Located in the historic city of Morelia, Mexico, Casa Emma, designed by HW Studio, shares the transformative power of light and the evocative potential of architectural space. Inspired by a visit to the renowned Paula Rego Museum by Eduardo Souto de Moura, the architects set out to create a residence that embodies the same profound serenity they experienced within that museums walls. Casa Emma is not merely a home; it is a contemplative retreat that speaks to the soul, designed to evoke the warmth, calm, and reflective power of carefully channeled light.Casa Emma is a modern interpretation of Mexican architectural motifs, focusing on the Purepecha granary, or troje. This traditional structure carries cultural and historical significance in Mexico, where it serves as both a functional and spiritual form of architecture. The architects at HW Studio were drawn to the idea of carving out a dwelling space that resonates with this archetype, creating an excavation rather than a typical built structure. By hollowing out a void in the shape of a troje, the architects introduced an immersive environment where the rustic and intimate ambiance of a wooden interior could amplify the warmth of natural light, adding layers of meaning and nostalgia.The entire interior of Casa Emma is clad in wood, creating a rich, tactile environment that invites touch and heightens the sensory experience of the space. This choice of material is not only an homage to traditional construction methods but also a deliberate effort to envelop visitors in a warm and serene atmosphere. The woods natural texture and grain respond to changes in light throughout the day, creating subtle shifts in color and mood that mirror the rhythms of nature.Despite the homes modest dimensions measuring only 4 meters wide by 10 meters deep Casa Emma feels spacious and airy, thanks to the architects use of open-plan design and zenithal (overhead) lighting. Upon entering, visitors are led down a narrow access corridor that serves as a transitional space, setting a contemplative tone. The entryway cleverly conceals the roof structure, allowing the full height and openness of the interior to be revealed progressively. Once inside, an open-concept area seamlessly integrates the living room, dining room, and kitchen without any divisive walls. This lack of separation enhances the flow of light, allowing it to reach every corner of the main living area, where shadows bounce softly against the wood surfaces, creating a continuous play of light and shadow.At the rear of the main level, the refrigerator is discreetly hidden, as are utility and storage areas, ensuring that functionality remains invisible to the eye. Vertical circulation is placed thoughtfully toward the back, where stairs lead upward to a small mezzanine level.The mezzanine itself houses the bedroom encased in a sleek, floating white volume that appears almost weightless against the wooden backdrop. This material contrast serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. The light-colored volume stands in stark relief to the surrounding wood, creating a sense of levity, while the choice of reflective surfaces on this floating structure allows light to diffuse gently across its boundaries. The effect is one of a cloud suspended in space, providing a visual resting point within the home.For more information on HW Studio, visit hw-studio.com.Photography by Csar Bjar.

For those whose love language is gift giving, this is your time to shine especially if you like to splurge. Personally, nothing brings me more joy than sharing great makers and artful objects while supporting the artisans behind their creation. From a dearly beloved to cherished friend, or perhaps even a treat for yourself, this fine curation of design objects are sure to satisfy the most fussy aesthete. Continue reading to find potential presents that can be appreciated all year round and snag something for yourself!Chelsea Bottle Stopper + Pair Short Crystal Glasses by Reflections Copenhagen \\\ $152 + $367Ordered la carte or purchased as a pairing, this crystal drinkware is made to dazzle any tabletop with its gem faceted element. Both options are members of the Chelsea family, with the bottle stopper cut to correspond with the form featured on the glasses base. The fine hand cut crystal comes in a commemorative, luxury gift box with its own dust cloth for cleaning and polishing.The Brut Lamp by Wooj \\\ $145This luminaires harsh geometry is tempered by its warm glow showcasing Brutalisms softer side through three color combinations one more ethereal than the next. Its body and shade are 3D printed from recycled PLA with the appearance of extruded planes to create a textural form. Whats more, the composition is a slight nod to Italian architect Carlo Scarpas influential work in concrete and extreme attention to detail.Portable Stainless Steel Cutlery Set by Prada \\\ $480Pradas portable cutlery set highlights another extension of the Italian fashion house into lifestyle accessories, one that is sure to satisfy the fashion forward and sustainable-minded. The trio of utensils is stored in a container that comes in a Re-Nylon dust bag pouch an innovative material produced from purified, recycled ocean plastic accentuated with an enameled logo. This is just one of many enviable picnic accouterments.Cara Pillar Vase by Franca \\\ From $118The flirty, free-flowing curves painted across this versatile vessels surface are emblematic of beauty and grace. From utensil organization to showcasing floral arrangements, this artistic object comes in four sizes to accommodate a variety of interior design needs. Display the slightly sculptural work on its own to fill a nook, within a cluster of similar pieces for a greater tablescape, or in contrast with darker forms to pull focus.Black Baluster Candle Holder by French Designer Sam Baron for Diptyque \\\ $125Textural wood grain, the striking black finish, and a series of bulbous forms conspire to capture natures raw beauty in the Sam Baron-designed baluster for Diptyque. This lobjet dart serves to elevate everything from decorative jars, an intimate interior ambiance, and self care rituals enhanced by candlelight. And with a variety of sizes, theres plenty to choose from for expanded gifting.SongBook Max by Tivoli Audio \\\ $600In an homage to the classic boombox, the SongBook Max fuses style with sound, nostalgia with premium technology. The device also delivers impressive volume, well-balanced frequencies, and substantial bass. Equipped with analog elements, users can derive great pleasure from tactility turning knobs and pushing sliders for a traditional sense of control. Its a portable companion poised to play your favorite tunes almost anywhere.Drinking Set No. 257 Commodore Wine Decanter by Oswald Haerdtl for Lobmeyr \\\ $614Lobmeyr is situated within the upper echelon of crystal makers, centuries old and synonymous with handcraft, epitomizing luxury. This collection by Austrian architect Oswald Haerdtl is a prime example of enduring modern design plucked from the 1950s. The Commodore Decanter pulls focus with its clean lines, perfect clarity, and sexy silhouette. Its the perfect gift for fans of architecturally adjacent home furnishings as well as crystal collectors.Glass Colorblock Serving Spoon Set by DOT for East Fork \\\ $118East Fork taps Florida-based glass art studio DOT for a colorful collaboration that is a saccharine treat. The makers behind this handcrafted serving spoon pairing fused glass with contrasting finishes, matte against glossy, and play with cool colors that add a graphic element to tabletops when in use. Its perfect for those who like to entertain or even just elevate their everyday dining experience.Sonia Amber Knit Throw Blanket by Sonia Delaunay for Unison \\\ $165Like canvas, textiles provide a rich medium for artistic expression. This throw blanket takes inspiration from the bold, graphic designs of French artist Sonia Delaunay and translates those elements into a geometric color-blocked pattern. The double-knit construction, comprising 75% upcycled cotton as well as 5% recycled plastics, gives this piece a substantial weight in addition to a new life for discarded materials. Coordinating throw pillow covers provide additional opportunities for decor.Color Wheel Sculpture by Vetro Vero \\\ $3,600These colorful rondelles are show stopping, luminous sculptural statement pieces not for the faint of heart. Available in a dozen shades, each object is mounted within a linear pedestal height may be customized according to needs in celebration of pure geometry, flawless glass, and vivid hues. Every component, the stand and disc, are completely fabricated by hand for an inimitable work of art.Follow along so you dont miss any of our2024 Gift Guidesthis year!This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

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These days, you don't need to be a spy to have tracking devices. If you're an Apple user, AirTags uses Find My to track anything that you can put this device on. Right now, Amazon has a single AirTag on sale for $19 (originally $29) and the four-pack for $69.99 (originally $99), both at a new record-low price according to price-checking tools. Keep track of and find your items alongside friends and devices in the Find My app Apple AirTag $19.00 at Amazon $29.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal Get Deal $19.00 at Amazon $29.00 Save $10.00 Keep track of and find your items alongside friends and devices in the Find My app Apple AirTag 4 pack $69.99 at Amazon $99.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal Get Deal $69.99 at Amazon $99.00 Save $29.01 SEE -1 MORE AirTags are useful gadgets, and their usefulness extends to your creativity. They are mostly marketed for purses, keys, and travel bags, but there are examples of people using them much more creatively (someone on this Reddit post used it on their dog collar and trained it to come back whenever they pressed the "play sound" feature). How it works is with Apple's network of iOS devices to create a Bluetooth tracker. Essentially, every person with an iPhone (or iPad) is part of this iOS network, and as long as one of these people is within Bluetooth range of your AirTag, it will show up on your Find My app.As you can see on PCMag's "excellent" review of the AirTag, the Find My app has a screen that points you in the direction of your AirTag like a compass, including the distance away it is from you. There is also an option to play a sound, which is perfect for, say, finding a remote that's buried under the couch. Once you are more than 30 feet from your phone, the network of iOS users will kick in. When the AirTag is between that range, it uses your own Bluetooth. There are security measures in place set by Apple, including end-to-end encryption so nobody (not even Apple), knows where your AirTag is except for you. The batteries last about a year and are replaceable. There is also no monthly charge for these, unlike competitors like Tile for Android users.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is expensive. That's not news for anyone who follows smartphones closely, particular the foldable variety. As David Nield explains in a review for Lifehacker, Google made some great choices for its latest Fold device, but at $1,799, these things are still way too much money. As it turns out, that expense might extend beyond just the initial purchase of the phone. Smartphones are slabs of glass we take everywhere with us, so, when we inevitably drop them at some point, they may break. When you break the display of a Pixel 9 Pro Fold, however, it's going to cost a lot more than you might expecteven if you have experience with the Fold's history of repair costs. As spotted by 9to5Google, iFixit now has listings for official parts for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. If you need to repair the inner screen of your Foldsay, if you dropped it while opened into "tablet" modethat's going to run you $1,199.99 (or $1,206.99 for the entire "Fix Kit"). Compare that to the original Pixel Fold's inner screen replacement part, which cost $899 on iFixit, or $909.99 for the Fix Kit. $1,200 for a display is an enormous ask. For that price, you can buy an iPhone 16 Pro Max, or a MacBook Air, or four Nintendo Switches. $1,200 for just the inner display means that, if you break and fix your Fold 9 Pro, you'll have spent $3,000 all-in, all for a device that runs Android.Now, that's if you're not protected: Google does offer insurance on the Pro 9 Fold for $15 per month. That covers up to two instances of damage per 12-month period. So, you could potentially run Google up a tab of $2,400 for just $180 of insurance fees. While no one wants to add the extra $15 a month to their bill, it's a lot better than facing down the MSRP on that display part.Still, it's a staggering number. Again, it's $300 more than Google's previous foldable inner display cost, and when you look at the competition, it gets even worse. Samsung charges $499 to repair the inner display of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, a fraction of the cost. My advice? Get the insurance, and keep a death grip on this thing.

Amazon is closing down Freevee, its free ad-supported video on demand service. This platform was home to original programming as well as more than 100 originals from the Prime Video roster. Freevee will be phased out over the coming weeks, and its content will become available as part of Prime Video. The ad-supported tier of Prime Video is included as part of Amazon's Prime membership for $15 a month."To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding," an Amazon spokesperson told Variety. "There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST channels all available on Prime Video."The free viewing platform went through several rebrands since its original launch as IMDb Freedive in January 2019. It entered its final phase as Freevee in April 2022.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-sunsets-freevee-platform-for-ad-supported-streaming-video-000614080.html?src=rss

This year's action RPG Stellar Blade has been a solid win for Sony as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Developer Shift Up revealed in a recent quarterly earnings report that sales "have remained steady even as the initial surge has calmed" following its spring launch. But there may be a second boost coming for the game, because the studio is planning a PC port of Stellar Blade some time next year."Given recent trends like Steams growing presence in the AAA games market and the global success of Black Myth: Wukong, we are expecting the PC version to perform even better than the console version," the Korean company said when asked about their PC plans during the presentation.The title referenced, Black Myth: Wukong, was able to set a new record for concurrent players in a single-player game on Steam when it launched on the platform in August. That's a lofty goal for any game to reach, so we'll have to see how successful Shift Up can be in reaching an international audience on PC.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ps5-exclusive-stellar-blade-is-coming-to-pc-231625263.html?src=rss

Untold Studios' beautifully constructed VFX breakdown of its ad for UK telecommunications firm Virgin Media shows how the studio created a CG walrus piloting a CG speedboat.Watch the full video on the Untold Studios Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCAG2rKP1WB/?hl=en

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.