Hradby Residence / OOOOXSave this picture! Martin ZemanArchitects: OOOOXAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:300 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Martin ZemanManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Vibia, DCW EDITIONS, &Tradition, Bomma, Delta Light, KARMAN, Luceplan, Magis, Marset, NORR11, Pianca, prostoria Lead Architects: Radka Valov, Petr Vlach More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Realization of Hradby ranks among our most popular reconstructions. The object itself was interesting. Fortification guard house with a history dating back to the Middle Ages, vaulted ceilings on the ground floor, wooden painted ceilings on the first floor, original tiled stove. Enlightened clients, who approached the reconstruction very carefully and responsibly, were an absolutely essential ingredient of this realization. The goal was to restore as many elements as possible and to complement the entire space sensitively with a modern interior. When we got involved in the project, the layouts of the individual floors were given. The social part of the house is located on the entrance floor - a large living room with a dining room, a separate kitchen and a guest room in the original unnecessary garage. Upstairs, there is another living room and bedroom with bathrooms.Save this picture!The ground floor, as is the case with similar objects, suffers from moisture. The original stone wall was very damp. So, we followed the path of cutting away the plaster, exposing the walls and vaults so that the structures could breathe. Only the lower part of the perimeter walls is provided with rehabilitation plaster. These had to be done repeatedly in order to get the maximum amount of moisture out of the walls. The other internal plasters are glazed and finely polished, which is how we achieved very interesting reflections and structure. The vaults have been reinforced with helical braces, and the light outlets are made from the upper floor to keep the vaults visually compact. The floors are partially ventilated using an "igloo"; drainage is placed around the perimeter of the walls. The stairs to the upper floor were in very bad condition. Here, too, we used exposed stone walls and highlighted the structure with an illuminated handrail. This creates a dramatic play of lights and shadows and contrasts between the plastered wall and the rough stone wall, which is divided by the line of the handrail. Even the stairs had to be ventilated from below.Save this picture!Save this picture!The entire interior is ventilated by recuperation, the wiring is hidden in here, and the vents are equipped with period cast iron grills so that they do not visually disturb the interior. The upper floor is completely different. Here, on the other hand, wooden structures are already appearing. The asphalt coating was removed from the original planks on the floor, and the planks were very carefully hand-brushed and oiled to a gray tone. This floor also has the original tiled stove, which has been restored. The floor in front of the stove was supplemented with attic tiles (brick paving) from the bazaar. All floors are made without slats, only with flexible expansion. In addition to the period tiled stoves, this floor has unique painted beamed ceilings.Save this picture!The white paint was largely removed from them, and the original paintings were restored using reactive stains. We illuminated all these painted ceilings indirectly, creating a very pleasant lighting effect in the bedrooms. Here, too, we left the plaster "untightened" with exposed brickwork under the ceilings. In the attic, the original roof was preserved to the maximum extent and supplemented with above-rafter insulation. Thanks to this, the original roof remained visible in the interior and not hidden in the structure. The advantage is that it is possible to supervise the condition of the original structures. Locally necessary beam replacements were hand-hewn with a chisel to match the structure as much as possible. The deck padding is precisely made without moldings.Save this picture!However, the whole house is not only made in the traditional spirit. Contemporary technology, such as underfloor heating with a heat pump and recuperation, was sensitively installed throughout the interior. In addition, the heating is complemented by a fireplace insert in the living room. The interior, as such, is done in a contemporary spirit. The exposed stonework is painted in gray tones, and the passages through the powerful load-bearing walls are framed by a thin cladding of raw waxed steel. The floors on the ground floor are in tiles of a smaller format, folded "dovetail". The dining room is dominated by a large circular dining table with engraved coordinates that record important life moments for clients. A dominant multi-armed chandelier is placed above the dining table. The kitchen space with vaults gave rise to an atypical kitchen unit that respects the arches of the vaults and at the same time has everything you need. The furniture, like all built-in furniture in the house, is completely ventilated. The central island is made of solid wood with a stainless steel worktop, and the other parts of the furniture have steel doors.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeOOOOXOfficePublished on March 29, 2025Cite: "Hradby Residence / OOOOX" 29 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028524/hradby-residence-oooox&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Ever had poison ivy? If so, you probably noticed that scratching made the rash much worse. But scratching an itch, especially one as intense as that caused by poison ivy, is nigh irresistible and feels so satisfying.If you think about it, says Daniel Kaplan, who is a dermatologist and immunologist at the University of Pittsburgh, thats a little curious. When comparing this action to pain, pain causes you to stop what youre doing and tend to the wound. But the pain also creates a memory that tells you not to repeat whatever you were doing when you got hurt or to wear gloves the next time you prune the roses.From an evolutionary standpoint, theres a clear and obvious benefit to that pain, he says. But with scratching, the damage feels good. Its as if when you cut yourself with a knife, you were immediately compelled to grab the knife and do it again. Wheres the advantage in that?Because itching and scratching have been observed throughout evolution dogs scratch, cats scratch, fish scratch there must be some benefit to it, says Kaplan. Scratching can help remove mites and other irritants from the skin, of course, but that doesnt explain why we scratch rashes.Why Scratching Makes the Rash WorseTo solve this enigma, Kaplan and his team began by looking into why scratching makes rashes worse. Their research was published this January in Science.The answer involves mast cells. Mast cells are activated by allergens (poison ivy, for example), causing inflammation and itching. The researchers showed that scratching activates pain-sensing neurons, causing them to release substance P (a neurotransmitter involved in pain signaling and inflammation), which in turn activates mast cells via a second pathway. So, by activating mast cells through two different pathways, scratching triggers even more inflammation on top of the inflammation that made you itch in the first place. And thats why scratching makes the itch worse.The Benefit of ScratchingSo Kaplan and his team discovered how scratching makes the rash worse. But whats the benefit to all this? So far, it seems as if scratching = bad. Case closed. But not so fast. Mast cells also play a role in protecting the skin from harmful bacteria. Indeed, the team found that scratching reduces the presence of Staphylococcus aureus on the skin. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common culprit responsible for skin infections.To Scratch or Not to Scratch?So, whats the takeaway here? Should you scratch or not? Kaplan says thats the question people always ask him. The answer, he says, is simple: Dont scratch. Thats because the bacterial infection is rare; the bigger risk is the allergic reaction thats causing the itching, he says. Scratching will just make your rash worse and your life more miserable.Christopher Brooks agrees and adds that scratching breaks down the skin barrier, which can lead to worsening of conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Brooks is an allergist and immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. However, he stresses that while these findings do help explain why we itch, we should still try to scratch as little as possible. Avoiding scratching wont make you more likely to get a skin infection.Kaplan hopes this research, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the German Research Foundation, will lead to better therapies for eczema.I think it's quite possible the reason [previous] trials failed is they were silencing the wrong pathway on mast cells. Kaplan adds that his experiments were done on mice (mice who were wearing tiny, adorable Elizabethan ruffs, no less) and have not yet been done on humans.Read More: Why Scratching an Itch Feels So GoodArticle SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Avery Hurt is a freelance science journalist. In addition to writing for Discover, she writes regularly for a variety of outlets, both print and online, including National Geographic, Science News Explores, Medscape, and WebMD. Shes the author of Bullet With Your Name on It: What You Will Probably Die From and What You Can Do About It, Clerisy Press 2007, as well as several books for young readers. Avery got her start in journalism while attending university, writing for the school newspaper and editing the student non-fiction magazine. Though she writes about all areas of science, she is particularly interested in neuroscience, the science of consciousness, and AIinterests she developed while earning a degree in philosophy.

Everything you need to know to photograph a meteor shower, from choosing the right time to camera settings, and some advanced techniques for creating meteor images you can be proud of.

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Xalavier Nelson Jr. visits us to talk about TMNT: Tactical Takedown.

Even if Red Dead Redemption 3 doesn't see the return of the Van Der Linde gang, it should have an equivalent group. The Van Der Lindes were a major driving force for the first two games in the series, with both of their protagonists being prominent members. Whether Red Dead Redemption 3's protagonist will have any association with the game is still up in the air, as is most information about the game (or even the franchise). Whether the gang is seen again or not, the Van Der Lindes have one undeniable strength, and Red Dead Redemption 3 would be wise to remember that.

A Red Dead Redemption 2 fan shared their surprise at spotting a deer in an odd place in the game. Red Dead Redemption 2 is full of surprises, but some of them aren't necessarily intentional on the part of the game's developers.

As Disney keeps rolling out live-action versions of its classic animated movies, costume and production designers keep facing the challenge of making attractive animated images look equally good in the real world.Consider the Disney Princess characters: They all have iconic dresses that look gorgeous in their original animated outings (except Aladdins Jasmine, who rocks a pants-and-crop-top combination). In animation, these gowns are all spectacular. But how do they match up in live action?So far, seven princesses from the official Disney Princess lineup have gotten live-action remake movies. The latest, Snow White, gives its protagonist a deeply disappointing wardrobe, which prompted us to look back and see which remake team did and didnt understand the assignment.Like any good ranking, this one has a set of rules.I only included theatrically released Disney live-action movies sorry to the Descendants-verse and the Brandy Cinderella!I am only considering princesses from the official Disney Princess lineup. This means Jasmine makes the cut, even though she isnt the titular character in Aladdin, but Mia Wasikowska as Alice in Tim Burtons take on Alice in Wonderland doesnt. Take it up with Disney!Some characters have more than one Defining Gown. Ill be evaluating their wardrobes as a whole, in which case a passable extra outfit could make up for a terrible main dress. Or not!No sequel dresses included. Sorry, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil!Im also not necessarily looking for fidelity to the animated version. Sometimes thats not a good thing (cough, Snow White, cough). The outfits should simply look good, even if they arent necessarily direct replicas.In order from worst to best, here are all the live-action Disney Princesses and their wardrobes, ranked.7. Snow White in Snow White (2025)Designer: Sandy Powell; Princess: Rachel ZeglerIve seen Halloween costumes that look better than this dress. I feel like I can tell exactly what sort of thick, foam-like material makes up the sleeves. Im also zeroing in on the cheap vinyl stuff in the collar thats suspended between some stiff wires. The skirt is this plastic-looking tulle monstrosity thats a shade of yellow not even in the original animation.Yes, the original Snow White dress does have some questionable color choices, but the live-action solution is not to crank the saturation up on the red, blue, and yellow. Snow Whites plot-relevant necklace a gift from her father with four bland adjectives to inspire her looks like something I could order off Etsy for $20. Its just lazy! I dont know where Snow Whites nearly $300 million budget went, but it certainly was not the wardrobe.Snows other dresses in this movie are so briefly worn and so unremarkable that they cant save the travesty of the main one.6. Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2017)Costume designer: Jacqueline Durran; Princess: Emma WatsonBelles core wardrobe isnt terrible. The blue-and-white dress she wears in the village actually looks like a nice updated version of her animated going-to-town outfit. And her red winter cloak has some lovely embroidery. But when it comes to her big showstopping gown, the one she wears during the romantic ballroom scene woof.For starters, unlike her other dresses, it looks so distinctly modern. And not even in a fun, anachronistic way! I dont give a hoot about whether or not she wore a corset, but its tiering and silhouette just looks more like late-2010s prom dress than 18th-century French ballgown.Her finale dress is thankfully a bit better, at least in terms of the shape, but the pattern looks like a tea towel Id find in a grandmas kitchen.5. Jasmine in Aladdin (2019)Costume designer: Michael Wilkinson; Princess: Naomi ScottIm a bit torn about Jasmines outfits, which are so gaudy and over the top, they almost feel like a parody of the original movie. But then again, the entire movie plays into that aesthetic, so her looks do cohesively fit in. The turquoise ensemble that most directly imitates her animated counterpart is the best, since the others start to encroach on discordant color clashing. They might be splashy, but at least they dont look cheap!They do, however, look more like they belong in the Broadway show bright and glittery, so even audiences in the cheap seats can appreciate them. But up close, they look a little too intense.4. Mulan in Mulan (2020) Costume designer: Bina Daigeler; Princess: Liu YifeiFor the most part, Mulans wardrobe is understandably utilitarian. After all, she spends most of the movie in the military, wearing an official uniform. It works! She has one other dress the gown she wears when her family hauls her off to see the matchmaker. Its different from the animated version, but it still serves the purpose of showing that Mulan isnt comfortable in a fancy dress.3. Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2023)Costume designer: Colleen Atwood; Princess: Halle BaileyAriel basically gets two dresses when shes in human form, and both of them are callbacks to her animated movie gowns, while still fitting in with the new movies visual aesthetic. One is the blue dress she wears while exploring the town with Eric, which in the movie looks like its made of a very light, breathable material thats still super cute. Its now a pretty seafoam green, and the beachy design feels right in line with the Caribbean-inspired setting!The other is the pink ballgown she wears to dinner with Eric and Grimsby, the one where she uses a fork to comb her hair. Lets be real: The original bright pink dress never really worked with Ariels ketchup-red hair. But the live action mutes the colors a bit, making it the softer pink of a conch shell. Its definitely supposed to be inspired by that pink ballgown with the puffy sleeves, but it has its own distinct look, evoking seafaring pirate-y attire.2. Aurora in Maleficent (2014)Costume designer: Ellen Mirojnick; Princess: Elle FanningMaleficent is told from the point of view of Angelina Jolies eponymous dark fairy, but the gowns her adopted daughter Aurora wears definitely give main-character energy. They really fit the movies dark medieval-fantasy aesthetic, with delicate embroidery and more muted (but still gorgeous) color palettes. The blue gown shes wearing when she pricks her finger in the castle doesnt look like the animated version, but it has a lovely, elegant silhouette, and it works better in this context, since the character isnt dressed up for a ball.She ends the movie in a particularly gorgeous gold gown with some intricate floral detailing, which really hammers home the whole child raised by fairies in a magical forest vibe!1. Cinderella in Cinderella (2015)Costume designer: also Sandy Powell; Princess: Lily JamesI have this understandably ridiculous theory that every cent of the live-action-Disney-movie costume budget, past, future, and present, went to Cinderella, leaving nothing for any other Disney live-action redux. This has to be the case, because apparently the costume designer behind the travesty that is the 2025 Snow White is also responsible for Cinderella, and I genuinely cannot think of another explanation as to why the difference in quality between the two is so vast.Every costume Cinderella wears even her servant-girl outfit! looks so ethereal. The pink dress her stepsisters destroy is beautiful, and the wedding dress she wears in the finale, with its gorgeous flower accents, is absolutely stunning.But the pice de rsistance is her iconic ballgown. Its clearly inspired by the animated movie, but Powell gave it an identity of its own. It looks like a watercolor painting come to life, and moves with such elegance that its hard not to gawk at Cinderella as she glides across the ballroom. No wonder everyone in the kingdom immediately falls in love with her, the prince included.Perhaps Powell knew her Disney live-action remake career peaked in 2015, and she didnt lift a finger for the 2025 Snow White? I get it. Why mess with perfection?

Most video game art books follow a certain template: Load up on concept art, show how the game evolved during production, add some commentary to connect the dots. Some lean more heavily on a studios history and others focus on technique, but its a proven formula that, in the best cases, has produced books that are themselves works of art.Ive been especially impressed by Thatgamecompanys books over the years, though, because of what theyve added to that template. Starting with The Art of Journey in 2012 and following with The Art of Sky in 2024, the studio has checked all the boxes youd expect from an art book, then layered on custom interactive extras.In The Art of Journey, that meant releasing an augmented reality companion app that let you see character models pop out of the book, and in The Art of Sky, it meant letting players scan a star to unlock a replica of the book in the game (which they could then use to learn about the games development from within the game itself). Both set a new bar by including digital bonus features as part of the art book experience.As part of an effort to spotlight game-related books and documentaries, Polygon is running an email interview series with the people behind them. Check out the full list to read up on a Mega Man book, a Housemarque documentary, and others. Below, The Art of Sky book project director Cecil Kim and STAR feature designer Julian Jimsa discuss the history behind Thatgamecompanys books and how the STAR feature came about.Polygon: Back at Sony, you worked on some books with a group called Bluecanvas. Can you give a little history on what Bluecanvas was (is?) and what your involvement was in it?Cecil Kim: While working at Sony, I met Justin Yun, the founder of Bluecanvas, an art magazine and online community platform similar to ArtStation but with a stronger focus on traditional art. I eventually joined the company as a partner and chief creative officer, helping spin off a game studio that became Section Studios. Thanks to my relationship with Sony, we were able to work on Art of Journey in 2012. We also published several game art books, including Art of Order 1886, Art of God of War Ascension, and Art of Homeworld. When we first discussed creating an art book for Sky, it felt almost like dj vu, as both games were developed by Thatgamecompany! I also had [the privilege of] working closely with both Matt Nava [and] Jenova Chen on Art of Journey.Would you draw a direct connection from those Bluecanvas books to The Art of Sky?Kim: Yes, Bluecanvas was a boutique studio where creativity was our top priority, and we maintained a strong collaborative relationship with developers. Rather than simply handing off artwork images and writing captions for each piece, we aimed to create something that was more in line with the games experience and narrative structure. Art of Journey set a high bar for both quality and content, so we definitely referenced it and sought to continue the legacy of beautiful art books from Thatgamecompany.What kinds of trial and error went into getting the STAR feature working in The Art of Sky? Were there other physical/digital crossover ideas you considered?Julian Jimsa: We had two goals in mind with the STAR feature: to feel like a directors commentary, and also a scavenger hunt. We wanted to give our players a behind the scenes look of the levels they know and love. It took many iterations to find the correct visual effects to expose the nature of our levels, and lots of time went into deciding which objects to frame during the cutscenes to enhance those visuals. Iterating on the flow of the experience was also crucial, especially because we wanted this to be a social, multiplayer feature that players could enjoy together.Asking on behalf of my bookshelf: Why did you decide to make the Sky book similar dimensions to the Journey book, but not exactly the same dimensions as the Journey book?Kim: The choice of dimension wasnt based on a specific reason, other than our desire to make the book easier to hold, especially since we knew the Sky art book would have more pages than the Journey art book.

Amazons latest sales event is underway. The so-called Spring Sale runs through March 31, and while it mostly focuses on things like apparel and outdoor goods, it still includes a handful of discounts on electronics. Per usual with these big Amazon events, most of those arent anything special.But if youre on a budget and looking to grab a new gadget on the cheap, weve rounded up a few actually decent tech deals that are available now and priced below $50. Some of the discounts below have technically been live for a few days, but a good price is a good price, and the offers include several devices we recommend in our various buying guides. Well update this guide with the latest discounts throughout the sale. Best Amazon Spring Sale deals under $50 Anker PowerConf C200 for $48 ($12 off MSRP): The PowerConf C200 is our favorite webcam for those on a tighter budget due to its crisp video quality, easy setup, solid microphones and built-in privacy cover. Its USB cable is on the shorter side, and it cant match the overall accuracy of our top pick, but its still a clear upgrade over a built-in laptop camera for a much lower price. This is another deal weve seen numerous times in the last year, but its as low as the camera usually goes. Also at Anker. Anker 525 Charging Station for $30 ($36 off): We recommend this reliable desktop charging station in our remote worker gift guide. It cant provide the absolute fastest charge to your smartphone or laptop (topping out at a quick enough 67W), but it packs four USB ports two USB-C, two USB-A and three AC outlets in a frame thats small enough to fit on a crowded desk. This deal ties the lowest price weve seen. Also at Anker. Anker Nano Charger 30W for $13 ($10 off): Its hard to have too many portable wall chargers on standby. This one from Anker should be particularly useful for traveling: At just over an inch thick, its small enough to fit in a pocket, while its 30W USB-C port is enough to top up recent iPhones at full speed. (Thats not enough for some newer Android phones, though.) This discount matches the lowest price weve seen. Also at Anker. Amazon Music Unlimited 3-month trial for free ($24 off): Amazon is offering new subscribers three months of its Music Unlimited streaming service for free. Normally, it gives new users a one-month trial. Though Music Unlimited isnt a top pick in our guide to the best music services, it still gets you lossless streaming quality and an extensive library of both music and podcasts. You could do worse if you just want to bum a few months of music streaming for no cost. Just note that your subscription will auto-renew once the trial period ends until you cancel. Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $20 ($15 off): This is the budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It can only play up to 1080p, so its really meant for older or smaller TVs that you want to modernize with streaming apps. Its a bit more sluggish than Amazons higher-end 4K sticks, too, and all Fire TV devices tend to promote Amazon-owned services like Prime Video above all else. Still, it works with nearly all the major streaming apps, and its remote has Alexa built-in, so you can control your TV and certain smart home devices with voice commands. It also supports basic HDR10 but not Dolby Vision plus it can pass-through Dolby Atmos audio to a compatible soundbar or receiver. You could do worse if you just want the cheapest streamer possible. This deal is $2 higher than the all-time low we saw during the holidays, but it matches the best price weve tracked otherwise. Also at Best Buy. Blink Mini 2 for $20 ($20 off): This deal ties the lowest price to date for the Blink Mini 2, which is the budget pick in our guide to the best security cameras. This one comes with its share of trade-offs for the low price its image quality isnt the best, it locks certain features behind a paywall and it wont automatically arm when you leave the house but it still provides functional 1080p video, color night vision, motion alerts and Alexa support in a weather-resistant frame. Its fairly simple to set up, too, though youll need to buy an external module if you want to store clips locally. Also at Best Buy and The Home Depot. Chipolo One for $20 ($5 off): The Chipolo One is the top overall pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers. While Apples AirTag can tap into a substantially larger crowd-sourcing network, weve found the One to send separation alerts faster when youve left an item behind and ring louder when youre back in its vicinity. Unlike the AirTag, it can also attach directly to a keychain. It probably isnt the safest choice for long-distance travel, but its a convenient security blanket if you, say, leave your keys or wallet behind at a restaurant. This is another discount thats been available for a few weeks, but its just 10 cents more the best price weve seen.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-spring-sale-tech-deals-under-50-the-best-discounts-on-chargers-earbuds-accessories-and-more-091512674.html?src=rss