That may all be true, but as the open office trend has grown, so has an entire industry of products designed to correct all of the problems they present for employees who struggle to focus, hear one another, and enjoy any measure of privacy in their distraction-riddled environments.

Sound-dampening privacy pods provide a compromise between the new open office ethos and hallways lined with separate enclosed rooms for each employee. Enter the headquarters of just about any large company today, and what you’ll see is almost certainly a wide open space filled with modular pods designed for small meetings or solitary concentration.

At an office like AirBnb’s San Francisco headquarters, these “pods” might actually take the shape of padded illuminated niches cut into a giant wooden “ship” or house-shaped booths for private phone calls, but you don’t have to have the budget of a multi-billion-dollar corporation to make the concept work for your space.

The “Planet for Two” by Ukrainian design duo MZPA is a portable solution that can be placed in any open space for instant privacy, and it’s cool-looking, too. Built to fit two people (as its name suggests), this geodesic meeting room is made from connected triangles of plywood, powder-coated metal connectors, and a plush fabric mattress in customizable colors. It’s based on a previous design called “The Planet,” which itself accommodates a single user.

The designers envision both of these geometric pods as multipurpose rooms-within-rooms that can be used for meetings, lounging, brainstorming, phone calls, or even in place of a desk for employees who work more efficiently in less open environments. Communication is key in any business, they note, and while open office plans seem like they should foster more of it, too much noise and activity can make people feel like they have to shout over each other to be heard, worsening the problem.

Available for delivery anywhere in the world, the Planet for Two retails for $5,700 and comes with a built-in LED lamp, speaker system, USB charging port for electronic devices, and even a few optional solar panels so you can place it outdoors if you like. It’s easy to imagine these pods fitting right into places like airports, cafés, and college campuses.

“It’s great for moments when you need to stay alone, gather your thoughts and focus, and have a cup of coffee,” say designers Julia Kononenko and Artem Zakharchenko.

More than anything, pods like the “Planet for Two” demonstrate the need for offices to remain flexible to both the diverse needs of staff and changing trends in office interior design. Give your employees enough privacy and quiet, and they might not have to resort to such desperate tactics as noise-cancelling helmets that look like a joke from a comedy set in outer space.

The post Planet for Two: Expanding Geodesic Pod Offers a Cozy Soundproofed Refuge first appeared on Dornob.

Such is the case with The Chapel of Sound, a recently completed open-air concert hall near the Great Wall of China outside Beijing. Brought to life by the dynamic firm OPEN Architecture, the towering structure may resemble a pile of rocks, but its elegance and monolithic mien are anything but simple. Situated perfectly within a mountainous valley, the concert hall seems to grow out of the very Earth beneath it, organically shaping itself into the surrounding countryside.

Yet, upon closer inspection, The Chapel Of Sound begins to take shape as its own distinct entity: an open-air amphitheater and outdoor stage meant to amplify acoustics beautifully. Despite its appearance, the hall is not built from piles of rock, but from layers of a truly unique type of concrete. Namely, the material used was itself combined with an aggregate made from local stone. In that sense, the structure is literally was borne of its surroundings, an inherent part of the area’s distinct natural landscape.

OPEN Architecture’s founders Li Hu and Huang Wenjing were very aware of the valley’s unique surroundings when constructing the Chapel of Sound, taking great care to make the structure feel at home. “The symphony of nature is what we really wanted people to experience here,” the pair recently said in an official statement.

The composition of the structure is layered, almost like a multi-tiered cake. Though appearing to be a solid structure, the chapel is actually comprised of two distinct shells: an inner and an outer, with a distinct space in between that acts as a truss.

But it’s the interior of the concert hall that sets it apart. Truly open air, a wide, circular opening in the ceiling allows for sunlight to stream into the space, illuminating the artists as they perform. This “void” also allows for other natural elements like wind and rain to enter the space. Don’t worry about getting wet, though. As the rain falls, the clever drainage system works to ensure it disappears – a pretty neat trick.

The opening in the ceiling is just one of many throughout the structure. There are several such openings around the rock-like space, all designed to enhance and amplify the concert hall’s acoustics, with no need for the addition of more traditional sound-absorbing materials. The Chapel’s open spaces also serve the dual purpose of further connecting it to its environment, completing its unique synchronicity with the surrounding landscape.

Inside, staircases wend their way through the cavernous interior, leading to a rooftop platform that offers stunning views of the valley below, including the nearby Great Wall.

While The Chapel of Sound’s métier is ostensibly that of music venue, the creative OPEN Architecture duo also intend for it to be a contemplative space, a place where visitors can really feel a connection with the surrounding area. “Solitary or communal, music or sound of nature, gazing into the starry sky or connecting with one’s inner self — it’s open to the interpretation of the users,” Huang explains.

With its distinctive monolithic appearance and cavernous indoor space that, despite its exposure to elements, evinces a feeling of intimacy and warmth, the newly opened Chapel of Sound outside Beijing is sure to be a marvel of the mountainside for years to come, impressing visitors with a natural beauty that goes far beyond just a simple pile of rocks.

The post OPEN Architecture’s “Chapel of Sound” Concert Hall Rocks first appeared on Dornob.

The design for the Rady Shell began with the award-winning temporary Soundforms Mobile Acoustic Performance Shell (MAPS) the firm created for the London Olympics in 2012. Soundforms reinterpreted that project into a customized, upscaled, and permanent version that’s able to accommodate the entire San Diego Symphony Orchestra, a chorus, and soloists. It also contains a backstage artist support space, three professional kitchens, underground restrooms, and a sloped seating area for up to 10,000 guests. The shell opens up to a public park with views of the bay in one direction, and the San Diego skyline in the other.

The shell-shaped performance venue reaches a peak of 57 feet and measures 92 feet in width at the front of the stage. Australia-based Fabritecture oversaw the design, fabrication, and installation of the tensile structure, while Brooklyn-based Meyer Sound installed special acoustic panels that create a similar sound experience for the performers as indoor concert halls. San Francisco-based sound engineering and audiovisual company Salter added their own acoustic panels that are both reflective and absorptive, lining the inside and outside of the shell. All of that translucent tensile material gives the shell an ethereal appearance, with sunlight shining through to the stage by day and built-in lighting glowing softly after dark.

“It’s an amazing, spectacular outdoor venue,” says Maestro Rafael Payare, Music Director and Conductor of the San Diego Symphony. “We can hear each other wonderfully and you feel like you are in one of the top-notch concert halls in the world. The Shell has a mind-blowing organic quality…you actually can hear all the (different sound) balances and perform the way you would in a concert hall, not an outdoor venue.”

“Local San Diegans and visitors to San Diego will be able to attend world-class music performances by The San Diego Symphony and other events when the San Diego Symphony isn’t performing,” says Greg Mueller, CEO and Design Principal of Tucker Sadler Architecture. “The Rady Shell with state-of-the-art acoustic technology, lighting effects, and architectural design elements, as well as the San Diego Bay as a backdrop, creates a unique concert experience.”

In progress for five years, the Rady Shell finally opened to the public in August. When concerts aren’t in session, the venue serves as a landmark for the city’s revitalized downtown area, and its terraced guest seating transforms into steps from which to watch the sunset. Jutting out over the water on a peninsula, this unusual venue is postcard-ready, looking especially majestic when illuminated at night.

The post Seashell-Shaped Concert Hall Hosts Thousands by the San Diego Seashore first appeared on Dornob.

If sensitivity to noise makes it hard for you to sleep, you’ve probably tried all kinds of things: ear plugs, noise-canceling ear buds, and even huge heavy-duty headphones that make it impossible to sleep on your side. None of these options are particularly comfortable to wear all night long, and it’s unclear how healthy it really is to have electronic devices playing near your brain 24/7.

Enter “SleepMuffs,” a sound-blocking neck pillow that solves most of these problems with absolutely zero electronic parts. Made in Australia, these cushiony ear muffs are more complex than they look on the surface. They don’t just cover your ears and cradle your neck. They also feature multiple sound-blocking layers to cut off as much distracting noise as possible.

On the inside, next to your skin, the muffs feature a silk-like thermo-regulating bamboo fabric cover that helps you stay cool and comfortable all night long. On the outside, a smooth, soft but more durable stain-resistant fabric made of recycled single-use bottles stands up to friction against your pillow and other surfaces. In between are a high-quality sound wave absorbing homogenous foam, an acoustic shell made of recycled ABS to ensure a proper seal with your ear, another layer of sound reducing lightweight acoustic foam, and a final ear seal.

A high-quality pair of active noise-canceling headphones, like those sold by Bose and Sony, blocks out about 35 decibels using microphones inside and outside the ear cups to monitor external sounds and instantly produce an opposite signal to cancel them out. It works remarkably well, but it doesn’t come cheap, and it’s much better suited for daytime wear than sleep.

The SleepMuffs product is rated almost as high at 33 decibels, and all without any electronic parts, charging cables, or bulky plastic. Earplugs, in comparison, typically block about 23 decibels. If you like to wear earbuds to listen to music, ambient noise, or meditation tracks while falling asleep, you can still do that with the SleepMuffs on, and they’re compatible with eye masks, too.

Blocking out sound isn’t all the SleepMuffs can do. The ergonomic design relieves neck tension by cradling your neck to keep your head from falling from side to side when you sleep on your back, and the muffs offer extra cushion if you’re a side sleeper, filling the gap between the pillow and your head to let your neck sit at a comfortable height.

The ear muffs made with travel in mind, so they pack up small in an included water-resistant travel pouch, making them ultra-convenient to take on planes, trains, buses, and road trips. The covers come in two colors: light gray or dark gray, with black inside. They’re removable and machine-washable.

The SleepMuffs are currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and backers can get a set as a reward for a pledge of AU $119 or more (about $88 USD). Estimated delivery is in June 2021, when hopefully a lot of us will be coronavirus-vaccinated and back on the road. When the Kickstarter campaign is over, they’ll be available to the public at a retail price of AU $149 (about $110 USD).

The post SleepMuffs: Sound-Blocking Neck Pillow Lets You Nap in Noisy Environments first appeared on Dornob.

Located about three hours from the capital, near the RMK Pähni Nature Center in Varstu Parish, Estonia, the handmade wooden megaphones sit among the fir trees, surrounded by nothing but the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves.

The project is the brainchild of architecture students from the Estonian Academy of Arts. The group built and installed the megaphones — individually called RUUP — in conjunction with an acoustics engineer consultant back in 2015. The goal was to experiment with surround-sound amplification inside an unlikely location, the outside. More specifically, Estonia’s Võru county forest.

Estonia’s forests cover nearly half of its total area, and all of them are available to residents and visitors for recreational activities year-round. As you can imagine, finding a remote location away from the noise pollution of cities was not difficult here. Even with the off-the-beaten path placement, the installation manages to attract hikers, musicians, and solitude seekers, each looking for their own experience.

Hannes Praks, course advisor and Head of the Interior Architecture Department at the Estonian Academy of Arts, shared his perspective on the project’s remote location, stating: “the farther we get from the intense vibration of the capital, the better we are able to sense the low-frequency vibration of nature. This is why the installation would be missing its essence if it were to be located next to Tallinn. In the megaphones, a certain surround sound effect, communicated by the megaphones when the distance and angle is just right, is worth testing.”

The massive structures measure three meters in diameter, with each one sitting six meters from the center of a large circle. With the help of a map from the somewhat nearby visitor’s center, artists and nature enthusiasts can visit for a moment, an afternoon, or even camp out overnight. Musicians have flocked to the area to experience the sound of music played from inside a RUUF, hosting small-scale cultural events and concerts. Others visit simply to view the architectural design, or to delve deep into meditation within the natural setting.

Each handbuilt megaphone allows visitors to peer through either the large opening or the smaller frame on the other end. Although the initial goal may have been to create a surround sound of nature’s music, the display also seems to have opened the possibilities for other ways to experience the space. Exploring the structures from the front, back, and center of the circle all yield different amplification experiences, but some debate whether they really amplify the sounds at all, inviting visitors to also step outside the RUUF to contemplate the difference in sound. In this way, the attraction also draws visitors into nature, putting the spotlight on what the forest has to offer, both as a sensory experience and as an opportunity to be introspective. Some might even say the project allows you to listen to your own thoughts more than the sounds of the world around you.

The post Nature’s Volume is Amplified With Megaphones in This Estonian Forest first appeared on Dornob.

Completion of Harpa stemmed from the efforts of multiple engineering and design agencies. For starters, Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson designed the south facade, developing the principle for the remaining three and roof in collaboration with Henning Larsen Architects and Batteríið Architects. On top of that, Eliasson designed multiple interior lighting fixtures that work both artistically and functionally in conjunction with the exterior elements.

The concert hall epitomizes the concept of contemporary design with a layered glass facade around its exteriors and roof. The entire design also appears to float above the foundation with very few points of contact. Colors reflect through and from the columns of glass to form a continually eye-catching display.

Not only does this glass structure offer striking visual components, but it also works to reduce lighting costs. That’s because the high quantity of glass creates playful shadows and striking lighting effects all throughout interiors. Of course, this design does work in direct contrast to some functional aspects, so the designers really had to consider how to protect the building from often-harsh Icelandic weather conditions, including rain, snow, sleet, and high winds. In addition to this, the location of Harpa next to a busy road meant the design also had to buffer against vehicle noise from the outside. This was tackled by leaving the sound to Artec Consultants Inc, a US consulting firm responsible for the acoustics and sound design of the main theater, as well as the sound equipment in all the Harpa’s venues.

The icing on the cake of this brilliantly built concert hall is its collection of resident musicians, who bring entertainment, culture, and history to the surrounding community. Current residents include the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Maximus Musikus, the Icelandic Opera, and Reykjavik Big Band.

Local communities aren’t the only ones to acknowledge the structure. Harpa has gone on to win many important awards since its completion, including the prestigious 2012 Mies Van Der Rohe award. Design peer Teglgaard Jeppesen from Henning Larsen Architects responded to the accolade: “On behalf of the team I would like to thank the European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe for this award. We are immensely honored. Harpa is the result of a collaborative process that has involved many people, and with their efforts, strong commitment, and drive, Harpa has become a symbol of Iceland’s renewed dynamism.”

Wiel Arets, Chair of the Jury for the award, says: “Harpa has captured the myth of a nation — Iceland — that has consciously acted in favor of a hybrid-cultural building during the middle of the ongoing Great Recession. The iconic and transparent porous ‘quasi brick’ appears as an ever-changing play of colored light, promoting a dialogue between the city of Reykjavik and the building’s interior life. By giving an identity to a society long known for its sagas, through an interdisciplinary collaboration between Henning Larsen Architects and artist Olafur Eliasson, this project is an important message to the world and to the Icelandic people, fulfilling their long expected dream.”

The opera’s other notable distinctions include:

USITT Architecture Award 2018

Best Meeting & Conference Centre in Europe 2016 – Business Destinations

Local Favorite Award 2016 – The Culture Trip

Best MICE Centre in Northern Europe 2012

Best Public Space 2012 – Arkitekturmassan Awards

Edinburgh Civic Trust Award 2012

The Cultural Award for Architecture 2012 – Icelandic newspaper DV

The Icelandic Concrete Award 2012

The Icelandic Heating, Ventilating and Sanitary Award 2012

Best Performance Space Design Award 2011 – Travel&Leisure Magazine

Harpa Plaza – the Best Public Nordic Space 2011 – Arkitekturmessan in Gothenburgh

Wayshowing – IIID Awards 2011

One of the 10 Best Concert Halls and Inspiring Structures of the Millennium – Gramophone Magazine 2010

World Architecture Award 2010

The post Iceland’s Harpa Concert Hall is the Pinnacle of Glass Architecture first appeared on Dornob.

Some sounds are so good, they make you want to do more than just hear them — you need to feel them. Unfortunately, the closest we’ve been able to come to that absorptive zen experience so far is to back up into the giant bass speakers at a concert and let the deep vibrations flow through your body. But thanks to a new invention from the innovators over at Woojer, you’ll soon be able to transcend the barriers of normal hearing and actually feel the audio of music, video games, TV shows, and movies pulsing through your body from head to toe.

What is Woojer Edge?

The Woojer team utilized haptic technology to create Woojer Edge. Simply put, haptic means relating to the sense of touch. It’s also called kinesthetic communication, in which your tactile perception is triggered by mid-air vibrations, emulating the impression of contact without physically touching anything. The Woojer Edge lets you go beyond the barriers of mere sound and physically sense the sounds as they vibrate through your body, increasing in intensity until you feel totally immersed and transported to a level of euphoria never before possible.

A gadget called the Oscillating Frame precisely replicates frequencies up to 500Hz, including subsonic frequencies typically not audible to the human ear between 1 and 20Hz, as bodily vibrations. Sounds implausible, if not impossible, but the company assures us: “The frictionless motion guarantees precise harmonic reproduction and reduces distortion. It’s the perfect combination of tactile sensation, size, weight, and power consumption.”

Vibration Options

To make sure you can enjoy their technology everywhere you go, Woojer offers two Edge options. Both versions utilize a Texas Instruments built-in analog headphone amplifier and CSR APTX low-latency Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.

Designed for active people who find themselves in several different locations throughout each day, the Strap Edge easily fits around your chest, crosswise across your upper body, or around your waist. It can also be worn underneath clothes, so you can keep your sonic experience private if you choose.

For more of a full-body experience, the Vest Edge covers your entire torso, immersing half your body in 360 degrees of perfect, comprehensive sensations sure to make your pulse pound. Intended for die-hard home gaming and VR fans, Woojer says the Vest Edge has “…out-of-the-box stereo haptics… If you’re a music pro, this’ll pump the low-frequencies through your body as it engages you in a unique and mesmerizing audio experience.”

An Overwhelming Vote Of Confidence

Woojer’s enthusiasm for the Woojer Edge has never waned, but the company does admit they initially didn’t know how the product would be received by the public. When they launched the Edge on Kickstarter with the goal of raising $20,050, however, they were overcome with support. When the campaign still had a full week left before ending, nearly 10,000 supporters had pledged around $1.1 million to help get their vision to market. This massive show of confidence by contributors around the world means Woojer Edge could be available for purchase a lot sooner than we think. Be sure to check back for updates!

The post Good Vibrations: Woojer Edge Makes Sound a Multisensory Experience first appeared on Dornob.

The question is whether it’s a coffee table, refrigerator, smart home hub, or a charging station. The answer is yes. Coosno is an all-in-one piece of living room furniture that will entertain guests, provide refreshments, and listen when you talk.

Refrigerator

Sleek and modern by every definition, the Coosno hides a big surprise inside. With a simple voice command or the push of a button, the upper portion of the coffee table lifts to reveal a built-in refrigerator section, whose rounded interior can fit a wide assortment of beverages and snacks. Even better, the table’s Lazy Susan-style design allows you to rotate the selection within to deliver your drink to you without having to get up and walk around it.

As a matter of fact, a coffee table with a built-in fridge just might keep you from having to get up at all. Especially one that holds up to 68 cans of beer.

Stereo System

You can also connect your favorite Spotify playlist to Coosno via Bluetooth and hear your tunes through an impressive six-speaker system. Plus, the tempered-glass tabletop lights up to the beat for an eye-catching club-like vibe.

LED Tabletop

The Coosno app actually controls all types of lighting effects to create the ambiance of your choosing. Colored LED lights can be set to flash, ripple, or remain solid or slow moving. You decide. Just open the app and drag the settings to fit your mood. The app also controls the refrigerator, so you can turn the temperature up or down from anywhere in the house.

Charging Station

There’s no need to fuss with wall chargers and charging cords any longer. Coosno has a built-in charging chip that keeps your phone or computer at full power whenever its placed on one of the tabletop’s two charging stations. Of course, there are also outlets tucked inside the table for your additional electrical needs.

Voice Control

Coosno connects to Google Home so it’s always ready to recite a cocktail recipe, share the weather, or give you a sports update. It can even solve the debate you’re having with your friends by running a quick internet search for you.

Along with the Google Home features, Coosno is also ready to listen whenever you tell it to open or close the fridge or turn up the music.

Storage

Like any good piece of furniture, the Coosno also offers some storage in the form of a pull-out drawer located below the refrigerator section. The drawer is compartmentalized for easy organization, too, so you can decide whether it’s the best place for the remote, the dog treats, or your cocktail straws.

Coosno is currently trending on Indiegogo, with a campaign that’s open until the third week in August. It’s currently in the prototype phase, but the company hopes to move into production with the funds raised from the campaign. The final product is expected to be available in two sizes and two color options with a ship date of February 2020.

The Coosno Home is 19.7 inches and can be used as a coffee table or small office assistant and snack bar. The Coosno Bar measures 27.6 inches. Both models come complete with no assembly required. Simply plug them in and set up the app to get the party started.

The post Coosno: The Smart Coffee Table That Does It All first appeared on Dornob.

Looking almost parasitic in nature, an amorphous, ballooning silver volume stretches out to envelop a more traditional building in new renderings of Steven Holl Architects’ “Encased.” Chosen as the winner of an international competition to design a new concert hall in Ostrava, Czech Republic, the design adds to the existing House of Culture, itself an austere travertine-clad complex completed in 1961.

The new 1,300-seat concert hall is described by the architects as “a perfect acoustic instrument in its case,” hence the name. It’ll soon house the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, too — the nation’s leading orchestra for commissioning contemporary music.

The metallic, vaguely alien nature of the exterior is softened by an interior lined with warm maple wood. Built on both sides of the House of Culture’s wings, the structure features dramatic cantilevered elements with a wide base at the rear and a slender, neck-like volume in the front. If you’re prone to seeing the shapes of living creatures in architecture, you might imagine the addition as either embracing or biting down upon the existing building, depending on how you look at it.

“The smooth case of zinc holds an ‘instrument’ in an extended vineyard-type plan made of concrete and maple wood,” explain the architects. “Czech composer Leoš Janáček’s theories of time will guide and give order to the concert hall’s interior geometry. Acoustic wall panels are organized according to scasovani, or rhythm, in three variants: znici = sounding, scitaci = counting, and scelovac = summing.”

They add that the hall faces the existing park at the rear of the building in order to soften urban traffic noise, while a new entrance on the promenade “rises to glide over the top of the existing historical Cultural Center in a sky-lit lobby for the new hall… a dramatic complimentary contrast between new and old creates a cultural landmark for Ostrava.”

Of the winning design, jurist Rafi Segal says, “It’s not the size of the building, but the importance and significance of it.” Another jury member, Krzysztof Ingarden, says “it is a fantastic piece of architecture [that considers] very well the relationship between the City of Ostrava and the park behind the existing building. I believe the winning project will be an emblematic piece of architecture for Ostrava [and revitalize] the city as well.”

Steven Holl Architects is known for taking risks with unconventional architectural shapes and forms like Maggie’s Centre Barts in London, monolithic metal-clad desert homes, and the delightful organic modernist “Ex of In” House. Most of the time, those risks pay off in spectacular fashion, with finished projects feeling fresh and unexpected.

Sometimes, their radical vision for architecture unconstricted by rectilinear norms hits predictable engineering snags, however, like their so-called Copenhagen Gate: the bike lane in the sky that might have been but got canceled due to safety concerns.

Construction hasn’t yet begun on this project, but it’s unlikely the new Ostrava Concert Hall will be plagued with similar problems. It’s set to open in 2023 and will be produced in collaboration with the Czech firm Architecture Arts.

The post Encased: Amorphous Metallic Addition Hugs a Czech Concert Hall first appeared on Dornob.

But what if you could capture many of the qualities that make professional systems so effective without putting in any of the hard work? That’s the goal of “Luminous,” a new integrated lighting and sound system by Iranian designer Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi. In order to achieve soft, indirect lighting that feels like it could be coming from the sky and omni-directional sound, this product is loop-shaped and hangs in the air overhead.

Typical home surround sound systems require you to carefully place speakers around the room. With Luminous, as long as you’re sitting beneath it, you can enjoy the same effect without any wires at all. It creates “dome-shaped sound” within the room while also providing illumination thanks to a system of LED light sources and an acrylic diffuser. The light reflects off the ceiling overhead for a uniform, low contrast and slightly muted effect, like daylight diffused through a sheer layer of clouds.

Luminous consists of the loop-shaped lighting and sound unit, as well as a bluetooth audio adapter that allows the user to adjust the lighting and sound wirelessly, as well as stream sound and music from personal devices like phones, game consoles, and televisions. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the LEDs based on the ambient light level in the room. Twenty small speakers built into the loop output the sound through separate channels at different intensities from a 360-degree radius, mimicking the effect of surround sound.

The product’s website reads: “The main design philosophy of Luminous is to create atmospheres and emotions that the users desire to feel, including peace, excitation, and companionship with friends and colleagues in working or living spaces. On this basis and at the first step, various concepts were generated, and it was concluded that the combination of light and sound in a single product [could] be a practical solution. Our aim was to create a spatial sound system and natural and efficient lighting solution. Accordingly, and during the second phase, sound and light generation and perception in nature were investigated.”

“Ergonomic guidelines for lighting design [were] also studied. Then, applicable technologies, the design trend of the current samples, and the product environment were analyzed. In this point (phase three), the limitations and potentials for further development became clear and design criteria identified. During the next phase, various ideas were generated, evaluated, and repeatedly modified. Finally, a detailed model of the selected idea was produced and presented.”

Winner of a 2019 Silver A’ Design Award, the Luminous Lighting and Sound System is a pretty cool innovation that could give us a hint at what to expect from home electronics in the near future.

The post Luminous Loop-Shaped Lighting Doubles as a Sound System first appeared on Dornob.

Xorel Artform is Carnegie’s series of acoustical tiling, combining their high-performance interior textile Xorel with effective sound absorption and echo reduction. Available in a variety of thicknesses for different applications, they also come in an awesome variety of shapes, colors, and patterns, giving you the freedom to design your own custom installation.

The result? Way cooler than a blank wall or ceiling could ever be, even beyond the fact that the panels are so good at muffling distracting noises. While they’re most often found in offices and commercial spaces, it’s not hard to imagine these acoustic installations coming in handy at home, too, particularly if you live in an apartment building.

Panel shapes include circles, hexagons, diamonds, and more, and you can take your pick of over 350 different surface material configurations. Carnegie recently expanded Xorel Artform to include new shapes “flip” and “ripple,” too. The former features double-sided fabric choices, perfect for ceiling baffles that double as colorful sculptures, while the latter is an undulating form that’s sort of like a rectangle with a wavy edge on one side.

Xorel, Carnegie’s high-performance textile, is lauded by the company as “the most thoroughly tested textile material in the world,” with more than 65 independent tests vetting its performance and characteristics like durability, acoustic absorption, and bacterial resistance. It’s also sustainable, earning C2C (Cradle to Cradle) Gold certification.

The company website reads: “Fast and easy to install with little disruption or major cleanup, Xorel Artform is the optimal solution to address post-occupancy acoustical issues. Vertically suspended ceiling baffles not only open up design possibilities but also allow for sound absorption on both sides for increased sound clarity. Xorel Artform baffles are manufactured with ready-to-fasten hardware for ceiling suspension. Installation materials, including cables and pendants, for vertically suspended baffles are included in each box set.”

“Available in 16 shapes, a variety of sizes, three dimensional options, and over 350 Xorel colors, patterns, and textures, a multitude of wall designs can be created bringing artfulness and performance to any interior. Box sets include panels that are the same shape, size, substrate, fabric, and color. Installation materials and printed installation guides are also included.”

Need some inspiration? If you’re hoping to experiment with your own creative instincts, browse the #xorelartform hashtag on Instagram to see what other folks are doing with these panels. If you’d rather leave the arrangement to a design professional, Xorel Artform offers instant kits in all sorts of fun patterns for small, medium, and large spaces, so all you have to do is click “buy” and then stick them on when they arrive using a template. You can also browse their gallery by shape for additional ideas.

The post Xorel Artform Acoustics Panels by Carnegie Fabrics first appeared on Dornob.

The monotony of these limited ceiling treatments is exactly why TURF Design was created: to give the world of ceilings something totally different without disrupting existing conventions.

One way to change old habits is to start from a place that everyone can agree on, and the appeal of TURF Design’s products begins even before they are made. More specifically, their ceiling systems are made from 99 percent post-consumer plastic, half of which comes from single-use water bottles. This reduction in waste extends to the way the company controls the inventory of their products, in that they only manufacture on-demand from their Chicago plant.

With sustainable practices at the core of their business, TURF focuses on reducing echos in large spaces using ceiling systems that are both acoustically functional and aesthetically pleasing. Using parametric design, they create systems that make vacuous-feeling rooms a lot more intimate and fun.

What do clients find so interesting in the systems that TURF builds? Among other things, the fact that they can be installed without disturbing existing ceiling panels. No, this system of baffles can be adjusted and reconnected depending on the style a particular space needs. For example, the company’s Switchblade ceiling system is made from 99 percent recycled polyester plastic. Its 9-mm polyester felt boards are held to the underside of the steel grid magnets, which means no major renovation would be needed to alter the ceilings and reduce the noise in the space below. It also gives the space a new aesthetic that looks far more appealing than the one that was there before.

Then there is Swell, a ceiling system that looks like it’s literally growing. As the eye travels down the hall or across the room, the ceiling bulges and swells as if an otherworldly creature were about to pierce through.

Some might find that it looks creepy, but after a while, the wave-like forms that surround diffusers and sprinklers actually feel pretty soothing. This drop ceiling, unlike the typical drywall ones, can be installed easily without taking apart the existing one.

With so much talk of disruption in industry after industry, TURF Design is showing that the best way to succeed may be to avoid disruption altogether.

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The newfound convenience of wearable technology means you can access your emails and messages straight from your watch or glasses, as well as manage your calendar and track your biometrics. The Google Glass tried to tap into the smartglasses market a number of years ago, but it never really took off — perhaps due in part to its aesthetic, perhaps due to its functionality. Now there’s a new pair of glasses on the market that not only looks amazing, but also performs a number of tasks that will please any discerning audiophile.

Audiovisual giant Bose has released two pairs of Bose Frames in hopes of revolutionizing sound and vision. These stylish sunglasses, which are available in two classic shapes (square and round), have been designed to combine protective wearability and high-definition audio reproduction. The glasses bring the latter component to the table via a built-in audio system in its arms, which itself is still small enough to keep their total weight at just 45 grams. The system works like pair of wireless headphones, transmitting sound over the ear as opposed to into it while simultaneously performing some functions of a cell phone, allowing users to make and receive calls, stream music, and easily access information.

Along with this subtle audio immersion, wearers can also speak into a tiny microphone located in the right temple of the glasses. This mic allows them to command Siri and Google Assistant with ease. It also allows the glasses to be voice-controlled, through which the wearer can order the stopping, playing, and skipping of songs without having to use their hands.

Not only do the Bose Frames offer consumers the most up-to-date audio technology, but they also boast a timeless design that provides an unparalleled level of visual protection. The glasses are designed with tinted lenses that keep up to 99 percent of UV rays away from the eyes, while their hinges give off a flash of glamour with their elegant gold plating. The edges of the frames have been shaped to create a smooth silhouette and bear a soft matte finish.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the glasses are also connected to Bose AR, the company’s exclusive augmented reality platform. GPS tracks your movements and location to help you feel totally immersed in the soundtrack of your life. The frames are charged using a plug-in lithium battery, which runs for around three-and-a-half hours and takes about two to fully charge. Unfortunately, prospective wearers will have to wait until after Christmas to purchase these amazing sunglasses, as they won’t be available to buy until February 2019 — but they are already available for pre-order.

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To understand how this is possible, it helps to know a little bit about how records work. To put it in simple terms, sound waves are always moving through some sort of medium, whether it be air, water, or a solid material. When sound waves are directed toward a membrane called a diaphragm attached to a needle, the needle vibrates accordingly and etches the waves into a flat disc. When you run a stylus attached to a tone arm through those grooves, the original sound is reproduced.

Though we can’t typically see them, the patterns of sound waves can be surprisingly beautiful, with every recording bearing its own unique look. The different pitches and rhythms on a recording produce squiggles and waves that might undulate gently in softer recordings or become a bit chaotic in more intense ones. A new project called “Plate Recorder” by the Tel Aviv-based artists Liat Segal and Roy Maayan not only lets us view these patterns as visual art, but captures them in a highly unusual way.

Displayed earlier this year at Jerusalem Design Week, “Plate Recorder” pays tribute to the human voice while exploring the boundaries between retro nostalgia and modern experimental art. Engaging multiple senses at once, the project involves a special instrument that etches live performances into black ceramic plates, often in front of a live audience. Onlookers not only experience the sounds as they’re created — they also watch as they’re recorded in real time.

“At times of information overload, we are constantly exposed to visual, auditory, and textual inputs,” says Segal. “Social networks and news feeds create new expression channels, yet, at the same time, challenge our ability to genuinely hear, see, and touch. Plate Recorder is a digital era homage to analog, connecting sound, visual, and matter in the physical domain. Ready-made ceramic plates are used as a medium for recording sounds. A custom-built painting machine is etching sound waves, creating ‘ceramic plate records.’”

“The sounds have been donated by various sources and people. They have then been collected, tagged, and categorized by the artists, along with the stories underlying them, into a physical archive of sound and being.”

The creators solicited sounds from supporters on Facebook prior to actually starting on the project. They also recorded additional performances at special events like the Cluj Ceramics Biennale in 2017 and the Latvia International Ceramics Biennale in 2018. If you weren’t able to see the etchings as they were produced, don’t worry: you can still experience them in another way.

Check out the Plate Recorder Facebook page for videos of the recordings in action, and view the entire catalogue of etched ceramic plates on Liat Segal’s website. Though the audio isn’t attached, the descriptions do tell us a little about why the sound waves look the way they do, as seen in things like a speech about nuclear weapons by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the songs of children.

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Cue the xFyro xS2 wireless earbuds, which are both waterproof and snug-fitting. The company says you can use them in the rain and in the shower, allowing you to take your music anywhere. And of course, there won’t be any problems when you’re exercising, playing sports, or working up a sweat in general.

The xS2 is being billed as the world’s first fully waterproof earbud set, and since it’s so well sealed, it should stay relatively dust free over time, too.

The Bluetooth chip inside the earbuds lets you connect from up to 33 feet away from the source. The company has incorporated AAC audio into the design for a great listening experience that offers “an incredibly balanced sound, crisp and crystal-clear. Gone are the days when bass and treble overpowered your music.”

Like any good set of headphones, the xFyros take full advantage of noise suppression and isolation technologies, leaving you free to follow your podcast or soak in your meditation app’s soothing background music. These features also make it easier to answer phone calls and concentrate on your conversations when there’s outside chatter and chaos around. The xS2’s integrated microphone makes hands-free chatting even more of a breeze.

The earbuds also have touch controls on them, so you can adjust the volume and pause/play your music without any fuss. When you’re using them with your phone, you can accept a call with just a single tap of what’s designated as your “primary” earbud. You end your call the same way, and if you need to call back, all you’ll have to do is double click to redial.

If you want to contact your virtual assistant, fear not: the xFyros earbuds are compatible with both Apple and Android operating systems, and they can connect to both Siri and Google Home.

You may be wondering how you power up the earbuds. Each set comes with its own high-speed charging case, and as soon as you put it inside, it automatically starts charging. The earbuds run on a lithium polymer battery that gives you up to five hours of continuous audio on a full charge — perfect for a long flight or road trip. If you need a quick boost, you’ll find that a 30-minute charge will buy you an extra three hours (it takes two hours to fully charge the earbuds, though).

We also love the fact that you can use the charging case as a power bank and charge your phone via a built-in USB port if you run out of juice while you’re out and about. The charging case itself can give you enough power to play music for 20 to 30 hours before it has to be recharged.

As if all of these features weren’t enough, it has to be said that these waterproof wireless earbuds look great, too. They’re made from premium aluminum, adorned with a classy brushed finish, and designed for extreme durability.

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Ear It Today, Read It Tomorrow

A self-proclaimed romantic, Campbell has taken the time to discreetly inscribe his signature saying, “The smartest things I ever did were stupid things for love,” on the inside of each individual ear pad in the headset collection. When juxtaposed with the image of a writhing snake, this heartfelt maxim assumes a new level of depth and intrigue. Of course, Campbell and Master & Dynamic’s founder and CEO Jonathan Levine interpret the phrase differently.

The Global Analysis

Levine, whose company has collaborated with many artists including Proenza Schouler, The Rolling Stones, and Leica Camera AG, was instantly drawn to the saying, which he quickly construed as a tribute to unbridled enthusiasm and the willingness to take risks and transform dreams into realities. “I have always thought Scott’s work was quite genius,” Levine told the press. “When I met Scott in Hong Kong, I learned we shared a willingness to take risks in pursuit of our dreams, even if it means sometimes making mistakes. Through this collaboration, Scott can share his art more broadly with his fans, whether or not they are collectors of his fine art or tattoo enthusiasts.”

The Romantic Reading

Campbell understands Levine’s take on the phrase, but he has a more romantic interpretation of the words. “I love love, and I believe in making love the utmost priority, and absolutely the smartest things I’ve ever done in my life were stupid things for love,” he explains. “Any time I have told the rational side of me to take the backseat and handed the steering wheel to my instincts and passions, they’ve always steered me in the right direction.”

When he’s not wrapped up in romance, Campbell lives in L.A. and runs Saved Tattoo in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Louisiana native is also renowned for his contributions to the world of fine art, including elaborately carved sculptures made of U.S. currency, graphite drawings. and a series of watercolor paintings made during a six-week stint in a Mexico City prison. Campbell’s list of patrons is made up of influential art and design leaders, fashion designers, and a staggering number of celebrities.

Conscientious Collaboration

Partnering with artists to promote products is always a carefully thought-out process for Levine. He told Forbes magazine: “Our collaborations are all based on common passions and like-mindedness. Our criteria for collaborating is quite simple: 1. Can we create something truly special, meaning that the collaborative outcome has to go far beyond slapping one logo on another’s product. The outcome needs to show the joint effort and reflect what each collaborator is known for in their own craft. 2. Can we have fun, meaning can we push each other, challenge each other to create something unexpected whether it be the product, content related to the collaboration, or both. With each collaboration, we learn and we grow as a company and brand.”

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