#sustainable-design

#sustainable-design

Marginalized in architectural discourse and often dismissed as purely functional, parking garages remain among the most ubiquitous structures in the urban landscape. Designed to accommodate the needs of private vehicles, they occupy central locations, shape skylines, and consume considerable resources, yet rarely receive the same attention - or architectural care - as cultural institutions, schools, or housing. Despite their prevalence, these buildings tend to fade into the background of daily life, treated as infrastructural necessities rather than as design opportunities.

Furniture design has become increasingly focused on mass production and disposable aesthetics, but some designers are pushing back against this trend with thoughtful, sustainable alternatives. Caroline Chao, an architect turned object designer, represents this movement toward more meaningful, personal furniture that tells a story about materials, function, and our relationship with everyday objects. Her Roll-up Chair for G-STAR RAW challenges traditional furniture conventions while exploring the untapped potential of reclaimed denim.

"It was a barren, parched hillside when we moved in," Seigal remembers. "Now, when you're sitting in the living room, you feel like you're outside in a fantastic oasis."

Six new residential buildings, alongside two restored historic structures, will accommodate athletes during the Games. Following the event, these residences will be converted into student housing with 1,700 beds, exceeding the originally planned 1,400, while nearby structures will be adapted for affordable housing. The Olympic Village Plaza, designed as a central public space, will host commercial programs, hospitality venues, outdoor markets, and community events.

Trace of Land by ELSE Design reinterprets the hay bale as a spatial installation that unfolds across the pastures of Val Badia in the Italian Dolomites. Presented as part of SMACH 2025, the international open-air art biennale, the project transforms an agricultural object into a canopy-like structure that follows the terrain, offering places for shade, rest, and gathering. The installation takes the form of a continuous path of unfurled hay bales that move with the contours of the alpine landscape.

A fluid choreography that combines strength and delicacy, like a dance on the waves, gathers enthusiasts across the world's oceans. Yet, behind this image of freedom and connection with nature, the sport also carries contradictions. It is a symbol of outdoor life and respect for the ocean, but on the other hand, it is marked by territorial disputes over waves and by an environmental footprint that rarely receives the same attention given to its aesthetics.

Coordination: Antonio Pedro Coutinho Doca, Adriano Carneiro de Mendonca Project Team: Joao Victor Assad, Cristiana Villela Engineering & Consulting > Lighting: Carolina Sahione General Construction: Ecogreen Engenharia Engineering & Consulting > Others: Alfatec More SpecsLess Specs Text description provided by the architects. The project for the third SOLO brand cafe in Copacabana, RJ, which stands for Sustainable, Organic, and Local, originated from a space consisting of two adjacent street stores in the block by Copacabana beach.

What truly sets the Cork Box apart is its material. The boxes are made from natural toasted cork agglomerate, a substance created when cork granules are heated under high pressure. During this process, the heat activates the natural resin found within the cork itself, transforming it into an effective binding agent. This means no chemicals or adhesives are needed, making the Cork Box a genuinely eco-friendly choice. The result is a sturdy, lightweight material that maintains the tactile, organic qualities of cork while offering durability and strength.

Leveraging modern technology and drawing inspiration from traditional Central Asian footwear, UDRB is designed to be a repairable and sustainable pair of sneakers. The footwear comprises three parts: the leather boots, a 3D printed TPU sole, and a climbing rope lacing system. All the parts are made to assemble without glue, making them modular, dismantlable, and easy on the environment.

In an age where environmental consciousness meets the need for technological innovation, IQAir has unveiled a product that quietly redefines the category of home air purification. The new Atem E isn't just another purifier to add to the shelf - it's a complete rethinking of how sustainability, design, and performance can coexist in a single, elegant unit. With this release, IQAir demonstrates that purifying the air inside your home doesn't have to come at the cost of the planet outside it.

Ecuador-based studio Taller General completes a residential project, La Miradora, in the rural landscape of Machachi. The home is sited at 3,403 meters above sea level within the Páramo ecosystem, a tropical wetland of the Andes. Perched along the highest point of its elongated plot, the dwelling opens broadly outward to overlook a steep ravine, with the expansive and fragile landscape backdropped by meadows and volcanoes on the horizon.

Most earbuds fall into predictable categories: cheap and disposable, expensive but soulless, or packed with features you'll never use. The PIN wooden earbuds take a completely different approach, combining tactile craftsmanship with smart AI features. What sets The PIN apart is how it refuses to compromise between luxury, intelligence, and environmental responsibility. While mainstream earbuds focus on either premium materials or smart features, The PIN delivers both alongside a genuine commitment to sustainability that feels authentic rather than performative.

Garcia Saxe positioned movable wooden wall systems at the heart of Ocean Eye's design philosophy, creating what we'd now recognize as analog smart home technology. These systems transform static architecture into dynamic, responsive living spaces. The walls aren't simple sliding panels but full-height wooden screens that fold completely away, turning enclosed rooms into open pavilions. When fully retracted, the main living spaces become continuous with the exterior terraces, creating a single flowing space from interior to pool deck.

The textile industry produces staggering amounts of fabric waste every year, much of which ends up in landfills. But what if these discarded textiles could be given a second chance? In an innovative collaboration with Mobella Galleria, a creative team set out to prove that fabric scraps can be transformed into beautiful, functional pieces for everyday life. By using techniques like shredding, molding, and compression, they have developed playful home decor objects that showcase both sustainability and style.

Modern Entertaining is a collection of barware designed by Diego Olivero that emphasizes global craftsmanship and supports sustainable production, showcasing artisan skills in trendy hosting essentials.

The MÄVINN Basket at IKEA is a limited-edition storage piece measuring at 11 3/4 inches deep, 13 3/4 inches high, and 11 3/4 inches wide. The extra inches of height help to make this basket extra spacious.

Nike's upcoming Air Max 1000 'Oatmeal' signals a bold shift toward the future of footwear, merging traditional design with advanced 3D printing technology.

Sello boldly merges the functions of a chair and a stool into a single, typologically innovative piece, redefining the act of sitting to meet contemporary design needs.