New stories by Architonic

Low-light bathrooms that swaddle you with darkness | News | Architonic

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Synonyms for ‘dark’ read like a who’s who of negativity. Words like ‘gloom’, ‘murk’ and ‘despair’ are a world away from the light and airy interiors we’re told to covet by magazines and influencers. But for many people who look for tranquillity in the bathroom, there is comfort to be found in the dark. Many of us tend to close our eyes while searching for peace and mindfulness. In turning off the sense of sight we can retreat inside of ourselves, and focus on our own self-care. These four dark bathrooms from the ArchDaily catalogue use this theory of peaceful darkness to create calming bathrooms with low, ambient lighting; natural materials and dark surfaces. In order to create a cosy atmosphere, the Black is Back apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine, chooses to balance the dark colours of an expansive material palette – including brick, African black stone, leather and wood – with light…

LDNdesign Talks Theatre Programme Unveiled | Architecture | Architonic

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

As well as hundreds of cutting-edge pieces, immersive installations and unending inspiration, London Design Fair 2023 will also feature the LDNdesign Talks Stage (sponsored by OYOY Living Design) running throughout the Fair with an inspiring line-up of designers and thought leaders, sharing their tips, trends and experiences directly with a live audience. The theatre programme is included in all tickets to the fair. Just book your ticket and then plan which of the fascinating talks you want to take a seat for. From having your interior design dilemmas answered by interior design expert Frank Newbold, to interactive workshops for you to learn first-hand from the experts – there is something for everyone! On Thursday 21 September, Architonic…

Newly opened hotel interiors that reflect their environment | News | Architonic

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In an age where the digital world often overshadows the natural, captivating interiors seek to bridge the gap between our fast-paced lives and the innate tranquility of the outdoors. The trend of bringing nature inside is an enchanting movement that has taken the design world by storm. Embracing the soothing aesthetics of the natural world, it invites us to rediscover a harmonious coexistence with the environment by seamlessly blending organic elements into our living spaces. From cascading greenery adorning minimalist interiors to the incorporation of natural textures and materials, the movement captures the essence of serenity while redefining the very concept of indoor spaces.

It's fitting then that these

A circular seating solution: Haworth Cardigan Lounge™ | News | Architonic

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Team Picks: the architecture and design stories we loved this month | News | Architonic

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

PROJECTS The Hoxton Hotel by AIME Studios Ennismore’s inhouse design studio, AIME Studios, is responsible for the interiors of this hospitality space in Berlin, Germany, which are connected by a carefully constructed narrative built around rough nouveau, a concept which draws inspiration from both the theatricality of Charlottenburg’s golden era and the raw materiality of Brutalism. The aesthetics are layered and textural – unrefined plaster walls provide the backdrop to ornate Art Deco light fittings and vintage furnishings, and striking, industrial materials are used in juxtaposition with exaggerated cornicing and emerald-green tiles. Maria Deister, Senior Content Editor:

'This project is an example of exceptional design in the German capital…

DESIGNWEEK 2023 — seven brands, five showrooms | Architecture | Architonic

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Retailers, architects and interior designers from across the country and around the world are invited to experience the latest products by DRAENERT, freistil ROLF BENZ, Kettnaker, OBJECT CARPET, ROLF BENZ, schönbuch and WALTER KNOLL. Also on the schedule are tours around their studios and manufacturing facilities as well as lectures and workshops. But the focus will be on meeting our partners for a face-to-face chat. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements, hotel bookings…

Editor's Letter – August 2023 | News | Architonic

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

There’s a certain contradiction in the calmness. It’s high summer (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least) and while the design industry enjoys a spot of downtime with out-of-office messages the norm and fair halls empty but expectant, the mind is working overtime. A time for recharging, the summer break for me is also a surprisingly intense period of reflection, reassessment and regrouping, on both a professional and a personal level. It’s a time when priorities once again crystallise. What’s really important? What truly matters?

Against the backdrop of the hottest summer on record globally, the terrifying images of devastating forest fires in the likes of Hawaii and Greece, attended by catastrophic flooding in other regions of the world, leave us all in no doubt of what our chief priority is. Climate change, caused by global warming, is here and now. We know what the stakes are.

And yet changing behaviours is not easy. The aviation industry, for example, is booming as…

Handcrafted design for minimalist washbasins and baths | News | Architonic

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In the realm of architectural design and interior furnishings, achieving a balance between form and function is a daily challenge that designers encounter. This interplay between utility and aesthetics has not only evolved over time but also involves a constant exchange of styles and production methods. Frequently, this interchange leads to standardization and generic designs, potentially causing a depletion of authenticity in the design process.

For this reason, in the contemporary era, designers are revisiting the fundamentals, rediscovering manual design processes that range from sketching to model making, all while embracing pure forms. Designers and manufacturers alike are embracing conscientious approaches to develop proposals…

Seven key decisions when choosing a kitchen sink | News | Architonic

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The clean lines of a minimalist kitchen demand all unnecessary objects to stay out of sight. Even necessary ones, like fridges and dishwashers, can be integrated behind false cabinet doors. Innovative products like boiling water taps and Klöber has been manufacturing high-quality office chairs that combine healthy sitting with sophisticated design. The landscape of the region has remained an important source of inspiration over the years and its chairs are still manufactured locally. Despite its ties to both tradition and the local area, however, the manufacturer lacks neither cosmopolitanism nor a spirit of innovation as it continues to pursue its goal of helping to shape the working environments of today as well as tomorrow. With New Work, the more comfort-related aspects of office landscapes are more and more in focus, or as Klöber's head designer Jörg Bernauer puts it: ‘The visual and atmospheric aspects of working environments are increasingly moving towards the homely.’ A major reason for this development is the realisation that people are better able to do good work when t…

Four bean-belt coffee shops that kick-start the day | News | Architonic

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200

At 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south of the equator respectively, sit the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The 3,000-mile-wide band between them that wraps around the Earth is affectionately known as the ‘bean belt’. The tropical and sub-tropical climatic conditions inside the belt, as well as the high percentage of land over 1,000 metres above sea level, create the perfect conditions for the coffee plant to thrive.

In these regions across Central and South America, Africa and Asia, coffee is one of the main national exports, becoming a large part of many national identities. So the interiors of the countries’ home-grown coffee shops can be just as rich and well-balanced as the coffee beans they grow. For people living in the bean belt, coffee is more than just a drink, it’s literally a life source. And at these coffee shops, it’s treated as such.

Highly caffeinated, coffee is seen as a little bit of a guilty pleasure. And it’s arguably true – coffee is a drink…

How to use vertical farming for sustainable living | News | Architonic

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Increasing in both size and number, cities worldwide are experiencing accelerated growth. With green land regularly lost to either urbanisation or its effects – such as rising sea levels or natural disasters – and expanding populations meaning more mouths to feed, the farming and agricultural industries are in crisis. Viewed by many as the solution, vertical farming is the practice of stacking layers of crops atop each other, using humanity’s latest design and engineering tech to grow more with less space. More traditional horizontal farmland, however, does more for the environment than simply growing our food. The open-air green spaces often serve as natural habitats, air filtration and temperature control for the surrounding area. By stepping up the concept of vertical farming into the world of architecture, we can bring all the goodness of the farm, str…

London Design Fair 2023: Fair Highlights | Architecture | Architonic

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

London Design Fair is curated for both design professionals and the design-conscious public, with days specifically catering for each audience. All visitors will be inspired by the unique mix of worldwide designers and pieces, from emerging design talent to larger international brands. Discover the latest in contemporary design, cutting-edge installations, collaborations and emerging trends at the largest commercial exhibition during London Design Festival. London Design Fair 2023 is sure to inspire. Cutting edge installations, thought provoking design and exciting collaborations will give a platform to key trends, talking points and ideas within the design community. A colourful celebration, a welcoming hug. This is the experience that visitors will enjoy when they arrive for London Design Fair 2023.

Six reasons wall lamps take light to the edge and back | News | Architonic

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

When a room relies solely on central pendants to serve its lighting needs, they’re commonly placed with maximum efficiency in mind – to reach as much of the space, while using as few fixtures, as possible. In this attempt to treat all a room’s corners fairly, however, pendants alone can often fail to serve any of them effectively. In contrast to this, wall-set lamps and sconces start the lighting narrative from the outside, and work their way in, serving a…

'Stop talking, start building': Christian Troels | News | Architonic

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Urban rewilding: the fight is on to retake green space | News | Architonic

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Ever since the birth of our cities, we’ve made sure to protect the green spaces within them. Civilisations as far back as the Romans built expansive parks in the heart of the city with ‘Rus in Urbe’ – translating as ‘Country in the City’ – still referenced today. In order to control the urbanisation boom of the mid-20th century, meanwhile, greenbelt policies across many European cities literally ring-fenced the natural environments surrounding them, making air quality and easier access to nature a part of city life. The post-pandemic city, however, is a new breed of conurbation, and these city parks and greenbelts are no longer enough. As we migrate away in search of greener, healthier climes, the cities we’re leaving are evolving, proving they can be green too by exchanging lesser-used black surfaces of roads and structures for natural grass- and parkland. These four projects from across Europe transform unused city spaces back into the natural and regenerative green environments they…

Editors' Pick: the architecture and design stories we loved this month | News | Architonic

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

PROJECTS Sauna Sazae by Kengo Kuma & Associates

The organic wooden sauna 'SAZAE' is built at the center of the glamping facility 'SANA MANE' near the small inlet of Naoshima, Japan. It has countless folds like a shell, giving the surface an impressive shadow. Inside, the pleats are shaped gently to conform to the body and provide a comfortable sitting experience. Unlike a general sauna, despite the high ceiling, the temperature and humidity are kept at an optimum level by making full use of environmental simulations and designing forced ventilation airflow.

Valeria Montjoy, Senior Content Editor: 'This wooden sauna captivated me with its seemingly simple, shell-inspired geometry that, upon closer inspection, reveals complex and fascinating details. Meticulously crafted, over 150 layers of CNC-processed plywood stack up like an i…

‘Aesthetics that counteract purpose become irrelevant': Space Copenhagen | News | Architonic

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

'Making money on a beautiful lamp is incredibly difficult': Katrine Goldstein of Norm Architects | News | Architonic

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Energy solutions and appliances in the modern electric home | News | Architonic

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Whether it’s a guilt-driven effort to reduce one’s own carbon footprint, an economy-inspired reduction in energy bills or simply taking advantage of a government incentive scheme, sustainable construction and design choices are not only being made by the most eco-aware amongst us, but now by anyone with an eye on both the current cost of energy and the future cost of its obsolescence. Whatever the motivation, as we desperately attempt to reduce our self-destructive reliance on fossil fuels, our homes and buildings are gradually turning their backs on gas – one of the final hurdles standing between us and a carbon-neutral home. These alternative systems and appliances run on renewable electricity instead, breaking our reliance on emission-causing gas-dependant products and using innovative electrical technology to improve them too. Most homes on this planet are built in areas wit…

Individual freedom is the key to productive cooperation | News | Architonic

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Among office visionaries and planners, but also among employers who inevitably have to deal with the form and function of their premises, numerous terms are currently buzzing around: mobile working, remote working, home office, new work, hybrid, agile and also activity-based working. The list goes on. The bottom line, however, is that there are exactly two questions behind all of this: How can creative processes and innovative ways of thinking be fostered? And how can qualified and motivated employees be recruited and retained in the long term? The simple answer is to create an environment of togetherness in which the individual can freely develop his or her strengths. This includes cleverly designed offices as well as a functioning interface with colleagues who work from home or on the road from time to time. And not just in hip city start-ups or listed companies, but also in small and medium-sized enterprises – the economic engine (in Germany, at least) of society and the workplace o…

Dauphin Workheart: how to successfully plan an office in terms of social factors | News | Architonic

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

How accustomed have we become to working at home or on the road? At the latest with the pandemic, many became aware of the advantages of the home office. But, whether improvised at the kitchen table or gradually perfected with a desk, office chair, etc., the home is and remains a place of work which also brings with it disadvantages. And this is true for employers as well as employees. How do companies deal with their duty of care towards their employees? How to create a sense of ‘we’ when everyone is scattered? How to switch off the private mode when domestic tasks are waiting all around you? In many companies, the question has long been how to lure employees back into the office. After all, teams should act as a close-knit community and find their way back to an atmosphere of collegial togetherness and spontaneous discussions which, as experience has shown, produce good ideas. One answer is provided by the Dauphin HumanDesign Group, and its new ‘

'Who doesn't want to be in a timber building?': Kim Herforth Nielsen of 3XN | News | Architonic

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Five reasons countertop basins clean up a bathroom’s style | News | Architonic

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Plumbed-in bathroom washbasins have for a long time been inseparable from the load-bearing frames on which they sit, formed either from similarly styled ceramic pedestals that become one shapely form, or before that, tubular steel or ironwork. Think back further still, to a time before plumbed-in water supplies, and the washbasin was nothing more than a ceramic bowl on the flat surface of a washstand, with space alongside for a jug. By renewing this trend of separating the

The functional beauty in TwelveConcept’s high-traffic flooring | News | Architonic

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

When specifying flooring for ultra-high traffic areas such as airports, workplaces and hotels, aesthetics often aren’t the first priority. Requirements such as durability, strength, slippage and fire resistance trump – because when hundreds and even thousands of people are using that flooring every day, a functional user experience is paramount for health and safety, maintenance and hygiene purposes. Yet according to Athens-based TwelveConcept, that doesn’t mean high-traffic flooring can’t be elegant, conceptual, customised and even luxurious.

TwelveConcept has four decades of expertise in designing and applying architectural flooring and surface solutions for high-traffic areas. From its showroom in Kolonaki and workshop in Acharnes on the outskirts of Athens, its team offers design, processing and application for certifi…

Doors vs. alternatives: what's the best way to enter a room? | News | Architonic

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Doors are a crucial invention that allows the modern building to function as it does. Drawing the privacy of a solid wall combined with the functionality of accessibility straight into layouts, with just a few simple lines. But choosing where precisely to put a door is, of course, never really that simple. For an object so thin (35-40mm), doors tend to take up a lot of space, each generating its own curved dotted line, warning of its possible presence. With homes getting smaller and homeowners, in turn, getting greedier – demanding more efficient space, light and functionality with every pencil mark on graph paper – the many alternatives for g…

Open-kitchen restaurants that put transparency on the menu | News | Architonic

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

What you see, is said to be what you get. The low-skilled cooking techniques and apparatus employed at branded fast-food restaurants, for example, are presented in full visibility to waiting customers. But this concept for designing open, transparent hospitality environments at least serves customers with honesty, because although the freshest ingredients and cordon bleu techniques are nowhere to be seen, neither is the grease and grime formerly associated with the category of eatery. Compare that to more upmarket establishments that keep the cacophony of a commercial kitchen hidden from view during service, and you start to wonder what else they might be hiding. By installing the same open-kitchen concept, professional kitchens that use talented chefs and high-quality ingredients are able to prove it. In order to create a relaxed environment for customers to wind down or to escape distractions and lose themselves in the eyes of another, restaurants and cafés traditionally opt to keep…

Architonic Live Talks: what you may have missed at imm cologne 2023 | News | Architonic

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Spring is a time for rebirth, for the shedding of old skin and fresh beginnings. Anyone who has spent the last few months hopping across the globe for in-person fairs can testify to the fact that this seasonal renewal trend did not skip the architecture and design industry. Loaded with post-pandemic energy and a desire to catch up on all that's been missed due to Covid-19, organisers, attendees and exhibitors were adamant to mix things up in 2023.

Koelnmesse was no exception. Not only did the organisers of imm cologne defy expectations by pushing the fair to a spring slot from 4 to 7 June, they also saw an opportunity to finally implement format changes that they had been contemplating well before the world shut down for the larger part of three years.

One of the biggest came in the form of a revamped German Design Council and selected by a top-class international jury, the ICONIC AWARDS: Innovative Interior each year highlight current trends and developments in interior design and present international design innovations. This year's central themes are resource conservation, the circular economy and future-oriented new developments. Numerous designers rely on innovative materials and technologies to minimize the ecological footprint of their products. The stackable stool "Meditri" by Johannes Müller uses plug-in elements instead of screws and nails and is made from wood scraps, which not only saves materials, but above all makes good use of waste from wood production. "There is no future for a design that is not sustainable," says young designer Johannes Müller. "Solid wood has extremely high potential, combi…

14 ways to maximise visual interest on a blank wall | News | Architonic

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The growing interior trend of maximalism encourages us to fill our homes with colour, pattern and function, letting creativity flow free without rule or restriction. But it’s not as simple as just throwing everything together and waiting to see what sticks. The following products and surfacing techniques complement each other to bring previously lonely walls to life. Already helpful in breaking up the wall space, exterior windows tend to be a forgotten, and even frustrating, part of the interior design proces…

Maximum design freedom at your feet | News | Architonic

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

It accompanies us through the day, gives us support, shows us the way and touches our senses. This may sound like the description of your perfect partner, but in this case, we are talking about the ground beneath our feet. Day after day, year after year, we come into daily contact with it, though it generally melts into the background, is taken for granted and overlooked. So it's time to give it some deserved attention. There is, after all, far more beneath its surface than meets the eye.

Architects and interior designers know the effect that the right floor can have on a space as well as our well-being. They are also aware, depending on the project, of the level of demand placed on it. This makes the choice all the more complex, especially when it comes to increased demands on design and functionality, as in hotels, restaurants, medical areas, offices or retail spaces. While one should walk through hotel corridors on silent soles, in other places, qualities of robustness, h…

Nature-set wellness centres that restore and rejuvenate | News | Architonic

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The wellness market is booming, predicted to grow by almost 60% in the five years since the COVID pandemic, with consumers taking greater care of both their physical and mental health. It’s now understood, of course, that wellness – the virtue of feeling good in both body and mind – is more affected by our environment than we used to admit.

Since 2020 we’ve been quickly migrating away from cities, with attitudes on work and living also shifting to include more natural beauty, and the hunt for the nirvana of greater wellbeing. These four wellness centres take care to complement the rejuvenating surroundings of the outdoors with healing activities and architecture, helping visitors to feel at peace with themselves and the world around them.

‘The inner power of reaching complete unity with the universe lies within the body’s movement to perform yoga.’ explain arc…

Cersaie turns 40 and redefines the concept of architectural design | Architecture | Architonic

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Over the course of four decades, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings has firmly established itself as the go-to global event for industry professionals, architects and investors, a role that will be further underscored at this year’s 40th-anniversary edition. Cersaie 2023 will be a unique opportunity to share ideas, discover the latest new products and take stock of everything that the show has achieved over the last forty years. But while taking visitors on a journey back into the past, it will also open a door into the future.

The concept of stepping through time and space that is central to this year’s communication campaign reflects the idea that the 2023 show will build on the achievements of the past to take a giant leap into the future. Throug…

Living Bathroom™: designs to break boundaries | News | Architonic

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Falper has built a reputation for sanitary ware that is a cut above our conventional bathroom staples. The sort of qualities we readily attribute to fine Italian furniture design – exquisite materials handcrafted with age-old expertise – are also to be found in the basins and baths, taps and towel rails that Falper presents. So much so, in fact, that when Foster + Partners wanted to realise a collection of bathroom fittings it had conceived as minimalist sculptures – perfectly aligned with the fine material palette and faultless finish of precious furniture pieces – they sought out Falper as partners.

The collaboration has resulted in a distinctive bathroom collection named MA, after a Japanese term meaning ‘the spaces in between’. ‘MA deconstructs the bathroom…

The big idea: Falper's Small Living Kitchens™ | News | Architonic

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Falper’s recent segue from refined bathroom design to high-quality kitchen design has already earned the brand an accolade at The 21st edition of the Elle DECO International Design Awards. Its Small Living Kitchens™ by Andrea Federici won best kitchen design at the ceremony in April, trumping others with its cleverly-conceived mission to bring exceptional materials, engineering and finish to the kitchens of homes that may be diminutive but are none-the-less uncompromising on quality.

‘Falper's Small Living Kitchens™ is a unique system designed to meet the need f…

Spoilt for choice: Falper's new design catalogues | News | Architonic

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Falper’s renown in the industry rests on its mastery of cutting-edge bathroom design alongside manufacturing expertise which brings innovative engineering and exceptional finish to its products. It has now also added award-winning kitchen design to its skillset. Increasingly, however, superlative design alone is not enough to draw in architects and developers, interior designers and lone renovators looking to furnish their own vision for the most functional parts of the home. What they seek is uncompromising quality – with choice.

Customisation, adaptability and bespoke are the buzzwords of the business and Falper’s offer is flexing to fit. For some part, it is the natural outcome of the current preference for mixing up materials in the design of our interiors – lining up marble and metal, for example, joining wood and ceramic. Falper res…

Patrick Jouin x Pedrali: ‘I like to work with companies that actually produce’ | News | Architonic

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

What’s the present you’re supposed to give someone on their tenth wedding anniversary? I think it’s meant to be something made of tin or aluminium. Hmm. Not so sexy. Bring on the diamonds.

But aluminium might be somewhat apposite in the case of the Paris-based, Compasso d’Oro-winning designer Patrick Jouin, whose authenticity of approach and modesty of personality has resulted in a decade of distinctive furniture designs for premium Italian manufacturer Pedrali. His ‘Ester’ armchair you’ve probably sat on at least once, if you’re into fine dining. Originally designed for star chef Alain Ducasse’s restaurant at The Dorchester in London, it's been specified for a slew of restaurants, hotels and boutiques internationally.

I spoke to LXSY. This is due to their Impact Hub, a collaborative community and coworking space that focuses on topics such as social entrepreneurship, circular economy, diversity, inclusion and green technology. Practically nothing comes off the shelf in these offices, most of the materials used have had a previous life. The place itself, a converted warehouse, also breathes history. We wanted to find out if such an environment could directly inspire more sustainable thinking. As the architecture firm LXSY, you are involved in the conversion of industrial buildings into offices, among other things. If you look around Berlin, there is a certain tradition in this city of accommodating agencies, start-ups, design studios, etc. in former backyard work…

How to make the most of summer with a decked-out balcony | News | Architonic

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

With a strong sense of community and shared facilities – not to mention shared insulation – there are many advantages residential units in apartment buildings offer to homeowners, and while it might take a little more time and effort (especially if the lift is broken) to get to your door, however high you have to go, the corresponding view makes the climb worthwhile. In the summertime, however, high-rise residents can be forgiven for feeling a little envious of their ground-based friends’ downtime spent in barbecue-, paddling pool- and deckchair-filled gardens. Whereas most apartments in comparison only offer a slither of outdoor space by way of a balcony. But no matter how small – or how high, when…

Desert island digs: retreats and resorts with water, water all around | News | Architonic

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Every Monday morning (and most other mornings too, to be fair), many of us dream of jacking it all in and upping sticks, jetting off to live out our days in peace on a desert island somewhere. But is island life all it’s cracked up to be? Or would we be talking to volleyballs within a week? When designing and building an island getaway paradise there are certain creature comforts expected by even the most back-to-basics visitor, to find peace and comfort in an inaccessible environment – like food, shelter, clean water and a way to contact the mainland – but doing so requires a careful balance between making these least-visited places on Earth both habitable and hospitable, without destroying them or their serenity in the process. After a two-hour boat journey to get there, visitors to the Castaway Island Resort on the Cat Ba archipelago in North Vietnam are in need of the…

Cosentino's versatile carbon-neutral surfaces | News | Architonic

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

What if you could take the verisimilitude of natural stone, and imbue it with a modern versatility and functionality, across a multitude of domestic contexts? That’s the ethos at the heart of Dekton, the ‘technical ultracompact stone’ by the sustainable Spanish surface company Cosentino. This, they say, is stone ‘decoded’ (or, in pithy Dekton parlance, ‘dekoded’).

Poetically obtuse that might sound – but Dekton is as structurally nuanced as it is visually ascetic. It’s made from 20 minerals and recycled natural materials – largely quartz, glass and porcelain – combined through a process called sintering whereby heat and intense compression are used to coalesce the particles into an ultracompact, defect-free composite using 25,0…

Sculptural marvels: Jacopo Foggini’s polycarbonate creations for Edra | News | Architonic

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Longtime Edra collaborator designer Jacopo Foggini is fascinated by the lightweight, durable and decorative qualities of polycarbonate. He has made it his mission to master its functionality for contemporary interiors, whilst finding its playful sculptural aesthetics through experimentations with light.

This year, he has launched two new collections for Edra, expanding on his previous collections in the same material; Diamante, a family of three tables and Veronica, a family of lounge chairs and Edra’s Jubilé mirror designed by the Campana brothers is a celebration. Its 25 irregular fragments of glass symbolise the 25th Campana brothers’ design for Edra. It also represents a celebration of the life of Fernando Campana, who passed away in November 2022 – Jubilé marks the very last design of the Campana Brothers for Edra.

Appropriate for our current era of individuality, the mirror mounted on an aluminium structure is not only a functional object, but a work of art. Its irregular and manually bevelled 149 edges create extraordinary textures and reflections, and it can be used standing or wall mounted vertically or horizontally.

While characterful, Jubilé is also a…

Elevating the sofa archetype with Standway | News | Architonic

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Francesco Binfaré designed Edra’s Standway sofa as his last word on sofas – the sofa of all sofas if you will. An all-rounder for all types of interiors, Standway achieves Binfaré’s most harmonious balance of comfort and beauty and includes Edra’s latest innovative engineering including the mouldable Smart Cushion and Gellyfoam® technology.

The Standway combines the best of Binfaré’s earlie…

14 rugs that really tie a room together | News | Architonic

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Available in any shape, size, colour and tread, rugs are used to fill in empty space between seating elements or to conversely border other areas – such as dining spaces – encouraging and enclosing the activity within. More than this, however, when soft and deep enough, rugs provide additional furniture to sit, lean, lie, stretch out and relax on; they double up as hardwearing yet washable flooring that stands up to abuse from traffic; and, perhaps, most importantly, they pitc…

No future for business as usual | News | Architonic

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The latest report from the UN’s climate panel states that the building industry accounts for 34% of global energy consumption and 37% of global CO2 emissions. As noted in the report: ‘The buildings and construction sector is not on track to achieve decarbonisation by 2050.’ Dramatic numbers and rather depressing news. With this reality in mind, Danish window manufacturer VELUX recently set out to initiate a project to demonstrate that if the industry is willing to change, here and now, it’s possible. Together with their partners, Danish architect studio EFFEKT and engineer consultants Artelia, VELUX has built an experimental housing programme called Living Places which exemplifies and proves that with current building technology and materials, a transition towards healthier and more sustainable living is already within reach.

For almost 80 years, ICFF New York, imm cologne Spring Edition, 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen and Chicago's NeoCon – with each event trying to stake its claim to a continued relevance and meaning, both commercial and cultural. In some cases, the fairs were smaller in terms of real estate than we've known them, a reflection of the very real challenges faced by the physical exhibition industry right now, but all had clearly taken the strategic decision to attempt…

Salt of the Earth interiors | News | Architonic

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

On my first ever trip to Italy I slept on a marble floor. I was visiting an old schoolfriend who had the good fortune to be spending a term of her History of Art degree in the home town of Canaletto, Titian and Tintoretto. Her Venetian lodgings were a one-room apartment in a palazzo with little provision for guests but generously proportioned, acceptably furnished and most memorably featuring an abundance of polished mineral surfaces. Though not overly-grand, it was a cut above most student accommodation and gave me my first experience of residing in the enveloping calm of an interior swathed in stone. Ascending the steps of Villa Necchi or any one of Milan’s palatial residences brings back that same feeling. It’s something historic Italy does expertly.

More decades than I care to mention later, and the contemporary design world is mining the emotional value of some of the more exciting strata buried far beneath our feet. Not only are marbles and fine granites shorthand for…

In the spotlight: Mara’s fresh designs take the stage | News | Architonic

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

If design were fashion then the Salone del Mobile would be a supermodel. It's certainly got the looks. Or, rather, it attracts the crowd with the looks. Seeing and being seen is built into the very architecture of Fiera Milano Rho, where endless walkways and travelators deliver a steady stream of whatever the plural of 'la bella figura' is. Visitors may be wearing comfortable shoes for this trade-fair marathon, but they've got their game-faces on. It's Italy, after all.

Premium Italian furniture manufacturer Mara took the spectacle of fashion as its cue for this year's Salone, creating for its stand an immersive space reminiscent of the live catwalk show, replete with runway and backstage wings. No pouting models, though. Instead a raft of new products…

Time to make a change: when adaptive reuse begets positive transformation | News | Architonic

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

When you’ve made a mess, it’s often easier to hold up your hands and start again from scratch. But while it might be a harder way to do it, adaptive reuse – when architecture takes something old and broken and brings it back to life – can have benefits all round. When planning much-needed social and cultural buildings for public use, instead of using new, virgin materials (or even recycled materials that need to be collected, stripped, reformatted and transported), there are plenty of pre-made sites already in place. All we have to do is see them. These adaptive reuse projects take disused buildings, forgotten projects and unloved environments and transform them into something new, bringing life, positivity and purpose.
Despite the proximity of the Basel military barracks to the heart of the city, the Swiss army’s training complex remained closed off from the general public for 150 years. And, although many of the site’s smaller buildings have been updated and transformed into a…

Split-level: mezzanine floors that reorganise the floorplan | News | Architonic

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

At first glance, adding a mezzanine floor to a layout either seems like a complete waste of good floorspace or a clumsy attempt to squeeze two storeys into one – like wearing skinny jeans after Christmas – both spaces end up feeling constricted and uncomfortable. But whether the intermediate-level floor is achieved by addition – erecting an extra level in a high-ceilinged room, or by subtraction – removing part of the floor to connect with the one below, mezzanines are a relatively simple way to dramatically change and improve how we use and interact with our existing environments. As businesses change, so do their office requirements. For workplaces left with unused height or floorspace, mezzanine levels can use the extra space, making it work better for everyone. The Cardigan Office in Montreal, Canada, by

’tis the Season: outdoor seating that keeps its place – and its looks – all year long | News | Architonic

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Memories are short when it comes to the weather. Many of us spend half our year or more gazing out at wet, freezing terraces, balconies and gardens like jilted lovers, longing for the summer sun to return. As soon as it does come back, however, it’s all too easy to forgive and forget, as the outdoor world very quickly becomes our new normal. When selecting outdoor furniture to match summer-of-sun mood boards, however, we must remember the skies are fickle, and what’s ‘summer-ready’ one weekend…

Swedish sleeping solutions from Mattsons | News | Architonic

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200

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Six evergreen design elements that define contemporary interiors | News | Architonic

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

When it comes to forward-thinking interior design, adaptability and timelessness are two key factors that can guarantee a home will look just as current years from now as it does today. One interior style that makes use of them more than any other: contemporary. By borrowing elements from several prominent styles and combining them into a harmonic whole, contemporary interiors stay current even as trends move on.

Contemporary interior style was a natural evolution of midcentury-modern aesthetics and was first coined as its own term around the 1970s. Signifying a mix of predominant styles at the time, it borrowed heavily from popular aesthetics such as modernism, postmodernism and Art Deco. By combining elements of each to varying degrees, contemporary homes reflected a certain in-the-know-quality without risking an imbalance in favour of one or the other.

Fast forward a half-century and contemporary interiors are still evolving at a rapid speed. With the introduction o…

What is terrazzo and where do you find it? | News | Architonic

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Essentially beginning as a way to use old offcuts of natural stone materials such as marble, quartz and granite, the 600-year-old technique of creating terrazzo surfaces is enjoying a particularly strong moment in today’s reuse culture. But sustainability isn’t the only calling card terrazzo has. The features that real…

The lightweight LessThanFive™ Collection gets bigger – but not heavier | News | Architonic

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The LessThanFive™ guest chair from the Coalesse Design Group and Michael Young launched in 2017. The handmade, lightweight and exceptionally strong carbon fibre chair weighing less than 2.3kg (5 pounds) was a perfect addition to the market during a time when workplaces were becoming more agile than ever before. This year has seen the launch of the LessThanFive™ stool and lounge chair (both weighing less than 2.2kg) bringing more lightweight options to the workplace for added versatility.

The Campers&Dens is a flexible acoustic pod system from Orangebox, a Steelcase brand, designed to bring privacy and control to open-plan offices. Offering structure, vision and fun, the system is inspired by the campervan and the community-forging nature of the campsite.

The elegant and customisable pods, cabins and awnings, made with wooden slats and colourful fabrics, offer something totally new to the workplace: 'We see spaces that offer either complete privacy or complete openness – but there are very few options in between. My goal was to design a wh…

Inside Steelcase's redesigned Learning + Innovation Center | News | Architonic

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Steelcase’s Learning + Innovation Center (LINC) in Munich is a laboratory for new ideas, products and spaces. Since it was set up six years ago it has become a vibrant international hub attracting employees, partners and customers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and it is here where many of Steelcase’s workplace product and interior innovations have been born.

Adept at responding to the evolution of our society and its demands, this year the LINC went through an innovation of its own. 'It was time to challenge our initial assumptions and rethink what a Learning + Innovation Center needs to do in the hybrid era,'…

New stars meet old friends at COR | News | Architonic

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

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Digitally enhanced wall panels recreate Earth’s precious gems | News | Architonic

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Murals and panelling are both ancient ways to enhance the walls in a room, and in recent years, designers' and manufacturers' embrace of maximalism, pattern and colour has created ever more sophisticated ways to adorn our spaces. Italian wallpaper and decorative panel expert Tecnografica Italian Wallcoverings has been at the forefront of these trends. Initially dedicated to creating designs for the ceramic industry, since 2014 the company produces both wallpapers as well as decorative glass and polycarbonate panels. Such panels offer highly resilient wall coverings for a range of applications, creating durable and decorative feature walls that stand out.

This year, the company expanded its Super Preziosi collection with four new designs, and also presented a new metallic finish for its…

When changes in flooring alter our spatial experience | News | Architonic

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Designers and architects have a mountain of modern, high-performance flooring options at their disposal. From standard choices like wood, carpet, ceramic tiles or natural stone; to heavy-duty commercial favourites like terrazzo, concrete or poured epoxy. Add less well-tread options like cork and leather and then multiply them all with imitation solutions like laminate and luxury vinyl, and it’s easy for decision-makers to get lost in indecision.

Despite the size of the marketplace, however, we tend to just make our choices and stick with them, using just one type of floor for each room. Not so in the case of the following four projects, which select and arrange various flooring types together in the same room, adding functionality to the floor and helping to improve how we interact with the spaces above.

As a unique aspect of Vietnamese medicine, ailments are often treated with traditional medicines that include natural ingredients. In a mixed-use residential complex i…

Turning with grace | News | Architonic

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

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Cassina's new lighting collection | News | Architonic

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

For almost a century, Italian design brand Cassina has been firmly established as one of the leading names in interior furnishings. This year the company added a significant new string to its bow with the launch of its debut lighting collection. Featuring products by established and emerging designers, the lighting range completes Cassina’s offering dedicated to creating welcoming contemporary living spaces.

The Cassina Lighting Collection originated with the discovery of lighting designs by influential 20th-century designers Charles and Ray Eames. The Eames Lighting Collection will launch in 2024 and, in the meantime, the couple have been included in the Cassina iMaestri Collection, which thi…

Working towards a greener future with Cassina's Moncloud sofa | News | Architonic

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Italian furniture brand Cassina is at the forefront of an essential revolution that is currently disrupting the furniture industry as manufacturers look for new ways to design and develop more sustainable products. At this year’s Milan Design Week, Cassina launched the Moncloud sofa by Patricia Urquiola which embodies the company’s pioneering approach to integrating circularity throughout the design and manufacturing process.

Cassina’s intensive research and development enabled Moncloud’s soft curves to be sculpted in circular materials, marking a major design progress for the furniture industry. U…

50th anniversary of Cassina's iMaestri Collection | News | Architonic

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200

This year marks 50 years since the launch of the Cassina iMaestri Collection. This is an important landmark for the company, renowned for its unique and pioneering method of authentically editing the great classic designs, including iconic models by significant figures such as Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, to name just a few.

In 2023, the Cassina iMaestri Collecti…

OmniRoom leads offices into a hybrid work era | Architecture | Architonic

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The hybrid revolution changed the world of work for good, and today, to tick all the boxes, an office must offer more. More comfort and style to be worth commuting to and spending time in. More private places to be fully hybrid-ready and handle countless video meetings smoothly. More shared sites for collaborative work that can’t flourish in video meetings. And infinitely more flexibility to transform in a dime when needed. A new, universal room-in-room system from a Polish manufacturer of office solutions offers a comprehensive and simple way of building such places.

OmniRoom facilitates the creation of adaptable, plug & play office spaces with limitless options for a quick change of size, shape, or arrangement. The office system is designed to serve any office purpose, simplifying the work of architects, property owners, and real estate advisors.

Illuminating sustainable workspaces with De Vorm | News | Architonic

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Established in Arnhem in The Netherlands just over a decade ago, De Vorm creates furniture and fittings for the truly modern office. That means no standardised desks or over-engineered task chairs but the durable, customisable, flexible multi-purpose essentials of a creative workspace.

De Vorm has also been committed to sustainable manufacturing from birth, pioneering the use of PET Felt – made using recycled plastic bottles – in furniture design. It prides itself on its innovative manufacturing, constantly looking to simplify and refine processes, both to create a more refined product but also to minimise waste, and has worked with local manufacturers to create mo…

Making workspaces inclusive through design | News | Architonic

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Hands up who knows what inclusive design is? It is, after all, something all interior professionals, be they office designers or the architects of public buildings, need to know, but is not always easily defined. Gail Napell, who is a sustainability and inclusive design strategist at Gensler – the San Francisco-based leaders in interior architecture – has answers. ‘Inclusive design makes spaces and places healthier, safer and more convenient for everyone,’ she begins, during a conversation with John Scott, a workplace design strategist at office furniture specialists Haworth, a brand equally entrenched in the topic. So far, so cosy, but perhaps not in itself ground-breaking as a design strategy. Surely all interior architecture has this human-centric intention built in,…

Dome life: is the arched architecture of domes construction’s hidden treasure? | News | Architonic

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Houses and buildings are one of the first subjects children learn to draw. The simple arrangement of squares and rectangles with a triangle on top is easy and efficient, and quickly identifiable. Once we graduate from drawing to building, however, perhaps there is a better way. These five examples of domed buildings, pavilions and installations support the thinking that there is an easier way to do it, when you think outside the square. A geodesic dome like the one designed by Kristoffer Tejlgaard for the Roskilde Festival, ‘is a construction that optimises the use of resources,’ claims the architect. By imitating the mathematics of chemistry in nature, the molecular structure of the

Hidden stories from Clerkenwell Design Week 2023 | News | Architonic

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

It is said, that only by exploring off the beaten track can you find the greatest treasure. Clerkenwell Design Week sits at the centre of a whirlwind few months on the international design and architecture calendar, but those who choose to sit it out do so at their peril. Although it demands yet another watch reset, a whistle-stop tour of London’s cobbled creative quarter demands attention. The necessity to save time – and shoe rubber – can mean a PR-dictated diary of truncated tours and talks programmes. But for those who choose to dig a little deeper into the illustrated map, there’s gold to be found in them there streets. Here are some of the most eye-catching innovation stories to emerge from Clerkenwell De…

How to understand the baffling world of acoustic baffles | News | Architonic

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

If you find yourself baffled by the confusing world of baffle panelling, don’t be concerned. That’s what they’re there for. The purpose of baffles of any kind – and where they take their name – is to confuse matter. In other industries, baffles are used to direct water flow, to control airflow and heat exchange and to stop traffic from travelling too quickly. When used in the scientific world of acoustics, baffles are positioned to disrupt sound waves by projecting out into our busiest environments, to catch, absorb and soften sound, either in naturally noisy or specifically quiet areas, or to selectively filter sound…

Making a splash | News | Architonic

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Did you know that the average person spends more than two years of their life in the bathroom? It’s a staggering statistic that helps to emphasise the importance of ensuring these rooms are comfortable and enjoyable places to be in. Far too often, washrooms are overlooked, particularly in commercial environments, where the rest of the interior might be decorated to a high specification, yet hygiene spaces are treated as an afterthought.

Let’s face it, the restroom might not be the most glamorous part of an architectural project but it is key to overall user satisfaction. Washroom specialist The Splash Lab launched in 2017 to right the wrong of restrooms being treated as secondary spaces. The firm’s innovative user-driven design approach has seen it develop a collection of award-winning products aimed at improving each interaction point throughout the washroom environment.

‘Poorly designed res…

Embraced in comfort: the comeback of curved furniture in interiors | News | Architonic

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Curves and a profound desire for comfort have made a huge comeback in architecture and interior design. Curves offer a sensual alternative to austerely rectilinear modernism, a precedent for which has been set by architects, from Antoni Gaudí to Zaha Hadid.

Today, curved forms in interiors and furniture greatly appeal to architects and designers in our post-pandemic age. A capacious, cocooning armchair is akin to a welcome hug from seemingly long-lost friends and even business associates.

Perfectly attuned to this trend is Dutch brand Linteloo, which, this year, launched its new Embrace collection at the Salone del Mobile, an event lending itself to business deals, networking, reconnecting – and, yes, hugging. The collection grew out of Linteloo’s chosen theme at the Milan fair last year, namely ‘connection’. Embrace’s i…

Stay flexible above and under the surface | News | Architonic

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

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Poolside icon: a contemporary take on a classic umbrella | News | Architonic

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

There's more to outdoor furniture than weather proofing. Well, the best kind anyway. Outdoor furniture is not for the quotidian, for the day to day, unless you are peculiarly blessed by location. It is there for the good times, for fresh air morning coffees, long summer lunches with friends and family, and dusky sundowners. It is there to create and frame special moments.

It has to have, alongside all that hardy resilience, something of the fantasy about it, something escapist. Matching fantasy with modern materials and leave-out-in-the-rain practicality is the mission of Italian outdoor specialist cbdesign. (And who, after all, has understood the full, fantastic potential of outdoor living better than the Italians).

Cbdesign was established in 2002 but its purpose has really been to reimagine and reengineer the design approach…

The Minotti Pavilion 2023 at Salone del Mobile.Milano | News | Architonic

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Minotti celebrated its 75th anniversary at this year’s Salone del Mobile.Milano with a scenographic architecture that captured its path from past to present, while also looking confidently into the future of design. Always consistent in its approach to elegance, style and Italian craft, each year Minotti continues to forge ahead with new exhibition concepts and collections, merging the visions of its designers’ inspirations from all over the world.

The two-level Minotti Pavilion 2023 incorporated the aisles of the exhibition, creating a mix of public and private space ideal for envisioning multi-dimensional domestic and hospitality design projects. Its central boulevard, enriched by Mediterranean landscaping, showed Minotti’s revolutionary approach to exhibition design. The organic architecture featured large curved windows, two spiral st…

Indoor-outdoor synergy: Minotti's 2023 Collection | News | Architonic

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In a world of fast-paced change, Minotti’s pursuit of timeless design as well as its honed technical expertise result in elegant pieces that stand ready to elevate any interior with sophistication and style. The 2023 Collection proves this, finding a balance between classicism and contemporaneity, organic lines and solid volumes.

Coordinated by Rodolfo Dordoni with Minotti Studio, the new collection expresses a single language of stylistic coherence derived from international voices such as Marcio Kogan / studio mk27, Nendo, GamFratesi,

The Minotti lifestyle on tour | News | Architonic

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The immersive medium of film appeals to our imagination through a powerful combination of virtual and real worlds. In 2023, Minotti is launching its new film, titled The Grand Tour, which promises a timeless journey through the Minotti lifestyle – drawing out narratives that thread together the social spaces that humans inhabit.

The Grand Tour serves as a progression of Minotti’s innovative visual communication, elevating collections into animated cinematic scenarios. Starting from a metropolitan city scene in Milan, viewers then journey into the mountains to a welcoming chalet, onward to a tropical landscape and then a historical Parisian hotel, before finally boardi…

Dream bigger, with smaller hinges | Architecture | Architonic

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Let’s start with a product overview. What does the new One do, that the old One couldn’t? First of all, the new One is a lot thinner than the old One. With a height of only 18 mm compared to the 38 mm of its predecessor, it is considerably smaller. This allows new design possibilities, such as doors with very thin door frames – which we will get into detail later. Second, the new One has a brand-new design. The aluminum casing is the same as System M+ and System M’s casings. This makes milling in the door easier compared to the old One. Then there’s compatibility with top pivots. The new System One is available in two versions: the regular System One 70 mm and System One 40 mm. This last option makes the new One compatible with every FritsJurgens top pivot. A lot about Francesco Binfaré, author at Edra: ‘When a product has power, it contains innovation and intensity, it induces behaviour.’

For the globally renowned Italian design brand Edra, power comes in the form of providing movement, flexibility and adaptability in a sofa so each individual can achieve their own form of maximum comfort and freedom. Edra’s patented ‘Smart Cushion’ engineering, launched in 2013, accelerated this mission. It provides a flexibl…

Forward-looking Italian craft from Cantori | News | Architonic

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

In the heartland of north-eastern Italy’s Marche region, within the province of Ancona – a mess of rolling farmland, warren-like Medieval towns and rugged hills, between the Adriatic and the Apennines – lies Camerano. The tiny commune is best known for its network of post-Roman, subterranean sandstone tunnels. But it’s also home to Cantori, one of Italy’s more heralded and quietly pioneering furniture makers.

Company patriarch Sante Cantori grew up and studied in Marche during Italy’s post-war boom. For centuries, a panoply of artisan craftsmanship has defined the region’s creative identity. Piqued and inspired by this legacy, Sante – along with his brother Fabio and sister Fiorella – founded Cantori in 1976, initially as a metal workshop specialising in brass beds. Within a few years, it was booming: expanding its material and…

The sound of silence: the PALMBERG Intelligence Series | News | Architonic

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Perhaps you didn't know that listening to music is actually an activity, and if not, you might be interested in what Prof. Dr. Lutz Jäncke has to say on the theme of music and silence at work. The emeritus professor of neuropsychology at the University of Zurich has done extensive research on the influence of music on the plasticity of the brain, i.e. its malleability through experience, and has published over 150 papers on the subject of music. ‘I have studied musicians and worked a lot on auditory perception. How people perceive sounds, music, melodies, how they process them in the brain,’ says Jäncke. ‘And I've done studies on background music and the question of whether it influences cognitive performance, memory, etc.’ And this is what our conversation is all about: background noise and silence in the workplace and the difference between acoustic distractions and subtle musical sounds.
The last time I…

White kitchens that leave their mark in changing Spanish homes | News | Architonic

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

As the most poker-faced of neutral colours, white may seem least suitable when it comes to characterful kitchen decor. In the crisis-hit Spanish housing market, however, where prices are expanding and floor plans shrinking at almost the same rate, first-time buyers are desperate to get a foothold, and in a one- or two-person household, kitchen space is one of the first casualties.

While darker surfaces simply absorb and waste the little natural light that reaches them, white surfaces continuously reflect it instead, providing a clean, fresh space it’s a joy to spend time in. These four projects from both urban and rural Spain evidence the welcoming and surprisingly warm tone of an expanded white kitchen.

‘The average cost of a home in Madrid is beyond the reach of most people,’ reveal the Rio House architects, locations and practices start to emerge, along with the increased use of AI and the growing acceptance of the four-day week, we’re spending less and less time at actual desks, wherever they are. That being said, however, with retirement ages dining tables, breakfasts are far more flexible. Solo breakfasts, for example, are far more lonely occasions, offering much-needed morning tranquillity in the right setting. Meanwhile, with larger groups, breakfasts can equally become buffets of both food and conversation. Either way, dedicated breakfast areas are perfectly designed to energise and prepare their users for the day ahead. Breakfast bars sound fully committed to the demands of the morning meal, but most are simply double-depth jehs+laub is an ideal partner – and particularly true in the case of renowned design contract furniture manufacturer Brunner, which has been providing creative solutions for the ever-evolving world of work for some time now, while also in the meantime becoming an expert when it comes to New Work.

So it's no wonder then, that Brunner's Clerkenwell Design Week (23-25 May 2023) as the official provider of the CDW Sample Gallery. The immersive experience brings together cutting-edge materials from around the world for designers to touch, feel, and even request to receive in a Swatchbox the very next day – for free. Leading brands like Interface, Roca, PPG Paints, Lapitec and Ibstock are leading the way to a more sustainable future in sampling alongside over 100 other brands.
Swatchbox was founded by architect Benjamin Glunz in the US in 2018 and established in London in 2021 as a fast and su…

Design Shanghai: ten out of ten | News | Architonic

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

This year, Design Shanghai, one of Asia's leading international design events, will celebrate its 10th-anniversary edition. For four days, from 8–11 June, the diverse programme will offer exhibitions of leading international and Chinese brands, a forum with debates and panel discussions with respected architects, designers and manufacturers, and installations from young, up-and-coming makers and creators.
Shanghai is not just China's most populous city – it is also its most cosmopolitan. Shanghai's modern skyscrapers, art deco edifices and traditional Chinese architecture have all played witness to successive economic booms that have made the city one of the country's and the world's foremost economic hubs. Today, with access to international and traditional Chinese industries, the city combines the best of the financial, manufacturing, service and creative sectors. It is no surprise that major intern…

imm cologne Spring Edition 2023: a new concept for exhibiting design | News | Architonic

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve been travelling non-stop lately.

The physical constraints necessitated by Covid-19 have, it’s safe to say, evaporated, replaced by an impetus to connect again in the analogue world. It’s business as usual once more, say some. Others describe it as a kind of madness, an overcompensation for the dearth of human contact we were forced to endure during the pandemic. (One internationally renowned architect I was speaking to recently confessed that, for him at least, post-Corona life is 'even more crazy, last-minute and demanding' than before.)

Not being subjected to endless online webinars and events anymore is something last year’s AW Designer of the Year Stefan Diez is unequivocally happy about. 'It was crazy and interesting in the first weeks,' he told me in an interview a few months ago on the changing landscape of the physical trade fair, 'but then we…

Rounding up: BoConcept | News | Architonic

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Tactile surfaces, rich materials and sculptural curves take centre stage in the new SpringSummer23 collection from Danish furniture manufacturer BoConcept. Known for its simple Scandinavian design DNA, this season’s new range of furniture and accessories invite the senses to get involved, to carefully observe and touch these new pieces with their captivating materiality and rondure.

With references to upholstered lounge seating from the early 20th century and the eclectic art deco period, the Bolzano seating collection embraces both comfort and elegance. Sitting down in a Bolzano chair, one experiences nothing but softness all around, making it e…

Illuminating with style: lighting solutions for the modern workplace (and beyond) | News | Architonic

Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

As hybrid working becomes the established norm across the world, our workplaces and homes are changing to accommodate the new reality. Last year's 'The Future of Work Survey' by real estate consultants JLL indicated that sustainable credentials and high-quality, flexible office spaces are some of the key ways in which employers can create optimal conditions and boost their employees' productivity in the new world of work. Workplaces are increasingly becoming better, rather than simply bigger, with all aspects – from layout and environmental performance to furnishing and lighting – increasingly optimised to add value.

Lighting is one of the key factors in workplace design. As well as increasing occupier well-being, well-designed contemporary lighting can be sustainable, energy-efficient and contribute to the overall look and feel of the space. Swedish manufacturer Zero, founded in 1978 and still running as a f…

For a special design language: natural-look laminates for any interior | News | Architonic

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

For planners and interior designers, freedom of design is often the decisive factor in whether a project can be realised exactly as planned. When it comes to materials, the ideal scenario is when the choice is not bound by strict limits. Some materials can offer answers to a multitude of requirements all at the same time, and for the designer, it is often the case that they only hit upon the right idea once they have looked at a manufacturer's product range.

Landing upon certain colour, a particular decor or the special haptic properties of a material can then lead to the inspiration needed to optimally furnish a room in a function-oriented way or to an aesthetic rethink. As far as surfaces are concerned, those that are particularly subject to increased wear and tear, for example, laminates, have long proven their value.

Whether in the realm of shop fitting, exhibition-stand construction, hotels, schools, kindergartens or hospitals – wherever tabletops, sideboards, cou…

Flou: blurring the boundaries between inside and out | News | Architonic

Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The immediacy of satisfaction that the digital world serves up, be it in retail, service or communications, is changing the way we consider small comforts in all walks of life. Our brains are reconditioning to expect what we want, how we want it, where we want it and when we want it, simply because we have learnt the potential is there – or can be if what we want exists. It is how Massimiliano Messina, president of the Italian furniture brand Flou, explains the rapid evolution of outdoor furniture, now massaged structurally, materially and stylistically to perfectly align with our interior aesthetics, while possessing all the ruggedness required to weather life outside.

‘For the customer, the option of a unique style that straddles indoors and outdoors is a precise request,’ explains Messina. ‘We are increasingly used to having things immediately. Everything has become accessible – news, merchandise, services…

Thinking inside the box: better focus at work with Strähle | News | Architonic

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

When the German company Strähle talks about ‘free-dimensional space’, there is more to it than just a nice play on words. It reveals how Strähle thinks about space: creative freedom, flexibility when it comes to use, a sophisticated choice of materials, quality manufacturing and features that improve comfort, such as reliable sound insulation. All of these factors are once again brought together in the shape of its new Teambox – a product whose benefits are completely tailored to the omnipresent world of New Work.
One of the things that makes Strähle so unique is its know-how, based on a company history that spans over 110 years, beginning in a joinery shop in Waiblingen in Southwest Germany where the family business is still based today. At one time, const…

Come in! Digital access control from Elcom by Hager | News | Architonic

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Forget your front door key, confusingly labelled bell boards and squawking intercoms. Welcome to the next level and the Elcom motion design outdoor station – a digital door intercom system for residential and commercial buildings from Hager.

The principle of digital access control that is used here is currently on the rise and is likely to permanently change the way we enter buildings. Something similar was probably thought of in relation to the establishment of electric door openers. Or also a good 110 years ago, when a master locksmith from Berlin invented the so-called push-through key. A key with two identical ends was supposed to force the residents of the growing metropolis to always lock their doors beh…

Inner-city schools solving the problems of inner-city architecture | News | Architonic

Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

I always consider myself fortunate to have grown up outside the city, where my ‘cross-country’ lessons, for example – a national right of hardship for 11-16-year-olds, were through actual countryside rather than the high street. For many children, however, modern school life is not so close to nature.

Already over-populated cities are continuing to expand, meaning more schools are suffering from the limitations presented by inner-city architecture including noise, air and light pollution; a lack of space, especially green space; restrictive budgets and building regulations resistant to change.

With innovative and considered design solutions, however, these four inner-city schools show the rest of the class how to work through their architectural answers and provide quality, green spaces for all.

Located in a dense area of St. John’s Wood, London,

The latest and greatest toilet innovations coming to a bowl near you | News | Architonic

Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

The humble toilet hasn’t seen much change over the years. The basic shape and design has generally remained the same since the invention of the flush and S-bend. Since then, toilets have moved on more by location rather than innovation: becoming part of the calming, relaxed environment of the bathroom. Attempts to further revolutionise toilets with smart (or just smarter) technology haven’t really taken off – so far at least. Scared of what might accidentally be done to themselves whilst in such a precarious position, perhaps, consumers often prefer the simplicity of tradition, rather than the co…

Hushoffice's functional and flexible future workspaces | News | Architonic

Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0200

Theorizing about working practices is becoming an international sport – whether it’s the investigation of new office trends, examination of the hybrid model, the digital revolution and our propensity for productivity, wellness in the workplace or simply the debate around life achieving equilibrium with work. Recently, I clicked open the NY Times and was subsumed by a piece on the digital workplace and how, despite being a couple of decades or more in, it’s too soon to expect to have got it right; technological progress – and we are talking email as much as Slack and Zoom – is still battling it out with human nature. I’m suddenly reminded of dinner and click on the ‘Food’ tab – validating the first article’s arguments about digital distraction – and fall immediately on a piece about the changing face of canteen culture, now that hybrid working has totally changed how workers sustain themselves day to day. There really is no getting away from it – the workplace is in flux and we are o…