the crowded market of modern residential architecture, captivating visualizations are essential to powerfully convey an initial concept and convince clients of your vision. With the advent of AI image generation tools like Midjourney, architects and designers now have an incredible resource at their disposal to ideate like never before — and at record speed.

In this article, we will showcase some compelling examples of contemporary residential visualizations brought to life using AI image generation tool Midjourney. When provided with an appropriate text prompt, Midjourney can be harnessed to create stunning visualizations, from sleek and contemporary exteriors to meticulously designed interiors, with the click of a button. These renderings can form a starting point for further refining an architectural concept or be added to a collection to form a mood board that captures the essence of your ideas at the early stages of the design process.

Follow Architizer’s new AI Instagram channel, @midjourneyarchitecture, where we’ll be sharing extraordinary examples of AI-assisted architecture and providing tips and tricks for mastering Midjourney. Explore the architectural images below, try the prompts out for yourself, and make sure to read all the way down for some key tips on how to perfect your Midjourney visualizations.

Contemporary A-Frame Cabin

Prompt: /imagine a highly detailed image of a futuristic A-frame cabin nestled in a dense forest, showcasing its distinctive angular shape and large windows. Capture the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees onto the wooden facade. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/5.6, ISO 400, and use a tilt-shift lens for enhanced focus. –v 5.1

Modern Beachfront Villa at Sunset

Prompt: /imagine a stunning visual of a modern beachfront villa at sunset, with warm golden light cascading through floor-to-ceiling windows. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens to capture the expansive view. –v 5.1

Tropical Dome Home

Prompt: /imagine a striking visual of a contemporary dome-shaped residence surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Capture the interplay between the curved glass panels and the organic forms of the landscape. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/4, ISO 400, and use a fish-eye lens to accentuate the unique geometry. –v 5.1

Sleek Urban Loft at Night

Prompt: /imagine an architectural visualization of a sleek urban loft in the heart of a bustling city at night. Illuminate the space with dramatic artificial lighting, highlighting the contemporary design elements. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/5.6, ISO 800, and use a tilt-shift lens for creative perspective control. –v 5.1

Cantilevered Cliffside Residence

Prompt: /imagine an architectural visualization of an innovative cantilevered home suspended over a rocky cliff, overlooking a serene ocean. Highlight the seamless integration of glass, steel, and concrete in this modern masterpiece. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens to emphasize the suspended structure. –v 5.1

Shell-Inspired Residence

Prompt: /imagine a beautiful architectural visualization of a futuristic residence with a spiral-shaped exterior, resembling a seashell. Showcase the interplay of light and shadow on the curved surfaces, evoking a sense of tranquility and harmony. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/11, ISO 100, and use a fish-eye lens for a unique perspective. –v 5.1

Snowy Mountain Retreat

Midjourney Architecture Snowy Mountain Retreat Prompt: /imagine a highly realistic image of a contemporary mountain retreat covered in fresh snow, with sunlight reflecting off the pristine white surface. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/16, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens to capture the grandeur of the surroundings. –v 5.1

Tropical Modernist Getaway

Prompt: /imagine a visual masterpiece of an eco-friendly home nestled in a lush tropical rainforest. Highlight the sustainable features, such as green roofs and large windows inviting nature inside. Set your professional camera to shutter priority mode, 1/60 sec, ISO 400, and use a macro lens to capture intricate details of vegetation. –v 5.1

Glass-Walled Hilltop Residence

Prompt: /imagine an impressive image of a contemporary glass-walled residence perched on a hilltop, overlooking a sparkling city skyline. Capture the dramatic twilight sky and the reflection of lights on the transparent surfaces. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/5.6, ISO 400, and use a wide-angle lens to encompass the panoramic view. –v 5.1

Contemporary Cave Dwelling

Midjourney Architecture Contemporary Cave Dwelling Prompt: /imagine a highly detailed, intriguing visualization of an underground residence carved into the rocky cliffs of a remote island, taking inspiration from ancient cave dwellings. Highlight the interplay between the natural rock formations and the modern architectural elements. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a macro lens to capture the textures of the rock surfaces. –v 5.1

Contemporary Lakeside Home

Midjourney Architecture Contemporary Lakeside Home Prompt: /imagine a captivating image of a contemporary lakeside residence, with the setting sun casting a warm glow on the reflective surface of the water. Set your professional camera to manual mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a telephoto lens to capture the serenity of the scene. –v 5.1

Vertical Garden Apartments

Midjourney Architecture Vertical Garden Apartments Prompt: /imagine a visually stunning visualization of an eco-friendly residence with a living facade composed of vertical gardens. Showcase the integration of nature into the architecture, with cascading greenery and vibrant flowers. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/8, ISO 200, and use a macro lens to capture the intricate textures of the vegetation. –v 5.1

Floating Mirrored Retreat

Midjourney Architecture Floating Mirrored Retreat Prompt: /imagine an impressive visualization of an avant-garde house constructed from a series of interconnected floating wood volumes, suspended and supported by slender steel supports. Capture the sense of weightlessness and the play of light and shadow on the metal surfaces. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/11, ISO 100, and use a telephoto lens for emphasizing the intricate details. –v 5.1

Modern Courtyard Residence

Midjourney Architecture Modern Courtyard Residence Prompt: /imagine a visual masterpiece of a modern courtyard residence with lush landscaping and a tranquil pool. Capture the soft, diffused light of a cloudy day, enhancing the architectural details and creating an atmosphere of serenity. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/5.6, ISO 200, and use a wide-angle lens for a comprehensive view. –v 5.1

Floating Dome Home

Midjourney Architecture Modern Courtyard Residence Prompt: /imagine a stunning architectural visualization of a modern floating home with transparent walls and a glass dome, offering uninterrupted views of a serene lake. Capture the reflections on the water and the seamless connection between the interior and the natural surroundings. Set your professional camera to shutter priority mode, 1/125 sec, ISO 400, and use a wide-angle lens to encompass the panoramic vista. –v 5.1

3 Tips to Help You Perfect Your Midjourney Architecture Visualizations

Midjourney makes it simple to create striking imagery of any kind, but here are a few tips to take your AI-generated architectural visuals to the next level.

1. Use professional camera settings.

Unlock the full potential of your architectural visualizations with Midjourney AI by harnessing the power of professional camera settings. By specifying these settings, you can elevate your creations to a whole new level of realism and impact.

With precise control over aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focal length, you can craft visually stunning compositions that mimic the subtleties of real-world photography. Adjusting the aperture allows you to control depth of field, lending a sense of realism and focus to your images. Fine-tune shutter speed to capture motion or create long-exposure effects. Master ISO to balance light and minimize noise, and experiment with focal length to achieve desired perspectives.

By taking command of professional camera settings, you’ll transform your architectural visualizations into captivating, lifelike experiences that leave viewers amazed. Unleash your creative potential and bring your designs to life in ways you never thought possible with Midjourney AI’s powerful capabilities.

2. Harness the power of architectural vocabulary.

Take your architectural visualizations to new heights by incorporating descriptive architectural vocabulary and keywords when generating designs with Midjourney AI. By choosing the right words to describe elements such as materials, textures, lighting, and spatial qualities, you can enhance the realism and impact of your visualizations.

Using precise terminology allows Midjourney AI to understand your design intentions more accurately, resulting in more faithful and detailed renderings. By specifying features like “glass curtain walls,” “warm wooden finishes,” or “dramatic vaulted ceilings,” you can evoke a specific atmosphere and convey your design concept with precision.

Empower your visualizations with the language of architecture, enabling Midjourney AI to create immersive, realistic representations that truly capture the essence of your vision. Let your designs speak volumes and make a lasting impression with the help of descriptive architectural vocabulary.

3. Use Midjourney acronyms.

Maximize the quality and precision of your architectural visualizations generated with Midjourney AI by leveraging specific acronyms designed to enhance your experience. By utilizing acronyms such as “–v 5.1” to specify the Midjourney version, “–ar 16:9” for a wide aspect ratio, and “–q 1” for a detailed image quality, you can achieve unparalleled control over your renderings.

By specifying the Midjourney version, you ensure compatibility with the latest features and advancements, guaranteeing optimal performance and results. The aspect ratio acronym enables you to define the proportions of your visualizations, ensuring they align seamlessly with your intended display format. Fine-tune image quality with the “q” acronym, allowing you to strike the perfect balance between file size and visual fidelity.

Embrace the power of these Midjourney acronyms to fine-tune your architectural visualizations with precision, ensuring optimal results that align precisely with your vision.

You can learn all the basics about how to use Midjourney AI in our handy guide.

Share Your AI Architecture for a Chance to Get Featured!

Calling all architectural visionaries and visual artists! Are you ready to showcase your awe-inspiring creations to a global audience? Architizer’s new Instagram channel — @midjourneyarchitecture — is the ultimate platform to elevate your AI-generated architectural imagery to new heights and inspire a fast-growing community of creators! ?

Submit your best examples of architectural artistry crafted with Midjourney AI, and be considered for a feature. With thousands of architecture enthusiasts eagerly waiting to be inspired, this is your opportunity to shine!

On our experimental new channel, anything goes: Harness the cutting-edge capabilities of Midjourney AI to transform your existing sketches, photographs and renderings into mesmerizing masterpieces, or create something completely new. Bring your architectural dreams to life with stunning realism, captivating compositions, and extraordinary details that will leave the world in awe.

Ready to make your mark in the world of AI architecture? Here’s what you need to do:

1️⃣ Create breathtaking imagery using Midjourney AI.
2️⃣ Share your masterpiece on Instagram with the hashtag #MidjourneyAI.
3️⃣ Tag @midjourneyarchitecture in your post to catch our attention!

Our editorial team will be on the lookout for the most remarkable submissions. Select images will be featured on @midjourneyarchitecture, granting you exposure to a new audience of AI architecture aficionados, industry professionals, and design enthusiasts worldwide!

Don’t forget to follow @midjourneyarchitecture on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midjourneyarchitecture/

Reference

Interior Design

EBBA designs sculptural pop-up for Rotaro at London store Liberty

By Zarkon Group,28/06/2023

London-based studio EBBA Architects has channelled the environmental ethos of fashion rental platform Rotaro for its pop-up boutique at department store Liberty.

The project aimed to show that beautiful and interesting spaces can be created for temporary use, while still considering the environmental impacts of materials and construction.

“We are very aware of our environmental impact and we believe design should speak to this, while also trying to make a unique experience for the visitor,” EBBA founder Benjamin Allan told Dezeen.

“Rotaro is all about fashion rental, as a response to waste in the industry,” he added. “Circularity is key to their ethos and we wanted to connect to this, both in the use of material and form.”

Bringing definition to Rotaro’s space within the wider store, EBBA has demarcated the area with a pair of substantial columns, each with an elongated, semi-circular cross-section.

“The position and shape of the columns create the sense of walking into an entirely new space within the historic context of Liberty,” said Allan.

The studio demarcated the area with a pair of substantial columns

Entwining the two columns, a pair of metal rails have the dual function of creating a display area and introducing a sculptural element that further defines the space, with soaring, free-form curves.

“The two rails rotate and wrap around each of the columns, while also simultaneously responding to the opposite rail, a bit like a choreographed piece,” Allan said.

Cork column at Rotaro pop-up in Liberty — Cork is the project’s primary material

Continuing the theme of duality, just two key materials have been used in the space – cork and metal.

EBBA was influenced by the work of artists Donald Judd and Carl Andre and their elevation of humble materials through detailing and construction.

Metal rails by EBBA for the Rotaro pop-up — A pair of metal rails have a dual function

“We always look to push the potential of a project, to make the most impact through the simplest of means and also address the need to be economical,” Allan said.

“Essentially the design revolves around only two materials which, working together, give a sense of regularity in the layouts of the blocks, combined with the sculptural forms of the rails.”

Garments hanging from metal rails — Curated garments hang from the rails

Cork was used as the primary material, cladding the two columns and creating the backdrops that zone Rotaro’s area.

EBBA aimed to use a material that had an environmental quality, while using the standardisation of the blocks to set parameters for the design.

“We chose blocks of a specific dimension that could then be adapted to create both the walls and the columns themselves,” Allan said.

“The cork is a natural material that has an inherent warmth and depth, while also being incredibly versatile and easily recycled,” he added.

Textured ultramarine plinth — Texture characterises the pop-up shop

Brushed stainless steel was used for the metalwork, with each rail comprised of a single piece of metal that was bent and sculpted to wrap around the columns.

This rail’s curving form relates to the idea of circularity in Rotaro’s business model, while also bringing an adaptability to the space by allowing the garments to be shown in a variety of ways.

Stainless steel railing for Rotaro by EBBA — Brushed stainless steel was used for the metalwork

“The primary purpose is to display the continuously updated collection while also adding a sculptural aspect that helps to create a sense of space,” said Allan.

Within the ornately-detailed Liberty store, the project offers a bold, contemporary response to the interior, while finding common ground with the wider building.

Curving metal rail — The rail’s curving form relates to the idea of circularity

“The tones and textures in the warmth of the cork, tie in with the timber and natural colours of Liberty’s interior spaces,” Allan said. “Detailing and decoration in the original columns relate to nature and vegetation, which also tie into the use of cork and its qualities.”

Because the Liberty building has Grade II listed status, no fixings were allowed into the building fabric.

“The benefit of the lightweight cork material meant we could also adapt the Rotaro space with minimal impact on the wider building,” he added.

Lightweight cork column at Rotaro by EBBa — Cork was chosen for being lightweight

To create a plinth that provides a flat surface for displaying objects, EBBA used the same semi-circular form of the columns, but flipped onto its side.

This element has been given an ultramarine blue coating to add a sense of playfulness and catch the attention of visitors, using one of Rotaro’s key colours to connect with the brand’s identity.

Semi-circular plinth with ultramarine coating — A semi-circular plinth features an ultramarine blue coating

While the space has been designed as a pop-up, EBBA worked – through the quality of the materials and the construction of the walls and blocks – to give it a sense of permanence.

“All of our projects aim to achieve a quality of permanence through the use of natural materials and the detailing of the construction,” Allan said.

“We believe that this level of quality helps to create a design that feels purposeful, even for temporary uses.”

Other recent projects by EBBA Architects include a shop for Cubitts in an old pie-and-mash restaurant and a house extension with brutalist-style materials.

The photography is by James Retief

Reference

Close-up of knitted upper on Allbirds shoe

Sustainable News

Allbirds releases “world’s first net-zero carbon shoe”

By Zarkon Group,28/06/2023

At the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, Allbirds has unveiled a woolly sock-style trainer with a bioplastic sole that effectively adds zero emissions to the atmosphere over the course of its life, the shoe brand claims.

The minimal all-grey Moonshot sneaker features an upper made using wool from a regenerative farm in New Zealand, which uses sustainable land management practices to capture more carbon than it emits.

This on-farm carbon storage offset any other emissions generated over the product’s lifecycle, Allbirds claims, making it the “world’s first net-zero carbon shoe”.

“Regenerative wool was a critical pillar of helping us reimagine how products are designed and made through the lens of carbon reduction,” co-founder Tim Brown told Dezeen.

“To me, the currently untapped opportunity for naturally derived, net-zero products is the future of fashion.”

Allbirds races to reduce trainers’ footprint

Set to launch commercially next spring, the product follows in the footsteps of the Futurecraft.Footprint trainer, which at 2.94 kilograms CO2e was reportedly the lowest-carbon trainer ever made when Allbirds and Adidas launched it in 2021.

Back then, the team focused mainly on simplifying the construction of trainers, which have an average footprint of 13.6 kilograms CO2e, and reducing the number of separate components from 65 to just seven.

This same principle was also applied to the Moonshot, which features no laces or eyelets and integrates its insole directly into the knitted upper.

But this time, the key advance came in the form of materials – primarily the merino wool upper sourced from Lake Hawea Station, a certified net-zero farm in New Zealand.

Through regenerative practices such as replanting native trees and vegetation, as well as maintaining soil carbon through rotational grazing, the farm says it sequesters almost twice as much carbon as it emits.

However, these carbon benefits of sustainable land management are generally not considered in a material’s lifecycle assessment (LCA).

“Frequently, the way that the carbon intensity of wool is looked at is just acknowledging the emissions, so completely disregarding any of the removals happening on farm,” said Allbirds sustainability manager Aileen Lerch. “And we think that that is a huge missing opportunity.”

That’s because it prevents brands, designers and architects, who are increasingly making use of biomaterials to reduce the footprint of their projects, from reliably calculating and certifying any emissions savings.

With the Moonshot project, Allbirds hopes to offer a template for how these carbon benefits could be considered within LCAs, using Lake Hawea Station’s overall carbon footprint as a basis.

From this, the Allbirds extrapolated a product-level footprint for the wool, which the company has so far failed to disclose, using its own carbon calculator.

Carbon calculation chart for M0.0NSHOT trainer — Carbon sequestered on the wool farm offsets emissions elsewhere in the lifecycle, Allbirds claims

As a result, there is a degree of uncertainty around the actual footprint of the trainer because it cannot currently be verified by a third party according to official international standards.

But Allbirds head of sustainability Hana Kajimura argues that this is a risk worth taking to help push the discussion forward and incentivise a shift towards regenerative agriculture.

“It’s about progress, not perfection,” she said. “We could spend decades debating the finer points of carbon sequestration, or we can innovate today with a common sense approach.”

Plastics still play a role for performance

Regenerative wool also cannot yet fully contend with the performance of synthetic fibres, meaning that to create the Moonshot upper, it had to be blended with some recycled nylon and polyester for durability and stretch.

For the midsole, Allbirds managed to amp up the bioplastic content from 18 per cent in 2021’s Futurecraft.Footprint trainer to 70 per cent in the Moonshot, using a process called supercritical foaming.

This involves injecting gas into the midsole, making it more durable and lightweight while reducing the need for emissions-intensive synthetic additives.

“In the industry right now, most midsoles have no bio content or quite a minimal one,” Lerch explained. “So it’s really a large step change in what’s possible because of this supercritical foaming process.”

Stuck to the front of the sneaker is a bioplastic smiley face badge by California company Mango Materials, which is made using captured methane emissions from a wastewater treatment facility that is then digested by bacteria and turned into a biopolyester called PHA.

The shoe itself will be vacuum-packed in bioplastic polyethylene to save space and weight during transport, which Allbirds plans to conduct via electric trucks and biofuel-powered container ships.

There is no “perfect solution” for end of life

Another area that will need further development is the end of life, meaning how the shoe’s packaging and its various plastic and bioplastic composite components can be responsibly disposed of given that they are notoriously hard – if not impossible – to recycle.

“We don’t yet have a perfect solution of what will happen at its end of life,” Lerch said. “We don’t want to make a promise of: send it back, don’t worry, buy your next shoe and move on.”

“We acknowledge though, that the answer isn’t just to keep making more products that end up in landfill or incinerated. So we’re continuously looking at what those solutions can be.”

M0.0NSHOT net-zero trainers by Allbirds — The sock trainers feature a minimal wool-heavy design

In a bid to overcome challenges like this and encourage collaboration across the industry, Allbirds is open-sourcing the toolkit it used to create Moonshot and encouraging other companies to adapt, expand and improve on it.

“It is also about ushering in a new age of ‘hyper-collaboration’ across brands and industries to share best practice, build scale for all parts of the supply chain, to reward growers and lower costs,” Brown said.

Allbirds became the first fashion brand to provide carbon labelling for all of its products in 2020.

Since then, the company has committed itself to reducing the carbon footprint of its products to below one kilogram and its overall footprint to “near zero” by 2030.

Reference

Sustainable News

Researchers wirelessly transmit solar power in space

By Zarkon Group,28/06/2023

Spotted: The ability to collect solar energy here on Earth is often at the mercy of factors such as nightfall, cloud cover, and other adverse weather conditions. But what if solar power could be collected in space and beamed back to Earth? After all, in space, the energy is constantly available without being subjected to the cycles of day and night, seasons, and cloud cover. That is exactly what a team of researchers has done.

Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) has recently demonstrated wireless power transfer from space. In January of this year, the SSPP launched a prototype – dubbed the Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD) – aboard a SpaceX rocket, to test key components of the plan to harvest solar power in space and beam the energy back to Earth.

This month, one of these components, the MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment), succeeded in transferring power wirelessly to receivers in space. It used constructive and destructive interference between individual transmitters to focus and direct the energy it beams out – all without any moving parts.

Caltech Professor Ali Hajimiri, who led the team developing MAPLE, explained: “Through the experiments we have run so far, we received confirmation that MAPLE can transmit power successfully to receivers in space. We have also been able to program the array to direct its energy toward Earth, which we detected here at Caltech.”

Solar energy is growing rapidly, but it still accounts for only around four per cent of the world’s energy needs. A number of recent innovations spotted in the Springwise archive hope to improve on this, however, including floating solar plants and fully circular solar PV cells.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Architecture

adjaye associates’ first skyscraper evokes fortress ruin in new york

By Zarkon Group,28/06/2023

now complete: new york’s modern ruin by adjaye associates

130 William stands completed in New York City‘s financial district, marking Adjaye Associates‘ first skyscraper. Designed as a rejection of the common glass tower, the architecture takes its inspiration from the industrial heritage of the city with its facade of rhythmic, arched windows and its hand-cast concrete skin — this way, the project evokes a ‘ruin’ in the city, proposing an alternative history of New York architecture. The building rises 800 feet and 66 stories above the city, and introduces 242 residences along with a luxurious collection of amenities and a welcoming public plaza at street-level. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

a hand-cast concrete facade evokes the texture of lava rock

From the street, 130 William’s entrance plaza opens up as a lush public ‘pocket park,’ which Adjaye Associates designed as a quiet retreat from the density of the Financial District. This park is wrapped on three sides by the building’s custom hand-cast facade with its stack of arched windows. From here, visitors can observe the rich texture of the blackened concrete skin, cast to evoke the porous surface of lava rock, which is highlighted by refined bronze accents. The distinctive silhouette of large-scale arched windows are a reminder of the historic lofts that once defined the fabric of lower Manhattan.

‘This idea of making a ‘pocket park’ as an outdoor room for the city was the compelling part of the project for me,’ architect David Adjaye said during an opening celebration at 130 William. ‘Making not just a condo but a piece of public infrastructure, a piece of the city, was really important.’

inside the airy residences

While Adjaye Associates designs its 130 William tower with a dark, fortress-like exterior, the team curated its interiors with a light and airy ambience. The 242 residences range from studios to four-bedroom units, and take shape with materials gathered from across the globe. With wide-plank white oak flooring and large, bronze-framed arched windows, the each residence is designed with open and spacious interiors and a meticulous attention to detail. The team at Adjaye Associates custom-designed all the residences’ burnished bronze fixtures and hardware — including all faucets, showerheads, accessories, and door handles — along with textiles and textural wallpaper.

sheltered loggias bring private outdoor space

Within the top ten floors of 130 William, Adjaye Associates fits the Penthouse and Loggia Residences, which feature spacious rooms and high ceilings ranging from 11 to 14 feet. These interiors seamlessly connect to expansive outdoor areas with breathtaking views. The Loggia terraces envelop these residences from one end to the other, offering substantial outdoor space starting at a height of over 600 feet. These distinctive residences are further enriched with exclusive touches, such as sink countertops and soaking tubs crafted from exquisite marble.

the luxury amenities of 130 william

130 William presents an extensive range of lifestyle and wellness amenities spanning over 20,000 square feet. These offerings encompass a comprehensive health and wellness club featuring a luxurious infinity-edge spa pool, invigorating cold and hot plunge pools, a rejuvenating dry sauna, and tranquil massage rooms. Additionally, there is a cutting-edge fitness center with a terrace, a serene yoga studio, and a versatile basketball court. Residents can indulge in various entertainment facilities, including a private IMAX theater, one of just two in all of New York City. Indoor and outdoor lounges offer a chef’s catering kitchen, a club room, a golf simulator, and a children’s play space.

For panoramic views across the city and beyond, a private rooftop observation deck crowns 130 William, situated almost 800 feet above ground level. Convenient services include a 24-hour attended lobby, a concierge service catering to personal needs such as reservations and theater tickets, as well as a pet spa. Additional amenities comprise bicycle storage, private storage options, and exclusive rooftop cabanas.

Reference

Interior Design

Barbie and Ken unveil bright-pink lifesize dollhouse in Malibu

By Zarkon Group,27/06/2023

Rental website Airbnb has unveiled Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse, an all-pink California mansion with an outdoor disco, infinity pool and Western-themed bedroom.

Located on the oceanfront in western Malibu, California, the lifesize dollhouse is being rented out by Barbie’s partner Ken via an Airbnb listing written as if by the doll himself.

The house, which was previously listed by Airbnb for Barbie’s 60th anniversary in 2019, has had a recent update to give it more “Kenergy” and mark Barbie making her live-action debut in the Barbie film starring Margot Robbie.

“We all have dreams, and Barbie is lucky enough to have a house full of them,” Ken said. “But now, it’s my turn, and I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind – dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? – digs.”

Pink bedroom in Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse — A cowboy-themed bedroom nods to Ken’s style

The large oceanfront house features a pink bedroom decorated with cowhide rugs, cowboy hats and horse-printed throws as well as a closet from which guests can borrow Ken’s fringed cowboy shirts and his guitar.

Some of Barbie’s clothing, including the iconic high-heeled pink shoe with a fluffy feather decoration from the movie, also hang in the closet.

The closet in Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse — Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse is located by the beach in California

At the centre of the building, on one of the house’s many terraces, guests can make use of an outside disco dance floor in pink, purple and yellow with its own DJ deck.

“I’ve added a few touches to bring some much-needed Kenergy to the newly renovated and iconic Malibu DreamHouse,” Ken said.

The Dreamhouse also has a bright-pink outdoor lounging area, an outdoor gym – complete with a barrel filled with “beefy body brine” – a pink outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and an infinity pool.

Other details that nod to Ken’s takeover include a Western-style swing door, decorated with an image of a horse and the words “Kendom Saloon”, and a crossed-out “Barbie” sign above the outdoor kitchen that now reads “Ken”.

Outdoor disco dance floor in Barbie house — Guests can disco outdoors

Guests can enjoy nearby activities such as shopping, surfing and roller blading on the boardwalk, and will also get to take home their own set of yellow-and-pink Impala skates and surfboard.

Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse will be available to book for up to two guests each on July 21 and July 22, 2023, with bookings opening on 17 July.

Outdoor gym in Barbie Dreamhouse — An outdoor gym features weightlifts and “body brine”

“All stays will be free of charge – because Ken couldn’t figure out how to put a price on Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse – after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math!” Airbnb said.

The company will make a one-time donation to the charity Save the Children in celebration of the Barbie movie.

The film was recently in the news as it made “the world run out of pink”, while a recent book explored Barbie’s Dreamhouse through the ages.

The imagery is by Hogwash Studios.

Reference

Sustainable News

Teaching children STEM skills for sustainability

By Zarkon Group,27/06/2023

Spotted: Often, it can be challenging for teachers to effectively communicate sustainability topics to their students. Research shows that educators worldwide experience difficulties from combining the various aspects of sustainability and feeling unprepared for the content, to lacking the necessary resources, materials, or time to provide comprehensive lessons.

Twin Science recognised that the traditional educational approaches are insufficient to tackle these issues and is, instead, using STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) for children’s sustainability education. While volunteering with the Young Guru Academy, the makers behind Twin Science saw the power of STEM education to deliver engaging workshops to children in underprivileged areas.

The company uses a range of hybrid products to support its double-winged approach to education and has integrated the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the curriculum to provide a framework for addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges. Twin Science’s STEM Kits include hands-on activities and electronic modules for students to explore robotics and coding concepts. The mobile app serves as a “digital companion” for students, giving them access to interactive sustainability content, games, challenges, trivia quizzes, and additional learning resources.

The teacher platform provides access to educational resources, curriculum materials, and teacher support, enabling educators to access lesson plans, track student progress, and facilitate discussions and collaboration among students.

Twin Science is now focusing on enhancing its artificial-intelligence- (AI) powered teaching assistant tools to provide personalised support for teachers, parents, and students. The company is also exploring the use of augmented and virtual reality for immersive educational content to enhance students’ understanding and engagement.

We need to educate the current cohort of students about what is happening to our planet, and traditional teaching methods aren’t cutting it. In the archive, Springwise has spotted other innovators thinking differently to provide better education on sustainability, like those using fairy tales to teach climate change and toy wooden cubes to teach children about energy sustainability.

Written By: Anam Alam

Reference

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Allbirds releases “world’s first net-zero carbon shoe”

Researchers wirelessly transmit solar power in space

adjaye associates’ first skyscraper evokes fortress ruin in new york

now complete: new york’s modern ruin by adjaye associates

a hand-cast concrete facade evokes the texture of lava rock

inside the airy residences

sheltered loggias bring private outdoor space

the luxury amenities of 130 william

Barbie and Ken unveil bright-pink lifesize dollhouse in Malibu

Teaching children STEM skills for sustainability

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