Wednesday 1 September 2021

23o5studio completes textured Pink House in Vietnam

Circular opening above a pool at pink house

Vietnamese practice 23o5studio has completed a home in Da Nang City featuring pink pebble-wash walls inside and out, cut through by geometric openings and planted patios.

The rough exterior and interior surfaces of The Pink House, designed for two sisters who chose its distinctive colour, reference the rough textures of the Marble Mountains in the Ngũ Hành Sơn District where the home is located.

Pink house has a pebble dash exterior
Top: a pool was fitted below a circular opening. Above: the building has triangular, geometric openings

Triangular slices through the walls and a large circular void topped with plants above a swimming pool draw light into the 290-square-metre home. These openings carefully control views to create spaces of "serenity, silence and intimacy".

"The project focuses on exploiting areas of light and transitions in modern living spaces," said the studio. "The spatial experiences are continuously evolving."

Pink house has pebble dash interior walls
The kitchen looks out to an enclosed garden

On the ground floor, an open plan living, kitchen and dining area sits between a small planted garden to the south and the swimming pool to the north.

Emphasising a strong connection to nature, a wall of sliding glass doors seamlessly connects the external pool and internal living area, as well as allowing sunlight to shine through the circular void as it moves throughout the day.

"A large opening with space connecting the sky and the building has a metaphorical and evocative connotation of the small image of man before the vastness of nature," said the studio.

At the southern end of the home, the main staircase sits within a double-height area between two plant-filled voids, illuminated by a small round skylight in the roof.

The living and kitchen area has an open plan design
Floor-to-ceiling windows were placed on the rear wall

On the first floor, a main bedroom with an en-suite glazed bathroom block sits to the east, and an additional bedroom, bathroom and laundry room sit to the west. These are separated by a central corridor that frames views out to planted roof areas.

"The project is designed along the vertical axis of the plan, with the bedrooms having their own space and differences in feel," said the studio. "Each hidden corner in the house is a place to contemplate and enjoy nature."

A rectangular pool was placed beneath a circular opening
Light filters through the circular opening over the swimming pool

A planted balcony surrounding the large circular void overlooks the spaces below. A metal staircase leads up to a roof garden, which remains sheltered by high parapet walls cut through with triangular and circular openings.

The pebble-wash finish has been used across both the interior and exterior walls, paired with granite floors to create what the studio calls an "ambiguity of usage" throughout, with rooms easily able change their function.

Planted balconies are adjoined to the bedrooms of pink house
The house has balconies on each floor

The Pink House was recently longlisted in the rural house category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Other Vietnamese homes to recently complete include a residence with a perforated ceramic brick exterior by Vo Trong Nghia Architects and this townhouse with arched living spaces by Sanuki Daisuke Architects.

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Woman Made celebrates a century of products designed by women

Woman Made by Jane Hall

Architect Jane Hall has written an A to Z-style book charting the work of both iconic and unknown woman product designers over the last century, including Ray Eames and Isle Crawford.

Released by Phaidon, Woman Made: Great Woman Designers collects work from more than 200 designers hailing from over 50 countries around the world.

The book celebrates woman designers over the last century
Woman Made was written by architect Jane Hall

The book is bound in a mint-coloured leatherette jacket by Berlin-based studio Ariane Spanier Design and features images of products designed by women in an A to Z format organised by their surnames.

"With the A to Z structure, loads of contrasts come through so you don't end up with a chronology, and you actually start to just see objects outside of the time in which they're presented," Hall told Dezeen.

"You have women across time sitting next to each other – so you've got someone like [architect] Zaha Hadid sandwiched between [Swedish designer] Greta Grossman and [American designer] Virginia Hamill, who worked in department stores. This creates really interesting juxtapositions."

Featured designs by Marisa Forlani and Monica Förster
It features designs by Marisa Forlani and Monica Förster

Each woman is explored through an image of one of their notable designs and an accompanying piece of text written by Hall, who is a founding member of Turner Prize-winning studio Assemble.

The book does not feature artists, fashion or graphic designers; rather, Hall explained that Woman Made focuses on functional objects that can be found in the home.

Woman Made celebrates female designers
Ray Eames' 1956 Lounge Chair also is included in the book

"The home is the site where you can, in a way, trace how women's roles have changed throughout the 20th and 21st century," said the author. "So that was a nice tie-in to frame the narrative around women as designers."

Among the included work is architect and modernist furniture designer Eileen Gray's 1926 Bibendum Chair, as well as a 1947 teapot by ceramicist Edith Heath and Dutch designer Hella Jongerius' Polder Sofa from 2005.

American designer Eames' 1956 Lounge Chair also features, plus multidisciplinary designer Faye Toogood's 2014 Roly-Poly Chair and a bench from British interior and furniture designer Crawford's 2009 collection Seating for Eating.

Woman Made also aims to celebrate lesser-known figures from previous years to the present day, highlighting how female creatives have always been active in the design world, regardless of whether they receive public recognition.

Furniture by designers Schatz and Toogood
Zahara Schatz and Faye Toogood are among the included designers

Hall's writing process involved narrowing the book's selection down from some 800 designers, as well as contacting the friends and family of various spotlighted creatives in order to verify and enrich her research.

Discussing the biggest changes to the lives of women designers over the last century, Hall acknowledged key developments such as industrialisation and women's suffrage as significant, while she suggested that climate change is likely to shape design's future.

Jane Hall wrote the designers' bios
Furniture by Claude Lalanne and Mira Nakashima was also chosen by Hall

"The home is one of the things that we've [women] still been tied to, and it's one reason why a lot of women suffer the most from the climate crisis," she said.

"So I think that's going to be the next big something. We don't quite know what it is yet, but it's coming," she said.

The book is published by Phaidon
An ashtray by Esther Wood Garance Vallée's 2020 Puddle Table feature

Woman Made follows Hall's 2019 title Breaking Ground: Architecture by Women, which unpacks various architecture designed by women over the last century in a similar format.

"In a really simplistic way these books are really important because they just literally make women more visible," concluded the author.

Dr Jane Hall is an architect and author who co-founded London-based architecture collective Assemble in 2010. The studio recently made "stackable sculptures" as installations for this year's Creative Folkstone Triennial.

The imagery is courtesy of Phaidon

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Two weeks left to enter Dezeen's Redesign the World competition with Epic Games

Redesign the World logo

There are just two weeks left to enter our Redesign the World competition, which calls for new ideas to rethink planet Earth. Enter now before the contest closes for entries on 15 September.

Launched at the end of July, Redesign the World is the ultimate design competition that calls for new ideas to reimagine the planet so that it remains habitable long into the future.

The contest, which is in partnership with Epic Games, is free to enter for anyone over the age of 18 of any profession and from any country in the world.

Entries will be assessed by expert panel of judges

The competition entries will be assessed by a panel of expert judges comprising White Arkitekter CEO Alexandra Hagen, structural engineer Hanif Kara and speculative architect Liam Young, alongside Twinmotion product marketing manager Belinda Ercan at Epic Games and Dezeen founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs.

The 15 best proposals selected by the judges will be published on Dezeen in November during our Dezeen 15 online festival celebrating Dezeen's 15th anniversary.

A top prize of £5,000 will be awarded for first place, £2,500 for second place, £1,000 for third place and £500 each for the 12 remaining finalists selected by the judging panel.

How to enter

Entrants must produce a 3D visualisation of their concepts using architectural visualisation tool Twinmotion, submitting a video animation and still image of their concept, along with up to 500 words of text about their proposal.

Redesign the World is primarily an ideas competition. Judges will be looking for visionary concepts and are less concerned with technical mastery of the Twinmotion software. However, the quality of the execution of the idea will also be considered.

See the full competition brief for how to enter ›

Twinmotion is an architectural visualisation tool powered by the Unreal Engine game engine.

Dezeen previously hosted an online workshop on how to use Twinmotion to help participants with their entries. The workshop provided tips and tricks on how Twinmotion can be used via a 30-minute practical tutorial on how to use the software.

In addition, we hosted a live talk exploring how game engines are transforming architecture. The talk covered the new possibilities that real-time 3D tools such as Twinmotion open up to architects, as well as how video game design and architectural visualisation are merging and what the future holds for the industry.

Last week, we also hosted a panel discussion exploring the work of creatives and scientists who are reimagining the planet. The talk explored why architects and designers are increasingly looking to remodel the world in a bid to address pressing concerns such as climate change, habitat loss and human overpopulation.

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On Repeat aims to take plastic-free packaging beyond the "eco-hippy-mama market"

On Repeat biodegradable sachets of liquid

A new service offers to help beauty brands reduce plastic waste by distributing their products in dissolvable and compostable refills.

The startup, called On Repeat, has developed "easy and cost-effective" refill packs that can be used for a range of different liquids, powders and balms.

The packs are made using materials that can be easily disposed of at home, including a non-toxic film that dissolves in hot water, a bio-based film that can be put in a compost heap, and FSC-certified cardboard.

As well as producing the packaging, the London-based company offers a complete packing and distribution service.

On Repeat compostable refill
On Repeat's refills are packaged in materials that can be disposed of at home

The UK uses an estimated five million tonnes of plastic every year, nearly half of which is packaging. Yet a recent report from The British Beauty Council revealed that 91 per cent of consumers want their products to have less packaging and 88 per cent want to be able to refill their cosmetics.

For On Repeat founder Micaela Nisbet, this was the impetus to start the business. She hopes to attract many different brands to sign up so that she can have a significant impact on reducing plastic waste.

"It needs to be big in order to effect proper change," she told Dezeen.

"We want to reach the broader market, not just the eco-hippy-mama market," she said. "For us to do that, the service needs to be super easy and cost-effective for both brands and consumers. Because if it isn't, people are not going to come back to it."

On Repeat refill packet
The refill packs can be used for liquids, powders and balms

Nisbet developed the concept after customers for her own skincare brand, Neighbourhood Botanicals, started asking her if they could order refills.

She couldn't find a solution she felt was genuinely sustainable because while it is easy to source recyclable plastic films, often they are not disposed of as intended.

"It's only rigid plastics like bottles that really get recycled," Nisbet explained. "So when brands sell refills that say they are fully recyclable, it's true in theory but it just doesn't happen in practice."

On Repeat biodegradable sachet in hands
Brand founder Micaela Nisbet tested more than 50 different films

After testing more than 50 different types of film, Nisbet and her business partners selected two films that they felt could cover all different types of cosmetic products.

For transporting anhydrous serums and oils, they chose a film that dissolves completely in boiling water.

Rather than producing microplastics, it turns into carbon dioxide, water and natural minerals that can be rinsed down the drain.

On Repeat dissolvable film
Serums and oils are packed in a non-toxic film that dissolves in boiling water

Water-based products are packaged using a bio-based film made from ingredients that include paper, eucalyptus fibre, cassava and corn starch. It completely decomposes in 32 weeks when placed in a composter.

All products are encased in a cardboard wrapper printed with vegetable inks.

On Repeat biodegradable sachet
Water-based products are packaged in a compostable bio-based film

The system is designed to be as simple as possible. Brands send their product in bulk form, then On Repeat takes care of the rest.

On Repeat integrates a brand's e-commerce store into its own distribution software, so it can fulfil orders as they come in. Product is packaged up into the refill packs – along with custom labels including the brand's logo, product information and batch codes – and sent out for delivery within 24 hours.

The refill wallets are small enough to fit through a letterbox so that the customer doesn't have to be home to receive deliveries.

To use the refill, the customer follows instructions on the packaging. They cut the corner off the wallet with a pair of scissors and decant the product into an empty refill bottle, ready for use.

Neighbourhood Botanicals sells its own products in glass and aluminium bottles, to make them better suited for refilling than plastic.

On Repeat compostable refill open
On Repeat's service covers the entire packing and distribution process

On Repeat is not the first company experimenting with refill options.

Hand wash company Forgo and cleaning products company Spruce are among those that offer products in powder form to reduce the amount of packaging required. Customers then add water themselves.

Brands such as Myro and Fussy have created refillable deodorants, while By Humankind offers a range of refillable products that include mouthwash.

On Repeat compostable refills with our branding
The company offers custom labels including logos and product info

Nisbet hopes to open up the world of refills to an even larger audience. She said that, as the brand expands, she would like to set up her own farm so that she can produce the compostable and dissolvable films herself. She also imagines branching out into other types of home products besides toiletries.

"We just want to make that process as seamless as possible," she said. "We want to make it so everyone can get exactly the products that they want and not have to compromise."

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Thailand's Host and Home and Thai 10/10 projects showcase Thai lifestyle products around the world

Dezeen promotion: Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion is highlighting Thai furniture and decorative products through its Host and Home and Thai 10/10 projects.

Both the Host and Home and Thai 10/10 projects were launched by The Department of International Trade Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce Thailand with the aim of creating new opportunities for Thai designers and manufacturers.

The projects aim to develop brands' entrepreneurial potential in production and design while promoting "a good national image and Thai lifestyle products". The Host and Home project is in its seventh year, while the Thai 10/10 project is in its third.

The projects also support designers to exhibit their products at international trade shows, including Maison and Objet in Paris, Salone del Mobile in Milan and Korea Build Exhibition in Ilsan, Republic of Korea.

A car with a red cushion that resembles a broken wine glass
The bottle collection by outdoor furniture brand Deesawat is a teak wood furniture series referencing the jagged structure of a broken wine glass

Host and Home curates collections of Thai products including lampshades, furniture, mirrors and soft furnishings – all of which are handcrafted.

"Customisation and craftsmanship can increase the export value of Thai products in Europe through design and creativity, which are the highlight of Thai design products that are popular in the European market," said The Department of International Trade Promotion.

"It is very important that Thai furniture and decorative product entrepreneurs are skilful."

Light shades made from cream and black cord
The collection includes light shades by Thai decorative brand Ayodhya

This year's Host and Home collection includes teak wood outdoor furniture designed by brand Deesawat, which references the jagged structure of a broken wine glass.

"With the uniqueness of Thai craftsmanship, and with the selection of sustainable teak wood material, this composes unique furniture that represents an art form with function," explained Deesawat.

The Host and Home collection also features mirrors made from recycled newspaper and light shades by Thai decorative brand Ayodhya, pillows from soft furnishing brand Pasaya and sculptures from Yarnnakarn, an arts and crafts brand based in Bangkok.

White cushions with blue and white patterns
Pillows by Thai brand Pasaya

Similarly to the Host and Home project, the Thai 10/10 project aims "to show the world what Thailand can humbly offer in the plethora of luxury lifestyle brands," according to Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion.

Ten brands were chosen for their handmade products, which intend to showcase "high standards of production, sustainability concern and the finest material".

As part of the project, Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion launched branding workshops for the companies in order to boost their international marketing strategies.

"Dedication and commitment resulted in comprehensive guidelines crafted for each individual, and 2018 saw the stage of strategy implementation as Thai 10/10 took the next step to launch their premier showcase at The Bund, Shanghai," explained Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion.

"That was a huge success, making a strong footstep as an 'experiential luxury showcase' from Thailand."

Yarnnakarn is an arts and crafts studio in Bangkok

Looking ahead, both projects intend to continue to develop new entrepreneurs and market Thai products for restaurants, hotels and residences across Europe.

"The Department of International Trade Promotion foresees the importance of continuing the projects through the development of new entrepreneurs as well as the enhancement of their potentials with the ability to satisfy buyers internationally," said The Department of International Trade Promotion.

To view more about The Department of International Trade Promotion and its Host and Home and Thai 10/10 projects, visit its website.


Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for The Department of International Trade Promotion as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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