Ten Archives

Ten houses with outdoor showers for connecting with nature

There are few things more therapeutic than bathing under an open sky. In this lookbook, we collect 10 outdoor showers from around the world.

A grotto-like house in Hawaii, a brutalist surfer’s refuge and a Swedish villa feature in this list of projects that demonstrate different approaches to the outdoor shower.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring sunken baths, hammocks and indoor trees.

Villa Pelícanos by Main Office — Photo by Rafael Gamo

Villa Pelícanos, Mexico, by Main Office

Villas at this seaside holiday complex in Sayulita, renovated by architecture studio Main Office, feature outdoor showers cut into the coastal rock.

Tropical flora and the thatched roofs overlook the pale concrete walls and pebbled terrazzo floor.

Find out more about Villa Pelícanos ›

Volcanic rock near house — Photo by Douglas Friedman

Kua Bay Residence, USA, by Walker Warner Architects

Kua Bay Residence by Walker Warner Architects is perched on a mountainside in Hawaii among volcanic rock formations.

Taking advantage of the dramatic surroundings is a private outdoor shower that looks up to the mountains and feels like a rocky grotto, with the adjacent shallow water feature designed to mimic molten lava.

Find out more about Kua Bay Residence ›

Litibu house shower — Photo by Luis Young

Litibu house, Mexico, by Palma

This semi-outdoor shower in a Mexican holiday home by architecture studio Palma opens up to the backyard through slatted wooden doors.

The effect of the sunlight streaming in is enhanced by the bathroom’s long, narrow form, high ceiling and dark concrete walls.

Find out more about this Litibu house ›

Open-air showers — Photo by Ana Paula Álvarez

Casa Nu, Mexico, by Chris Luce

Casa Nu, also in coastal Mexico, was designed by architect Chris Luce as a functional sanctuary for surfers.

Among the outdoor spaces is a board-formed concrete block containing open-air showers for use after surfing, alongside laundry facilities and a surfboard rack.

Find out more about Casa Nu ›

Exterior of Villa MSV by Johan Sundberg — Photo by Markus Linderoth

Villa MSV, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg Arkitektur

An outdoor shower sits on a patio next to the sauna and bathroom spaces at this house in Sweden designed by Johan Sundberg Arkitektur.

It is partially covered by a larch canopy but to catch the sun, it is located on the southern side of the home.

Find out more about Villa MSV ›

Casa Las Vistas outdoor shower — Photo by Andres Garcia Lachner

Casa Las Vistas, Costa Rica, by Zürcher Arquitectos and Taller KEN

The main bathroom of Casa Las Vistas opens onto a patio with an outdoor shower, nestled among large potted plants in a nod to the surrounding forests.

Weathered copper piping on the shower is one of the few rustic touches within the large Costa Rican house, designed by Zürcher Arquitectos and Taller KEN.

Find out more about Casa Las Vistas ›

Salt Point Residence by Reddymade and Ai Weiwei — Photo by Ashok Sinha

Salt Point Residence, USA, by Reddymade and Ai Weiwei

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei helped architecture studio Reddymade to design a corrugated metal extension for a house in Salt Point, New York.

At the southern end, the walls and gabled roof extend to form a porch featuring an outdoor shower fitted into a mirrored wall and looking out across the landscape.

Find out more about Salt Point Residence ›

Coral Pavilion is a beach house in Lagos that was designed by cmDesign Atelier — Photo by Tolu Sanusi

Coral Pavilion, Nigeria, by CmDesign Atelier

The freestanding yellow-pipework shower outside Coral Pavilion was designed by German studio Tarantik & Egger.

Its colour contrasts with the coral-pink concrete pool terrace and simple white form of the main beach house, created by Tosin Oshinowo-led studio CmDesign Atelier.

Find out more about Coral Pavilion ›

Harrison Residence by Jeffrey Dungan — Photo by William Abranowicz

Harrison Residence, USA, by Jeffrey Dungan Architects

A semi-outdoor double shower steps down onto a first-floor terrace at this house in the Florida Panhandle, designed by Alabama practice Jeffrey Dungan Architects.

With the paved floor, white-rendered concrete walls, arched opening and cut-out window shelf, the shower room resembles a small garden pavilion.

Find out more about Harrison Residence ›

The Voxel outdoor shower — Photo by Adrià Goula

The Voxel, Spain, by the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia

Students and researchers from Barcelona’s Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia built this wooden cabin in the Collserola natural park as a place for self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

It features an outdoor shower that is both raised off the ground and positioned outside the structure’s main elevation, wrapped in charred and slatted timber panels.

Find out more about The Voxel ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring sunken baths, hammocks and indoor trees.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten buildings with glazed walls that bring the outside in

By Zarkon Group,27/07/2023

For this lookbook sponsored by Vitrocsa we’ve selected 10 buildings with glazed walls created using the Swiss window brand’s products, from a Foster + Partners-designed villa to a restaurant in a former police station.

Floor-to-ceiling windows maximise views and flood rooms with natural light, while enabling a seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces.

Founded in 1992, Vitrocsa specialises in minimalist windows with ultra-narrow aluminium-alloy frames, rails and thresholds designed at its facility in Saint-Aubin-Sauges, Switzerland.

Here are 10 projects where the brand’s sliding, pivoting, guillotine and turntable corner products have been used to form glass walls.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with pocket doors, interiors informed by biophilic design and garden swimming pools.

Headland House by Atelier Andy Carson — Photo by Michael Nicholson

Headland House, Australia, by Atelier Andy Carson

One end of Headland House in New South Wales features a rectangular glazed wall overlooking the surrounding coastline and farmland.

Sydney-based studio Atelier Andy Carson used Vitrocsa sliding doors to open up the living space onto a funnel-like, timber-clad balcony with a glass balustrade, leaving the vista uninterrupted.

Find out more about Headland House ›

Spring Road by EYRC — Photo by Matthew Millman

Spring Road, USA, by EYRC Architects

Stacked glass boxes define Spring Road, a house near San Francisco designed as a tranquil hilltop retreat by EYRC Architects.

In the large master suite, the dramatic views of Mount Tamalpais and the San Francisco Bay are exploited via a corner of Vitrocsa glazed walls that can be opened up onto an adjacent terrace.

Find out more about Spring Road ›

House in Jackson by McLean Quinlan — Photo by David Agnello

Jackson Hole, USA, by McLean Quinlan

British architecture firm McLean Quinlan was appointed to deliver a house in Wyoming modelled on a nearby settlers’ cabin dating from 1888.

Rustic materials are balanced with contemporary elements such as floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, and an all-wood alcove overlooking the mountainous landscape through a large glass wall.

Find out more about Jackson Hole ›

Dolunay Villa by Foster + Partners in Turkey — Photo by Nigel Young

Dolunay Villa, Turkey, by Foster + Partners

A rare private residence designed by British studio Foster + Partners, Dolunay Villa has huge areas of glazing on its coast-facing southern side.

The glass wall slides open onto a terrace sheltered by a rippling timber roof that cantilevers outwards and was designed to look like an extension of the rocky, beachside setting.

Find out more about Dolunay Villa ›

Private spa in Israel by Pitsou Kedem Architects — Photo by Amit Geron

Private Spa, Israel, by Pitsou Kedem Architects

This glass-house pavilion in Herzliya was designed by Tel Aviv studio Pitsou Kedem Architects to have the feel of a hotel spa.

The main wing is enveloped with glazed walls on three sides set on a bespoke system of aluminium rails produced by Vitrocsa that allow them to slide wide open.

Find out more about Private Spa ›

F House by Pitsou Kedem — Photo by Amit Geron

House F, Israel, by Pitsou Kedem Architects

F House, also in Israel and by Pitsou Kedem Architects, features a glass curtain wall with a large pivoting door from Vitrocsa that swings inward from a private courtyard.

Glazing is used liberally throughout the project to produce multiple seamless transitions, including an all-glass corner section looking onto another courtyard and clerestory windows that frame views of a separate lounge space on the upper level.

Find out more about House F ›

Former Rocks Police Station by Welsh + Major — Photo by Katherine Lu

Former Rocks Police Station, Australia, by Welsh + Major

A trio of full-height, sash-style Vitrocsa guillotine windows face the street at this restaurant in Sydney that occupies a converted 19th-century brick building.

They were fitted to the building by Australian studio Welsh + Major as part of a renovation of the former police station.

Find out more about Former Rocks Police Station ›

Vitrocsa windows in Cleveland Rooftop by SJB — Photo by Felix Forest

Cleveland Rooftop, Australia, by SJB

Vitrocsa sliding windows divide the living spaces from a private garden at this rooftop apartment in the Sydney suburbs designed by architecture studio SJB.

The architects aimed to create a space that seemingly flows from inside to outside and used large glazed Vitrocsa Swimms sliding windows to divide the interior and exterior.

Find out more about Cleveland Rooftop ›

A House by the Sea by Pitsou Kedem — Photo by Amit Geron

A House by the Sea, Israel, by Pitsou Kedem Architects

The third home designed by Pitsou Kedem Architects on this list is a beachfront house where the studio aimed to maximise the connection with the Mediterranean Sea.

Giant windows flood the home with views and natural light, including in the double-height living area and in the cantilevered upper storey’s master bedroom where thin protruding lintels help to provide shade.

Find out more about A House by the Sea ›

Portland Japanse Garden by Kuma — Photo courtesy of Kengo Kuma Associates

The Portland Japanese Garden Cultural Village, USA, by Kengo Kuma

Kengo Kuma created pavilions for a new complex at a Japanese-style urban garden in Portland, Oregon.

To maximise the connection between the interiors and their serene surroundings, the Japanese architect used Vitrocsa sliding windows throughout the scheme.

Find out more about The Portland Japanese Garden Cultural Village ›

This lookbook was produced by Dezeen for Vitrocsa as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

Reference

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 Powerstation Apple store by Foster + Partners

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

Ten sustainable biomaterial fashion designs from Dezeen’s Pinterest

By Zarkon Group,26/06/2023

Over the past year, searches for sustainable fashion have grown in popularity on Pinterest. We round up 10 projects from our sustainable fashion board which feature items made from more environmentally friendly materials.

The fashion industry generates an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste every year. With the aim of reducing their textile footprint, many designers are now using eco-friendly biomaterials and processes.

Designers such as Valdís Steinarsdóttir and Phillip Lim have used gelatin and plant matter in their work, amongst other materials.

Scroll down to see 10 sustainable fashion designs and browse our popular sustainable fashion board to see more.

Shellmet by TBWA/Hakuhodo

Tokyo advertising agency TBWA/Hakuhodo and plastics manufacturer Koushi Chemical Industry CO collaborated to design the Shellmet.

The helmet, which was made from discarded scallop shells and recycled plastic, was developed to be used as protective headgear for fishermen in Japan. The Shellmet can also be used as a cycling helmet or a hard hat.

Find out more about the Shellmet ›

Bioplastic sequins dress by Phillip Lim and Charlotte McCurdy

Algae bioplastic fronds cover this petroleum-free dress created by fashion designer Phillip Lim and industrial designer Charlotte McCurdy.

The dress has a biodegradable base made of plant fibres, making it free of crude-oil by-products such as synthetic fibres, dyes and plastic sequins.

Find out more about the bioplastic sequin dress ›

Sonnet166 by Lobke Beckfeld and Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten

Sonnet155 is a bag that was made from fruit skins left over from juice production and short cellulose fibres. The product dissolves in water and can be used to fertilise plants.

The bag has a lifespan similar to a disposable paper bag and was designed to break down naturally before it can be composted or recycled.

Find out more about Sonnet166 ›

A female model wearing a beige trouser suit

The Soil Project by Yuhan Bai

The Soil Project is a clothing collection made with a soil-based leather alternative and vintage garments dyed with soil.

After conducting research into the fashion industry’s reliance on cotton, Royal College of Art fashion student Yuhan Bai devised the concept.

Find out more about The Soil Project ›

Jelly clothing by Valdís Steinarsdóttir

Designer Valdís Steinarsdóttir designed a collection of vest tops made from gelatin or agar. The tops are created by being cast in a mould and then left to solidify.

The garments require no seams or stitches and can be melted to create new clothes if they are damaged or no longer needed.

Find out more about Jelly clothing ›

Jumpsuit made with iridescent BioSequins by Stella McCartney

Earlier this year, fashion brand Stella McCartney revealed a sleeveless bodysuit, which was embellished with bi0plastic sequins that are made from tree cellulose.

Biomaterials firm Radiant Matter created the sequins called BioSequins as a substitute for the petroleum-based plastic options which are commonly used.

Find out more about iridescent BioSequins jumpsuit ›

Fluff Stuff includes clothing stuffed with plant filling

Fluff Stuff by Aalto University students

Students at Aalto University created Fluff Stuff, a textile filling created from plants cultivated on re-wetted peatlands in Finland.

The students designed a collection of soft homeware and clothing, which include cushions, duvets, jackets, bags and a hooded hat which were filled with typha latifolia, a plant known as broadleaf cattail.

Find out more about Fluff Stuff ›

Fungal Integrated by Helena Elston

Fungal Integrated is an upcycled clothing collection made from mycelium and London-sourced textile waste.

Pieces, which include a seamless dress, a navy trouser suit, chunky heeled boots and a jacket, were all made by designer Helena Elston from a combination of local waste products such as discarded textiles, coffee sacks and fungi.

Find out more about Fungal Integrated ›

TômTex and Peter Do shrimp and mushroom food waste garments

Shrimp and mushroom food waste garments by TômTex and Peter Do

Fashion designer Peter Do joined forces with biobased material developer TômTex to create garments for Do’s Spring Summer 2023 collection at New York Fashion Week.

The pair created glossy wide-leg trousers and rounded-neck tank tops in two colours, which were constructed from TômTex’s non-woven biofabric. The 100-per-cent biodegradable material was made from shrimp and mushroom food waste to have the look and feel of leather.

Find out more about the collection ›

Kajola by Olaniyi Studio

Kajola is a series of shoes made from biomaterials by architect Yussef Agbo-Ola of environmental design practice Olaniyi Studio.

Agbo-Ola created nine experimental shoes made out of natural materials including clay, volcanic dust and cocoa. The shoes were created as artwork and curl up like plants when they decay.

Find out more about Kajola ›

Follow Dezeen on Pinterest

Pinterest is one of Dezeen’s fastest-growing social media networks with over 1.4 million followers and more than ten million monthly views. Follow our Pinterest to see the latest architecture, interiors and design projects – there are more than four hundred boards to browser and pin from.

Currently, our most popular boards are retail interiors and installations.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten bathrooms with double sinks for couples who prioritise personal space

By Zarkon Group,10/06/2023

Nobody likes knocking elbows while brushing their teeth. In this lookbook, we collect 10 bathrooms with interesting takes on double sinks from the Dezeen archive.

Sometimes called his-and-hers sinks, double sinks immediately introduce a luxurious feel to the bathroom. The 10 examples below feature varying contemporary interpretations of this classic design flourish.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with colourful toilets and sinks, timber cladding and lots of concrete.

Louisville Road house designed by 2LG — Photo by Megan Taylor

Louisville Road apartment, UK, by 2LG Studio

London design firm 2LG Studio fitted a bespoke coral-orange vanity unit with luted-lacquer-coated doors to form the double sink in this house in Tooting.

The unit contrasts with baby-blue taps that match the floor tiles and the bordering around the large bathroom mirror, as well as the shower screen.

Find out more about this Louisville Road apartment ›

York Vault House by Studio Ben Allen — Photo by Mel Yates/24mm Photography

House in York, UK, by Studio Ben Allen

A utilitarian theme pervades Studio Ben Allen’s extension to a Victorian terraced house in York, including in the first-floor bathroom.

Twin basins feature taps stripped back to their base brass and exposed copper piping, while the two curving mirrors above them continue an arch motif used throughout the project.

Find out more about this house in York ›

Candy Loft by StudioAC — Photo by Jeremie Warshafsky

Candy Loft, Canada, by StudioAC

The double sink in this Toronto loft conversion by local firm StudioAC is housed inside a wood-clad unit that is fixed to the wall and lit from underneath.

It features in a minimalist bathroom with borderless shower screen and mirrors, white walls and subtly patterned tiling.

Find out more about Candy Loft ›

Triangle by Yellow Cloud Studio — Photo by Alex Forsey Photography

The Triangle extension, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio

A free-standing bathtub separates two sinks in the en-suite bathroom of this Victorian house in Hackney, extended and renovated by London practice Yellow Cloud Studio.

The bath fits into what was formerly a fireplace, with the original chimney stack providing a symmetrical layout for the concrete basins and pastel-green vanity units.

Find out more about the Triangle extension ›

Ibiza Campo by Standard Studio & Ibiza Interiors — Photo by Youri Claesens

Casa Campo, Ibiza, Spain, by Standard Studio

Casa Campo is an off-grid home nestled in a mountain range in northern Ibiza by Amsterdam firm Standard Studio.

In the bathroom, a concrete partition forms a low wall around the double sink, contrasting with the rustic stone walling and timber counter.

Find out more about Casa Campo ›

Casa Hualle by Ampuero Yutronic — Photo by Felipe Fontecilla

Casa Hualle, Chile, by Ampuero Yutronic

Pale plywood walls and a dark concrete floor give the bathroom in this house in Chile’s volcanic Araucania Region a rustic feel.

Architecture studio Ampuero Yutronic raised a pair of circular sinks on a simple wooden stand in line with a window above the bathtub.

Find out more about Casa Hualle ›

David Adjaye's 130 William interiors — Photo by Evan Joseph

130 William show apartment, USA, by David Adjaye

British architect David Adjaye used serrated grey marble tiling to line the walls and floors of the bathroom in this model apartment for his first Manhattan skyscraper.

This extends to the bathtub and double sink, contrasted with black tap fixtures and a black wooden vanity unit.

Find out more about this 130 William show apartment ›

Workstead House by Workstead — Photo by Matthew Williams

Workstead House, USA, by Workstead

This home in Charleston, South Carolina was created through the renovation of a building formerly used as a store for selling blockaded goods during the US Civil War.

In the darkly painted en-suite bathroom next to the master bedroom, design studio Workstead built a pair of sink units standing independently of each other and looking out through large double-sash windows.

Find out more about Workstead House ›

AML Apartment by David Ito Architecture — Photo by Pedro Kok

AML Apartment, Brazil, by David Ito Arquitetura

David Ito Arquitetura put a different spin on the double sink inside this apartment in São Paulo.

The two vanity units face each other from opposite walls, their wooden cupboards contrasting with the black fittings and floor tiles and the white wall tiles and marble in the sinks and the two-person bathtub.

Find out more about AML Apartment ›

Vallirana 47 apartment by Vora — Photo courtesy of Vora

Vallirana 47 apartments, Spain, by Vora

A more modest approach to the double sink is on display in these Barcelona apartments designed by Architecture studio Vora.

The pale marble sink is divided into two basins, sharing the same white vanity unit and grey marble counter.

Find out more about these Vallirana 47 apartments ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten cherry red interiors that make colour their focus

By Zarkon Group,04/06/2023

For our latest lookbook, we’ve picked eight interiors that are blanketed in shades of red that include an office in Belgium, a bar toilet in London and a mansion in Mexico.

The colour red is most commonly associated with activity, passion, sexuality, love and joy. In this lookbook Dezeen has highlighted ways in which interior designers and architects have used the colour in different interior settings.

Red terracotta tiles cover the interior of a home in Barcelona and red-tinted glass creates a glowy magma-like hue within the interior of a home located at the base of a volcano.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring terraces and balconies, marble-lined bathrooms and cave-like interiors.

Barn House by Jon Danielsen Aarhus — Photo by Knut Bry

Barn House, Norway, by Jon Danielsen Aarhus

Oslo based-architect Jon Danielsen Aarhus designed a gabled shed that sits on the grounds of a retired couple’s home in Lillehammer, Norway, which is used for painting, sculpting, craft and as additional living space.

The entrance hall of the gabled shed was covered entirely in red, including its window frames. The colour was chosen specifically to contrast against the structure’s raw timber exterior.

Find out more about Barn House ›

AEtelier office by Studio Anton Hendrik Denys — Photo by Hannelore Veelaert

AEtelier office, Belgium, by Studio Anton Hendrik Denys

In Belgium, Studio Anton Hendrik Denys and Steen Architecten transformed an industrial office building and added colourful graphics and bold hues to define areas across the interior.

The kitchen-cum-bar of the office was blanketed in an orangey-red hue, including its floor, walls, ceiling, fixtures and furnishings, which signifies and zones areas of the interior without the need for partition walls.

Find out more about AEtelier office ›

Social House by WAW Architects — Photo by Tim Van de Velde

Social House, Brussels, by WAW Architects

A vibrant red covers cabinet doors, drawers, floors, walls and the ceiling of a shared staff kitchen at a social services centre in Brussels, which was designed by WAW Architects.

The centre is located within a former orphanage and was converted into offices by the architecture studio. Bright hues were used throughout the interior to colour code the office space with red extending from a kitchen to an adjoining corridor.

Find out more about Social House ›

SOMA by Cake Architecture and Max Radford — Photo is by Felix Speller

SOMA, UK, by Cake Architecture and Max Radford

Located within a basement in London’s Soho, speakeasy-style bar SOMA was designed by Cake Architecture and Max Radford.

The restroom of the underground bar was painted bright red and paired with wooden fixtures and trimmings that were used to surround doorframes and recessed shelving in each of the cubicles.

Find out more about SOMA ›

House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor by Arquitectura-G — Photo is by José Hevia

House in Sant Antoni de Vilamjor, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

Red was used as a running theme across this family home on the outskirts of Barcelona. It was designed by local studio Arquitectura-G and sits directly on top of a pre-existing garage.

Red features both inside and outdoors with many materials used across the exterior similarly used to decorate the interior, such as red bricks, red corrugated panelling and clay tiles.

Find out more about House in Sant Antoni de Vilamjor ›

Collective/Collectible by Masa — Photo is by Genevieve Lutkin

Collective/Collectible, Mexico, by Masa

Rich tones of red blanket the walls and floors of this abandoned mansion in the Lomas neighbourhood of Mexico City, which was used as the setting for an exhibition by gallerist Masa.

The 1970s home was decorated with furniture designed by 16 Mexico City-based designers and architects, including Esrawe, EWE Studio and Frida Escobedo. The interior features a grand staircase that was topped with a red runner.

Find out more about Collective/Collectible ›

Lookout House by Faulkner Architects — Photo is by Joe Fletcher

Lookout House, US, by Faulkner Architects

Although this room has no physical red elements Lookout House was fitted with red-tinted glass that provides the interior with a glowing red hue when light penetrates through the home.

The home is located in Truckee, California at the foot of Lookout Mountain volcano. It was designed by Faulkner Architects who wanted to mimic the colour of cooling magma within the home.

Find out more about Lookout House ›

Fox Head Inc office by Clive Wilkinson Architects

Fox Head Inc, US, by Clive Wilkinson Architects

A bright red interior was selected as a focal feature for the offices of a motocross apparel company in California. The headquarters was designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects which transformed a 7,600-square-metre warehouse into a flexible workplace.

A conference room at the headquarters was enclosed with red-tinted glass and fitted with a deep red carpet. A large white table and matching chairs, which have a bright red upholstered seat, were placed at the centre of the space.

Find out more about Fox Head Inc office ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten bathrooms where marble lines the walls

By Zarkon Group,20/05/2023

Our latest lookbook shines a light on homes where marble and similar natural stones have been used as the primary material in the bathrooms.

Marble can be a great solution for bathrooms, as it is durable enough to withstand a wet environment better than alternative materials such as wood or concrete.

Many homeowners opt to use the same material across all surfaces, creating a uniform aesthetic that extends from the sink and shower areas across the walls.

Read on to see 10 different examples, featuring a range of marbles that include Carrera and Verde Aver, as well as similar natural stones such as travertine and quartzite.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase Scandinavian kitchens, outdoor showers and eclectic interiors.

Habitat 100, Sweden, by Note Design Studio

Note Design Studio used two types of marble in its renovation of this 1920s Stockholm apartment, echoing the tones of an Italian marble floor in the hallway.

For the main bathroom, the designers opted for a pale Swedish marble known as Ekeberg. Some slabs were polished, while others were milled in different directions to create a subtle chequered pattern.

Elsewhere in the home, green-toned Brännlyckan marble offers a striking counterpoint.

Find out more about Habitat 100 ›

Eastern Columbia Loft, USA, by Sheft Farrace

Tasked with redesigning an apartment in Los Angeles’ Eastern Columbia building, a block with an iconic turquoise art-deco facade, architecture studio Sheft Farrace decided to work with the same palette in the main bathroom.

The architects did this with a statement wall of Verde Aver marble, an Italian stone with a similar green hue.

The marble forms a counter that spans the width of the room, integrating two basins, and also forms a splashback that extends all the way up to the ceiling.

Find out more about Eastern Columbia Loft ›

Botaniczna Apartment, Poland, by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

A warm-toned travertine features in the bathroom of this apartment in Poznań, which was renovated by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio for a professional couple.

While travertine is a limestone, so not technically a marble, it has a similarly patterned finish.

The stone wraps the walls and the bath, and also forms a cuboidal washbasin. The same stone also features in the home’s kitchen, where it was used to create an island counter.

Find out more about Botaniczna Apartment ›

Marble wall above bath in The Village apartment by Gisbert Pöppler

The Village, Germany, by Gisbert Pöppler

Wood and marble are combined throughout this apartment renovation by Berlin designer Gisbert Pöppler, in the city’s Mitte district, but the juxtaposition is particularly striking in the bathroom.

The room features a bathtub set within a niche that is lined with highly variegated South American marble.

The warm tones of the stone are echoed by the wooden flooring, as well as by a basin unit that combines dark oak with white-glazed lava stone.

Find out more about The Village ›

Flat #6, Brazil, by Studio MK27

Studio MK27 chose highly textured materials for this renovation of a four-bedroom flat in São Paulo, home to a couple and their three teenage sons.

For the washrooms, the designers selected grey Armani, a Mediterranean marble that combines dark tones with white accents.

The stone has been carefully arranged to ensure the white streaks run through niches set into the walls, which provide space for storing soap and shampoo.

Find out more about Flat #6 ›

D2 Townhouse, UK, by Jake Moulson

Multi-coloured stone offered a good fit for the eclectic interiors of this renovated townhouse in Dublin, designed by architect Jake Moulson.

The most striking example can be found in an under-stairs toilet, where a Brazilian quartzite called Azul Imperial combines shades of purple, blue and gold.

Find out more about D2 Townhouse ›

ER Apartment, Brazil, by Pascali Semerdjian Arquitetos

This family home in São Paulo, designed by Pascali Semerdjian Arquitetos, features different types of Brazilian stone.

In the bathroom, white Parana marble forms the walls and floor, and also provides surfaces within a trough-shaped bronze sink that was custom-made to echo the curves of a mirror above.

Elsewhere in the home, panels of jade-coloured onyx serve as surfaces and also conceal an in-wall light fixture.

Find out more about ER Apartment ›

Twentieth, USA, by Woods + Dangaran

A marble known as Bronze Vena, or “bronze vein”, is the focal point of the en-suite in the main bedroom of this Santa Monica home by Los Angeles-based Woods +Dangaran.

Large-format slabs of this stone cover the walls, floor and ceiling of the bath area, toilet and walk-in shower.

The slabs were cleverly book-matched at the centre of the room for a symmetrical effect. Slabs effectively mirror each other, creating zigzags within the vein patterns.

Find out more about Twentieth ›

West 76th Street, USA, by Messana O’Rorke

This apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side is home to the founders of the skincare brand Malin + Goetz, so special attention was naturally paid to the bathrooms.

New York-based studio Messana O’Rorke combined brass fittings with Carrera marble – the hugely popular Italian stone – with the ambition of creating a “spa-like” feeling.

One bathroom features a marble recess with an integrated sink and mirror, while the other boasts a shower that is illuminated by a hidden pocket in the ceiling.

Find out more about West 76th Street ›

Villa Waalre, Netherlands, by Russell Jones

To match the minimal aesthetic of this woodland home in Waalre, near Eindhoven, bathrooms are finished in Statuario, a white marble quarried in Italy.

The effect works particularly well in the main bedroom, where a free-standing partition wall divides off part of the space for an en-suite. This volume incorporates a marble basin, as well as timber-fronted drawers.

Find out more about Villa Waalre ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase Scandinavian kitchens, outdoor showers and eclectic interiors.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten gallery interiors that are artworks in their own right

By Zarkon Group,13/05/2023

A subterranean gallery carved into a sand dune and a treehouse-style art museum feature in our latest lookbook, which collects striking gallery interiors from around the world.

Art galleries are specifically designed as spaces for showcasing artworks such as sculptures and paintings. As a result, they are often characterised by neutral and minimalist interiors so as not to divert attention from the objects on display.

However, some galleries are defined by statement designs that not only complement the artworks they house, but transform their interiors into masterpieces themselves.

From a converted Iranian brewery to a Milanese basement, read on for 10 galleries with memorable interior designs.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring inviting entrance halls, terracotta kitchens and Crittal-style windows.

IK Lab at Azulik — Top: Helsinki’s Amox Rex museum. Above: image is courtesy of IK Lab

IK Lab, Mexico, by Jorge Eduardo Neira Sterkel

Curving cement walls and undulating vine floors provide an alternative backdrop for artwork within the gallery at the Azulik resort in Tulum.

The gallery, which visitors must enter without shoes via a winding walkway, is elevated above the ground and reaches the height of the surrounding tree canopy. Circular windows of various sizes flood the space with natural light.

The gallery was opened by the resort’s founder and designer, Jorge Eduardo Neira Sterkel, after the great-grandson of the famed American art collector Peggy Guggenheim and a Tulum local suggested the idea.

Find out more about IK Lab ›

Interior of TaoCang Art Center by Roarc Renew in Jiaxing, China — Photo is by Wen Studio

TaoCang Art Center, China, by Roarc Renew

TaoCang Art Center is comprised of two disused granaries located in the village of Wangjiangjing in China’s Zhejiang province. Shanghai studio Roarc Renew connected the volumes with a pair of sweeping brick corridors that are lined with arches.

Functioning as distinct gallery spaces, the granaries are characterised by striking arrangements of lotus flowers on their floors – an ode to the village’s lotus-flower industry and a pond adjacent to the site.

Find out more about TaoCang Art Centre ›

Bedroom at art gallery — Photo is by Ye Rin Mok

Maison Lune, USA, by Sandrine Abessera, Lubov Azria and Gabriella Kuti

Designers Sandrine Abessera and Lubov Azria, founders of the contemporary art gallery Maison Lune, worked with interior designer Gabriella Kuti to set it within a former private house in California.

Spread across rooms in neutral hues, the gallery is laid out like a collector’s home featuring a varied cluster of artworks and design pieces. Multiple terraces and internal stepped areas provide plinth-like display units for the objects throughout the property.

“We want to build an alternative to traditional galleries, which are often perceived as too elitist and intimidating,” explained Abessera and Azria.

Find out more about Maison Lune ›

Amos Rex by JKMM Architects — Photo is by Tuomas Uusheimo

Amos Rex, Finland, by JKMM Architects

Finnish studio JKMM Architects designed the Amos Rex art museum in Helsinki with a series of domed subterranean galleries, which bubble up through the ground to create a sloping outdoor playground.

While a portion of the museum is housed in the renovated Lasipalatsi, a functionalist 1930s building at street level, Amos Rex was also extended underground to include the domed galleries. These subterranean spaces feature minimalist monochrome interiors illuminated by large round skylights.

Find out more about Amos Rex ›

Studio and gallery for Bosco Sodi — Photo is by Sergio Lopez

Studio CDMX, Mexico, by Alberto Kalach

A multi-purpose artist residency and gallery come together at Studio CDMX, a space in Mexico City designed for Casa Wabi founder Bosco Sodi in which to work and exhibit his pieces.

Constructed on the site of a former warehouse, the building reflects its location’s industrial roots with concrete, metal and brick elements arranged in chunky formations. Sodi’s sculptural works, finished in materials including stone and ceramic, also influenced the interiors.

Find out more about Studio CDMX ›

Meandering rattan structure in a dining room by Enter Projects Asia — Photo is by William Barrington-Binns

Private gallery, Thailand, by Enter Projects Asia

A winding rattan installation traces an overhead route through this private gallery in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Architecture studio Enter Projects Asia used an algorithm to design the structure, which snakes in and out of the gallery’s various indoor and outdoor spaces.

“We sought to create an immersive experience, giving the space a warmth and depth uncharacteristic of conventional art galleries,” said studio director Patrick Keane.

Find out more about this private gallery ›

Fondazione Luigi Rovati Museum in Milan — Photo is by Duccio Malagamba

Fondazione Luigi Rovati Museum, Italy, by Mario Cucinella Architects

Layered stone walls line the new basement of the Fondazione Luigi Rovati Museum, an art gallery housed within a 19th-century palazzo in Milan that was both preserved and expanded by Italian studio Mario Cucinella Architects.

The basement walls were created from overlapping layers of limestone ashlar, which curve upwards to form domed ceilings. Free-standing and wall-mounted cases designed by the architecture studio display two hundred Etruscan artifacts, including ancient jewellery and cinerary urns.

Find out more about Fondazione Luigi Rovati Museum ›

Argo Factory Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre, Iran, by Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture North

US studio Ahmadreza Schricker Architecture North renovated a 1920s brewery in central Tehran to create the Argo Factory Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre, preserving many of the factory’s original industrial features.

Designed without middle supports, a curvilinear concrete staircase was inserted into the building to connect the museum’s lobby and its six galleries above. The staircase is one of a number of new elements with a rounded shape, created to contrast the uniform brick architecture.

Find out more about Argo Factory Contemporary Art Museum & Cultural Centre ›

UCCA Dune Art Museum, China, by Open Architecture

Carved into a dune on a beach in Qinhuangdao, this coastal art museum is comprised of a network of subterranean concrete galleries.

Beijing-based firm Open Architecture took cues from caves for the interlinked spaces, which are illuminated by organically shaped openings and feature an irregular texture.

“The walls of ancient caves were where art was first practiced,” Open Architecture co-founder Li Hu told Dezeen.

Find out more about UCCA Dune Art Museum ›

GO'C Mini Mart City Park — Photo is by Kevin Scott

Mini Mart City Park, USA, by GO’C

Mini Mart City Park is a community arts centre with a gallery built on the site of a former 1930s petrol station in Seattle.

Local studio GO’C referenced the location’s history when creating the design for the centre, opting for classic signage, an overhanging roof and divided metal windows.

Inside, the gallery space is characterised by exposed wooden rafters and smooth grey-hued floors, providing a neutral backdrop for the exhibition of artwork.

Find out more about Mini Mart City Park ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten living spaces that are punctuated by saturated primary colours

By Zarkon Group,15/04/2023

Our latest lookbook compiles residential living rooms that have been given an air of playfulness through their use of the three primary colours.

In design, the primary colours are yellow, blue and red. They usually appear in this context as strong cobalt blues, vivid sunshine yellows and intense fire-engine reds.

This trio of colours is prevalent throughout design history and can be seen in paintings by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and suspended mobiles by American sculptor Alexander Calder.

They are often used when designing products for children due to the visually stimulating nature of their bright, dense hues.

In interior design, they have a similarly invigorating effect, whether applied directly to structural elements such as walls and columns or found in soft furnishings and accessories.

They primary colours help to bring energy into living areas both when used in isolation and when appearing in tandem with one another.

This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring four-poster beds, split-level living areas and colourful bathrooms.

Retroscena apartment renovation by La Macchina Studio in Rome, Italy — Photo by Paolo Fusco

Retroscena apartment, Italy, by La Macchina Studio

Vibrant pops of blue, yellow and red are set against a neutral backdrop of white walls and terrazzo stone floors in the living room of this mid-century one-bedroom apartment in Rome.

The space represents the distilled interior scheme devised by Italian architecture practice La Macchina Studio that characterises the apartment, which is also home to floor-to-ceiling citrus-toned curtains and bright blue doorways.

Find out more about Retroscena ›

Living room in red House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor by Arquitectura-G — Photo by José Hevia

House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

A monochromatic red colour scheme dominates both the exterior and interior of this rural house near Barcelona designed by Spanish design studio Arquitectura-G.

The split-level living space features a rhythm of striking red-painted columns and ceiling-height cupboard doors combined with rosy clay tiles.

Find out more about House in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor ›

Lounge in Red House by David Kohn Architects — Photo by Will Pryce

Red House, UK, by David Kohn Architects

Red House in Dorset, England, was given its name by David Kohn Architects in reference to its red brick facade, however, splashes of the colour also appear throughout its eclectic interior.

Primary coloured furnishings – including a blue rug and footstool, red wall hanging and yellow upholstered armchair – are dotted around the living space, offset by white-painted cinderblock walls and warm wooden accents.

Find out more about Red House ›

Living room interior of Out of the Blue apartment in India — Photo by The Fishy Project

Out of the Blue, India, by The Act of Quad

Renovated by Mumbai-based studio The Act of Quad, this apartment in the Indian city of Thane is defined by its consistent use of cobalt blue in an otherwise neutral interior.

Soothing splashes of the colour appear in pieces of bespoke furniture – including hemispherical and spherical inclusions on light fittings and tables – and line the inside of a wall-mounted drinks cabinet.

Find out more about Out of the Blue ›

Living room interior with red cupboards and blue table — Photo by Jesper Westblom

Apartment renovation, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor

The full trio of primary colours is used across this apartment in Stockholm by local practice Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor.

Blue, yellow and red are seen in both full saturation and muted hues on walls, ceilings, soft furnishings and furniture, creating a colourful yet cohesive interior.

Find out more about apartment renovation ›

Duplex in Sant Gervasi by Arquitectura-G — Photo is by José Hevia

Apartment renovation, Spain, by Arquitectura-G

Spanish studio Arquitectura-G used a colour palette governed by shades of yellow in its refurbishment of this apartment in Barcelona.

The living space contains a sunny yellow modular sofa and matching kitchenette, with the spaces united by a backdrop of small golden wall tiles, a honey-coloured wooden floor and white plasterwork.

Find out more about this apartment renovation ›

Interior of Fàng Sōng houseboat in Berlin by Crossboundaries — Photo by Johanna Link

Fàng Sōng, Germany, by Crossboundaries

Beijing-based architecture practice Crossboundaries reconfigured the interior of a houseboat moored in Berlin, which features modular furniture and storage solutions all finished in either red or yellow in reference to the Chinese imperial colours.

An adaptable living area onboard contains a lemon-yellow sofa that folds away to support a double bed, as well as a cantilevered desk integrated into a wall panel that can be stowed away when not in use.

Find out more about Fàng Sōng ›

Point Supreme Athens apartment — Photo by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis and Point Supreme

Ilioupoli Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme

Graphic primary-coloured details are scattered around this 56-square-metre subterranean apartment in Athens renovated by local architecture studio Point Supreme.

The rough concrete walls and ceilings of the small living area are contrasted by red items – including a bench and window panes – as well as a trio of deep blue flags suspended in the entryway.

Find out more about Ilioupoli Apartment ›

Function Walls apartment, designed by Lookofsky Architecture — Photo by Mattias Hamrén

Function Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture

This apartment in Stockholm, which was renovated by local studio Lookofsky Architecture, is designed around a multifunctional wall that snakes through the interior.

In the living area, the zesty yellow structure contains a sofa snuggled inside an extruded frame, accompanied by integrated shelving and matching golden upholstery.

Find out more about Function Walls ›

Interiors of Polychrome House, designed by Amber Road — Photo by Prue Ruscoe

Polychrome House, Australia, by Amber Road and Lymesmith

Australian design studio Amber Road worked with colour consultants Lymesmith on this house in suburban Sydney, which is charactertised by its excessive use of colour.

The aptly named Polychrome House is finished in a kaleidoscopic spectrum of colours, including in its living room where a wall mural of abstract shapes featuring red, blue and yellow is echoed by red and blue seating.

Find out more about Polychrome House ›

Reference

Sustainable News

Ten different and everyday uses for bioplastics

By Zarkon Group,13/04/2023

A sequinned Stella McCartney bodysuit and styrofoam cups made from mealworms feature in this roundup highlighting innovative design projects that make use of bioplastics.

Bioplastics offer an alternative to traditional plastics, derived from renewable natural materials such as plants as opposed to petroleum.

To fight pollution, many are also designed to be compostable or biodegradable under specific conditions, for example in an industrial composter. However, experts have raised concerns that we currently lack the necessary waste management infrastructure to dispose of these bioplastics correctly.

While the debate about end-of-life wages on, brands and designers are continuing to explore how bioplastics can be used to wean the world off fossil fuels.

Read on for 10 projects from the Dezeen archive that explore different uses for bioplastics:

Stella McCartney and Radiant Matter jumpsuit

Radiant Matter sequin bodysuit by Stella McCartney

British fashion brand Stella McCartney recently launched a sleeveless body suit embellished with bioplastic sequins made from tree cellulose by material innovation company Radiant Matter.

The sequins were developed as a substitute for petroleum-based plastic embellishments, which the brand says can contain carcinogenic chemicals. Radiant Matter’s alternative is made from renewable cellulose extracted from trees, which has a crystalline form that reflects the light and provides the product with a sparkling quality.

Find out more about the sequin bodysuit ›

Bioplastic gift wrap by Natural Material Studio — Photo is by Peter Vinther

Calvin Klein gift wrap by Natural Material Studio

Last Christmas, Copenhagen-based Natural Material Studio created a bespoke bio-textile pouch to function as a gift-wrapping alternative for Calvin Klein products during the holiday season.

The material, called Procel, was developed by Natural Material Studio and is made from a protein bioplastic mixed with natural softeners and pigments. The pouches were designed to be reused and can alternatively be recycled. According to the studio, the product is also biodegradable.

Find out more about the biomaterial gift wrap ›

Kelp Mini Clutch by JK3D

Informed by kelp structures found along the coastline of Malibu, California, the Kelp Mini Clutch is a 3D-printed bioplastic bag created by Black Panther costume designer Julia Koerner for her brand JK3D.

The bag uses bioplastics derived from corn and soybeans for its construction and is 3D-printed to achieve a ribbed, lamella-like form reminiscent of the underside of mushrooms.

Find out more about Kelp Mini Clutch ›

Two hands using Great Wrap bioplastic cling film — Photo is by Shelley Horan

Clingfilm alternative by Great Wrap

Great Wrap is a bioplastic clingfilm alternative, which was designed to break down in a landfill or industrial compost within 180 days.

Australian biomaterials company Great Wrap produces the clingfilm by extracting and plasticising the starch found in waste potato peels. The resulting thermoplastic starch is then compounded with used cooking oil and a starchy root vegetable called cassava to change its polymer structure so it can be used as a stretch film.

Find out more about Great Wrap ›

Bioplastic vinyl by Evolution Music

Music and sustainability collective Evolution Music released a 12-inch vinyl record made from bioplastic following a four-year development process. This was needed to identify a base polymer that acts similarly to traditional PVC but without harmful and emissions-intensive ingredients.

“It is a robust, ecologically secure, compostable material created specifically to act and sound the same as PVC-derived vinyl,” Evolution Music CEO Marc Carey told Dezeen.

Find out more about the 12-inch vinyl ›

bFriends desk accessories by Pearson Lloyd for Bene

Hoping to give waste bioplastics a new life, this collection of desk accessories by office brand Bene is made from discarded polylactic acid (PLA) food packaging. The collection’s pen pots, trays and phone stands were designed by London studio Pearson Lloyd and 3D-printed by additive manufacturing studio Batch.Works.

According to Batch.Works, the production process produces close to net-zero emissions and once the products are no longer needed, they can be recycled or reclaimed by Bene under a take-back scheme.

Find out more about bFriends ›

Chitofoam cup by Doppelgänger made from mealworm exoskeleton next to a polystyrene cup

Alternative polystyrene packaging by Doppelgänger

Design studio Doppelgänger has developed an alternative to polystyrene foam made from chitin – a biopolymer that is sourced from the exoskeleton of mealworms – a turned it into cups, foam peanuts and other packaging.

The material breaks down in soil in a matter of weeks, according to the studio, while offering shock-absorbent and water-resistant qualities that rival its petroleum-based counterpart.

Find out more about the polystyrene substitute ›

White bioplastic room divider — Photo is by Adam Sakovy

BreaZea room divider by Crafting Plastics and Office MMK

BreaZea is a 3D-printed room divider made from a scent-infused bioplastic. It was created by design studios Crafting Plastics and Office MMK, who presented the object at Salone del Mobile in 2021.

The room divider uses one of Crafting Plastics’ Nuatan bioplastics, which are made from a blend of PLA and PHA polyester. BreaZea has a natural scent reminiscent of bread and maize, in an attempt to mimic the way that fresh wood can add a pleasant aroma to an interior.

Find out more about BreaZea ›

Algae sequin dress by Phillip Lim and Charlotte McCurdy

In 2021, fashion designer Philip Lim and industrial designer Charlotte McCurdy teamed up to develop a petroleum-free dress covered in bioplastic sequins.

McCurdy created the sequins by binding algae together using heat and placing it in a custom mould to cure and solidify. The bioplastic was cast into sheets and then cut out into tusk-shaped sequins, which were used to cover an A-line dress designed by Lim.

Find out more about the algae sequins ›

Bioplastic Skin by Valdis Stainarsdottir from sustainable materials roundup

Bioplastic Skin by Valdís Steinarsdóttir

Bioplastic Skin is a food packaging made from boiled animal hides that was designed to dissolve in hot water and biodegrade in a matter of weeks.

The project was developed by Icelandic designer Valdís Steinarsdóttir, who wanted to find new ways of reusing the waste produced by slaughterhouses. As part of the same project, the designer also created Just Bones – a sturdier material made from ground animal bones, which she turned into a series of vases.

Find out more about Just Bones ›

Reference

Ten

Ten houses with outdoor showers for connecting with nature

Ten buildings with glazed walls that bring the outside in

Ten Foster + Partners-designed Apple Stores

Ten sustainable biomaterial fashion designs from Dezeen’s Pinterest

Ten bathrooms with double sinks for couples who prioritise personal space

Ten cherry red interiors that make colour their focus

Ten bathrooms where marble lines the walls

Ten gallery interiors that are artworks in their own right

Ten living spaces that are punctuated by saturated primary colours

Ten different and everyday uses for bioplastics

Get in touch

about us

Company info

Useful Links

Newsletter