Tickets are now available for Nicer Tuesdays November!

Taking place Tuesday 24 November, this month’s Nicer Tuesdays features creative powerhouses Eric Hu, Manju Journal, Prarthna Singh and Sofie Birkin.

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Love, loss and loneliness: Polly Nor’s new heartbreaking film

Polly collaborates with animator Andy Baker in their latest timely film, How Have You Been?, featuring scenes we are all too familiar with. 

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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.

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."

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.

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.

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".

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

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.

A huge staircase is the focal point of The Sukhothai's lobby. Photo is by Pedro Pegenaute

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.

Bronze has been used to make the balustrade, while the steps are grey terrazzo

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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