Vola creates short film discussing the importance of summerhouses in Danish culture

Dezeen promotion: Vola's brushed-gold products feature in a short film by the Danish tap manufacturer, which is set across coastal summerhouses tucked away in the sand dunes of a beach in Skagen, Denmark.

The short film, titled The Danish Sommerhus – Inspiring Life, aims to demonstrate how compact spaces can be used efficiently and stylistically.

Simple, minimal design is one of the best ways to make the most of space, which is a key feature of Vola's KV1 and HV1E taps that can be seen in the film.

Vola has created a new short film called The Danish Sommerhus – Inspiring Life

In the film, Lasse Andersson, creative director of the Utzon Centre, explains how the summerhouse has become a significant aspect of Danish life.

"Lasse Andersson states that the Danish summerhouse is more than just a holiday home," said Vola. "It is a place where memories are created, where generations get together to relax, reset and gain perspective on the wider world. "

"Its atmospheric essence is defined by its proximity to nature and water. It is nothing to do with status or wealth but all about the celebration of tradition, the memories collected and the way that the limited space encourages a re-evaluation of life."

The short film aims to show the importance of Danish summerhouses

"Sustainability has always been ingrained in the Danish DNA," Vola continued. "The concept of the summerhouse perfectly demonstrates intelligent design within small spaces, conscious consumption and valuing the simple things in life."

"It showcases the Danish love of sustainably sourced, long-lasting natural materials, as well as a tradition of pure design and craft techniques that go back centuries, including carpentry, masonry and thatching."

"This connection to nature combined with the meditative atmosphere is central to the summerhouse culture in Denmark, continually evoking new sensations and inspiration," added Vola.

The film demonstrates how to make use of compact spaces with simplistic designs

While the film features several summerhouses, it focuses on one in particular, located in Skagen. The coastal home was designed by ARDESS Arkitektur and is tucked away among sand dunes, reeds and grass.

The sandy hues of the house's surroundings are complemented by the warm tones of Vola's brushed-gold tap finish featured inside, which is one of 27 colours available and is part of the brand's Exclusive Colour series.

Vola's brushed-gold tap finish takes centre stage in the film

The film is the latest in a series of short films by Vola that focus on the role of design in Danish culture.

Other films in the series include one with architecture practice McLaren Excell, in which two of the studio's co-directors discuss the importance of preserving a home's history during restoration, and another with designer Isle Crawford, where she explores the impact of design on wellbeing.

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Monolithic concrete walls enfold minimalist Pyramid House in Switzerland

DF_DC has used concrete to create a monolithic house in the town of Tegna, Switzerland, which takes cues from Japanese architecture and the surrounding mountains.

Named Pyramid House, it was commissioned by a family who wanted a "one-of-a-kind" dwelling that challenged the look of neighbouring houses while maintaining their privacy.

Pyramid House is enclosed by monolithic concrete walls

To achieve this, architecture studio DF_DC designed a seemingly impermeable concrete structure that is "devoid of any symbol of domesticity".

This echoes bunker-like houses found in Japan, informed by the client's interest in Japanese architecture, while also nodding to the mountainscape surrounding the town.

It takes cues from Japanese architecture and the surrounding landscape

"The brief asked for a house for a family of four, two parents and two daughters, a sort of a one-of-a-kind house that contrasted with the way of living in suburban row houses," the studio's co-founder Diego Calderon said.

"The clients are enthusiasts of Japanese architecture and were willing to take risks with the project," he told Dezeen.

The house is accessed via two internal courtyards

Pyramid House has an L-shaped plan and sloping, a triangular form containing two storeys. At the rear is a courtyard, partially enclosed by the folded form of the house.

While the front of the house appears to be inaccessible, the hidden rear side that faces the garden is largely glazed and opens out to the outside.

The rear of the house is open to the garden

"The form derives from the concept of an inhabited enclosure, with the idea to immure a rear garden and to integrate it to the common areas through the wide glazing," said Calderon.

"The massing strategy formed an impermeable element to the street, which in turn is very open towards the garden."

Curtains conceal the entrance to one internal courtyard

The courtyard at the rear of the house leads into two smaller patio spaces, which are concealed within the walls of the house.

These smaller courtyards then open into the ground floor, which the studio said connects the garden to the house "in the most discreet way".

A hanging fireplace is one of the house's only features

Inside, Pyramid House's ground floor comprises a large open-plan kitchen and dining area, which folds around the L-shaped plan into a large living room.

A curved staircase tucks into the centre of the ground floor and leads to the upper level, which accommodates the bedrooms, bathrooms and a study.

The first floor is lit and ventilated by cut-outs in the slope of the house's pyramidal form – designed to frame the views out to the mountains.

The kitchen looks out to the garden

Throughout, the home's interiors are deliberately pared-back, with white-painted walls that are designed to echo the minimalist finish of the building's exterior.

Ornament is kept to a minimum, with one of the only standout features being a hanging, black fireplace in the living room.

A discreet spiral staircase leads to the first floor

DF_DC is an architecture studio founded in 2016 by Dario Franchini and Diego Calderon. It has offices in London, UK, and Lugano, Switzerland.

Elsewhere in Switzerland, the practice also recently completed a concrete house that has an outdoor terrace that is banded by a colonnade of rectangular columns.

Photography is by Simone Bossi.

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Magenta chair by Raffaella Mangiarotti for IOC Project Partners

Dezeen Showroom: Italian designer Raffaella Mangiarotti has collaborated with office furniture brand IOC Project Partners to create a chair with a curving, slender frame that resembles a line drawing.

Called Magenta, the chair comprises a subtly rounded seat and backrest set within an ultra-slim metal framework.

This is balanced on four legs, which arch down towards the floor.

The Magenta chair has a curved metal frame

"[Magenta's] structure is like a single line drawn in the air, almost like a traditional Japanese ink drawing," explained Mangiarotti.

"The seat and backrest are gentle surfaces, perfectly duplicating the shape of the body. The contrast between these elements gives this chair its unique and peaceful character."

Without the casters, the chair can fit into more informal spaces

Magenta's seat and back panel are rendered in wood and can be upholstered in different fabrics or leathers.

The legs are either set on subtle, plastic feet or rolling casters while the metal frame can be made white, grey or black.

These customisable features are designed to make the chair versatile enough to match different office settings, whether arranged around formal meeting tables or scattered throughout more casual hangout spots.

Product: Magenta
Designer: Raffaella Mangiarotti
Brand: IOC Project Partners
Contact: n.mismara@ioc.it

About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.

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Shaw Contract announces winners of its 2020 Design Awards

Dezeen promotions: US flooring designer Shaw Contract has announced the winners of its 2020 Design Awards, which include an office for Adidas in Hong Kong and a school for homeless children in the USA.

Shaw Contract recognised seven winners and a People's Choice award in the 15th edition of its Design Awards, which celebrates impactful living, working, learning and healing spaces around the world.

Each of the winners was awarded with a $5,000 charitable donation in their studio's name to an organisation of their choice.

Top: The Suave office was the People's Choice winner. Above: Envisione Studio's design for the Adidas Global Sourcing Headquarters in Hong Kong was one of seven award winners. Photo by Roy Esterhuysen

"The Awards place a spotlight on a diverse range of talents from across the globe, celebrating design in action and purposefully rewarding the innovative and truly inspiring work being done by the architecture and design community," said Shaw Contract.

"Design defines and influences action, healing, idea generation and socialization. It gives us and our experiences meaning and purpose," it continued.

"Shaw Contract is obsessed with the environments that define the human experience, and celebrating those spaces that make a smarter impact for our world is an imperative."

Core Collective Architects' design for the Eternal Women's Health facility was one of the winners. Photo by Adam Gibson Photographer

The seven winners were selected from 43 category finalists, which were chosen from hundreds of entries by a panel of judges from around the world.

Alongside these winners, the public also chose the winner of the People's Choice award: an office in Kuala Lumpur designed by Box Design Studio.

The Suave office by Box Design Studio was the public's favoutite project. Photo is by Lawrence Choo

Designed for reinsurance company Hannover Re, The Suave office combines areas of open-plan workspaces with a series of formal and informal meeting spaces.

"Oftentimes, an employee's work requires different brain states between active group work and solitude think time," said the studio.

"From huddle rooms to thinking pods, the variety of spaces enables quick switching between conversation and concentration."

The headquarters for Shui On Land was one of two projects designed by Robarts Spaces to win. Photo is by Wangyi

International architecture and design studio Robarts Spaces won awards for two of its office projects: a workspace for International Consulting Firm and a headquarters for Shui On Land.

Two further office projects received awards, including Envisione Studio's design for the Adidas Global Sourcing Headquarters in Hong Kong and Escape from Sofa's workspace for the Onur Group in Ankara.

Positive Tomorrows School for Homeless Children was also a winner. Photo is by Simon Hurst Photography

MA Architecture won an award for its colourful Positive Tomorrows School for Homeless Children in Oklahoma City.

Designed to have the feel of a home rather than of an institution, the school features different spaces named the Family Room, Living Room, and Backyard.

Japara "The Regent", Aged Care Facility was one of two projects in Australia to win awards. Photo is by Tatjana Plitt

The final two awards were presented to projects in Australia. The Japara "The Regent", Aged Care Facility in Melbourne by Spowers was designed to connect residents to the surrounding nature reserve as part of an overall strategy to enhance the life of the residents.

In Hobart, Core Collective Architects created a homely, crafted and functional tenancy fit-out for the Eternal Women's Health, which is a healthcare facility for women at all stages of life.

Read more about all the winners on Shaw Contract's Design Awards website.

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Brera25 desk by Gensler for IOC Project Partners

Dezeen Showroom: Wood, glass and lacquer merge to form the Brera25 desk, which American architecture firm Gensler has created for office furniture brand IOC Project Partners.

Brera25 features an L-shaped worktop and a series of inbuilt storage cupboards, designed specifically to suit executive and managerial offices.

Brera25 is crafted from a mix of wood, glass and lacquer

The desk is crafted from a refined selection of materials, with the cupboards framed in light-hued wood while their doors, as well as sections of the countertop, are coated in white or black lacquer.

In contrast, one end of the desk is simply supported by a slim pane of glass.

A concealed electric mechanism allows part of Brera25's counter to be elevated so that users can alternate between working in a seated or standing position.

The desk comes with inbuilt storage

"Brera25 was designed to offer a clean design aesthetic, elegant details and unique materials to elevate private offices and open-plan environments," explained Mark Morton, Gensler's design director and principal.

"We wanted a modular office system that could adapt to custom configurations without sacrificing elegant proportions," added Jonas Gabbai, design director and senior associate at the firm.

Product: Brera25
Designer: Gensler
Brand: IOC Project Partners
Contact: n.mismara@ioc.it

About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.

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