With its coral reefs and blue lagoons, visiting the Maldives is already a magical experience, but an array of exciting hospitality projects are turning the tropical oasis into a real architectural destination. Combing a resort-style design with local nuances, the architects have turned the islands into a place for people to escape the pressures of society living through an extraordinary experience of one of the most remote places on the planet.
Did you know that scissors, in a basic shear-like form made from one piece of metal, were invented in 1500 BC in Egypt, and further modifications to the design, allowing a crosscut action, were made by the Romans in 100 AD? If you too think that it is high time to bring the classical form up to date, have a look at these innovative designs.
What comes to your mind when you think of camping? Sleeping under a blanket of stars and waking up to breathe in nothing but the freshest air. But to enjoy your outing to the full, you have to face the challenging task of pitching a tent. Luckily, camping has evolved over the years to reflect the demands of modern campers and incorporate the latest technologies. We have selected a number of up-to-day tents that would serve as a versatile shelter whenever you wish to wander through a labyrinth of wildlife.
After being abandoned in favour of concrete and steel in the 20th century, bamboo gets back into the game. Being as strong as steel in tension and having the compressive strength of concrete, it can be used as a sustainable substitute for traditional rebars and a viable, cheaper alternative to a large array of other building components. At the same time, this amazing material’s curvature and beautiful colour endow the structures made from it with a special character and bespoke aesthetics. With this post, we continue our exploration of magnificent bamboo buildings in Asia and beyond.
“Better to have a meal without meat than a house without bamboo,” says a Far Eastern proverb. Thanks to its strength, sustainable nature, low cost, and high resistance to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes, bamboo has grown to be a popular material for architects in Asia and beyond. Known as the building material of the poor in ancient China and India, today it is being increasingly integrated into modern architecture, its lightness and flexibility allowing to create arresting organic forms in the buildings of all types.
Tokyo Toilet is a project by the Nippon foundation that consists in building 17 design-minded public toilets, accessible for anyone regardless of gender, age, or disability, throughout Shibuya City. As the project’s website reads, toilets are a symbol of Japan’s world-renowned hospitality culture. Through the power of design and creativity of 16 creators invited from around the world, the project aims for the realization of a society where all kinds of diversity are accepted.
Rope has been used by men since prehistoric times. There is fossil evidence of manmade ropes going as far back as ancient Egypt. Flexible, weatherproof and strong material, it is of paramount importance in fields as diverse as construction, seafaring, exploration, sports, and theatre. For furniture design, the possibilities of ropes are equally endless. Designers weave, wrap, braid or knot, creating bespoke chairs of highly contrasting looks, all from one type of material.
3D printing is a remarkable technology that allows turning graphic designs into physical objects. Although the previous generations of 3D printers used non-biodegradable materials such as plastics made from fossil fuels, new technologies are being developed that allow 3D printing to be done in environmentally responsible way. We have selected several impressive projects showcasing how designers use biodegradable and bio-based filaments to create objects that are both beautiful and functional.
The first metal to be found by men in the so-called Metal Age, over 10,000 years ago, copper has since been used in numerous diverse ways: for the manufacture of tools and weapons, jewelery, automotive parts, and electrical systems. In architecture, copper coatings are greatly appreciated for their gracefully aging aesthetics, the signature greenish patina, and durability. Copper is not only literally, but also metaphorically green: the material can be recycled infinitely, practically without losing its properties, which makes it highly reusable for future generations.
In the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis, the dystopian themes seem to be especially recurrent in the works of designerss and artists. Concerned by the vulnerability of the world as we know it today, they attempt to raise awareness of what we might expect in the years to come and envision wearables that would help us to survive in the post-apocalyptic future.
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