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Tuesday 3 November 2020

Soundsticks are noise-absorbing space dividers made from recycled textiles

Designer Andrea Ruggiero's noise-reducing Soundsticks are a free-standing alternative to acoustic panels, made from leftover materials for Swedish furniture manufacturer Offecct.

The design of the ceiling-mounted space dividers, which have been shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2020 in the workplace design category, drew on the everyday shape of paperboard mailing tubes.

Soundsticks by Andrea Ruggiero hung from ceiling — The space-dividers were made for Offecct

"Initial prototypes were made using the leftover paperboard tubes on which upholstery fabric rolls are supplied," Ruggiero told Dezeen.

The original idea was to upcycle actual paperboard tubes, but after the designer had presented and tested the initial prototypes, it became clear that these were too heavy and offered only minimal sound absorption. The tubes also weren't available in consistent quantities.

"Availability becomes a key consideration when designing a high volume product that is made with leftover material," Ruggiero explained.

"As a result, we eliminated the paperboard tube and explored a number of other solutions and materials before deciding on using acoustic felt."

Andrea Ruggiero's Soundsticks in red — The interior is made from acoustic felt

The final product is made from sound-absorbing acoustic felt that has been moulded into the shape of a tube, held together by a fabric cover.

The acoustic felt was made from a blend of shredded textile off-cuts and shredded PET derived from water bottles. The space dividers' capability to reduce ambient noise has been certified by independent Swedish acoustic authority Akustikverkstan.

Trolley full of Soundsticks by Andrea Ruggiero — Leftover upholstery fabrics clad the outside

As well as the interior of the Soundsticks, the exterior was also made from recycled material.

"The fabric covers are made from leftover upholstery fabrics which are collected during Offecct's furniture production, resulting in a random palette of four colours: reds, greens, blues and greys," Ruggiero said.

"The four-colour range was determined after an internal audit identified the most common upholstery colours used by Offecct," he added.

End caps for Soundsticks by Andrea Ruggiero — Used aluminium was used for the recyclable end caps

Soundsticks' end caps are made from recycled aluminium derived from drink cans and are completely reusable and recyclable. "As no glue is required for assembly, Soundsticks can be completely recovered, making them a truly circular product," Ruggiero added.

The space dividers come in linear, radial, and clustered configurations, with the linear and radial configurations suspended from extruded aluminium tracks that can be combined in different ways to create "rooms within rooms".

Soundsticks space divider by Andrea Ruggiero — The space dividers come in linear, radial, and clustered configurations

"The project was driven by Offecct's interest in expanding beyond its pioneering and renowned Soundwave acoustic tiles," the designer explained. "I was initially asked to explore free-standing solutions — solutions that were 'not attached to the wall'."

Soundsticks will compete against four other projects in the workplace design category for Dezeen Awards 2020, including March Gut's socially-distanced serving tray Alma and Studio Lancelot's Active Classroom ergonomic children's furniture.

Photography is by Jonas Anhede Winge.

The post Soundsticks are noise-absorbing space dividers made from recycled textiles appeared first on Dezeen.

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Terrazzo and bronze staircase forms focal point of The Sukhothai hotel by Neri&Hu

Terrazzo and bronze staircase features in The Sukhothai Shanghai hotel

A dramatic staircase connects floors inside this Shanghai hotel, which Neri&Hu has designed with calming, nature-inspired rooms.

The staircase can be found in the entrance lobby of The Sukhothai hotel, which is situated in Shanghai's Jing'an district.

It features a bronze balustrade and a staggered sequence of slim, grey-terrazzo steps that have been slightly set apart to create the illusion that they're hovering.

The entire structure is then enclosed by a gridded timber framework that "envelops" guests as they ascend to the first floor.

In the communal areas that lie beyond the staircase, Neri&Hu has fashioned an aesthetic that subtly celebrates the culture of both Shanghai and Bangkok – where the inaugural branch of The Sukhothai is located.

"The challenge for Sukhothai in Shanghai was how to remain true to the spirit of the original iconic hotel in Bangkok while bringing in elements that represent the local culture and history," the studio explained.

Restaurant inside The Sukhothai Shanghai hotel — Green hues reference nature and gardens. Photo is by Pedro Pegenaute

"In the end, our guiding concept was inspired by a universal condition that defines many dense Asian metropolises such as Shanghai and Bangkok — the sense of fragility and congestion and the desire for a reconnection with nature, for room to breathe and rejuvenate," it continued.

"We created an urban oasis in the midst of the concrete jungle of the city, so every aspect of the hotel relates to nature."

Swimming pool inside The Sukhothai Shanghai hotel — The hotel's swimming pool is also lined with green tiles. Photo is by Pedro Pegenaute

Gardens became the main point of reference for the studio. For example, a network of columns has been installed in the restaurant as a nod to the ornate pillars that typically appear in Italian renaissance-style gardens.

The forest-green leather chairs that surround the dining tables and the emerald-coloured tiles that line the open kitchen are also meant to evoke lush, verdant settings.

A medley of green tiles has also been applied mosaic-style to the hotel's swimming pool.

Bedrooms of The Sukhothai Shanghai hotel — Natural materials are spotlighted in the bedrooms. Photo is by Pedro Pegenaute

Neri&Hu have continued to use green tones and natural materials upstairs in the 201 guest bedrooms. Walls have been painted a tranquil jade hue, while the floor, headboards and writing desks are lined with wood.

Pebble-grey Carrara marble has been used to line almost every surface in the bathrooms – including the tubs.

Bathrooms of The Sukhothai Shanghai hotel — Grey marble lines surfaces in the bathrooms

A number of hotels have opened in China this year. Among them is the Intercontinental in Chongqing and Read and Rest Hotel in Beijing, which includes a small library filled with print magazines from across the world.

For those looking to stay a bit more off the beaten track, Wiki World and Advanced Architecture Lab have also created a collection of 18 mirrored guest cabins on the forested mountainsides of Yichang in China's Hubei province.

Photography is by Xia Zhi unless stated otherwise.

The post Terrazzo and bronze staircase forms focal point of The Sukhothai hotel by Neri&Hu appeared first on Dezeen.

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Melina Matsoukas directs Amazon’s spirited Christmas ad, The Show Must Go On

Sparkling amid a sudden flurry of festive campaigns, the film stars ballet dancer Taïs Vinolo in a story reflective of 2020 – depicting disappointment, determination and community.

from It's Nice That https://ift.tt/34RxARk

Poultry Portraits: Richy Lamb and Noah Kalina’s book of fashion-photography-esque chickens

We all found new hobbies during lockdown. Some made sourdough starter, some made running their personality. Richy made a book about chickens.

from It's Nice That https://ift.tt/360sr9a

B2 Architecture creates optical illusion with office interiors for DDB Prague

Office for creative agency DDB Prague by B2 Architecture, Czech Republic

Czech studio B2 Architecture designed office interiors for DDB Prague with coloured walls that project the company's logo as an optical illusion.

The office in Prague is occupied by a creative advertising agency that has a logo of a stylised B formed of two stacked D shapes.

Seats in the lobby of the office for creative agency DDB Prague by B2 Architecture, Czech Republic — The segments of colour appear random when viewed from other angles

Using anamorphosis, a perspective technique, B2 Architecture painted sections of colour on the walls and floors appear random and distorted unless viewed from a particular point – the front door.

"The viewers entering the DDB Prague offices enter at the unique vantage point from which the DDB logo is visible in its perfect form," explained B2 Architecture.

"As their journey continues, the viewers can see that the illusion was formed by colour applied throughout the whole space of the agency."

The anamorphic illusion resolves itself from the doorway

A striking black covers most of the walls and floors, providing a contrasting backdrop for another version of the agency's logo picked out in neon behind the front desk.

The opening from the lobby to the rest of the office is surrounded by abstract geometric shapes of white and blue the form the logo when looked at from the doorway.

Benches slotted into the wall of the office for creative agency DDB Prague by B2 Architecture, Czech Republic — D-shaped benches can be tidied away by slotting into the wall

White floors and walls continue through the open-plan office, with a slice of black in the corner adding to the graphic and dynamic vibe.

The white wall next to this entryway is covered in two rows of the DBB Prague logo formed of colourful fabric-covered benches resting in slots carved into the wall.

When employees gather for meetings they can grab a D-shaped stool and pull up a seat informally.

A yellow meeting room in the office for creative agency DDB Prague by B2 Architecture, Czech Republic — A yellow "war room" punctuates the open-plan office

In the centre of the L-shaped office sits the agency's "war room", a freestanding room shaped like a circular sector in plan and painted bright yellow inside and out.

The interior of the room features amphitheatre-style stepped seating around the curved side, facing a floor-to-ceiling glass corner.

Yellow amphitheatre seating inside the office for DDB Prague by B2 Architecture, Czech Republic — Stacked curved benches form amphitheatre-style seating

Black cushions and beanbag chairs provide comfortable places for colleagues to sit and hold brainstorming sessions together.

The glass walls can be used as surfaces to draw on or screened off with dark curtains to create a private room for meetings and presentations.

Shelves along the exterior are also painted yellow and are used to display books and objects from past campaigns.

Interiors of the office for creative agency DDB Prague by B2 Architecture, Czech Republic — Shelves line the exterior of the yellow room

Following a consultation with the staff at DDB Prague, B2 Architecture incorporated a cafeteria and lounge area for staff to socialise in and hold workshops.

"An office landscape has been created to promote communication and teamwork with a mix of open spaces, retreats and collaboration areas," said B2 Architecture.

"It also assures both transparency and discretion, enables rapid orientation within the space and reflects the agency’s creative character."