TOP 10 lists of 2017 | architecture, art, design, and technology projects

from a school in ghana built in just 60 days, to a new campus for an ivy league university, take a look at the TOP 10 educational projects featured on designboom over the past 12 months.

1 – avasara academy for girls in india by case design + transsolar

image © ariel huber

located in the rural village of lavale in india, the new avasara academy school building was realized as part of the growing township of knowledge city. its unique positioning takes advantage of locally-available resources, and despite being distinctive in comparison to any other buildings in the area, the architecture is respectful to its rural surroundings, environmentally friendly and supports the development of spearheading education for young women in india.

2 – inside out school in ghana by andrea tabocchini and francesca vittorini

image by © andrea tabocchini & francesca vittorini

this year, andrea tabocchini and francesca vittorini completed the ‘inside out school’ in ghana, a school prototype built in yeboahkrom — a rural village where the wind had destroyed the only school in the area. the humanitarian undertaking was constructed in 60 days with just €12,000, bringing together the local population and a group of international volunteers from 20 different countries.

3 – hanoi university building in vietnam by VTN architects

image by hiroyuki oki

designed by VTN architects, the FPT technology building in hanoi is the first stage of a larger masterplan to establish the vietnamese university as a leading environmentally conscious institution. serving as the gateway to the school’s campus, the structure comprises simple modules, and features a bold checkerboard pattern where recessed voids contain natural vegetation. here, trees operate as a green skin to reduce direct heat transfer through the building’s windows.

4 – bamboo sports hall in thailand by chiangmai life architects

image by alberto cosi

in august we featured this sports hall for a school in thailand that utilizes prefabricated bamboo trusses to span more than 17 meters. commissioned by the panyaden international school, an international and bilingual institution located in the country’s chiang mai province, the project was designed by chiangmai life architects (CLA), a firm who specializes in bamboo and earth architecture. the building is expected to last for at least 50 years.

5 – preschool in south africa by collectif saga

image © joubert loots

since 2014, saga — a french architecture collective — has been working with local residents in the suburbs of port elizabeth, south africa to implement a variety of different facilities. in 2017, years after completing a community hall for an informal settlement named joe slovo west, the design team has returned to the region to build the ‘silindokulhe preschool’ as part of the development’s second phase.

6 – kindergarten in japan by tezuka architects

image by katsuhisa kida / fototeca

in 2012, tezuka architects constructed a kindergarten using local cedar trees damaged by saltwater after japan’s devastating 2011 tsunami. the project, which was backed by UNICEF, featured a series of interlocking joints that came together to contain a large room that could be subdivided according to changing requirements. the man-made landscape has been transformed into a sloping playground, where children can explore the area beneath the timber structure.

7 – düsseldorf academic center at FOM university by j. mayer h.ects

image by david franck

in september, j. mayer h. completed a new classroom and auditorium building in düsseldorf, germany. after the scheme was first unveiled in 2012, construction began in december 2013 for the 6,000 square meter space, which includes a network of auditoriums, lecture halls, and seminar rooms. the building was designed for the FOM university of applied sciences for economics and management — germany’s largest private university — whose student body has gradually increased in size over the years. the new structure provides much needed, additional learning spaces.

8 – cornell tech campus in new york

image by matthew carbone for morphosis

in september, designboom took an exclusive tour of the new cornell tech campus before it opened to students for the first time. the development sits on the southern side of new york’s roosevelt island and is a close neighbor to louis kahn’s four freedoms park. for the initial stage of the mulit-phase project, weiss/manfredi, morphosis, and handel architects each designed a building for the campus.

9 – morinoie nursery school in japan by masahiko fujimori architects

image by shigeo ogawa

the japanese city of sendai has recently experienced a period of urban redevelopment and population growth. responding to the city’s needs, architect masahiko fujimori designed a colorful structure to house morinoie nursery school — inviting its young students into the light-filled, comfortable learning space within. ‘we designed an ‘urban-style’ nursery school building that can efficiently accommodate increased numbers of children, while also encouraging their curiosity, creativity, and connection with the local community,’ says fujimori.

10 – toranoko nursery in japan by takashige yamashita

image © kenichi suzuki

located in a peaceful town in the yamanashi prefecture, not far from mount fuji, takashige yamashita office (TYO) has constructed a small nursery defined by its oversized timber roof. the dual-purpose space is designed to accommodate the young children of the town, but also to serve as a gathering area for the community — a space the architect describes as a ‘big tree’.

TOP 10 3D printing projects of 2017

tim spears I designboom — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 07:45:27 +0000

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since designboom’s very first annual reviews, 3D printing projects have always been one of the most eagerly anticipated and most read round ups. their stories constantly showcase almost unimaginable experimentation, where possibilities are realized even when, until very recently, were perceived inconceivable. if there was one constant within the technology of 3D printing, it would be that its progressions never seems to slow down. and 2017 was no different. we not only saw further advancements of manufacturing capabilities, but also of medicine and space engineering, footwear design and even the field of art.

continuing round ups of 2017, we look back at the TOP 10 3D printing projects that grabbed our and most importantly, designboom readers’ attention over the past 12 months.

1 – ETH zürich artificial heart

image © ETH zürich

ETH zürich researchers have 3D printed a soft silicone heart that beats almost like a real human organ. in collaboration with colleagues from the product development group zurich, they experimented with the prosthetic heart and found that it could provide a safer, more comfortable way to keep the blood pumping. it is around the same size as a human heart, weighs 390 g (0.85 lb) and was created using 3D printing and a lost-wax casting technique. just like the real heart, it has a right and left ventricle, which is separated by a chamber that serves as the organ’s muscle.

2 – the institute advanced architecture of catalonia pedestrian bridge in madrid, spain

images © institute advanced architecture catalonia

the world’s first 3D printed pedestrian bridge has been constructed in the the urban park of castilla-la mancha, a sparsely populated area of alcobendas, madrid. the project, which includes a total length of 12 meters and a width of 1.75 meters, seeks to further demonstrate that 3D printing can be utilized for creating outdoor structures. developed by the institute advanced architecture of catalonia (IAAC), the bridge was created using parametric design in order to optimize the distribution of materials and minimize the amount of waste by recycling the raw material during manufacture.

3 – desktop metal 3D printed metal

image © desktop metal

for the first time, affordable, safe and precise metal 3D printing for both prototyping and mass production is available across industries — at speeds 100 times faster. desktop metal revealed its 3D printers that can form objects from hundreds of different alloys including steel, titanium, aluminum, and copper. the system and results compare to injection-molded items, in terms of production quality and finish. however, in spite of the similarities, the manufacturing technique’s arrival marks a fundamental shift in how products will be developed and brought to market.

4 – michael hansmeyer and banjamin dillenburger digital grotesque II

image by fabrice dall’anese

this highly ornamental structure is designed entirely by algorithms, comprises 1.35 billion surfaces and is materialized from 7 tons of printed sandstone. following the realization of their first human-scale architectural object back in 2013, architects michael hansmeyer and benjamin dillenburger have completed ‘digital grotesque II’ — a full-scale 3D-printed grotto. the abundance of differentiated and diverse geometries form an incredibly rich and dynamic spatial experience for each viewer. commissioned by centre pompidou, it is a testament to new kinds of architecture that use technology to re-conceive traditional building paradigms.

5 – NASA space chain mail

image courtesy of NASA

NASA are stepping straight into the future of textiles with their 4D printed ‘space fabric’ — a metallic material intended to be used like ‘chain mail’ to protect astronauts and spacecraft alike during their missions. although made of metal, the material remains foldable and retains the ability to change shape easily, making it apt for wrapping around spacecraft, or even to fabricate astronaut spacesuits. the material could even be used to keep machinery warm when exploring chilly locations like jupiter’s ice ‘europa’ moon.

6 – the new raw print your city!

image © the new raw

rotterdam based research and design studio, the new raw, has introduced a new initiative called ‘print your city!’ that utilizes 3D printing to transform plastic waste into urban furniture. the first outcome of the project takes the form of the ‘XXX bench’, a furniture piece designed for amsterdam which generates a new use for recycled plastic bags. the bench seats two to four people and takes the form of a double-sided rocking chair, to act as a statement on working together to close the cycle for plastic. users have to find equilibrium together, or use their energy to rock each other. each one can be easily customized in terms of shape or function, and can also integrate messages or logos.

7 – barbara motylińska and zuza gronwicz shoetopia

image courtesy of barbara motylińska and zuza gronwicz

the sneaker world has long been dominated by big brands, so, polish design students barbara motylińska and zuza gronwicz set out to propose an alternative, more sustainable model for the production and distribution of footwear. using 3D-printing techniques, their ‘shoetopia’ project created a design for a biodegradable sneaker that can be modified via an app. the personalized creation is then transformed into a print file, which can be sent directly to a local 3D printing center or private printer owner. the concept reduces waste due to over production and lets the customer request exactly the design they want.

8 – dinara kasko + jose margulis kinetic tarts

image courtesy of dinara kasko and jose margulis

ukrainian pastry chef dinara kasko has innovated a unique baking technique using mathematical algorithms and 3D printing. in her latest collaboration, she works with miami-based artist jose margulis whose experience using 3d printed volumetric geometries has helped develop her distinctive kinetic tart designs. the result – a multi-layered object of art, design and cooking – aims to create a culinary experience as much as a visual one, leaving a long and lasting impression.

9 – john edmark bloom

image courtesy of john edmark

artist john edmark has created a selection of 3D printed sculptures that mesmerize in their mathematical and mobile magnificence. called ‘blooms’, the designs draw influence from the numerical properties found in nature, like spiral patterns commonly seen in sunflowers, pinecones, and cacti. the kinetic objects are spun and animated as single, self-contained sculptures, unlike a 3D zoetrope, which mobilizes a sequence of small changes to a particular form.

10 – TU eindhoven bicycle bridge

image © BAM international

back in june 2017, the eindhoven university of technology, in collaboration with construction group BAM infrastructure, began construction on a 3D-printed concrete bicycle bridge measuring 8 metres long and 3,5 meters wide. TU eindhoven‘s bridge will be made of printed, pre-stressed, and reinforced concrete, and will be used by cyclists to cross the peelsche loop, a canalized river in the town of gemert. the state-of-the-art 3D printer releases toothpaste-like fluid concrete on the printing plate, forming layer by layer the elements of the bridge.

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was 2017 the start of the highly dubious yet regularly and famously predicted robot takeover?… just check out our coverage of CES 2017 and you may notice their increased development. although boiling under the surface for the last few years, artificial intelligence has truly come to light in products across the technology spectrum, from automotive to headphone design. this increased level of smartness has not only resulted in ultra intelligent, human-like robots, but also more clever tools and down right playful toys. from impressive demonstrations to product announcements and even momentous occasions as robots are being recognized with country citizenship, 2018 will be sure to take another giant leap for robot-kind.

continuing our TOP 10 round ups of 2017, we look back at ten robotic and artificial intelligence stories that grabbed our and most importantly, designboom readers’ attention over the past 12 months.

1 – hanson robotics sophia

created by hanson robotics, ‘sophia’ the robot made her debut at the south by southwest show in march 2016 and since then has become somewhat of a media personality — having spoken at the united nations and appeared on the jimmy fallon show. she can animate a full range of facial expressions, and is able to track and recognize faces, look people in the eye, and hold natural conversations. in 2017, saudi arabia announced that it is giving citizenship to ‘sophia’, making it the first country in history to do so for a robot. on the achievement, ‘sophia’ had this to say, ‘I am very honored and proud for this unique distinction. this is historical to be the first robot in the world to be recognized with a citizenship.’

2 – mayfield robotics kuri

image courtesy of mayfield robotics

mayfield robotics unveiled the intelligent ‘kuri’ robot at the CES 2017 trade show in las vegas. characterized by personality, awareness, and mobility, the robot is said to ‘add a spark of life to any home’. the smart bot can understand context and surroundings, recognize specific people, and respond to questions with facial expressions, head movements, and unique sounds. sourcing the many beloved robots of popular culture like R2-D2 and WALL-E, this mechanical buddy can also be defined by its adorable personality and extraordinary connectivity abilities.

3 – sony aibo

image courtesy of sony

sony announced the release of its latest robotic dog, ‘aibo’. this evolution of the autonomous robot can ‘form an emotional bond with members of the household while providing them with love, affection, and the joy of nurturing and raising a companion,’ sony says. featuring a dynamic range of movements and eager responsiveness, the puppy bot also develops its own unique personality as it grows closer to its owners. it uses ultracompact 1- and 2-axis actuators to give its compact body the freedom to move along a total of 22 axes.

4 – stanford university snake robot

image by kirk hickman and aaron kehoe

stanford university researchers have developed a snake-like robot that grows like a vine by squeezing through hard to reach places. the sole aim of the prototype is to act as a search and rescue device, moving through rubble and small openings in order to reach trapped survivors by delivering them water. the snake starts as a rolled up inside out tube with a pump on one end and a camera positioned on the other side. once initiated, the device inflates and grows in the direction of the camera, while the other side stays the same.

5 – festo octopusgripper

image courtesy of festo

just like an octopus has no hard skeleton and is made almost entirely of soft muscle, festo has applied this concept to soft robotics. the resulting creation is the ‘octupusgripper robotic’ arm—a flexible, silicone structure fitted with two rows of suction cups, just like its natural model. the ‘octopusgripper’ robot is the latest work of the company’s ‘bionic learning network,’ a series of robot’s that use biology as a model, copying the grip mechanisms of different animals. once compressed air has been applied and the tentacle curls inwards, it wraps around the object in question in a gentle—if a little creepy—manner, where a vacumm is used to its suction cups.

6 – honda E2-DR

image © IEEE spectrum

at IROS 2017, honda revealed a prototype for a disaster relief robot, the ‘E2-DR’, who has the ability to grasp bars, adjust its hips and walk in a human-like manner. whilst being flexible, strong and waterproof, it is capable of handling a variety of different potential issues caused in a disastrous situation. even at 1.68 meters high and 85 kilograms in weight, honda has kept the robot’s size to a minimum, helped by swapping out standard communication cables for optical fiber, which are eight times smaller. it can squeeze through 30-cm gaps and has 33 degrees of freedom, whilst grease is used to keep contaminants out of its joints.

7 – boston dynamics handle

image courtesy of boston dynamics

the google-owned robotics firm boston dynamics released a video of their latest creation, which goes by the name of ‘handle.’ unlike some of the company’s previously showcased robots that stand up on either two or four legs like ‘spotmini,’ ‘handle’ navigates on two small wheels. the undeniably human-like bot can roll back and forth, go down steps, spin in circles, jump, squat, and pick up crates. furthermore, it can also navigate down snowy hills and perform stunts that seem more suited to a pro-skateboarder than a research robot.

8 – piaggio gita cargo bot

image courtesy of piaggio fast forward

piaggio‘s ‘gita’ cargo bot is designed to carry your stuff, freeing up your hands so you can get on with what is important. designed to be smart and nible, the bot has been designed and engineered with same details of safety, braking, balancing, dynamics and performance as a motorcycle or car. taking the form of a bright blue orb, it is equipped with a wheel on either side of a central compartment, which opens up to reveal its storage area, where belongings, packages and valuable can be held safely. as well, ‘gita’ can move at a variety of speeds — from a snail’s pace to a sprint, indoors and out – in order to match human levels of mobility.

9 – NASA PUFFER

image courtesy of NASA

meet ‘PUFFER’, the pint sized new space rover from NASA. short for Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robot, the structure of ‘PUFFER’ takes influence from origami, folding and expanding to allow the friendly-looking bot to roam where no space rover has gone before. the creature’s lightweight design is capable of completely flattening itself, tucking in its wheels, and crawling into corners where other larger robots cannot fit. apt for skittering up sharp slopes and wriggling under rocks, several of the paper-like microbots can be flattened like cards and stacked one on top of another.

10 – honda 3E robotics concept

image courtesy of honda

announced right before CES 2018, the cute but very helpful team of honda ‘3E robotics concept’ are set to be shown at the technology show in las vegas, USA. with experimental technologies, the designs are intended to be used to advance mobility and make people’s lives better, matching the japanese company’s over-arcing vision. standing for empower, experience and empathy, the four – ‘3E-A18’, ‘3E-B18’, ‘3E-C18’, ‘3E-D18′ – bots are purposed to assist people in many situations, from natural disasters to recreation.

TOP 10 temporary structures of 2017

philip stevens I designboom — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 11:35:49 +0000

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2017 has seen an array of pavilions and temporary structures realized for events, festivals and various occasions around the world. tasked with a smaller budget, scale and a refined brief, architects, designers and artists have been challenged to craft their proposal with more detail, often focusing on engineering methods to engage with people’s senses. this culmination of art and architecture continues our annual review of the year’s BIG stories, as we take a look at the diverse array of temporary structures that caught our eye over the past 12 months.

1 – people’s station in yantai by people’s architecture office

image by zhu rui / people’s architecture office

steels bars were plugged in and out of sockets, unicycles wheeled-in canopies, and tiny houses were biked around on tricycles to create the simple, foundation-less complex known as ‘people’s station’. the building is the accumulation of the most exemplary projects to come out of people’s architecture office over the past seven years, and forms part of a retrospective exhibition titled ‘mass interventions’.

2 – francis kéré’s 2017 serpentine pavilion in london

in june, francis kéré’s 2017 serpentine pavilion went on display in london’s kensington gardens. the design, which references a tree that serves as a central meeting point in the architect’s home town of gando in burkina faso, is a responsive structure that seeks to connect visitors to both nature and each other. an expansive roof, supported by a central steel framework, mimics the tree’s canopy, allowing air to circulate freely while offering shelter from both rain and heat.

3 – jenny sabin’s robotically-woven ‘lumen’ installation

image by pablo enriquez / courtesy MoMA PS1

in the same month, jenny sabin studio installed an immersive, interactive structure within the courtyard of new york’s MoMA PS1. the temporary pavilion was made from more than 1,000,000 yards of digitally knitted fiber, and incorporates 100 robotically-woven recycled spool stools. as the installation remained on view throughout the summer, an integrated misting system was designed that responds to visitors’ proximity to help keep them cool.

4 – bureau betak’s mirror-filled pavilion for dior spring 2018 show

image © bureau betak

in september, bureau betak designed a mirrored pavilion for dior’s spring 2018 collection at the musée rodin, paris. the design, inspired by niki de saint phalle’s jardin des tarots, pulls from elements of the artist’s career-long project — her gaudi-esque mosaic-filled, sculpture garden in tuscany. the pavilion’s stark white, concrete interior is decorated with clusters of mirror pieces that creep up the walls, and along the floor and ceiling.

5 – drones and robots create ICD / ITKE research pavilion

image by burggraf / reichert © ICD/ITKE

each yearly iteration of the ICD/ITKE research pavilion replicates a particular biological process. in building each structure, researchers, and students from the university of stuttgart work with biologists to explore the potential of digital fabrication. for the 2016-2017 pavilion, the team examined two species of leaf miner moths whose larvae spin silk ‘hammocks’ that stretch between connection points on a bent leaf.

6 – OMA’s 2017 Mpavilion in melbourne

image © john gollings

in october, rem koolhaas and david gianotten of OMA completed the 2017 Mpavilion in melbourne, australia. the temporary structure is inspired by ancient amphitheaters and is shaped by two tiered grandstands — one fixed and the other moveable. covered by a floating roof structure, the rotating grandstand allows interaction from all angles and for the pavilion to open up to the garden and broader cityscape. erected in melbourne’s historic queen victoria gardens, the structure puts a twist on the configuration of ancient amphitheaters by blurring the roles of audience and performer.

7 – pop-up pavilion in london by PUP architects

image by jim stephenson

PUP architects has erected a temporary structure clad in reversible tetra-pak shingles atop a complex of artists’ studios on a canal in east london. the design of the ‘antepavilion’ exploits existing UK building legislation, which allows mechanical rooftop equipment to be installed without planning permission. titled ‘H-VAC’, the project suggests that if dwellings could be disguised as air conditioning infrastructure, thousands of pop-up micro dwellings could be built across the city.

8 – ALICE builds a public architectural forum in zurich

image courtesy of nouvelle AOM / luxigon (also main image)

in june, ALICE — an international group of young architects from the école polytechnique fédérale de lausanne (EPFL) — constructed a 240 square meter architectural installation adjacent to the toni-areal education and cultural center in zurich. led by director dieter dietz, the 200 first-year students built ‘HOUSE 2 – counter city’ in less than 10 days from structural elements prefabricated in lausanne. the pieces were shipped to zurich, unloaded and re-assembled as a public, ephemeral structure devoted to social and cultural happenings.

9 – matteo ghidoni & enrico dusi’s bright pink ROOM in mexico city

image © juan benavides

this year, matteo ghidoni and enrico dusi presented ‘ROOM’, a public installation in mexico city. the 43 square meter, concrete block construction forms a triangle, broken by the insertion of two circles of different sizes. the larger of the two sits a few centimeters above the ground with a diameter of two meters — making it a comfortable size to function as an entrance. visitors are able to enter at the base of the sand hill, within, that culminates in a series of planted cacti. from the surrounding sidewalk, the smaller of the two circular cutouts sits above eye level, but from within the shape functions as a porthole with a diameter of 60 centimeters.

10 – shen ting tseng architects designs ‘floating’ pavilion in taipei

image courtesy of shen ting tseng architects

in taiwan, shen ting tseng architects erected a temporary pavilion on the plaza outside the taipei fine art museum. to capture passing breezes, the structure comprises two planes: a canopy overhead, and a curved island platform below. the roof consists of 320 box kites, which sway gently and cast a constantly shifting pattern of light and shadow. the two surfaces are connected by slim steel poles.

TOP 10 art exhibitions of 2017

isabel narea I designboom — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 09:05:23 +0000

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monumental in scale, discipline, material and theme, some of the most renowned, international creatives displayed their new and most famous works around the globe this year. the exhibitions have immersed audiences in an impactful and significant experiential context — from damien hirst’s mysterious treasures of venice to yayoi kusama’s takeover of david zwirner gallery in new york.

as we move into december, we continue our annual TOP 10 round up of the year’s most talked about projects with a look at ten art exhibitions featured on designboom over the past 12 months.

1 – damien hirst’s underwater fantasy exhibition in venice

in may, damien hirst’s ‘treasures from the wreck of the unbelievable’, opened within the vast space of the palazzo grassi and punta della dogana. the two venetian venues of the pinault collection were both dedicated to hirst’s large-scale project. the ambitious and complex series tells the story of the ancient wreck of a vast ship, ‘the unbelievable’, and presents what was discovered of its precious cargo. the project was developed over 10 years ago, when the large scale sculptures were first placed deep underwater where they weathered the deep waters of the ocean.

2 – yayoi kusama’s festival of life at david zwirner gallery

in november, david zwirner gallery presented ‘festival of life’, a multi-sensory exhibit of recent work by celebrated japanese artist yayoi kusama in new york city. the exhibition featured sixty-six paintings from kusama’s iconic ‘my eternal soul’ series, new large-scale flower sculptures, a polka-dotted environment, and two ‘infinity mirror rooms’. the exhibition debuted two of yayoi kusama’s ‘infinity mirror rooms’, one which invited viewers to look inside through peepholes, and another which could be experienced from within. for the immersive infinity room, stainless steel balls create a sense of infinity through the play of reflections between the circular shapes and the surrounding mirrors.

3 – studio gang sculpts ‘hive’ from 2,700 wound paper tubes

image by tim schenck, courtesy of the national building museum

this summer, studio gang’s inhabitable ‘hive’ opened within the great hall of washington DC’s national building museum. the interactive installation comprised three interconnected, domed chambers. the structure was constructed from more than 2,700 wound paper tubes — making it a recyclable, lightweight, and renewable construction. the tallest 60-foot-tall dome features a 10 foot diameter oculus, inside which visitors can explore how material can modify and reflect sound, light, and scale.

4 – herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei ‘surveil’ exhibition visitors

over the summer, architects jacques herzog and pierre de meuron joined forces with artist ai weiwei to design a site-specific installation inside new york’s park avenue armory. titled ‘hansel & gretel’, the immersive and interactive work examined the changing nature of public space in the era of mass surveillance. the installation is divided into two parts where the visitor is both the observed and the observer, with every movement tracked and monitored. as part of the eerie and disorienting landscape, each movement is recorded by infrared cameras. the footage is simultaneously broadcast to a global online audience and fed back into the installation.

5 – daniel buren transforms bortolami’s tribeca gallery

courtesy of the artist and bortolami, new york

in june, daniel buren transformed bortolami’s tribeca gallery with playful trademark stripes intended to highlight the architectural features of the gallery. by modifying the navigation of space, enhancing lighting, obstructing viewpoints, the playful stripes encourage visitors to experience the gallery in a new way.

6 – pipilotti rist’s ‘pixel forest’ projects psychedelic dreamscapes

photo by maris hutchinson

in january, swiss artist pipilotti rist brought her immersive, psychedelic dreamscapes and prismatic projections to the new museum in new york city. the works surround viewers in sensual landscapes that blend the natural and technological worlds. hosted across the three main floors of the SANAA-designed institution, ‘pixel forest’ forms a comprehensive presentation of the artist’s work to date, featuring pieces that span her entire career.

7 – daniel arsham’s ‘hourglass’ exhibit immerses visitors

image courtesy of the artist and galerie perrotin / photo by guillaume ziccarelli

in march, daniel arsham conceived three installations at the high museum of art in atlanta. the installations blend audio, architecture, sculpture, and performance — as well as some of his very first works realized in color. the three installations include: a series of cast objects housed in large hourglasses, a monochromatic blue zen garden and japanese tea house, and a cavernous installation made from amethyst-cast sports equipment (previously displayed at new york’s galerie perrotin).

8 – do ho suh’s immersive fabric passages cross cultural boundaries

in february, do ho suh created a walk-through configuration of semi-transparent structures to occupy the 25 meter-long gallery space at victoria miro. using fabric, suh replicates the architecture of places in which he lived, and his recent move to london provides an overarching theme for his exhibit. the colorful corridor-like spaces were accompanied by large-scale drawings. sewn in the same way as suh’s ‘hubs’, these pieces are immersed in water, during which a gelatin tissue canvas leaves an impression of fabric threads that appear as a skeletal framework against the colored form of an object.

9 – peter zumthor puts his most-appreciated art on show

in september, peter zumthor transformed the kunsthaus bregenz museum into an exhibition titled ‘dear to me’. distinct space of artistic reflection have been created throughout the architect’s building, each centering around the cultural themes zumthor cherishes. the austrian museum is turned into a place of architectural discussion and educational discourse, with works by some of his most-appreciated artists, including hélène binet, gerda steiner and jörg lenzlinger.

10 – cai guo-qiang’s ‘spirit of painting’ in madrid, spain

at the museo del prado in spain, cai guo-qiang created large-scale paintings on site using gunpowder, serving as the highlight of the show focusing solely on his painted works. the exhibition draws from qiang’s ongoing interest in spanish renaissance painter, sculptor and architect el greco, and sees the acclaimed artist establish a relationship with the great masters represented in the prado museum.

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many conceptual, bespoke and production motorcycles and scooters raced into the mainstream in 2017, with many amongst the most popular articles on designboom this year. from slightly absurd to down right gorgeous, our coverage of anything on two-wheels have not only focused on the headline launches, but even the most fanatical visions of future bikes. furthermore, over the past year, custom-building and the integration of electric motors – a continuation of 2016 – have been the most apparent trends.

continuing our TOP 10 round ups of 2017, we look back at ten motorycle stories that grabbed our and most importantly, designboom readers’ attention over the past 12 months.

1 – BMW motorrad concept link

during the concorso d’eleganza villa d’este 2017, BMW motorrad debuted a zero-emission urban mobility concept, titled ‘concept link‘, which is neither a motorcycle or a scooter. with a low-slung, stretched body and flat seat paired with the diagonally rising front portion, the design takes a very unique appearance. this is further supported by a completely new form language that, over a two color tone body, displays a modern style with clear lines, large surface areas and simple, precise shapes. at the exclusive launch, designboom interviewed edgar heinrich, head of design of BMW motorrad, who provided additional insight into the concept, its trio of connectivity capabilities and completely new design language.

2 – local motors ariel cruiser

image courtesy of ianis vasilatos and nicolas de peyer

after opening a call-for-entry for a retro-styled, gas powered bike, local motors‘ team of engineers set about creating a fully-functional prototype of the ‘ ariel cruiser’ by ianis vasilatos’. it takes the aesthetics of a 1920’s board track racer and translates them into a modern, motorized bicycle format, which has been produced in both an electric and gas version. the electric ride runs for 20 miles, reaching speeds of up to 27 mph, whilst its gas-powered sibling uses a 50CC honda motor and a 0.6 gallon tank to power up to speeds of 34 mph over a range of 70 miles.

3 – bandit9 dark side

image courtesy of bandit9

as a pitch-black blend of pure capability and elegance, the bandit9 ‘dark side’ motorcycle composes a harmony of the dark, dramatic and beautiful. limited to just nine editions, it is handcrafted to perfection with an understated yet intimidating aesthetic. the bike’s profile is an exaggeration of an airplane’s aerodynamics – a typical source of influence for the craft shop – where the smooth unibody fuses together the cowl, fuel tank, seat and brake light. this one continuous and curved piece subtly catches different lights, which dramatically creates an elongated, dynamic and mysterious appeal.

4 – great japan samurai

dubbed the ‘samurai’, this futuristic concept by great japan depicts a time soon to come. borrowing trends from japanese craft, its design fixates upon a foundation of artistic culture with its delicate art of origami, the fighting samurai spirit and celebration of simplicity and space. although conceptual, it would be highly likely that it would offer dramatic performance if ever produced, as hinted by its aggressive title.

5 – urban motor easy like sunday morning

the ‘easy like sunday morning’ custom motorcycle is an unusual, yet elegant interpretation of the contemporary road bike. for their entry into the glemseck 101 race in leonberg, berlin-based urban motor built the two-wheeler based upon a two-cylinder engine from a 1964 jawa ‘350’, but removed everything apart from the powerplant, before building a whole new chassis from steel tubing. its alloy bodywork was crafted in collaboration with marvin diehl of krt, who also created its unique handlebars with integrated front suspension design, hidden behind the graceful alloy silhouette.

6 – yamaha 03GEN-X’

image © yamaha

yamaha unveils a three-wheeled off-road scooter concept, featuring wire spoke wheels, thick knobby tires and a distinct scrambler style to it. the ’03GEN-X’ is an unusual, futuristic concept designed with off-roading and ‘cross’ in mind. its sturdy aesthetic include highlight features such as a futuristic front headlight with an X carved into it, a colorful digital display, a rising exhaust, a brown leather seat, and a thick rear frame with the taillight and rear turn signals integrated.

7 – exodyne

images courtesy of victoria velvet photography

like a jacked-up battery pack connected to two wheels and a handlebar, the ‘exodyne’ electric motorcycle fuses rapid power with energetic, home-made engineering. created by a veterinarian in atlanta, usa, alan cross’ bespoke bike is the result of nine months of research, design and fabrication work. its center box frame, which houses 48 lithium polymer battery cells in a 100V 32 configuration, connects directly to the head stock with a swing arm pivot point. combined with a rear hub 11 kW motor, it has a top speed of 60 mph and a total range of 20 miles.

8 – maxim burov koenigsegg concept

image courtesy of maksim burov

maxim burov has imagined what if the world renowned supercar company koenigsegg designed a motorcycle. in a series of renders, the moscow based artist envisions a two-wheeler following the brand’s ability to produce quality machines that marry style and substance. with its distinguish color choice, the concept would arguably perform just as brilliantly as the automobiles themselves, although it looks like we may never know this for sure.

9 – pablo baranoff dorn and alex guliyants model electric cafe racer 1

dubbed the ‘model electric cafe racer 1’, this futuristic concept depicts what the future of motorcycles might hold for honda. created by spanish and russian designers, pablo baranoff dorn and alex guliyants, it has been completely designed from scratch, including the seat, frame, tires, front + rear suspension, rims, lights, front lamp and hubs. however, built over a honda 125 cc café racer with an electric motor, the bike has a second alternative body, built from steel or aluminum. the team built a three-part structure; the front grille is larger and more aggressive with the air intake in mind, whilst the sides showcase an alternate idea of a second air intake to offer riders the possibility of additional technical features.

10 – urban drivestyle MOKE

image © MOKE

the ‘MOKE’ from urban drivestyle is an unusually framed e-bike designed to carry extra cargo. the island of mallora-based company calls its seat the longest ever of its kind, and it can be segmented into three cushions that can be swapped with accessories, like child seats and cargo racks. furthermore, the compact utility bike doesn’t ride like a conventional electric two-wheeler either, as it reaches a maximum speed of up to 28 mph (45 km/h).

TOP 10 lists of 2017 | architecture, art, design, and technology projects

TOP 10 reader submissions of 2017 – design projects

1 – how a student moulded three costly cameras he couldn’t afford into a 3D printed device

2 – pushcart furniture by lim + lu and CL3

3 – helmfon personal space helmet by hochu rayu

4 – void rug by scott jarvie

5 – type H 70th anniversary van by david obendorfer + fabrizio caselani

6 – color flow furniture by orijeen

7 – cloud lamp reacts to donald trump’s tweets by ParseError

8 – BIKI by robosea

9 – viride by goula figuera

10 – effie: the world’s first domestic automated ironing machine

TOP 10 videos of 2017

1 – ballerina’s movements traced by algorithmically-generated geometries

2 – dress code’s ‘coke habit’ animation explains the different phases of addiction

3 –miki nemcek abstractly animates the transformation of larva into butterfly

4 – stunning drone footage of iceland’s scenic landscape

5 – fernando livschitz edits his own perception into dream-like scenes

6 – urbanears multiroom speakers: different moods for different rooms

7 – robots vs. music, automatica by nigel stanford

8 – ken hermann and gem fletcher: the wrestlers of mongolia

9 – 567 printers create color-changing backdrop in OK GO music video

10 – if famous filmmakers made recipe videos

TOP 10 schools and educational buildings of 2017

1 – avasara academy for girls in india by case design + transsolar

2 – inside out school in ghana by andrea tabocchini and francesca vittorini

3 – hanoi university building in vietnam by VTN architects

4 – bamboo sports hall in thailand by chiangmai life architects

5 – preschool in south africa by collectif saga

6 – kindergarten in japan by tezuka architects

7 – düsseldorf academic center at FOM university by j. mayer h.ects

8 – cornell tech campus in new york

9 – morinoie nursery school in japan by masahiko fujimori architects

10 – toranoko nursery in japan by takashige yamashita

TOP 10 3D printing projects of 2017

1 – ETH zürich artificial heart

2 – the institute advanced architecture of catalonia pedestrian bridge in madrid, spain

3 – desktop metal 3D printed metal

4 – michael hansmeyer and banjamin dillenburger digital grotesque II

5 – NASA space chain mail

6 – the new raw print your city!

7 – barbara motylińska and zuza gronwicz shoetopia

8 – dinara kasko + jose margulis kinetic tarts

9 – john edmark bloom

10 – TU eindhoven bicycle bridge

TOP 10 reader submissions of 2017 – public spaces

1 – LEGO bridge by christo guelov

2 – the krane luxurious retreat by arcgency

3 – waka haiku setsugekka restaurant by sun tianwen

4 – inflatable performance stage by plastique fantastique

5 – yintai center bookstore by x+living

6 – chromatogram installation by lazerian

7 – waterside buddhist shrine by archstudio

8 – bostanlı footbridge and bostanlı sunset lounge by evren başbuğ

9 – DSSI’s school by daniel valle architects

10 – molecure pharmacy by waterfrom

TOP 10 robots of 2017

1 – hanson robotics sophia

2 – mayfield robotics kuri

3 – sony aibo

4 – stanford university snake robot

5 – festo octopusgripper

6 – honda E2-DR

7 – boston dynamics handle

8 – piaggio gita cargo bot

9 – NASA PUFFER

10 – honda 3E robotics concept

TOP 10 temporary structures of 2017

1 – people’s station in yantai by people’s architecture office

2 – francis kéré’s 2017 serpentine pavilion in london

3 – jenny sabin’s robotically-woven ‘lumen’ installation

4 – bureau betak’s mirror-filled pavilion for dior spring 2018 show

5 – drones and robots create ICD / ITKE research pavilion

6 – OMA’s 2017 Mpavilion in melbourne

7 – pop-up pavilion in london by PUP architects

8 – ALICE builds a public architectural forum in zurich

9 – matteo ghidoni & enrico dusi’s bright pink ROOM in mexico city

10 – shen ting tseng architects designs ‘floating’ pavilion in taipei