ZDNET's key takeaways The TCL QM6K (65-inch) is on sale at Amazon for $798. A host of upgrades, and new features, make it highly competitive with other brands' higher-end models. Its speakers are loud, but clarity could be made even crisper with a soundbar. more buying choices Back in January, we highlighted the release of the TCL QM6K at CES, where we were impressed by its specs and features for a budget TV -- many of which were exclusively available on premium brands only a few years ago. This week, I set up a test model in our studio lab and took a deep, hands-on look at TCL's recent flagship TV. details View at Amazon What's new with this modelTCL introduced a number of upgrades from 2024's Q6 QLED, all of which are integrated with its new Halo Control System. Part of that configuration is a Super High Energy LED Chip, which TCL claims boosts brightness output by 53% while enhancing light efficiency by 10%. TCL's Pangu lab also redesigned its backlighting system to reduce the optical distance (or "OD") between the backlight and the diffuser plate of the QM6K and its future models. With this "Micro OD" approach, images will suffer less halo effect, even between the contrast of piercing whites and oily blacks. Through testing, I confirmed almost no halo effect on the QM6K; more on that below.Also: Your TV's USB port is seriously underutilized: 5 handy features you're overlookingThe QM6K also features a bi-directional 23-bit backlight controller aided by a high-contrast CSOT HVA panel with a stronger dark state to more efficiently block out light and provide over 65,000 levels of brightness as the LCD switches on/off. That equates to a lofty 7,000:1 static contrast ratio, which TCL says is five times higher than competitor models in the same price range. Adam Breeden/ZDNETIn addition to a new color optimization algorithm fitted into its OS, the QM6K incorporates enough quantum crystals to render over one billion colors, with up to 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Further, a new Dynamic Light Algorithm optimizes the incoming video signal so that SDR signals render at a near-HDR level.Finally, Pangu upgraded its AiPQ processor to handle what it calls its Zero-Delay Transient Response, which, according to TCL, provides "virtually no lag between the input signal and backlight response, preventing after-image blur and maximizing specular highlights."First impressions and sensory feelsWhether or not it should be considered an upgrade, TCL has pivoted from using a Roku platform to Google TV. All 2025 models now run on Google's OS with built-in Chromecast and access to all the usual streaming apps like Apple TV, Hulu, and Netflix.  Also: YouTube celebrates 20 years with new features, cool tricks, and some truly mind-blowing statsThe QM6K's user interface is well-organized and laid out, although diving into its menu can become a bit convoluted. In fairness, that's quite common these days, as smart TVs become ever smarter. There are so many options for customizing your A/V preferences on the QM6K that listing them here would take up most of this article.Less complicated but equally smart is the design of TCL's latest remote control; I like the size and feel of it in my hand. It's 7.25 inches long, as compared to some 5.5-inch remotes that have become popular among major brands over the past year. The device is less likely to be swallowed whole by my couch cushions, and I really appreciate an uncramped remote with fewer buttons. Most satisfying to me, though, is that the QM6K remote's buttons illuminate as soon as you pick it up, or whenever it detects any motion. In my book, a light-up remote is a win.Also: I didn't expect to love Amazon's flagship soundbar this much - but it's the real dealLike many TVs in the sub-$1,000 range, the audio system is plenty loud if you need it to be, but lacking in the area of aural, cinematic splendor. Equipped with an Onkyo 2.1 speaker system, it has two back-firing speakers (L/R) and a built-in subwoofer. Adam Breeden/ZDNETEditor's Note: In case you've ever wondered, a "2.1 channel" sound system is a good example to illustrate what those numbers mean: it has two speakers and one subwoofer. So, a more complex 2.1.2 system would additionally include two speakers (or drivers) located at the top of the device that project sound upward. This is all to say the QM6K would definitely benefit from a soundbar to create a more dynamic sense of sonic depth and height. Hands-on performance testingI performed some routine tests on the QM6K for an empirical assessment and was overall very impressed.Dirty screen effect test & bandingThere was absolutely no visible "dirt" onscreen when running this test. The dirt usually manifests as a shapeless, greyish-brown splotch or a nebulous vertical stripe somewhere on the panel. The QM6K exhibited no such issues on each full-screen color test, nor when viewed from the left or right of the screen during the grey test (which is the color most likely to reveal banding).Also: How to clear the cache on your TV (and why it makes such a big difference)Subtitles blooming testThe QM6K showed virtually no blooming on the clearly defined white characters in the subtitles on a black background. This was consistent even from an off-axis viewing position. If you're concerned about blooming, then this TV passes that test convincingly, and I suspect that's credited to its before-mentioned Halo Control System. Additionally, TCL's high-end HVA panel purports to manage the entire path from light generation to imaging, resulting in crisp contrast.Motion test with scrolling textAt first, running the 120Hz version of the visual test for motion did not yield good results. The moving script looked so jagged and stilted that it could be headache-inducing. This came as a surprise because the QM6K claims a 144Hz native refresh rate. No less, the 60Hz version of the test footage was far more viewable, with a smooth scrolling motion across the bottom of the screen, yet still, the text was a bit fuzzy. The QM6K's side panel has all the ports you need. Adam Breeden/ZDNETHaving said that, I found a simple solution. I habitually turn off motion smoothing when viewing non-sports content, but in this case, turning on Motion Clarity and Dynamic Acceleration made a notable improvement; the text scrolling was very fluid, and the characters were far less fuzzy. Also: This small 4K projector is worthy of replacing your TV - and gets plenty bright for its sizeKeep in mind this is simply a test for assessing certain visuals. The more practical assessment came with watching second-round NCAA tournament games, which looked vivid and beautiful. The QM6K's motion clarity handled the fast-paced hoops action like a champ.ZDNET's buying adviceDebuting just a few months ago at $999, the 65-inch QM6K has occasionally dropped to $798 at big box retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. The price drop isn't an indicator of the TV's performance, but rather market forces at work. To get a 65-inch QD Mini LED with these higher-end specs for $800 is a deal that's hard to pass up. The addition of a soundbar, like TCL's own 5.1.2-channel Q75H -- which now runs for less than $500 at most retailers -- would provide a premium viewing and listening experience for almost one-third the cost of competitors' models with similar specs.TCL QM6K's tech specsTCL AiPQ ULTRA Processor with Deep Learning AIUp to LD500 Precise Dimming144Hz Native Refresh RateGame Accelerator for up to 288Hz VRRIMAX Enhanced & AMD FreeSync CertsHDR ULTRA with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, & HLGMotion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame InsertionGame Accelerator 240Auto Game Mode (ALLM) with AMD FreeSync Premium ProDolby Atmos AudioOnkyo 2.1.1 Speaker SystemBuilt-in Onkyo SubwooferDTS Virtual:XBluetooth Personal AudioATSC 3.0 NextGen TV Digital TunerAnti-Glare Screen4 HDMI Inputs; 1 eARCWi-Fi 6Google TV Smart OS with Hands-Free Voice Control and Backlit Voice RemoteGoogle Chromecast Built-inApple AirPlay 2Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKitSlimmer FullView 360 Bezel-less DesignThis story was originally published on March 31, 2025, and was updated on April 27, 2025.Featured reviews

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Table of Contents Table of Contents What do the tests say? What are AI “hallucinations” and why do they happen? What’s the fix? OpenAI released a paper last week detailing various internal tests and findings about its o3 and o4-mini models. The main differences between these newer models and the first versions of ChatGPT we saw in 2023 are their advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities. o3 and o4-mini can generate images, search the web, automate tasks, remember old conversations, and solve complex problems. However, it seems these improvements have also brought unexpected side effects. OpenAI has a specific test for measuring hallucination rates called PersonQA. It includes a set of facts about people to “learn” from and a set of questions about those people to answer. The model’s accuracy is measured based on its attempts to answer. Last year’s o1 model achieved an accuracy rate of 47% and a hallucination rate of 16%. Recommended Videos Since these two values don’t add up to 100%, we can assume the rest of the responses were neither accurate nor hallucinations. The model might sometimes say it doesn’t know or can’t locate the information, it may not make any claims at all and provide related information instead, or it might make a slight mistake that can’t be classified as a full-on hallucination. When o3 and o4-mini were tested against this evaluation, they hallucinated at a significantly higher rate than o1. According to OpenAI, this was somewhat expected for the o4-mini model because it’s smaller and has less world knowledge, leading to more hallucinations. Still, the 48% hallucination rate it achieved seems very high considering o4-mini is a commercially available product that people are using to search the web and get all sorts of different information and advice. Related o3, the full-sized model, hallucinated on 33% of its responses during the test, outperforming o4-mini but doubling the rate of hallucination compared to o1. It also had a high accuracy rate, however, which OpenAI attributes to its tendency to make more claims overall. So, if you use either of these two newer models and have noticed a lot of hallucinations, it’s not just your imagination. (Maybe I should make a joke there like “Don’t worry, you’re not the one that’s hallucinating.”) While you’ve likely heard about AI models “hallucinating” before, it’s not always clear what it means. Whenever you use an AI product, OpenAI or otherwise, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see a disclaimer somewhere saying that its responses can be inaccurate and you have to fact-check for yourself. Inaccurate information can come from all over the place — sometimes a bad fact gets on to Wikipedia or users spout nonsense on Reddit, and this misinformation can find its way into AI responses. For example, Google’s AI Overviews got a lot of attention when it suggested a recipe for pizza that included “non-toxic glue.” In the end, it was discovered that Google got this “information” from a joke on a Reddit thread. However, these aren’t “hallucinations,” they’re more like tracable mistakes that arise from bad data and misinterpretation. Hallucinations, on the other hand, are when the AI model makes a claim without any clear source or reason. It often happens when an AI model can’t find the information it needs to answer a specific query, and OpenAI has defined it as “a tendency to invent facts in moments of uncertainty.” Other industry figures have called it “creative gap-filling.” You can encourage hallucinations by giving ChatGPT leading questions like “What are the seven iPhone 16 models available right now?” Since there aren’t seven models, the LLM is somewhat likely to give you some real answers — and then make up additional models to finish the job. I decided to feed my example into GPT 4o just in case it would really fall for it — and it did! Willow Roberts / Digital Trends Chatbots like ChatGPT aren’t only trained on the internet data that informs the content of their responses, they’re also trained on “how to respond”. They’re shown thousands of example queries and matching ideal responses to encourage the right kind of tone, attitude, and level of politeness. This part of the training process is what causes an LLM to sound like it agrees with you or understands what you’re saying even as the rest of its output completely contradicts those statements. It’s possible that this training could be part of the reason hallucinations are so frequent — because a confident response that answers the question has been reinforced as a more favorable outcome compared to a response that fails to answer the question. To us, it seems obvious that spouting random lies is worse than just not knowing the answer — but LLMs don’t “lie.” They don’t even know what a lie is. Some people say AI mistakes are like human mistakes, and since “we don’t get things right all the time, we shouldn’t expect the AI to either.” However, it’s important to remember that mistakes from AI are simply a result of imperfect processes designed by us. AI models don’t lie, develop misunderstandings, or misremember information like we do. They don’t even have concepts of accuracy or inaccuracy — they simply predict the next word in a sentence based on probabilities. And since we’re thankfully still in a state where the most commonly said thing is likely to be the correct thing, those reconstructions often reflect accurate information. That makes it sound like when we get “the right answer,” it’s just a random side effect rather than an outcome we’ve engineered — and that is indeed how things work. We feed an entire internet’s worth of information to these models — but we don’t tell them which information is good or bad, accurate or inaccurate — we don’t tell them anything. They don’t have existing foundational knowledge or a set of underlying principles to help them sort the information for themselves either. It’s all just a numbers game — the patterns of words that exist most frequently in a given context become the LLM’s “truth.” To me, this sounds like a system that’s destined to crash and burn — but others believe this is the system that will lead to AGI (though that’s a different discussion.) The problem is, OpenAI doesn’t yet know why these advanced models tend to hallucinate more often. Perhaps with a little more research, we will be able to understand and fix the problem — but there’s also a chance that things won’t go that smoothly. The company will no doubt keep releasing more and more “advanced” models, and there is a chance that hallucination rates will keep rising. In this case, OpenAI might need to pursue a short-term solution as well as continue its research into the root cause. After all, these models are money-making products and they need to be in a useable state. I’m no AI scientist, but I suppose my first idea would be to create some kind of aggregate product — a chat interface that has access to multiple different OpenAI models. When a query requires advanced reasoning, it would call on GPT-4o, and when it wants to minimize the chances of hallucinations, it would call on an older model like o1. Perhaps the company would be able to go even fancier and use different models to take care of different elements of a single query, and then use an additional model to stitch it all together at the end. Since this would essentially be teamwork between multiple AI models, perhaps some kind of fact-checking system could be implemented as well. However, raising the accuracy rates is not the main goal. The main goal is to lower hallucination rates, which means we need to value responses that say “I don’t know” as well as responses with the right answers. In reality, I have no idea what OpenAI will do or how worried its researchers really are about the growing rate of hallucinations. All I know is that more hallucinations are bad for end users — it just means more and more opportunities for us to be misled without realizing it. If you’re big into LLMs, there’s no need to stop using them — but don’t let the desire to save time win out over the need to fact-check the results. Always fact-check! Editors’ Recommendations

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“Moth orchids are tropical plants…”Shutterstock/SoNelly With such a wholesome image, the world of horticulture can have some surprisingly passionate debates. So while it is probably extremely unwise, I thought I would wade into one of the most heated questions in gardening in recent years: should you really water tropical orchids with ice cubes? Bear with me… I first came across this idea over a decade ago at a horticultural trade fair in the Netherlands, where giant commercial orchid growers were unveiling a glossy new campaign. Oversized retro fridges and fake ice sculptures were festooned with live orchids, under a…

After years of experimenting, my husband and I finally found a way to divide household labor that works for both of us. Courtesy of Maria Polansky. 2025-04-27T10:10:02Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? My husband and I balance household labor responsibilities by dividing them into two main domains. He handles food shopping, meal planning, and cooking. As a neat freak, I take care of the cleaning. By doing the things we both enjoy and care about, these tasks feel like less of a chore. Anyone who has lived with a romantic partner — or anyone else, for that matter — will know that finding a happy balance in domestic labor isn't easy.I'll admit, it's been a big source of frustration for me in many past living situations, from ex-partners to platonic roommates. I've often felt resentful for having to take on a greater share of household labor. In recent years my husband and I have finally found a solution for achieving a natural balance that works for us. We split the tasks and chores into two primary domains: cooking and cleaning.It's something that may seem too simple, or too good to be true. However, we've been doing it for a few years now, and it really alleviates the stress and tension many of my friends and coworkers seem to experience over household labor division.We found a strategy that worksIn the past, I've tried implementing itemized chore lists and weekly schedules, but they never seemed to work. I believe it's because they always seem to contain at least one task that feels unappealing to the assignee, so they're more likely to put it off or fully avoid it. With our current approach this isn't an issue because we each take ownership of the tasks that we prefer.I'm the clean freak of the relationship. I get annoyed when I see a sweater that isn't folded properly, and if I see a stain or a mark on a countertop, I'll want to wipe it off immediately. I clean on my own schedule, doing daily tidying and light cleaning as I see fit, as well as a weekly deeper clean. I also take care of laundry, trash, and recycling. It's manageable and enjoyable for me, and our home always feels clean and tidy.On the other side of our household spectrum, my husband holds the unofficial title of head chef. He likes experimenting in the kitchen, perfecting our staple recipes, and he genuinely enjoys grocery shopping. I feel relieved that meals and groceries are one less thing that I have to worry about, and his cooking is always delicious.Since doing this, I've felt more relaxed and taken care of, and our relationship has become more peaceful.We're still flexibleWe aren't always completely rigid in our domains. I'll make dinner if he's feeling unwell or exhausted after a long day of work. He'll whip out the cleaning sprays if he notices a messy or dirty area that needs immediate attention. But all in all, he can rely on me to keep our home clean, and I can rely on him to prepare our meals and keep the fridge stocked.We also have a dog, who we generally split care tasks for depending on our schedules. One of us is always working from home, so whoever is with her during the day will take care of her food, exercise, and bathroom needs. Care tasks like baths, nail trims, and vet visits are generally alternated or done together.It's all about teamworkThis state of domestic bliss has come as a result of time alongside trial and error. We inevitably dealt with a learning curve as we got used to each other's habits and preferences when we first started living together in 2019. My husband was working evenings at the time, so I cooked a lot more back then. I did feel an imbalance in earlier stages of our relationship, but thanks to honest communication and experimentation we've figured out a strategy that works for us.At the end of the day, household labor is about teamwork. It becomes less of a chore when you find ways to make it enjoyable, and when you take each others' strengths into account. Splitting it into domains is exactly how we've been able to achieve that. Recommended video

5 memorable gaming moments that no one ever talks about – Reader’s Feature GameCentral Published April 27, 2025 9:00am Frostpunk isn’t necessarily the first thing you think of for this topic (11 Bit Studios) A reader highlights less well known games, such as Subnautica and Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons, for having some of gaming’s most impactful moments. When people talk about memorable moments in gaming you’ll often hear familiar stories, such as the Bioshock elevator ride, the ending of The Last Of Us or perhaps even the fight against Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid. Rather than discuss those again, I instead wanted to pick out five moments that have stuck with me just as much, but that perhaps don’t get talked about quite so often. All of the games discussed here are at least seven years old, but there will obviously be huge spoilers. Frostpunk – winter is coming Frostpunk is a city builder in which your goal is to survive a world that has been plunged into an ice age. As the game reaches its climax, you’re warned that a great storm is going to hit your civilisation. You prepare as best you can, then hold your breath as the wind batters your shelters and food supplies begin to run low in what is one of the most tense sequences in gaming. If you manage to come out the other side still alive, it’s a brilliant feeling. Subnautica – Oh no, it’s a gun! Having crashed on a planet covered mostly in water, your one hope seems to be a series of messages from a ship in orbit. You arrive at the given co-ordinates on an island that house a huge, impenetrable tower and as expected your rescuers enter the atmosphere to save you. All of a sudden, however, the tower begins to move and by the time you realise it’s actually a weapon it’s too late for your would-be saviours. The moment is absolutely devastating and the way it unfolds in real-time, coupled with the incredible sound design, is just perfect. The Last Guardian – leap of faith A lot of gamers would argue that The Last Guardian is the weakest game in Team Ico’s trilogy and your mileage will likely depend on whether you think the winged griffin-like creature is a clever piece of game design or just a pain in the backside. Whatever side you land on, however, Trico’s tendency to not always do what you’d expect pays off brilliantly in a section in which the platform around you begins to give way. Looking around for a way to escape, it soon becomes clear that you’re going to have to leap towards Trico and hope that he catches you, which based on previous behaviour doesn’t feel like a certainty. When he does throw out his tail for you to cling on to, it’s not only a brilliant moment, but also one that creates an unbreakable bond that lasts the rest of the game. Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons – an unexpected loss This one has probably been talked about more than others on my list, but I had to include it as it’s something that could only be achieved in a video game. For those that haven’t played it, Brothers is a third person adventure game in which you control both brothers simultaneously, using the two halves of the controller. The game itself is very good, but it’s the ending in which the older of the two brothers is killed that provides the truly memorable moment. The scene itself is certainly emotional enough, but the masterstroke is in making the sense of loss physical, by forcing the player continue for the rest of the game using just half of the pad. Journey – goodbye friend Journey is an amazing experience even if played alone, but throughout the game there is a chance that you’ll be randomly paired up with another online player. You can only communicate with these players through a series of noises, yet rather than proving a hindrance it actually allows you to feel a deeper connection with your companion, as you help each other navigate the beautifully realised game world. More Trending During my first playthrough I’d spent the best part of an hour with a companion and as I made the final climb through the snow they sat down on the ground and disappeared without a trace. Making that last part of the trek alone felt melancholic after that, and those five minutes of gaming still stick with me over a decade later. By reader drlowdon Every Journey ends (Sony Interactive Entertainment) The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email. 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 Margherita Bassi Published April 27, 2025 | Comments (0) | Tattooing tardigrades may have implications for developing living microrobots. © Adapted from Nano Letters 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c00378 Microfabrication is—simply put—the construction of tiny things, including microscopic and nanoscopic objects and patterns. Microfabrication has major potential in medicine and biomedical engineering, in addition to fields like electronics and photonics—but first, researchers need to develop techniques that are biologically compatible. One team of researchers thinks a crucial step toward that goal involves tattooing tardigrades. In order to test the techniques necessary to build microscopic biocompatible devices, researchers in China have found a way to give tardigrades tattoos. If you think that’s wacky, just wait. Their approach, detailed in a study published at the end of March in the journal Nano Letters, could have important implications for the development of living microrobotics, such as microbial cyborgs. In reality, tardigrades, also known as water bears, aren’t just “hardy” creatures. They’re eight-legged animals about 0.02 inches (0.5 millimeters) long, and are virtually indestructible. Their astonishing resistance to starvation, freezing temperatures, radiation, pressure, and the vacuum of space have, unsurprisingly, inspired scientists to investigate whether humans could learn a thing or two from them. In the recent study, researchers dehydrated tardigrades to induce a cryptobiotic state—a sort of half-dead hibernation. They put the tardigrades onto surfaces cooled to below -226 degrees Fahrenheit (-143 degrees Celsius), and covered the tiny creatures in anisole, an anise-scented organic compound. Using a focused electron beam, the researchers drew micropatterns on the tardigrades such as squares, lines, dots, and even a university logo. The frozen anisole layer exposed directly to the beam formed a new chemical compound that adhered to the tardigrade. The team then warmed the tardigrade to room temperature under a vacuum, and the frozen anisole that hadn’t reacted with the electron beam sublimated (turned into a gas), leaving behind only the pattern created by the new chemical—the tattoo. Then they rehydrated the tardigrades. The good news is that the tattoos didn’t seem to impact the revived tardigrades. The bad news is that only around 40% of the tardigrades survived, but the researchers say this could improve with further refinement. Nevertheless, the study suggests that researchers could use this method to print microelectronics or sensors onto living tissue. “This approach provides new insights into tardigrades’ resilience and has potential applications in cryopreservation, biomedicine, and astrobiology,” the researchers wrote in the study. Cryopreservation is the practice of conserving biological matter at very low temperatures. “Furthermore, integrating micro/nanofabrication techniques with living organisms could catalyze advancements in biosensing, biomimetics, and living microrobotics.” Biomimetics involves imitating nature’s processes in human creations. Microrobots are tiny robots that can perform tasks inside an organism’s body, such as deliver medicine and monitor and treat diseases. As such, we can presume that living microrobots, such as microbial cyborgs, are hybrid robots that join synthetic technology and living cells to achieve more useful features. “Through this technology, we’re not just creating micro-tattoos on tardigrades — we’re extending this capability to various living organisms, including bacteria,” Ding Zhao, co-author of the paper and a researcher at the Westlake Institute for Optoelectronics, said in an American Chemical Society statement. “It is challenging to pattern living matter,” said Gavin King, a researcher at the University of Missouri’s Department of Physics and Astronomy who was not involved in the study. The statement credits King with inventing the technique used in the study, called ice lithography. “This advance portends a new generation of biomaterial devices and biophysical sensors that were previously only present in science fiction,” he concluded. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Ed Cara Published March 21, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published February 15, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 18, 2025 By Rob Bricken Published November 11, 2020 Tech News Picture of Single Trapped Atom Wins UK Science Photography Prize By Ryan F. Mandelbaum Published February 13, 2018 ScienceHealth Robots Made From DNA Could One Day Transport Medicine Inside Your Body By George Dvorsky Published September 14, 2017

House of Color Downtown Oasis / NOKE ArchitectsSave this picture!© Piotr MaciaszekHouses, Residential•Warszawa, Poland Architects: NOKE Architects Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2023 Photographs Photographs:Piotr MaciaszekMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. This place exudes color, just like its hosts Magda Grabowska-Wacławek aka Bovska, and her husband Grzegorz Wacławek. It's their long-awaited green sanctuary, nestled within family allotment gardens just a few metro stops from the heart of Warsaw. Fresh, vibrant hues are introduced here by NOKE Architects, led by the talented trio of Karol Pasternak, Piotr Maciaszek, and Mateusz Jaworski. Magda – a singer, dancer, performer, and visual artist, and Grzegorz, the founder of Animoon studio renowned for its globally acclaimed and award-winning animations, have found solace in this green retreat. While residing in a tenement house in the bustling city center, they longed for a connection with nature, seeking a change of scenery, better conditions for creative endeavors, and some relief from heat during the summer months. They found it in the allotment garden situated at the intersection of the urban vibrancy of the central district of Śródmieście and the serenity of green Żoliborz, offering a true haven amidst the bustling metropolis. From within this sanctuary, one can gaze upon the city skyline, with towering skyscrapers juxtaposed against the lush greenery. Yet, amidst the urban landscape, nature reigns supreme.Save this picture!Trends and individuality - Magda and Grzegorz chose the garden based on personal reasons, but they also tapped into a broader trend. Just a few years ago, allotment gardens (ROD) in Poland were not in high regard, which was accompanied by increasing pressure from developers to build on Warsaw's green spaces. Not far from here, in Berlin, the frenzy for allotments has been going on for a decade. After all, it's the simplest way to have your own garden, green space, silence, and grow your own flowers, vegetables, or fruits. And all of this is close to home, not somewhere at the edges of civilization – emphasizes Karol Pasternak from NOKE Architects, one of the project's authors. In recent years, allotment gardens in Poland have been doing quite well. They flourish and bear fruit, and produce a specific and noteworthy culture. It's become customary that the gates to individual gardens are also their pride and distinctive feature. With original forms, they reflect the personalities of individual owners, and the members of the gardening community – explains Piotr Maciaszek from NOKE Architects, the second designer. It's no different in this garden. The original red gate with a round lamp was created according to Magda's drawing, with an image of their beloved dog, Lusia, in the central part. The gate is all the more significant because it's the only element of the layout visible from the alley. The house, deliberately hidden, gradually emerges from the greenery only after entering the garden.Save this picture!Trapezoid potential - We've known Magda and Grzegorz for a long time, and we've had the opportunity to collaborate before. A few years ago, we designed a very bold, outrageously colorful office for them, Animoon, on Chmielna Street – recalls Karol Pasternak. This time again, we were most inspired by their expressive personalities and aesthetically daring attitude – he emphasizes. The architects endeavored to translate the visual maximalism of the couple into the form of the cottage. The clients loved the concept from the very start. However, the location itself imposed important project constraints. The plot is slightly larger than standard, but it has the shape of a slim trapezoid – almost a triangle. Furthermore, according to the regulations, permanent structures cannot be built in the gardens, nor can they exceed 35 m2. The architects cleverly incorporated these limitations into the design of the new cottage.Save this picture!Save this picture!Walking on stones - From the pink gate, a winding path of red stones leads deep into the garden. It is accompanied by a luminous art installation that illuminates the path hidden among lush trees and bushes. The cottage itself turns its back to the entrance. Over time, it will disappear into a tangle of vines – only the red "chimney" of the bathroom will remain visible. The entrance doors are also well-hidden. The only hint as to where to find the secret entrance is three cast concrete steps, which look like an abstract garden sculpture – smiles Piotr Maciaszek. A step further reveals that the cottage opens up to the surroundings with large glass panels and a spacious terrace with a pergola. The grapevine covering it is 80 years old. We tried to preserve all the greenery we found on the plot. We didn't cut down any trees, and we consider saving this old grapevine our biggest success. It was untangled from the old trellis and moved to a new one – says Karol Pasternak. In this way, amidst the relics of the old garden, the current one was created, suitable for contemporary expectations. Its important element is the concrete table submerged in greenery – a monumental garden furniture piece designed together with the flooring. Here, in the shade of the old cherry tree, Magda and Grzegorz like to sit for breakfasts and lunches with their friends. Save this picture!Color, naturally - The lush, free greenery contrasts with the cherry-raspberry hues of the gate, path, trellises, or table – and above all, the colors of the interiors. Here you'll find a living space with a kitchen and workspace for Magda and Grzegorz, a sleeping nook, and a bathroom. Compact spaces blend with the garden through large-format glazing which can be opened up on sunny days. Then both work and leisure move to the terrace. The walls and ceilings of the cottage are covered with plywood stained with natural, eco-friendly oils. The wall parallel to the glass has a raspberry shade. The same color in many variations appears on window frames, curtains, kitchen fittings, and many pieces of furniture and accessories. They are balanced by delicate tones of wood, transitioning into gentle beige fabrics or muted gray flooring. They harmonize with the organic forms of the furnishings.Save this picture!Next to the kitchen, attention is drawn to a semicircular window. In every project, we try to wink at the viewer – winks Karol Pasternak. Here, all you need to do is open the shutter to gain an additional view of the garden. It's both functional and artistic. Art integrated into the wall. An even bigger surprise awaits in the bathroom. The red chimney, protruding from the green mass of the house, turns out to be an oval capsule with a shower, sink, and toilet. After dark, this extraordinary room is illuminated by small spherical lamps, and their light reflects off the glossy cobalt tiles and mirror panels. Late at night, it's great to turn off the lamps and bath, enjoying the view of the Warsaw sky through the glass roof.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less About this office MaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on April 27, 2025Cite: "House of Color Downtown Oasis / NOKE Architects" 27 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1016536/house-of-color-downtown-oasis-noke-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

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