can we stop spreading that $90 rumor, please Nintendo Switch 2’s gameless Game-Key cards are going to be very common Switch 2 game upgrades for original Switch games also range from $10 to $20. Andrew Cunningham – Apr 24, 2025 11:03 am | 27 A Nintendo Switch Game-Key card. Credit: Nintendo A Nintendo Switch Game-Key card. Credit: Nintendo Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more US preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 console went live at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart at midnight Eastern time last night (though the rush of orders caused problems and delays across all three retailers' websites). The console listings came with a wave of other retail listings for games and accessories, and those listings either fill small gaps in our knowledge about Switch 2 game packaging and pricing or confirm facts that were previously implied. First, $80 Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World will not cost $90 as physical releases. This is worth repeating over and over again because of how pernicious the rumors about $90 physical releases have been; as recently as this morning, typing "Switch 2 $90" into Google would show you videos, Reddit threads, news posts, and even Google's own AI summaries all confidently and incorrectly proclaiming that physical Switch 2 releases will cost $90 when they actually won't. Google's AI-generated search summary about $90 Switch 2 games as of this morning. Credit: Andrew Cunningham While physical game releases in the EU sometimes cost more than their digital counterparts, there was actually no indication that US releases of physical games would cost $90. The Mario Kart World website listed an $80 MSRP from the start, as did early retail listings that were published before preorders actually began, and this price didn't change when Nintendo increased accessory pricing in response to import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. But now that actual order confirmation emails are going out, we can (even more) confidently say that Switch 2 physical releases cost the same amount as digital releases, just like original Switch games and most physical releases for other consoles. For example, the physical release for the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza is $70, also the same as the digital version. Third-party releases run a wider pricing gamut, from as little as $40 (Square Enix's Bravely Default remaster) to as much as $100 (a special edition release of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, also available at $70 for the standard release). Lots of third-party games are getting Game-Key card releases A Game-Key card disclaimer. It tells you you'll need to download the game and approximately how large that download will be. Credit: Nintendo/Sega When preorders opened in Japan yesterday, all physical releases of third-party games had Nintendo's Game-Key card disclaimer printed on them. And it looks like a whole lot of physical third-party Switch 2 game releases in the US will also be Game-Key cards, based on the box art accompanying the listings. These have been controversial among physical media holdouts because they're not physical game releases in the traditional sense—they don't have any actual game data stored on them. When you insert them into a Switch 2, they allow you to download the game content from Nintendo's online store, but unlike a pure digital release, you'll still need to have the Game-Key card inserted every time you want to play the game. We believe these are better than nothing for people who prefer physical games since you can still lend or resell them freely, but they do have significant downsides for game archivists, people with slow Internet connections, or systems whose internal storage is nearly full. Nintendo Everything has taken a crack at compiling a comprehensive list of all Game-Key card releases; you can find games like Cyberpunk 2077 and No Sleep for Kaname Date that don't use the Game-Key card disclaimer on the boxes, but they're definitely less common for third-party games. The Switch 2 repackagings of Switch games include the original Switch game plus an upgrade pack and, at least in some cases, will be playable on the original Switch. Credit: Nintendo The main exception to this rule is for Switch 2 game releases that are actually original Switch games plus a Switch 2 Upgrade Pack—the terminology Nintendo uses for paid updates that add significant visual upgrades or other content to Switch games running on the Switch 2. Those releases appear to have a totally different block of fine print on the front of the box: Includes the Nintendo Switch game and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. Upgrade pack also available separately. For details, visit support.nintendo.com/switch2/upgradepack At least some of these physical cards appear to be playable on the original Switch, though it's not clear whether that will be the norm for all Switch 2 Edition releases. Two kinds of upgrade pack Standalone upgrade packs for original Switch games will cost $10 or $20, distinguishing between upgrade packs that simply enhance visuals and packs that add significant new DLC-style content. Credit: Nintendo As for those Switch 2 upgrade packs, it looks like Nintendo has settled on a two-tiered system for upgrade pricing for those who already own the original Switch game in some form. For games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, where the upgrade pack primarily enhances visuals without adding significant new content, pricing will be $10. For games like Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, where the upgrade packs also include extra game modes or other post-release-DLC-style content upgrades, the price will be $20. What Nintendo charges for the full Switch 2 Editions of those games also reflects this pricing—the MSRP for the original Switch game, plus the price of the standalone upgrade pack. So Kirby and Mario Party are $80 (a $60 game plus a $20 upgrade pack), Breath of the Wild is $70 ($60 game, $10 upgrade pack), and Tears of the Kingdom is also $80 ($70 game, $10 upgrade pack). For original Switch games that have been out for a while, buying the original game on sale or used and adding an upgrade pack is an easy way to save a bit of money. Kirby and both Zelda games are available in brand new condition from eBay for $50 or less, just to pick a couple of examples. Andrew Cunningham Senior Technology Reporter Andrew Cunningham Senior Technology Reporter Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica, with a focus on consumer tech including computer hardware and in-depth reviews of operating systems like Windows and macOS. Andrew lives in Philadelphia and co-hosts a weekly book podcast called Overdue. 27 Comments

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorApril 24, 20254 Min Readheliography / Stockimo via Alamy Stock PhotoOne of the great things about AI is that getting started with the technology doesn't have to be a time or money drain. Understanding AI and its long-term business value can be achieved simply by experimenting with a few inexpensive deployments. To help you get started, here are six low-budget AI projects that require only a modest financial commitment yet offer powerful insights into the technology's potential business worth. 1. Chatbot Before attempting a complex AI application, many experts advise beginning with something very simple, such as an internal chatbot. "Starting slow enables application architects and developers to consider the intricacies AI introduces to application threat models and ‘skill-up’ in low-sensitivity environments," says David Brauchler, technical director and head of AI and ML security at cybersecurity consultancy NCC Group, one of several experts interviewed online. External chatbots are just as easy to deploy. "Many small businesses struggle with responding to customer inquiries quickly, and an AI chatbot can handle frequently asked questions, provide product recommendations, and even assist with appointment bookings," says Anbang Xu, founder of JoggAI, an AI-driven video automation platform, agrees. He notes that tools like ChatGPT, DialogFlow, or ManyChat offer easy integrations with websites and social media. Related:2. Web scraper Consider building a custom web scraper to automatically monitor competitors' websites and other relevant sites, suggests Elisa Montanari, head of organic growth at work management platform provider Wrike. The scraper will summarize relevant content and deliver it in a daily or weekly digest. "In the marketing department alone, that intelligence can help you spend more time strategizing and creating content or campaigns rather than trying to piece together the competitive landscape." Montanari adds that Web scrapers are relatively simple to design, easily scalable, and relatively inexpensive. 3. Intelligent virtual assistant A great low-cost starter project, particularly for smaller businesses, is an AI-powered intelligent virtual assistant (IVA) dedicated to customer service, says Frank Schneider, AI evangelist at AI analytics firm Verint. "IVAs can handle routine customer inquiries, provide information, and even assist with basic troubleshooting." Many IVA solutions are affordable or even free, making them easily accessible to any small business, Schneider says. They're also relatively simple to create and can integrate with existing systems, requiring minimal technical expertise. Related:4. Internal knowledge base An initial AI project should be internal-facing, low risk, and useful, says Loren Absher, a director and lead analyst with technology research and advisory firm ISG. An AI-powered internal knowledge base meets all of those goals. "It lets employees quickly access company policies, training materials, and process documentation, using natural language." "This type of project is a perfect introduction to AI because it’s practical, low cost, and reduces risk by staying internal," Absher says. "It gives the company hands-on experience with AI fundamentals -- data management, model training, and user interaction -- without disrupting external operations," he notes. "Plus, it’s easy to experiment with open-source tools and pay-as-you-go AI services, so there’s no big upfront investment." The best approach to creating an AI-driven internal knowledge base is to assign a cross-functional team to the project, Absher advises. An IT or a data specialist can handle the technical side, a business process owner will ensure its usefulness, and someone from compliance or knowledge management will help keep the information accurate and secure, he says. Related:5. Ad builder Anmol Agarwal, founder of corporate training firm Alora Tech, believes that a great low-cost way to get your feet wet is using generative AI tools to enhance business productivity. "For example, use GenAI to create ads for your company, create email templates, even revise emails." Agarwal is bullish on GenAI. She notes that only minimum effort is required, since the code is already there and doesn't require programming experience. 6. Sales lead scoring An AI-powered lead scoring program is a low-cost, yet highly practical, AI starter project, says Egor Belenkov, founder and CEO of digital signage solutions provider Kitcast. With the help of historical data and behaviors, the program will help users find leads based on their likelihood of conversion into customers. "This tool will help the sales team to focus on high-potential leads and improve conversion rates significantly." This project makes a great starting point due to its ease in implementation and the value it provides, Belenkov says. "Sales teams will be able to personalize their outreach based on their needs and requirements," he explains. "It will also help the marketing team by adjusting their campaigns based on which leads are identified as most valuable." Another important benefit is the ability to analyze patterns across multiple points, such as website activity or email engagement, to predict which leads will be most likely to convert. "This eliminates the guessing game about which clients would decide to buy and which wouldn't," Belenkov says. About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Tabular icebergs are breaking away from the ice shelves of AntarcticaJames Kirkham City-sized icebergs once drifted past the coast of Britain when ice sheets covering much of northern Europe were in rapid retreat about 18,000 to 20,000 years ago. James Kirkham at the British Antarctic Survey and his colleagues have found the preserved scour marks these giants made as their undersides ploughed through seafloor sediments. The long, comb-like features are buried under mud in the North Sea but are still visible in the seismic survey data collected to search for oil and gas. “We can estimate from the extent of the scours and what is known about ancient sea levels that these bergs were probably five to a few tens of kilometres wide and perhaps a couple of hundred metres thick – icebergs on the scale of a mid-sized British city,” says Kirkham. In Antarctica, tabular or table-top icebergs are a spectacular sight. Some, like the recent behemoths known as A23a and A68a, would rival even small US states in terms of area. They calve from ice shelves – the wide, floating protrusions of glaciers that flow off the land into the ocean. The recognition that tabular icebergs once existed in the North Sea is therefore a clear indication that the seaward margins of a British and Irish ice sheet also had ice shelves. And it means there could be some lessons for future Antarctic decline, says Kirkham. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month. Sign up to newsletter In the North Sea, the straight tramlines of the big icebergs are over-written by squiggly troughs made by the narrow keels of much smaller ice blocks. In other words, there’s a “regime change” in which large icebergs are replaced by countless small icebergs as the ice shelves shatter in response to rising temperatures, says Kirkham. Radiocarbon dating of the sediments shows this shift occurring over a period from 20,000 to 18,000 years ago. The observation casts doubt on the idea that the calving of mega-bergs like A23a and A68a might herald the widespread collapse of Antarctica’s ice shelves. Emma MacKie at the University of Florida has tracked tabular iceberg size in satellite data from the mid-1970s onwards and found that the trend is essentially flat. “James’s research underscores mine, which is that large calving events are not necessarily a sign of instability or cause for alarm,” says MacKie. “Rather, ice shelves disintegrate via death by a thousand cuts. We should be concerned when we stop seeing the large calving events.” Journal reference:Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58304-5 Topics:Antarctica

Organizations are deepening their cloud investments at an unprecedented pace, recognizing its fundamental role in driving business agility and innovation. Synergy Research Group reports that companies spent $84 billion worldwide on cloud infrastructure services in the third quarter of 2024, a 23% rise over the third quarter of 2023 and the fourth consecutive quarter in which the year-on-year growth rate has increased. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT Allowing users to access IT systems from anywhere in the world, cloud services also ensure solutions remain highly configurable and automated. At the same time, hosted services like generative AI and tailored industry solutions can help companies quickly launch applications and grow the business. To get the most out of these services, companies are turning to cloud optimization—the process of selecting and allocating cloud resources to reduce costs while maximizing performance. But despite all the interest in the cloud, many workloads remain stranded on-premises, and many more are not optimized for efficiency and growth, greatly limiting the forward momentum. Companies are missing out on a virtuous cycle of mutually reinforcing results that comes from even more efficient use of the cloud. Organizations can enhance security, make critical workloads more resilient, protect the customer experience, boost revenues, and generate cost savings. These benefits can fuel growth and avert expenses, generating capital that can be invested in innovation. “Cloud optimization involves making sure that your cloud spending is efficient so you’re not spending wastefully,” says André Dufour, Director and General Manager for AWS Cloud Optimization at Amazon Web Services. “But you can’t think of it only as cost savings at the expense of other things. Dollars freed up through optimization can be redirected to fund net new innovations, like generative AI.” This content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by MIT Technology Review’s editorial staff. This content was researched, designed, and written entirely by human writers, editors, analysts, and illustrators. This includes the writing of surveys and collection of data for surveys. AI tools that may have been used were limited to secondary production processes that passed thorough human review.

"Harry Potter" is a phenomenon that continues to this day, 28 years after "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was first published in the UK. That book series has turned into a behemoth that contains theme parks, a studio tour, multiple giant stores, a VR experience, conventions, a Broadway play, reality shows, and more.But at the center of that media giant are the eight theatrical films, which began with a group of young preteen actors whose lives were completely transformed when they became pupils at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.And now, a new set of actors are about to have their lives changed. HBO just released the first round of casting announcements for its upcoming adaptation of the novels, although we don't know who's playing our core trio yet.Ahead of a new crew of child actors joining the Wizarding World, we've ranked the child stars from the original film series from least to most successful, taking into consideration factors including subsequent film appearances, awards, and social media followings.Keep scrolling to see how your favorite "Harry Potter" actor stacks up. 17. Chris Rankin Chris Rankin. C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Getty Images Chris Rankin played the prefect Percy Weasley in four films. He now works behind the scenes.Rankin, 41, has had a few minor acting credits since "Deathly Hallows Part 2," and he has 52,700 followers on Instagram.He has been credited as a production coordinator on successful shows like "Downton Abbey" and "A Discovery of Witches," however, so while he doesn't have the same level of traditional Hollywood success, he's been busy. He did not appear in the Max reunion, "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts," in 2022. 16. Devon Murray Actor Devon Murray attends the London Comic Convention at Earls Court on July 9, 2011. Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage via Getty Images Devon Murray played Seamus Finnigan in all eight movies, but he hasn't done much outside "Potter." In general, he seems to be more interested in crypto than acting.Murray, 36, has only one movie appearance to his name after "Potter" ended in 2011, an uncredited role in 2018's "Damo & Ivor: The Movie." He was also in a music video in 2017, for "Every Time You Need Me," by Simonna.On the social media front, Murray has about 162,000 followers on Instagram and 251,200 on X, but overall, Murray is still known mostly for blowing stuff up as Seamus. He also did not appear in the Max reunion. 15. Josh Herdman Josh Herdman. John Phillips/Getty Images for EA Sports Josh Herdman played Goyle in all eight films, and he has continued to act.Herdman, 37, is also a professional MMA fighter as well as an actor. Since "Potter" ended, he's secured a few acting credits in the series "Marcella," as well as "Alex Rider" in 2020. He also appeared in the 2018 film "Robin Hood" starring Taron Egerton.Most recently, he appeared in two episodes of "Andor" and two episodes of the Starz adaptation of "The Man Who Fell to Earth."Herdman has fewer social-media followers than Murray (128,000 on Instagram), but his continued acting career and fighting career put him in front.Herdman did not return for the reunion. 14. Oliver and James Phelps Oliver Phelps and James Phelps. Noam Galai/Getty Images Oliver and James Phelps, who played the Weasley twins in all the films, are too much of a unit to separate.The Phelps twins, 39, have sporadically continued to act together, rarely appearing in things without each other. While they haven't acted much since the end of the films, they've capitalized on their "Potter" fame, and each has over 2 million followers on Instagram, (James has 2.5; Oliver has 2.4).Their onscreen appearances include 2021's psychological horror film "Last Night in Soho," directed by Edgar Wright. The two also appeared as themselves in the docuseries "The Cars That Made Britain Great" and hosted the "Potter"-themed baking show, "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" on Food Network in 2024.The twins also cohosted a podcast together, "Normal Not Normal," that saw them "talk to a star-studded selection of friends, colleagues, and personal heroes who stepped into the limelight at a young age, and find out what 'normal' means to them." It ended in 2023.Hilariously, the Phelpses did appear in the Max special, but their name labels were swapped. 13. Bonnie Wright Bonnie Wright. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for the Environmental Media Association While Wright, 34, hasn't appeared in any blockbuster films lately, her clout has only grown since playing the youngest Weasley. In addition to the multiple indie films she's acted in, ("The Sea," "After the Dark," "Before I Sleep"), she's also become a director and founded her own production company, BonBonLumiere. She also has a cool 3.9 million followers on Instagram.Her directorial debut, a short called "Separate We Come, Separate We Go," starred her "Potter" costar David Thewlis and received positive reviews at its debut during the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. Most recently, she's focused on directing music videos. She's been less busy since 2018, however, so we can't put her higher than some of her costars who are still working constantly. Wright had a small role in the "Potter" reunion in 2022. 12. Evanna Lynch Evanna Lynch. Tristar Media/Getty Images Evanna Lynch played the lovably loony Luna Lovegood for four films.Lynch, 33, has found the most fame on social media — she has 3.8 million followers on Instagram — but she keeps busy with other projects as well. She hosted "The ChickPeeps Vegan Podcast" until 2023, and began a Substack in 2025 called "Penfriendship."She also competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2018, finishing in third place. Acting-wise, she's appeared in a few indie films, but her main focus seems to be on other ventures.During the 2022 reunion, Lynch shared the fascinating story of how she was cast as Luna — for years, she was a pen pal of author JK Rowling. 11. Matthew Lewis Matthew Lewis. Scott Garfitt/BAFTA/Getty Images Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, is, of course, the man behind the phrase "Longbottoming," thanks to his drastic post-"Potter" glow-up — the cultural impact of that alone places him above some of his costars.The 35-year-old is also still acting regularly, however. He appeared in the 2020 series "All Creatures Great and Small," as well as the 2024 series "Avoidance." "Ripper Street," "Happy Valley," "Me Before You," and even an episode of "Drunk History" are among his other credits.Lewis also hosts "The Official Leeds United Podcast," and he has 2.4 million Instagram followers and 1.3 million X followers. He reunited with his fellow Hogwarts classmates during the Max special. 10. Clémence Poésy Clémence Poésy. Marc Piasecki/WireImage/Getty Images Clémence Poésy played the half-Veela, half-human Fleur Delacour in three films.Poésy, 42, has appeared in more than one iconic property — besides "Potter," she had a small arc during season four of "Gossip Girl" as Chuck's French girlfriend Eva, and she was in the 2020 Christopher Nolan film, "Tenet."Poésy also starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries "The Essex Serpent" alongside Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes. From 2023 to 2024, she played Isabelle in "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon."Up next is another Apple TV+ series, "Neuromancer," which also stars Callum Turner, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mark Strong, and the BBC series "King and Conqueror," which costars James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.So, what she lacks in social media (143,000 Instagram followers), she has made up for with parts in prestige projects — she also appeared in "127 Hours" and "In Bruges" in between her "Potter" films. 9. Freddie Stroma Freddie Stroma. Desiree Navarro/WireImage/Getty Images Freddie Stroma played the annoying Cormac McLaggen for three films.Yes, Stroma's appearance in "Bridgerton" bumped him up a few spots — how could it not? It was a major hit, and he played a literal prince.But the 38-year-old has been steadily acting for years outside "Bridgerton." He starred in "Unreal," had a role in "Pitch Perfect" (phenomenon), and appeared in an episode of "Game of Thrones" (the third phenomenon he's been involved with to date). A fourth came in 2022: He plays Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante, in the Max series "Peacemaker," a spin-off focusing on John Cena's character from "The Suicide Squad." Season two is expected in August 2025.He also starred in "Time After Time" as HG Wells and starred in "The Crew," a Kevin James-led sitcom on Netflix, which was canceled in July 2021. 8. Tom Felton Tom Felton. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images While Felton, 37, is still best known for Draco Malfoy, he's been able to capitalize on that in a way few other "Potter" stars have.Whenever he posts a throwback from the set, it makes headlines. It's helped him gain a massive 11.9 million Instagram followers and 2.9 million X followers.Felton does still act though — he had a sweet arc on "The Flash" as Julian, appeared as Laertes in "Ophelia," and has been in other indie films in the past decade.In 2022, Felton published his memoir "Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard," which was a New York Times bestseller.Felton was also a large part of the 20th anniversary special, sharing anecdotes about shooting scenes with his on-screen dad Jason Isaacs, remembering his on-screen mother, Helen McCrory, who died in 2021, and even talking about his special bond with Emma Watson.Next up, he's set to appear in a series depicting the life of Gandhi as English lawyer Josiah Oldfield. 7. Katie Leung Katie Leung. Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images Katie Leung played Cho Chang in five films, starting with "Goblet of Fire."It's taken Leung, 37, a few years, but she's seriously poised to become one of the more successful members of the "Potter" cast.In the past few years, she's appeared in "T2: Trainspotting," the Prime Video series "The Peripheral" and "The Wheel of Time," and the BBC series "Nightsleeper."Leung also had a voice role in the Netflix animated series "Arcane," which is part of the "League of Legends" universe. It wrapped its two-season run in 2024.Most exciting, though, is that she's set to star in the coming fourth season of "Bridgerton" as Lady Araminta — as book readers know, that's a big deal.She also has an impressive 408,000 followers on Instagram.It's only up from here for Leung, although she did not return for the 20th-anniversary special. 6. Harry Melling Harry Melling. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI Harry Melling is unrecognizable from his days as Dudley Dursley. You might've seen him in "The Queen's Gambit" and not even realized.Melling, 36, has become quite the actor since leaving "Potter" behind. After his last appearance in "Deathly Hallows Part 1," he's appeared in "The Lost City of Z," "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," "His Dark Materials," "The Old Guard," "The Devil All the Time," "The Queen's Gambit," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "The Pale Blue Eye," among other projects — a very impressive résumé for someone who used to be known as the annoying, evil cousin.Melling is also going costar with Alexander Skarsgård in the romantic comedy "Pillion," so it's safe to say we'll only be hearing more from him — though we only got a glimpse of him in old footage in the reunion. 5. Alfred Enoch Alfred Enoch. Dave Benett/Getty Images Alfred Enoch's run on "How to Get Away with Murder" was popular enough that there's a significant number of people who know him better as Wes Gibbins than Dean Thomas — and that's saying something. The Emmy-winning show wrapped up its six-season run in May 2020. That puts him in the upper echelon of "Potter" child stars.The 36-year-old continued his TV success in the Apple TV+ series "Foundation," which costars Jared Harris and Lee Pace. He was on the first two seasons.In 2025, he appeared in the BBC/PBS series "Miss Austen."Enoch was one of two fellow Gryffindors from Harry's year that returned for the special, though he didn't have a huge part. 4. Rupert Grint Rupert Grint. Dave Benett/Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/WireImage/Getty Images Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, is most successful in his native country of England.Grint isn't as mega-famous as his costars, but that seems to be the way he wants it. He joined Instagram only in 2020 ... and now has over 5.3 million followers.The 36-year-old hasn't appeared in many films since the saga ended, but he has been successful on TV. He starred in (and executive produced) the Crackle series "Snatch" alongside the future "Bridgerton" star Phoebe Dynevor and the "Skins" heartthrob Luke Pasqualino.He also starred in the Apple TV+ series "Servant," which the horror icon M. Night Shyamalan produced, from 2019 to 2023. He teamed up with Shyamalan for his 2023 film, "A Knock at the Cabin," too.During the anniversary special, Grint shared that he actually thought about quitting the movies, as did Emma Watson, because of the pressures of fame.Fun fact for 2010s teens: Grint has been in a relationship with Georgia Groome of "Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging" since 2011. They have one daughter together. 3. Emma Watson Emma Watson. Arnold Jerocki/GC Images/Getty Images Emma Watson, who turned 35 on April 15, went from "Harry Potter" to a Disney princess in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast," an infamous criminal in "Bling Ring," a beloved manic pixie dream girl in "Perks of Being a Wallflower," and the eldest March sister in "Little Women," among other roles.She also graduated from Brown University, was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador, launched the HeForShe campaign, is part of the G7, and has done extensive modeling.Her impact will still be felt around the world, whether or not she retires from acting — her Instagram has a staggering 73.4 million followers.It's no wonder she almost quit the series, as she revealed in the special. 2. Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Radcliffe. Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, has become quite the actor since leaving Hogwarts.He's shied away from big-budget films, instead focusing on bonkers films such as "Guns Akimbo," "Swiss Army Man," and the interactive finale of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."He also appeared in the magical film "Now You See Me 2," in which he pointedly is not a magician. Per IMDb, he'll be returning for the sequel later this year, "Now You See Me: Now You Don't."He starred in the TBS anthology series "Miracle Workers" from 2019 to 2023 — a clip of Radcliffe performing "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" in drag went viral in 2020.In 2022, Radcliffe co-starred with Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, and Sandra Bullock in "The Lost City" and played Weird Al Yankovic in the biopic "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."The 35-year-old has also had a successful theater career. He famously starred in "Equus" and the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," which earned him a Grammy nod. He also has two Drama Desk nominations under his belt, and in 2024, he won a Tony for his performance in the revival of "Merrily We Roll Along."Radcliffe, of course, had lots of screen time in the reunion, having special moments with not only Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, but also with Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter (whom he had a crush on), and director Chris Columbus. 1. Robert Pattinson Robert Pattinson. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Robert Pattinson, who appeared only in "Goblet of Fire," is easily the most successful child star to come out of "Harry Potter."Pattinson, who does not have an Instagram account, spun his one-movie role into the leading man of one of the other biggest franchises of the 2010s: "Twilight." Today, he's the most successful star from that franchise, too.After a decade of distancing himself from big blockbusters by starring in films like "Good Time" and "The Lighthouse," Pattinson, 38, officially had his mainstream comeback. He starred in "Tenet," "The King," and is Batman, for crying out loud.After recently starring in Bong Joon Ho's follow-up to "Parasite," "Mickey 17," Pattinson has a busy couple of years coming up. Next for him are: Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey," "Die, My Love" alongside Jennifer Lawrence, "The Drama," alongside Zendaya, and, of course, "The Batman 2."There's no one else who compares, honestly.

Since being deported to El Salvador last month, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has had very little contact with the outside world — something that Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen tried to change. Last week, Van Hollen flew to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who the Trump administration has admitted was deported from Maryland in error. But the White House has since doubled down on claims that he is a member of the MS-13 gang, with Stephen Miller, a top Trump domestic policy adviser, saying, “This was the right person sent to the right place.”Van Hollen was initially denied access to Abrego Garcia. But officials in El Salvador eventually relented, and arranged a meeting at the senator’s hotel. Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen about his experience at El Salvador’s notorious Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), a massive prison, and his traumatic isolation from the outside world. Abrego Garcia’s detention has pushed the United States to the brink of a constitutional showdown. The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the US — an order that the White House has shown little intention of heeding. “This goes to the heart of protecting people’s rights and what bullies do and what authoritarian leaders do,” Van Hollen told Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram. “And what Donald Trump is doing is beginning by picking on the most vulnerable and refusing to bring his case in the courts, and when the courts rule, ignoring them.” Van Hollen talked to Today, Explained about what he heard from Abrego Garcia, and why he believes this case has pushed the United States into a constitutional crisis. Below is a transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity. Make sure to listen to the whole thing. Why was it so important to you to go down to El Salvador to meet with this one man?I wanted to let him know, number one, that I was bringing greetings from his family who haven’t heard from him since he disappeared. He was locked away. No one was able to reach him — not his wife, not his mom, not his lawyers. In fact, until this moment, I’m the only one who’s communicated with him before or since. So I wanted to, number one, see if he was alive.But I also wanted him to know that his case was something that was meaningful to every American who cares about the Constitution. And I wanted to ask the government of El Salvador to stop being complicit with the Trump administration in this illegal scheme. So it was to defend the rights of this person because if we don’t defend the right of this individual, we do threaten rights for everybody who lives here.The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, has allied himself with President Donald Trump, has called Abrego Garcia a terrorist, and said he would never return him. How hard did that make it for you to actually sit down with him?My view is this: The courts of the United States have said that he was illegally taken away. When I met with the vice president of El Salvador, I asked him if they had any evidence that he had committed any criminal acts. And his answer was, “No. We’ve got him in our jail” — and he was originally at CECOT, which is one of the most notorious prisons in Latin America — “we’ve got him there because the United States is paying us to do it.” That was his answer. And I said, “Do you really want to be part of this illegal scheme with Donald Trump in violation of constitutional rights in the United States?” His answer was, “We got to deal with them, they’re paying us and if the Trump administration tells us, we’ll let them go. But we’re being paid, we got a contract. And so we’re gonna keep them locked up.”And so how did you end up getting to meet him?Well, I asked the vice president. He said no. I said, “If I come back next week, can I meet with him?” No. “Well, maybe I could get him on the phone?” No. So the next day, I decided not to give up. I drove towards CECOT prison, about three kilometers out, and I was waved to the side of the road by soldiers. I said, “Why are you stopping me?” They said, “You can’t go to see Abrego Garcia.” And I said, “Do you know how he’s doing?” They said no. And I say, “Why can’t I go?” They said, “We have orders.” So then we had some events in El Salvador with local press. And they did relent. And I think that even Bukele recognized that it was a bad look for El Salvador to not allow anybody to meet or talk with this guy, to even know whether he was alive. As I was sort of getting ready to go to the airport on the way home, we got a call and I ended up meeting with him. What did he tell you? First and foremost, he told me he missed his family and I told him how much his family missed him. And he said that thinking of them is what gave him strength every day. He said he had had a traumatic experience — that was his word, “traumatic.” He said he tried to make a phone call from the Baltimore Detention Center. They wouldn’t let him do it. And then of course he landed in this really awful CECOT prison. So he was traumatized. He said he hurt, he felt he was in pain, and said he hadn’t committed any crimes. And he asked me to pass his message of love back to his family. I informed him — because he’d been in a total news blackout — his case was now representative of the fight for constitutional rights and due process for everybody who lives in America, and that a lot of people were working to get him out of prison in accordance with the Supreme Court order to facilitate his return.What was the prison like?The first place he went was CECOT and he said he was not in fear for safety from the prisoners in his cell. He said, if I recall right, there were about 25 prisoners in his cell. He said he was scared and traumatized by other prisoners in other cells, and these cells are packed. I mean, they sometimes have more than 100 prisoners, and he says that they would call out to him and taunt him and that did make him feel very much at risk. He told me that he’d been moved to this other prison and detention center in Santa Ana. He told me he’d been there about eight days. This is when I met with them, which were sort of better conditions, but still, and I wanna stress this, still no ability to communicate with anybody in the outside world and to learn anything about what’s happening. That’s a violation of international law to deny somebody the ability to talk to their lawyer or family. So that’s where he is sitting as we speak.When you guys met up, there were some photos released and it looks like you had margarita glasses or something in front of you. Where did that come from? Where exactly was this meeting?They brought him to my hotel. At first they wanted to stage the meeting by the pool, to create this impression, to deceive people, thinking that he was in some tropical paradise when he’d been in one of the worst prisons in El Salvador.During our conversation, the government folks from Bukele instructed the waiters to set two taller-looking glasses on our table, making it look like margaritas. I have no idea what’s in them because neither of us touched them, but they had a little cherry on top and they had either salt or sugar on the rim. I think it shows the lengths that Bukele and Trump will go to deceive the American people about what’s happening, right? Here’s a guy, illegally abducted, ends up in the worst prison — and they want to create this impression that, “Hey, he’s just in paradise.” Republicans are leaning into this message that Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang. What do you make of that?You know, my point on all of this, Sean, is that they should bring those facts before the court and Trump should not just be spending all his time on social media. Put up or shut up in federal court. And I wanna quote the federal judge in this case: She said that the Trump administration had presented, quote, “no evidence linking Abrego Garcia to MS-13 or to any terrorist activity.” Period. Put up or shut up in court. I’m not vouching for the man. I’m standing up for his rights because all of our rights are at risk if we don’t.You’re not only saying we have to focus on constitutional rights. You’re saying this situation with Abrego Garcia is a constitutional crisis. You say constitutional crisis, [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom says distraction. How do we reconcile those two assessments of this very serious situation?This is a fundamental constitutional issue, and it is a crisis because the Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration has to help facilitate his return to the United States. I also do just want to briefly quote what the Fourth Circuit said. This is a three-judge panel, and the chief judge who wrote it is a guy called Judge Wilkinson — he was appointed by Reagan. Here’s what he says: “It is difficult in some cases to get to the heart of the matter. But in this case, it’s not hard at all. The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order.” So this is not a distraction. This goes to the heart of protecting people’s rights and what bullies do and what authoritarian leaders do. And what Donald Trump is doing is beginning by picking on the most vulnerable and refusing to bring his case in the courts, and when the courts rule, ignoring them. So this is a very important moment to protect everyone’s constitutional rights. It’s not about one person. It’s about all of us.See More:

Pokemon TCG Pocket's next update, Celestial Guardians, has a big focus on Pokemon Sun and Moon, but also makes major changes to the game's controversial trading systemTech15:57, 24 Apr 2025The update brings big trading changes(Image: The Pokemon Company)If our exclusive reveal of new Pokemon TCG Destined Rivals cards got you excited, you'll be pleased to know that there's plenty more where that came from.Pokemon TCG Pocket's Shining Revelry launched last month, but as we approach the end of April, a new set is coming into view.‌This time around, the focus is on the Alola region, which was the setting of Pokemon Sun and Moon, the last generation on the 3DS hardware.Article continues belowThe Pokemon Company has released a new trailer for the game, as well as confirming some of the cards we'll be able to collect. Here's all we've learned so far.As revealed in the latest trailer, the update will arrive on April 30, closing out the month in some style.‌There's a heavy Alolan theme, with starters from that region Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio making their TCG Pocket debuts.Lunala ex is collectable, too, as well as Alolan Marowak, Alolan Raichu ex, Solgaleo ex, and more.Pokemon TCG Pocket Celestial Guardians(Image: The Pokemon Company)‌Players can earn Rayquaza ex via a drop event starting on April 30, but you'll only have until May 13.Aside from fresh cards, trading is getting a huge revamp with the Celestial Guardians update. In case you missed it, trading was added earlier this year, but fans felt the Trade Token currency wasn't entirely useful.Now, a new blog post has confirmed that Trade Tokens will be leaving the game, and cards of three-diamond, four-diamond, and one-star rarity will require Shinedust instead.‌"When you open a booster pack, Shinedust will be automatically earned if you obtain a card that is already registered in your Card Dex," the post explains.The update arrives next week(Image: The Pokemon Company)"Currently, Shinedust is also required to obtain flair, so we are looking into increasing the amount offered since it will also be needed for trading. Altogether, this change should allow you to trade more cards than you could before this update."Article continues belowIf you've been hoarding your Trade Tokens, they'll be converted to Shinedust, and there are no changes in trading for one-diamond and two-diamond rarity cards.For more on the Pokemon TCG, be sure to check out our interview with Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokemon Company International who explains the game has never been more popular in the UK.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

Fallout 3 remaster needs major improvements says former designer Michael Beckwith Published April 24, 2025 4:59pm Updated April 24, 2025 4:59pm What would you want to see changed in a Fallout 3 remaster? (Bethesda/Microsoft) One of Fallout 3’s original designers has explained what the priority should be for the game’s rumoured remaster. Even if it hadn’t leaked ahead of time, the announcement of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered wouldn’t have been too surprising, considering The Elder Scrolls 6 is still years away and Microsoft needs something to fill the gap. It’s why the same can be assumed for Bethesda’s other role-playing game series Fallout, since the Amazon TV show attracted a lot of new fans and the next game, Fallout 5, is even further away. As such, rumours of Microsoft and Bethesda planning a Fallout 3 remaster sound perfectly believable and one of its original designers knows exactly what it needs to please modern players. Recently, VideoGamer sat down with one Bruce Nesmith, a former Bethesda employee who worked on Fallout 3 and several other Fallout and Elder Scrolls games during his tenure, including The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim as its lead designer – until his departure from the studio in 2021. When asked what he would like to see from a Fallout 3 remaster, Nesmith’s chief expectation is that Bethesda would update the gunplay and bring it more in line with how it is in its sequel, Fallout 4. Nesmith candidly describes Fallout 3’s gunplay as ‘not good,’ which he attributes to it being the ‘the first time they ever tried to do a shooter style game.’ As a reminder, the first two Fallout games (which were made long before Bethesda acquired the series) are more traditional computer role-playing games with turn-based combat, rather than the real-time gun combat seen in Fallout 3 and 4. Gunplay isn’t one of Fallout’s strong suits, but it was notably improved in Fallout 4 (Bethesda/Microsoft) Nesmith says Fallout 3’s combat ‘didn’t hold up to shooters at the time. … But a lot of work was done on that for Fallout 4. So I anticipate seeing a lot of that work go into it, assuming they’re doing the same thing.’ Fallout 4’s combat was an improvement over its predecessor but it was still pretty awful, compared to an actual first person shooter, and relied heavily on the V.A.T.S. system, which pauses the action to allow you to target individual body parts. When will the Fallout 3 remaster release? Although evidence of a Fallout 3 remaster was first discovered in 2023, courtesy of leaked documents from Microsoft, there is no telling when Microsoft aims to have it out. Last week, reliable insider NateTheHate only claimed that the Fallout 3 remaster is ‘Planned but won’t be for a while.’ This could mean it hasn’t even entered development yet, but it could just as easily mean it may not come out until next year. More Trending 2026 would be a smart time to release a Fallout 3 remaster since that’s when the second season of the TV show is scheduled to air. With the second season taking the show to the city of New Vegas though, a remaster of Fallout: New Vegas would make more sense, especially since it’s lauded as the best entry in the series by many fans. It’s not as if it’d be difficult to get the idea off the ground either since New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment is owned by Microsoft and has expressed interest in giving the game the remaster treatment. Obsidian is currently busy with The Outer Worlds 2, which is coming out later this year, but it clearly has the capacity to juggle multiple projects considering it launched Avowed, a fantasy role-playing game, just a couple of months ago. Would you pick up a Fallout 3 remaster? (Bethesda/Microsoft) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

By Raymond Wong Published April 24, 2025 | Comments (3) | Motorola Razr+ 2025 in three different finishes © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo Two things were glaringly clear to me after sitting through a 2.5-hour event yesterday where Motorola pre-briefed press on its new trio of Razr Android phones. The company really believes in the flip-style foldable form factor popularized by Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and it thinks more AI, shoved ever deeper into the software, will rescue us from the cruelty of pecking on apps and buttons with our fingers. Debuting today are three Razr flip-style phones: Razr, Razr+, and Razr Ultra. You can think of them as good, better, and best. Motorola claims the Razr Ultra is the most powerful flip-style smartphone with the best camera system available. We’ll be the judge of that when we get a device in for review. But the specs—including the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset—at least backs that up on paper. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo They all look pretty similar, but here’s how you can spot the difference without pulling up a comparison chart. As the most premium model, the Razr Ultra sports the largest internal screen (7 inches), a dedicated Moto AI button on the left side, and fancier finishes such as Italian-made Alcantara, satin, faux leather, and wood. Upgrades over the other Razrs that you can’t eyeball right away: 50 megapixels for the main, ultra-wide, and selfie cameras; a large 4,700mAh battery; 68W wired charging; 30W wireless charging; and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Razr+ looks nearly identical to the Razr Ultra, but comes with a slightly smaller 6.9-inch internal screen, no physical AI button, a smaller 4,000mAh battery, slower charging (45W wired and 15W wireless), and a lower-resolution selfie camera (32 megapixels). It also has a less powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo Sitting at the entry-level, the plainly named Razr has a smaller 3.6-inch external display (there’s a “forehead” bezel not present on the Razr+ and Razr Ultra), lower-resolution cameras (50-megapixel main, 13-megapixel ultra-wide, and 32-megapixel selfie), and a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7400X chipset. However, the Razr does have a larger 4,500mAh battery than the Razr+. I got to play with all three briefly and they all felt well-built to me, with the only major physical quality difference being the materials and finishes. I really liked the luxurious Alcantara on the Razr Ultra, but the polished aluminum and plastic Razr didn’t feel cheap in my opinion. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo Motorola boasted other quality-of-life upgrades for the new Razrs. The hinges are titanium, which the company says is four time stronger than before and can handle “up to 35% more folds” compared to previous generation Razr flip phones. Motorola also says the crease on the internal folding display is 30% less visible (unclear how Motorola arrived at that number but it does seem less visible), and the Razr Ultra supposedly has the strongest external screen thanks to it being Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic. Gadget nerds might be salivating over the specs, especially the ones on the Razr Ultra, but the real appeal to these new flip-style phones might be Moto AI. Rather than develop its own AI—and risk embarrassing itself like a certain fruit-named tech giant—Motorola is partnering up with AI leaders and using their large language models and logic reasoning in the background for various tasks. Perplexity, the AI “answer engine” that’s been chipping away at Google’s search relevance, is deeply integrated into the Android 15 operating system. Google’s Gemini, Meta’s Llama, Microsoft’s Copilot, also power different aspects of Moto AI, assisting with general AI features like tasks suggestions (i.e. calling an Uber on your behalf or drafting an email), summarization, memory recall (think surfacing information from notes and screenshots), and more. Missing is any integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT (and there’s probably a reason for that) and Anthropic’s Claude. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo The cameras also have Moto AI baked in with a feature called Signature Style. The phones use AI to automatically adjust tone and colors and then learns based on how you edit your shots. It sounds neat, but that also diminishes the whole point of photos which is that they usually don’t have the same uninspired look to them. I want to mix it up with my photos! Not have a specific look. Fact is, every phone maker is promising game-changing AI features that they’re touting as more convenient or efficient. AI crammed deeper into your phone will help anticipate your needs! AI will save you from hundreds of taps every day. AI will finally fulfill the “intelligent” promises that voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and the Google Assistant failed at. That’s the AI dream everyone (including Motorola) is selling. The AI in these new Razr phones is better and more useful, but also not quite capable enough to fully offload everything to just yet. And who even knows when that’ll be, if that ever happens. (Naturally, Motorola didn’t address AI hallucinations.) All three Razrs will be available for preorder on May 7 and available unlocked on May 15. The Razr costs $699.99, the Razr+ is $999.99, and the Razr Ultra is $1,299.99.   Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Raymond Wong Published April 24, 2025 By Florence Ion Published April 10, 2025 By Florence Ion Published April 8, 2025 By Florence Ion Published February 4, 2025 By Florence Ion Published January 16, 2025 By Florence Ion Published January 14, 2025

Sanders Mello Buildin / Buro/S ArchitectsSave this picture!© Aiste Rakauskaite•The Netherlands Architects: Buro/S Architects Area Area of this architecture project Area:  600 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2025 Photographs Photographs:Aiste Rakauskaite Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  MHB, Maas en Hagoort, Mosa, Petersen Tegl, Saint Gobain Glass, TomaelloMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. Buro/S Architects, commissioned by Sanders Mello Orthodontics, has transformed the national monument at Langstraat 79 in Wassenaar into a modern orthodontic clinic. The character of the monument has been preserved and thoughtfully combined with contemporary architectural elements.
The original building dates from the first half of the 17th century and is characterized by a distinctive gabled roof between end walls. It is a so-called "deep house"—a type of dwelling with a narrow front façade and a floor plan that extends deep into the plot. The building is oriented perpendicular to the street, as is the ridge of the roof.
The property consists of three segments: the national monument, an extension on the right and rear that was in very poor structural condition, and a garage at the back. For the past hundred years, the building was used as a shop; prior to that, it served as the farmhouse of a village homestead. Outbuildings, including a hay barn, once stood on the rear plot bordering the back street.
Buro/S Architects restored the monument internally and, where necessary, externally, and added a new extension to the right and rear of the building. The new structure was designed to allow for a possible future vertical extension at the back. A new façade has been introduced at the front of the building, incorporating the new main entrance.
Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The front façade is defined by a tripartite layout, consisting of two dark brown brick piers that align with the color of the original bricks of the monument. Between these is a glass wall that maintains visibility of the 17th-century building's contours from the shopping street. The entrance, centrally placed between the piers, is made of a glazed steel frame powder-coated in the shade of "earth green." The adjacent access to the fire alley is realized as a solid metal door with subtle round perforations.
Above these elements, a polished dark green concrete lintel visually connects the components. The new façade of the extension is carefully integrated into the building's historical context, creating a harmonious whole.Save this picture!The orthodontic clinic offers space for eight treatment rooms and all necessary supporting facilities. The interior layout has been carefully redesigned, preserving as many historical elements as possible and complementing them with modern, functional interventions.
The new extension, measuring approximately 400 m², is designed to maximize natural light. A skylight has been installed in the roof along the axis of the main entrance, providing ample daylight to the adjacent corridor and serving as a natural wayfinding element to help visitors navigate the building. Separate circulation routes have been created for patients and staff, contributing to a hygienic working environment and a calm, serene atmosphere. Visitors enter the building through the new entrance; to the left is the polished concrete reception desk and the entrance to the monument section, which houses the practice's waiting area. Here, the original brick walls have been left exposed, and the ceiling is painted in the original light green color.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!To the right of the reception desk is the visitor corridor, where all treatment rooms and supporting functions are located. The skylight above this corridor not only provides daylight but also subtly assists with orientation. The staff route is separated from the visitor path to ensure that patients and employees do not cross paths. Staff facilities such as the office, storage, and sterilization room are directly connected to this route.
Sustainability plays a central role in this transformation. The new additions are constructed using sustainable materials and energy-efficient Mechanical installations. Thanks to an integrated approach, these features have been implemented without compromising the monument's historical value. Buro/S Architects has achieved a careful balance between heritage preservation and contemporary use. The transformation of Langstraat 79 demonstrates how a historic building can be given a new, sustainable purpose while honoring its past and maintaining its architectural significance. Through subtle interventions and the use of high-quality materials, a harmonious whole has emerged in which authentic elements and modern architecture enhance one another.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less About this officeBuro/S ArchitectsOffice••• MaterialsWoodConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on April 24, 2025Cite: "Sanders Mello Buildin / Buro/S Architects" 24 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1029412/sanders-mello-buildin-buro-s-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 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