CLADkit
Product design
A curved meditation pod, a Philippe Starck-designed stove collection and a Renaissance-inspired lamp... a look at what’s new in the world of product design
AFGH architects create foldable indoor multi-use pavilion
AFGH architects have developed a prefabricated pavilion for real estate developer Robbie Antonio as part of his Revolution Project featuring designs by world leading architects.
The Pull Pavilion by Andreas Fuhrimann Gabrielle Hächler Architekten for Wallpaper measures 5.68m long by 2.60m wide by 2.78m high, unfolded.
It is a piece of furniture that can be inhabited for uses such as a personal cinema, a playhouse for children or a room to relax in.
AFGH have designed a unique folding construction, so the Pull pavilion is delivered already assembled as a folded, compact package.
Once unfolded and connected to a power source it is ready for use. Being on wheels, it can be moved into its desired position or out of the way.
The functional core houses a comfortable sofa with foot rests, storage space for food and drinks, a cupboard for a media centre and a projector and an integrated multi speaker sound system.
Revolution Precrafted is a collection of limited edition, pre-crafted properties, including homes and pavilions, introduced by design and real estate developer Robbie Antonio.
The project unites more than 30 pre-eminent architects, artists and designers to create an exclusive series of prefabricated, liveable spaces. With a network of cutting-edge technologies and cost-efficient production systems, Revolution aims to democratise high-design and architecture by introducing designed spaces in exclusive collaboration with industry-leading creatives.
Cladkit keyword: AFGH
Headspace steps beyond app-creation with new Oyler Wu-designed meditation pods
App developer Headspace – which boasts six million users – has launched a new meditation pod designed by Los Angeles-based architects Oyler Wu. Billed as ‘the first physical manifestation of Headspace,’ the meditation pods are available for preview now, with a full global launch scheduled for later this year.
“We’re continually striving to create the most compelling invitation for people to practice meditation,” says Rich Pierson, co-founder of Headspace.com. “Part of the challenge is how do you make meditation – which is an intangible exercise – tangible? The pods are an innovative way to do this and will hopefully encourage people to re-evaluate how they look at meditation.”
The Pods are a continuation of Oyler Wu’s signature style of experimental design, material research and fabrication.
Inspired by natural geological formations, the Headspace Meditation Pod juxtaposes a modern minimalist exterior with an organic interior, created from multiple layers of machine-cut wood, laid on top of a steel structure.
With a sleek, curvilinear seating position, the pods have been designed to create a comfortable and soothing environment. An internal screen gives access to a variety of content, including the entire Headspace library of guided meditations as well as bespoke material for specific locations.
Metal mesh cladding on Basel’s new sports
and cultural centre gives a unified look
Located in Saint-Louis, Alsace, France, in the inner suburb of Basel, the Forum is a new facility designed to host sporting and cultural events, designed by Manuelle Gautrand Architecture.
A metal mesh, supplied by Métal Déployé, is used as an exterior cladding throughout, giving the project an original, unified feel.
The cladding of the roofs and façades is entirely made of the copper-coloured expanded metal, giving this building a strong identity and making it a new landmark for the city of Saint-Louis and its inhabitants.
Around 10 000 square metres of the Supreme 200xxl ‘brilliant effect’ powder-coated metal mesh are used in the project.
Manuelle Gautrand Architecture says the modular aspects of the build are all covered with the “same principles of forms, materials and openings”.
The roof of each section is systematically made of two slopes, inspired by the design of the roofs in the surroundings, alternating the orientation of the folded faces sometimes north-south, sometimes south-west, in order to capture a different light each time.
Created to give modularity and flexibility, the design also involves strong contrasts between smaller reception, offices and lockers spaces, and the Festival Hall and the Great Hall – the facility’s two main spaces.
The smaller spaces are placed around the edges of the larger, central spaces, and all 13 separate ‘blocks’ are connected to each other like a single puzzle.
The surrounding area is characterised by residential homes, offices and workshops for small companies, as well as a kindergarten and a primary school.
Cladkit keyword: Metal Deploye
Sculptural lamp inspired by the domes of the Renaissance
Enric Miralles Benedetta Tagliabue Architects (EMBT) have designed a pendant lamp called Dome for Spanish lighting company Bover.
Inspired by the domes of the Renaissance, the Dome hanging lamp creates many shadow patterns onto surfaces below as light flows through its wooden geometric structure.
The LED light sits above the structure so that it shines through the pieces, casting beautiful shadow designs.
The light sculptures are handmade in the Bover Barcelona headquarters, where more than 170 big and small wood fragments are intertwined and connected like a jigsaw puzzle.
The structure is lightweight and is made in three sizes; 180cm, 90cm and 60cm wide, with a natural beech veneer finish. Custom colours can be requested.
Benedetta Tagliabue said “In a journey through time, and by revisiting the history of architecture, we observed the Basilica Mercè in Barcelona, the Pantheon in Rome, the dome Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and the dome of St. George in Venice.
“With Dome we decided to take the light out of the object so it becomes a light sculpture designed to receive and emit a delicate light, a play of shadows and nuances that enrich the space for which they were created.”
Clad-kit keyword: Bover
Bottega Veneta uses contrasting textures as part of its new designs
Refined suedes and leathers, bold and contrasting travertine, bronze and oak, marble and silver and delicate bone fine porcelain are presented in Bottega Veneta’s new line.
The new Bottega Veneta Home Collection is a balance of textures, design and functionality, says Tomas Maier, Bottega Veneta’s creative director.
The Rudi seating elements feature clean lines with modern arch tables in a polished combination of bronze and matt oak.
The sofas and tables are joined by a chest of drawers of suede or leather with a top in marble or wood and bronze handles.
The collection also includes a series of sterling silver collectible boxes, each bearing the name of a planet and embellished with semi-precious stones,.
A collaboration between Bottega Veneta and Italian designer Osanna Visconti di Modrone produced distinctive and individualistic designs including a set of bronze tables with a surface that pays tribute to the house’s signature intrecciato motif.
The Home Collection has evolved from Tomas Maier’s first design, a single bench which he created in 2006.
Since then the Bottega Veneta studio has developed the home design and presented full collections of furniture and home accessories, in collaboration with a range of manufacturers including Koenigliche Porzellan, Manufaktur Berlin for porcelain and Poltrona Frau for seating.
Clad-kit keyword: Bottega
Across Denmark, a charity is turning industrial buildings into centres for street sport and art. As the concept prepares to go global, we speak to the people making it happen
From climate change to resource scarcity, Exploration Architecture uses biomimicry to address some of the world’s major challenges. Its founder tells us how
