Be Open think tank

#BeOpenART Taiwan-born industrial designer and RCA graduate in Innovation Design Engineering Chiu Chih has developed Voyage on the Planet, a project that speaks to the fragility of the environment, and our own vulnerability. The work encompasses a plant-based breathing apparatus for a dystopian world where even breathing needs special equipment. The artistic piece forces the viewer to think about tough issues such as the deteriorating air quality within crowded living environments and the changing face of the built landscape. Originally conceived in 2013, the artwork was later reproduced by some people in India who used it to negotiate with local government on a landfill plan in their city centre. More fashion for dystopian future in our blog

#BeOpenDESIGN Product designer and ECAL graduate Charlotta Åman has developed fully compostable slippers as a sustainable alternative to conventional ones used in the hospitality sector. Due to high demands on hygiene, slippers that made from a mix of materials that are almost impossible to recycle usually get thrown away when the guest leaves, creating enormous amount of waste. The Myco Slippers by Åman, on the contrary, are made from mycelium, biodegradable mushroom-based material, and can therefore return to the soil when no longer in use. Different heat mould compression and cutting techniques has been used to create sole and top as well as a grip pattern, perforated structure and embossed logo on top.

#BeOpenARCH SAKO Architects, Beijing based architecture firm of Japanese architect Keiichiro Sako, has revamped the head office for a paint company in Tokyo. Limited by Japan’s legal requirements for evacuation, the team has nevertheless managed to create a colourful and innovative exterior that expresses the identity of the company. Aptly named Vertical Rainbow, the building features open balconies covered by large glazing coated in newly developed gradation coating. The multicolored façade creates colourful shadows in the daytime and beautiful illumination at night, emitting a soft glow to the streets and surrounding buildings.

#BeOpenDESIGN "Circular design lab" Atelier Luma has developed salt panels for the interior of Frank Gehry's tower for Luma Foundation in Arles, France, aiming to lower the carbon footprint of the building, which is made of concrete and steel and clad in stainless steel panels. To produce the thousands of the salt panels used to clad the building’s lift lobbies, designers Henna Burney and Karlijn Sibbel developed a way of growing salt crystals on metal mesh placed underwater in the extensive ancient salt flats in the nearby Camargue nature reserve. The process only requires sun and wind, and no added energy. The material really grows itself by crystallisation over two weeks. More extraordinary salt-based designs in our blog

#BeOpenART Artist Benedetto Bufalino has unveiled a temporary interactive installation to celebrate soccer. Named Laby-Foot, it comprises a projection of the lines from a football field onto the garden labyrinth at Kirchberg’s casino Luxembourg. The geometries of the maze introduce a new dimension of the field boundaries, with its line work looking as a series of abstracted white shapes. Only when viewed from above, the artwork takes shape as a familiar image. According to the artist, the field’s unusual shapes and materials allow the public to explore it, participate in football matches and rethink the rules.

#BeOpenNEWS We are happy to announce the last winner of the Design for Sustainable Cities competition! The awardee of the Founder’s Choice Prize has been selected by Founder of BE OPEN Elena Baturina: €3,000 go to Dharan Koruduvar of CEPT University, India. Dharan is a taking a Bachelor course in Urban Design. Sva: A Vision of Self-sustenance pivots on the link between city, food and productive landscapes. Dharan proposes to design and introduce an ‘ideal sector’ for producing food on an everyday basis that deals with waste, water, energy, food on its own, and therefore is sustainable and self-sufficient. BE OPEN and Cumulus once again thank all the participants, and invite them to partake in future competitions!

#BeOpenARCH California-based start-up Denizen has developed a prefabricated remote office unit, which is spacious enough to provide a pleasant, comfortable environment, but small enough to be installed anywhere with minimal permits. Named Archetype smartpod, the 3D printed cabin features a simple yet elegant interior, fully furnished with all essentials, as well as functional high-tech solutions, such as concealed ports, outlets, and cable management, as well as a 4K adjustable display, a 4K webcam, and a whiteboard to help with brainstorming sessions. The structure incorporates large immersive windows with variable opacity privacy film allowing users to maintain their privacy, along with sufficient artificial lighting to generate a brightly illuminated work environment.

#BeOpenDESIGN Self-taught designer and founder of OONA Studio Adrian Bogdan has devised a solution for cycling enthusiasts willing to store their bikes in a compact inner-city apartment as well as truly showcase it. His Nordic inspired Berlin Bicycle rack features a storage system for various household possessions, like books and magazines, bicycle accessories and other paraphernalia. The award-winning piece is crafted from Birch wood and hand-finished, its minimal and contemporary aesthetics making it a welcome addition to a wide variety of interior set ups. More bespoke bicycle racks in our blog

#BeOpenART American artist Sarah Sze has created a site-specific installation for New York’s Storm King Art Center. Titled Fallen Sky and nestled into the hillside, the artwork consists of a 26-foot-diameter spherical cavity emerging from the earth with its mirrored stainless-steel surface reflecting its surroundings. The piece is described by the artist as filmic due to its dynamic nature and ability to reflect the passing time and seasons, as it collapses the horizon line by pulling the earth and air toward each other. The overall aesthetic of the installation is related to a ruin, frozen in a state of partial deterioration.

#BeOpenARCH Snegiri Architects, a practice based in St. Petersburg, Russia, has developed Hill House, a residential building in the Moscow Region, which is organically camouflaged into its natural context. The green roof of the house literally comprises a live carpet of a range of stonecrop and dwarf plants such as wild chamomile. The terrace and most of the windows and rooms are oriented to face outward to the sunny side, receiving as much natural light as possible. The building is equipped with energy-saving windows, a ventilation system with air recuperation, and is completely winterized. It is also equipped with a ‘smart house’ system and has a parking spot with Tesla car charger in the yard.