Be Open think tank

Toronto-based architecture studio Partisans has joined a guest and pool house under an elaborate wave-like roof made of steel and compression-bent white oak. The roof covers the swimming pool pavilion and then curves down to accommodate a steel staircase before going back up to top the two-storey guest house connected with the pool via a sheltered corridor. The design is intended to fold into the existing topography of the site, which gives the project its name – Fold House. Both the undulating roof and the sculptural ceiling inside are constructed from bent white oak, which is also used for the cascading floors. To create the shape, the wood was steamed, placed into a compression chamber and shipped to site with a relatively high moisture content that allows it to be flexible until installed and fully dried. More bespoke pool houses in our blog

Conceived as an ‘introverted refuge zone’, Halo by Zeller & Moye, interdisciplinary studio with bases in Mexico City and Berlin, encompasses a lightweight structure that provides one person with a secure and comfortable private space in any public setting, in this way protecting them from the threat of physical contagion in the times of the pandemic. The rigid frame is assembled from a kit of thin steel tubes, and is then wrapped into protective semi-reflective film, with access provided by lifting the film at one end. Externally, the structure blends with the environment reflected in its mirrored surface, and the occupant is only visible when one gets real close. Internally, the user can relax with their focus shifted towards the open sky and trees’ canopies above. Besides, the mirrored film creates a kaleidoscopic effect multiplying the image of the person inside thus imitating the sense of being part of a larger group — a feeling that is missed during the pandemic.

The story of the Round House that can rotate 360 degrees started back in 1966, when architect Richard Foster discovered a green dip in the landscape in Wilton, USA, that struck him as “a perfect amphitheater”. He went through five design concepts before arriving on the circular home that would offer the inhabitants unobstructed views from any room at any time. In 2012, the unusual property underwent a deep renovation by Atlanta firm Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects. Measuring 22 metres in diameter, the house is elevated above the ground, forming a patio underneath, and is anchored to a cylindrical core that contains a spiral staircase, providing access to the interior. The owner can set the house in motion with a touch of a button, which sets off an electric motor and mechanical components similar to those used in gun turrets. Using the fastest speed, it takes 45 minutes for the building to complete a full circle. More rotating houses in our blog

Stockholm-based studio Front has taken the classic well-known Gebrüder Thonet Vienna’s rocking chair as a reference for the Furia rocking horse they have developed for this furniture brand, which has a long tradition of working with bent wood. The designers managed to apply features of the iconic design dating back to the 1860s to the traditional rocker in their ambition to create a toy that would double as a stylish interior design element for the home and could be passed on in the family. Each Furia rocking horse is made by hand, and is available in beech or ash wood that has been treated with hardwax, stained or painted, while the seat is upholstered in leather. This, the designers hope, will help to foster an appreciation for good design in younger generations. More contemporary interpretations of the traditional rocking horse in our blog

That’s a wrap everyone! We are done collecting submissions for the Design for Sustainable Cities competition! Thank you for sharing your creative thinking with us, and for dedicating your time and talent to researching solutions for the better future for all of us. BE OPEN and Cumulus have received hundreds of solutions that will now be passed on for evaluation to our wonderful expert jury. Within a month’s time, the jury will define the list of 50 honourable mentions and then select the winner of the Main and Safe City prizes out of all submissions within the three submission categories. Out of 50 honourable mentions, the Founder’s Choice prize will be allocated by the Founder of BE OPEN Elena Baturina and the Public Vote prize winner will be decided upon by the majority of votes in an online open vote. The 50 honorary mentions will also be highlighted in BE OPEN, Cumulus and competition websites and the partners’ social media platforms. Photo: LAVA Group

BE OPEN Art is happy to announce that Georgia Theologou, an artist based in Athens, has been voted the Artist of the Month by the visitors of art.beopenfuture.com Aiming to showcase emerging talents, every month we invite people passionate with art to choose the best artist among those exhibited in our online gallery. Congratulations to Georgia Theologou, whose fragile and feminine artworks have gained her a majority of votes in January! We also take the opportunity to applaud all the featured artists and thank everyone who voted.

Today is the day! Be sure to submit your project for Design for Sustainable Cities before the competition closes on January 31st at 23.59 PM UTC. Concerned by the issues caused by rapid urbanization, such as increased carbon emissions and resource use, growing number of slum dwellers and inadequate infrastructure, BEOPEN and CUMULUS in this programme are positive that creativity, or design-thinking, is integral to tackle these issues. The objective of ‘Design for Sustainable Cities’ is to recognize, showcase and promote the best design ideas and projects that embody the principles and aims of United Nations’ SDG Programme. The competition with the prize money of €12,000 is free to enter for students and graduates of all art, design, architecture and media disciplines worldwide. More details at citydesign2020.com

US architecture studio ISA has designed a skinny six-level house, which is organized as a full-scale skyscraper. Conceived as a housing prototype for tiny vacant lots and aptly named Tiny Tower, the design promotes vertical living for both indoor and outdoor space. The building maximises the modest 3.6 by 8.8 metres lot in both length and height. Linked by a strong core of vertical circulation, each level is similar in size and quality, allowing for flexible programming. Each floor houses a different function, with the floor space totaling 116 sqm. The steel reinforced wood frame of the house is clad in painted metal with windows taking up large portions of the street façade. More skinny houses unlocking the potential of small urban plots in our blog

#BeOpenARCH An office building for the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, designed by the local architecture studio Hooba Design Group, features a façade of specially-made smart-brick panels that adapt to different times of the day. The bricks designed and manufactured exclusively for the project take a cue from the traditional bricks used for the nearby university buildings but are larger and have a hole in the middle, which gives a semi-transparent character to the solid block. These blocks are set on panels equipped with programmable light sensors that adjust based on lighting patterns, required light exposure in the interior spaces and user preferences. Moreover, the building’s double skin helps to control the sun heat and reduce energy consumption. More amazing buildings with perforated brick façades in our blog.beopenfuture.com

Inspired by his trip across the USA, with its fascinating landscapes and iconic manmade objects of consumer culture, British artist Jonathan Trayte has created a series of sculptural furniture pieces made of both organic and artificial materials. For instance, Sundown Swing is a swing seat supported by an abstract serpentine palm tree topped by a canopy of black rubber leaves. Also originally chosen because only black rubber can be used outside because of the UV exposure, these elements give the design a menacing look. In equal measure, it is scary, fun and ridiculous. jonathantrayte.com