Night falls over Shanghai, yet a glossy monovolume still glows on the show floor. That glow is intentional. Mercedes-Benz has expanded its design language into a fresh segment with the Vision V concept, an electric lounge on wheels that straddles the line between limousine and multipurpose vehicle, while steering clear of every cliché. The study rides on the upcoming Van Electric Architecture, but it is the sculpted bodywork, kinetic lighting, and lavish cabin that steal first impressions. Inside, a retractable cinema screen and forty‑two speaker Dolby Atmos array hint at evenings parked beside the Huangpu River with movies filling the glass. Vision V courts families, executives, and weekend gamers in equal measure, proving size can serve serenity when the layout feels art‑directed rather than arranged. Designer: Karsten Riis Jensen Design boss Karsten Riis Jensen describes the show car as a “space of clarity.” His phrase tracks. From the polished aluminum seat bases to the burr‑wood display cabinets, every surface reads like a chapter in a well‑edited magazine. There is no disconnect between the cockpit and the rear lounge; instead, a deliberate gradient exists from driver focus to passenger indulgence. The result looks nothing like the heritage G‑Class, yet the three‑pointed star still guides attention in the dark. Sculptural exterior Mercedes-Benz Vision V Vision V stands noticeably lower than most vans, and that hunkered stance begins with the short front overhang where twin power domes reference past Mercedes sports cars while directing airflow over the windshield. A narrow waist runs the length of the body before tapering into a rounded tail, creating one gentle S‑curve that feels more yacht than shuttle. The sides remain mostly unbroken, so reflections of city lights track along the paint without visual noise. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Chrome window surrounds and polished B-pillar edges add a touch of elegance without slipping into ostentation. Hidden door handles keep the sheet metal uninterrupted, and a single “portal” door on the passenger side slides wide with a powered running board that illuminates the ground for a graceful entry. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Mercedes-Benz Vision V Up front, three horizontal glass louvres glow inside a chrome grille surround. Nearly 200 additional LED-filled louvres frame the opening. When the keyholder approaches, those louvres ripple outward in a choreographed light show before the bonnet star bursts to full brightness. Function follows the theater because each lower strip doubles as an animated indicator during cornering. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Twenty‑four‑inch wheels continue the motif. Each rim features translucent inserts that pulse in sync with the grille sequence and then settle into a steady pattern once underway. Cooling slots are machined behind the inserts, so airflow still feeds the brakes even while the spokes appear sealed. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Mercedes paints the concept in Anthracite Alubeam, a liquid‑metal hue that skews deep graphite when parked inside yet throws silver flake outside at noon. This finish allows the ring of LED louvres surrounding the rear glass—four hundred fifty in total—to glow like a continuous horizon line after sunset. Those louvres act as tail and brake lamps, making conventional housings unnecessary and leaving the back window completely clean except for the central star. Mercedes-Benz Vision V The roof hides photovoltaic panels beneath tinted glass. Designers declined to quote power figures, hinting only that the cells top up auxiliary batteries when the cinema screen and projectors run with the van parked. Aerodynamics sit high on the brief because the upcoming VAN.EA platform targets long-range. Underbody trays, flush glazing, and that tapering roofline combine for an impressive drag figure, although exact numbers remain confidential. What matters is that the silhouette presents calm confidence rather than slippery compromise. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Private lounge interior Mercedes-Benz Vision V Cross the running board, and the floor feels almost residential—wide planks split by narrow glass fins that turn opaque or transparent on demand. Through those fins, a 65-inch 4K cinema display rises once the doors are sealed. Two passengers now face a screen large enough to block their view of the cockpit, an intentional partition that sets the tone for what Mercedes calls the Private Lounge. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Seating resembles mid-century daybeds updated for the modern era. Tubular cushions form each backrest and leg rest, cinched by bright aluminum loops. The modules recline into a flat position, creating an impromptu bed without awkward joints. Massage, heating, and full ergonomic adjustment arrive via capacitive switches tucked into polished armrest inlays. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Materials walk a fine line between craft and technology. Crystal‑white Nappa leather meets shimmering silk within one stitch line. Open‑pore burr wood frames the side walls, interrupted only by glass display cabinets that store handbags or sunglasses and, on one shelf, a racing‑game controller ready for the Gaming mode on the main screen. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Audio designers hid forty-two loudspeakers around the cabin, including exciters beneath the seat leather, so bass tracks ripple across the shoulders. Round glass housings cantilever from the side panels like art pieces, revealing the drivers within. Seven projectors are mounted on the ceiling and floor, turning side windows into digital extensions of the main display for a 360‑degree scene, whether streaming a film or visualizing navigation. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Mercedes-Benz Vision V Mercedes layers seven experiential modes across this hardware. Entertainment handles cinema nights while Relax paints slow landscapes across the glass. Work shifts the screen into a wide desktop with calendars and video calls. Shopping conjures virtual storefronts. Discovery overlays augmented reality onto real surroundings. Gaming taps that controller for racing sessions. And Karaoke turns the lounge into a rolling stage for weekend road trips. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Fragrance also plays its part. A milled aluminum capsule behind the center console releases a cultured scent, timed to coincide with ambient lighting that fades from cool blue to warm amber as the tracks change. The center console itself can glide fore and aft with seat movement. Press once on the leather-wrapped touchpad, and the top flips open to reveal a real chessboard in dark walnut inlay —a nod to slow travel, even in a high-tech environment. Digital cockpit and VAN.EA tech Those riding up front face the Superscreen, a trio of displays joined behind a single pane of glass that stretches pillar to pillar. Real-time graphics match navigation data with driver-assist sensors, so the map shows actual traffic swirling around the van instead of abstract icons. The steering wheel rim skips flat tops and bottoms for a perfectly circular shape trimmed in white leather, proving that touch controls and tradition can share one surface. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Under the skin sits VAN.EA. The scalable electric platform is expected to arrive in production form by 2026 and promises multiple body styles. However, the Vision V previews the top tier, where battery packaging stretches the wheelbase length to maximize cabin space, before assessing cargo capacity. Modular packs will allow buyers to choose range targets, and the architecture is engineered for high‑speed charging, compatible with. Closing thoughts Vision V surfaces at a moment when electric luxury often leans toward SUV machismo. Mercedes‑Benz instead revisits the idea of a social foyer on wheels, wrapping it in quiet aerodynamics and saturating it with digital possibility. If the production model retains half the lighting drama and all of the seating innovation, long‑distance travel could soon feel closer to a boutique hotel suite than a shuttle. Mercedes-Benz Vision V Families might use the 65‑inch screen for animated movies, executives might parse spreadsheets in Work mode, and teenagers will undoubtedly call dibs on Karaoke during late‑night drives. Regardless of the scenario, the concept suggests that the future Mercedes van will view time on the road as time reclaimed rather than lost. Mercedes-Benz Vision VThe post Mercedes‑Benz Vision V previews an electric lounge limo with a 65‑inch cinema screen first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nestled within a residential district of Guangzhou, Wired Scape is not just a playground, it’s an immersive, sculptural landscape that redefines how urban public space can engage people of all ages. Designed by Shanghai-based firm 100architects, this vibrant playscape merges architectural expression with abstract interpretations of natural elements, transforming a formerly ordinary space into a dynamic, interactive environment. The design of Wired Scape draws from two powerful themes in nature: the forest and flowing water. These elements are reimagined through bold, geometric forms and vivid surface treatments, creating a space that is both aesthetic and functional. At the center of the design stand four striking vertical structures, inspired by trees. These towers are composed of spiraling steel pipes, forming canopies overhead while serving as climbing structures for adventurous users. Suspended bridges stretch between these “trees,” enabling movement across varying elevations and adding an element of excitement to the playscape. Designer: 100architects The ground plane is equally engaging. A network of multicolored, curved lines flows across the surface like a river, defining different zones for play, circulation, and relaxation. These vibrant patterns give the space a sense of motion and continuity, encouraging visitors to explore organically. The use of curved geometries enhances the fluid experience of the site, creating a seamless journey through play platforms, seating zones, and open plazas. At the heart of the landscape, a recessed central plaza offers a flexible, shaded space for gatherings, performances, or informal rest. Surrounded by the spiraling trees, it becomes a natural focal point, drawing in people for both activity and relaxation. This integration of open space reflects 100architects’ vision of Wired Scape as a multi-generational environment, where users of different ages can coexist, interact, and engage with the space in their own way. Play equipment is thoughtfully distributed throughout the site to support a range of physical and cognitive activities. From swings, slides, and climbing nets to seesaws, a round ping-pong table, and a merry-go-round, every element is designed to encourage active engagement. For caregivers and older users, strategically placed benches and shaded seating areas allow for passive supervision, rest, and social interaction. The layout fosters inclusive, intergenerational use, promoting community interaction in an accessible and safe setting. Material choice plays a vital role in the site’s durability and expression. Steel piping forms the primary sculptural language, ensuring structural integrity while providing a bold visual identity. The resilient surfacing not only protects users but also helps bring the colorful patterns to life. Lighting is embedded throughout the playscape, illuminating paths and highlighting structures after dark. At night, Wired Scape transforms into a glowing forest of color and form, extending its usability and enhancing its presence within the urban fabric. The post This Guangzhou Playground is an Urban Jungle where Artful Play meets Nature-Inspired Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

One costly and time-consuming step in constructing a concrete building is creating the “formwork,” the wooden mold into which the concrete is poured. Now MIT researchers have developed a way to replace the wood with lightly treated mud. “What we’ve demonstrated is that we can essentially take the ground we’re standing on, or waste soil from a construction site, and transform it into accurate, highly complex, and flexible formwork for customized concrete structures,” says Sandy Curth, a PhD student in MIT’s Department of Architecture, who has helped spearhead the project. The EarthWorks method, as it’s known, introduces some additives, such as straw, and a waxlike coating to the soil material. Then it’s 3D-printed into a custom-designed shape. “We found a way to make formwork that is infinitely recyclable,” Curth says. “It’s just dirt.” A particular advantage of the technique is that the material’s flexibility makes it easier to create unique shapes optimized so that the resulting buildings use no more concrete than structurally necessary. This can significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with concrete construction. “What’s cool here is we’re able to make shape-optimized building elements for the same amount of time and energy it would take to make rectilinear building elements,” says Curth, who recently coauthored a paper on the work with MIT professors Lawrence Sass, SM ’94, PhD ’00; Caitlin Mueller ’07, SM ’14, PhD ’14; and others. He has also founded a firm, Forma Systems, through which he hopes to take EarthWorks into the construction industry.

In 2018 astronomers at MIT and elsewhere observed previously unseen behavior from a black hole known as 1ES 1927+654, which is about as massive as a million suns and sits in a galaxy 270 million light-years away. Its corona—a cloud of whirling, white-hot plasma—suddenly disappeared before reassembling months later.  Now members of the team have caught the same object exhibiting another strange pattern: Flashes of x-rays are coming from it at a steadily increasing clip. By looking through observations of the black hole taken by the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton, a space-based observatory that detects and measures x-ray emissions from extreme cosmic sources, they found that the flashes increased from every 18 minutes to every seven minutes over a two-year period.  One possible explanation is that the corona is oscillating. But the researchers believe the most likely culprit is a spinning white dwarf—an extremely compact core of a dead star orbiting around the black hole and getting closer to its event horizon, the boundary beyond which nothing can escape its gravitational pull. Circling closer would mean moving faster, explaining the increasing frequency of x-ray oscillations.  If this is the case, the white dwarf could be coming right up to the black hole’s edge without falling in. “This would be the closest thing we know of around any black hole,” says Megan Masterson, a graduate student in physics at MIT, who reported the findings with associate professor Erin Kara and others.  If a white dwarf is at the root of the mysterious flashing, it can also be expected to give off gravitational waves, detectable by next-generation observatories such as ESA’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Its launch is currently planned for the mid-2030s. “The one thing I’ve learned with this source is to never stop looking at it, because it will probably teach us something new,” Masterson says. “The next step is just to keep our eyes open.

Apple's 2025 M4 MacBook Air has a reduced starting price compared to the M3 line, but Apple resellers are discounting the latest laptops even further. Score exclusive deals from $929.Grab deals on every 2025 MacBook Air M4.The 2025 MacBook Air sports Apple's M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, which offers two additional CPU cores over the last-gen M3 line. Upgraded models can also be equipped with up to 32GB of unified memory, making the ultraportable laptop a solid contender for working on the go. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Investment firm Morgan Stanley's latest US buyer survey shows record numbers intend to upgrade their iPhone — and that they want Apple Intelligence, especially if they can also get a thin or foldable model.Apple Intelligence is coming this fallMorgan Stanley has been rapidly dropping its price target for Apple, starting 2025 at $275, then dropping to $252 in March because of fears of lower than expected iPhone upgrades. Then the company expected Apple to drop to between $200 and $210 because of tariffs, which were then so much worse than anticipated, that it predicted a drop to as little as $172.So even while it maintained its own price target at $220, Morgan Stanley can't have been expecting a great response from buyers in its latest survey. But according to an investor note seen by AppleInsider, that's what it got. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The EU architecture community is mourning the loss of Kristin Feireiss-Commerell, the founder of the vital Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin and a significant name in the realms of architecture and urban development, after her passing recently at the age of 82. Feireiss-Commerell, whose advocacy with Helga Retzer led to the museum’s creation in 1980, was also active in other pursuits within architecture, including serving as the Commissioner for the Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale twice. The Aedes Architecture Forum has staged over 500 exhibitions since its founding. "Their respective institutions only sporadically touched upon the topic of the built environment," the museum said in 2020. "In founding Aedes, both women were merely following their intuition that engaging in a discussion of architecture and urban space as important facets of everyday life with a broader public was a worthwhile endeavour: an open dialogue that would reflect changing societal condit...

The total number of construction starts was shown to have gone up 3% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.1 trillion, according to the latest Dodge Construction Network data.  According to the new March index, the number of nonresidential starts grew by 6%, whereas residential starts decreased by 5% and nonbuilding starts increased by 9%. On a year-to-date basis, starts were down 1% from last year. Nonresidential starts were down 9%, residential starts were down 5%, while nonbuilding starts were up by 16% over the same period.  For the 12 months ending March 2025, total construction starts were up 4%. Residential starts were up 2%, nonresidential starts were up 3%, and nonbuilding starts rose 8% over the same period.  Related on Archinect: Dodge Momentum Index sees 7% pullback caused by weaker commercial planning"Construction activity grew over the month, but sector-specific data continued to show mixed trends," Eric Gaus, chief economist at Dodge Construction Network...

The Chandos portrait is the most famous of the portraits that are believed to depict William Shakespeare (c. 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616). Painted between 1600 and 1610, it may have served as the basis for the engraved portrait of Shakespeare used in his First Folio in 1623. John Taylor (c. 1580–1653) is thought by several scholars to have painted the portrait. It is named for the 3rd Duke of Chandos, who formerly owned the painting. The portrait was given to the National Portrait Gallery, London, on its foundation in 1856, and it is listed as the first work in its collection. Painting credit: John Taylor; image retouched by Dcoetzee Recently featured: Édouard de Reszke Sherlock Jr. Trou au Natron Archive More featured pictures

April 23: National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey (1920) Liberation of Flossenbürg 1467 – Ottoman wars in Europe: Albanian leader Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman army under Ballaban Badera to raise the siege of Krujë. 1945 – World War II: The US Army's 90th Infantry Division liberated Flossenbürg concentration camp (pictured) in Germany, freeing 1,500 prisoners. 1976 – The American band the Ramones released their debut album, which became highly influential on the emerging punk rock movement. 1979 – Blair Peach, a New Zealand teacher, was fatally injured after being knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration against a National Front election meeting in Southall, London. 2018 – A man intentionally struck pedestrians with a van on Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada, leading to 11 deaths. Joan of France (b. 1464)Pandita Ramabai (b. 1858)Satyajit Ray (d. 1992) More anniversaries: April 22 April 23 April 24 Archive By email List of days of the year About