over the course of the year, designboom has covered numerous projects in the fields of architecture, art, design and technology, presented through the format of moving image. from a sexually-charged teaser for the fiat 500X compact crossover, to a visualization of the evolution of the workplace, the short movies take the audience in-depth to the project’s visual core, offering a stimulating and dynamic look at creative work through animated, documentary and digital formats. the final feature in our TOP 10 series looks back at the most memorable videos we watched in 2014.

official teaser for the fiat 500X compact crossover: blue pill

video courtesy of fiat

in conjunction with the reveal of the fiat ‘500X’ compact crossover, the italian automobile manufacture released a teaser showing the car’s key features: that it’s bigger, more powerful and ready for action. in this official fiat 500x commercial, set within a traditional italian village, everyone who comes into contact with the car gets a little…excited.

harvard innovation lab visualizes the evolution of the desk

video courtesy of bestreviews.com

the past 35 years has seen the transformation of the everyday things that surround us traverse from tangible to virtual. a digital app exists for everything from world mapping to paying bills, completely recontextualizing the tools we use in the workplace. a team at the harvard innovation lab has encapsulated this history of technology, as it relates to the office, in a video, ‘the history of the computer desk‘, demonstrating the steep shift from cork boards and fax machines to pinterest and PDFs.

music video for boggie shows real-time digital retouching

video courtesy of the soup

in a response to the ever-present photo manipulations and artificially enhanced idea of beauty, directors bálint nagy and nándor lőrincz have used the music video of singer-songwriter boggie to show, in real-time, her computerized cosmetic transformation. the clip begins with the make-up free, natural face of the young musician and, throughout the video, a photoshop-like software gruadually alters her image, changing the tone of her skin and eyes, adding shadow and blush, removing marks from around the forehead, and doctoring the shape of her nose and hair style. the final result is a ‘public face’ — a visualization of augmented beauty, which brings to light the controversy regarding society’s traditional notions of an aesthetically acceptable and pleasing person.

patrick hall films people being tased 

video courtesy of fstoppers fans

portrait photographers often aim to relax their subject, directing the person behind the camera to feel casual yet composed in order to achieve the most natural result. charleston-based photographer and founder of fstoppers patrick hall contradicts these traditional parameters and has placed a selection of men and women in extremely uncomfortable conditions: getting tased. ‘I am always trying to make people feel comfortable in front of my camera so I can capture a real emotion from them.’ hall says in his project description ‘but what if I was able to make people feel so uncomfortable in front of the camera that I could guarantee an interesting portrait every time?’.

‘LIFEWIRE’ by marita mitrovic for the future banking competition 

video courtesy of marita mitrovic

the first place winner of the DESIGNBOOM x DEUTSCHE BANK competition was designer marita mitrovic for her visualization of the ‘LIFEWIRE’, a debit card which shows you how much money has been spent, relative to the amount of money that you could have spent. watch the video to see how it works.

homebuyers roller coaster their way through dutch residence

The post TOP 10 videos of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

the last twelve months has seen a host of bold and innovative architectural interiors completed across the globe. with more and more companies understanding the importance of an appealing and engaging setting, architects and designers are being asked to apply their skills to the medium of interior design. consequently, established architects such as tadao ando and bjarke ingels are working at a smaller scale, improving the architecture of the semi-public realm. from soy sauce stores in tokyo to south american restaurants in copenhagen, we’ve rounded up ten of the most interesting restaurant and retail interiors that caught our eye in 2014.

snow picnic ice cream store by torafu architects

photo by takumi ota

earlier this year, japanese studio torafu architects redesigned the interior of a colorful and welcoming ice cream store in tokyo’s nakano ward. titled ‘snow picnic’, the scheme allows customers to watch their order being prepared, with the kitchen and adjacent counter envisioned as a stage upon which the meticulous performance takes place.

kayanoya soy sauce shop by kengo kuma

image © sadao hotta

renowned japanese architect kengo kuma completed the interior renovation of the kayanoya shop in tokyo, a soy sauce manufacturer who has been in the industry for more than 120 years. the design reproduces the company’s traditional warehouse in kyushu, southern japan, with wooden barrels used in the production process elevated to ceiling level, and trays used for making koji (malt rice) presenting the items for sale.

BIBO restaurant in hong kong

photo by red dog

a french restaurant in hong kong has been furnished with works of street art from renowned designers – a collaboration between anonymous project coordinator BIBO and creative design agency substance. inside, installations by invader, JR and mr brainwash are accompanied by hangings from banksy, damien hirst and daniel arsham offering diners a new way to experience art. the space has also become a studio for new work, with creatives from around the world invited to undertake independent projects.

saint laurent store by hedi slimane

image © saint laurent

luxury fashion label saint laurent has opened a new store in the italian city of milan, with interiors designed by the brand’s creative director hedi slimane. continuing the refined style of saint laurent’s other flagship outlets, the scheme boasts highly polished marble surfaces, interrupted with a series of reflective and transparent furnishings. a central staircase clad with vertical slats is found at the heart of the volume, surrounded by carefully positioned display units and cantilevered seating that protrudes from the structure’s marbled walls.

backyard retail space by nendo

image © masaya yoshimura

uniting elements from both domestic and commercial notions of the ‘backyard’, nendo has created the retail scheme for ‘backyard by | n’  located in the seibu sogo department stores across japan. while the name refers to two distinct concepts — a shop’s storage space and an outdoor site for free play — the interior plan reflects these approaches through its use of material and color.

llama restaurant by bjarke ingels + jakob lange

image courtesy kilo / cofoco

this year, BIG partners bjarke ingels and jakob lange collaborated with kilo founder lars larsen and creative director jonas hartz in completing ‘llama’ – a new dining establishment in the danish capital of copenhagen. working alongside food group cofoco, the restaurant offers its diners south american cuisine with a menu that features ceviches, anticuchos and uruguayan-style meats.

home cafés by penda

image courtesy of penda

in beijing, architecture and design studio penda completed the interior of a local café using recycled steel bars to serve as modular dividers. commissioned by property developers hongkun, the scheme introduces an area of greenery within the city’s heavily polluted atmosphere – intended to serve as a precedent that will encourage other chinese cities to implement similarly green proposals.

duvetica showroom by tadao ando

photo by orsenigo chemollo

in 2011, tadao ando designed the milan flagship store for duvetica. three years later in celebration of its tenth anniversary the venetian company, specializing in featherlight down jackets, has once again asked the japanese architect to realize a new milan showroom for them, as well as an extension to the previous retail space he conceived for them in via santo spirito, 22.

izakaya kinoya restaurant by jean de lessard

photo © adrien williams

earlier in 2014, canadian designer jean de lessard transformed the interiors of a japanese restaurant in downtown montreal. the project explores the interactions that occur between diners at eating establishments, seating guests in an intimate and enclosed environment. this notion of confinement is further manifested through the restaurant’s internal façades which take on fractal geometries through angled planes.

denim  R&D studio by zemberek design office

photo by şafak emrence

this research and design studio for a textile company in turkey has been configured to encourage and facilitate a dynamic system of working. completed by zemberek design office, the concept for the interior is built on the interaction between the users of the space (R & D personnel), and the items and accessories on display.

The post TOP 10 restaurant and retail interiors of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

originally only used to transport cargo across the globe, shipping containers were so cheap to manufacture that it was economically more viable to leave them at the freight’s destination, rather than to return or reuse them. consequently, the last few years have seen architects and designers repurpose the steel enclosures, utilizing their flexible and adaptable nature, which means that they can be constructed almost anywhere. cheap, lightweight, and readily available, designboom’s TOP 10 shipping container structures of 2014 includes a range of imaginative and inventive uses for the modular units.

tagus linear park in portugal

image © joão morgado

the ‘tagus linear park’ in portugal provides a variety of recreational outdoor spaces for the community of póvoa de santa iria. as part of the development atelier difusor de arquitectura reused a group of shipping containers to form a service building for the site. a wood-slat rain screen shades the metal structures to provide internal comfort. the facility includes a variety of outdoor spaces, including upper and lower balconies, as well as a breezeway.

mill junction silos in johannesburg

image © citiq

in february, we reported on property developers citiq who had converted unused grain silos in johannesburg into affordable student accommodation. ‘mill junction’ comprises 375 individual apartments, in addition to a host of study facilities, libraries, lounges and computer rooms. in order to provide additional floor space, a series of stacked shipping containers encompass the 11-storey silos, providing a vibrant and colorful addition the city’s skyline.

the container bar by north arrow studio

image © north arrow studio

located in austin, texas, ‘the container bar’ by north arrow studio in collaboration with hendley | knowles design studio has been constructed using recycled shipping containers. offering a variety of experiences within the one venue, the re-purposed units are arranged to provide both open and enclosed spaces. the double-height bar area is covered by a floating roof structure, which not only ensures protection from the weather, but also helps to frame the courtyard with surrounding trees.

AUDI’s shipping container scoreboard

image © AUDI

for the 2014 foootball world cup, AUDI built a giant scoreboard displaying scores on a structure made from 28 audi A8 models and 45 shipping containers. the digital clusters that display numerals on the 40-foot digital installation are made up entirely from the LED headlights of the featured vehicles. visible from miles away, the towering structure broadcasted match results live throughout the global event.

CC4441 by tomokazu hayakawa architects

image © tomokazu hayakawa architects

earlier this year, tomokazu hayakawa architects configured two shipping containers to create a small mixed-use building on a corner in the torigoe district of tokyo. the irregular composition on the site distinguishes the structure from its context, while openness to the outside promotes connectivity with the active downtown area. at the ground level, one of the 12 meter volumes is split and separated, housing flexible gallery spaces for public access. a second pod is stacked atop, containing a small office.

hive-inn by OVA studio

image © OVA studio

the ‘hive-inn’ is a conceptual hotel structure designed by hong-kong-based OVA studio that allows containers to travel in and out of it. offering maxi­mum flexibility and mobility, the project envisions possibilities for applications such as emergency housing or medical care units. the rooms can be shipped to whatever location is required and used for multiple functions such as offices, leased to various individuals or companies who temporarily need space.

trumpe cadde comercial center by GAD architecture

image © alp eren

atop the trump tower in mecidiyeköy, istanbul, international studio GAD architecture created a miniature master plan utilizing modular shipping containers and terraces. organized over two levels, a series of paths of different sizes cut through and organize the individual structures housing 25 carefully-chosen commercial units and gardens, likened to a modern-day bazaar.

dwell by G-pod

image © G-pod

building upon their lineage of easily deployable structures made from shipping containers, the hong kong and australia based business G-pod has developed the self-sufficient and transportable home ‘dwell’. the pod employs a combination of patented pull-out sections and a large fold-down deck to offer three times the amount of usable space. the design is focused on environmentally conscious living, and operates off power grids and water mains.

royal wolf HQ by room 11

image © ben hosking

this year, australian practice room 11 completed the melbourne headquarters of royal wolf – a specialist in the hire, sale and modification of new and refurbished shipping containers. appropriately, the workplace is built entirely from the steel units, utilizing the fabrication and construction methods employed by the organization. the scheme repurposes the enclosed volumes as a series of connected light-filled rooms interspersed with areas of plantation. offices and reception areas are articulated around a central courtyard, while the meeting room, kitchen and principal offices are linked to further external enclosures.

morphed kiosks by NL architects

image © NL architects

to catalyze an already vibrant public area – the spaces surrounding the zaha hadid-designed dongdaemun design plaza in seoul, south korea – ten studios have been invited to conceive kiosk structures to house various activities. included in this group is the dutch office NL architects, whose approach morphs the basic shipping container type through a range of diverse operations to provide increased functionality and specificity.

The post TOP 10 shipping container structures of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

2014 was the year that custom motorcycles moved into the mainstream, with many major bike brands working with independent builders: some publicly, and some privately. modifying models by BMW, ducati and harley davidson, motor enthusiasts have created and tuned a numerous amount of eye-catching and high performance bikes, using a wide range of equipment in workshops across the globe. in collaboration with the readers from the custom moto site, bike EXIF, and as a continuation of our annual round up, designboom lists the TOP 10 custom motorcycle designs of 2014.

‘NURBS’ by krugger, is a modification of the BMW ‘K1600’ which has six cylinders, seven computers, multiple drive modes and adaptive headlights. you may question why anyone would want to customize the original but for fred bertrand, the ‘K1600’ was just another challenge. when the modifications were complete and it was fully functional, it delivered the belgian his second AMD world championship.

moto guzzi v7 stone by venier customs

image courtesy of venier customs
photo © alex logaiski

brooklyn-based venier customs restyled a ‘moto guzzi v7 stone’ into what they call ‘tractor 02′ for a client in new york. the aim of the project is to be comfortable for two people while riding throughout the bumpy streets of manhattan and swerving between the crowded traffic of taxi cabs and buses. in comparison to the existing model, the tubular steel frame is powered by a 90° V-twin motor with 2 cylinders and 4-strokes capable of reaching a max speed of 109 mph/175kmh.

senna tribute by marcus walz

german builder marcus walz is a familiar face in the formula 1 pit lane as he has customized motorcycles for seb vettel, kimi räikkönen and david coulthard. he paid tribute to another well-known F1 rider, the late ayrton senna. this moto guzzi le mans Mk I is all about power and style, with an engine punched out to 1040cc and a paint job reflecting senna’s famous helmet designs.

ronin by magpul

the buell motorcyle that batman would ride, is the magpul ‘ronin’, a limited-production machine costing $38,000. points of the original ‘1125’ that have been redesigned with ruthless precision, include the rotax engine which is now cooled by a high-flow radiator, and the showa forks have been replaced by an alloy linkage that gives the bike a menacing, hunched-forward look.

voltron’ by ER motorcycles

the slovenian workshop, ER motorcycles, created the ‘voltron’, one of the fastest-rising stars on the custom scene. named after a giant robot from the animated TV series, the motorbike is a clever, retro-futuristic mash-up of styles and eras. it is a mix of vintage BMW parts, including a 1964 R69S frame, an R80 engine and front end, and a classic ‘toaster’ tank.

tramontana by triumph

with five spanish engineers who were at a loose end after signing off the tiger 800XC prototype, triumph developed an off-road scrambler called ‘tramontana’. it is an essay in mechanical engineering, with revised geometry, massively increased suspension stroke, ultra-light excel rims, new ergos and a weight loss of 40kg.

urban cavalry by rough crafts

the ‘urban cavalry’, a redesigned harley-davidson ‘dyna’ by taipei-based winston yeh, has a sinister, sci-fi look to it. as a former roland sands protégé, winston, has made a name for himself with milwaukee metal. the custom bike is based on a 2014-spec ‘dyna street bob’ but its running kawasaki sportbike forks and a custom alu swing arm, powers a boost from S&S ‘super G’ carburetion and a titanium exhaust worthy of a Formula 1 car.

triumph café roadster by mule

richard pollock, dubbed the king of trackers, has built over 100 motorbikes so far, but every now and then he tries something different, such as this roadster with a café racer vibe. similar to all bikes that roll out of the mule motorcycles workshop, it is a high performance machine with forks from a yamaha ‘YZF-R1’, six-piston brakes are from beringer, and top-spec sun alloy wheels.

full moon motorcycle akrapovic

image courtesy of akrapovic

premiered at the bad salzuflen custombike show in germany, the akrapovic ‘full moon’ motorcycle concept developed alongside dreamachine motorcycles, aims to avoid being categorized. its extravagant characteristics and technically exceptional personality reflects this focus and also differentiates itself from their previous 2011 morsus product. however, similar to its predecessor, the ‘full moon’ was designed to excite and with its S&S knucklehead 1,524 cc engine, the model does just that.

track chief by roland sands and indian

roland sands created the ‘track chief’ to showcase indian motorcycles’ spectacular thunder stroke’s engine which highlights the companies’ fine sporting heritage. with the tuned motor nestled into a skinny frame, the bike has a classic board track look that is complemented by the symmetry of the wheels.

The post TOP 10 custom motorcycles of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

bridges have always been invaluable structures. typically designed out of necessity, these spanning connectors have helped establish communities, and have turned small villages into thriving metropolises. the past twelve months has seen a diverse variety of schemes both proposed and completed around the world, with our 10 most popular projects incorporating a wide range of materials and taking various forms. continuing our annual review of the year’s BIG stories, we take a look at the bridges that caught our eye in 2014.

elevated bike lane by dissing + weitling

image © ursula bach / dissing + weitling architecture

working alongside the municipality of copenhagen, local architecture practice dissing + weitling has designed ‘cykelslangen’, an elevated bike ramp that cuts across the city harbor. the long bridge takes off from havneholmen and continues on a winding course along fisketorvet towards the shopping center’s main entrance, while offering enough space for quicker cyclists to pass slower cargo bicycles.

schaufelschlucht bridge by marte marte

image © marc lins

as the second in a series of three bridges, marte marte architekten have completed ‘schaufelschlucht’ along a mountain road in western austria. the monolithic concrete form is composed with curving geometries, which are intended to display the structural forces it negotiates and express the contours of the land. spanning a length of 16.5 meters over a stream-filled gorge, the arching underbelly rises from a rocky hillside on its more open side to reach a short tunnel.

jetty to mont saint-michel by dietmar feichtinger architectes

image © mathias neveling

a jetty from the normandy coastline to mont saint-michel, designed by dietmar feichtinger architectes, opened for pedestrian access earlier this year. the project replaces an existing causeway which produced undesirable build up of sediment, due to limited ability for water flow. the elevation of the bridge way alleviates this issue, creating a continuous current around the island. the path offers a promenade for visitors, with expansive views to the impressive medieval mountain village and estuary context.

køge north station by COBE

image © COBE, dissing + weitling and COWI

it was announced this year that a team comprising COBE, dissing+weitling and COWI had been chosen to complete a major traffic hub within the copenhagen area. opening in 2018, ‘køge north station’ will serve as a major transport interchange where high-speed trains and freeways meet. in its entirety the project consists of pedestrian bridge, a railway station and an associated park and ride facility.

merchant square footbridge by knight architects

image © edmund sumner

in september, a movable footbridge designed by knight architects opened to the public in london’s merchant square – a mixed-use waterfront site at paddington basin. working alongside structural engineers AKT II, the cantilevered design spans 20 meters across the grand union canal connecting the development. using hydraulic jacks, the bridge is envisioned as a kinetic sculpture that opens in a way similar to that of a traditional japanese fan.

bridge at buen by 3XN

photo by adam mørk

as part of a masterplan for mandal, norway’s most southern city, 3XN designed a pedestrian and bicycle bridge connecting the emerging cultural district. responding to the neighboring ‘buen cultural centre’, completed by the same office, the plan engages with surrounding materials and forms, uniting both structures. both the building and the bridge share a white and light expression that compliments the region’s wooden houses and narrow streets.

11th street bridge park by OMA + OLIN

image © OMA / luxigon

in october – after a seven-month nationwide competition – it was announced that OMA + OLIN had been selected as the design team for washington D.C.’s first elevated park. traversing the anacostia river, the design will transform a freeway bridge into a vibrant civic space, not only linking the two sides of the river, but also serving as an engaging point of reference within the city. the mixed-use development will include an environmental education center, performance spaces, public art related to the region, inclusive play areas, urban agriculture and kayak/canoe launches.

olhafen bridge by schneider + schumacher

image © schneider + schumacher

at the start 2014, frankfurt-based architects schneider + schumacher finalized the construction of ‘ölhafen bridge’, a curved structure spanning the entrance of an industrial harbor in raunheim, germany. the bridge emphasizes the concept’s leisure use, offering unobstructed views across the water. situated along the river main, the scheme features a spiraling access ramp leading into a 70 meter span that provides a direct and continuous path for both pedestrians and cyclists.

peace footbridge by dietmar feichtinger architectes

image © dietmar feichtinger architectes

this curved steel and timber bridge by dietmar feichtinger architectes spans 157 meters across the river rhône in lyon, france. the asymmetrical design consists of two arched platforms that offer pedestrians and cyclists the option of entering at different heights on either side of the river. the separate pathways converge at a central plaza in the middle, creating a space where people can stop along their journey and enjoy views out over the water.

rheinring arch by marco hemmerling

image © marco hemmerling

located at the rhine carée between the two major bridges, the hohenzollernbrücke and the deutzer brücke, the ‘rheinring’ proposed by marco hemmerling represents the center, as well as the link, between the two halves of cologne, germany. the circular construction concept, developed by stefan polonyi, serves as an attractive pedestrian walkway directly accessible from the historical altstadt to the west, and from the rhine boulevard to the east.

The post TOP 10 bridges of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

with the numerous motor shows that took place throughout 2014, the world was introduced to many new electric or alternative fuel vehicles as companies aimed to find a solution to the environmental problems created by century-old gas guzzling machines. international brands such as mercedes, toyota and porsche all greeted the automotive community with futuristic developments, and were also joined by custom models that were purposely developed to fix the energy issue. these concepts were often presented at events such as the LA auto show, paris’ mondial de l’automobile and the north america international auto show, as well as at the geneva motor show – where designboom were in attendance. continuing our annual review of the TOP stories of 2014, we look back at the 10 alternative fuel vehicle projects which grabbed our attention over the past 12 months.

MINI superleggera vision by  MINI and touring superleggera

image courtesy of BMW group

BMW group joined the concorso d’eleganza villa d’este 2014 where they unveiled the ‘MINI superleggera vision’, the interpretation of an open-top two-seater created in collaboration between MINI and touring superleggera – the milan-based traditional coach building house. boasting minimal lines and extracting the emotional style of open-road racing, the automobile captures the essence of a classic roadster, intersecting an electric drive-train to maximize modern driving dynamics. designed and elaborately crafted by hand, the electric-vehicle concept blends the tradition of classic italian coachwork construction with MINI’s trademark british aesthetics.

2016 mirai sedan by toyota

image courtesy of toyota

the toyota ‘mirai’ hydrogen fuel cell sedan announced the future of automotive transportation with a safer, greener and easier vehicle that will be introduced to the US in 2016. the car manufacturing company’s president, akio toyoda revealed the concept’s name which translates to future in japanese, prior to the official launch at the LA auto show 2014, in order to represent a turning point in the industry. what makes the sedan significant is how it can travel up to 300 miles on a single tank of hydrogen, refuel in less than five minutes and only emits water vapor.

e-sportlimousine by QUANT

image courtesy of nanoFLOWCELL

built around a monocoque composed of carbon-fibre structures, the intelligent QUANT e-sportlimousine boasts gull-wing doors and features an innovative drive-train concept with four electric motors (one per wheel). it draws power from nanoFLOWcell, an electrolyte flow cell power system that works on the principles of the redox flowcell, which was developed in 1976 for NASA and the american space program. thanks to this technology, the vehicle delivers a driving range of up to 600 km, and is powered exclusively by salt water. packed with a 912 horsepower engine, the EV sportscar also reaches blistering performance figures of 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds, and a top speed of 380 km/h.

2015 cayenne S E-hybrid

image courtesy of porsche

the 2015 porsche ‘cayenne S E-hybrid’ is their first plug-in electric SUV which enables pure electric driving. the car has been given a face-lift with an entirely new front end, fenders and hood, and contains a lithium-ion traction battery with energy capacity of 10.8 kwh. the sports utility vehicle offers double the power output than previous models; from 47 to 95 horsepower, meaning it can reach an all-electric top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph). combined with a 333 horsepower 3.0 liter supercharged V6 engine, the hybrid achieves a top speed of 247 km/h (151 mph) and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.4 seconds.

XchangE autonomous electric vehicle by rinspeed

image courtesy of rinspeed

rinspeed presented the ‘XchangE’, an all-electric autonomous touring sedan based on the exterior styling of the tesla model S, engineered by 4erc and built at esoro, as an automotive study to demonstrate how cars will be used in the not so distant future. dubbed as an ‘office and living room on wheels’, the fully networked EV provided proof that a completely new operating and display is needed, as passengers will be able to assume virtually any seating or resting position when traveling in forthcoming autonomous vehicles. the new system devises harman’s next-generation scalable infotainment platform to provide security protection against hacker attacks, and has a media platform that offers numerous functions for navigation, entertainment, assistance and services displayed across its four screens.

G-Code vision concept by mercedes-benz

image courtesy of mercedes-benz

using a high-tech ‘multi-voltaic’ silver paint finish to replenish power supply, mercedes-benz introduced a sports utility coupé for the future: the ‘G-Code vision concept’. under the direction of the main office in sindelfingen, the advanced design studio within the daimler product engineering center in beijing created a technology-focused SUC with coupé-like side lines and dynamically flowing greenhouse. the automobile integrates a variable plug-in hybrid drive system with long electric operating range and a turbocharged combustion engine that runs exclusively on hydrogen.

viziv 2 plug-in hybrid by subaru

image © designboom

the subaru’s ‘viziv 2 plug-in hybrid’ concept introduced the japanese manufacturer’s future vision of innovation and the future direction of the brand. employing a four-door body, the plug-in hybrid boasts a 1.6-liter horizontally-opposed direct injection turbocharged engine, combined with a high-torque-compatible ‘lineartronic’ system that integrates one front motor and two rear motors. the components for the hybrid system still maintain subaru’s unique symmetrical all-wheel drive layout however, delivers superior driveability based on its low center of gravity and weight balance.

asterion LPI 910-4 hybrid by lamborghini

image courtesy of lamborghini

the lamborghini ‘asterion LPI 910-4′ marked the company’s first plug-in hybrid technology vehicle, with a power system that combines a V10 5.2 naturally aspirated engine with three electric motors to deliver a total of 699 kWh (910 hp). this, as well as the 560 Nm of torque available, enables the supercar to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.0 seconds and to a top speed of 320 km/h. the automobile delivers performance figures that are customary for the italian brand, but it is the CO2 emission reducing technologies that makes it stand out from their previous models. for example; it only releases 98 g/km of carbon dioxide, has a fuel consumption of 4.12 1/100 km combined cycle and a 50 km pure electric range.

link&go 2.0 by AKKA technologies

image © designboom

AKKA technologies unveiled the link&go 2.0 concept, a self-driving car created and designed for the city of the future. with a completely integrated electric platform, the car rethinks the urban environment and mobility by linking the inhabitants with other system users, along with the intelligent platform itself. the autonomous vehicle is equipped with several sensors such as cameras and lasers, which analyze the environment in a 360 degree radius to remove any blind spots. complete with a wire control system, it also incorporates four directive and motorized wheels that offer new energy recovery and braking strategies.

model S P85D by tesla

image courtesy of tesla

the tesla ‘model S P85D’, which comes with either a 60 or 85 kWh battery, is the world’s first dual electric motor production car. with a generator on each axle, the front and rear wheels are delivered with digitally and independently controlled torque that helps provide high levels of traction control. true to the company’s vision, their sports car’s propulsion system increases efficiency by splitting the delivery of current from the battery to each transformer. similar to this, the capability has also improved as it can go from 0 to 60mph in 3.2 seconds.

see designboom’s other big stories of 2014 here.

The post TOP 10 alternative fuel vehicles of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

throughout 2014, a number of hotels and resorts have been established across the globe, occupying a variety of rural landscapes in unusual locations. the resorts form places of escape, often in remote or picturesque settings, offering a break from an ever more hectic world. although similar in function, the ten selected schemes are incredibly diverse in form, with intimate and expansive volumes utilized to great effect alongside a range of different materials and production techniques, providing guests with a tranquil and calming temporary residence. continuing our annual review of the year’s BIG stories, we take a look at the hotels and resorts that caught our eye in 2014.

yalikavak palmarina by emre arolat architects

image © cemal emden

earlier this year, at a lagoon on turkey’s southwestern coast, emre arolat architects extended the region’s existing marina complex with a series of additional facilities. the development, entitled ‘yalikavak palmarina’ has been completed in stages, providing both visitors and the local population with a range of services. the ‘island’ part of the plan, which is the first phase, houses a selection of retail outlets and restaurants, in addition to amenities for yachts docking in the harbor.

aqua dome thermal resort in the mountains of austria

image © aqua dome

a resort set amid the impressive austrian landscape has been redeveloped using angular and tapered forms to reflect its mountainous setting. the ‘aqua dome’, which accommodates 350,000 visitors each year, has been designed to be a distinctive landmark for the region, while simultaneously providing guests with a familiar alpine atmosphere.

la plage d’hôtel du pacifique by kristin green architecture

image © peter bennetts

designed by australian architect kristin green, this hotel contains 18 villas, a restaurant, a swimming pool and a spa facility. located on the coast, the scheme uses only exposed concrete, wood, and tile to compose classical elements with re-envisioned details. the arched openings that are carved out from a series of intersecting walls and planes make for abstracted colonnades and thresholds that freely ventilate the interiors and allow for a fluid circulation.

naka phuket resort by duangrit bunnag

image © wison tungthunya

in 2014, the NAKA phuket hotel and resort in thailand has opened its doors to guests as an exclusive getaway only accessible via an isolated mountain road. designed by thai architect duangrit bunnag of DBALP, the complex comprises tens of matchbox form villas featuring floor-to-ceiling glazed walls that protrude directly from the sloping terrain. the 94 private units are accompanied by a private beach, rooftop spa, fine-dining restaurant and an olympic-sized infinity pool.

aro hā wellness retreat by tennent + brown architects

image © aro hā wellness retreat

located on new zealand’s south island, ‘aro hā‘ is a purpose built, self-sufficient retreat offering its guests access to yoga, hiking, strength training, meditation, therapeutic massage and detoxifying vegetarian cuisine. designed by local practice tennent + brown architects, the timber dwelling provides accommodation for only 32 guests at any one time, encouraging group interaction. providing views across the 21 acre site, an open terrace is oriented to face lake wakatipu.

richard branson opens mahali mzuri safari camp in kenya

image © mahali mzuri / virgin limited edition

part of sir richard branson’s portfolio of distinctive retreats, ‘mahali mzuri‘ is a luxury safari camp located 240 kilometers west of nairobi in kenya’s motorogi conservancy. situated within the maasai mara ecosystem, the development has been configured to minimize environmental impact with lightweight structures that promote low density tourism. established in collaboration with the neighboring community, the sustainable approach sees the promotion and hiring of local workers and the use of regionally sourced materials.

flamingo dailai resort by vo trong nghia architects

image © hiroyuki oki

flamingo dailai resort, a residential retreat located one hour away from hanoi in vietnam, was planned for city dwellers to enjoy their weekends in a more natural environment. the complex, located in the middle of forests between dailai lake and the surrounding mountains, consists of two contrasting buildings both designed by vo trong nghia architects – ‘dailai conference hall‘ and ‘bamboo wing‘.

ecork hotel by josé carlos cruz

image © FG+SG / fernando guerra and sergio guerra

one hour outside of lisbon, in the portuguese region of évora, architect josé carlos cruz has completed a spa and resort complex clad with a natural brown cork. the project, named the ‘ecork hotel‘, boasts 56 private residences, fine dining facilities, and a spa and gym complex. the program is organized around a central courtyard that connects various public spaces with hotel services. an outdoor pool and its adjacent bar are positioned at roof level, ensuring a reduction is the projects overall footprint.

whitepod eco luxury hotel in switzerland

image © whitepod eco luxury hotel

at the heart of the swiss alps, an unconventional accommodation experience awaits. the ‘whitepod eco-luxury hotel‘ situated in les giettes, houses its guests within 15 geodesic dome-shaped tents (10 standard, 5 family) which serve as rooms that are immersed into the natural landscape of the mountains. each pod is anchored to a wooden platform offering a furnished terrace in which to enjoy the views beyond.

alila jabal akhdar resort in oman

image © alila hotels and resort

perched 2,000 metres above sea level, in the central section of the al hajar mountains ‘alila jabal akhdar‘ overlooks a dramatic gorge, surrounded by spectacular views of the expansive omani landscape. the LEED certified resort’s 78 suites are either located within the main hotel building or arranged in individual clusters. the villas are generously organized around the cliff-top, maximizing privacy and providing uninterrupted views over the mountains and down into the adjacent gorges.

The post TOP 10 hotels and resorts of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

TOP 10 art exhibitions of 2014

the art world boomed this year, with some of the most renowned, international creatives in the field exhibiting their new works around the globe. the artworks and installations shown have each immersed audiences in an impactful and significant experiential context — monumental in scale, discipline, and material. from olafur eliasson’s expansive and multi-faceted exhibition in paris’ gehry-designed fondation louis vuitton to the esteemed photojournalistic imagery of steve mccurry, 2014’s presentations blew us away. take a look below at designboom’s most popular articles this year about exhibitions.

olafur eliasson makes contact with fondation louis vuitton

olafur eliasson, contact, 2014
image courtesy of studio olafur eliasson / image © iwan baan

olafur eliasson: contact
fondation louis vuitton, paris
december 17, 2014 to february 16, 2015

commencing the second phase of its inaugural program, paris’ gehry-designed fondation louis vuitton presents an expansive, multi-faceted exhibition that feeds the senses, by danish-icelandic artist olafur eliasson. ‘contact’ explores ‘the relations between self, space, and universe’ by creating a surreal, alternate reality within the newly-built museum. a series of site-specific installations immerse visitors in an interplay between moving light and shadow, a chiaroscuro which seemingly transports the audience into the complete darkness of outer space. various smaller optical devices distributed throughout the exhibition along with specially-built passageways build upon eliasson’s on-going study of human perception and the construction of space. ‘my exhibition addresses that which lies at the edge of our senses and knowledge, of our imagination and our expectations’ eliasson explains. ‘it is about the horizon that divides, for each of us, the known from the unknown.’

ai weiwei installs seven large-scale works on alcatraz island

weiwei, ‘with wind’, 2014 (installation view, new industries building, alcatraz)
photo by jan stürmann, courtesy of FOR-SITE foundation

ai weiwei: @large
alcatraz island, san francisco
september 27, 2014 through april 26, 2015

seven sculpture, sound, and mixed-media works by chinese artist ai weiwei infill alcatraz island for his exhibition ‘@large’ as an investigation of human rights and freedom of expression in the context of the historic space. the site-specific installations are installed across four locations within the building, drawing reference from the island’s multifaceted history as a 19th-century military fortress, notorious federal prison, important ground of native american history, and now one of america’s most visited national parks. each piece aims to raise questions about the social implications of incarceration and the definitions of justice, individual rights, and personal responsibility. ‘the misconception of totalitarianism is that freedom can be imprisoned’ ai weiwei explains ‘this is not the case. when you constrain freedom, freedom will take flight and land on a windowsill.’

damien hirst composes black scalpel cityscapes from surgical tools

damien hirst — rio (detail), 2014
scalpel blades, skin graft blades, zips, stitching needles, aluminium filings, pins, stainless steel studs, fish hooks, steel wire cutting spool and gloss paint on canvas — 78 1/16 x 113 3/8 in. (198.3 x 288 cm)
© damien hirst and science ltd. all rights reserved, DACS 2014
photo: prudence cuming associates ltd / courtesy white cube

damien hirst: black scalpel cityscapes
white cube, são paolo
november 11, 2014 through january 31, 2015

renowned british artist damien hirst reveals a new collection of paintings for an exhibition at white cube gallery in são paolo. the ‘black scalpel cityscapes’ — described by the artist as ‘portraits of living cities’ — are comprised of surgical instruments, arranged in compositions of a bird’s-eye map view of urbanized sites. both the built world and natural elements are depicted with scalpels, razor blades, hooks, iron filings and safety-pins, and set against black backgrounds. the 17 cities included in the exhibition are either sites of recent conflict, places relating to the artist’s own life, or epicenters of economic, political or religious significance — washington D.C. ; rome and the vatican city; leeds (where hirst grew up); beijing; moscow; new york; and london. 

markus linnenbrink places viewers within a psychedelic color canvas

image by annette kradisch, nuremberg

markus linnenbrink: off the wall
kunsthalle, nürnberg, germany
jul7 17, 2014 through october 12, 2014

uniting painting with architecture, new york based artist markus linnenbrink has transformed two exhibition spaces at the kunsthalle, nürnberg into a walk-all-over canvas. the floors, walls and ceiling of the german site have been pigmented with vibrantly-hued parallel streaks, traversing through the gallery’s rooms. the specific arrangement of the tones and their linear movement sees the line between two-dimensionality dissolve, simultaneously suggesting the idea of an endlessly expanding space. this color adaptation, which linnenbrink has titled ‘wasserscheide(desireallputtogether)’, evokes a wild and psychedelic sense of mobility, with an intensity that the viewer’s eye can hardly follow.

steve mccurry presents 150 photos for ‘oltre lo sguardo’ at villa reale di monza

a portrait from tagong, tibet taken in 1999 is exhibited within an interior window frame at villa reale di monza
image © designboom

steve mccurry: oltre lo sguardo
villa reale di monza, italy
october 30, 2014 through april 6, 2015

infilling the spacious rooms and neoclassically-decorated corridors at the exquisite villa reale di monza in italy are large-format images from american photographer steve mccurry’s more than 30 year career, comprising approximately 150 pictures from his extensive travels throughout the globe. the exhibition ‘oltre lo sguardo’ presents an expansive and rich selection of portraits and photojournalistic imagery that exemplify mccurry’s oeuvre and embody the visceral condition, cultural study and unforgettable quality for which he is widely celebrated. on the occasion, designboom was invited to preview the remarkable display of curated work, carefully arranged and hung within the apertures of windows and door frames of the former royal home. we also had the opportunity to speak with mccurry about the importance of this exhibition, his overall relationship to the subjects of his portraiture and his recommendations for future generations of young photographers.

henrique oliveira roots his largest installation to date at the MAC, sao paulo

installation of transarquitetônica at MAC USP, são paulo, brazil
photo by sergio miranda

henrique oliveira: transarquitetônica
museum of contemporary art, university of são paulo, brazil
april 26, 2014 through january 25, 2015

brazilian artist henrique oliveira has occupied the vast gallery expanse of the museum of contemporary art, university of são paulo with ‘transarquitetônica’, his largest immersive installation to date. using materials recycled from his home city’s urban fabric, oliveira has configured a massive series of snaking wooden columns wrapping through the interior space, which can be entered and experienced by the visitor. the various routes with multiple possibilities are designed to embrace the observer in a sculptural universe, with the smells, sounds and sights of the medium surrounding them within the form. shifting in narrative and aesthetic from front to end, the piece epic proportions begins as the knotted roots of a tree, and finishes as narrow, white-painted corridors, symbolically expressing the evolutionary transformation in architecture from the caves which served as shelter to men and women for millennia to the high-rise buildings in the sky we occupy today.

numen/for use swap staircase for an interwoven net pathway

image courtesy of numen/for use

numen/for use: net linz
OK center for contemporary art, austria
june 27, 2014 through october 19, 2014

acting as supplementary staircase in the exhibition space at the OK center for contemporary art, ‘net linz’ by croatian-austrian design collective numen/for use is an inhabitable and climbable social sculpture made of intricately interwoven mesh. nets are suspended from the ceiling and stretched with the weight of sand bags attached to their base. their vertical orientation, reaching towards the height of the room, results in a canyon-like path, where the visitor must slowly swing as they meander along the steep and undulating aisle.

cai guo qiang sends 99 animals aboard the ninth wave in shanghai

‘the ninth wave’ sailing on the huangpu river in front of the bund, shanghai, 2014
photo by JJY photo, courtesy cai studio

cai guo-­qiang: the ninth wave
the power station of art, shanghai
august 8, 2014 to october 26, 2014

as part of a monumental exhibition presented by the the power station of art in shanghai, chinese artist cai guo-­qiang has set sail to ‘the ninth wave’, a fishing boat from the artist’s hometown of quanzhou carrying 99 fabricated animals. sailing along the famous bund on the huangpu river, tigers, pandas, camels and apes cling to the worn ship, looking weather­‐beaten and sullen with their heads bowed in fatigue. the installation draws visual influence and takes its name from russian painter ivan aivazovsky’s 1850 painting, which depicts weary survivors from a shipwreck just barely holding onto to a mast, communicating human helplessness in the wake of nature’s unforgiving forces.

motoi yamamoto outlines complex labyrinths made of table salt

the artist carefully crafts a salt work
image courtesy of motoi yamamoto

motoi yamamoto: floating garden
westminster college and weber state university, utah
february 24, 2014 through march 6, 2014

japanese artist motoi yamamoto has completed two monumental salt works in utah, encompassing the ground floors at westminster college and weber state university. using his trademark medium, yamamoto has created new iterations of his ‘floating garden’ lacework, this time bound within the confines of a circular form. filling the shape are minutely interconnected lines of matter, linked to each other within the complex labyrinth. the swirling, hurricane-like pattern is used as a symbol in east asia, representing life and death, resurrection and rebirth and the displays of vitality. ‘there is no set motif in the patterns I draw’ yamamoto explains, ‘but shapes and forms that can be found in nature such as typhoons, whirling tides, and galaxies are part of my work.’ creating such intricate netting on such a mammoth scale requires patience and practice. holding a bottle of salt in hand, the artist must sit down in a small space where no particles will be laid, simultaneously moving the container with a certain rhythm. the subtle movement creates tiny cells that mimic bubble-like patterns, each of which symbolize pieces of memories and fragments of time.

abraham poincheval lives inside a bear for two weeks

the french artist reads inside the bear
image courtesy of musée de la chasse et de la nature

abraham poincheval
musée de la chasse et de la nature, paris
april 1, 2014 through april 13, 2014

for thirteen days and thirteen nights, french artist abraham poincheval has lived inside the hollowed-out carcass of a bear, positioned in the center salon at the musée de la chasse et de la nature in paris. just like the mammal during the winter months, poincheval has remained within a small enclosure, keeping with him all the basic things he might need to survive throughout the weeks spent inside; food, water, activities and even a place to relieve himself are all contained inside the makeshift unit. by residing within the species, poincheval aimed to understand his own physical limits and experience animal nature, a symbolic image of the ‘inside out’ of a bear during hibernation.

The post TOP 10 art exhibitions of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

the ongoing race to design and construct the world’s tallest structures continued apace this year, with 2014 seeing a number of different tower typologies proposed and built across the globe. each of our selected projects offer a distinct and unique set of principles, seeking to establish themselves in the evermore compact and dense urban fabric we occupy on a daily basis. from the completed ‘freedom tower’ rising above manhattan, to projects still in their planning phase, we round up 10 of the biggest tower stories that caught our eye over the past 12 months.

one world trade center by SOM

image © iwan baan

in 2014, the first offices opened for use in the landmark one world trade center tower, designed by skidmore, owings & merrill. thirteen years after the tragic events of 9/11, the occasion marks a key moment in the lineage of the lower manhattan site, re-establishing its potential as a business center. beyond this, the ‘freedom tower’ exists as a striking visual icon in lower manhattan, both along the city’s skyline as well as from the ground level.

triangle tower by herzog & de meuron

image © herzog & de meuron

in november, controversy in paris saw plans for the herzog & de meuron-designed ‘triangle tower’ thrown out by local authorities. however, after mayor anne hidalgo declared the original vote invalid, there was hope that the 180 meter-tall project could still go ahead. a petition in support of the project has also been made available online, backed by renowned names such as renzo piano and dominique perrault.

wangjing SOHO by zaha hadid

image © virgile simon bertrand

in september, designboom attended the grand opening of ‘wangjing SOHO‘ in bejing, designed by internationally renowned architect zaha hadid. the mixed-use development consists of three curvaceous structures that make it the most visible landmark en route from the chinese captial’s airport to the city center. the highest tower reaches 200 meters high, while from above the design mimics three graceful fish spread across the site. the design forms another identifiable and dynamic point of reference along the city’s constantly evolving skyline.

berlin residential building by frank gehry

image © hines

in early 2014, frank gehry was chosen ahead of david adjaye and david chipperfield, to complete a residential tower in central berlin. located in the mitte district of the german capital, the 300-unit structure will be developed by international real estate firm hines. standing at a height of 150 meters, the tower will become the tallest building in berlin, and the tallest residential development in germany. the scheme offers 46,450 square meters of floor space, which will contain apartments and penthouses, in addition to a new hotel.

bosco verticale by stefano boeri

image © paolo sacchi

in october, stefano boeri‘s ‘bosco verticale’ opened its doors to residents, five years after construction started in milan’s emerging porta nuova district. the project, which translates in english as ‘vertical forest’, comprises two landscaped towers that between them contain 113 apartments offering expansive views across the city. the design is characterized by its integrated vegetation comprising over 1,000 different species of trees, shrubs and plants.

century spire by daniel libeskind

image © studio AMD

in 2014, construction got underway in manila at the site of the daniel libeskind-designed ‘century spire‘, a 60-storey mixed-use tower. located in century city, a district designated for premier living accommodation, office space and commercial buildings, the tower forms part of a larger 3.4 hectare masterplan that will reshape the region’s skyline. developed by local real estate firm century properties, the high-rise is set to open in 2018.

DC tower by dominique perrault

image © michael nagl / DC towers

rising 250 meters into the viennese sky, ‘DC tower 1’ opened its doors to the public, forming a bold and distinctive landmark for the austrian capital. designed by renowned french architect dominique perrault, the structure features an elegant cascading façade that reflects the neighboring danube river both literally and metaphorically. the skyscraper stands as austria’s tallest building; a soaring mixed-use complex that establishes a vertical city perpendicular to the historic center.

chaoyang plaza by MAD architects

image © MAD architects

in april we announced that construction was underway in beijing at ‘chaoyang park plaza’, two years after initial plans were floated for the site. designed by ma yansong of MAD architects, the project explores the relationship between architecture and its natural environment, creating a strong dialogue between the man-made structure and its immediate context.

phoenix towers by chetwoods architects

image © chetwoods architects

earlier this year, british practice chetwoods architects proposed a landmark design for the chinese city of wuhan, a pair of towers climbing to a height of 1,000 meters. entitled the ‘phoenix towers‘ the design rises above the 47 hectare site, part of an ambitious environmental masterplan for the region. each spire comprises its own characteristics, with the taller ‘feng tower’ leaning towards the commercial zone, and the ‘huang tower’ oriented to face the city’s cultural and recreational district.

quay quarter tower by 3XN

image © 3XN

danish architecture office 3XN announced that it is underway on the design of the ‘quay quarter tower’ in sydney, sited near the city’s landmark opera house. the office high rise will serve as a destination for local and international businesses, and be a bold addition to the community’s skyline. the tower’s composition stacks distorted glass volumes upon one another, and rises to a height of 200 meters (656 feet). this arrangement breaks down the massive scale of the structure to provide more-intimate and interconnected spaces with access to internal atria.

The post TOP 10 towers of 2014 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

art makes a statement. it grabs our attention, connecting with us in multiple ways on conscious and subconscious levels. we received several thousand submissions from our readers, with designers, artists and architects sending through a diverse range of works that we have shared with our audience over the last 12 months.  

we believe that maintaining an open dialogue with our readership is extremely important, and we are happy to showcase the high level of original projects of our readership. from a graffiti-covered architectural icon, to a burning table of money, we highlight 10 artistic reader submissions of 2014.

xavier delory imagines corbusier’s villa savoye in a state of decay

image courtesy of xavier delory

design is constantly contemplating the ways in which it can transcend time, reflecting the values of the current generation while suggesting possibilities for the future. in response, each building, product, and every other creation is an attempt to convey a pristine image, with innovative materials and unprecedented gestures that show no signs of aging. providing more commentary on the subject, visual artist xavier delory has asked ‘what remains of the utopias and the promises of a better future promised by the modern movement at the beginning of the 20th century?’he then elaborates with a quote from ’toward a new architecture’: ’but let’s not kick a man when he’s down, every era carries its own burden, and let’s not spoil our pleasure of ‘the wise, correct and superb play of masses gathered under the light.’ with this mindset, delory has set out to begin what he calls a ‘pilgrimage on modernity’.

qozop swaps the clothing of asian youths with their elders’

image courtesy of qozop

societal beliefs and traditions are often reflected through the clothing we wear. artist qozop captures this sensibility ever present in asian cultures through ‘spring-autumn’, a series of photographs that juxtapose the dress of youths with that of their elders. though asia has become westernized to a large degree, older generations often still dress in ethnic attire, while teens prefer contemporary styles. revealing the issues of identity and age, qozop swaps the clothing of youths and their elderly relatives, literally placing them in the others shoes. ‘it was easy to get the kids to agree to be photographed, the older folks required a little coaxing.’ qozop explains, ‘but once they have been photographed, they were often curious and amused to see themselves in their son’s or grandson’s attire – some were so comfortable in their new getup that they joked that they wanted to remain in that attire for the rest of the day!’

too much? by amarist + alejandro monge questions the value of money

image courtesy of atelier amarist

‘too much?’ by atelier amarist and alejandro monge is an example of when contemporary art and design become one. the sculptural dining table, consists of a glass cube containing partially burnt notes with a thin biofuel flame rising above its surface. each intricate detail was taken into consideration as the artist meticulously reproduced the bills by gluing and coloring each individual piece of paper. yet, according to the artist, ‘the most complicated part of the process was to simulate the effect of burnt paper eaten by flames never using fire to achieve it.’ this required the use of a hyper-realistic technique which simulated the effect of a burning fire morphing and petrifying ashes with resin. consequently, the furnishing is meant to provoke deep thoughts within the mind of the viewer about the significance and value of money, time, and people. ‘a note is a dyed piece of paper that represents a number, 10, 20, 50 dollars, yens, euros. a figure that we exchange in order to acquire something wanted. a figure that within itself has no more value than the one given to the job or the time traded,’ said monge.

javier requejo installs black palafitos stilt houses in spain

image courtesy of javier requejo

‘palafitos’ by spanish artist javier requejo is an installation of 13 black houses that represent the current economic situation in spain. constructed on stilts, the precariously propped dwellings are reminiscent of typical chilean architecture, where a number of such villages were built throughout the course of the 19th century. the small scale pieces are placed above ground, taking reference from a winter of constant rain, which has seen ‘palafittes’ constructions rise up to resist heavy floods. the use of a dark color and monotone material treatment aims to evoke a sense of mourning, the lack of hope felt in a country suffering from the recent european crisis. 

miguel chevalier spreads magic carpets 2014 over sacre coeur in morocco

image courtesy of miguel chevalier

‘magic carpets 2014′ by french artist miguel chevalier is an interactive light display spread out across the floor of the former sacré coeur church in casablanca, morocco. covering it with a huge layer of light, the work references the world of biology, microorganisms, and cellular automata – as cells have the ability to multiply in abundance, divide and merge at different paces. pieces come together, fall apart and transform in shape at rapid speeds. the displayed organic universe mingles with a digital construction of overlapping pixels.

suh architects + kolon immerse visitors in kaleidoscopic habitats

photo © kisu park

‘4 habitats’ is the coalescence of kolon corporation’s vision to establish its global identity and suh architects’understanding of its range of industrial products. the process started with a visit to the korean-based company’s factories, where the architects were introduced to fibers, films, and textiles. this was necessary for the project, as it led to the conscious decision to keep the components in their raw states. after two years of research, spunbond was selected as the main material of choice due to its use of polymer chips that have been cooled, compressed, and bonded into an climate-controlling, energy efficient web.

giant photoshop eraser sticks to london streets

image courtesy of street eraser

two creatives behind the ‘street eraser‘ blog are merging the digital world with the analog, sticking their adobe-inspired art throughout london’s urban fabric. the giant playful labels illustrate the familiar grey and white checkerboard pattern, visible when using the eraser tool in photoshop. eliminating graffitti from traffic signs, color from mailboxes and portions of billboards, the intervention seemingly reveals a concealed world beneath our own. the team says of the digital tool interrupting everyday surroundings, ‘we rather like the idea that it’s hiding under the surface of everything around us.’

daino engages the daily lives of an ant colony with picket signs

image courtesy of daino

for the project ‘we come in peace’, california-based artist daino enters into a temporary zone of proximity with a colony of ants living in the dirt just outside his riverside home. rather than displace them into his studio space, he comes to them, into the environment that they have built for themselves. as opposed to being there to aggressively wipe them out, he is there to observe them at a distance, participate with them, and join their network. their underground city might be limited, but it constitutes a world and, by entering it, he becomes a part of it.

people with disabilities empowered through mind-generated art

image courtesy of jody xiong

chinese artist jody xiong has collaborated with 16 handicapped people — recruited via social media — in the artistic and technological realization of the ‘mind art’ installation. the project participants were asked to choose a winsor & newton paint color, which was placed in balloons equipped with tiny detonators. large canvas panels surrounded the balloons on all sides.

fabrice le nezet’s elasticity materializes tension in space

image courtesy of fabrice le nezet

with an urge to constantly explore the intersection between architecture, fashion, and product design, london-based artist fabrice le nezet has created ‘elasticity.’ the work materializes the idea of tension by making the notion of weight and stretch palpable through the use of four massive and abstract metal structures. these components run perpendicularly across the long edges of rectangular voids in the ceiling. by presenting this normal condition, several of the wires bend to support large prisms of concrete that provide a feeling of force and motion. as they drop down to occupy spaces below, movement is emphasized by their strategic orientation below clerestory windows shining light onto the forms. as observers move around the constructs, a contrast is created between the real properties of the materials and the way they are perceived.

to be part of this cultural network, we invite you to join the conversation and submit your work.

see other reader submission articles from the categories of art, architecture and design here.

The post TOP 10 reader submissions of 2014 – art appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.