Societies across the world from ancient to modern times have used insects as an art subject. Their shapes and colours have always been inspiration to artists in all fields, whether jewellery or ceramics, body painting or textiles, paintings or sculptures. In certain cultures insects were even turned into sacred symbols. Nowadays, artists and designers concentrate on symbolic nature of insects and the abstract aspects they represent in a poetic way.
Dictionaries define a vase as ‘a container used to put flowers in or for decoration’. Creative approach and the extraordinary choice of production techniques, however, may result in vases becoming artworks themselves. Without compromising its original function of holding a bouquet, a designer vase is a vessel of the creative mind of the artist.
3D-printing is used for a lot of different things from prototype design to traditional manufacturing. Architects and designers with open mind suggest that entire building could be fabricated with the help of 3D-printing, as the technology allows for working with a variety of raw materials from concrete to wood or even mud. 3D-printing can produce a wider variety of shapes than traditional building methods as well as be a cost-efficient solution for third-world countries and low-income areas.
A large number of objects forming city infrastructure such as barriers, bollards, lamp posts or low walls can take on new functions when designers and architects of the city environment tackle the problem of making the cityscape more comfortable for its dwellers. Habitual pieces of city furniture become carriers of a surprising diversion of use and these transformations bring new dimension to urban realm.
Good city infrastructure ensures that its citizens have a comfortable and appealing environment to live in. Creatively designed public seating not only serves its utilitarian function but also becomes a small detail that makes a huge difference of how city dwellers experience city streets and spaces. City benches in modern cities stand out as landmarks and even raise social problems without compromising comfort for those who needs a moment of rest.
Traditional markets in farthest nooks of the world are something more than a way of shopping fresh food. It is often a place for communication and a main focus of rural daily life, an integral part of community life and the centre of tradition, offering the kind of atmospheric experience that big malls often lack. No wonder, they require from architects thorough investigation of market-goers and sellers’ needs before designing a market building.
Play is a powerful tool which triggers children’s imagination and develops their physical and cognitive strengths. It is through play that they engage and interact with the world around them, so designers seek to help them with this. They develop unconventional playgrounds that tell stories, pay homage to influential artists of the past or attempt to make science fun.
Carpets have gone far beyond their utilitarian function. Today a good carpet is an investment, a work of art as well as a way of self-expression. When choosing a rug, you not only have to consider how it will reflect your room and its decor, you can also make a statement. We have chosen some unconventional designs for you to see: good design turns everyday objects into masterpieces, even if it is a rug beneath your feet.
Plants and trees as a part of urban landscape delight the eye and bring shade as well as help us to offset CO2 emissions. However, the idea of city parks as an urban retreat or an oasis in a concrete desert is already too limited and outdated. Architects of today find ways to cover facades and rooftops with greenery to provide modern cities with green lungs.
Sadly, plastic pollution is a devastating problem for the world’s oceans and marine life. According to the UN, about 8m tons of plastic waste is dumped in the seas annually. Increasing the global awareness of the ocean plastics issue alongside ocean clean-up and zero waste philosophy could be a solution. Environment-conscious designers express their concern with the problem and try to get through to people all over the globe with their recycle art projects.
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