When you think of what design of the future is like, flat-packed designs are definitely a part of the picture. This innovative technique can be introduced to almost all kinds of products, making them portable, easy to put together and rating high on space efficiency. They also save space while shipping, which reduces their carbon footprint and makes them a sustainable alternative to bulkier and heavier space-consuming designs. Besides, flat-packed designs simply make ordinary experiences more fun!

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The typology of pavilions has been around for centuries, fluctuating between permanence and temporality, formality and informality. In retrospect, during all this time, pavilions have provided a mean for stylistic and technological experimentation. In the 21^st century, architects explore new materiality and new construction methods, creating portable and flat-packed structures suitable for a variety of functions.

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For true coffee enthusiasts, the ritual of brewing coffee brings the same amount of joy that the process of drinking it. Pour-over is a classic and trusted method that slowly immerses the drinker in the aroma waking them up. These portable coffee makers will let you take the therapeutic coffee brewing experience outdoors by adding the grab-and-go convenience into the picture, and will make sure you stay caffeinated anytime, anywhere.

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It is well-known that clay and ceramic tiles can have an incredibly long lifespan and can even outlast the other components of a building. This means that tiles salvaged during a demolition or a re-roof can be ideal for cladding or decorating new buildings and will almost certainly survive for the next 50 years and beyond. Last but not least, apart of obvious environmental and cost benefits, one of the best things about using reclaimed tiles is the fact that these tiles are one of a kind and have a unique history.

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Living in the city, we often lack the smell of plants after rain or the sight of leaves gently rippling and moving in the wind. Greenery creates an environment that gives us, city dwellers, a sense of well-being and calm. We have selected a few more fascinating high-rise buildings that incorporate large amounts of planting representing a unique way of living in the city and celebrating Nature in the urban surroundings.

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Often managed by a research organization or a foundation, a botanical garden is an outdoor space for collection, cultivation, and display of a wide range of plants species including trees, plants and flowers. Unlike parks that are designed for sports and leisure, it is dedicated to conservation of rare and endangered flora species, which means limited access and stricter requirements to the environment inside. Architects and master planners work together to create botanical gardens of the 21^st century. Integrated into the urban structure of the city, they offer a unique experience, where pleasure, beauty and scientific knowledge are closely intertwined.

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Concrete, steel and glass – solid industrial materials that are most commonly used to build high-rises in the city realm – create an image of skyscrapers as dead lifeless structures opposed to the vibrancy of nature. Joining a trend of ‘vertical garden’ architecture, architects across the globe attempt to shift the paradigm from industrial to natural, introducing lush greenery into otherwise gloomy city towers.

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Beneficial effect of showers is hard to overemphasize. A long hot shower is something that helps us prepare for the challenges of a new day in the morning or rinse off the anxieties and unwind before going to bed. Product designers envision shower heads that would enhance our showering experience through improving water quality, suffusing it with essential vitamins and minerals – or simply through making it fun.

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Along with apples, bananas are the most popular fruits in the world. More than 100 billion bananas are eaten every year, and that same amount is turned into waste. Depending on environmental factors, discarded banana peels can take up to two years to decompose, which poses a serious environmental problem contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and thus to global climate change. Product designers use different parts of banana plants to create biodegradable and renewable materials that can be further utilized to produce sustainable everyday objects.

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Originating from Asian countries, a teahouse, or tearoom, is a building where primarily teas and other light refreshments are served. Informed by the ancient art of the tea ceremony, contemporary tea houses with their pared back minimal architecture and connection to the surrounding environment generate spaces for sharing and reflection.

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