Archipanic (2025)

13/08/2025

In Denver, check in at Studio Gang’s Populus Hotel, the ‘first cabin positive hotel’ in the US. Inspired by the Aspen tree (Populus tremuloides), its distinctive windows recall the tree’s eye-shaped bark markings, shifting in size to suit public or private spaces.

The building stands out with a sculptural façade of vertical scallops, clad in bright, acid-washed glass fibre reinforced concrete.

At street level, 30-foot-tall openings frame entrances and energise the pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood.

The 265-room, 135,000-sq-ft hotel maximises its compact triangular site, with a concrete structure using fly ash to reduce cement.

Each window’s outward “lid” shades interiors and channels rainwater, while the rooftop Stellar Jay restaurant offers sweeping city and mountain views.

The building is featured in the World Architecture Festival shortlist and will compete for the World Building of the Year award.

Find out more on Archipanic.com.

Photos 1-7 and 9 by ©Jason O’Rear, photo 8 and 10 by ©Steve Hall.

12/08/2025

The Desert Rock eco-tourism project by Oppenheim Architecture in Saudi Arabia is set within 11,000 square miles of islands, beaches, desert, mountains, and volcanic terrain.

Carved into majestic granite peaks, it echoes ancient Nabatean civilisations, with rooms and communal spaces tucked into crevices, caves, and shaded slopes to harness cooler microclimates.

Most materials were recycled from the site, blending buildings seamlessly with the surrounding colours and minerals.

By day, the resort camouflages into the landscape; by night, it glows like scattered lanterns. Dispersed facilities minimise their footprint, inviting exploration of the region’s rich cultural, archaeological, and geological wonders while redefining sustainable tourism.

Desert Rock is a LEED Platinum-certified project competing for the World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival later this year in Miami.

Photo by © John Athimaritis, courtesy of Red Sea Global.

11/08/2025

Form follows function… and devotion. Vitra Design Museum celebrates the Shakers, the 18th-century American religious community with a visionary design legacy.

The Shakers weren’t designers in the conventional sense. They were a late 18th-century American deeply spiritual group who believed that design should serve purpose—and that purpose, in turn, should reflect values of community, equality, and devotion. Today, only two elderly Shakers remain active in the world. Their furniture, architecture, and domestic objects are known for their stripped-back elegance and functionality, anticipating modernist ideals long before they became mainstream. Serial production? Standardisation? The Shakers were already there, doing it with a spiritual backbone.

Designed by Milan-based studio Formafantasma, the exhibition brings together over 150 original pieces—most on loan from the renowned Shaker Museum in Chatham, New York—presented across four thematic sections, each titled after quotes from Shaker community members. Alongside the historic works are new commissions and research from seven international contemporary designers and artists, reflecting on the ongoing relevance of Shaker values through lenses like gender, inclusion, and sustainability.

Throughout the exhibition, fabric plays a quiet but vital role. Draped on walls and suspended in space, it evokes the presence of flexible, functional, and intimate linens and domestic textiles. Traditionally seen as women’s work, textiles become a symbol of care and craft, highlighting the Shakers’ radical respect for women’s roles in shaping not just homes, but communities. Founded by a woman, the Shaker movement placed female labour—material, spiritual, and organisational—at its heart.

Using only wood, fabric, nails, and thread, the exhibition creates a serene, tactile environment built from gestures of care and repetition—echoing the Shakers’ timeless philosophy that simplicity and purpose can be profoundly poetic.

Find out more about the exhibition at Archipanic.com.

Photos by Bernhard Strauss, © Vitra Design Museum.

09/08/2025

Ten outdoor chairs that make you want to sit back, relax, and maybe never go back inside [Link in Bio].

Summer’s in full swing, and it’s officially time to take the indoors out. Whether you’re soaking up the sun in your garden or sharing lazy dinners on the terrace, the right chair makes all the difference. We’ve rounded up 10 standout outdoor chairs that mix good looks with comfort—and a dose of personality.

Pictured:

01. Coney by for – Photo by Pedrali.
02. Cosimo De Medici lounge chair by for .official - phot by Tectona.
03. Fromme by@tom__chung for – Photo by Petite Friture.
04. Eiger chair by with Marcela Lozano for
05. Baia chair by Christophe Pillet for – Photo by Ethimo.
06. Costuras by for – Photo by Diabla.
07. Africa collection by for – Photo by Vondom.
08. Costa lounge chair by – Photo by Andreu World.
09. Dream View Bench by for – Photo by Lise Vester
10. Cut chair by Stephan Veit for – Photo by Potocco.

08/08/2025

Plastic waste is one of today’s most urgent environmental challenges—but what if it could be transformed into beautiful, functional design? That’s exactly what Panos Sakkas and Foteini Setaki, the creative minds behind Rotterdam-based studio The New Raw, set out to do with The Elements, a striking collection of limited-edition beach furniture entirely made from recycled marine plastic.

Far from your average sunbed or beach hut, The Elements is a testament to how design, robotics, and craftsmanship can work together to turn discarded materials into something both sustainable and stylish. Available in soothing tones of Aqua and Sand, the collection features a beach-changing cabin, a flowing chaise lounge, and modular tiles that form sandy walkways. Each piece is inspired by nature’s own seaside forms—think wave patterns, seashell curves, and the delicate imprints salt leaves on the shore.

But there’s more than meets the eye. The designers have integrated 3D-printed textures that go beyond decoration. These tactile surfaces are engineered to enhance climatic comfort, improving airflow, promoting drainage, diffusing light, and even helping to cool the surfaces. In this way, each piece doesn’t just look natural—it functions naturally, too.

Originally created for Coca-Cola Greece, the project uses 80% recycled marine plastic and is 100% recyclable, laying the foundation for a circular design model. To produce just six collections, The New Raw repurposed an impressive 720 kilograms of ocean waste. The 3D-printed forms are carefully designed to minimise material use and streamline production, proving that sustainability and efficiency can go hand in hand.

With The Elements, The New Raw isn’t just designing furniture—they’re crafting a new language for what sustainable design can be. Their work invites us to rethink waste, embrace innovation, and imagine a future where beaches are not dotted with plastic debris, but with beautiful, regenerative design.

All l photos ©courtesy of The New Raw.

05/08/2025

Fashion designer Alessandro Enriquez has given a joyful look to Braccialieri, a new boutique resort nestled in the UNESCO-listed Val di Noto in south eastern Sicily. A pool with red-and-white checkerboard tiles inspired by Sicilian traditional kitchens, luxury suites and ‘glamping’ cottages with sweeping views across the Val di Noto, designer furniture, and a vibrant cafe.

Enriquez’s redesign is about slowing down and soaking in the beauty of the landscape. Drawing from his roots, the overall design combines “the love for my Sicily and the love for design,” explains Enriquez.

Three luxury suites represent the perfect balance between history and modernity. Six ‘glamping’ cottages embody the sustainable vision of the place with airy interiors, spacious verandas, and sweeping views across the Val di Noto.

The café, housed in a wrought-iron greenhouse draped with bougainvillaea, is pure Sicilian charm. The wallpaper, made in collaboration with Jannelli&Volpi, features traditional Sicilian sweets—an ode to nostalgia with a wink.

The 1863 winery-turned-restaurant, Dodici Zappe, feature original stone walls and a restored millstone are paired with modern wooden tables and custom Cappellini chairs.

Even the pool area carries the signature Sicilian touch—with red-and-white checkerboard tiles inspired by traditional kitchens and parasols printed with Enriquez’s cheerful geranium motif. It’s a spot designed for lounging, laughter, and long, sun-soaked afternoons.

The boutique resort is the result of a two-year conservative restoration. The designer brought together heritage and hospitality in a refreshingly personal way. Think: handpicked furniture by Cassina, Vispring, Cappellini, Tom Dixon and Casa Lago—all selected for their love of colour and craftsmanship. Lighting design by Davide Groppi.

At Braccialieri, every detail is a celebration of place. It’s where fashion, design, and Sicilian culture come together—not just to impress, but to welcome you home.

Photos are courtesy of
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02/08/2025

At Japan House London, a new exhibition celebrates the global impact of pictograms, those clever little icons we see everywhere, from street signs to smartphone screens, with a special focus on Japanese design.

The exhibition opens in striking fashion: a clean white space where black-and-white lightboxes make a simple but powerful point—pictograms, like the ones in airports, can say in seconds what would otherwise take paragraphs to explain.

This visual storytelling goes way back. The show includes early examples such as the Lascaux cave murals and Egyptian tomb carvings, proving that icons have always helped us understand each other, regardless of language.

But it’s Japan that gave pictograms a sleek, modern edge. In 1964, designers from Nippon Design Center created the first full set of Olympic sporting pictograms for the Tokyo Games—setting a global standard still used today. And when it comes to the emoji (yes, e means picture and moji means character), it’s no surprise that Japan led the way there too.

For the Experience Japan Pictograms project, Nippon Design Center created over 600 pictograms tailored to guide visitors across the country. It’s a perfect example of how design can quietly—but profoundly—enhance how we navigate the world.

The exhibition isn’t just for looking. A hands-on section lets you explore 3D pictograms and even step into one yourself. Visitors can also get creative, assembling their own icon using modular pictogram parts laid out on a lightbox.

Whether you’re a design lover, emoji enthusiast, or just curious about the symbols that guide your day, this exhibition offers a fresh and fascinating look at a language we all speak—no words needed.

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01/08/2025

In the heart of Tulum, where the lush Yucatán jungle meets the Caribbean breeze, Mexico City-based architecture firm RA! Studio has brought to life Hacienda Wabi—a residential complex that treads lightly on the land while offering a bold architectural statement. Spanning 1,800 square meters and developed by local firm Namus, the project is more than just housing—it’s a vision of harmony between built form and natural surroundings.

Drawing inspiration from the nearby ruins of the ancient Mayan port city, RA Studio designed Hacienda Wabi as a series of interlocking stairways, terraces, and volumes that gently step through the dense vegetation. Over time, these forms are intended to visually dissolve into the landscape, allowing the jungle to reclaim its space.

The complex features 15 apartments distributed across three levels, all arranged around a generous courtyard. This central area is far from monolithic—divided into intimate courtyards, shady corners, and winding paths, it leads residents to a semi-public zone complete with a swimming pool and relaxation areas.

The architectural layout cleverly uses levels to offer diverse experiences: garden patios and private plunge pools at ground level, jacuzzis and open terraces on the first floor, and treetop views from rooftop gardens on the top level.

Local materials ground the project in its environment. Regional stone forms the base, while the walls are treated with Chukum, a natural stucco made from native tree resin and lime.

All photos of Hacienda Wabi are by Ariadna Polo.

31/07/2025

At street level in MoMA in New York, you can now step inside one of Tokyo’s most intriguing architectural experiments. The Many Lives of the Nakagin Capsule Tower is a vibrant exhibition that retraces the 50-year journey of a building that once embodied Japan’s wildest dreams for the future—and still manages to surprise us today.

Designed by visionary architect Kisho Kurokawa in 1972, the tower was made up of 140 tiny, pod-like apartments stacked like Lego bricks. Each one-person unit came fully fitted with prefab furniture and a Sony colour TV—a compact crash pad for Tokyo’s on-the-go businessmen. Built from concrete and steel, it was the real-life expression of Metabolism, a radical Japanese movement that imagined buildings as living organisms that could grow, adapt, and evolve over time.

The heart of the MoMA show is Capsule A1305, carefully restored with as many original details as possible, from the built-in audio gear to the retro finishes.

Curated by Evangelos Kotsioris and Paula Vilaplana de Miguel, the show unfolds across two colour-coded sections—splashed in bold orange and pink. The first section looks at the tower’s utopian beginnings, from Kurokawa’s visionary concept to the eventual decay and demolition of the building. The second dives into the unexpected afterlife of its surviving capsules: some have turned into second homes, student digs, tea rooms, galleries, or even DJ booths.

The exhibition reminds us that cities, like the Nakagin Tower, are always in flux. Buildings age, shift, and get reimagined—often in ways their creators never expected.

Pictured 1, 6: the tower in the 70s, pictured by Tomio Ohashi.

Pictures 2, 3, 4: Exhibition at MoMA – Photo by JonathanDorado.

Picture 5: Inside a capsule in 1974 – Gift of Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, Alice and Tom Tisch/ The Nagakin Capsule Tower Preservation and Restoration Project.

Picture 7: the tower in 2016 – © Jeremie Souteyrat.

Picture 8: Promotional brochure for the Nakagin Company, 1971 – Courtesy of Tatsuyuki Maeda and The Nakagin Capsule Tower Preservation and Restoration Project.

30/07/2025

Casa Batlló, one of Barcelona’s most beloved landmarks and a true Antoni Gaudí icon, is showing off its vibrant soul once again. After a €3.5 million restoration project led by Xavier Villanueva, the building’s rear façade, its elegant Noble Floor courtyard, and garden have all been returned to their original splendour—right down to the tiniest mosaic tile. The timing couldn’t be better: this year marks two decades since Casa Batlló was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

First built in 1906, this dreamy residence is one of Gaudí’s most poetic works. It was designed during his mature phase, when he was blending bold structural ideas with intricate ornamentation and a uniquely organic flow of space—hallmarks of Catalan modernisme at its most expressive.

Over time, though, the building’s back façade had lost much of its punch. Stucco had faded, the famous glass-and-ceramic trencadís mosaics were cracked or missing, and even the balconies were structurally unsound. The restoration team took a meticulous approach, reinforcing iron railings, rebuilding wooden windows and balcony doors, and relaying the mosaic floors.

In the Private Courtyard, the work was even more delicate. Planters and a charming parabolic heather pergola—both long vanished—were recreated based on old records. The courtyard’s patterned floor was rebuilt using 85,000 tiny mosaic pieces in the original Nolla style. Every surface was treated with care: iron railings, stucco walls, glass tiles—restored or reproduced using traditional techniques and expert hands.

“When we found them, we couldn’t believe our eyes,” said Xavier Villanueva, the architect in charge. “The current colours are like the photographic negative of what Gaudí actually created.”

Restoration work was split between Casa Batlló itself and artisan studios around Spain, where craftspeople used time-honoured techniques passed down through generations. At the same time, the team brought in cutting-edge tools—like 3D scanning and photogrammetry—to ensure everything aligned perfectly with the original design.

Photos by Claudia Mauriño and

Archipanic

13/08/2025

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