Be Open think tank

Shanghai-based studio Pushe Design specializing in lighting design has created Subtle Happiness, a multi-functional lamp that allows space for storage as well as can be used as a vase. Concerned with the shrinking living spaces of the modern cities, the team seeks to create things that represent both function and ornamental form. More exceptional lamps at blog.beopenfuture.com

PriestmanGoode, a leading global travel and transport design studio, have designed and curated ‘Get Onboard: Reduce. Reuse. Rethink’ exhibition in London’s Design Museum. Being concerned by the amount of cabin waste generated on passenger flights approaching estimate of 5.7 million tons of single-use plastic, amenity kits, earphones and food waste, the team ingenuously explores ways in which design thinking and material innovation can be used to address the vast issue of waste, in order to move towards a more conscious way to travel. Among other things, the studio created an alternative sustainable version of the meal tray, where every element is made from edible, biodegradable or commercially compostable materials, such as coffee grounds and husks for the tray, coconut wood for cutlery, soluble seaweed for condiment containers, rice husk for cups and algae for cup liners. The exhibition is open until February 9, 2020. priestmangoode.com

Artist from Madrid Javier Riera uses nature and cityscape as his canvas where he directly applies his geometrically shaped light projections and then photographs them. The geometric patterns of his site-specific installations across Europe are inspired by the history and appearance of each particular location, and are used to reveal what Riera perceives to be latent dimensions or energies embedded in the environment. More unconventional street art in our blog.beopenfuture.com

DAKU, India’s most prominent pseudonymous street artist creates stunning typographic artworks using sunlight instead of paint. His latest piece in Las Vegas titled Time Changes Everything spelling out words from Shakespeare visualizes the concept of time with the help of shadows cast by letters installed perpendicularly to the wall using L-brackets. The shadow graffiti turns a boring building into a piece of art transforming with the change of light throughout the day. Via justkidsofficial.com Inspired? If you have your own shadow art or visuals, share it via Instagram with #BEOPENShadows hashtag to join our open call and get a chance to win €300. Rules: beopensocial.com

Spanish architecture practice Fenwick Iribarren Architects developed Ras Abu Aboud Stadium for the controversial Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. The modular structure of this world’s first-ever demountable, transportable and reusable venue is based on modified shipping containers. This lets the stadium be easily assembled as well as disassembled, after which it can either host future games in the next world cup or be repurposed into several smaller sport or cultural venues, making it more sustainable and financially viable for developing countries that need sport infrastructure. Other Qatar 2022 World Cup venues in our blog.beopenfuture.com

China’s Heilongjiang province with the capital in Harbin is famous for immense amounts of snow. Referencing this peculiarity of the region, MAD architects, international practice with offices in Beijing and Los Angeles, have released their design proposal for a new terminal at Harbin Taiping international airport. The building is designed in the form of a snowflake and also mimics the slopes of the region’s undulating topography. The snowflake shape greatly shortens the time it takes passengers to arrive at the gate, simultaneously improving the airport’s overall efficiency. To enhance energy-saving features of the airport by reducing the need for artificial illumination, ridges on the roof function as skylights. Indoor gardens offer opportunities for reflection and tranquility. More remarkable Chinese airports in our blog.beopenfuture.com

Our #BEOPENShadows open call is on! We invite you to join our open call and share your art, photo or video via Instagram with #BEOPENShadows hashtag for an opportunity to win €300. Rules: beopensocial.com Our inspiration today is otherworldly photo series by Norway-born and London-based fashion photographer and film maker Solve Sundsbo who has gained respect for his unexpected concepts and stylistic versatility. Borrowing from the telltale lighting methods in noir films, Sundsbo marks his beautiful model Edita Vilkeviciute with light and shadow. solvesundsbo.com

New York based startup BETIME is a first-ever high-tech mobile meditation studio in a repurposed bus that provides a serene space for a guided practice held by experienced instructors as a mind break amidst the urban hustle. The BETIME vehicle is designed by Aidia Studio headed by the duo couple of architects Rolando Rodriguez Leal and Natalia Wrzask. The geometry of the bus is softened by wrapping it in a continuous curved surface to enable a smooth and soothing effect. To overcome the spatial constraints, reflective surfaces were placed at both ends of the bus. The pattern on the interior lining was derived from studies of the sacred motives. A prominent light source, an oculus, acts as the third eye of centered consciousness guiding the meditation practice. More small but enjoyable meditation spaces in our blog.beopenfuture.com

Swiss artist Felice Varini creates perspective-localized illusions of flat graphics on three dimensional spaces using the eye-deceiving technique called anamorphosis. The complete shapes can only be seen when viewed at certain angles, otherwise the viewer will only see some random broken pieces. In his Concentric, Eccentric project last year he superimposed 15 yellow circles of temporary thin aluminum strips onto France’s second-famous tourist site – the medieval fortress of Carcassonne. varini.org

Wooden sculptures by Taiwanese artist Han Hsu-Tung visually dissolve into pixels of walnut, teak, or African wax wood. Looking like an encounter between the digital and analogue worlds, the pixelated sculptures seem to be defying gravity, creating a feeling of movement and displacement. More bespoke wooden sculptures in our blog.beopenfuture.com