There’s something old-fashioned, or indeed anti-fashion about a duffle coat. It’s charmingly naïf, the stuff of school uniforms and Paddington Bear, with a history that goes way back to the mid-19th century. It had a life in the military, as part of the uniform for the Royal Navy, and like much service attire, was then reimagined by the world of high fashion. Jean Cocteau used to stroll with close friend Coco Chanel, wearing his white version. Decades later, Rei Kawakubo made an oversized statement with versions at Comme des Garçons, and it remains a favorite of arch Modernist Margaret Howell. When Jean Louis Iratzoki was working on plans for a new sofa to join his ever-growing range of designs at BOSC, he took inspiration from the toggles and nostalgia of all things duffle. It was a subtle way to infuse what is a contemporary and highly sophisticated piece of furniture with a touch of something softer, from the past.

As part of We Design Beirut's main program, under “We Preserve” a collective exhibition will be staged at Villa Audi. Curated by Babylon -The Agency founded by Joy Mardini and William Wehbe, the exhibition of over 33 product designers from the region celebrates the rich heritage of Middle Eastern design and its harmonious integration within the historic Villa Audi.

Parametric Architecture introduces a series of upcoming workshops in partnership with ArchDaily. In this workshop, participants will learn advanced methods to maximize control, efficiency, and quality. In addition, they will be taught design principles and how to engage creatively in the age of AI. The course will also cover post-processing techniques, productivity strategies, essential resources, and an overview of other applications to prepare for the oncoming AI boom.

The AI Creative Challenge aims to encourage participants to use these AI-powered tools to generate visually impressive designs. Through human prompting, crafting, and imagination, participants will steer AI algorithms to create original designs that push the boundaries of architecture.

Incorporating AI tools like Midjourney and Dalle2 in the design process allows for rapid ideation, exploration, and visualization of concepts while deepening our understanding of AI's creative potential. These tools provide a unique opportunity to examine the interaction between human and artificial intelligence and assess the benefits of collaboration in the creative process.

Parametric Architecture introduces a series of upcoming workshops in partnership with ArchDaily. This workshop aims to provide comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in designing efficient geometries while leveraging data and visualization techniques to gain insights into the structural performance of their designs. Students will learn the fundamentals of parametric design, structural analysis, and optimization techniques, enabling them to create structure-aware and visually appealing architectural and engineering designs.

Parametric Architecture introduces a series of upcoming workshops in partnership with ArchDaily. These workshops are designed to empower architects, designers, and enthusiasts with the latest insights and skills in the realm of parametric design. Led by industry experts and thought leaders, these immersive sessions will delve into cutting-edge techniques, innovative tools, and real-world applications, fostering a dynamic learning environment where participants can elevate their design capabilities to new heights.

On Wednesday, August 23, the first episode of the new documentary series that explores the projects of Al Borde will be released. "Building with living trees", immerses itself in the stories of the Garden House, a single-family house located in the suburban area of the city of Quito.

It accompanies us through the day, gives us support, shows us the way and touches our senses. This may sound like the description of your perfect partner, but in this case, we are talking about the ground beneath our feet. Day after day, year after year, we come into daily contact with it, though it generally melts into the background, is taken for granted and overlooked. So it's time to give it some deserved attention. There is, after all, far more beneath its surface than meets the eye.

Matri-Archi(tecture) prepositions an exhibition in Johannesburg, titled ‘Building Africa: The State of Things!. The exhibition asks what it means to restore, preserve, foreground, call upon, remember and project former and future conditions of socio-political identity through the architecture of buildings that were once central figures in the political agenda of South Africa. The exhibition foregrounds research about the Constitutional Court and Union Buildings.

Spring is a time for rebirth, for the shedding of old skin and fresh beginnings. Anyone who has spent the last few months hopping across the globe for in-person fairs can testify to the fact that this seasonal renewal trend did not skip the architecture and design industry. Loaded with post-pandemic energy and a desire to catch up on all that's been missed due to Covid-19, organizers, attendees and exhibitors were adamant to mix things up in 2023.

Koelnmesse was no exception. Not only did the organizers of imm cologne defy expectations by pushing the fair to a spring slot from 4 to 7 June, they also saw an opportunity to finally implement format changes that they had been contemplating well before the world shut down for the larger part of three years.

Thoughtful, captivating and spectacular; today’s interior designers are boldly demonstrating how to create statements through conceptual interiors. Whether expressing reserved minimalism, flamboyant playfulness or organic naturalness, there tends to be a strong and elaborate idea behind the interior concepts being developed currently. Just take a look at the increase in and popularity of design hotels, as well as the number of distinctive and highly stylized restaurants. The impact that our physical surroundings have on us –the shapes, colors, materials and lighting– plays a central role when new hospitality and retail venues are being developed. Interior design delivers definitive experiences and so can be cleverly implemented to speak to our senses and therefore induce specific emotions and reactions.     

GAD Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of an international architecture competition that calls on young architects from around the world to envision a new natural environment based on living in a scenic and magical landscape. Re-Imagining Cappadocia as an Eco-District competition seeks to extend design insight into architecture embedded and in harmony with the Cappadocian landscape as the focus of Eco-District design.

The Implementation Plan for the Construction of National Education System for Green Low-Carbon Development in China clearly states that green low-carbon development should be integrated into campus construction as a goal. New technology products of energy saving and emission reduction are given priority in campus construction to guide teachers and students in the education system to firmly establish the concept of green low-carbon development and lay a solid ideological and operational foundation for achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

The immersive medium of film appeals to our imagination through a powerful combination of virtual and real worlds. In 2023, Minotti is launching its new film, titled The Grand Tour, which promises a timeless journey through the Minotti lifestyle – drawing out narratives that thread together the social spaces that humans inhabit.

The latest report from the UN’s climate panel states that the building industry accounts for 34% of global energy consumption and 37% of global CO2 emissions. As noted in the report: "The buildings and construction sector is not on track to achieve decarbonization by 2050." Dramatic numbers and rather depressing news. With this reality in mind, Danish window manufacturer VELUX recently set out to initiate a project to demonstrate that if the industry is willing to change, here and now, it’s possible. Together with their partners, Danish architect studio EFFEKT and engineer consultants Artelia, VELUX has built an experimental housing program called Living Places which exemplifies and proves that with current building technology and materials, a transition towards healthier and more sustainable living is already within reach.

In a world of fast-paced change, Minotti’s pursuit of timeless design as well as its honed technical expertise result in elegant pieces that stand ready to elevate any interior with sophistication and style. The 2023 Collection demonstrates this, finding a balance between classicism and contemporaneity, organic lines and solid volumes.

Coordinated by Rodolfo Dordoni with Minotti Studio, the new collection expresses a single language of stylistic coherence derived from international voices such as Marcio Kogan / studio mk27, Nendo, GamFratesi, Inoda+Sveje and Gordon Guillaumier. While embracing consistency with Minotti’s design vision, the 2023 Collection explores new horizons with the aim of responding to the ever-changing nature of contemporary living.

In 2013, home fashion label Buster + Punch emerged from a garage in East London, with a refreshing stance on everyday detailing and fittings that elevated them into desirable and trendy pieces.

The brand’s founder Massimo Buster Minale was renowned for his work as an architect by day and maker of custom motorcycles by night – the latter sold from the garage a few hundred yards from his London flat. His motorcycle clients began commissioning one-off interior pieces and detailing for their homes. Minale had always struggled to find premium hardware and fittings for his architecture projects for Richard Rogers and Foster & Partners and now saw a clear gap in the market. 

Global office furniture brand Haworth's concept of inclusion stretches well beyond simply accommodating disabilities, rather it involves a far-reaching philosophy that puts the well-being of all users in primary focus.