The first public aquarium was opened in London Zoo in 1853 and was constructed much like a greenhouse. Although the main goal of aquariums – to bring guests to places they have never encountered before – have not changed since, the introduction of contemporary materials and technologies has set designers on a quest for total immersion. The projects we have selected for this post prove that the secret to good aquarium design is not about size but rather about telling a story.
Category: BE OPEN Blog
Today, kitchens are becoming an open space joined with the living room, a hosting area rather than a working one. As a result, kitchen utensils are being designed as decorative objects. With their from just as important as the function, tools deserve to be displayed when not in use rather than be hidden away in a drawer in an untidy mess.
Shutters, a solid or slanted window cover, can be an architectural detail that pulls a home’s architecture together. Originally designed in Greece to control light, ventilation, provide privacy, and help protect a home against weather, shutters have gone through their own evolution over time. Here is an aspirational selection of projects where this element enhances the appearance of a building.
According to Wikipedia, beer is the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after potable water and tea. All this said, it could be a great source of inspiration for designers and engineers who happen to be beer enthusiasts sharing the universal fascination with the brew.
For centuries, Sun has intrigued poets, philosophers, artists, and everyone who has somehow been touched by its invisible warmth. What if we could tame the star, so that the sunshine to bring the sunshine in any time of the day? These interior designs are inspired by the Sun and feature it as the most prominent feature.
Sustainability in the travel sector is steadily growing. For air travel, there are two clear priorities – a transition to sustainable aviation fuels, and the need to develop sustainable airports. With a growing focus on the environmental impact of aviation, architects are designing a new generation of airports in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions. The projects feature timber, solar panels, and modular construction aiming to make an airport sustainable in this emerging economic landscape.
The disturbing statistics is that the ocean is filling up with plastic, and according to the forecast, by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in it than living creatures. If all of the world’s single-use plastic were replaced with compostable bioplastic made from food waste or other bio-waste materials, we could have an immediate and profound impact on climate change and plastic pollution. These biodegradable food packaging projects aim to replace single-use plastics, while using less resources and making our planet a better place in the end.
There is perhaps no holiday symbol more recognizable than the Christmas tree. While tradition dictates that trees be strung with twinkle lights and adorned with ornaments, every holiday season, designers and artists alike come up with new creative ways to celebrate this most wonderful time of the year.
Vertical gardens, also known as green walls, or living walls, have grown to be one of the hottest architecture trends in recent years. These vertical built structures intentionally covered by vegetation enjoy exponential popularity among designers and architects who use them to incorporate living nature into urban environments. Bringing in natural elements to the cityscape lifts our mood, making us happier and more productive, as they appeal to our innate need to be around nature.
Seafood, including crabs and scallops, is widely eaten as a delicacy and the shells and husks are discarded. Researchers and designers experiment with the seafood waste, which would otherwise be thrown away, to push the limits of this natural substance and develop sustainable biodegradable materials with a wide range of applications.