Be Open think tank

#BeOpenARCH Carlo Ratti Associati has teamed up with architect Italo Rota and urbanist Richard Burdett to masterplan Rome's bid to host the World Expo in 2030. If selected for the event, the mosaic-like structure would become "the world's largest urban solar farm" and power the exhibition site in Rome with renewable energy. Composed of hundreds of unique “energy trees” that open and close their panels throughout the day, the Expo Solar Park covers an area of 150,000 square meters and boasts a production capacity of 36 megawatt-peak. After the expo, all the event pavilions will be used for different functions, giving shape to a new innovation district in the Italian capital.

#BeOpenARCH Inspired by the prehistoric Baobab tree, international firm MASK Architects has conceptualized BAOBAB Safari Lodges that combines a self-sufficient ecologically friendly community and a luxury safari camping experience. The concept takes shape as a cluster of beech wood eco-lodges that can be delivered in any remote area and expanded if necessary, which makes it flexible to any situation and terrain. The structure of the building consists of a center that houses the staircase to access different levels of the lodge, while the exterior structure is created with local wooden materials. Fitted with ‘Air to Water technology’ powered by transparent solar device covered curtain glass, the project will autonomously produce its own green energy and water for the community.

#BeOpenDESIGN Kingston University graduate Oliver Richardson has created a series of Kitchen Totems designed for kitchen rituals they are associated with. The first totem is based around the process of boiling eggs, and includes an egg timer and four egg cups, which can be stacked in different ways. The second totem features a bottle stop, a corkscrew and a candlestick holder to enjoy a glass of wine by candlelight. The third totem pole is used to help cook a steak dinner and combines a marble meat tenderizer, a salt pot and a peppermill to season the cut. More kitchen tools that feel like art objects in our blog

#BeOpenARCH Tan Yamanouchi & AGWL has completed an introverted home for a manga artist that emerges dynamically from the ground amid a streetscape of ordinary geometric residences. The building is characterized by a sculptural façade that creates an image of the earth rolling up. The architects significantly limited the number of openings, thus putting focus on a dramatic hollowed tunnel that leads to the entrance, inviting visitors to step inside.

#BeOpenDESIGN Kingston University graduate Oliver Richardson has created a series of Kitchen Totems designed for kitchen rituals they are associated with. The first totem is based around the process of boiling eggs, and includes an egg timer and four egg cups, which can be stacked in different ways. The second totem features a bottle stop, a corkscrew and a candlestick holder to enjoy a glass of wine by candlelight. The third totem pole is used to help cook a steak dinner and combines a marble meat tenderizer, a salt pot and a peppermill to season the cut. More kitchen tools that feel like art objects in our blog.beopenfuture.com

#BeOpenART Bureau, an architecture, design and research studio with offices in Geneva and Lisbon, pays tribute to the work of Swiss writer Chales-Ferdinand Ramuz. His novel Derborence tells the story of a shepherd named Antoine who becomes trapped under rocks following a landslide, shortly after his marriage to Thérèse. This plot gave birth to Antoine, a small pyramidal timber structure in France disguised by a rough concrete finish, which welcomes nature enthusiasts since 2014. Last year, a new boulder-like cabin, Thérèse, located in the rural grounds of contemporary art space Bermuda, joined the original project.

#BeOpenARCH A façade of eight revolving wooden shutters of H house designed by local studio AD9 Architects in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, creates an illusion of the house breathing and changing. This dynamic system also regulates other environmental factors such as noise, dust, typical for this urbanized area of downtown Saigon, and the changing weather. Developed for a young married couple working in the creative field, the design is inspired by traditional houses of Central Vietnam, with the different layers arranged in a way that brings a positive vibe to the daily activities. More projects where exterior shutters enhance the appearance of a building in our blog

#BeOpenARCH New York and Beijing-based studio OPEN architecture has developed a sun tower that would evoke the ancient rituals of nature worship while providing much-needed cultural facilities in the newly urbanized district in Yantai, China. The concrete structure pays homage to the history of Yantai, which means ‘beacon tower,’ and its Ming dynasty-era watchtowers built to warn against attacks on the coastline. The programme will include a semi-outdoor theater, an exhibition space, a library, and the so-called phenomena space offering fantastic views of the surrounding landscape.

#BeOpenARCH The Floating Retreat is a one-of-a-kind lodging facility developed by Dubai-based Ardh Architects in partnership with Shurooq, a Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, to make the practice of cliff camping more accessible to the general public. The project is comprised of a cluster of transparent prism pods suspended between the rocky ridges, each one equipped with all the necessary amenities for a remote retreat with a comfortable and luxurious experience while still offering the excitement of camping in nature.

#BeOpenDESIGN Dutch beer brand Heineken has partnered with Los Angeles designer Dominic Ciambrone, also known as The Shoe Surgeon, to create a pair of sneakers that have transparent soles filled with beer. Aptly named Heinekicks, the custom limited edition trainers allow the users to literally “walk on beer.” To enable users to enjoy a beverage whenever the occasion arises, the tongue of the shoe includes a removable metal bottle opener. More beer designs and innovations in our blog

#BeOpenDESIGN Local design studio WeWantMore has helped shape the interior of launch Bath & Barley, the first Belgian beer spa in the heart of Brussels. With its curved copper installation inspired by the ancient copper brewing kettles, and dried barley and hops hanging form the ceilings, the design immediately creates a sense of relaxation and intimacy. The stained-glass screens offer spa guests some privacy, while the church-like illustrations depicting beer brewing monks and priests keep the association with Belgium’s medieval beer brewing culture alive.