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Archinect's best fun culture news of 2022

2022-12-23T08:00:00-05:00

And just like that, 2022 is coming to an end. As quickly as it went by, this year was equally prolonged by many of the same issues that have plagued the world over the last couple of years. In addition to the ongoing pandemic, which society is still adjusting to, we have been witness to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its economic repercussions, a surge in inflation, increased climate change-related disasters, and more regressive politics.

While this does not paint a pleasant image of 2022, this year's events weren't all doom and gloom, and Archinect's coverage reflects that. So, we wanted to compile a selection of our favorite pieces that put smiles on our faces and injected joy into the editorial.

Check them out below.

Image: Pixabay.

Lumber shortage hits the metaverse, leads to construction delays

Though this is meant to be a compilation of fun, lighthearted articles, this news couldn't go unsaid. Lumber supplies hit unprecedented lows this year, which has been felt in places no on...

While 2021 was mostly whomp whomp, there were also moments of whee!

2021-12-26T09:00:00-05:00

Let's face it, 2021 was another downer of a year. After 2020 had shown us how quickly the rug could be pulled out from under the world's collective feet, the current year made no attempts of introducing itself with flowers and small talk but, instead, whacked us with a violent attack on the built embodiment of American democracy, dragged a pandemic-induced global recession well into the first few quarters, drowned any attempt of returning to public life with viral waves and lockdowns, and ensured that intensifying natural disasters kept our worries over the acute climate crisis at the center of our fragile attention span.

While we followed our journalistic duty of informing Archinect's readers about life as it happened, including the bummer stuff, there were bright, inspiring moments of beauty and joy, too, that we had the pleasure of sharing.

Here are only a few highlights that stood out.

Image courtesy of Andrew Bruno.

Instagrammer designs and draws a new house every day for a yea...

Create kirigami paper models of Le Corbusier's iconic works with this step-by-step guide — and win a copy of the book!

2020-01-23T12:26:00-05:00

For all you diehard Le Corbusier fans or architectural model enthusiasts out there, you don't want to miss out on the upcoming Le Corbusier Paper Models: 10 Kirigami Buildings to Cut and Fold, which will be released on February 4. Thanks to Laurence King Publishing, Archinect is giving away five copies of the book to our readers!

Authored by design director and kirigami paper artist Marc Hagan-Guirey, this step-by-step guide teaches you how to create 10 of Corbusier's iconic works using the cutting and folding art of kirigami, a variation of origami. You'll learn how to create paper models of: Villa Savoye, Maison Citröhan, Villa Stein-De Monzie, Maison de Week-end, Maisons Jaoul, Unité d’Habitation, Maison de la Culture, Villa Sarabhai, High Court Chandigarh, and the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts.

Villa Savoye. Photo courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.

High Court Chandigarh. Photo courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.

Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts. Photo courtesy of L...

The architectural styles of Game of Thrones, Studio Ghibli and other popular fantasy

2018-08-28T15:17:00-04:00

Creating a fantasy world involves more than just magic and mysticism; it requires the creation of a built environment to host these stories, folktales, legends, and fables. While CGI and special effects help to make this look as realistic as the newest technology allows, the architectural creations of these worlds are no less impressive, and no less crucial in creating a world of wonder.

Angie's List, the online business directory, has created a tribute to some of fantasy's most popular offerings with pen-and-paper illustrations depicting the different architecture styles of 6 imaginary universes. From the crooked charms of Diagon Alley to Studio Ghibli's floating castles, take a look at some of the most iconic locations without a real-world address.

Game of Thrones:

Harry Potter:

Marvel Cinematic Universe:

Studio Ghibli:

Star Wars:

Skyrim:

Pull back the negative and discover the brutal charm of the European capitals’ suburbia!

2018-06-15T13:58:00-04:00

Poland-based Zupagrafika has long made their fascination with Brutalism known, selling a range of pop-out and build concrete modernist structures from cities around the world. Now, the design studio has launched a new photo project for Brutalist fans to enjoy, that allows buyers to "remove the negative and discover the brutal charm of European suburbia."

Described as interactive photo boxes, the four packets—focused on the cities of Warsaw, Berlin, Moscow and London—come with 8 interactive cards, resembling Polaroid 55 films. Users are expected to pull the negative apart, revealing images of post-war modernist estates.

“Modernist housing estates erected in the suburbs of European cities after the Second World War have been ignored and neglected for decades,” says Zupagrafika. "Although they are homes to the vast majority of urbanites, many would rather they were invisible." Through these photographs, shot by Zupagrafika along with photographers Alexander Veryovkin and Peter Chadwick...

Excavate the hidden architecture models inside these unique note pads

2018-01-16T13:32:00-05:00

The Omoshiro Block is a note pad that unveils itself as it gets used revealing an architecture miniature hidden inside. Using laser-cutting technology, what appears as a regular cube of paper note cards eventually turns into an intricate miniature model.

These unique note pads are designed by Japanese architecture model company Triad. The blocks feature various notable architectural sites of Japan such as Kyoto’s Kiyomizudera Temple, Tokyo’s Asakusa Temple and Tokyo Tower.

Triad's noteworthy miniatures aren't cheap and can be hard to aquire. Ranging from about 4000 yen to 10,000 yen they are currently only available at the Tokyu Hands Osaka location, however you can stay up to date by following the company's Instagram account.

Here's your chance to win a family-fun overnight stay at the LEGO House

2017-11-08T15:44:00-05:00

For the hardcore LEGO-loving families out there, this one's for you. Airbnb and LEGO are currently running a global contest asking one question: In a response of 50-500 characters, “If you and your family had an infinite supply of LEGO bricks, what would you build?”

The grand prize? The winner and their family (or up to three guests) will be flown out to the new LEGO House in Billund, Denmark for a free one-night stay from November 24-25, 2017.

Photo credit: LEGO House.

The winning guests will embark on an interactive journey through the LEGO House, which Bjarke Ingels designed. The host, LEGO Master Builder Jamie, will lead a tour of the building — including the Tree of Creativity, the Masterpiece Gallery, and the interactive Experience Zones where you can create your own LEGO films, robotic cars, and more.

Tree of Creativity. Photo: Iwan Baan.

Photo: Iwan Baan.

Red Zone, featuring the LEGO Brick Builder Water Fall. Photo: Iwan Baan.

The final stop is a bedroom “floating” in a pool ...

A giant MacBook tops out the Foster + Partners-designed Chicago Apple Store

2017-06-27T12:41:00-04:00

Although the original Foster + Partners renderings for the new Chicago Apple Store did not include a logo on its gray, rectilinear convex carbon-fiber roof, construction workers briefly unrolled the trademark white Apple across what now can only be viewed as a giant MacBook (no word yet on whether the store is meant to be in perpetual sleep mode). Here's a video of the unfurling:

Touring Danish playground emphasizes multi-faceted nature of play with modular elements + a smoke machine

2017-04-20T13:06:00-04:00

In addition to conceptually representing the inherent creativity of play, this touring modular playground made up of 35 white cubes mounted on safety rubber also features inlaid LEDs and a smoke machine, making it ridiculously cool for its target demographic.

As Stephan Gustin, one of the designers behind architecture firm Gustin Landscape's playground explains, "Kids are like grown-ups – we are all different, and since the ‘classic’ playground design only considers physical play, it is this variation in personality that is a high priority for My Playground. We created a set of ‘building blocks’ that can be configured in several ways to fit different places. We created these white cubes with refined decorations that have the feeling of a 'non-specific' landscape, meaning that you can create your own story, your own drama and your own fantasy. The cubes will then transform and blend into different environments. This could not happen if it looked like a giant ladybug - or classic swing...

Comedy meets architecture as Michael Ian Black chats with Deborah Berke

2017-04-06T12:18:00-04:00

Although certain architects have attempted to inject humor into the profession, architecture is generally not known for its slapstick and wry timing, which makes the pairing of interviewer Michael Ian Black (formerly of classic comedy show The State) and Yale Dean of Architecture Deborah Berke just...unusual, but great. You can listen to their talk about the role of architecture in everyday life here.

While you're at it, take a listen to Archinect's podcast conversation with Deborah Berke...

Sadar + Vuga declare, "Humor is a rare quality in architecture" in a new documentary on the influential Slovenian firm

2017-03-16T18:32:00-04:00

Rejecting self-serious notions in favor of playful, experimental, and bold architecture, Slovenian architects Sadar + Vuga have made a name themselves in the twenty-one years since they founded their practice.

Sadar+Vuga’s Air Traffic Control Center (ATCC) in Slovenia

One of the few firms to openly state that their work is "intentionally imperfect and awkward, robust, and ambiguous," Sadar + Vuga's work is now profiled in a documentary entitled "Sadar + Vuga XX." Watch the trailer below.

From the architects...

Focus of Sadar+Vuga XX documentary by director Damjan Kozole is the design process behind one of the most influential Slovenian architectural studios of the new generation, Sadar+Vuga.

The documentary Sadar+Vuga XX explores the production and communication of the Slovenian architectural firm Sadar+Vuga established by Jurij Sadar and Boštjan Vuga in Ljubljana in 1996. Individual reflections and talks with Slovenian and foreign architects, architectural critics and policy-makers, co...

Tour Paris' Brutal landmarks with this new architectural guide

2017-03-09T12:55:00-05:00

Paris is not only the City of Lights, but also one of the great repositories of Brutalist buildings. "Brutalist Paris Map," a new architectural guide book put together by photographer Nigel Crow and edited by Robin Wilson of the Bartlett, marks the sixth in a series of publications touring various architectural genres in different cites.

The book will point you to monuments such as Les Choux de Creteil, Les Orgues de Flandre Les Damiers, and Bourse by Travail among a slew of others.

Changing architectural ideals as illustrated through child literature

2016-08-23T14:22:00-04:00

In this fascinating piece by Rumaan Ali for Slate, he explores how children's picture books offer a fun historical survey of the ideal architecture and interior decor for each place and time, spanning from the early 20th century to contemporary times. Although the books usually incorporate some element of fantasy, the throw rugs, furniture, and division of space tend to be reflective of the real world of that era.

As Ali writes about the "Best Storybook Ever" by Richard Scarry:

"The silhouettes of the sofas in the living room and the attic den are similar. This is not a home of ostentatious decorative gestures, but one of comfort, a faith in the modern culture (the television, the record player, a single book, from the Book of the Month Club, no doubt, left out on the coffee table). We see the home at the start of the day: one son lacing up his shoes, mother working on breakfast. The house is awake, alive with an optimism about what the day, the decade, the century holds for the peopl...

The National Building Museum's blockbuster ball pit is coming to Tampa next month

2016-07-19T18:35:00-04:00

How can anyone forget Snarkitecture's giant monochromatic ball pit that took over the National Building Museum's Great Hall last summer? Following a wildly successful run that attracted a record-breaking 160,000 visitors, The BEACH is making a comeback at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida starting August 5. Plus, general admission is free!

Photos by Noah Kalina.

It also looks like the installation is coming back bigger than before, spanning 15,000 square feet with a 75-foot-wide “shoreline”, and comprising 1.2 million of the antimicrobial plastic balls. The NBM version was 10,000 square feet, and its more than 650,000 plastic balls were reused in Hou de Sousa's winning design of the Dupont Underground's Re-Ball! competition. No word as of yet if and how the Tampa installation will be recycled.

If you plan on diving into the ball pit at the arena, keep a close watch on your loose belongings when “splashing” around. The Tampa Bay Times writes that more than 1,000 items were lost at the...

Carsten Höller to unveil his ArcelorMittal Orbit slide in June

2016-04-27T17:49:00-04:00

Höller wanted to show that you don’t necessarily get to know a sculpture better by literally travelling through it; that once inside it begins to look like something else entirely... The Slide, a permanent fixture at London’s Olympic Park, will give people a full 40 seconds to experience this and decide for themselves as they make their way down the 178m chute at an estimated 15mph.

Unfolding dumpling design with Architecture Research Office

2016-02-05T15:09:00-05:00

'The dumpling maker has a structural problem,' says Jason Kim, a project manager at ARO. 'The skin has to be thin enough where you have the right ratio of meat to skin, but strong enough to hold together.'

"How do the principles of architecture and design apply to dumplings?" Sporkful has a quick chat with dumpling fanatics Architecture Research Office about how particular design concepts can structurally improve the Lunar New Year food staple. Maybe you'll learn a trick or two on how to eat the seemingly gravity-defying soup dumpling, too.

If you don't want to listen to the whole episode — although you should still give it a listen because, hello, dumplings — ARO's interview starts around 13:25.

More about food and architecture on Archinect:

Envision your next design with Arckit + giveaway!

2016-01-28T12:04:00-05:00

Need a break from LEGOs or want to refresh your creative process for your next project? Arckit is a choice you wouldn't want to pass up. Irish architect Damien Murtagh created the aesthetically savvy modular kit for architects, students, hobbyists, and design enthusiasts of any age to enjoy and use for their architectural modeling needs.

Arckit uses a series of reusable modular components that connect without glue(!), allowing the creation of freeform structures that can be endlessly modified. The system is based on modern building techniques and uses a universal sale — making it ideal for architectural projects, showcasing finished designs, or just for good ol' fun.

Are you in dire need of one of these kits? Archinect is giving away three Arckit sets to our lucky readers!

Read on for more about Arckit, and find out how to enter the giveaway.

'You can design almost any structure with Arckit – from a room, extension, walled garden, dream home, street, high-rise tower or even replicate so...

Need another last-minute holiday idea? Build your own Gingerbread Village with these architectural drawings

2015-12-23T14:57:00-05:00

If last-minute is your signature style for the holiday season, here's a crafty idea from a fellow designer that you can use to impress your guests or as a fun family-friendly activity. Robert Christo is a Brooklyn-based architect who enjoys building gingerbread houses with his family during this time of year. He decided to take the well-loved pastime a step further and draw some IKEA-like architectural drawings for a Gingerbread Village. With some frosting, a good amount of gingerbread, and whatever sweet edibles you need, use Christo's handy instructions as a guide to assemble your own festive town, including homes, shops, village green, a schoolhouse, and sledding hill. (Hopefully you won't need an Allen wrench in the process.)

Update: Robert Christo shared a few more drawings he sketched.

To zoom in on the drawings, click here.

If you still have some gift shopping to do, check out Archinect's holiday gift guides:

The 2015 holiday gift-giving guide for architects

Archinect's 2015 holid...

"Take the 10 to the 110 to the 101": Why Southern Californians say "the" before freeway numbers

2015-11-11T13:14:00-05:00

Southern Californians have a distinctive — 'Saturday Night Live's' Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig might say funny — way of giving directions. To get from Santa Monica to Hollywood, take the 10 to the 110 to the 101. Burbank to San Diego? The 134 to the 5. And, if you can, always avoid the 405. Why the definite articles?...Most of North America, in fact, omits the 'the' before route numbers.

More about L.A. freeways on Archinect:

Christopher Hawthorne on repairing L.A.'s long-broken relationship with its freeways

Largest wildlife overpass in U.S. proposed for L.A.'s 101 Freeway, could ease area's roadkill problem

Ode to the Stack, Los Angeles's iconic infrastructure

Southern California not so sprawling after all

LA's Unbuilt Freeways

Win "Archi-Graphic: An Infographic Look at Architecture"

2015-10-27T11:14:00-04:00

Infographics make everything more fun, right? "Archi-Graphic: An Infographic Look at Architecture" is a new book that explores the world of architecture in a way that wouldn't be the same with words and images alone.

Authored by Frank Jacobus, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas' Fay Jones School of Architecture, the 160-page book is loaded with fun infographics that make great conversation starters both architectural and non-architectural folks can enjoy.

Thanks to Laurence King Publishing, Archinect is giving away five copies of Archi-Graphic to our readers!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: Simply fill out this survey by the deadline on October 30, 2015, end of day. Five winners will be selected at random. Good luck!

Here's a glimpse of what's inside the book:

Depicted in a spectrum of colors and engaging visuals, the infographics cover a wide range of topics including: the career tracks of some of the world's most iconic architects; the number of Google hits a certain architect...

Partygoers have a blast at the Architectural League's 2015 Beaux Arts Ball

2015-09-22T09:48:00-04:00

Architects, designers, and artists gathered at the Knockdown Center in Queens last Friday night for the Architectural League of New York's Beaux Arts Ball 2015. Co-chaired by Vishaan Chakrabarti of SHoP Architects and Maria Alataris, this year's "Threshold" theme kicks off another cultural year for The Architectural League and the New York design community. It also nods to the industrial history of the Knockdown Center, a former doorframe factory that was restored into an arts and performance space.

Every year, guests dress up, boogie down, socialize, and enjoy refreshments alongside fellow architects, all while helping support the League's programs.

Here's a glimpse of this year's party.

Inside the Knockdown Center's 50,000 square foot, 40-foot high spaces, the design offices of Alibi Studio, MODU, and Moorhead & Moorhead created site-specific “threshold” installations to play up the industrial space of the Knockdown.

Check out photos from 2014: Craft and 2013: -isms.

...

The Architectural League announces the Beaux Arts Ball 2015: Threshold

2015-09-03T21:57:00-04:00

Over 1,000 architects, designers, and artists will gather for a night of festivities at the Architectural League of New York's Beaux Arts Ball 2015: Threshold, taking place on September 18 at the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York City. Since the League revived the event in 1990 to fundraise support for their programs, the Beaux Arts Ball has grown into a highly anticipated event for the New York design community and friends. The League picks a different venue every year that is architecturally historic and based within the city's five boroughs.

Co-chaired by architects Vishaan Chakrabarti and Maria Alataris this year, the "Threshold" theme gives a hats off to the start of another cultural year for the League and the wider New York design community. It also draws inspiration from the specific industrial history of the Knockdown Center — a former doorframe factory restored into an artist/performance space.

Inside the factory’s 50,000 square foot, 40-foot high spaces, the design offic...

This studio illustrates Minecraft's architectural capabilities to create imaginary worlds

2015-08-17T16:34:00-04:00

The BlockWorks studio proves, yet again, that architects can use Minecraft as a design tool to produce rather magical results with impressive detail. The team of architects, designers, and animators envision mystical cubic worlds in response to what they refer to as "Briefs", which include commissions from YouTube personalities, gaming networks, museums, and film studios as well as original submissions to actual Minecraft design competitions.

Although the designs are largely fictional, BlockWorks draws inspiration from real-world buildings from throughout history and even structural details by today's starchitects. As expected, the team's growing portfolio is pretty spectacular, and surely retains one's attention for a good amount of time.

You can check out more of BlockWorks' projects in greater detail on their website. Also, sneak a peek at some their project trailers below or on their YouTube channel.

All images via. H/T Kotaku Australia

Four centuries of American house architecture surveyed in one charming poster

2015-07-31T19:16:00-04:00

Pop Chart Lab — the studio that gained renown for their infographics on culturally relevant topics like beer, cats, comic-book villains, famous TV characters, and so on — recently came out with "The Architecture of American Houses: A Structured Survey from 1600 to the Present", an enticing graphic chart that packs in four centuries' worth of American housing architecture.

The poster is a nifty conversation starter, showing off 121 styles ranging from 17th century post-medieval English homes, the distinct Tudor facades, the gabled roofs and A-Frames of midcentury modernism, to the McMansions that rose in the 1990s. The illustrations are conveniently organized into seven main categories and 40 subdivisions. Each poster is also individually numbered and signed by the artists.

Images via popchartlab.com

The poster is available for purchase here.

h/t Visual News

UrbanCampsite Amsterdam lets visitors camp in style in these artsy "tents"

2015-07-24T15:41:00-04:00

If you happen to find yourself wandering IJburg's Centrumeiland artificial island in Amsterdam this summer, you might encounter a peculiar group of art installations randomly camped out in what feels like the middle of nowhere. Although the installations alone are enough to draw in passers-by, they're actually part of UrbanCampsite Amsterdam, an outdoor public exhibition wherein you can, yes, go camping.

Founders Annette van Driel and Francis Nijenhuis launched UrbanCampsite Amsterdam this past June after a successful first exhibition last year. As a way to brighten up the "sandy piece of wasteland" on the IJburg island and attract visitors to the developing neighborhood, the project offers all the basics of outdoor camping — but appeals to anyone looking to add a "luxurious" artsy twist in their experience.

The campsite features 12 very different installations mostly built out of waste materials. With an Airbnb reservation, a lucky number of visitors can spend the night in these char...

Celebrating concrete architecture in a mini "block party"

2015-07-15T13:04:00-04:00

Long inspired by historic modernist concrete structures throughout the last century, Mumbai-based product designers Nitin Barchha and Disney Davis of Material Immaterial made an artful ode to concrete's lasting architectural influence in "SPACES", a collection of miniature blocks cleanly carved into charming homes.

The designers made each humble yet sophisticated abode using a particular concrete mix to replicate the material's smooth finish. Each of the nine pieces — which measure at 62 x 62 x 51 millimeters — has its own design of volumes and voids that enable numerous arrangements when grouped altogether in the central "Kund".

h/t Ignant

Check out more of these crafty architectural designs on Archinect:

Stephanie Clark’s embroidered architecture

Artist Charles Young crafts mini paper metropolis on the daily

These "Stalaclights" are a witty tribute to the forever-growing skyscraper

Deconstructing architectural icons, with gifs!

"Birdbnb" exhibits elaborate birdhouse replicas of over 50 ...

Snarkitecture's 10,000 sq ft indoor BEACH at the National Building Museum

2015-07-07T14:07:00-04:00

Following Bjarke Ingels Group's wildly successful BIG Maze last summer, one could only wonder how Washington D.C.'s National Building Museum would one-up itself this time around. Enter Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham of Snarkitecture, who envisioned the 10,000 square-foot indoor BEACH that opened on July 4 in the Museum's Great Hall.

Decked out in Snarkitecture's all-white aesthetic, the monochromatic installation has beach chairs and umbrellas on the "shoreline" and an "ocean" of nearly 1 million recyclable translucent plastic balls for visitors to "splash" in, facing a mirrored wall that creates the illusion of a vast expanse. The Museum commissioned Snarkitecture to design the giant ball-pit — which was first announced back in April — for the annual “Summer Block Party,” which consists of various public programming, exhibitions, and events.

'We see the commission as an exciting opportunity to create an architectural installation that reimagines the qualities and possibilities of ma...

Archinect to host party & book launch for "Treatise: Why Write Alone?" at the Neutra VDL Saturday, May 2nd!

2015-04-24T12:48:00-04:00

Mark your calendars for Saturday evening, May 2! Archinect is heading out to the Neutra VDL House in Los Angeles for the "Treatise: Why Write Alone?" West Coast book launch. Archinect, Neutra VDL House, and The Graham Foundation will be co-hosting the event.

The Neutra VDL House in Silver Lake, Los Angeles will be hosting the event. (Photo: David Hartwell)

Organized by Jimenez Lai of Bureau Spectacular, "Treatise" is a publication project featuring the collective works of 14 young design offices, who each explore the concept: "Why Write? And why write alone?" "Treatise" originates from Lai's Graham Foundation grant to pursue non-conformist approaches to architecture, and it made its debut as an exhibition in Chicago's Graham Foundation in January.

Cognoscenti Coffee will be serving espresso and espresso-based drinks -- including espresso-based cocktails! Special guests will soon be announced.

RSVP now. (The event is free!)

View of “Treatise: Why Write Alone?”, 2015, Graham Foundation, Ch...

"The Hole Idea" celebrates the simple joys of creating "spontaneous architecture"

2015-04-01T15:16:00-04:00

Architectural design can be as playful as a child's imagination and still be taken seriously. Coated in a sunny yellow and candy-colored circular openings, "The Hole Idea -- Now in Technicolor" in Winnipeg is a snow tunnel that may seem like a kids-only zone at first glance, but is an engaging installation that can spark the curiosity of anyone who is trudging by in the snow. Since it was first installed in January after winning the popular Warming Huts 2015 competition, The Hole Idea has attracted visitors of all ages. The project's success continues with its recent win of an Ontario Association Of Architects Award.

Designed by Toronto-based Weiss Architecture + Urbanism, the playful concept for The Hole Idea -- which was named after a 1955 Looney Tune animation of the same name -- evokes childhood memories of Saturday morning cartoons, colorful playgrounds, and building snow forts.

The firm worked alongside Blackwell Engineering and the Canada Culvert fabrication team to complete th...

Detroit's P. Funk-inspired Mothership is ready to get the party started

2015-03-31T20:24:00-04:00

Most people would probably be envious of the lucky DJs that got to spin tunes in The Mothership (I know I am). Ann Arbor-based practice Anya Sirota + AKOAKI looked to legendary funk collective P-Funk and their iconic album Mothership Connection to design the swanky modular DJ and broadcast booth for Detroit's North End neighborhood and its local music scene.

Akoaki created The Mothership to mark the start of the collaborative O.N.E. Mile initiative, which brings together architects, designers, and artists to revive the public spaces along historic Oakland Avenue for a series of experimental cultural events all year long. The Mothership made its debut during O.N.E. Mile's free (and unprecedented) Mothership Launch event this past October, where 12 honorary members of Parliament-Funkadelic did a special live performance in an empty garage on Oakland Avenue. The mobile unit is still stationed there but has more future public appearances in tow.

The Mothership is constructed by an aluminu...