BMW iX interior discretely integrates high-tech features

Dezeen promotion: BMW's all-electric iX was designed from the inside out, and incorporates a host of "shy tech" features throughout its entire design.

The interior design for the upcoming iX model, BMW's latest fully electric car, signals a new visual language for the German auto brand.

The inside of the vehicle was developed before the exterior, shifting the design focus to the occupants and creating a more lounge-like feel that the company refers to as a "Livingspace on Wheels".

The interior of the BMW iX was designed before its exterior

"We tried to create a design where we start from the customer, and we develop the car from the inside to the outside," said Matthias Junghanns, head of BMW i Interior Design. "Human-centric design puts people at centre stage."

This is achieved in part by removing the centre tunnel, which is possible due to its electric drive train, providing more leg room for passengers in the rear three seats.

Like the exterior of the sports activity vehicle (SAV), the interior is kitted-out with intelligent functions that the manufacturer collectively calls "shy tech" – describing technology that remains largely in the background and only reveals its functions when in use.

Removing the centre tunnel has created more space for passengers in the rear seats

Electrically powered door locks, hidden speakers, styled air vents, and heated surfaces are among the almost undetectable "shy tech" features. This reduction of buttons and unnecessary visual elements creates a more minimalistic interior.

"I began with the approach of really questioning every element in this car, and really asking myself 'does the car need this?' And if it didn't, I took it out," said BMW interior designer Simon Sebastian.

Controls for seat adjustment have been moved to the door and feature crystalline forms

Buttons that are visible include controls for gear selection, dashboard interface, and seat adjustment – moved to the doors from the seats themselves.

These controls are designed as transparent crystalline forms, with faceted shapes that are also continued as two-dimensional patterns across the suede seat upholstery.

A hexagonal steering wheel sits at one end of the BMW Curved Display that forms the dashboard

Another new introduction for BMW is the hexagonal steering wheel, mounted at one end of a display that curves towards the driver. The BMW Curved Display is held up by supports invisible to the driver, so seemingly hovers within the interior.

The display forms part of the next-generation BMW iDrive, which was announced during CES 2021 and is intended to offer a futuristic driving experience through voice control and other intelligent functions.

The BMW iX was designed using technologies including rapid prototyping and virtual reality

"No other user interface on the market can be operated as simply and as safely as ours," said Frank Weber, member of the board of management of BMW AG Development. "In the BMW iX we have taken this to a new level with a new digital vehicle platform."

Technologies including rapid prototyping and virtual reality were used to develop the car's interior – allowing the design team to quickly test concepts, and make adjustments based on realistic viewing angles.

The all-electric vehicle is due to launch in 2021

Debuted as a concept in 2018 and due to launch in 2021, the BMW iX is the first vehicle in a new fleet of electric vehicles based around the same future-focused principles.

To find out more about the BMW iX, visit the BMW website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for BMW as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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O-office Architects transforms abandoned factory buildings into Chinese tea museum

O-office Architects has converted several buildings on a tea plantation near Guangzhou, China, into a cultural centre featuring a rooftop garden wrapped in bamboo screens.

As part of the (Re)forming Duichuan Tea Yards project, local firm O-office Architects was tasked with revitalising three disused buildings at the plantation in the Gaoming District of Guangdong Province.

O-office Architects has converted three factory buildings into an exhibition space

The site in Duichuan Village was established as a tea plantation in the 1950s and comprises more than 300 acres of gently rolling hills dotted with small lakes.

O-office Architects was approached to help transform three factory buildings into an exhibition space in 2017, after the tea yard had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair when the demand for its tea declined at the start of the 21st century.

The buildings are decorated with bamboo screens. Photo is by Huang Chengqiang

The exhibition space is located at the heart of the reestablished production facility, which will soon begin harvesting its first new crop of Duichuan tea.

The renovated buildings now contain exhibits offering visitors a historic overview of Duichuan tea culture, alongside a fine-dining restaurant and the tea yard's offices.

A new stone podium wrapping the buildings frames views of the landscape

The three 1980s edifices are situated on a small island in an artificial reservoir that also contains woodland, with low-rise former workers' housing nestled amongst the trees.

Exposed concrete structures and narrow-framed steel windows were retained to evoke the buildings' industrial heritage. The architects also sought to enhance the connection between the former production spaces and the surrounding plantation.

The complex is surrounded by several ponds and trees

"We tried to find a simple spatial prototype for the reconstruction of the site to load the envisioned cultural settlement," said the architects in a project statement.

"The design gradually approached a concept of the mixture of 'pavilion' and 'podium'," the studio added. "We tried to evolve the prototype of the 'pavilion' into a settlement that encompasses production and detour."

Roof gardens are connected by bridges

To house the main cultural and public spaces dedicated to the history of tea production, a new podium made from blocks of dark local granite was constructed around the base of the existing buildings.

This structure functions as a viewing platform and contains openings that redefine the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, lending the facility a more porous and welcoming character.

The podium is composed of blocks of dark local granite

New roof gardens on top of the three factory buildings are connected by bridges so visitors can traverse the site whilst taking in aerial views of the plantation.

The garden courtyards are lined with bamboo screens that also extend onto staircases at the corners of the buildings. The stairs connect the rooftop with the stone viewing platform, creating a route that leads visitors all the way around and over the site.

The factories' original concrete structures are exposed inside

"This connection creates a vertical yet horizontal promenade that wraps around the original production space," the architects pointed out.

"We hope this tour can evoke a sense of 'in search of a lost time' [whilst] at the same time acting as a response against the rapid industrialisation of modern urban and rural areas."

The blending of the industrial buildings with the plantation is enhanced by landscaping that includes several ponds and trees that reach through apertures in the stone podium.

The new podium contains public spaces

O-office Architects was established by He Jianxiang and Jiang Ying in Guangzhou in 2007. The firm works on projects across various scales, from urban design and architecture to the exhibition and furniture design.

Several of O-office Architects' projects focus on renovation and conserving the architectural history of the Pearl River Delta. It previously worked on a residence inspired by vernacular courtyard houses found in the region.

Photography is by Zhang Chao unless stated.

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One week to go until entries for Dezeen Awards 2021 open

Dezeen Awards 2021 will open for entries on 2 February, with the discounted early-entry period running until 31 March. Enter your project or studio from next week on and sign up to the Dezeen Awards newsletter to receive more information!

Now in its fourth year, Dezeen Awards celebrates the world's best architecture, interiors and design and has become the benchmark for international design excellence and the ultimate accolade for architects and designers everywhere.

The low entry prices are designed to attract smaller studios and avoid categories being dominated by large companies that can afford to enter multiple categories, making Dezeen Awards one of the most affordable programmes in the industry.

Every longlisted and shortlisted project gets its own page on the site, and shortlisted projects will be given full editorial coverage on Dezeen.

Shortlisted entries are also automatically entered into the Dezeen Awards public vote, where the projects and studios that are most popular with or readers will win a special certificate.

All Dezeen Awards winners receive a bespoke hand-made trophy designed by Atelier NL and a certificate.

Interested? Below is a reminder of our key dates so you don't miss your chance to enter this year:

2 February 2021

Dezeen Awards 2021 opens for entries. Make sure you're subscribed to the Dezeen Awards newsletter to receive updates!

31 March 2021

Early entry deadline. If you want to save money, submit your entry before this date.

2 June 2021

Standard entry deadline. This is your last chance to enter at the standard entry price!

9 June 2021

Late entry deadline. If you can't get your entry in by the standard entry, don't worry! But the entry fees will be higher.

August 2021

This is when we'll publish the architecture, interiors and design longlists. Every longlisted project gets its own page on the Dezeen Awards website.

See the 2020 longlists ›

Early September 2021

This is when you'll find out if your project or product made it onto the shortlist. Every shortlisted project gets its own page on the Dezeen Awards website and also gets a dedicated write-up on Dezeen.

See the 2020 shortlists ›

Late September 2021

The public vote opens. Which projects do Dezeen's readers think are the best?

October 2021

We unveil the winners of the public vote.

See the 2020 public vote winners ›

November 2021

Time to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design projects and studios of the year! We announce the winners of Dezeen Awards 2021.

See the 2020 winners ›

Questions?

If you have any questions about Dezeen Awards 2021 you can contact the team by emailing awards@dezeen.com. And don't forget to subscribe to the Dezeen Awards newsletter to be sure of getting regular updates.

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Woocheol Shin mimics whale's tail to create plywood chair

Graduate designer Woocheol Shin has designed the curved-plywood and stainless steel Whale Chair informed by the shape and smooth contours of the animal.

Shin built the Whale Chair using a combination of bent plywood and stainless steel to mimic the characteristic features of a whale's tail are defined through the smooth curves of the backrest.

"I aim to create emotional products," Hongik University graduate Shin explained. "[I took] a motif from nature and tried to melt it in a rational and aesthetic way within the category of furniture."

Smooth contours reflect the shape of a whale

Stained with Sumi ink, an east Asian ink typically used for calligraphy and brush painting, the heavy grain beech plywood was used to reinforce the whale motif and mimic the texture of whale skin.

"The combination of wood and metal creates a warm feeling while creating a calm and sophisticated atmosphere," Shin told Dezeen.

Ink stained wood exposes the grain of the beech

To achieve the whale-like silhouette, the chair's wooden elements are divided into three individual pieces. The fin backrest is split in two and held together by steel piping, while the seat is designed to comfortably surround its user.

"The backrest and seat plate, inspired by the shape of a whale, are visually comfortable with their characteristic smooth curves and comfortably surround the seated person in terms of use," Shin said.

"A combination of wood and metal creates a warm feeling while creating a calm and sophisticated atmosphere."

Polished steel piping supports the bent ply

Designed with simplicity in mind, Shin created two iterations of the chair – one with polished steel legs and the other finished with a black powder coating.

Both were intended to harmonise with the warm properties of the beech backrest.

"The shape of the legs is designed in a simple and rational structure to harmonise with the conceptual feeling of the backrest and seat," explained the designer.

Polished piping contrasts against ink-stained wood

Other nature-inspired furniture includes Swedish studio Front's collaboration with Moroso to create mossy-rock formations, and Erez Nevi Pana's designs made from salt and soil.

Last week, Baca Architects revealed its design for a marine observatory called the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre that will mimic a whale surfacing from the sea.

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Centre Pompidou in Paris faces four-year closure for repair works

France's culture minister has revealed that the high-tech Centre Pompidou in Paris by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers will be closed from 2023 to undergo major renovations.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Figaro on Monday, culture minister Roselyne Bachelot said that the closure of the centre, which is one of Paris' top cultural buildings, was required in order to repair and replace its visibly ageing components.

The centre will close for restoration from 2023 and the repair works will continue until at least 2027.

Closure is quickest and cheapest option

The Centre Pompidou, known locally as the Beaubourg, is best known for its radical inside-out aesthetic, which sees its superstructure and mechanical services placed across its exterior.

Since its opening in 1977, it remains the largest museum for modern art in Europe. It is also home to a vast public library and used as a space for music and acoustic research.

Above: the Centre Pompidou is best known for its inside-out aesthetic. Photo is by David Noble, courtesy of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP)

Today, however, many of the building's elements are in need of replacing, such as its heating and cooling system, escalators and elevators. It also contains asbestos that needs urgent removal.

Bachelot said that closing the venue was, therefore, the quickest and cheapest way to achieve this.

"There were two options on the table, one being to restore the centre while keeping it open, the other being full closure," Bachelot told Le Figaro.

"I chose the second because it turned out to be shorter in time and a little cheaper."

Second time centre is forced to close

Bachelot's announcement follows a warning issued by the French government in September 2020 that the centre would soon have to face at least a partial closure for repair works.

However, the Centre Pompidou's president Serge Lasvignes told Le Figaro that plans have now been put in place officially as "we no longer have a choice, the building is in distress".

The upcoming restorations mark the second time that the Centre Pompidou has faced closure due to construction works since its opening.

The first time was in 1997, during its 20th anniversary year, for a three-year renovation that increased the exhibition space available inside.

Centre Pompidou is a high-tech landmark

Described by Piano as a "big urban toy", Centre Pompidou is widely regarded as the landmark that drew global attention to the influential high-tech movement that emerged in the UK in the late 1960s.

With its building services and structure on its exterior, it is designed so that the internal spaces are highly flexible and can be easily rearranged. However, this radical design was initially met with hostility – and was first described by French newspaper Le Monde as "an architectural King Kong".

The centre featured in Dezeen's high-tech architecture series, in which we profiled the architects and buildings of the high-tech movement. Other notable examples of architecture from the era include the Renault Distribution Centre by Foster Associates, The Lloyd's building by Rogers and Reliance Controls by Team 4 – the former studio of Rogers, Norman Foster, Su Brumwell and Wendy Cheesman.

Main image is courtesy of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.

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