Dezeen School Shows: a textiles project which incorporates Bangladeshi weaving techniques is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at University of the Arts London.Also included is housing intended for artists, alongside a wardrobe which takes cues from both postmodernism and Polish design.University of the Arts LondonInstitution: University of the Arts LondonSchool: Chelsea College of ArtsCourses: BA (Hons) Fine Arts, BA (Hons) Graphic Design Communication, BA (Hons) Interior Design, BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design, BA (Hons) Textile Design, MA Curating and Collections, MA Fine Art, MA Textile Design, Graduate Diploma Fine Art, Graduate Diploma Graphic Design, Graduate Diploma Interior Design and Graduate Diploma Textile DesignSchool statement:"Chelsea College of Arts has a reputation for producing some of today's leading artists and designers."Our students are encouraged to radically engage with contemporary fine art and design practice. We offer fine art, design and curating courses."At Chelsea, we look at art and design in a social, cultural and political context. We are particularly interested in the effects of globalisation. this could either be on the creative practice itself or its response to it."View our recent graduates' work online here: UAL Showcase."Join our open days to learn more about Chelsea College of Arts and our courses."Fabricate Furniture Kit by Charlotte Hamilton"Around 22 million pieces of furniture are discarded each year in the UK and less than one in ten people consider repairing their furnishings to extend its life span."Due to the endowment effect, an effect in psychology that explains the tendency to overvalue things we own or have made making your own furniture could begin to solve the furniture waste issue."I created a furniture kit which makes woodworking accessible through teaching and up-skilling in order to reduce furniture waste."You can build your own chair, stool or table using basic woodworking skills."Student: Charlotte HamiltonCourse: BA Product and Furniture DesignEmail: charham2807[at]gmail.comOne-1ine series by Jaeun Sim"I am a multidisciplinary artist and researcher interested in sculptural objects."My work focuses on material culture as well as the customs and beliefs surrounding objects and it is intended to connect with the viewer on an individual basis."My furniture designs give users freshness and fun they are produced using a new combination of materials."I combined weak materials, such as thread, with other materials that together create a 3D object that can support people and objects."Student: Jaeun SimCourse: BA Product and Furniture DesignEmail: simjaeun0503[at]gmail.comThe Flexibility of Self-identity by Jing Wang"My project examines human actions and interactions within society to reveal how these norms influence identity."By focusing on daily behaviours and interactions, I highlight the profound impact of societal expectations on identity."Using the language of textiles, I challenge traditional definitions and showcase the diversity and flexibility of individual identity. I transform my paintings into textiles using discarded objects as references, creating mixed media drawings inspired by street scenes."This process involves hand-drawing human trajectories and overlaps, translating these visual elements into textile designs that challenge conventional uses and definitions."Student: Jing WangCourse: BA Textile DesignWoven Figures by Anika Alamin"Drawing from my cultural heritage, this woven textile explores the qualities of Dhaka muslin and investigates British colonial rule in Bangladesh using indigo and jute."British art institutions and museums are rooted in colonialism."The juxtaposition of European looms with the use of traditional Bangladeshi Jamdani weaving technique allows the work to respond to the space an opportunity previously inaccessible to Bangladeshi women."'Heritage', 'erasure', 'silenced' and 'passage' are words collected from members of the Bangladeshi diaspora community in Brick Lane."These words and the names of the important women figures in my life have been recorded into the textile."Student: Anika AlaminCourse: Graduate Diploma Textile DesignArtefacts by Natasha Lesiakowska"Artefacts is a monographic visual publication that responds to the details of objects, clothing and materials that represent my design practice."It contains a collection of visual studies that encapsulate my interests in detail; appreciating the influences that have shaped my aesthetic where contemporary culture and interdisciplinary practices intersect."Artefacts are the particularities that influence my identity beyond clothing and into design."It embraces the archive, forming an unconventional self-portrait and a catalogue of my design identity."Student: Natasha LesiakowskaCourse: BA Graphic Design CommunicationEmail: contact[at]natashalesiakowska.comMemories with a Shelf Life by Drishya Subramaniam"In a future where current traditions and cultures are affected by globalisation, how can design intervene to preserve and shape cultures for generations ahead?"Memories with a Shelf Life began as I moved from India to the United Kingdom, sparking my quest to reconnect with my cultural heritage."While similarities surfaced, profound differences emerged, shaped by the legacy of colonisation."This fusion of cultures mirrors the transformative effects of contemporary globalisation, which allows individuals to freely adopt elements from diverse cultures."Ultimately, my work explores heritage conservation and the enduring nature of cultural identity in the face of globalisation."Student: Drishya SubramaniamCourse: Graduate Diploma Graphic DesignEmail: subramaniam.drishya[at]gmail.comSky City by Yehang Chen"Skateboarding is an extreme sport and its essence is actually a subculture."In every society, there are impacts and changes produced by the dominant culture in the face of subcultures."My project is mainly a venue for subcultural group activities, but the theme of the whole venue is still about skateboarding."The interior of the building contains a skateboarding venue, an accommodation venue, bar, restaurant, a stage and other functions."I referenced the flow that skateboarding has in the shape of the building."Student: Yehang ChenCourse: Graduate Diploma Interior DesignEmail: y.chen0576[at]qq.comThe Artist Neighbourhood by Daniel Bentley"The Artist Neighbourhood is all about autonomy; designed to insert artists into spaces that typically exclude them."Essentially, the project provides a home in the heart of Soho for artists, where creative camaraderie is fostered by a flexible, sociable environment."Graduates and students live in one of eighty-seven self-contained flats, above fourteen studios on the ground and first floor."Talent is shared between residents in collaborative settings that demystify creative industries."Affordability and accessibility are paramount to the neighbourhood's fabric; considerate, compact design and an innovative financial model makes urban living a reality for young creatives."Student: Daniel BentleyCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: danielbentley[at]danielbentley.designPost War Drobe by Maria Gil"The idea of 'Post War Drobe' is to reimagine Polish design history, envisioning an alternative reality where postmodernism had the chance to exist."While in the west in the late 20th century a movement of playful experimentation in design was flourishing, Polish design faced challenges due to economic and political crises."Combining contrasting rebar and fabric, often used as substitutes for traditional furniture materials due to resource shortages, post war drobe references classical wardrobes from before world war two."It mourns the lost cultural heritage, destroyed and looted from Poland during the war."Student: Maria GilCourse: BA Product and Furniture DesignEmail: mary[at]gheell.comPartnership content This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and University of the Arts London. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post University of the Arts London spotlights nine student design projects appeared first on Dezeen.

Few recent buildings have caused as much of a sensation as the MSG Sphere Las Vegas. Now that the initial hype has died down, Matt Shaw reflects on its significance.Arriving in Las Vegas around dusk is like reaching an electric oasis. It recalls the days of Route 66, which of course in turn recalls the old west of train hoppers and cowboys. Norman Mailer called it a "jeweled city" with "neon spires".The latest electronic jewel is the MSG Sphere, the 112-metre-tall entertainment venue illuminated on the outside by 1.2 million LED pucks, and on the inside housing a 15,000-square-metre LED "immersive surface", or a huge, curved IMAX screen. Its interior screen is more immersive than IMAX, but the theatre seating has many features of 4DX, such as individualised audio, vibrating seats and pipes in the floor that can simulate steam, rain or even various smells.After experiencing it first-hand, I can say it wildly exceeded my expectationsBilled as the future of entertainment, the Sphere recently turned one year old a great time to assess its impact beyond the image of a giant emoji on the Strip, especially as we have now seen several different musical acts utilise the cutting-edge technology.I saw the band Dead and Company perform as part of their summer-long residency, "Dead Forever". They are led by two original members of the Grateful Dead known for their electrified, psychedelic take on American folk music, blues, and bluegrass along with John Mayer and several other younger musicians.From a distance, I found the Sphere (and seeing the Dead there) hilarious. However, after experiencing it first-hand, I can say it wildly exceeded my expectations. Architecturally, the building is so present in the experience of the show that it is impossible to ignore.Read: Does London need the Sphere?It is a direct experience of architecture in its fullest sense physically, but also conceptually. While the primitive form of a sphere is simple, it becomes less familiar at such a grand scale. The structure is visible through the screen before it is lit up, reminding you that this is a unique experience of a building.Entering the upper level sections through short tunnels, visitors are greeted by a massive screen that is nothing short of sublime. David Nye notes in American Technological Sublime that these monumental feats of American technological progress serve to define what America is as a socially diverse society, connected through a shared human and emotional understanding of these technological feats."The sublime encounter leaves subjects too deeply moved to reflect on the historicity of their encounter," he writes. "Sublimity seems not a social construction but a unique and precious encounter with reality."It is like being inside your phone or TVAt the Sphere, building and screen become one. It is like being inside your phone or TV.Robert Venturi foreshadowed this in his 1996 book Iconography and Electronics Upon a Generic Architecture. "Jumbotrons atop buildings in Tokyo and Osaka can, along with temple hieroglyphics and mosaic iconography, work as precedent for a generic architecture employing video display systems where the sparkle of pixels can parallel the sparkle of tesserae and LED can become the mosaics of today."The Sphere has new technology, but it is fundamentally still a live music venue, with lobby, escalators, and concessions that are organised like a traditional stadium. There is still a shared experience. We do not leave our bodies or social interactions behind. There is still a ritual in going to the venue, rather than putting on a headset.Read: Las Vegas Sphere represents the "iPhone-ification" of tour design says Es DevlinThis shared experience is crucial to the Sphere's success. Rather than simply becoming a virtual architecture or a fancy movie theatre, the live-performance component of the venue the hybrid experience transcends a simple virtual architecture, which could quickly devolve into simple gimmick or worse, metaverse-style digital slop.Like the Dead's Americana, the Sphere inhabits multiple narratives by harmonising and actualising the mythologies of the American west: digital technology, psychedelia, boomer culture, hippy radicalism, as well as modernist development and urban planning.It is the final form of the 20th-century American city. It's as if all of 20th-century American history and urbanism has been culminating into this one moment. Several dusty American highways of the mind break from the street grid, electrify, and coalesce into a spinning explosion reaching toward the sky, or the cloud.The Sphere is the avant-garde of frontier urbanismVegas has undergone several transformations, almost always at the forefront of American urbanism. The original Strip was founded outside of the city so as to avoid taxes and planning measures such as the Las Vegas street grid. It was an early American free trade Zone, and has been ever since.In the 1980s gambling was legalised in other places, including on many Native American reservations and cities like Atlantic City, New Jersey. Vegas responded by offering more family-friendly attractions, and the town became Disneyfied.In the 2000s, the town took a luxury turn, with more subdued, less thematic resorts like the Wynn and Cosmopolitan cropping up, bringing with them a rash of glass boxes along the Strip. This era of Manhattanisation brought with it pedestrianisation and traffic.Read: ICRAVE unveils sci-fi interiors of MSG Sphere Las VegasThe current era is one of Dubai-like spectacles, such as an NFL stadium, an F1 track, a ferris wheel, and the Sphere. Today, the frontier mentality that built Vegas is now global, incorporating the fringes of spectacle from around the world.The Sphere is the avant-garde of frontier urbanism, but in this 21st century sense. It will almost certainly be exported around the world, and will likely not be welcomed to traditional city centres, as was the case in London. Spheres will likely be located on the industrial periphery, where light pollution is not an issue.Las Vegas has always accepted the extraordinary and has always been open to new ideas and the frontiers of technological progress. From the canals of the Venetian to the volcano at the Mirage, the Sphere represents just one in a lineage of this forward-thinking entertainment tech.We now experience the city by scrolling, hopping on Google Maps or in UberIt also extends the project of American radical architecture of the 1960s counterculture. Domes were one of the most common forms of building, from Drop City to Pacific High School, an experimental high school in the Santa Cruz Mountains.Domes encapsulated what curator Andrew Baulvelt describes as "the tensions between the modern, characterised as universal, timeless, rational, and progressive, and its countercultural other, which adopts a more local, timely, emotive, and often irreverent and radical disposition".Most of these domes were simple constructions. Only radical visionary experiments like Buckminster Fuller's Geoscope (and World Game), or Stan Van Der Beek's Movie-drome in the upstate New York woods dreamed of the immersive collapse of building and media, both of which foreshadowed our networked present.Read: "The Vessel shows us how bad the vampiric ultra-wealthy are at making public space"Perhaps Silicon Valley's most impactful contribution to the city is the total reorientation of our urban experience toward the screen, rather than the signages that defined Venturi's and Denise Scott Brown's old Vegas highway strip. We now experience the city by scrolling, hopping on Google Maps or in Uber it is a hybrid of physical structures and digital media.But we best not submit fully, or we may lose ourselves and the physical space that makes us human. As Venturi said: "Viva virtual architecture, almost."Matt Shaw is a New York-based architecture author, editor and curator. He is a contributing editor for The Architect's Newspaper and teaches atUPenn, Indiana University, andthe Southern California Institute of Architecture. His recent book with photographer Iwan Baan, American Modern: Architecture and Community in Columbus, Indiana, is published by Monacelli Press (2024). The author thanks Michael Green and Mark David Major for their input on this article.The photo is by Steve Spatafore via Shutterstock.Dezeen In DepthIf you enjoy reading Dezeen's interviews, opinions and features,subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.The post "The Sphere is the final form of the 20th-century American city" appeared first on Dezeen.

Promotion: car brand Bentley has unveiled the most powerful road car it has ever produced, updated with several new design elements.The new Continental GT is the company's first high performance car with a V8 hybrid engine. This milestone is described by Bentley as "a landmark moment" in the brand's 105 year history.A new powertrain was described as "a breakthrough" in meeting Bentley's goals by research and development director, Markus Thiel"It is an engineering masterpiece," said Markus Thiel, Bentleys research and development director for vehicle motion.The car has been designed to be sleeker, with simpler lines compared to other performance cars. It also appears wider and planted closer to the ground. The company said it set out to create "a completely new face" with "a more modern approach".The new look has been achieved by a composite of several new elements, most strikingly new headlamps, tail lamps, bumpers and grilles.The new Continental GT is the first high performance car in Bentley's history with a hybrid engineThe most significant upgrade, however, is under the bonnet, stressed Thiel."We wanted to do something no other luxury car manufacturer had achieved so far," said Thiel. "Could a hybrid electric car also offer the thrill of a performance petrol car?"Thiel said the creation of a new powertrain (the mechanism that propels a vehicle) was a breakthrough in the development of the car and accelerated the process to reaching its goals.The Continental GT can reach a top speed of 208 miles per hourThe new powertrain has been pivotal in creating the most powerful car Bentley has ever produced, according to Thiel.The Continental GT can reach a top speed of 208 miles per hour and be driven for 50 miles on a single charge. It isnt just the speed or the acceleration thats most striking about this car, he added."We measure speed, power, torque and the range of the battery," he said. "What we cant quantify is the emotion a car can bring, and I think this is the most incredible aspect of this car.""If Im honest, I really didnt expect the extent of emotion this car could deliver when we started to build a plug-in hybrid," said Thiel.Bentley's aim was to provide "the thrill of a performance petrol car" in a hybrid vehicleHe cited a critical moment after "several intense months", during the first ever test of the new prototype. It took place on the race track on the island of Anglesey in north Wales."Up until that point the team knew they were working on a groundbreaking powertrain but were unsure on how it would perform," said Thiel.The results surpassed the expectations of the team, he said."We were taken aback immediately and thought: 'This is massive!' The balance was so good, the car felt much quicker than we expected. It was an emotional moment."From that point, Thiel said his team were locked in a tense 30 week period with a series of technical iterations and testing.Testing was carried out in a range of conditions, spanning Germanys Autobahn; northern Sweden; Colorado, USA; and New Zealand"There is always pressure to deliver a car on time, but we were innovating on so many fronts with this as well," he added.Testing was carried out in different conditions varying from Germanys autobahn, an iced over lake in northern Sweden and a gruelling safety test in New Zealand during the southern hemispheres winter months.To test the capability of the new hybrid engine, the team drove the GT 28 miles up Mount Evans, the highest mountain in Colorado - an altitude of 4,307 metres."There is a history at Bentley of doing ambitious things"Reflecting on the history of iconic Bentley GTs and the goals the company sought with its new model, Thiel said: "I'm quite an optimistic guy. Maybe some people would say naive but there is a history at Bentley of doing ambitious things.""I believe the new GT has also achieved something amazing and I cant wait to see people experiencing it."Partnership contentThis article was written by Dezeen for the Bentley as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Bentley's new Continental GT powered by "an engineering masterpiece" appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen Showroom: Spanish brand Realonda has created a range oftiles that bring character to walls by evoking the appearance of long, thin bricks.The Amsterdam tile collection is made from porcelain and is modelled after a type of brick that is thinner and longer than traditional facade bricks.The tiles mimic horizontally-laid bricksEach tile measures 15 by 45 centimetres and, according to Realonda, they bring a vintage charm to projects while still fitting in with urban and contemporary styles.The Amsterdam tile collection is available in a range of seven colours ranging from white to greys and browns.The colour options include WhiteThe colours all exhibit natural-looking variations in appearance, with two of the styles Vintage and Old making a feature out of the diversity of hues.Amsterdam tiles are suitable for installation on feature walls and areas around fireplaces and barbecues.Product details:Product: AmsterdamBrand: RealondaContact: arovira@realonda.comMaterial: porcelainColours/finishes: White, Grey, Charcoal, Vintage, Old, Ochre, CottoDimensions: 150 x 450 millimetresDezeen ShowroomDezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.The post Amsterdam tile collection by Realonda appeared first on Dezeen.

Architecture studio OYO has renovated a derelict house in Belgium, lining its interiors with wood and bringing it "into more harmony with the nature of the dunes" that surround it.Aptly named Dune House, the home is half buried in its sandy plot and has been overhauled by OYO to bring it to modern-day standards while enhancing its connection to its site.The alterations also aim to celebrate its existing character and structure, which was partially destroyed by bombing during world war two and then reconstructed in timber during the 1960s.OYO has retrofitted the derelict Dune House in Belgium"We did not want to interfere with the authentic feel: the derelict house was charming, well-oriented and had an interesting layout which we preserved to a large extent," OYO Architects told Dezeen."The clients were looking for a house where they could swim together, play with the grandchildren, cook for family and enjoy dinners at home" it continued."We wanted to design a sustainable, long-lasting home without compromising on living comfort and connection to bring the house into more harmony with the nature of the dunes."It is designed to sit in harmony "with the nature of the dunes" that surround itDune House is entered via an existing exterior brick staircase, which provides access to the first floor.Here is a generous open-plan living space with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, which open up the rear wall onto the outdoor terrace overlooking a heated swimming pool.The interiors are filled with warm woodsLined by blue-coloured columns, the terrace doubles as an outdoor dining space and shelter for an outdoor shower area positioned below it.The reconfigured ground floor comprises the bedrooms, alongside a family bathroom and utilities area.A terrace connects to Dune House's living areaWood is the primary material used throughout Dune House, with the warm tones of the exposed timber panelling creating a "cosy and welcoming atmosphere", OYO said.Bespoke elements include integrated storage and window seats for the family's young children to use as reading nooks.Read: Unknown Architects embeds home in sand dunes on Dutch island"The house is half embedded in the dunes, making it seem more compact whilst still providing the comfort of two floors," explained OYO Architects."In the open living space, the borders between inside and outside are blurred: sliding doors can open completely towards the elevated terrace," the studio continued. "These interventions give the guests a feeling of grandeur even though the house is quite compact."The terrace shelters an outdoor shower areaAlthough Dune House's internal timber structure has been largely preserved, the facade has been updated with improved insulation and thermowood cladding.Solar panels have been installed on the roof, hidden behind the eaves that have been raised while echoing the original roofline. There is also a groundwater heat pump and solar boiler system that heat the home and the outdoor swimming pool.There are reading nooks for the owner's childrenOYO Architects is a studio based in Ghent and established in 2011 by Eddy Soete, Nigel Jooren, Veroniek Vanhaecke and Lies Willaert.The studio's previous works include House Dede that centres around a timber spiral staircase and a wedge-shaped house with a sloping green roof.The photography is by Karen Van der Biest.The post OYO transforms derelict Dune House in Belgium with warm wood interiors appeared first on Dezeen.

Saudi Arabia has unveiled the stadiums that will host games at the World Cup in 10 years time, including a venue built on The Line at Neom and a stadium informed by the bark of a tree.Revealed as part of its official bid submission to FIFA, the 15 stadiums will be based in and around four cities Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Abha, as well as the under-construction The Line.In total 11 new stadiums are planned for the World Cup, with three currently under construction. The country's two current largest stadiums will be renovated, while two further existing stadiums will be temporarily expanded during the tournament.FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 event in December, with the country the only bidder for the event.Read on for details of the 15 stadiums set to host games at the 2034 World Cup:New Murabba Stadium, Riyadh, unknown architectInformed by the bark of an acacia tree, the New Murabba Stadium will be surrounded by numerous rock-like forms divided by canyons."Its design replicates the layered overlapping planes and peeling planar texture of the bark of the native acacia tree," according to the bid document.The 45,000-seat stadium will form part of the Murabba downtown development, which is being created in the northwest of Riyadh. The development will also include a 400-metre-high cube-shapedskyscraper named Mukaab.King Salman International Stadium, Riyadh, by PopulousSet to host the World Cup final, the King Salman International Stadium will be the country's largest stadium when it completes.Designed by architecture studio Populous, which is creating several venues for the tournament, the stadium in Riyadh will have a capacity of 92,000. Its design was informed by mountains and renders show landscaped panels enclosing the structure."The stadium will blend into its surrounding topography, with terrain and natural habitat forming part of the stadium's roof," said the official submission."Aside from its aesthetic appeal, this design will provide effective shading and ventilation tailored to the desert climate."Roshn Stadium, Riyadh, unknown architectDesigned to resemble numerous crystal-like shards rising into the air, the Roshn Stadium will be built to the south of Riyadh as part of a wider residential neighbourhood."The stadium is designed as a dynamic part of the urban fabric, encouraging the community to walk around and through the facility," the bid stated.It will sit in a central plaza, surrounded by the bowl's 'crystalline' structure, a delicate latticework that will glow in the night sky.King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh, by Ian Fraser,John Roberts,Michael KC CheahOriginally opened in 1987, the King Fahd Sports City Stadium is topped with a distinctive fabric roof supported on a series of 24 masts that are each 58 metres high.The stadium, which is in east Riyadh, is currently being refurbished by Populous with its capacity set to increase from 58,000 to 70,000.The renovation is expected to be completed before the AFC Asian Cup in 2027.Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, Riyadh, by PopulousNamed after Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, the stadium is planned as part of the Qiddiya entertainment district 30 kilometres from Riyadh.The cliffside stadium will have stands on three sides with a large, retractable LED wall occupying the other side. The building will also incorporate an Olympic Museum."The bowl has been designed to optimise the spectator experience, featuring a unique three-sided arrangement to allow for spectacular views out towards the Tuwaiq cliffs," said the official bid.Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh, PopulousCurrently under construction in the east of the city, the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium will be informed by traditional architectural motifs from the country's central region."The stadium design draws inspiration from the 'culturally contextualized modernism' principles of Salmani architecture," said the bid document.The stadium will be constructed using locally produced materials and will utilize energy efficient systems, including extensive solar panels on the roof."South Riyadh Stadium, Riyadh, PopulousAnother stadium informed by the "principles of Salmani architecture", the South Riyadh Stadium will be located in the south of the capital as the name suggests. It will be wrapped in numerous reddish-brown vertical fins and topped with a transparent roof."The facade blends modernity with the rich architectural language and material palette of the area," the bid stated.King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, by Michael KC Cheah, renovation by PopulousOne of two existing stadiums that will be temporarily expanded for the World Cup, the King Saud University Stadium will have a capacity of 46,000 during the tournament before being reduced to 33,000 after the event.Neom Stadium, Neom, unknown architectDescribed as the "most unique stadium in the world", the Neom Stadium will be incorporated into The Line mega city, which is under construction in the north west of the country as part of Neom."Neom Stadium will be the most unique stadium in the world," said the bid."With a pitch situated more than 350 meters above ground, stunning vistas, and a roof created from the city itself, the stadium will be an experience like no other."King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, by ArupOpened in 2014, the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium was designed by Arup. The stadium will be refurbished ahead of the World Cup."Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is an elegant, respectful and versatile complex that combines traditional Islamic architecture with innovative design to form a highly functional, sustainable and flexible building," said Arup.Qiddiya Coast Stadium, Jeddah, PopulousOne of the most colourful stadiums being built for the World Cup, the Qiddiya Coast Stadium is being built 45 kilometres to the north of Jeddah. It will be surrounded by numerous fins that were designed to evoke the idea of a Mexican wave."It is designed as a physical representation of the vibrant relationship between people and water, energy and matter, with its design also evoking the ripple effect of a Mexican wave," said the bid."Its form undulates; its vibrant color palette is rich and joyful."Jeddah Central Development Stadium, Jeddah, by GMP ArchitectenCurrently being built as one of the anchor buildings of the Jeddah Central giga project, the 45,000 seat stadium was designed by German studioGMP Architecten.The stadiums will be entirely surrounded by buildings that make it appear to be a mass of historic structures."It echoes the traditional architecture of Jeddah's historic Al Balad district, while embracing technological advancements and innovative building design," said the bid document."It features three tiers, with an outer concourse connected to four surrounding 'villages'. The stadium bowl is fully covered by a semi-translucent roof, with a retractable inner roof and a 360-degree LED screen."The wider development will include 17,000 homes as well as anarts centre designed by Heatherwick Studio, an opera house designed by Danish studio Henning Larsenand an oceanarium by US studioSOM.King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, Jeddah, unknown architectLocated 80 kilometres for Jeddah, the King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will form part of a planned new city on the Red Sea Coast.The drum-shaped stadium will have a capacity of 45,000.Aramco Stadium, Al Khobar, by Foster + Partners and PopulousDesigned by UK studio Foster + Partners, the Aramco Stadium, which will be delivered by Populous, is currently under construction in the city of Al Khobar on the country's eastern coast.Informed by the whirlpools that exist off the coast of Saudi Arabia, the 47,000-seat stadium will be covered in a series of sail-like forms. It is set to complete in 2026 and be used for the 2027 Asian Cup."The stadium's architecture celebrates the sea's dynamic nature and its profound influence on the local community," the official bid document."Its whirlpool-shaped design mimics overlapping sails and draws on graceful, natural wave motifs, to blend seamlessly with the coastal landscape."King Khalid University Stadium, Abha, renovation by PopulousLocated in the southwestern city of Abha, the King Khalid University Stadium is the second existing stadium that will be expanded for the tournament.Originally opened in 1987, the stadium currently has a capacity of 12,000, which will be increased to 45,000 during the World Cup.The post Saudi Arabia reveals all 15 stadiums for the 2034 World Cup appeared first on Dezeen.

A home in Suffolk with an origami-like roof and a timber house built on a stone cellar in Estonia were two of the most popular houses featured on Dezeen in July.Also featured is an exposed concrete house in Japan, a pair of renovated homes on a remote Canadian peninsula and another secluded home in Canada clad in cedar shingles.Read on to find out more about Dezeen readers' favourite houses this month:Photo by Tnu TunnelPro House, Estonia, by Hanna Karitsand Mari HuntPro House is a home constructed from locally sourced wood built atop a disused stone cellar, designed by architectsHanna Karits and Mari Hunt to have minimal impact on the remote site.Located in a forest in Estonia, Pro House has a rectilinear form with a pitched roof clad in dark-stained timber, informed by the surrounding farm structures.Find out more about Pro House Photo by DoublespaceWhistling Wind Island, Canada, by Akb ArchitectsCedar shingles clad a cluster of buildings at Whistling Wind Island, which was designed by architecture studio Akb Architects as a summer home for a kite surfer and his family.Four structures were built on a remote archipelago in Ontario,Canada, including a main cottage, guest cabin, sauna and a building containing boat storage and a fitness studio.Find out more about Whistling Wind Island Photo by Jim StephensonWater Farm, UK, by Studio BarkArchitecture practiceStudio Bark created an origami-like roof that folds in different directions for the Water Farm family home in Suffolk.The geometric home was clad in locally sourced sweet chestnut cladding and a central outdoor courtyard lets natural light into the interior spaces.Find out more about Water Farm Photo courtesy of Studio Cochi ArchitectsHouse in Nishizaki, Japan, by Studio Cochi ArchitectsThick concrete walls surround the House in Nishizaki, designed by architecture practice Studio Cochi Architects as an "urban oasis" protected from being overlooked by surrounding buildings in the densely packed area.Studio Cochi Architects left the concrete structure exposed throughout the house and complemented it with weathered metal accents and dark wooden carpentry.Find out more about House in Nishizaki Photo by Julian ParkinsonBurdens Point Residence, Canada, by Reflect ArchitectureToronto studioReflect Architecture renovated a pair of century-old saltbox houses on a Newfoundland peninsula to create the Burdens Point Residence vacation home.The studio added windows and galvanised steel roofs to the two vernacular buildings, which serve as a single property while also being self-sufficient.Find out more about Burdens Point Residence The post Dezeen's top five houses of July 2024 appeared first on Dezeen.

Another two months flies by, heres what weve been working on:NamaqualandWere making great progress with the Namaqualand project and expect to finish it in the next two months. Hopefully, itll be ready around the next dev log!Its amazing how much work there is after scanning a location for just a week Theres not much more to say other than the team has been hard at work grinding out assets, so heres a little sneak peek:Moon ProgressMeanwhile, Dario has started working on our moon scans in earnest. There will be quite a few of them, and theyre all very similar, but we hope this will give you a lot of flexibility and variation in large environments.FabricIts been a while since I last spoke about our fabric scans project, and plans have changed a bit since then.While assembling the Cornell box and pondering what sort of machine wed build to automate the scanning process itself, we were contacted by a company in Germany, Colormass, that specializes in doing this sort of thing.Colormass offered to scan a small set of fabrics for us, more or less at cost. While still quite a bit more than it would have cost us to do ourselves, it would free up a few months of our time to work on other projects, so we decided it was still a good idea.They are working on a set of 30 scans as we speak, but weve seen 4 of them so far:Model RecategorizationIn more general news, weve spent some time rethinking the categories we use for models. What we have now was thought up many years ago, back in the brief days of 3D Model Haven, when we had less than 50 models in total.Now, the library is considerably larger and more varied, and were a bit tired of calling everything a prop or decorative.While were already fairly happy with the new categories weve created, changing categories for everything all at once has a number of technical implications. There are unanswered questions about how specifically we want the new system to workwhether or not it will be the same for textures and HDRIs, too.The website, our Blender add-on, and any third-party tools using our API all need to work seamlessly while we make the transition, taking into account users who may not have the latest version and are still expecting the old categories. Theres still much to decide and determine here, but I thought Id mention it so youre aware of one of the many aspects of running an asset library besides the act of making the assets themselves Blender Asset Drop HandlerSpeaking of our add-on, I made a patch for Blender 8 months ago that adds a small feature that would allow our add-on to be used more intuitively and efficiently.Quick and dirty proof of concept of what could happen if we had asset drop handlers in #b3d's Python API (my patch: https://t.co/JUDP0ls50U). pic.twitter.com/VLaAsHG1Df Greg Zaal (@GregZaal) May 16, 2024The feature is simply a Python hook into the asset browsers drag-and-drop event, which would allow us to attach our own code to this action. For example, we could download the asset after the user drags it into their scene rather than requiring all users to download all assets upfront, as it currently works.Similarly, we could ask the user what resolution theyd like the asset to be or simply follow some default preference. Currently, our asset always comes in at 1K resolution, and you have to go to a menu to change this after adding it to the scene.There are a number of other features we have in mind that rely on this patch, and its been waiting patiently for review for the last year. Finally, there has been some activity, and other developers have been working on similar patches and more general implementations, so its possible we may finally get to see these features in Blender soon Better Astro-HDRIs?Finally, a bit of a teaseOne of our most requested types of HDRIs are night HDRIs. We have a few, and a few more on the way from Namaqualand, but since shooting those weve realized our current lens is a bit soft.Its not bad, the image above being the worst case I could find, but the poor coma coupled with the relatively high level of noise (due to the limit of 15s exposures to avoid star trails) there is definitely some room for improvement.Luckily, Sigma recently released a new lens that blows every other potential astro-HDRI lens out of the water: the 14mm f/1.4 Art.Not only is this lens twice as bright as our current lens, meaning theoretically half as much noise, but its also on another level of sharpness wide open.Nikon Z7 + Laowa 15mm F/2Sony a7R4 + Sigma 14mm F/1.4We visited a local camera store and shot a few tests, albeit during the day, and came to the conclusion that we needed this We have an HDRI trip planned for the end of August, where well put it to the test and hopefully capture the best starry skies anyone has ever seen in an HDRI.Assuming the weather plays nicely with us.Thanks for reading this far! We look forward to sharing more exciting progress in the next Dev Log Until then, feel free to join us on Discord where we are always hanging out, and let us know what you are working on too!

Download the scene fileBrowse the assetsWere proud to present Poly Havens latest asset collection: A Verdant Trail.Browse the assetsThe goal of this project was to explore the idea of traveling to different biomes and capturing scans over a few days to create a cohesive asset pack that can be used to recreate similar environments.South Africa has an absurd number of biomes within relatively easy reach, so our idea was to see what would be involved in creating an asset pack for each of them one dayMicro-biomes of South Africa, and the location where most of our scans were capturedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegetation_types_of_South_AfricaWe first started this project back in April of 2023, slowly gathering references, scouting locations, and planning the scope of the final collection.Reference photo of a boulder we might have scannedOur working title for the project was Little Falls, which is the name of the suburb where we gathered most of our data. We had some grand ideas of rivers and waterfalls as well, which were soon decided to be too much of a time investment for something we cant publish as an asset on Poly Haven.The small riverbed makes for quite a tranquil sceneThis biome, technically a grassland, is extremely common in the highveld of South Africa. Our initial reason for choosing it as our first biome project was that it was very accessible to us. It covers most of our province and were all very familiar with it.Greg is scouting for scannable rocks amongst the grassy outcropOur primary reference was a small rarely-used public park, home to the waterfalls that the suburb is named from. The path is generally overgrown and runs treacherously alongside the polluted river.Rico is trying not to fall off the narrow path into the riverbank belowMoments before Dario gets his shoe stuck in the mudJandre patiently waits for the rest of the team to catch upThere were plenty of rock faces to scan, though much of it was covered in wild grasses and proved a bit challenging to process. We later also visited other nearby parks and reserves to scan more surfaces that were a bit less overgrown.The cliffside would be great to scan, were it not for all the dense foliage obscuring itThere was a wide variety of vegetation and rock types densely packed in this small area, we had to be careful to create a mockup of the final scene and a wishlist of the assets we would really need before going and capturing everything. We wanted to avoid being too overwhelmed for our first biome project.The riverbank is home to a variety of washed-up trash and debris, brought by heavy rains in the summer monthsOverall the project was a great success!There is always more to scan, but we learned a lot about what is required for scanning things in the wild, such that we were able to travel to Namaqualand in September to capture that biome as well. Weve started processing those scans too now, but thats a story for another blog post Until next time, thanks for your continued support on Patreon, and we look forward to seeing what environments you make with our new assets!Rico, Dario & Jandre, on our first location scout.Browse the assets

Welcome to 2024! We have some exciting plans for this year, but before we can make any grand announcements we need to finish what we started and polish off our previous projects The Hidden AlleyAnother wildly successful community project! You can read about it here, head straight to the assets page, or download the final scene file.Well certainly set up another community project later this year, but for the next few months we need to focus on some other popular projectsLittle Falls Verdant TrailOur latest environment project is just about complete! We decided on a final name for the collection little falls was simply a working title and no longer suitable since there are no falls in our finished scene instead we decided Verdant Trail is more in style with the theme.Heres a small sneak peek, well share more in a few weeks once all the assets are uploaded:Fabric PlansLast time I shared a bit of our big-picture ideas for scanning fabrics at scale.Since then weve been researching some other approaches and testing out a few different workflows that might work at the scale we want, without compromising on quality, nor spending 99% of our effort on 1% gains.Were still ironing out the kinks (though not yet literally), but our plan is to construct a variant of the Cornell box so that we may capture solid physical reference of each fabric sample and use this to aid in the replication of material properties in Blender after weve digitized it with the photometric stereo workflow.This may not be the final design, but the idea is to keep it simple while still providing as much information as possible to aid in discerning the subtle view-dependant material properties that are critical for creating a convincing fabric material such as sheen weight, roughness, subsurface scattering, etc.The fabric sample will be wrapped around a polystyrene sphere and impaled with an aluminum rod to support it on the back wall of the box, like a large leathery lollypop.A two-point light setup gives you a strong, but not too harsh, key light and a rim light in predictable locations.We forego the red and green walls of the traditional Cornell box to avoid confusing the hue of the fabric sample itself. Instead, half the walls are painted white to bounce some light to the underside of the ball, and the rest are dark to keep enough contrast for the diffuse gradient to remain visible.The 18% grey sphere and Macbeth color chart provide an anchor point for exposure and white balance respectively, ensuring we can calibrate the surface albedo accurately.#TheMoonPrior to the Blender Conference, we visited a lunar simulant facility in Rostock, Germany.You can hear more about the project in my lightning talk below, but in a nutshell, the aim is to create relatively small-scale textures of the lunar surface as accurately as we can without actually visiting the moon ourselves.Well likely only get to processing these scans later this year, as we want to first complete the Verdant Trail and Namaqualand collections.Q&A StreamFinally, we hosted a stream at the end of the year to answer some community questions and share some updates and plans: