Be Open think tank

#BeOpenDESIGN Created by RK Collective's Iranian-Australian co-founder, Nila Rezaei, Crafted Liberation is a design project that turns discarded headscarves into stadium seats, symbolizing the resilience and strength of Iranian women in their ongoing fight for gender equality. Since 1981, Iranian women have been banned from entering stadiums. The stadium seat, a space historically denied to them, now serves as a powerful symbol of unity, resistance, and the reclaiming of public spaces. Using advanced lamination and pressure molding techniques, the team has collaborated with Iranian women who donated over 491 headscarves to create durable, sustainable seating. Each chair represents a story of courage, and through this initiative, the team aims to turn the narrative of exclusion into one of empowerment and collective action.

#BeOpenDESIGN Gazzaladra's Banana Lamp reimagines nature's whimsy with a refined, functional design. Using precise 3D scans of real bananas, each lamp captures the organic details of a banana bunch, from its delicate curves to the subtle ridges on the peel. The result is a lifelike, modern piece of art that adds a playful touch to any space. Available as a customizable 3D model, it invites users to experiment with colors and materials, creating a unique lighting experience. With options for desk or pendant versions, the Banana Lamp blends humor, craftsmanship, and innovation in one striking design. More banana-inspired lighting in our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN 3D-printed from recycled polystyrene plastic, Eva Dugintseva's Som Chair is not only durable but also fully recyclable at the end of its life. Its modular design allows for easy assembly and disassembly, with no screws or glue required—making it both practical and sustainable. By utilizing 3D printing, the Som Chair offers precision, customization, and a significant reduction in waste compared to traditional mass-produced furniture. Discover more chairs made from recycled plastic on our blog.

#BeOpenNEWS BE OPEN believes creative interpretation extends beyond art and design. Our online challenges engage creative minds worldwide who find inspiration in everyday life and transform it with their unique vision. The BE OPEN Cultural Tapestry challenge celebrates the rich fabric of human culture—identity, traditions, languages, and symbols woven into a beautiful pattern of sustainable relations, inclusivity, and acceptance. Join the Cultural Tapestry challenge and capture glimpses of this vibrant kaleidoscope, reflecting unique stories of people, families, communities, or countries. Share your visuals using #BEOPENCulturalTapestry and connect globally. The open call closes December 15, 2024. BE OPEN Community members will select the winner from the top posts with the most likes. The winner will receive a €300 prize.

#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART BE OPEN Art is thrilled to announce that Julia Bartolini has been voted Artist of the Month for November 2024 by visitors of art.beopenfuture.com Each month, art lovers from around the globe have the opportunity to select the artist whose work resonates the most with them. This November, Julia Bartolini's remarkable technique and captivating style caught the attention of voters, securing her the title of Artist of the Month. Originally from Charente, France, Julia Bartolini was raised in a family of artists, which naturally shaped her artistic journey. Initially known for her textile sculptures, she now specializes in drawing with colored pencils—an accessible yet highly detailed medium. Her work often incorporates elements of watercolor, acrylic paint, and pastel, adding depth and texture to her intricate designs. Her recognition as Artist of the Month is a testament to her dedication and talent.

#BeOpenDESIGN Ondina, designed by Milan-based Taiwanese duo Weichih Chen and Fuhua Wang of Studio WA+CH, is a striking pendant lamp made from ocean-bound plastic, including PET bottles and bags. Unlike typical recycled plastics, the material retains some of its original characteristics, creating a terrazzo-like effect with vibrant flecks of color in a translucent blue shield. The lamp's wavy shape evokes the ocean's waves, while its LED light, diffused through the unique material, casts a soft, calming glow that also illuminates the surrounding space.

#BeOpenARCH Emphasizing sustainability, the zigzagging walls of Foxglove House in Hertfordshire—designed by local studio Kirkland Fraser Moor and crafted from cross-laminated timber and repurposed bricks—blend into the landscape and provide habitats for local wildlife. A key design feature is the home's 45-degree rotation from the original stable block, optimizing passive solar heating and creating sheltered patios. A grass-topped roof further integrates the house into its rural setting, making it a model of eco-friendly design.

#BeOpenDESIGN Developed by Montreal based fashion designer Ying Gao, All Mirrors is a series of interactive garments that explore the relationship between self-image and external perception through robotic, kaleidoscopic mirrors. These garments, crafted with shards of soft mirrors embedded in medical cotton gauze refined with 18-carat gold and driven by electronic components engineered by Simon Laroche, react to the observer’s gaze. The mirrors flutter, creating an ever-shifting, fragmented reflection that blurs the line between reality and virtuality. The clothing becomes a dynamic, relational object, both reflecting and distorting the wearer’s image in a constant dialogue between the self and the garment.

As part of BE OPEN Art's ongoing Regional Art initiative, the competition celebrates emerging artists who reflect the unique cultural, ethnic, and artistic identities of Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe. For November 2024, the title of Regional Artist of the Month was awarded to Aislinn Finnegan, a mixed-media artist whose work is deeply informed by her mixed-race heritage—her father is Irish and her mother is Zambian. Aislinn’s art powerfully explores themes of race, identity, and femininity, with a particular focus on the representation of Black women in art and media. Alongside Akissi Beukman, a Pretoria-based artist honored as the Regional Artist of the Month for October, Aislinn is one of the finalists competing for the title of Artist of the Region. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the program in December 2024 and will receive a €500 prize. #BeOpenNEWS

#BeOpenARCH The design of the UCCA Clay Museum, by Kengo Kuma, is deeply rooted in the ceramic heritage of Yixing, the “ceramic capital” of China, and its rich history of pottery production using purple clay. Inspired by the nearby Shushan Mountain and the traditional dragon kiln, the building’s form resembles a mountain of pottery, with its sculptural volume punctured to create connections between the museum, the old pottery factory, and the surrounding canal. The roof, an inverted shell structure supported by a delicate wooden lattice, flows seamlessly into the interior, guiding visitors through the space with a dynamic sense of movement. The facade, developed with local artisans, evokes the tactile warmth and texture of ceramics, with a glazed surface that changes color with the seasons and time of day.

#BeOpenDESIGN Moto Zen, designed by Miguel Harry, reimagines the smartphone by stripping away the distractions of modern devices, focusing solely on two essential functions: communication and photography. With one side dedicated to calls and messages, and the other to the camera, the design emphasizes simplicity and intuitive use. When not in use, the phone's minimal interface blends seamlessly into its smooth, rounded, and symmetrical body, transforming it into a tactile, worrystone-like object. This streamlined design, devoid of unnecessary apps and features, encourages mindfulness and helps users reconnect with the present moment, offering a refreshing alternative to the hyperconnected, always-on world of typical smartphones.

#BeOpenDESIGN Developed by Kevin Tang and Kelly Fang, gpTea is an interactive tea set that uses generative AI to foster intergenerational storytelling and to bridge the gap between separated friends and loved ones by transforming the tea-drinking ritual into a shared, reflective experience. The set features a cup with a small display, microphone, and AI integration to generate personalized stories, while the accompanying tray incorporates haptic feedback and automated teapot manipulation. Through these elements, gpTea encourages deeper, more meaningful communication, turning each tea session into an opportunity for connection and storytelling.

#BeOpenDESIGN Crafted from Cherry wood with subtle Maple accents, the ButtonBack Chair, a collaboration between Aileen De La Ree Valencia and Nush Wadia, features an asymmetric, undulating design with a sole armrest, aiming to challenge conventional standards of aesthetics and comfort. Its structure is defined by two stretchers that connect key components like the front panel, side legs, and back, while the seat and back are shaped to embrace the body’s contours, just as its name suggests. The chair’s organic form embraces the natural imperfections of the wood, celebrating its knots and grain. With its carefully carved surfaces and ergonomic profile, the ButtonBack Chair is both a functional work of art and a comfortable seating experience.

#BeOpenDESIGN LAVA GENIE is a stringless, touch-sensitive guitar designed for musicians of all levels. With its customizable TapPads, the user can control chords, tempo, and beats—no tuning or complicated finger placements are required. The LAVA+ app takes it further, offering a growing library of songs, chord charts, and even converting audio into synced music. With over 500 sounds, including piano, drums, and more, the GENIE lets the user experiment across genres. Plus, its built-in speaker and ultra-portable design make it perfect for creating music anytime, anywhere. More innovative instruments in our blog.

#BeOpenDESIGN Created by Columbia University GSAPP master's students, the Luffa Stoolita turns a plant traditionally harvested for use as a natural bathing sponge or in cooking into a sustainable design material. By using luffa’s natural fibers and combining them with spent coffee grounds and clay-rich soil, this eco-friendly stool is both durable and functional. The stool’s legs are made from luffa segments filled with an earth-coffee blend, while the seat incorporates shredded luffa for flexibility and strength. The cushion, made from the outer surface of the luffa fruit, offers a smooth, comfortable seating experience. Luffa's transformation into a design material in our blog.

#BeOpenARCH Tucked away in Hokkaido’s serene woodlands, House in the Forest by Tokyo studio Florian Busch Architects is designed to blend seamlessly with nature. Built on stilts and nestled between trees, the rooms of this cedar-clad holiday home branch out into the forest, offering breathtaking views with every step. The building's timber frame and floor-to-ceiling windows immerse residents in the surrounding landscape, while slatted screens preserve privacy and light. Inside, natural wood, concrete, and lime-washed walls create a peaceful, cohesive atmosphere.

#BeOpenDESIGN Through a process that repurposes silk materials typically discarded in traditional silk production, Japanese designer Hiroto Ikebe transforms kibiso (the rough outer layer of silk thread), degara cocoons (imperfect for traditional use), and raw silk into a versatile, sustainable material with leather-like qualities. By carding these fibers and reweaving them, Ikebe creates nature-inspired pieces, such as a dress and headpiece, that highlight the texture, durability, and adaptability of this silk-based material. The project offers an innovative solution to reduce waste in the silk industry, while supporting the revival of sericulture practices in Japan, which have been in decline.

#BeOpenARCH US studio Kinneymorrow Architecture has completed the Berkshires Farmhouse, a pitched-roof home designed for a family of four on their farm in western Massachusetts. The house replaces a 19th-century residence destroyed by fire. The family worked closely with the architects to create a home that blends with the existing utilitarian farm structures. The 2,511-square-foot house, constructed by the father with help from family and friends, features ash wood and weathering steel cladding, inspired by the region’s iron-rich soil and the farm’s aged structures. The design prioritizes simplicity and durability, with materials chosen to improve with age and naturally weather over time.

#BeOpenARCH Studio Bua, with offices in London and Oslo, has turned a derelict farm building in Iceland into a stunning artist’s studio and residence. The architects preserved the barn's strong concrete structure while adding a new gabled volume that houses living spaces with breathtaking views of the fjord. Inside, simplicity reigns with exposed concrete, birch plywood, and sustainable materials—many sourced from local recycling centers. On the ground floor, the concrete walls were left largely untouched, with minimal openings made only where necessary to let in more natural light, while on the upper level large windows frame the stunning landscape, making it the perfect environment for artistic inspiration. More renovated farmhouses in our blog.