A pair of USB ports on a console on the front of the bench provides juice from the solar panel mounted at lap level between the seats. Who wouldn’t want to hang out at a bench like this? It certainly catches the eye of passersby. What these kids might not realize, however, is that this bench is watching them back. — Landscape Architecture Magazine
"Smart" benches are spreading—recently a series of them, manufactured by Soofa, was installed in a tiny neighborhood park next to I-77 on the north end of Charlotte, North Carolina with the intent of the neighborhood's analysis and redevelopment. Soofa, founded in 2014 by three graduates of... View full entry
In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles. (Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)... View full entry
Designed by a Brazilian architecture firm SUBdV Architecture, this Factory and Office Annex in São Paulo, fuses high-tech architectural design strategies with local low-tech construction methodologies. The façade system references the traditional Brazilian ‘cobogo’ shading screen, which... View full entry
This post is brought to you by Ortal. Modern fireplaces are first and foremost decorative elements—gorgeous architectural details, beautiful centerpieces, conversation openers, symbols of home and hearth. “For a lot of people they are almost like shrines or alters, in that the fireplace will... View full entry
Confined in Utah’s Mars Desert Research habitat for three days—habitat diameter: 33 feet—the five-person team experienced the cramped living quarters and zero-waste living necessary to survive a journey to outer space. — Quartz
Designers from IKEA are exploring space-saving solutions for tiny homes by living in an actual Mars research station. During the immersion workshop led by Constance Adams, NASA architect behind the habitat for the first human mission to Mars, the team examines the ways in which astronauts'... View full entry
Valdsgaard believes Apple’s know-how and recent progress within AR will be a crucial complement to Ikea’s in-house competencies. Another major benefit of working with Apple is the company’s gigantic ecosystem of users. — Business Insider
Ikea will partner with Apple to co-build an AR-based shopping app that will enable its users to try out virtual furniture at home before making buying decisions. Michael Valdsgaard, Leader of Digital Transformation at Inter Ikea, noted that the app is intended not to replace the... View full entry
Blending elements of brutalism and pronounced geometric framing, the Murray Music House designed by Carazo Arquitectura is technically a single family home, designed for two parents and three children. The fundamental concept underlying its design is "Living Through the Experimentation," which... View full entry
According to a listing on Zillow, Jose Oubrerie's visually complex, materially innovative Miller House is now on the market for $550,000. Each room is a study in unusual and exactingly executed detail; cabinets transition seamlessly into L-shaped shelving, while doors become hosts for... View full entry
Minimalism is just another form of conspicuous consumption, a way of saying to the world: ‘Look at me! Look at all of the things I have refused to buy!’ — guardian
I always thought domestic minimalism requires maximum household help, made of mostly immigrant domestic workers. So, whenever I see those shelter magazine pictures, I whisper "sonsofbitches, they are hiding something." View full entry
It's like the furniture version of ASMR. This short video from Vitra shows the materials of an Eames Lounge Chair coming together: Mores Eames on Archinect: A “terrible, enjoyable bloody business”: the influential films of Charles and Ray EamesCharles and Ray Eames Explain the Computer... View full entry
This post is brought to you by designjunction. designjunction (22 – 25 September) is set to transform its new home in King’s Cross into one destination full of immersive design concepts and stimulating experiences.On Wednesday 21 September designjunction will host its first open-air party on... View full entry
This post is brought to you by 100% Design. 100% Design, the UK’s largest trade fair for architects and designers, returns once more to London Olympia. The show, with over 26,000 international visitors spending exceeding £3.4 billion has a deserved reputation as the commercial heart of London... View full entry
In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect... View full entry
designjunction is now in its sixth year – what did you originally set out to achieve with the exhibition? Has that changed?At the time (back in 2011) when we launched designjunction, we felt London was missing a commercial show with more creative energy and a greater relevance to the A&D... View full entry
In an attempt to help raise the final £1 million needed to cover construction costs of their new Kensington High Street home, the Design Museum in London have launched a fundraising campaign, Adopt an Object. For £5, each adopter will receive a personalised thank you film showing an... View full entry