Pure Storage invests in Cerabyte's ceramic storage system to offer sustainable, immutable data solutions.

It looks as though the Pro and Pro Max models are going to get decent battery boosts for 2024.

How FOLKS VFX helped create many environments for the Apple TV+ show.In this new interview at befores & afters, FOLKS VFX visual effects supervisor Lionel Lim and CG supervisor Felix Arsenault discuss their contributions to the Apple TV+ series, Dark Matter. FOLKS delivered 12 different environments for the show, crafting worlds with CG builds and DMP.In the series, snowy environments, a desert world, views of Chicago variants and more, were made by the visual effects studio. Theres also one sequence that involved building the city for a lengthy elevator scene. Here, the pair break down the work.b&a: Where did you start with the city landscape shots? Can you talk about gathering references of Chicago (and any other cities), acquiring any data, doing any concept work, and then what general approach you took to crafting variations?Lionel Lim and Felix Arsenault: Every parallel world we worked on at FOLKS is some variation of Chicago. After our initial conversations, we started gathering as many references as possible to the city itself from various sources, including pictures, footage, maps, etc. Having a real city to match helped us a lot, as it gave us a nice ground truth we could always stick to and go back to when in doubt.To produce Blake Crouchs vision of the different worlds, our art department created concepts for each of Chicagos variations using early footage to get an early look approval.In parallel, our CG team started very early on by building a rough model of Chicago using satellite data and maps. We focused first on just recreating the actual location from real life. This environment then went through multiple iterations as necessary throughout the show. Some sections are more accurate and detailed than others, as we really focused on what we would see on camera.Later on, once we had our approved concept arts, this Chicago environment was then used as a base to feed each world variations. We then built specific props and assets to use as set dressing for the city, incorporating the unique visual language of each world, whether its snowed-in trees, snow banks, destroyed buildings, sand dunes, boats, sci-fi buildings, etc.Due to the big variety of biomes throughout the different Chicago worlds, mixed with the nature of the shots themselves, often having camera movements, we decided on using a mixed 2.5D shot-based approach. This way, we would avoid too much heavy rendering. We had detailed matte painting over 3D in almost every shot, using as good a render as we could as a base for almost every world. This allowed for quick iterations and a lot of flexibility, which always comes in handy when doing episodic work.Because we decided to go this way, we had to be very rigorous with having proper layout steps so that we would never change camera orientation once we started painting environments. We went from macro to micro so we wouldnt waste time on things we wouldnt see.b&a: Tell me about the snow world in episode 4. What approach did FOLKS take to building a snowy/city landscape here?Lionel Lim and Felix Arsenault: We generally used our 2.5D approach, but the challenge was really in making the world itself believable. We were briefed on making the snow world look grounded without it steering too much toward fantasy.The visual language for these shots focused on capturing the appearance of snow drifts, as if a massive amount of snow had accumulated over time and was then sculpted by the wind, both on the ground and around buildings. We werent looking for heavy, wet snow or something too icy for the cityscape itself.There are inherent qualities to a snowy landscape and snow in general that were fairly tricky to recreate. There are a lot of different types of snow, and snow fields themselves are very layered by nature. It both needs to reflect light a certain way but also refract some light so as to not feel too solid. Its easy for it to look like white sand, which we often had to fight against. We looked at plenty of pictures from not only our beautiful home country here in Canada but also from the Arctic and Antarctic.We also had this snowed-in house that we recreated digitally. Most of what we see is the second floor and then only hints of the ground floor, beneath the snow. It was also seen in the show through both a snowstorm at night and then in broad daylight. They built a piece of that houses second floor on-set, which we were really grateful for. It helped a lot with scale and believability when we rebuilt it in CG and added all that snow and ice.There was also a frozen sea with giant icebergs. Its not something we often see alongside city shorelines in our day-to-day. The biggest challenge was making sure it didnt clash too much with the rest of the snowy landscape, as it has very different qualities compared to the cityscape. What really helped was making sure we had a gradual transition in shape, material, and frequency: going from a few big icebergs to a lot of smaller broken ice sheets that all culminated into this big ice wall along the shore.b&a: Can you talk also about particular challenges of compositing live-action footage/characters into these snowy landscapes?Lionel Lim and Felix Arsenault: For this world, we were lucky enough to get footage that already looked like winter, which often had some interaction between characters and snow.Most of the challenge was making sure we matched the new lighting introduced by CG and developing this look. Otherwise, we had various additional enhancements added to the footage: Burying the house in the snow and adding snow to its walls, adding snow dunes on Chicagos buildings, subtle windy snow on some edges and surfaces, replacing trees with heavy snowed trees, making the snow trails the characters were going through deeper, etc. In the snowstorm sequence, we had to add all this windy snow, which was made of particles and smoke, and change the ground accordingly. But even then, we had something to lean back on to keep things grounded.b&a: For the elevator up to the restaurant in ep7, what was filmed for this scene? How did you build up the required environment outside the glass?Lionel Lim and Felix Arsenault: For this specific sequence, only the foreground elements with the actor were filmed. Everything outside the window is CG using our 2.5D approach. We went through a few iterations where we tried using drone footage, but we ended up realizing that CG would be the best approach.One important thing that helped us move forward on this one was ensuring that every camera in those elevator and restaurant shots was looking at Chicago in the right direction relative to the fictional buildings location and orientation within the city. This is where having a proper layout was key. It allowed us to only focus on what was seen but also have everything be accurate relative to the real world. We also spent some time figuring out how fast we could go up in space without it looking odd, as the elevator is supposed to go hundreds of floors up.b&a: With that elevator scene, what things do you feel really helped sell the environment shots? Lionel Lim and Felix Arsenault: Being able to sell the huge parallax you would have from going up so far so fast really helped sell this shot. To this end, layering details in depth was an important part of our process.This layering was in part achieved by having not only futuristic solarpunk buildings and greenhouses but also older historic buildings, which really helped ground it in reality.Having different types of atmospheric details also helped: atmospheric perspective, subtle god rays sandwiched between buildings, cloud shadows breaking up surfaces, feeling the curvature of the earth at a distance, having CG clouds layered around the buildings, having the camera go through those clouds, etc. All of this contributed to selling the incredible height the elevator was reaching and making the vista itself believable.

Just the one livestream in July, but it was a good one!Put yourself on a collision course with the VOD, available now:https://epic.gm/unreal-engine-streams-yt

With Vice President Kamala Harriss ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket, Republicans are rebuilding a campaign strategy that for months focused on running against President Joe Biden. One emerging theme asserts that Harris laughs too much at inappropriate momentspart of a broader argument that Harris is weird.I call her laughing Kamala, former President Donald Trump said at a rally in Michigan on July 24. Have you ever watched her laugh? She is crazy. You can tell a lot by a laugh. . . . She is nuts.As a professor of American studies with a focus on race and politics, I know that Black women in the U.S. have a history of struggle against violence and oppression. And too often when we experience joy, and show it, ridicule follows. We are said to be too loud, too emotionalwell, too Black women.History shows that this is a familiar dog whistle. Black women have been called out as sexually provocative Jezebels, emasculating Sapphires, or servile, nurturing Mammys in popular culture. Those labels clearly dont fit Harris, so Trump has created a new epithet: crazy laughing.Invisibility has long haunted Black girls and women. In response, their choices, from dress to spirituality to activist groups, often center on making themselves visible. They do this to highlight injustice and to offer a vision of justice based on their experiences.As I see it, Black women deserve for some of that visibility to be joyful. In this realm, Harris is paving the way. Then-Senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris dances with a childrens group at the Des Moines Steak Fry on September 21, 2019.Elation in struggleMany public views of Harris dont reflect Trumps framing. The vice presidents anecdotes, smile, laugh, and evenshockerdancing in public have inspired a tidal wave of fan posts and videos celebrating her energy and what media scholar Jamie Cohen describes as her endearing awkwardness.For these observers, Harris embodies the idea of Black joya national movement that started in 2020 after George Floyd was killed. As NAACP Legal Defense Fund senior writer Lindsey Norward explains:Black joy is an essential part of the complete story of Black people in their fight for dignity and reclamation . . . the unfettered ability to go and enjoy all of the good things about life.Black joy is embodied in all kinds of actions, from personal fashion to sports to voting. It offers a powerful antidote to pervasive images of Black trauma.Act of self-definitionIn a book that I coedited with Wake Forest University political science professor Julia Jordan-Zachery, we examined a related concept: Black Girl Magic. Our book described how Black girls and women maintain their humanity in the face of hostility by fostering community, countering invisibility, and creating spaces for freedom.Sometimes, this means drawing attention to their struggles. One essay in the book cites African American Policy Forum executive director Kimberl Crenshaw, explaining the hashtag #SayHerName, which was coined to raise awareness of Black women victims of police brutality and anti-Black violence.Although Black women are routinely killed, raped, and beaten by the police, their experiences are rarely foregrounded in popular understandings of police brutality, Crenshaw wrote. Yet, inclusion of Black womens experiences in social movements, media narratives, and policy demands around policing and police brutality is critical to effectively combating racialized state violence for Black communities and other communities of color.On July 23, 2024, Harris released a statement expressing grief at the senseless death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot in her Illinois home by a sheriffs deputy who responded to a report of a prowler. The deputy has been fired and charged with murder, based on bodycam footage from another deputy that showed him threatening Massey after she rebuked him and then shooting her.Sonya Massey deserved to be safe, Harris wrote. The disturbing footage released yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so manywe have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name. In other words, Harris said Masseys name.Writing her own storyOur book argued that in the age of Trump, whom Black women almost universally see as hostile to their interests, finding the balance between humanity and magic is more important than ever for Black girls and women.As then-First Lady Michelle Obama said in a speech at the March 2015 Black Girls Rock awards, young Black girls often hear voices that tell you that youre not good enough, that you have to look a certain way, act a certain way; that if you speak up, youre too loud; if you step up to lead, youre being bossy.Around this time, author and social media influencer CaShawn Thompson began tweeting #BlackGirlMagic because, she said, magic is something that people dont always understand. Sometimes, our accomplishments might seem to come out of thin air because a lot of times, the only people supporting us are other Black women.The hashtag went mainstream at the 2016 Black Entertainment Television Awards, where actor and activist Jesse Williams delivered an impassioned discourse about race in America. He ended with a subtle nod:[T]he burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander. Thats not our job, alrightstop with all that . . . the thing is that just because were magic doesnt mean were not real.Williams was respectfully referencing the #BlackGirlMagic movement, alluding to the fact that Black girls and womens identities include resistance against narratives that exclude them and a willingness to define themselves for themselves.Harris has confronted this challenge many times through her career as a district attorney, state attorney general, senator, and vice president. Now she has to invent herself again as a presidential candidate. And even with a large campaign staff, Harris will have to do this for herself.As Nobel laureate Toni Morrison observed, the Black woman has nothing to fall back on: not maleness, not whiteness, not ladyhood, not anything. And out of the profound desolation of her reality she may very well have invented herself.Our book highlighted the emotional fortitude that Black women draw on to accomplish so many feats while breaking unfathomable barriers. Its no exaggeration to call what they do magic.Harris will need plenty of support for a successful campaignfrom Black women and many others. There will be serious issues to debate, from border security to foreign policy to the economy. But Harris also has a real opportunity to contrast her humor and positive energy with a very dark vision from the GOPwithout letting them dictate when its okay for her to laugh.Duchess Harris is a professor of American Studies at Macalester College.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

When you think about household chores, you likely think of actions: scrubbing the dishes, running errands, chopping vegetables for dinner. And its not news to say that mothers often shoulder the burden for most of those activities.But theres an invisible dimension of household chores that unfolds behind the scenes: the cognitive effort that goes into anticipating needs, planning, organizing, and delegating household tasks. In other words, someone has to remember to replace the dish soap and select which vegetables to chop.Our new research found that this cognitive dimension of household chores, often called the mental load, is divided even more unevenly within couples than the physical dimensionand it seems to take a particular mental health toll on women. According to the study we published in the Archives of Womens Mental Health, mothers who take on a more disproportionate share of cognitive household labor report higher levels of depression, stress, relationship dissatisfaction, and burnout.Tracking who does whatWe asked 322 mothers of young children about who in their family is responsible for 30 common household tasks. We collaborated with the creators of the Fair Play systema book and card game designed to better quantify the division of labor within householdsto divide each task into two dimensions: cognitive (anticipating, planning, delegating, and thinking about household tasks) and physical (the hands-on execution of household tasks). We then examined how these tasks are shared between partners.We found a striking gender disparity: Mothers not only performed more physical household chores, but also carried a significantly greater share of cognitive labor compared with their partners.On average, mothers reported being responsible for about 73% of all cognitive household labor compared with their partners 27%, and 64% of all physical household labor compared with their partners 36%. Indeed, for every single task we examined, the gender difference was larger for the cognitive dimension than the physical execution dimension.There was only one task in which fathers did more planning and execution: taking out the garbage. Fathers also carried out more home maintenance tasks, but mothers did more of the related planning.Interestingly, while an unequal division of physical tasks was linked to worse couple relationship quality, it was the cognitive labor that had a more profound impact on womens psychological well-being.Family dynamics have societal impactAn unequal division of household labor is a key driver of global gender inequity, suppressing womens full participation in the paid workforce and significantly affecting womens health and well-being.Our study is one of the first to investigate the cognitive dimension of household labor and its effects on maternal mental health. Cognitive labor may be particularly taxing for women because it often runs behind the scenes and goes unacknowledged or unappreciated by others. It also pulls mental energy away from other priorities.Additional studies indicate that women experience more negative effects from child care and household chores compared with men, such as higher depression rates, partly due to the heavier cognitive load they carry.What still isnt knownOur study was limited by its reliance on self-reported household labor and by the fact that we were able to collect data only from mothers in cohabiting, heterosexual couple relationships. Future studies can survey both partners and directly observe what chores couples do at home. They can also look at different kinds of relationship configurations, including gay and lesbian couples.We also dont know much about the long-term effects of the division of cognitive labor on womens mental health and cognitive functioning.The unfair division of household chores is a frequent source of stress in relationships and is often cited by women as a reason for divorce. The cognitive load may be an underappreciated aspect of the domestic workload that warrants more attention from couples therapists, mental health counselors, and premarital relationship educators.Darby Saxbe is a professor of psychology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Lizzie Aviv is a PhD candidate in psychology, University of Southern California.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Most charities arent tailoring their online fundraising strategies to the electronic device donors may use when deciding whether to click a donate button. Thats what our marketing research team determined when we reviewed the donation pages of every nonprofit on the Forbes Top 100 Charities list.Instead, people typically see identical appeals whether theyre using smartphones or personal computers. But in a series of studies we conducted regarding this issue, our team determined that this approach may undercut fundraising efforts.Stefan J. Hock, Kelly B. Herd, and I are marketing scholars who teamed up for this research project. We published our findings in the March 2024 issue of the Journal of Consumer Psychology.In one study, we showed 247 people a real appeal for donations from the Salvation Army on either their smartphone or PC. People who completed the study on smartphones indicated feeling less focused on others and were thus less likely to give money to the Salvation Army. After the study was complete, we donated all designated funds to the Salvation Army.We also controlled for whether participants had ever donated to a charity, how often they donate, how much they donate annually, how often they donate online, their gender, their age, and their income.In another experiment, we teamed up with a German charity, Aktion Deutschland HilftCampaign Germany Helps in English. Using images from its website, we created Google ads that either focused on helping others or not. The former stated, The people suffering in Ukraine need help. The latter asserted, We provide emergency help for Ukraine.We again found that smartphone users were less likely than PC users to click on the call for donations when it wasnt focused on others. When the ad was focused on helping others, however, smartphone and PC users were equally likely to donate.Our findings demonstrate that by explicitly highlighting the needs of others, charities can overcome what we call the mobile giving gap and help raise more money from smartphone users.Why it mattersPersuading someone to make a charitable donation often requires getting them to feel empathy for others. But recent research has identified whats known as a mobile mindset: People are more likely to think about their own needs, and less likely to think of others, when looking at their smartphones.Because smartphones often feel like an extension of ourselves, they can induce people to focus intently on their own needs and interests.Online giving accounted for about 12% of the money that charities raised in 2023, according to Blackbaud, a software company many charities rely on for this purpose. The share of donors making at least some of their gifts online is rising and reached 40% in 2023, a consulting firm found.Based on our findings, we suggest that charities aim to tailor their appeals according to the kind of device a donor is using. Thats easily accomplished through programs such as Google Ads, which lets advertisers target ads to people based on the device theyre using.What still isnt knownMore research is needed to investigate whether the kind of device used may also influence the likelihood that someone may participate in other activities that benefit society.For example, researchers could examine whether the device type makes a difference in a users willingness to volunteer in hospitals, at homeless shelters, and other settings. Or they could explore how receiving messages on a smartphone or a PC can affect openness to recycling or buying environmentally friendly products.It may also be worth exploring whether mobile website design features, such as the prominence or absence of donate buttons, can affect fundraising outcomes.Kristen Ferguson is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Notre Dame.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Brooklyn-based studio Osso Architecture has built a pool house on a New Jersey horse farm, utilising standard timber framing and the skills of the local Amish community.The pool house was completed for the owners of an equestrian farm outside Stockton, and borrowed ideas from the sites large indoor riding arena.The pool house was modelled on an indoor riding arena on the farmThis existing building is constructed primarily from standard 2x4 and 2x6 timber members, which form a truss system to span the arena."While not noticeable in the arena, we knew we wanted to take this key design feature and create a focal point out of it in our design," said Osso Architecture.Sliding slatted panels on the building's long facades can be moved as desiredWorking with King Barns, an Amish team based nearby, the architects scaled down the arena's form to create a much smaller barn-like structure.The truss system is exposed overhead, held together by black metal plates and rivets, while longer metal elements brace the walls.Standard timber framing was used to build the structure, including a truss system inside"Our design highlights the truss by bringing it down into the space and putting it on display," Osso said."This required creating physical study models, 3D renderings and close collaboration with our fantastic engineer to come up with a design that is both beautiful and functional."A kitchen is located at the far end and a dining area is in the centreReached via a stepped wooden boardwalk that crisscrosses a meadow, the pool house contains a kitchen at the far end, a dining area in the centre, and a lounge space on the near side.A bathroom is tucked around the back, along with an outdoor shower for rinsing off after a dip.Read: Ten tranquil pool houses that add luxury to gardensSliding slated panels cover the longer sides of the structure, enabling users to open up or enclose the space as they wish.These panels shelter the interior from the wind and sun and extend the use of the building beyond the summer months.A lounge space revolves around a black fireplace suspended from the roofA floating black fireplace is suspended from the roof, and its chimney extends high above the gabled roofline that's covered in a metal raised-seam system, contrasting the warm-toned wood beneath.Simple hardwearing furniture is placed inside, echoing the spare and essential nature of the structure.The building and the pool are accessed via a boardwalk that crisscrosses a meadowPool houses typically offer more aesthetic freedom for architects than primary residences, due to their smaller size, seasonal usage and placement away from the main dwelling.Others who have been creative with their designs include Knox Bhavan, which buried a brick pool house in Kent beneath grassy mound, and Partisans, which topped an Ontario pool house with an undulating compressed-oak roof.The photography is by Erik Bernstein.The post Osso Architecture models timber pool house in New Jersey on horse arena appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: a park built from construction waste that also serves as an education space on sustainabilityis included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at the American University in Dubai.Also included is an energy-efficient schooland a proposal for houseboats on the River Nile to adapt to rising water levels and mitigate flooding.American University in DubaiInstitution: American University in DubaiSchool: School of Architecture Art and DesignCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Studio XTutors: Anna Cornaro and Mattia GambardellaSchool statement:"This capstone course allows students to implement their thesis research by developing a project that integrates all principles of design, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of architectural design and professional capability."The course culminates in a senior showcase, where a panel of experts evaluate the projects."The 2024 Architecture Senior Showcase was held online from May 3 to May 9, concluding with an in-person exhibition and award ceremony on May 10."A jury of international experts from industry, academia and the press reviewed the projects, awarding first, second and third places, as well as honourable mentions and design awards."A special jury, led by Andrea Pane, the scientific director of the International Architecture Magazine Compasses, awarded a special publication prize."Additional awards involved the local and global community, including professors, alumni and faculty members."For the first time, in the academic year of Dubai COP28, all projects addressed one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."Divergent by Muhammad Yusupov"The project concept originated from exploring the UAE youth's interests and the formation of their unique subcultures."Since the UAE is a car-centric country, it is no surprise that youth have primarily grown attachment to cars, hence Dubai's Half Desert Half Road in Al Rowaiyah 3, an abandoned road network, became a hub for racing and socialising."The design concept transforms the abandoned roadway into an elevated, unbroken loop for racing and car exhibitions."The design also integrates zones for shopping, socialising, exhibitions and education."These areas cater to retail, communal gatherings, artistic displays and learning opportunities, creating a multifaceted destination that celebrates youth culture and fosters community connections."Student: Muhammad YusupovCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: First PlaceEmail: muhammad.yusupov[at]mymail.aud.eduSustainable Traveller by Alwed Alnuaimi"The United Arab Emirates has transitioned towards tourism in response to economic diversification: initially reliant on oil, its focus now is to research strategies reducing environmental impact and carbon emissions."The core concept of the project is self-sufficiency, combining circular building forms with sustainability principles."Circular buildings offer 360-degree views of the natural surroundings, fostering a deep connection with the environment and promoting wellbeing."These structures feature inner courtyards that serve dual purposes: water harvesting through polyester mesh systems and natural ventilation channels, enhancing sustainability and comfort."Biomimicry, inspired by nature's solutions, is being integrated into architecture and design to create eco-friendly and visually appealing structures that optimise energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact."Student: Alwed AlnuaimiCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Second PlaceEmail: alwed.alnuaimi[at]mymail.aud.eduWaha Sanctuary by Sameya Masroof Ahmed"The project's form integrates the specific requirements of Ghaf, Henna and Tea cultivation, adapting to the site's unique characteristics."Starting with a six-metre grid, it deforms in 2D to create main courtyards and botanical spaces, narrowing to three and one metre grids for various functions."In 3D, the grid adjusts to create appropriate heights, forming a hierarchy within the dynamic urban landscape."The smallest grid, at one metre, rises to connect with the 'urban high' of Sheikh Zayed Road, descends to the adjacent building's 'urban low' and blends into nature towards the Dubai Water Canal."Accessible and non-accessible courtyards are designed to optimise sunlight penetration."Student: Sameya Masroof AhmedCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Third PlaceEmail: sameya[at]mymail.aud.eduAawama by Carla Boctor"Aawama explores innovative architectural and urban design solutions to address global challenges like rising sea levels, land scarcity and food security."Focused on Cairo's Imbaba neighbourhood, plagued by overcrowding, pollution and land scarcity, it aims to integrate resilient and eco-conscious design principles to create a sustainable community."Central to the project is revitalising the area around the River Nile, once vibrant with floating houseboats integral to Egypt's cultural heritage."The proposed solution involves establishing a sustainable floating community adaptable to fluctuating water levels, mitigating flooding risks, providing housing, food markets and agriculture, serving as a prototype for Nile developments."Student: Carla BoctorCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Honorable MentionEmail: carla.boctor[at]mymail.aud.eduEcoGenesis by Shahab Pasandeh"In response to the pressing environmental challenges, a new proposal has emerged in architecture based on integrating microorganisms into design strategies."Microbes encompassing various life forms hold immense potential for shaping sustainable architecture buildings, the thesis focused on pioneering environmentally responsive designs and providing solutions to environmental degradation which ultimately advocates for the relationship between architecture and microorganisms to create a more sustainable future."The project aims to leverage microbial capabilities in design, fostering environmentally responsive designs and focusing on reducing the overall effects of climate change."By embracing microbial integration, the project envisions a future where architecture offers a resilient and sustainable solution to contemporary challenges."Student: Shahab PasandehCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Innovation Design AwardEmail: shahab.pasandeh[at]mymail.aud.eduNaseej by Afra AlSuwaidi"Situated in Al Ain between Al Jimi Oasis and Al Qattara Oasis, my project aims to break down barriers and harmonise the city with its natural surroundings."Historically significant landmarks like an old market, forts and ruins are integrated into the revitalisation concept."Dissolving the current wall barrier, the project envisions the oasis as an art space and community hub, inspired by the natural environment."Historical ruins are seamlessly integrated to offer visitors a guided exploration."By combining these elements, the project creates a cohesive, immersive experience, inviting visitors to appreciate the oasis' rich historical layers while fostering harmony between nature, urban life and heritage."Student: Afra AlSuwaidiCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Heritage Design AwardEmail: afra.alsuwaidi6[at]mymail.aud.eduSabon Farko by Yesmin Bello"Over the past decade, the north-eastern region of Nigeria has endured a relentless series of terrorist attacks leading to displacement, impoverishment and homelessness, disrupting individuals' sense of identity and continuity, demanding urgent attention."Architecture is crucial in restoring fractured community identities and promoting resilience."The design includes cost-effective and sustainable materials like rammed earth."The communal pocket plazas, which are central gathering spaces inspired by the traditional Hausa compound layout, fosters connections and nurtures a sense of belonging."Adaptable living spaces and modular elements reflect a commitment to flexibility and cultural sensitivity, empowering individuals to reclaim their futures and build a shared sense of purpose within their community."Student: Yesmin BelloCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Community Design AwardEmail: yesmin.bello[at]mymail.aud.eduResurgence by Sahar Nami"The museum of the lost heritage in the Middle East is a project focused on cultural preservation and exploration, combining history, identity and innovation to revive the region's rich culture."It features contemporary wind tower-like structures, which are entirely 3D printed, with programs including a research centre, museum and cultural centre."Located in Abu Dhabi's cultural district, alongside attractions like the Louvre and Guggenheim, it attracts diverse visitors."The research centre delves into Middle Eastern history, including lesser-known religions like Buddhism and Zoroastrianism."Museum spaces display artefacts such as the Sanctuary of Zeus and the Bamiyan Buddha, celebrating the region's cultural identity the cultural centre fosters dialogue and connection among visitors."Student: Sahar NamiCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Faculty and Alumni AwardEmail: sahar.nami[at]mymail.aud.eduAutopia by Mehak Minocha"The main idea behind the project is to focus on the aftermath of car accidents the design ideology is 'freezing the impact'."The project spans parallel to the road and gets concentrated at the end of the street where the road diverges."The design is informed by odd occurring accidents which are depicted in its curvilinear form; the curves taking resemblance from the autodrome to ensure the project is cohesive with the site."To avoid further damage, a campaign hub is a part of the project for people to come together and collaborate on the strategising prevention of car accidents."Finally, the building fosters the mental health of people who suffer from PTSD caused by car accidents and includes a rehabilitation centre to overcome emotional trauma."Student: Mehak MinochaCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Professor Award, Dr Anna CornaroEmail: mehak.minocha[at]mymail.aud.eduBarzakh by Mariam Hossari"Barzakh is a concept denoting an intermediate state or barrier between two conditions, symbolising a threshold for transitions in the context of Najran Wadi, it serves as a point of transition, where the Wadi undergoes seasonal transformations, becoming a powerful force that floods the city and disrupts daily routines."As a community centre bridge in Najran, its offers a transformative experience to connect two areas separated by the Wadi's flooding during the rainy season."Beyond mere physical connectivity, the bridge will serve as a vital link for residents to access essential services and resources year-round."By integrating communal facilities and promoting social interaction, it seeks to foster cohesion and economic vitality within the community."Additionally, the bridge will prioritise sustainability, incorporating green spaces, renewable energy solutions and water management systems to minimise its ecological footprint and harmonise with the natural landscape."Student: Mariam HossariCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Professor Award, Prof Mattia GambardellaEmail: mariam.hossari[at]mymail.aud.eduTadweer District by Rashed AlDahnan"The objective of Tadweer District is twofold: to address Dubai's scarcity of green spaces by transforming construction waste into an urban park and to establish a global sustainability hub that fosters innovation, collaboration and education."This project will be offering for visitors recreational opportunities, biodiversity conservation and respite from the city's bustling streets."Moreover, by attracting sustainability startups and enthusiasts, we aim to catalyse the development and adoption of green technologies and practices, positioning Dubai as a leader in sustainable urban development and inspiring change worldwide."This project symbolises our commitment to a greener future for generations to come."Student: Rashed AlDahnanCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Sustainable Design AwardEmail: rashed.aldahnan[at]mymail.aud.eduRural by Marwa Alshamsi"The history of schools in the UAE demonstrates the nation's commitment to education early classes were informal gatherings, while today schools in the UAE have a well-established, comprehensive education system."This system has undergone a transition, emphasising education as a base of its development crucially welcoming energy-efficient learning settings as the UAE expands."It is widely considered one of the most advanced countries in the world, yet portions of the nation are still left untouched and their pace of life far from comparable to the urban centre."This study focuses on the balanced integration of tradition and innovation in school design by incorporating traditional passive cooling methods which have been employed for many years in desert areas."Designing in rural areas means designing buildings able to adapt to the harsh local climate."Student: Marwa AlshamsiCourse: ARCH 502 - Architectural Design Studio XAward: Honorable Mention and Compasses Magazine AwardEmail: marwa.alshamsi[at]mymail.aud.eduPartnership content This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the American University in Dubai. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Twelve architecture projects by students at the American University in Dubai appeared first on Dezeen.

Designed by the Australian builder Huslein Tiny House Co., the GrandHaus tiny home is a new and improved version of the Grand Sojourner model. It has a pretty similar design, amped with an upgraded interior layout, which is a great choice for a family of four. It is based on a triple-axle trailer and features a length of 9 meters. The home has a finish of wood and colored metal, and you can access the interior via massive glass bifold doors. The home occupies a floorspace of 36 sq m, covered with oak flooring, and accentuated by birch ply walls.Designer: Huslein Tiny House Co.As you enter the home, you are welcomed by a large living room, which is quite light-filled, owing to the generous glazing. The living room includes a storage as well as a TV. The kitchen is located closely, and it seems to be quite big for a tiny home. The kitchen contains an oven, induction stove, and a farmhouse-style sink. There is sufficient space for a large fridge/freezer, as well as a dishwasher. The kitchen is also equipped with plenty of storage space and a breakfast bar for two people.You can enter the bathroom via the kitchen, and it includes a shower, a vanity sink, and a flushing toilet. Unlike most tiny homes, the upstairs section of the GrandHaus includes a landing area, a main bedroom, and another bedroom which is connected to a little gangway. An alternating tread staircase leads you to the landing area, while the gangway allows the residents to move from one bedroom to another without heading downstairs. The bedrooms are like the typical loft-style rooms you find in tiny homes, amped with low ceilings and space for a queen-sized bed, or two single beds.The home runs on a standard RV-style hookup, but you can also opt for an off-the-grid capability with various options like composting toilets, water tanks, and solar power. There are multiple add-ons available as well, such as an outdoor deck or different furniture upgradesThe post The GrandHaus Is The Perfect Tiny Home With A Unique Interior Layout For A Family Of Four first appeared on Yanko Design.