Be Open think tank

#BeOpenNEWS The last day of public voting in the Design Equality competition! Here are the top 50 entries in the Design Equality competition short-listed for the Public Vote based on such criteria as viability, feasibility and desirability of the design, evidence of a rigorous research process informing the solution proposed, and its creative value. The international jury panel will now review the top 50 entries to name the winners of the First, Second and Third prizes. Meanwhile all those passionate about sustainability and creativity can cast their own vote in favour of the most promising projects. The winner of the public online vote by the majority of votes will be awarded a grant of €2,000. The online vote will last till midnight May15th, 2026 (CET).

#BeOpenDESIGN Beijing-based LUO Studio’s Shell Book Pavilion transforms a public plaza into a kinetic, open-ended reading space defined by movement and accessibility. Shaped as a clamshell, the lightweight aluminum structure lifts and lowers to create shifting spatial conditions, from an open canopy to a more enclosed interior. Designed without a fixed front or back, the pavilion invites 360-degree interaction, extending into the plaza through movable seating.

#BeOpenARCH The Lotus Clubhouse by MIA Design Studio unfolds as a low, fragmented composition of circular pavilions set within a lakeside landscape in Vietnam. Organized as a series of dispersed volumes connected by curved paths and bridges, the architecture follows the terrain rather than imposing on it. Layered green roofs unify the scheme, integrating planting, solar systems, and water management into a continuous surface that regulates climate and blends the building with its surroundings. Structural columns expand into sculptural ceilings, creating open interiors that maintain visual continuity with the exterior. The result is a fluid architectural system where form, circulation, and environment operate as one.

#BeOpenDESIGN Korean designer Jongha Choi’s De-dimension collection rethinks furniture as both object and illusion, transforming flat, picture-like aluminium forms into fully functional stools and tables. Designed to blur the boundary between two-dimensional imagery and three-dimensional reality, each piece folds and unfolds like a physical sketch coming to life. While ideal for compact living, the project goes beyond practicality, offering a tactile exploration of perspective and challenging how we perceive images, objects, and space.

#BeOpenDESIGN Geometriæ by Swedish studio Front for Italian brand Moroso turns furniture into a study of drawing made physical. Inspired by classic 3D perspective sketches, the collection builds seating and tables from intersecting geometric volumes that still feel like they belong on paper rather than in a room. Upholstered in custom jacquard textiles, the surfaces recreate pencil shading and watercolor gradients, translating light and shadow directly into fabric. The result is a deliberate visual confusion where depth is unstable and forms appear to oscillate between flat illustration and solid object. By treating drawing techniques as structural logic, Geometriæ blurs the boundary between design representation and design reality, making furniture feel like it is continuously in the act of becoming. More optical illusion furniture on our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART Mncobi Mndzebele has been named the April 2026 winner of the BE OPEN Art Limitless programme, recognised for his distinctive portrait practice that explores African identity, culture, and womanhood through everyday materials like ballpoint pen and coffee stains. A self-taught artist from Eswatini, he creates sepia-toned backgrounds using coffee before building finely detailed, expressive portraits that celebrate Black African skin, heritage, and resilience. Throughout 2026, BE OPEN continues to highlight artists whose work reflects sustainable approaches to artistic practice. Each month, a winning artist is selected and featured in the online gallery, and at the end of the year, three artists will be chosen from the monthly winners by members of the BE OPEN community to receive monetary awards and increased international visibility from the BE OPEN Foundation.

#BeOpenDESIGN The Bublyk lounge chair by Andrii Kovalskyi turns a simple idea into a striking piece of design storytelling. Drawing from the ring-shaped bread that gives it its name, the chair builds on torus geometry and cylindrical volumes to create a soft, sculptural form that feels both playful and intentional. Wrapped in richly textured upholstery, its bold silhouette balances visual impact with genuine comfort, challenging the notion that furniture must choose between the two. More than a statement piece, Bublyk hints at a broader system of modular forms, suggesting a design language that is as adaptable as it is memorable. More unconventional soft furniture on our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS Register your events for World Environment Day! This year is a moment to rethink how we power our economies and restore our relationship with the climate. Whether you’re a school, business, community group, or government, you’re invited to host an event around 5 June. Getting involved is simple: Fill out the registration form to add your event and make your efforts visible. Explore the interactive map to discover activities happening near you and connect with others taking action. Join the movement. Register your event. Be part of the change.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Aya Mostafa as the Artist of the Month for April 2026. Based in Cairo, Egypt, Mostafa is a visual artist working across painting, storyboarding, and digital graphics. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Helwan University (2020), her practice is rooted in the vibrant language of pop art, where bold color and expressive portraiture bring everyday moments to life. Each month, BE OPEN Art presents 20 artists for public voting, with monthly winners competing for the Artist of the Year 2026 title, which includes a €1,000 prize and promotional support.

#BeOpenDESIGN Immersive Resilience Garden by Seoul & London–based design and architecture studio StudioReBuild transforms a section of Seoul’s Ttuksom Han River Park into a multi-layered, nature-driven retreat that blurs the boundary between urban infrastructure and ecological experience. Centered around a submerged lounge and a 3D maze-like garden system, the project invites visitors into a 360-degree sensory environment where plants, people, and non-human species coexist. Inspired by natural interactions among insects and vegetation, the design uses tiered planting and perennial species to create a self-sustaining landscape that evolves across seasons while enhancing biodiversity and microclimate. Combining computational fabrication with ecological thinking, the project demonstrates how resource-efficient design can produce immersive public spaces that counter urban overstimulation and foster deeper connections with nature.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART BE OPEN Art is proud to announce Aissa Joud as the Regional Artist of Northeastern Africa in its 2026 global art competition. Following four months of recognizing outstanding emerging artists across the region, this award highlights exceptional talent from countries including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, and Madagascar. Aissa Joud is a Moroccan artist from Ouarzazate, known as Morocco’s “Little Hollywood,” whose work reflects his hometown’s cultural and visual heritage and began with selling art to local tourists before pursuing formal art education. Selected from among the four monthly winners, Aissa receives the title of Regional Artist of Northeastern Africa. The Regional Winner receives a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART BE OPEN Regional Art continues in 2026 with its next stage dedicated to Central Europe, featuring emerging artists from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. From May to August, each month 20 new artists will be showcased in the online gallery, with public voting determining the Monthly Artist and culminating in the selection of the Regional Artist and a €500 grant, alongside a €300 Founder’s Favourite award. The initiative continues BE OPEN’s mission to support young creatives whose work reflects cultural identity and contemporary social themes, while giving them international visibility and recognition. Discover the artists, vote for your favourites, and be part of shaping the future of contemporary art at BE OPEN Art.

#BeOpenDESIGN Tel Aviv-based designer Talia Luvaton works with vegetable-tanned leather through wet-forming and hand-molding techniques that allow the material to dictate form as much as the maker does. Her practice, deeply rooted in craft lineage and inherited tools, produces sculptural pieces that feel organic, bodily, and almost alive.

#BeOpenDESIGN Dublin-based designer Cara Campos explores the afterlife of everyday objects with Objects from Frames (OFF), a furniture collection made from discarded bicycle frames. The series featuring a chair, table, and lamp repurposes end-of-life bikes by cutting, repositioning, and welding their tubular steel structures while preserving original curves, joints, and attachment points. Rather than concealing wear, Campos leaves scratches, chipped paint, and visible welds intact, allowing each piece to carry the physical memory of its former life. Developed from a university project and refined through hands-on testing, OFF highlights the precision engineering of bicycles while transforming them into functional domestic objects that balance reuse, structure, and honest material expression.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Eyerusalem Adugna Jirenga as the April Regional Artist of the Month in the Northeastern Africa stage of its 2026 global art competition. Running from January through April, this stage recognizes outstanding emerging artists from across the region, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, and Madagascar. Eyerusalem Adugna Jirenga is an Ethiopian artist and fashion designer based in Addis Ababa, whose practice bridges design and photography. As the fourth and final monthly winner in this regional stage, Eyerusalem Adugna Jirenga joins January winner Reem Aljeally (Sudan), February winner Aissa Joud (Morocco), and March winner Sayda Shukri (Sudan) in the run for the title of Regional Artist of Northeastern Africa, to be announced in early May and receive a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform.

#BeOpenDESIGN Recycledin has created a poker chip set made entirely from recycled plastic collected from the Mediterranean’s seas, beaches, and landfills. Around 2.5 kilograms of recovered plastic are cleaned, melted, and molded into a standard 300-chip poker set, complete with dealer and blind markers. Designed to match the size and feel of professional casino chips, the set turns marine waste into a functional gaming product while reducing the demand for new plastic production. Each set is made to order to avoid overproduction, pairing sustainability with a familiar tabletop experience.

#BeOpenARCH Flying Vegetation by H&P Architects is a residential project in Thai Binh City, Vietnam, defined by a full-height planted facade made from rows of terracotta pots held in a lightweight steel frame. The system acts as a living screen that filters sunlight, reduces dust, and softens the boundary between the street and the home. Designed as an adaptable framework, the pots can be easily maintained and replanted, allowing the facade to evolve over time. Beyond aesthetics, the project integrates urban agriculture into everyday life, enabling residents to grow plants and food directly on the building while reconnecting dense city living with cultivation.

#BeOpenDESIGN Couch Console by Indian designer Sushant Vora is a modular couch-side organizer designed to make binge-watching sessions cleaner and more convenient. Built around simple geometry and clear functionality, it combines multiple modules including a gyroscopic cupholder that keeps drinks upright on soft cushions, a snack tray, phone stand, remote holder, and hidden storage. The modular design allows users to rearrange components depending on their needs, while a USB-C hub lets you connect an external battery for easy charging. The result is a compact couch companion that keeps drinks stable, gadgets organized, and snacks within reach during long lounging sessions.

#BeOpenARCH Metamorphosis in Motion by Lina Ghotmeh is a vivid pink labyrinth installed in the courtyard of Milan’s Palazzo Litta for this year’s Milan Design Week. Commissioned by MoscaPartners, the installation transforms the historic baroque courtyard into an interactive spatial experience without altering its structure. Using curved geometries, shifting perspectives, and sequential pathways, the design guides visitors through a playful maze of screens and seating that encourages pause, movement, and reflection. Positioned as both architectural intervention and social space, it reimagines the courtyard as a living environment where circulation becomes experience and the boundaries between passage and place dissolve. More contemporary labyrinths on our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS Here are the top 50 entries in the Design Equality competition short-listed for the Public Vote based on such criteria as viability, feasibility and desirability of the design, evidence of a rigorous research process informing the solution proposed, and its creative value. The winner of the public online vote by the majority of votes will be awarded a grant of €2,000. The online vote will last till midnight May14th, 2026 (CET). All those passionate about sustainability and creativity can cast their own vote in favour of the most promising projects. Successful projects should answer to the needs and aspirations of its intended audience, have a clear plan of what is needed for its realisation, be sustainable and efficient, very well researched in terms of the problem to be solved, the stakeholders and purpose, and most certainly be passionate, innovative and out of the box.