Be Open think tank

#BeOpenDESIGN Concerned by the emergence of the new climate regime and fossil fuel crisis, Barcelona-based design duo TAKK has renovated a 110 sqm apartment in Madrid with the aim of updating the domestic space according to the new models of use and environmental consciousness. Their The Day After House incorporates various energy saving solutions, including the use of materials with low CO2 emissions such as wood and natural cork. Besides, it includes a programmatic configuration that, the team claims, considers the climatic and environmental specificities of each space, opposed to a more traditional scheme based on the combination of rooms and corridors. As if it were the layers of an onion, the spaces of the house get nested each one inside of another, which allows not to use corridors saving this space for the rest of the house as well as working as a method for saving energy.

#BeOpenARCH The design of this church in Qingdao, China, by German-Chinese architecture practice BUZZ (Büro Ziyu Zhuang) borrows familiar elements from classical church architecture, such as the bell tower with its spire and rose window, the basilica layout, and the repeating interiors arches, and translates them into simplified shapes made from a series of steel portal frames clad with glazing. All in all, sixty aluminium ribs form the structure’s walls, roof and tower, creating a pure iconic shape while still evoking the archetypal church. According to the architects, the project "aims to create a spatial container that both respects the past and looks towards the future."

#BeOpenDESIGN An unusual pop-up restaurant has opened its doors in Japan’s Nagano prefecture. The Iiyama Restaurant Kamakura Village is made up of 20 Kamakura huts created from snow, with a bright red tori gate of the Shinto shrine that houses a sacred object known as a ‘shimenawa’ (or divine rope) that is believed to ward off evil, and an offering box. At night, lanterns illuminating the Kamakura create a beautiful fairytale-like atmosphere that is perfect for family, friends and lovers alike. The diners are offered private lunches and dinners at each igloo, where they can warm up with a Noroshi Nabe, a local specialty hot pot made with Shinshu Miso, locally grown mushrooms and vegetables. Guests can also visit a local shop and play in the sledding area. The restaurant village is open till Feb 27th.

#BeOpenDESIGN It took product designers Stephen Cheng and Chris Andrea six years and over 500 different ergonomics experiments to find the perfect position and angle for each key of what they claim is an exceptionally convenient and totally configurable keyboard. Named Glove 80, the device has all of its keys positioned in the best possible way to allow access within the span of your fingertips. Simultaneously, the split design means the keyboard can be spaced to suit your shoulder width to eliminate the need to round your shoulders. The curved finger columns in the contoured key wells follow the fingers' natural curling motion and minimize sideways finger movements. For each thumb, Glove80 has 6 thumb keys arranged in 2 arcs at different heights, which makes it possible for each thumb to easily reach all thumb keys without palm movement.

#BeOpenNEWS Last call for entries for our #BEOPENFoodIdentity Instagram open call! Don’t miss your chance to win €300 – submissions close today! Just share your vision of how food reflects your identity with the global community by adding #BEOPENFoodIdentity to your Instagram post. Find details at beopensocial.com Our inspiration today is mesmerizing shots of glow-in-the-dark sushi served at a pop-up bar by London-based design studio Bompas&Parr at Mother of the Nation, a festival that took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, last December

#BeOpenARCH Occupying a small space on the roof of the existing structure in Quito, Ecuador, Casa Parásito by the local studio El Sindicato Arquitectura is focused on covering the basic living needs for a person or young couple. The 12 sqm dwelling features everything occupants might need for eating, working and socializing. The gabled timber structure attaches to the slab of the existing structure via steel foundations. A rectangular open area on the ground floor is allocated for various activities, with functions such as the kitchen tabletop, bathroom, bed, storage and a wooden pull-down desk arranged on the edges, offering stability to the whole structure. The bed is located on an elevated platform, filling the loft above. The studio hopes that the concept will be rolled out on underused rooftops of urban edifications that are structurally sound and have connection to water, waste and electrical grids. In such a way, they will contribute to the conservation of the architectural heritage as well as densification of cities with a minimum economic investment and use of resources. More experimental examples of parasitic architecture in our blog

#BeOpenARCH When asked to develop a residence for a client who was forced to leave his home after the great East Japan earthquake of 2011, Japanese architecture studio ADX settled on a single-story ‘Soil House’ built using surplus soil excavated during construction. Developing the project, the team found that disposal of the soil costed much more than their original estimation, so they decided to shift their plan from disposing to utilizing it as a material of construction. The architects erected trapezoid walls not unlike children’s sandcastles and sprayed them with expanded polystyrene with a method of EPS civil engineering for the purpose of using both walls inside and outside as a building structure. More outstanding soil-based structures in our blog

#BeOpenARCH Cosmos by Paris-based architects David Tajchman and Luc Izri is an architectural manifesto, showcasing a bespoke topological design where ground and structure become one, generating a variety of living spaces within a reduced footprint. Imagined by the team in a remote area of southern Peloponnese, Greece, the residence is depicted sitting in an olive grove on a terraced rocky cliff filled with Mediterranean nature. The 40sqm two-bedroom merges indoor and outdoor living spaces via fully openable glass windows, doorless inner spaces, and large outdoor shaded areas provided by an overhanging roof.

#BeOpenNEWS BE OPEN Art is happy to announce that Yusuff Aina Abogunde, a multidisciplinary artist from Lagos, Nigeria, has been voted the Artist of the Month by the visitors of art.beopenfuture.com Passionate with art as we are, every month we invite art enthusiasts to choose the best artist among those featured in our online gallery. In January, paintings by Yusuff Aina Abogunde that explore human identity, Pan-Africanism, and sociopolitical issues, have gained the Nigerian artist a majority of votes. We also take the opportunity to applaud all the featured artists and thank everyone who voted.

#BeOpenARCH London-based Heatherwick Studio has been selected by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to create a new sports and cultural district for the city as part of a larger waterfront regeneration project. Their proposal, named The Leaf, comprises a floating pier on the Han river designed as a seven-pointed star with an undulating elevation. Aiming to introduce a retreat from the fuss and bustle of the city, the multi-leveled public pier will include a flexible event space and auditorium, all topped by a walkable roofscape integrating meandering trails, water gardens, play areas, observation points, as well as a marina for water taxis and leisure craft.