Image: HallmarkHallmark has released its 2025 Dream Book catalogue, showcasing all of its new Keepsake Ornaments for the upcoming holiday season. And plenty of Nintendo franchises show up among the newcomers. Look, we know the headline here is outrageous — it's only April — but indulge us. (Thanks to VGArtAndTidbits for highlighting this on Bluesky!) Some of the new arrivals, which are launching between July and October this year, include Elephant Mario from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Princess Peach driving a kart, singing Jigglypuff, Tom Nook's nephews Timmy and Tommy from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and the decayed Master Sword from Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube808kWatch on YouTube Other video game series you'll spot are Minecraft's Polar Bears, the pink sheep from A Minecraft Movie, the Halo 3 game box, a light up Xbox 360, and the classic Super Sonic. Plus, those old school-looking Pokémon look great, right? Images: Hallmark Each of the ornament prices vary but most start at around $19.99, with the smallest ones coming in at $9.99. And we've only included a few shots here, but if you want to scroll through all of the upcoming ornaments, you can check out all of the pop culture decorations and video game ornaments in the catalogue itself. We're still waiting for a light-up N64, Hallmark, but we suppose the Elephant Mario makes up for it. Maybe. Let us know what you think of these in the comments.

Lucid has spent years working on its second EV — a plush van-like SUV designed to be the category killer that could take market share from the likes of other luxury EV and internal combustion people haulers like the Rivian R1S, Cadillac Escalade IQ, BMW X7, and Audi Q8. The Saudi-backed company’s aim was to create an SUV without compromise — a lofty goal other automakers have tried and failed at before. After a first drive in the EV, which has a starting price of $96,550, it’s clear the company did more than just focus on luxurious touches. Although there are plenty. The Lucid Gravity may just be over-engineering at its best. The EV is loaded with tech and upgrades from its predecessor, the Lucid Air sedan. Peter Rawlinson, the former Lucid CEO and CTO, who stepped aside in February, may no longer be at the company, but his engineering fingerprints are all over the new Lucid Gravity. And while customers may never see the tech under the proverbial hood, they will experience it. The Lucid Gravity has up to 450 miles of EPA-rated range, a zero to 60 mph time under 3.5 seconds, and charging times that are unheard of for current EVs. The Gravity can charge up to 200 miles in just 11 minutes on DC fast charging, according to the company, thanks to a new boost mode that leverages the rear motor as a transformer to boost charging. All of this luxury, tech, and spaciousness do come with a price. The vehicle’s price tag ranges between 96,550 for the two-row Grand Touring trim to $99,450 for the three-row version. A “cheaper” $81,550 Touring model is expected to arrive later this year. Lucid Gravity’s tech guts Image Credits:Lucid Engineers working on Gravity took what they learned from Lucid Air Sapphire and the Lucid Air, to create the company’s new Gen 2 system that underpins the SUV. That includes a new battery developed in partnership with Panasonic (which Lucid says offers a 40% charging speed improvement over the competitive set) , a new drive unit, a new thermal system, and a new charging system.  Specifically, engineers created a system that allows the Lucid Gravity to charge at 225 kW on 500-volt architecture (which underpins Tesla’s V3 chargers) chargers and at up to 400 kW on 1000-volt chargers (which underpins Tesla’s new V4 chargers that are due to roll out this year).  To do this, engineers used the Gravity’s motor and inverter as a transformer to boost 500-volt charging to the battery’s required voltage without adding extra hardware. They also implemented plug-and-charge for the system so that owners don’t have to fuss with payment and charge initiation at certain chargers.  EV charging innovation The changes are part of Tesla’s North American Charging standard that came out last year. The announcement of the standard came at a time when the development of the Gravity was nearly complete.  The updated standard required a significant rethinking of the underpinnings of the Gravity when it was roughly 70% developed in late 2022 and early 2023, according to Emad Delala, the senior vice president of powertrain at Lucid.  “When I joined in 2015, 400-volt was state of the art,” Delala said. “Quickly, we realized that we needed to take it to the next level,” he continued, “So we developed a new technology that enabled charging through a legacy 500-volt charging architecture through a future 1000-volt charging architecture. What we learned from Air in 2021 has been completely changed.” The team behind Gravity also made a number of hardware changes to add in redundancy, support its infotainment system, and to allow the company to eventually add more automated driving features to its advanced driver assistance system.  The company is using NVIDIA’s Orin-X processors for AI perception and video processing for its advanced driver assistance system, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 for infotainment, and Infineon TC397 for vehicle dynamics and body control.  Today, the Gravity offers what is known as Level 2 automated driving, a system that automates some of the driving, but still requires the driver to pay attention. Lucid is aiming to eventually offer Level 3, or L3, which typically offers hands-off, eyes-off driving on the highways in certain conditions. Its upcoming Dream Drive 2 Pro, an upgrade to its ASAS is coming soon, according to the company, and will offer features like visualization of up to five lanes of traffic, curve speed control, lane change assistance, curb rash alert, and automated parking. Lucid Gravity: cargo and passenger space Image Credits:Lucid The Gravity was designed to be spacious for occupants and their cargo. And engineers and designers achieved that goal. The interior is cavernous inside with a whopping 120 cubic feet of interior space, which Lucid says is 40% more than the closest competitor.  It turns out an effort to avoid fuses helped them get there.  The company wanted to find a way to not use fuses since they need to be regularly accessed and replaced when they blow, and they tend to take up precious interior space that could be used for cargo and passengers, according to Jean-Phillipe Gauthier, the head of software engineering at Lucid.  Instead, Lucid decided to use diffusers in the Gravity, which are essentially electronic switches. These diffusers reset automatically when the car is cycled off, respond faster to shorts in the system, eliminate the potential error of installing a fuse with the wrong amperage during replacement and allow the fuse box to be buried deeper inside the vehicle instead of encroaching on interior space. Diffusers also can power down unneeded systems and reduce parasitic losses in the vehicle.  To prove the Gravity was roomier than its competitors, the EV maker lined up a Cadillac Escalade IQ, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S and BMW X7 on hand at the event in Los Olivios, California. Reporters were challenged to take boxes that filled the Gravity (including its spacious frunk) and stack them into the EQS SUV.  It was an impossible task and with no other close competitor on hand. One fellow journalist who happens to be 6-foot, 6-inches was able to lie down in the rear of the Gravity comfortably and close the rear hatch without any issues.  Lucid Gravity on the road Image Credits:Lucid The Gravity is big and measures a whopping 198.2 inches in length and 87.2 inches wide. That puts the EV SUV slightly below the Chevrolet Suburban in size. Still, the vehicle is massive, which helps boost the interior space. Typically, full-size SUVs with that kind of footprint tend to be boomy inside and giant rollie-pollies on the road, making them uncomfortable to hustle, especially on winding roads.  Not so with the Lucid Gravity. I drove the Gravity from Nipomo, California on the Central Coast along Cuyama Highway and Tepusquet Road, a steep, one-lane, sharply winding road, to Los Olivos for my test drive and it was surprisingly enjoyable and, dare I say, fun to drive.   The Gravity is heavy (6,000-plus pounds in the three-row option I drove). I did feel some of that weight on the road. However, once I placed the vehicle in its comfort setting known as “Smooth,” it handled highway cruising and wide sweepers with ease.  I toggled it up to Swift for Tepusquet Road, and the adaptive dampers and air springs ate up the rough undulations and curves without unsettling the vehicle, or getting nauseatingly rolly at any point. It was so smooth on that winding road in the Swift setting that my passenger fell asleep.   The Gravity gets rear wheel steering when outfitted with the Dynamic Package (which adds around $,2900 to the base price), which gives you an additional 3-degrees of rear wheel steering — both in phase and out of phase depending on how quickly (or slowly) you’re moving.  That rear wheel steer increases the agility of the vehicle and take up less of the road as it drives on single-lane mountain roads and even dirt track, which I did try out at a local ranch where Lucid set up a rally cross experience for us.  Even when pushed (and sliding) through the dirt, the Gravity stayed remarkably flat and comfortable. And yes, you can do some very light off-roading with the Gravity as it gets 7-inches of ground clearance that can go up to 9-plus inches of clearance when raised.  One of the surprising things that I liked the most about Gravity was the so-called “squircal” steering wheel. Having driven other vehicles with (dumb) yokes, the squared-off circle wheel makes the Gravity feel even more agile and responsive, and the electrically-assisted rack and pinion steering is adjusted to be absolutely spot on: where you point the wheel, the vehicle goes without any mushiness.   Lucid also tuned one pedal drive to be so intuitive that I didn’t have to touch the brake once on the winding roads around Los Olivos.  All in, it’s clear that after more than four years in development, the seven-passenger all-electric SUV delivers remarkable range and efficiency, agility, and functionality for a wealthy buyer looking for an “American-made” vehicle that isn’t a Tesla.

Heritage Auctions has launched the “May 4 Star Wars Day Entertainment Signature Auction,” which will feature over 300 lots ranging from original Star Wars movie posters to screen-used props, high-end replicas, toys, comics, and artwork. The event will conclude with a live session on May 4. Leading the fleet is the Star Wars Sears Exclusive Set of 12 Carded Figures, the only graded example in existence. Also up for grabs is the Star Wars Sears Exclusive Set of 9 Carded Figures, which includes the highly coveted Boba Fett. These sets, authenticated by industry expert Tom Derby and AFA, are expected to surpass six figures at auction. “These sets represent a pivotal moment in cinematic history and were among the earliest opportunities fans had to bring the Star Wars universe into their home,” said Justin Caravoulias, Heritage’s Consignment Director of Action Figures and Toys. “Finding them in such incredible condition is exceptionally rare, and the opportunity to win treasures like these on May 4 makes this auction even more special.” Additionally, the auction features 20 pieces of original artwork from the early days of Lucas Film, including signed Star Wars Droids C-3PO Original Line Art by Alice Carter. John Alvin’s original concept paintings for the unreleased Star Wars Concert Series poster, Greg Hildebrandt’s striking portrait of Darth Vader’s funeral pyre mask, and Olivia De Berardinis’ Grogu painting are also available. “This auction is a dream for Star Wars fans and collectors alike,” Caravoulias added. “The forces vying for treasures like Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian helmet will be strong. We encourage collectors not to wait until May 4 to peruse the catalog and to decide now which item they want to take home on May 4.” Source: Heritage Auctions Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Breakdown & Showreels Captain America – Brave New World: VFX Breakdown by Outpost VFX By Vincent Frei - 15/04/2025 Sam Wilson’s wings and armor take center stage in Captain America: Brave New World, thanks to the artistry of Outpost VFX, who brought detail and realism to Marvel’s new era of flight! WANT TO KNOW MORE?Outpost VFX: Dedicated page about Captain America: Brave New World on Outpost VFX website.Alessandro Ongaro: Here’s my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Alessandro Ongaro. © Vincent Frei – The Art of VFX – 2025

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded British defense company Babcock a proof-of-concept contract to help Ukrainian personnel 3D print military equipment. As the lead contractor, Babcock will work with defense technology firm QinetiQ to create digital drawings, including computer-aided design (CAD) files of key military components. These files would enable Ukrainian forces to manufacture replacement parts locally, using 3D printing. Tom Newman, CEO of Babcock’s Land Sector, said, “We aim to give Ukraine the capability to recreate the military parts that they need, where and when it really matters. This innovation builds on our engineering expertise and technology capability, giving us further opportunities to optimise 3D printing.”Separately, Babcock is helping maintain and repair vehicles such as Challenger 2 tanks, managing spare parts and supply chains, and training the Ukraine military to carry out repairs independently. The Challenger 2 tank. Photo via UK MoD. Global military support for Ukraine A core element of the project involves reverse engineering older or legacy components that are difficult to source or no longer manufactured. By analysing their structure and function, the team aims to digitally recreate them for fabrication in the field. This approach could help Ukrainian forces maintain equipment in combat zones where conventional supply chains are disrupted or delayed. The broader significance of the effort lies in its potential to showcase how digital manufacturing can be used to support military logistics during active conflict. A validated digital catalogue of essential components would allow faster repairs and reduce downtime for high-use or frequently damaged systems. Babcock noted that the project builds on its broader expertise in engineering and field support, while QinetiQ brings specialist capabilities in materials assurance and technical validation. Alan Hart, Managing Director of Science, Technology and Weapons for QinetiQ explained that this latest contract demonstrates QinetiQ’s “commitment to support to the frontline, whether our own or those of our allies.”  This initiative adds to the UK’s ongoing military assistance to Ukraine. Away from the British, militaries from other nations reportedly contributed to Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia.   In 2023, SPEE3D delivered seven WarpSPEE3D 3D printers to Ukraine as part of the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) Ukraine Security Assistance program. To support their effective use, the company ran a 15-day training course for Ukrainian military personnel, focusing on how to operate cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) systems in the field. According to Calum Stewart, SPEE3D’s Director of Defense Programs, the technology allows soldiers to keep more equipment operational for longer durations. Similar to the XSPEE3D, the WarpSPEE3D system is designed for deployment in remote or hard-to-access areas, enabling the on-demand production of metal parts. Stewart noted that the machines are transportable and can be set up and ready for use in under an hour. Essentium is another 3D printing company providing support to Ukraine. In partnership with KVG, the company introduced its High-Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D printers at multiple sites across the country. Like SPEE3D, Essentium ensured local teams received hands-on training to keep production running smoothly and consistently. Essentium’s High-Speed Extrusion (HSE) 3D printer. Photo via Essentium. 3D printing military equipment 3D printing is increasingly being used to produce military equipment on demand, speeding up repairs, reducing supply chain reliance, and enhancing frontline readiness. Earlier this year, Creech Air Force Base’s 432nd Wing installed two Bambu Lab 3D printers to support US Air Force (USAF) maintenance training for MQ-9 Reaper drones, addressing part shortages that previously disrupted operations. As part of a new manufacturing setup, over 800 personnel can now produce replacement components on-site, helping reduce downtime and logistical strain.  Fabricated parts include those for airframe propulsion and power generation systems, with broader applications such as diagnosing aircraft damage and printing spares at the point of need. In some cases, parts that once cost thousands can now be produced in-house for a fraction of the price. In 2020, the Indian Navy partnered with Indian 3D printing bureau think3D to address spare part shortages caused by aging, imported equipment. Focusing on components like centrifugal pump impellers, think3D reverse engineered and 3D printed replacements using HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology.  The new impellers were lighter, 40% cheaper, and produced in just two days compared to three months via traditional methods. After successful shipboard testing, think3D began developing a digital repository for on-demand production and is working on a customized 3D printer capable of operating offshore with pre-loaded CAD designs to enable rapid in-situ manufacturing. What 3D printing trends should you watch out for in 2025? How is the future of 3D printing shaping up? To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook. While you’re here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays. Featured image shows the Challenger 2 tank. Photo via UK MoD.

Taschenturm Ensemble | © Ralph Feiner In the shadow of the 14th-century Taschentorturm, one of Ingolstadt’s few remaining medieval gates, BÜRO MÜHLBAUER has undertaken a quiet yet profound transformation of a derelict city farm. Once a modest ensemble of residential and agricultural uses, the site—comprising a house, barn, and inner courtyard—has been reimagined as a multi-unit residential complex. While its new life speaks to contemporary needs, its architectural vocabulary remains in active conversation with the past. Taschenturm Ensemble Technical Information Architects1-3: BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Location: Ingolstadt, Germany Area: 180 m2 | 1,940 Sq. Ft. Project Year: 2019 – 2024 Photographs: © Ralph Feiner Thanks to the close cooperation between the private investor and the architects, a sustainable use was made possible. – BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Architects Taschenturm Ensemble Photographs © Ralph Feiner Entrance | © Ralph Feiner © Ralph Feiner © Ralph Feiner © Ralph Feiner © Ralph Feiner © Ralph Feiner © Ralph Feiner A Dialogue with History and the Urban Fabric Set within the historic perimeter of Ingolstadt, the project site holds a unique corner condition that accentuates its presence in the cityscape. The proximity to the Taschentorturm, a vestige of Ingolstadt’s medieval expansion, imbues the ensemble with symbolic and spatial significance. The architectural intervention navigates this layered urban palimpsest with restraint and clarity. The ensemble’s original function—residential living and agricultural production—reflects a bygone mode of urban-rural adjacency. From the 16th century to the mid-20th century, these buildings bore witness to shifting societal patterns, culminating in their eventual abandonment. Their vacancy, however, became a latent opportunity—an architectural tabula rasa charged with historical weight. Rather than erase or romanticize the past, the architects embraced the site’s complexities. The project resists nostalgic reconstruction; instead, it positions architectural reuse as an act of continuity and responsibility. This posture foregrounds the city’s evolving identity, making heritage not an object of preservation alone but a participant in contemporary urban life. Spatial Reconfiguration and Adaptive Typologies The adaptive reuse strategy preserved the ensemble’s fundamental logic while unlocking new spatial potentials. The original house now accommodates three distinct residential units, including two maisonettes and a single-level apartment—each calibrated to the existing structural grid. The barn, previously in a state of structural precarity, was reconfigured as a vertical townhouse across three floors. This reprogramming emphasizes a spatial dialogue between historical constraint and contemporary fluidity. The townhouse unfolds in a vertical sequence culminating in the restored roof truss. This spatial crescendo exposes the structural intelligence of the original timber construction while framing new domestic experiences. Equally thoughtful is the approach to the courtyard. Once a utilitarian space centered around a dung heap, it now operates as a shared outdoor room. A raised platform gestures to the site’s agrarian past, while including native species such as climbing hydrangea and mulberry tree reinscribes the courtyard within the local ecological context. This outdoor space, accessible to all residents, embodies a rare moment of urban collectivity—intimate yet open, historical yet reimagined. Material Strategy and Construction Logic The project’s architectural language is defined by its tactility and measured intervention. Structural integrity was addressed in the barn by inserting a new concrete shell, poured on-site in three successive phases. This element, characterized by its handcrafted board-formed texture, becomes a quiet protagonist in the interior. It performs both as a load-bearing structure and as a sculptural counterpoint to the patina of the existing masonry. What might have been a conflict between old and new is resolved through material honesty and spatial calibration. The use of single-sided formwork—necessary due to the preserved outer walls—resulted in a monolithic expression of the concrete, textured with the imprint of rough-sawn boards. This roughness echoes the raw materiality of the original barn, creating a conversation rather than a contrast. Importantly, core insulation allowed the architects to retain the 200-year-old masonry without invasive retrofitting. This decision exemplifies a “minimum intervention, maximum effect” approach: energy performance is improved while the historical fabric remains legible and intact. The selective upgrade of the outer walls further underscores the studio’s commitment to precision over replacement. Architectural Significance and Sustainable Narratives BÜRO MÜHLBAUER’s intervention is as much a cultural gesture as a technical one. At a time when heritage preservation is often polarized between cosmetic facadism and total erasure, this project models a middle path—one rooted in architectural intelligence and material humility. From a sustainability perspective, the project demonstrates a multi-scalar sensibility. District heating, minimized material waste, and retaining embodied energy through reuse all contribute to a low-impact footprint. But more critically, the sustainability lies in the project’s social and urban continuity. It reinforces local identity, supports a living heritage, and offers a model of urban densification without sprawl. The collaboration between the private client and public funding agencies enabled this careful restoration, illustrating how architectural vision, policy support, and civic engagement can align. The result is a housing solution that neither mimics nor disavows the past. Instead, it proposes a living archive, where history is not preserved behind glass but inhabited and adapted. Taschenturm Ensemble Plans Ground Level | © BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Level 2 | © BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Level 3 | © BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Section | © BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Detail | © BÜRO MÜHLBAUER Taschenturm Ensemble Image Gallery About BÜRO MÜHLBAUER ​BÜRO MÜHLBAUER is an architecture firm based in Ingolstadt, Germany, specializing in residential architecture. The firm is led by Andreas B. Mühlbauer, who served as the city architect of Eichstätt from 1990 to 2000, became an independent architect in Ingolstadt, and was appointed to the BDA (Association of German Architects) in 1999. ​ Credits and Additional Notes Collaborators: Alexander Mühlbauer, Andreas B. Mühlbauer, Andreas J. Mühlbauer Landscape Architecture: Maurus Schifferli Artist: Michael Schölß

Go bold without straying into kitsch—these statement-making wallcoverings are elevated and artful without being overly noisy. (Courtesy BACKDROP x XAVIER DONNELLY) APPIAN WAY PANEL SET BACKDROP x XAVIER DONNELLY (Courtesy Pierre Frey and Emily Jackson) Emily Pierre Frey and Emily Jackson (Courtesy Moooi x Arte International) The Green House Wallcovering Collection Moooi x Arte International (Courtesy Schumacher) Good Dogs Everywhere Schumacher (Courtesy House of Hackney) The Season of the Tree House of Hackney

3RW Arkitekter and Nord Architects’ design for Oslo’s Furuset Hageby creates a micro-environment where  people with dementia are gently encouraged to lead active lives As dementia progresses, lines begin to blur. The past and the present meld together and fragment. The place you thought you were a moment ago is no longer where you find yourself. There is confusion and sadness, sometimes even anger, before it all begins again. Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia are conditions that affect more than memory and cognition – they also cause disorientation and ‘visuospatial’ difficulties, diminishing patients’ understanding of how things interrelate in three‑dimensional space, with serious implications for safeguarding and general wellbeing.  Such conditions pose architectural challenges unique in healthcare infrastructure. The response, in the past few decades, has been the emergence of the ‘dementia village’. As Annmarie Adams and Sally Chivers observe in their 2021 e‑flux essay ‘Deception and Design: The Rise of the Dementia Village’, this new typology of care ‘is a direct counterpoint to the uncaring institution, the traditional nursing home, and its long list of much maligned architectural features – the car‑dependent entrance, double‑loaded and crowded corridors, identical rooms, enclosed courtyards’. Instead, the dementia village seeks to create an enclosed and perambulatory environment shaped around the specific visuospatial needs of those with diminished cognition and memory.  Furuset Hageby in Oslo, designed by Bergen‑based 3RW Arkitekter and Copenhagen‑based healthcare specialists Nord Architects, is the latest addition to this typology. The word hageby, meaning ‘garden city’, provokes images of low‑rise housing units flanked by tree‑lined streets and lush meadows. The centre is in fact located in a rapidly expanding neighbourhood typical of Oslo’s outskirts, and currently abuts an enormous construction site, dust‑filled and noisy with heavy machinery in the process of erecting a huge apartment complex. This area is a hotspot of activity for the municipality – alongside the new housing, the dementia village neighbours a brand new school, and across the surrounding sports fields, there are kindergartens and playgrounds abuzz with activity.  On the day of my visit, Furuset Hageby was marking its first anniversary. I was met by Helge Lien, a representative of the client Omsorgsbygg, a branch of the municipal property developer, Sykehjemsetaten, which is tasked with building care homes and other healthcare facilities in Oslo. ‘We would like the local community to take part in the life here,’ says Lien of the location. ‘We want to invite kindergarten children to take part in activities, and for the local residents to use the roof garden to grow vegetables and plants.’ ‘By contrast to a fenced facility, the village itself creates the boundary in Furuset Hageby’ You enter the village through its green administration building, one of what the architects call ‘special houses’. Inside is a bright, double‑height space with windows facing into one of the interior courtyards, where people walk past as if window‑shopping on a high street. There are three special houses – the green administration building, a red cultural centre and a shiny, glass greenhouse – each with its own visual identity. Together, they create a subtle hierarchy and variety of building types that emulate what you might find in ordinary small town centres around Norway.  The village structure has found its own Norwegian flavour in this project by employing a specific type of rural urbanity. Historically, small agricultural communities were built around tun, meaning a dense cluster of buildings that shelter the inner communal areas from the elements. The tun form a sort of cityscape in miniature, with a main thoroughfare and alleys running between the dwellings and specialised farm buildings. Here, the function is sheltering a vulnerable user group from the surrounding world rather than farmers from the whipping rain. ‘Of all the dementia villages we have seen, this one is the most village‑like,’ says Sixten Rahlff, principal architect at 3RW. ‘A lot of traditional dementia homes reuse a building and put a fence around it, to make patients safe within that setting. Here the village itself creates the boundary.’ To be within this care facility properly is also to be outside, in the courtyards and along a step‑free ‘green loop’ that runs on top of the roofs of the lower buildings. As the terrain of the site sits on a slope, the character of this perambulatory route shifts from urban, surrounded by buildings on all sides, to a gradually more green, natural and lush setting. As the building mass steps down below the pathway, the views open towards the surrounding neighbourhood, parkways and sports fields. This was the main reason the project won the competition, Rahlff explains. The sloping site allowed the buildings to terrace downwards, and the rooftops to make way for the walkway, which always leads patients back to the same spot.  This simple idea behind the green loop symbolises a lot of the intention in the conceptual thinking around the project as a whole, providing the cognitively impaired patients autonomy and freedom, while simultaneously avoiding situations that might create discomfort or confusion in the first place, such as suddenly finding yourself at the end of a corridor or pathway, without any memory of how the dead end was reached. ‘In conventional nursing homes, patients move in when they are so old and sick that they are physically unable to take care of themselves,’ notes Johannes Molander Pedersen of Nord Architects. ‘But at a dementia centre, patients’ physical state may be good.’ The opportunity to move about is beneficial to the residents, and encouraged. Dementia patients are an incredibly diverse patient group. The youngest inhabitants at Furuset are in their thirties, housed in a special division for younger patients. At present, this group is a minority here, but you would be forgiven for assuming that their presence had a bigger part to play in the design than it does, as so much of the project is centred around activity. When pleasant and safe outdoor areas are available at all times of day, and when going for a walk in the spring sun is not something that has to be arranged a day in advance, the health benefits multiply tenfold. This appears to bear out quantitatively too. In its first year in operation, staff at Furuset Hageby have observed a decline in the need for certain medications, says head of Furuset Hageby, Anne Gry Neby. ‘The freedom that the concept of living gives the residents allows physical activity throughout the day,’ she explains, ‘and we are observing less use of antipsychotic and sedative medications for patients compared with before moving to Furuset Hageby.’ Researchers from Oslo Met are currently studying the effect, and will report their findings at a later date. ‘Staff have observed a decline in the need for certain medications since moving to Furuset Hageby’ At all scales, and inside and out, effort has been made to disguise the centre’s institutional programmes. The common social areas, such as the bar and restaurant, the library and the common rooms of the different dwelling units are warm, intimate and homely. Natural materials and colourful surfaces counteract the aesthetic effects of the mandatory fittings and trimmings of a healthcare institution. Corner and wall protectors and hygienic ceiling systems are in constant negotiation with the concept of the home, which is what Furuset is ultimately meant to be. Here they have found a gentle middle‑ground. The dementia village is ‘purposely anti‑medical’, Adams and Chivers suggest. ‘That is, medical care is disguised.’ According to a recent study published by The Lancet, cases of dementia are expected to triple globally by 2050, and as our understanding of the disease grows, it becomes increasingly clear that the current standard of care does not sufficiently meet the needs of patients whose condition is far more complex than merely that of ageing bodies. Furuset Hageby, coming to the end of its first year in operation, approaches its users with both care and determination, and points the way forward in the continuing process of finding better ways to care for this rapidly growing patient group.

All images © Dmytro Soloviov, courtesy of Fuel, shared with permission ‘Ukrainian Modernism’ Chronicles the Nation’s Midcentury Architectural Marvels April 15, 2025 Kate Mothes During the Soviet era, modernist architecture rose to popularity as a means to express power, prestige, and views toward the future following World War II. Across Eastern Europe, asymmetric details, geometric rooflines, circular footprints, monumental murals, and blocky brutalist structures rose in defiance of pre-war classical and vernacular styles. In Ukrainian Modernism, Kyiv-based photographer and researcher Dmytro Soloviov’s first book, the nation’s under-recognized mid-20th-century built heritage takes center stage. “Ukraine’s modernist buildings are an extraordinary blend of function, avant-garde aesthetics and ingenious design, but despite these qualities, they remain largely unrecognised,” says a statement from FUEL, which will release the book later this month. Soloviov chronicles a buildings that are often stigmatized for their inception during the Soviet era and subsequent neglect and redevelopment over time. In the face of the nation’s struggle to overcome Russia’s ongoing incursion, war continues to threaten historic buildings. Ukrainian Modernism combines Soloviov’s contemporary photos with archival images, exploring the breadth of the region’s architectural marvels. Preorder your copy on FUEL’s website. Next article

Published April 15, 2025 10:00am EDT close Improve password security with your Windows PC From face recognition to dynamic lock, there are options you may be unfamiliar with. Windows 11 is the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft, but it has its flaws, so much so that even four years after its release, some people are sticking with older versions. Windows 10 remains the operating system of choice for many, even though Microsoft has shifted its focus entirely to Windows 11. In fact, the Redmond-based company will end security updates for Windows 10 this October.If that’s not enough to push you toward upgrading, the latest news might be. The 240 million Windows 10 users are vulnerable to dozens of security vulnerabilities, six of which are reportedly already being exploited by bad actors.STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S ‘THE CYBERGUY REPORT’ NOW A person typing on a Windows laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Critical Windows 10 security flaws exploitedThe vulnerabilities in question were part of a recent Microsoft Patch Tuesday update, a monthly release where the company addresses security flaws. In this case, six specific exploits were identified as being actively used by hackers to target Windows 10 systems. These exploits are particularly alarming because they are already in the wild, meaning attackers are leveraging them to compromise systems before all users have had a chance to update their devices. The affected population, estimated at 240 million, refers to users whose PCs cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations, such as lacking TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) or other system requirements.The six exploits include a mix of flaws that allow hackers to achieve various malicious outcomes, such as executing arbitrary code, escalating privileges to take full control of a system or bypassing security features. For example, one exploit might overload system memory to overwrite critical data (a buffer overflow), while another could allow attackers to access sensitive information by exploiting a flaw in the Windows Kernel. These vulnerabilities are especially dangerous because they can be triggered remotely or through seemingly innocuous actions, like opening a malicious file or mounting a compromised virtual hard disk. Windows laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)A fix is there (for now)Microsoft has released patches to address these issues, and America’s Cyber Defense Agency has urged users to update their systems immediately, ideally by this month, or risk severe consequences. The agency even suggested turning off unpatched computers as a precaution. Updating to the latest Windows 10 patch is the simplest and most effective way to protect against these exploits right now.However, a bigger problem looms later this year. Microsoft will officially end free security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After that, systems running Windows 10 will no longer receive critical security patches, unless users enroll in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.This ESU program will be available to individual users for the first time and will cost $30 per device for one additional year of updates. It’s designed to give users more time to transition, especially those who can’t upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations. While this offers a temporary reprieve, it's not a long-term solution; the ESU program will only extend support for a limited time (typically three years in enterprise settings) and prices may increase annually.The scale of the problem remains significant. Millions of devices lack the hardware requirements for Windows 11, such as TPM 2.0 and newer CPUs, making the shift costly or impractical for some. Analysts warn this could contribute to a surge in electronic waste, unless recycling and repurposing efforts improve dramatically.How to keep your Windows devices up to dateIf you’re a Windows 10 user, the immediate step is to ensure your system is updated with the latest patches. Follow the steps below to do that:Select StartClick SettingsClick Windows UpdateClick Check For UpdatesIf a feature update is available for your device, it will appear separately on the Windows update pageTo install it, click Download and Install now Windows update (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3 additional ways to stay safe from Windows vulnerabilities1) Use strong antivirus software: Even with the latest patches, no system is entirely immune to threats. Strong antivirus software can act as a second line of defense, detecting and neutralizing malware that exploits vulnerabilities before they cause harm. Look for solutions with real-time protection and frequent updates to tackle emerging threats. While this won’t fix unpatched system flaws after October 2025, it can reduce risks from common attack vectors like phishing or malicious downloads. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.2) Limit exposure: Many exploits rely on user interaction, such as clicking a shady link, downloading a compromised file or mounting an untrusted virtual disk. Stick to reputable websites, avoid opening unsolicited email attachments and use a browser with built-in security features (like Microsoft Edge or Chrome with Safe Browsing enabled).3) Plan for the future: The clock is ticking on Windows 10’s security updates. If your hardware can’t handle Windows 11, weigh your long-term options. Buying a new PC might be inevitable, but you could also explore alternatives like Linux, which offers free, secure operating systems (e.g., Ubuntu or Linux Mint) that run well on older hardware.Kurt’s key takeawayThe road ahead for Windows 10 users is anything but smooth. With critical vulnerabilities emerging and official support coming to an end, millions are being pushed into a difficult decision. They can upgrade their hardware, pay for temporary patches or continue using increasingly vulnerable systems. As October draws closer, the risks will only increase. Updating your system is essential, but it’s just a short-term measure. Now is the time to start preparing for what comes after, before the window of protection closes for good.Do you think tech companies are doing enough to prevent hackers from obtaining your data? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.