the material exhibits a texture akin to ceramic or stone, with variations in color and surface cracking.
The post coffee waste becomes raw, textured furniture in chanhyeok kim’s ‘unsleepy series’ appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
in an interview with designboom, founder ece gozen says the material goes beyond plastic-based imitation leather and emerges using a fermentation process.
The post inside GOZEN’s biomaterial LUNAFORM, a nanocellulose textile formed by microorganisms appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
purman solves polyurethane (PU) foam's environmental challenges with a recycling method that creates high-performance, sustainable products.
The post from disposable to sustainable: transforming PU waste into high-performance products appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness economy surpassed $6.32 trillion in 2023. That figure covers everything from wearable meditation devices to herbal teas, and while personal care and beauty appear to lead the way, when combined, wellness tourism and spas take the top spot, with over $2 trillion dedicated to wellness spaces.
Architects and designers know it’s one thing to throw on a face mask and light a scented candle, but it’s quite another to engineer an environment that genuinely lowers cortisol levels and realigns circadian rhythms. Designing a sanctuary requires a lot more than pleasant paint colors and transportive aromas. For instance, adding a pocket door to a space might encourage fluid movement, but choose the wrong mechanism and, well, that thing will scrape along its runners like a factory gate if you’re not careful. Similarly, a sound bath can be an experience of utter transformation or just as easily a claustrophobic nightmare in an echo chamber. It all depends on the acoustic properties of the space it’s held in. For architects and designers being meticulous in decision-making is the key to success, and the correct choices help to ensure that the outside world, along with all its woes, stay politely at bay.
That’s why the Architizer A+Product Awards highlights exceptional products, those that have been chosen by a prestigious jury as being the best in what they do. The following 14 winners embody that precision. They offer solutions to everyday dilemmas like absorbing ambient noise without the sterile look of a recording booth or introducing natural daylight without turning a room into a greenhouse. None of it is decorative fluff. Each product addresses real-world design challenges by considering occupant well-being while never sacrificing aesthetic value.
Some interiors don’t have the luxury of a true skylight, so Sky Factory’s IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling fakes it with an algorithmic light show calibrated to the sun’s daily arc. This system modulates color and intensity so convincingly that drifting clouds appear like real overhead, tricking the brain into syncing with natural daylight. Even NASA asked Foster + Partners and Branch Technology to test IRIS for off-world living concepts — showing how well it simulates Earth’s familiar sky.
In a restful environment, materials shape perception, which is why Loqa’s Unfired Circular Tile, with its artisanal texture and a guilt-free footprint, is the perfect choice. Formed from 85% industrial waste — ceramics, glass and fly ash — and no high-temperature firing, each tile cuts carbon emissions while boasting 106% more strength than conventional choices. The result is a textured finish that evokes calm and supports a truly sustainable retreat.
Nodding to Morris Lapidus’s mid-century flair, Hydro Systems’ Lido Freestanding Bathtub goes beyond the average oval tub to become a sculptural focal point in any spa-inspired interior. The gently dipping 1.5-inch deck allows effortless entry, while a 31-degree back slope and HydroLuxeSS™ material deliver the kind of indulgent soak that can confidently be specified for daily restoration. Optional hydro therapies — Cold Plunge, Hydro Indulge or Thermal Air — push the experience further.
BuzziCee is an acoustic seating concept that hushes the open-plan clamor with upcycled materials and soft geometry. Paired with BuzziPlanter — a lush, sustainable vessel for greenery — this duo turns shared spaces into zones for calm, connectivity and collaboration. BuzziSpace proves that well-being can be built right into the furniture with nature and noise control.
Stone Forest’s Facet Bathtub is made of natural stone to offer a soul-healing centerpiece. Hand-carved over three weeks from single blocks of Antique Gray Limestone or Noce Basalt each ovoid tub absorbs the ambient room temperature to turn a simple soak into an immersive, spa-like experience. Subtle planes and squared ends also provide both architectural flair and functional rest.
Architects looking to dissolve the line between indoors and out will find VetraSpan-L’s uninterrupted 50-foot expanse irresistible. Free of vertical joints or bulky frames, Sentech’s structural glass system amplifies openness to provide uninterrupted vistas. The result is an uncluttered façade that concentrates the focus on the view, not the hardware.
Ceilings can be an underutilized surface, but Pure + FreeForm’s ceiling products make them work harder with seamless, noncombustible panels. Made from at least 20% post-consumer content and free of off-gassing, these refined ceiling baffles help create a calm and health-conscious environment. By finishing to exacting tolerances, the system ensures architects can shape sanctuaries without sacrificing performance or sustainability.
Cosentino’s Dekton® Pietra Kode is the epitome of timeless Italian stone, yet, it is ideal for modern wellness-focused interiors, without the upkeep or carbon footprint of its quarried cousins. Reinterpreted by Daniel Germani, each color retains the grounded serenity of Vicenza, Travertine or Ceppo di Gré yet stands up to everyday demands indoors or out. It is a product that is carbon-neutral, ultra-compact surface that provides quiet luxury with lasting peace of mind.
Turf’s new Wall Scapes turn noise control into an artful statement, layering a double panel system in carved motifs that evoke farmland, forest peaks and waves. Each pattern is cut and configured so the gaps become part of the design. With up to 0.4 NRC for acoustic relief, these large-scale panels bring a calming presence with a dash of visual intrigue. A simple yet effective solution.
Luxxbox’s Cono pendant hushes background clamor while delivering warm, targeted illumination — exactly what’s needed in a lounge or private nook designed for peaceful conversation. Crafted from renewable wool on a PET shell, it is a multifunctional solution that merges acoustic performance with excellent lighting. Whether hung alone or in clusters, Cono is a brilliant all-rounder product.
Rustic terracotta rarely feels this contemporary. Italica takes an age-old aesthetic and elevates it for modern projects that demand both comfort and practicality. Five earthy tones — from volcanic reds to salty neutrals — let architects shift between large-format expanses or smaller, modular tiles. By harnessing the strength of porcelain stoneware, Italica enables a stress-free design that respects tradition while encouraging everyday calm.
Because nothing kills a quiet space faster than a door that scrapes or squeaks open, CRL’s 690/695 Sliding Door System glides with near-silent grace. A single advanced soft-brake mechanism hushes movement across broad glass spans while the minimal 2.5-inch header all but disappears, letting the architecture speak for itself. In any space aimed at genuine repose, this door helps keep the outside world firmly at bay.
Carving serenity from natural timber, the Seyun Collection by Zaha Hadid Design brings calm curves into any environment. Commissioned by Karimoku, the sculptural chairs, stools and tables pair digital precision with hand-finished warmth that’s both visually fluid and physically ergonomically supportive. Sustainably sourced and assembled with minimal waste, each piece aligns with an architect’s pursuit of tranquil, earth-friendly design.
As much as they might try plants, on their own, can’t do everything, but that’s where CSI Creative’s Bio-Acoustic Claypot Wall Panel comes in to help. Combining serious sound-dampening with botanic design, the recycled felt and terracotta wall planters referenced from African craft, integrate greenery in a modular recoverable system that architects and designers can install without the need for a horticulture degree. The result is a visually tactile surface that balances cultural authenticity and acoustic performance.
The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.
The post Relaxing Retreat: 14 Soothing Products to Create the Perfect Home Sanctuary appeared first on Journal.
the installation provides a space for quiet observation, featuring a two-sided facade framed with locally sourced wood.
The post hay bale amphitheater by atelier VRAC emerges as temporary installation in romania appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.
For homeowners and designers looking to embrace renewable energy, solar panels have long been the go-to solution, but they often come with aesthetic compromises. Enter Airiva, an A+Product Award-winning wind energy system that combines striking design with cutting-edge functionality, redefining what it means to bring clean energy into private residences and architectural projects. Featuring an elegant array of vertical wind turbines housed within a contemporary frame, Airiva offers a modular, quiet and visually compelling alternative to traditional renewable energy systems, making it an appealing option for architects seeking to integrate sustainability into their designs.
Designed to complement both modern and traditional architecture, Airiva transforms renewable energy generation into a design feature rather than an afterthought. Its flexibility makes it suitable not just for private homes but also for larger residential or commercial projects, providing architects and designers with an adaptable, innovative solution. With the ability to generate power on-site, store it for later use, or feed it directly into the grid, this system offers energy independence while seamlessly enhancing the built environment. Manufactured with 90% recycled materials and compatible with other energy technologies, Airiva empowers architects, designers and homeowners to make sustainability both functional and beautiful.
Hannah Feniak: What inspired the creation of the Airiva wind energy system; could you provide a bit of background behind its development?
We were researching small-scale renewable energy products and it became very clear that there was an outstanding opportunity to apply compelling contemporary design to the category in order to expand the market for distributed wind energy and to help inspire wider adoption. We designed an initial concept for a distributed wind energy system that was beautiful and provided a modular and scalable platform that could be adapted to individual installation requirements. Through the development process, we realized the concept could be integrated within urban and suburban landscapes, making it a unique product that greatly expands the market opportunities for distributed wind energy.
Airiva is a modular, scalable and smart wind energy system consisting of an array of vertical wind turbines within a contemporary frame. How does the design balance aesthetics with technical innovation and practical considerations?
Good design is frequently driven by creating elegant solutions to practical problems. Throughout the development process, we encountered many challenges and opportunities that required us to carefully consider and then reconcile technical and product performance elements against a commitment to maintaining a compelling form factor. For example, during testing, we identified an opportunity to redesign the frames into a more open spatial structure which provided additional performance and scalability benefits. Each problem that is uncovered in the development process provides a new opportunity to develop solutions in a way that will improve the entire product. Additionally, a well thought through, practical solution often provides the opportunity to further improve the aesthetics.
You’ve emphasized that the visually compelling nature of the design provides a powerful representation of renewable energy; why do you think this is important in the industry right now?
Airiva utilizes the principles of good design to help audiences expand the way they view onsite renewable energy resources. Aesthetics are not often a significant driver in the renewable energy sector but can play a valuable role in increasing receptivity and adoption.
Sustainability is a key aspect of this product, with its manufacturing targeted to use 90% recycled materials and its obvious goal of generating renewable energy in commercial and residential applications. Can you elaborate on the green aspects of the design?
We considered sustainability throughout the design process and continue to do so in each step, from how and what products are made from to the end of their life. Airiva has a manufacturing target to use a minimum of 80% recycled and post-consumer materials compared with the frequent high use of virgin materials seen across the renewable energy category. We are evaluating materials and manufacturing processes that will also optimize overall circularity.
Your product is competitive against other smaller-scale distributed energy resources across the globe. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you’ve encountered when designing modular scalable energy systems that are adaptable to site-specific needs and compatible with other distributed energy technologies?
Designing and building an innovative wind energy product is a complex synthesis of numerous engineering disciplines. Balancing all these technical elements within a compelling design constantly created both challenges and opportunities to rethink our engineering, materials and designs. Future pilots and collaborations with strategic partners will help us identify additional design and optimization opportunities.
Home renewable energy systems are rapidly growing in popularity. What has been the response from clients and the design community to the Airiva wind energy system? How is the industry responding?
Airiva has won multiple design awards and received global press attention from both design and mainstream media outlets. As a result, we’ve received thousands of registrations of interest and inquiries from more than 50 countries including many large multinational corporations, global real estate development firms, municipal governments and public institutions.
Looking ahead, how do you see Airivia evolving, and what role do you aim to play in shaping the future of renewable energy?
Airiva will continue our design, innovation and engineering work to expand the way we think about renewable energy. Our goal is to create new and significant opportunities to utilize distributed wind energy on a global basis.
What does winning an A+Product Award mean to you and your team?
Winning the A+ Product Award is a wonderful and very appreciated recognition of the product’s design and value proposition, as well as the hard work that has gone into taking Airiva from an initial product concept to where we are today. The global design community’s acknowledgements and enthusiasm have been inspirational.
The Extended Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, February 21st. Get your brand in front of the AEC industry’s most renowned designers by submitting today.
The post Winds of Change: Airivia’s New Spin on Renewable Energy appeared first on Journal.
faye toogood guides us through her WOMANIFESTO! installation, reflecting on how embracing feminine energy shapes her work and the future of design.
The post interview: faye toogood on womanifesto! as designer of the year 2025 at maison&objet appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
these silver-added jacket and pants have the same electromagnetic shielding technology that NASA has used for its mars rover.
The post vollebak’s shielding suit with silver blocks radio waves so no one can track, hack or call users appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
researchers use a mix of two fungi for the device: a yeast fungus on the anode side and white rot fungus for the cathode.
The post 3D printed biodegradable fungal ‘battery’ uses sugar to supply power then digests itself after appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
these pine-cone-inspired shades don’t need electricity to run because they flip as soon as they detect changes in humidity and temperature.
The post 4D printed ‘solar gate’ produces weather-responsive shades that open and close on their own appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.