whether intricately painted, painstakingly sewn, crudely drawn, or dramatically sculpted, 2013 saw a number of international artists using human bodies, limbs, hair, and skin as the canvas in their creative projects. these atypical mediums have been the basis of works like ‘the double faced girl’ — drawing directly onto the face — and ‘a woman’s work is never done’ — embroidering into the skin — to sculptures and art objects that appropriate bodily attributes in their materialization, as in the skin furniture series and eyelash jewelry. take a look below at designboom’s most popular body art articles of 2013. 

eliza bennett embroiders a self-inflicted sculpture into her flesh

image courtesy of eliza bennett

using her own skin as a canvas, british artist eliza bennett has realized a self-inflicted sculpture, woven into the palm of her hand. ‘a woman’s work is never done’ results as an incredibly worn-looking hand, overworked and fatigued. by using intricate embroidery techniques — traditionally used to symbolize femininity — and applying it to a context of its opposite, bennett challenges the pre-conceived notion that ‘women’s work’ is light and easy.

portraits of the double-faced girl by sebastian bieniek

doublefaced no. 22
image courtesy and © sebastian bieniek

berlin-based artist sebastian bieniek unfolds the story of a two-faced female in his series of photographs ‘doublefaced’. using an eye pencil and lipstick, bieniek simply draws an image of a face onto the side of skin. the sketch includes only one eye: carefully placed hair hides the rest of the face from view, revealing one, moving eye of the model. the 22 photographs of the hybrid girl expose her routine, capturing the daily life of a female with two faces.

designboom talks to the invisible man liu bolin

liu bolin, hiding in california no. 2 – hollywood, 2013
photograph, 44 1/4 x 59 inches (112.5 x 150 cm)

in 2013, chinese artist liu bolin has returned to new york’s eli klein gallery for ‘mask‘, a multifaceted exhibition that featured new photographs of bolin camouflaged in iconic settings across new york and california as well as a series of sculptures that offer a critical take on traditional peking opera masks. the photographic works include not only new pieces in bolin’s ‘hiding in new york’ project, but also a new series entitled ‘hiding in california’, that finds the artist nearly invisible against the backdrop of the TED talks stage and hollywood sign among other landmarks.

sculpted skin furniture by jessica harrison 

‘high back chair’, 2009
mixed media
7.5cm x 6cm x 9.5cm
image courtesy of jessica harrison

persuaded by a fascination in human anatomy and bodily functions, UK-based artist jessica harrison sculpts miniature pieces of furniture with materials made from casts of her own skin. each of the small objects are representations of interior items, and are built from the relief of molded structures duplicated from the palms and backs of her hands. a mix of mediums, like unruly strands of hair, complete each figurine in the ‘handheld’ series, seeking to consider the relationship between interior and exterior spaces of the body. 

david lynch’s hair and its fine art equivalent

a lynchian bouffant  is compared  to katsushika hokusai’s ‘the great wave’  in ‘the painting’ by jimmy chen

what is david lynch known for? some say his films, others would argue his hair. san francisco-based creative jimmy chen has married the iconic variations of the filmmaker’s hairstyles with the equivalent in famous artworks. the grid, entitled ‘the painting’, puts monet’s water lilies side by side with a perfectly groomed lynchian bouffant, or perhaps van gogh’s starry night can be likened to a silvery shock of hair. 

ariana russell’s ephemeral skin compositions  

image courtesy of ariana russell

american artist ariana russell responds to the unique components of her skin to draw painless, temporary, and ephemeral designs on her body, visible just long enough to photograph the results. russell has a skin condition called dermatographia, where her immune system releases excessive amounts of histamine, causing temporary welts to appear when the surface is lightly scratched. she adopted the affliction as part of her creative process, rather than being frustrated by her skin’s sensitivity and translucency, eventually embracing the flaw and recognizing it as an unconventional source of influence and the foundation of her craft.

ghostly expressions leak through covered faces by ana de orbegoso

image courtesy of the artist

new york-based artist ana de orbegoso has presented her opus titled ‘invisible walls’ in an exhibition titled ‘paralleling narratives’ – a photographic exploration of the barriers which have become embedded into the essence of human beings. the composite images depict the hazy contours of an expression leaking through a hand-covered face – each person’s own diaphanous hands symbolizing their own individual, barely perceptible, barrier. this project is about those ‘invisible walls’ that disconnect us both from each other and from different aspects within ourselves.

made to dislike accessories by remedios vincent 

image courtesy the artist

spanish artist remedios vincent experiments with objects that are no longer fit for their original purpose, however, when appropriated to a new context, are granted a new life. the handcrafted collection, titled ‘made to dislike’, have been created using items bought in antique shops, most of them in existence for more than a century – giving them each their own rich history, fixed with various humanistic elements like teeth, eyelashes, and faux eyeballs.

RMIT students paint anatomical man into human textbook

image courtesy of the age © simon o’dwyer

as a response to a national decline in the amount of time spent on anatomy in university courses, royal melbourne institute of technology professor dr. claudia diaz developed an innovative educational approach to engage graduates in their study. a student volunteer was fully transformed into a highly-detailed, and biologically accurate anatomical man. with the help of body paint and models, a team of five students meticulously concealed his entire body in layers of pigment, painstakingly coloring the muscles and tendons to be scientifically sound, in an indication of what the human body would look like if it were to be stripped of the skin.

the ugly truth by rut mackel 

image © rut mackel

the photographic project ‘the ugly truth’ by rut mackel explores the ugliness and the beauty that exists collectively within each of us – by drastically transforming faces from aesthetically attractive to something more unpleasant. the images were created through having framed glass pressed against the face of a model in order to encourage various face distortions. mackel offers to challenge our perception of attractiveness by provoking change through a sudden shift in appearance, and attempting to recognize what emotional responses are consequently triggered.

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TOP 10 bridges of 2013

throughout history, bridges have been seen as monumental accomplishments of human triumph, physically linking previously independent areas, conquering nature and providing new means of access. the 20th century saw a vast quantity of large spanning bridges established, while today smaller scale projects can be equally important in connecting communities, cities and their occupants. the past twelve months has seen a diverse variety of projects both proposed and completed around the world, with our 10 most popular projects incorporating a wide range of materials and taking various forms.

curve and twist schanerloch bridge by marte marte architekten

photo © marc lins
image courtesy of marte marte architekten

austrian architecture firm marte marte architekten designed the schanerloch bridge after the common form of the stone arch, minimizing it to a tangential curve with a twist that connects the radiused roads on either side of the river dorbirner ache. the reinforced concrete structure spans the gorge for which it is named, creating the pass between the city of dornbirner and the hamlet of ebnit.

pont jean-jacques bosc by OMA

image courtesy of OMA

once constructed, OMA’s bordeaux bridge will be the sixth to be built across the river garonne, and will stand as a connection between the city’s neighbouring municipalities of bèlges and floriac. the generous 44m x 545m expanse will provide ample public space — the structure’s largest allowance is devoted to foot traffic — while also accommodating cars, public transport and bicycles.

garden bridge by thomas heatherwick

image courtesy of heatherwick studio and ARUP

earlier this year, transport for london (TfL) called for proposals aimed at improving pedestrian links across the river thames. in response, thomas heatherwick, together with actor and green activist joanna lumley have conceived what they call the ‘garden bridge’; a scheme that sees a lush green space connecting north and south london.

meadows salford bridge by penda

image courtesy of alex daxböck and chris precht of penda

changing its appearance depending on the angle of approach, this proposal for the meadows salford bridge competition by designers alex daxböck and chris precht of penda features a strong elliptical shape. the project offers a dominant visual landmark that when viewed from its side looks like a regular suspended bridge, but as one gets closer the structure opens up to a rounded volume, engulfing pedestrians as they cross over to the meadows.

tbilisi bridge by aMDL

image © gia chkhatarashvili

milan-based practice aMDL have recently completed the ‘tbilisi bridge’ in georgia, connecting avlabari and rike over the kura river, embodying the idea of peace as it connects two opposing areas with their own unique cultures. the bridge us designed as a sinuously elegant canopy of concentric steel rings connected by lateral members.

fictional bridges on euro banknotes by robin stam

photo by klaas boonstra

dutch designer robin stam has taken the structures found on european bank notes and made them a reality, building them as part of a housing project in spijkenisse in south holland. ‘the bridges of europe‘ have each been constructed exactly as seen on the paper money, according to color and scale.

circular hovenring cyclist bridge by ipv delft

image courtesy of ipv delft

like a flying saucer, the steel bridge by dutch ipv delft hovers above the heerbaan/meerenakkerweg intersection, marking the entrance point to the cities of eindhoven and veldhoven. the structure is comprised of a 70-meter high pylon attached by 24 steel cables and a round bridge deck made from steel. working alongside the challenge of appropriately integrating a proper spatial configuration, the existing infrastructure and buildings serve as the boundaries for the grades of the slopes leading up to the roundabout.

meixi lake bridge by NEXT architects

image © NEXT architects

the dragon king harbor river development is a large-scale masterplan aimed at reactivating a new lake district on changsha’s meixi lake. a key component to this project is the winning proposal for a pedestrian bridge designed by beijing and amsterdam-based studio NEXT architects. the 150-meter bridge stands 24 meters tall, with a unique form that resembles a moebius ring or a chinese knot originating from ancient folk art – an architecturally new identity for the developing area.

fishhook of pohe bridge by knight architects

image courtesy of knight architects

representing prosperity and safe journey over water, the curved ‘J’ shape of the lower hatea crossing in whangarei, new zealand, is an interpretation of a fish hook – a widely used motif in local maori culture. the bridge, designed by UK firm knight architects, has been given the official name, ‘te matau a pohe’, which translates to ‘the fishhook of pohe’.

sölvesborg bridge lighting installation by ljusarkitektur

photo by olof thiel
image courtesy of ljusarkitektur

brightly illuminating the ‘sölvesborg bridge’, swedish design firm ljusarkitektur has developed a unique lighting scheme to enhance its landmark status. the use of color changing LED fixtures from lumenpulse graze the suspension cables of what is considered europe’s longest bicycle and pedestrian viaduct. highlighting the distinctive arches, the pieces were mounted on the outside of the 756 meter long structure.

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TOP 10 transportation hubs of 2013

in our evermore connected world, we are spending more and more of our lives in transitional spaces such as airports and railway stations – transportation hubs which were once seen as purely functional nodes. however, recent trends indicate that we are now demanding more from these locations, not just in terms of facilities, but also in terms of their architecture. our ten most popular projects from 2013 includes vast schemes funded by emerging economies, alongside more humble and understated works, equally effective in their own right.

shenzhen bao’an international airport expansion by studio fuksas

image courtesy of studio fuksas

shenzhen bao’an international airport’s new terminal 3, designed by studio fuksas, has been conceived to conjure the image of a manta ray. extending approximately 1.5 km long, with a roof span of 80 meters, the organic form seems as if it has been shaped by the wind, and is distinguished by its varying heights that allude to the surrounding landscape

queen alia airport by foster + partners

image © foster + partners

designed by foster + partners, the queen alia international airport in amman, jordan opened this year. the airport has a flexible modular solution that allows for future expansion at a rate of 6% per annum for the next twenty-five years, increasing capacity from 3.5 million to 12 million passengers annually by 2030.

transbay transit center by pelli clarke pelli

image © pelli clarke pelli

international firm pelli clarke pelli has designed the ‘transbay transit center‘ that promises to catapult the city amongst one of the leading infrastructural networks in the world. the 4.5 acre project, currently under construction, will manage the crossing of all transit systems above and below ground and contribute to the city’s green public space, with an expected completion in 2017.

flinders street station by herzog & de meuron

image © herzog & de meuron
image courtesy of flinders street station design competition

earlier this year, it was confirmed that the swiss firm herzog & de meuron will collaborate with australian office HASSELL, as well as london-based heritage consultants purcell, to help complete the stations’ redevelopment. repeated lattice-like vaults fracture light over the reorganized interior concourse, while the historic station building is preserved.

riyadh metro station by zaha hadid

image courtesy zaha hadid architects

zaha hadid‘s winning entry for one of the riyadh metro stations in saudi arabia sports a lattice-like undulating skin, a sequence of opposing sine-waves which establishes a dynamic and readily identifiable façade. paths of movement helped dictate the configuration of the three-dimensional lattice, with rhythmically sculpted curves generated from the frequency variation of daily traffic flows.

rotterdam centraal station by team CS

photo by jannes linders
image courtesy of team CS

‘rotterdam centraal station’ has been redeveloped to represent the transportation hub’s important role not only within the city, but also as part of the european train network. the project, a unique collaboration by benthem crouwel architects, MVSA architects and west 8, accommodates 110,000 passengers per day and has been designed to cater for up to 323,000 daily travelers by 2025.

abu dhabi international airport complex by kohn pedersen fox

image courtesy of KPF/abu dhabi airports

serving as the gateway to the capital of the united arab emirates, kohn pedersen fox have developed the ‘abu dhabi international airport midfield complex’. the scheme, integral to the city’s 2030 plan to transform the desert into the ‘garden of the gulf’, intends to provide the infrastructure for a socially cohesive and economically sustainable community.

yuzhny greenfield airport by twelve architects

image courtesy of twelve architects

london-based twleve architects were chosen this year to build a new transport hub in southern russia’s rostov province. the ‘yuzhny greenfield airport’ will be completed over two phases, and is set to meet the initial demand of 5 million passengers a year. the architecture is informed by the notion of an airport being a ‘sky-bridge’, connecting individuals, cities and countries, making formal references to the city’s river don, a major landscape feature of the masterplan.

autostadt roof and service pavilion by graft

photo © tobias hein
image courtesy of graft

influenced by the rapidly developing technologies of car automation systems, the swooping ‘ausfahrt roof and service pavilion’ by german firm graft, designed in collaboration with landscape architects WES-landschaftsarchitektur, offers guests the opportunity to experience the state-of-the-art automotive experiences first hand. located in wolfsburg, germany, the organic, double-contoured form resembles a protective leaf placed over the landscape.

kutaisi international airport by UNStudio

photo © nakanimamasakhlisi
image courtesy of UNStudio

developed as a kind of welcoming vestibule to the country, UNStudio has created a design to manifest the rich culture of the dynamic young democracy located at the crossroads between eastern europe and western asia. it is estimated that the airport will serve up to one million passengers annually beginning in 2014-2015.

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TOP 10 educational facilities of 2013

faced with budget cuts and restricted funding, educational buildings are often the first to feel the impact of economic difficulties. therefore it has been encouraging this year to see a continued trend towards inspiring and dynamic schemes, redefining school environments and they way they are used by students and staff. our ten most popular stories of 2013 includes a diverse range of offerings, placing work from established names such as norman foster and zaha hadid alongside designs from emerging young practices and organizations contributing resourceful and unconventional solutions.

floating school in makoko by NLE architects

image © NLÉ architects

NLÉ architects has been working on a three-phase plan for the waterfront community of makoko in lagos, nigeria that will transform the already buoyant city into a contemporary community on the water’s surface. the independent floating structures are made from local materials applied in new and inventive ways.

vienna university’s law + admin buildings by CRAB studio

photo by ronald kreimel
image courtesy of CRAB studio

CRAB studio has completed the ‘departments of law and central administration’ at vienna university, part of the ongoing development at the campus, masterplanned by BUSarchitektur. using their experience of working in colleges, sir peter cook and gavin robotham ensured that a vibrant and dynamic building was constructed, comprising an engaging collection of spaces which cater for the needs of students and professors during classes and outside of teaching hours.

LOOP kindergarten by SAKO architects

photo © misae hiromatsu
image courtesy of SAKO architects

the ‘LOOP’ kindergarten in tianjin by SAKO architects creates a clear contrast between the industrious apartment-block surroundings and the colorful colosseum of education. not a single sharp corner exists, from the footprint to the window sills, with beveled edges making for a kid-friendly environment brought to life with vivid tones that span the spectrum of the color wheel, and carry through to the structure.

cairns institute by woods bagot and RPA architects

image courtesy of woods bagot

‘cairns institute’, a tropical research center in australia, has been constructed to reflect its northern queensland setting. surrounded by rain-forested hills, the distinctive design draws the landscape into the heart of the campus, offering a stimulating atmosphere for the school’s occupants. this joint project by woods bagot and local office RPA architects is intended to facilitate investigation and collaboration.

jockey club innovation tower by zaha hadid

image courtesy of the hong kong polytechnic university school of design

zaha hadid architects has finalized construction of the hong kong polytechnic university’s ‘jockey club innovation tower’, a fifteen-storey structure providing 15,000 square meters of floor area and accommodating up to 1,800 students and staff per day. the project, hadid’s first permanent building in hong kong, reinterprets the orthodox typology of a multi-story building, establishing a series of fluid and connected volumes in constant dialogue with each another.

green dot animo leadership high school by brooks + scarpa

image courtesy of brooks + scarpa architects

the ‘green dot amino leadership’ charter high school by american firm brooks + scarpa architects is an innovative and sustainable building that encourages a productive learning environment. designed to enhance passive sustainable strategies, the large solar panel facade and open-air courtyard both visually inform and define the building’s exterior presence.

turin university faculty building by foster + partners

image © foster + partners

foster + partners have completed a sweeping structure for the university of turin campus. a composition of brushed metal bands and sky-reflecting glazing, the new building is set to accommodate around 5,000 students. the design consolidates the faculties of law and political science within two volumes linked by a single roof canopy.

xiaoquan elementary school by TAO

photo © yao li
image courtesy of trace architects office

xiaoquan elementary school, completed by trace architects office, features a cluster of small buildings creating a micro city, replete with the spatial compositions of the urban landscape. analogous to original xiaoquan’s urban space in scale and pattern, the school is a rhythm of typological places such as plazas, courtyards and steps so as to provoke a familiar feeling from everyday life.

portable moving school for refugees by building trust international

image courtesy of building trust international

the moving school project organized by UK-based NGO ‘building trust’, provides a modular, flat-pack design for migrant and refugee communities living on the thai-burmese border. the portable buildings provide security for those living in host countries, where often they don’t have the right to own land, making infrastructural investments difficult. the initiative has transformed the learning environments of more than 1000 children to date, from schools constructed with just a tarpaulin sheet over a mud floor, to safe, clean, well ventilated classrooms.

bezalel academy’s new campus by SANAA

image © SANAA

earlier this year SANAA, working in collaboration with local architects nir-kutz, revealed plans for the downtown jerusalem campus of belzalel academy of art and design. the structural framework of the 400,000-square foot building is an arrangement of horizontal slabs, which are layered on top of one another at varying heights in such a way that they follow the topography of the surrounding area. the various sized blocks collectively form a roofed terrace offering views of the holy surroundings.

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TOP 10 residential projects of 2013

it stands to reason that as our homes are where we spend the majority of our lives, they become personal extensions of ourselves – our own individually crafted environments where we are able to retreat from the outside world. consequently, no two dwellings are alike, with materials, spatial organization and decoration varying from abode to abode. of course, residential buildings are also places of congregation, providing the setting for a dinner party or the location for a family gathering. each of our ten most popular dwellings, documented below, elegantly combine these public and private spaces, establishing unique properties which serve as bespoke backdrops for the daily lives of their inhabitants.  

villa kogelhof by paul de ruiter

photo by jeroen musch
image courtesy of paul de ruiter architects

an exercise in self-sufficiency, ‘villa kogelhof’ is an autonomous carbon-neutral dwelling located in noord-beveland in the netherlands. the paul de ruiter designed building is part of a protected 25 hectare plot, a popular tourist destination and home to a variety of rare animals and plant life.

tucson mountain retreat by DUST

image © jeff goldberg / esto

the sonoran desert is mystical environment replete with warm hues and expanses of arid-appropriate greenery. among the eroded sculptures of rocky outcroppings and complex reliefs of nearby arroyos, a rammed earth home designed by local firm DUST lightly touches the landscape.

house K by sou fujimoto

image © iwan baan

sou fujimoto‘s ‘house k’ is a voluminous, crescent-shaped home in northeastern osaka’s dense urban fabric. pressed against the neighbors’ homes on three sides and bordered by a grove of trees, the rectangular volume literally grows out of the ground with a gentle concave motion until it peaks at the eastern-most point.

18.36.54 house by daniel libeskind

image © nikolas koenig

located on a 54 acre meadow in connecticut, USA, and surrounded by 250 year-old oak trees, ‘18.36.54 house’ by daniel libeskind uses a faceted structure to frame dynamic views from all angles of the site.  the structure’s outer skin is comprised of reflective copper panels, while the interior is rendered in deep-toned wooden planks providing a warm elegant feel.

the wall house by FARM

photo by bryan van der beek / edward hendricks
image courtesy of FARM

providing separate accommodation for retired parents and one of their children, a large double-storey central courtyard links the two blocks of this home which has been purposefully built as two distinct volumes. ‘the wall house’, designed by FARM, adjoins the main floor dining and living areas of each dwelling with a granite floored patio in which six willow trees have been planted.

white cave house by takuro yamamoto architects

image courtesy of takuro yamamoto

the carved out volume of ‘white cave house’ by japanese firm takuro yamamoto architects is formed by a series of interconnected voids in the shape of a kinked tube. located in kanazawa city, japan, an area known for heavy snowfall, the white minimal house features numerous external spaces.

da-house by igor sirotov

image © igor sirotov

‘da-house’ references japanese residential architecture through its use of materials and its close relationship with nature. situated on the black sea, ukrainian architect igor sirotov has utilized concrete and glass extensively, seeking to establish a traditional yet modern home, while the greenery employed demonstrates a clear connection with the natural environment in which the dwelling sits.

ramat hasharon house by pitsou kedem architects

image courtesy of pitsou kedem architects

pitsou kedem architects have constructed an elegant private residence situated between two courtyards, flooding the home’s interior with natural light. as a result ‘ramat hasharon house 13′, a brilliant white cubic volume, is able to form an intimate relationship with its surrounding environment.

summerhouse lagno by tham & videgard

image © Åke E:son lindman

swedish firm tham and videgard have completed a summer home in stockholm, a series of concrete volumes which hearken to a boathouse typology characterized by a span of transverse gabled roofs. the pleated effect creates a sequence of varied room heights and opens the possibility for a completely open living area.

cliff house by mackay-lyons sweetapple architects

image courtesy of mackay-lyons sweetapple architects 

‘cliff house’,  a 960 square foot cabin on the atlantic coast of nova scotia, provides its owners with a simple and peaceful retreat. the design, completed by mackay-lyons sweetapple architects, comprises a modest timber box projecting from the cliff’s edge, which gives its occupants the illusion of floating over the ocean below.

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in 2013, we’ve moved closer to a fully connected digital age, constantly engaging with cloud connected devices, smart watches, and nifty apps to help simplify daily tasks. this year, technology has demonstrated its potential with the rise of wearable technology and the internet of things, influencing the future of design and consumer electronics. it has been a year filled with smartphone controlled objects and high-tech gadgets, from smartlocks to app controlled prosthetic hands. take a look at desigboom’s TOP 10 most popular gadgets and apps from 2013 below:

image courtesy of august design

the ‘august smart lock’ is a new security/access system which allows you to send a virtual key to anyone you choose to enter your home. august is the brainchild of yves béhar/fuseproject  and jason johnson, august co-founder, who asked themselves how they could provide a seamless, enhanced experience for entering one’s home. working on three main principles: simpler, safer, social, the design is composed of the lock, which works with existing deadbolts, which is installed onto your door, an intuitive app which acts as a virtual key, and a web-site log-in, so you can stay connected to your home through your smartphone; the linking technologies solving the issue of access in our digital world.

image courtesy touch bionics

the ‘i-limb ultra revolution’ by american company touch bionics provides the ability to gradually increase the strength of its grip on an object. utilizing pulsing and ‘vari-grip’ features, the prosthetic hand implements a firmer hold when conducting tasks such as tying shoelaces or holding a heavy bag securely. a wide selection of automated grips and gestures aid users in completing daily tasks; including index points for typing, precision pinch mode for grabbing small objects – or natural hand position for walking or while at rest. equipped with a biosim software application, the assistive device can be controlled via smartphone, allowing instant access to 24 different clasp patterns. as each finger bends at the natural joints, the aluminum-built prosthetic accurately adapts around the shape of an object with greater ease and flexibility. after a period of inactivity, the hand automatically retracts to a natural position.

image courtesy nikon

in november, nikon announced the ‘Df ‘, a lightwight full-frame D-SLR that pays homage to the analog style and mechanical dials from the company’s ‘F’ series of 35mm film cameras. built exclusively out of a magnesium alloy, the device packs technology similar to the digital nikon D4. it features a 16.2 megapixel 36 x 23.9mm CMOS sensor and 50mm f/1.8g special edition lens that handles light with a wide ISO range from 100 to 12,800, expandable to ISO 204,800. designed for the internet of things, the camera also allows users to connect and share their images instantly using the optional WU-1a wireless mobile adapter — download and share images or remotely fire the camera by syncing to a smartphone or tablet. the nikon Df will be available later this month with the 50mm f/1.8 lens for 2,999.95 USD.

image courtesy starck

since first introducing their personal weather station and air quality monitor, paris-based netatmo has expanded their line of consumer electronics by collaborating with philippe starck to conceive an intelligent smartphone connected thermostat. controlling heating remotely and reducing energy consumption, the pocket-sized device automatically syncs via the netatmo app interface, continuously transmitting the most up-to-date temperature information to a tablet or phone. designed to replace most wired and wireless thermostats on the market, the system can also be used with fuel, gas and wood systems. the device adapts to the user by observing their habits, monitoring sleeping patterns and periods of absence from home.

image courtesy kayleigh thompson

in fostering an exchange of products and information, ‘hyperlocal market’, an online food exchange platform by london-based designer and 2013 RCA graduate kayleigh thompson encourages the dialogue between buyer and seller, promoting local commerce. the system connects urban growers with fair and professional trade through an interactive website, which works together with a specially designed printer and smartphone application. the program initiates when one becomes a member of the ‘hyperlocal’ community, where users can upload, price and label their products with the app and sell them to a network of registered users.

image © leica camera AG

after months and over one-hundred prototypes, the leica digital rangefinder camera designed by sir jony ive and marc newson for (RED) has officially been announced. joining more than 40 other rare and diverse items in the (RED) sotheby’s auction on november 23rd 2013, the device will be based on the leica M, and will be auctioned to raise money for the global fund to fight aids, tuberculosis and malaria. machined from a custom engineered alloy, the camera is conceived with a smooth, textured anodized aluminum outer shell – the traditional leather waist – synonymous with leica, has been replaced with a laser machined aluminum body. more than 21,000 hemispheres create a new and extraordinary aesthetic, while a total of 561 models and nearly 1000 prototype parts were made during the 85 days it took to create the one-off leica M camera for (RED).

image courtesy jawbone

originally intruding UP in 2011, san francisco-based company jawbone has revealed the latest addition to their wearable technology family, ‘UP24′. boasting enhanced features and functionality over its predecessor, the water resistant fitness tracking wristband efficiently monitors recent sleep patterns and counts steps throughout the day with the UP 3.0 iOS app. enabled by wireless syncing via ‘bluetooth smart’, low energy device notifies you when you’ve reached your goals. unlike the previous model, the UP24 stays connected to your smartphone at all times, enabling you to constantly track your daily progress.

image courtesy morpholio

the morpholio project has announced the launch of trace 2.0. originally released in september of 2012, the trace app explores the role of technology in the conceptual phase of the creative process through a digital version of ‘canary yellow’ trace paper. sketching, is now made easier, faster and more intuitive with trace, allowing users to instantly draw on top of imported images or background templates, and layer comments or ideas to generate immediate, intelligent, and beautiful drawings that are easy to circulate.

image courtesy panono

going beyond typical panoramic photography, berlin-based company panono has developed a throwable ball camera packed with 36, 2.0 megapixel lenses that shoot in the air simultaneously. launched on indiegogo, the interactive device captures 360 degree moments in high-resolution and can be viewed in its entirety using the panono app. users can move their tablet or smartphone up and down as if they were inside a full-spherical image.

image courtesy samsung

weighing in at 73.8g the samsung galaxy gear smartwatch is voice operated, boasts a 41.4mm colour screen, a 1.9 megapixel camera, apps, and much more.

samsung galaxy gear lets users to live in the moment while staying connected to their samsung galaxy devices. it notifies users of incoming messages, such as calls, texts, emails and alerts, delivers a preview of those messages and creates the opportunity for users to accept or discreetly ignore those messages. when an incoming message requires more than a quick glance, users can simply pick up their samsung galaxy devices and thesmart relay feature will instantly reveal the full content on the screen.

see designboom’s other big stories of 2013 here.

The post TOP 10 gadgets + apps from 2013 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

TOP 10 shipping container structures of 2013

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 them to their origin, or re-use them for the same function. 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 2013 includes a range of imaginative and inventive uses for the modular units.

below, we recap the most popular container designs from the past twelve months.

barneveld noord bus station by NL architects

photo by marcel van der burg
image courtesy of NL architects

NL architects has developed a temporary shelter at ‘barneveld noord bus station’ in the netherlands, designed to improve the waiting experience. at the station, an on site bike repair shop, run by people who are differently able, will introduce a human presence to a previously unmanned post. this has created informal supervision, and has helped contribute towards the general maintenance of the site.

ECOntainer bridge by yoav messer architects ltd

image © yoav messer architects

‘ECOntainer bridge’, by israeli practice yoav messer architects, will soon be under construction in ariel sharon park, a nature conserve rooted in the ideas of environmental ecology and sustainability. the deck will accommodate pedestrian and light vehicle traffic, freeing the roadways for vehicles and improving the flow of both. the containers’ modular characteristic makes it ideal for replacing or repairing parts, modifying certain points of the design, and using the natural proportions to frame specific views.

casa oruga by sebastian irarrazaval

image © sergio pirrone

responding to the powerful tectonics of the chilean andes, ‘casa oruga’ by sebastian irarrazaval, makes use of modular shipping containers to create habitable volumes that streak the landscape with soaring lines. the configuration allows external air to run smoothly and easily through the all house and its different parts in order to avoid mechanical cooling.

EKOCENTER by coca-cola company and DEKA R&D

image © coca-cola company

to help provide communities in need with access to safe drinking water and other basic necessities, the coca-cola company, together with DEKA R&D have launched ‘EKOCENTER’. the modularly designed kiosk, which has been transformed from a 20-foot shipping container, with a water purification system housed within the community center. the system delivers approximately 800 liters of clean water daily at the hourly electricity cost of less than a standard hair dryer.

WFH house by arcgency

image courtesy of arcagency

copenhagen-based arcgency have constructed a carbon-neutral dwelling made up of three stacked shipping containers. in keeping with changing european energy policy, the architecture is designed to produce more energy than it consumes through the use of upcycled containers as a steel frame, a sustainable bamboo façade, a rainwater collection system, solar cell-clad green roof and permeable paving.

bharati antarctic research station by bof arkitekten

image courtesy bof architekten

situated on a pen­in­su­la in nort­heastern antarc­tica, the ‘bharati antarctic research station’ by hamburg-based bof arkitekten presents a self-sufficient energy facility comprising 134 shipping containers wrapped with an insulating metal skin. the development is conceived as an architectural volume that can be readily dismantled due to restricted accessibility within the region.

nomad living by studio arte

image courtesy of studio arte

studio arte has been exploring the notion of nomad living in their architectural practice, resulting in a series of shipping container structures that they see serving a multitude of purposes: a start up for young home owners, a holiday home, a concept for holiday resort planners, a shed for guests, a home office, a home studio, a pop-up, or a hotel room.

hoonigan racing division headquarters

located in park city, utah, the scheme utilizes 17 recycled containers to construct a reusable workspace. the design houses the ‘gymkhana’ mastermind – a 12,000 square foot facility divided evenly into two spaces: a creative office space capable of housing up to 25 employees, and secondly a workshop which services the team’s race vehicles. 

jike idea innovation building by jikerzhicheng

transformed from a 20 foot shipping container, the doorless garage concept by beijing’s jikerzhicheng product design defines the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. stretching to achieve a seamless connection with the environment, the intervention forms a three dimensional ventilation system through the use of several round windows in the wall and ceiling panels.

amin library by dpavilion architects

photo © ganny gozaly
image courtesy of dpavilion architects

surabaya-based firm dpavilion architects has recently completed a colorful library in batu made from eight recycled shipping containers, each costing only $820 USD.  the actual built structure provides the foundation for the containers hoisted upon steel stilts. the container then becomes the perfect building component, economically and metaphorically, using its unique properties to introduce a world beyond the site to the children of batu.

The post TOP 10 shipping container structures of 2013 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

this year we received several thousand submissions from our readers, with designers, artists and architects from across the globe 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 creatives is extremely important, and we are happy to showcase the high level of original projects of our readership. from a phone booth aquarium filled with exotic fish, to a façade sliding off a building front, we bring you the TOP 10 most popular art reader submissions of 2013.

21st technology added onto famous masterpieces by art x smart

‘the scream’ by edvard munch, 1893
image courtesy of kim dong-kyu

combining famous historical paintings with images of 21st century technology, ‘art x smart’ has transported them into another time. the addition of smartphones onto masterpieces by artists such as cézanne, gogh and manet forces one to re-examine the works and question the influence of technology on modern society.

from the knees of my nose to the belly of my toes by alex chinneck

image © stephen o’flaherty

peeling away the original facade, british artist and designer alex chinneck slid the front off a four storey house in the seaside town of margate in kent, UK. the original, derelict structure had been abandoned for 11 years, and its new face gives the appearance that it just slipped down, onto the ground.

Y&R shanghai: wooden shark coffins by handsome wong

image courtesy of handsome wong of Y&R shanghai

fins eerily protrude out of wooden caskets in this social awareness campaign by handsome wong of Y&R shanghai. the shark-sized coffins are used to emphasize the killing of over 73 million of the species every year just for bowls of soup.

transparent cubic prism suspended in texas by akane moriyama

image courtesy of akane moriyama

gently responding to wind movements and rain drops, ‘cubic prism’ by stockholm-based designer akane moriyama is a large cube-based structure made out of three different colors of textiles. suspended between two buildings at the goldsmith hall in the university of texas, austin, the geometry of a rigid cube is replaced with soft semi-transparent fabrics.

phone booth aquariums by benedetto bufalino + benoit deseille

image courtesy of benedetto bufalino

enabling everyday moments to border on dream-like visions and urban reality, the ‘phone booth aquarium’ installations by french artist benedetto bufalino and lighting and designer benoit deseille are a playful transformation of common telephone boxes.

into the mirror intersects reality + artistry by luca meneghel

image courtesy of luca meneghel

italian photographer luca meneghel‘s specialization in fashion and background in design has led him to ‘into the mirror’: a series of images that intersect reality and artistry through the fusion of lens captures and hand drawing.

nelson mandela portrait made from 27,000 punches by phil akashi

image courtesy of phil akashi

phil akashi pays tribute to international hero nelson mandela, by painting a monumental portrait made from 27.000 boxing punches with the chinese characters 自由/’freedom’. this symbolic and powerful painting resides in the shanghai graffiti park, and is surrounded by a mix of street art by local creatives.

yellow light painted onto a grey street by (fos)

image courtesy of (fos)

(fos), a multidisciplinary team of interior designers and art directors based in madrid and barcelona, created an ephemeral installation that gives a visual perception of a projected beam of light. the installation is named (fos), the name as the team itself, appropriately translating to ‘melted’ in catalan and ‘light’ in greek.

hybrid designer drugs jewelry by aroha silhouettes

image courtesy of aroha silhouettes

synthesizing the original molecular addictions collection, ‘wearable vices’ aroha silhouettes has created six necklaces for the lastest ‘designer drugs’ series. each of the unapologetically bold pieces are based on an indulgent ‘fantasy laboratory’, where both legal and illicit hybrids are made not to be ingested, but worn.

outside in: the infinite garden by meir lobaton corona + ulli heckmann

image © fabio ferrario


the ‘outside-in’ garden by architects meir lobaton corona and ulli heckmann, is conceived as a visual paradox for the 22nd international garden festival of chaumont sur loire, france – a device that enhances conditions in order to make the audience realize how by relying only on sight, they rely on imagination.

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 2013 – art appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

this year, bamboo made a huge impact in design, art and architecture, spanning a number of disciplines, locations, and functions. from a children’s activity center in thailand made entirely from the raw material — from its roof to its interior staircases — to a set of 10 bespoke stationary objects crafted from the robust medium, bamboo’s historical, traditional context has been reappropriated in the contemporary design scene. take a look at 2013’s most popular articles on designbooom about bamboo, below:

panyaden school by 24H architecture, thailand

‘panyaden school’ by 24h architecture, chiang mai, thailand
image © ally taylor

the ‘panyaden school‘ is located in the lush forests of chiang mai in northern thailand. it educates its multicultural students through a fusion of buddhist principles and ecological sensitivity. designed by dutch practice 24H architecture, the campus seems to be built under a group of enormous fallen leaves, made of natural locally sourced materials and labor that create an all around sustainable and comfortable low-impact facility. plentifully available bamboo rods of varying sizes are used for columns and  make up the entire roof structure with a playful interweaving of structurally sound geometries anchored into large rock foundations in the ground.

low cost bamboo housing in vietnam by H&P architects

vietnamese low cost housing by H&P architects
six member family

developed by vietnamese H&P architects, the low-cost housing project is situated in a flood-stricken region that receives extreme temperatures year-round. meeting the basic needs of a residential dwelling, the building has been assembled using minimal components and bamboo module units. secured using anchors, ties and solid connections, the structure will be strong enough to float in floods. built with local materials such as bamboo, leaves and recycled oil containers, the concept combines traditional architectural characteristics to distinguish the exterior fabric.

slowwork, teastyle bamboo collection by jeff da-yu shi of dragonfly

slowwork, teastyle by jeff da-yu shi: the tea ceremony setting

designer jeff da-yu shi of dragonfly design center has exhibited ‘slowwork, teastyle’ at domus tiandi showroom during beijing design week, a collection which integrates sustainability, craftsmanship, culture and innovation. traditional chinese designs are reinterpreted with contemporary details, constructions, and in a refreshed presentation. at the core of dragonfly design center’s creative approach is the harmonious coexistence of practicality and aesthetics, creating pieces that surmount the sake of decoration and instead value the performance in their build. the attitude is evident in almost every facet of the series, illustrated through sophisticated characteristics that exceed the common confines of the bamboo medium.

24H architecture: children’s activity and learning center, thailand

the interior is an open plan under an umbrella-like canopy
image © kiattipong panchee

olav bruin with dutch practice 24H-architecture has created the ‘children’s activity and learning center’, part of the six senses’ soneva kiri resort on the island of koh koodin the gulf of thailand. as the most striking in the series of ecologically-charged icons designed for the resort, the center is a locally-sourced and labored bamboo structure designed to provide a place young people to play, eat, learn, discover, and share all while being infused with an environmentally friendly and local message.

michael verhaeren’s sustainable + compact bamboo bicycle 

image courtesy of michael verhaeren

informed by the sustainable properties of bamboo, the bikes made by belgium industrial designer michael verhaeren are based on buckminster fuller’s geodesic domes. incorporating the properties of the medium as much as possible — instead of steel or aluminum — the two-wheeled cruisers are an ecologically-friendly alternative to the norm; the majority of existing bamboo bicycle frames are constructed using carbon or organic fibers, reinforced with epoxy connections in order to bind the bamboo parts together.

dutch design only presents sustainably woven bamboo chair 

image courtesy of alex levarek

utilizing traditional asian plaiting techniques, ‘the bamboo chair’ by dutch designers tejo remy and rené veenhuizen is made solely from weaving eco-friendly wood. the lightweight piece is also extremely durable, constructed using 24 cm by 10 cm strips that are bent into semi-circles to form the main base. resembling a tub chair, typical of deck chairs on passenger ships, the project combines traditional dutch design with ancient construction techniques to make a comfortable ans sustainable product.

eko prawoto pitches wormhole with conical bamboo structures

wormhole, 2013
bamboo installation, dimensions variable
artist collection, singapore biennale 2013 commission, image courtesy of the artist

indonesian architect eko prawoto’s ‘wormhole’ punctuates singapore’s cityscape by pitching three conical bamboo structures on the lawn of the national museum of singapore. the immersive installation beckons viewers inside its mysterious interior, which is only visible through a small slit along its side that peels open like a page of a book. thematically, the passage of time is reflected within through artistic details: moving clouds can be seen through circular apertures at the cone’s crown and the distinctive smell and texture of bamboo recall a bygone time when the material was widely used. ‘wormhole’ is a part of the singapore biennale 2013 until february 16th, 2014.

hangzhou bent bamboo stool by min chen

‘hangzhou bent bamboo stool’ by min chen

consisting of 16 layers of thin bamboo veneer, chinese designer min chen has developed ‘the hangzhou stool’. measuring 0.9mm in thickness, the bamboo sections are bent into an arc shape and glued together at each end. the more weight the stool receives, the deeper the arc, providing more elasticity to the user.

bamboo furniture by taiwanese studio scope design

‘three generations in one stool’
designer: tsai & fanchiang, mao-hui chen
material: benihi driftwood, chinaberry, formosan china fir

scope design studio of taiwan develops furniture that reinterprets traditional asian craft techniques. using natural materials — primarily bamboo — they create functional objects which emphasize the skills of taiwanese craftsmen who handmake each design, exploring and redefining means of manufacturing, customization and commercialization of furniture. 

bamboo stationery set by yu jian

image courtesy of yu jian

designer yu jian has developed a set of ten stationary objects called ’empty bamboo’. each item takes a hollowed bamboo stem of varying diameter as its body. the natural material is combined with metal parts which speak to the function of each piece, resulting in a family of aesthetically beautiful and functional devices, from a pencil case to a tape dispenser, USB hub to a desk clock.

The post TOP 10 bamboo designs of 2013 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

remember the days of the motorola razr flip phone and the indestructible nokia 3300? it’s hard to believe we’ve shifted from playing classic snake games with numeral commands to swiping away at fruit with swords on compact touch screen devices. from modular DIY phones and eye-scrolling features, to apple’s billionth appstore download, mobile handsets in 2013 have provided the public with a platform to #hashtag images of food and cats on instagram or to become directors of six second short films with vine. to see which phones left a big impression in 2013, here is designboom’s round up of the most popular stories this year.

image courtesy KDDI

developed in collaboration with HTC, the KDDI ‘infobar a02’ by naoto fukasawa provides an intuitive android operating experience, with a fully re-imagined user-interface by interactive designer yugo nakamura. equipped with a qualcomm 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, the touchscreen phone incorporates a 4.7-inch 720p display with 16GB of internal storage, and LTE speeds.

image courtesy motorola

led by motorola’s advanced technology and projects group, ‘project ara’ has been developed as a free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones. similar to the phonebloks concept by designer dave hakkens, the system does the same for hardware as what google’s android platform has done for software: create a vibrant third-party developer ecosystem, increase the pace of innovation, and substantially reduce development timelines. the design for ‘project ara’ consists of an ‘endoskeleton’ (endo) and modules – the endo is the structural frame that holds all the modules in place, and the module can be anything, from a new application processor to a new display or keyboard.

image courtesy apple

earlier this fall, apple launched the new iPhone 5C. available in five colors – green, yellow, blue, white and pink – the smartphone measures 124.4 mm x 59.2 mm x 8.97 mm in size and weighs 132 grams. the device features a 4-inch retina screen, 8MP camera in the back and a 1.2MP in the front. like its predecessor, the iPhone 5c uses an A6 processor and runs on apple’s new iOS 7.

image courtesy facebook

designed by HTC, facebook has introduced their first android-powered smartphone which runs exclusively on ‘home’ – the newest social media software that fills the screen with friend’s photos, status updates, links and more. available in matte black, white, red and pale blue, the device boasts a 4.3 inch screen and a 5.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with LTE capabilities.

image courtesy sony

in may, sony developed a completely waterproof android-powered ‘xperia ZR’. built with a 1.5ghz quad core processor, the device delivers fluid browsing experiences with its large 4.6 inch 720p HD reality display. paired alongside a 13 megapixel camera, the phone has the ability to film in full high-definition underwater with HDR capabilities, excelling in low-light conditions with its super sensitive ‘exmor RS’ sensor. additionally, the xperia ZR is rated to function in demanding weather conditions; it’s dust resistant and can continue running even after being subjected to water for after 30 minutes.

image courtesy KiBiSi

co-founded by JM skibsted and thomas mollen jensen, the danish luxury phone company aesir copenhagen has introduced their second mobile release – a touch screen smartphone. developed by KiBiSi, the new concept implements an android platform – succeeding yves behar’s original design for the company’s first collection. like the previous phone, it is targeted for an upper-class audience, exclusively manufactured by specialists that make precision parts for high-end brands using materials such as 24-karat gold for its components.

video courtesy dave hakkens

usually, a phone only lasts a couple of years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. although it’s often just one part that made it in-operable, we throw everything away because it’s almost impossible to repair or upgrade. in response to this, designer dave hakkens has developed the ‘phonebloks‘ concept. connected to a base which locks everything together into a solid mobile device, the entire customizable system is made of detachable ‘bloks’. if one breaks, users can easily replace it; if it’s getting old just upgrade. as a way to facilitate the modular system, a ‘blokstore’ has been set up to for easily acquiring new parts for the platform. the concept is like an app store for hardware. members can buy bloks, read reviews and sell old parts. you can also buy a pre-assembled phone or assemble it yourself by selecting the brands you want to support – the choice is yours.

image courtesy blackberry

following up on the release of the highly-anticipated ‘blackberry 10 OS platform‘, blackberry, formerly known as RIM has introduced their latest smartphone offering – the Z10. conceived as the company’s first full-touch device, it boasts 4.2-inch display with a 1,280 x 768 screen format. equipped with a 1.5GHz dual-core snapdragon S4 plus processor with 16GB of memory and 2GB of RAM, the phone incorporates a 2.0 megapixel front facing and 8 megapixel main camera capable of capturing HD video in 1080p.

image courtesy samsung

boasting a larger screen and battery than it’s predecessor, samsung introduced the galaxy S4 earlier this march. housed in a slim 7.9mm chassis, the device features a high-resolution 5-inch AMOLED display rendering at 441 PPI. powered by the android 4.2.2 jelly bean operating system, the ‘galaxy S4’ provides 2GB of RAM ( expandable up to 64GB) and a 1.6GHz eight-core processor for a fluid and quick browsing experience. the main camera integrates a 13.3 megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and 2 megapixels for the front facing lens – working seamlessly with the new ‘dual video call mode’ feature that allows users to simultaneously chat with full use of both cameras. one of the most impressing technologies however, is the new ‘smart pause / smart scroll’ – which automatically scrolls up or down a website or email by mapping where your eyes are looking. using eye-tracking, the device can also pause video whenever it detects you look away.

image courtesy apple

along with the new iPhone 5c, apple also unveiled their most technical advanced iPhone to date, the iPhone 5s. the most significant new feature in the iphone series is the addition of a fingerprint identity sensor and 64-bit A7 processor. it also boasts the first ever 64-bit a7 processor in a smartphone – A7 supports OpenGL ES version 3.0 to deliver the kind of detailed graphics and complex visual effects once possible only on mac computers, PCs, and gaming consoles. a fingerprint sensor built into the home button to unlocks phone and verifies iTunes or appstore purchases.

see designboom’s other big stories of 2013 here.

The post TOP 10 smartphones from 2013 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.