Canadian studio Ste Marie has designed Meo cocktail bar and restaurant influenced by 1970s and '80s Hong Kong in Vancouver's Chinatown, using pink hues, floral patterns and red accents.Meo is tucked into the lower storey of a faded building in the heart of the neighbourhood, the largest of its kind in Canada, and is a sister location to Bao Bei a few blocks away and Kissa Tanto next door.Dark wood panelling and mood lighting set the scene when arriving at MeoSte Marie was heavily influenced by the "hedonistic energy" of the 1970s and '80s when designing the interiors, and looked to the imagery of Canadian photographer Greg Girard who documented Kowloon Walled City during the era for references."The dimly lit room is aesthetically inspired by Greg Girard's series on Hong Kong nightlife in the '70s and '80s, and by the clandestine 'love motels' of a bygone era," said the studio.A raised seating area is accessed via angled steps that follow the drop ceiling aboveTo evoke these spaces, plush pink drapery and lush carpeting with vintage floral patterns were added throughout the dining and bar areas.Bold red accents are introduced through 1970s Guzzini pendant lights, which pop against the dark wood panelling across portions of the walls.Leather-wrapped bar stools are lined up along the wood-panelled barA raised area with angled steps follows the dropped ceiling and is wrapped by a banquette that serves rows of small tables.At the back, a painterly scene of mountains, flora and buildings is reflected in a series of mirrors on the perpendicular wall.Bar top lamps and cove lighting help to set the sultry moodOther built-in seating areas are tucked into corners and niches, while guests can also sit at leather-covered stools along the wood-panelled bar.Warm soft lighting from a variety of pendants, sconces, cove lights and bar-top lamps creates a sultry mood, and allows the illuminated blue front of a jukebox to stand out.Many of the artworks and curios were sourced from thrift stores in Taiwan"A glowing old-school jukebox, reminiscent of Girard's photos, adds a sense of nostalgia and novelty to the richly textured atmosphere," the studio said.Several curios and decor items many of them feline-themed were sourced by the owner from thrift stores in Taiwan.Read: Ste Marie spotlights the art of flower arranging inside Cadine store in VancouverMeanwhile, artworks include a portrait of a Persian cat found at a garage sale and a vinyl-printed mural of a photograph taken inside a North Korean hotel."These elements, combined with the plush pink monochromatic interiors inspired by motel bedspreads, create an immersive environment that transports guests back in time," said Ste Marie. "Meo invites with warmth and wonder: a playful escape where the night is always young and full of possibilities."A banquette is tucked into a corner below a portrait of a Persian catThe studio, known for its narrative approach to contemporary interiors, was founded by Craig Stanghetta and has offices in both Vancouver and Toronto.Other hospitality projects by the firm include an artisanal flour shop and bakery with "malty hues", a tapas joint wrapped in terracotta tiles and a cosy Italian cafe imagined as a den for a pet fox.A jukebox nods to Greg Girard's photos of Kowloon, which influenced the interiorsGirard's photographs of Kowloon, compiled in a book titled The City of Darkness, also influenced the production design of 2019 sci-fi movie Alita: Battle Angel.Love motels like those in Kowloon are not exclusive to Hong Kong architectural photographers have documented these spaces for sex in Santo Domingo and across Brazil over the years too.The photography is by Conrad Brown.The post Hong Kong's "love motels" influence Vancouver restaurant by Ste Marie appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: toys for children resembling animals that are crafted from biomaterials are included in this school show by students at Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.Also included is a set of candleholders made from sand and starch as well as a bag designed to carry menstrual products.Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de MonterreyInstitution: Tecnologico de MonterreySchool: Architecture, Art and Design (EAAD)Course: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoTutors: Mariana Sols, Elena Amato, Joel Olgun, Laura Nio, Raymundo Acosta and Christian GmezSchool statement:"What would a home environment look like if all objects were sustainable and affordable?"The project 'Elemental y Cotidiano' was carried out by students throughout the 4th semester of design at Campus Estado de Mxico."Students developed products that contribute to the reintegration and reconstruction of societies affected by natural disasters from a sustainable perspective, where everyday home spaces and products are accessible and sustainable."Through material experimentation, the aesthetics of the home is questioned and the use of products with a more planet-friendly life cycle is promoted."TonameyatlbyPaulina Alejandra L Gmiz Orozco"Tonameyatl is a rainwater filter that adapts to any type of bucket."This filter converts rainwater into clean but non-potable water, so it can be used for house tasks such as washing clothes or cleaning."The structure is built by two plates of biomaterial made with sand, starch and water that provide strength."Student: Paulina Alejandra L Gmiz OrozcoCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoterbyArantza Paola Snchez"Darkness is not scary, but I am here to take care of you."Soft and welcoming, with rounded shapes and colours that convey tranquility and security, these nouns give new meanings to the sea."This night light protection token incorporates formal elements inspired by sea animals, with adjustable light functions that allow children to control the intensity of the light according to their needs and preferences."This gives them a sense of control over their environment and helps them feel more secure during the night."Student: Arantza Paola SnchezCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoAlma MadrebyDalia Ivonne Nicols Guzmn"Alma Madre was born from an empathetic point of view, inspired by the deep bond between humans and nature, symbolising maternal care and protection."Made with sustainable materials, its design evokes the process of harvesting legumes carried out by elderly women."Created with the purpose of capturing the essence of adaptability and harmony in every detail."Student: Dalia Ivonne Nicols GuzmnCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoComo en casabyFernanda Saavedra Aguilera"It is a solid land, a place where you will not feel strange, where you can relax, where your memories will always be with you."Como en casa is a modular mat made of a biomaterial that integrates polished brick taken from previous homes."Student: Fernanda Saavedra AguileraCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoMeSillabyKarla Sofa Durn Martnez"MeSilla works as a stool or as a table for children, allowing them to create their own space anywhere in their home."Made of biomaterial based on gypsum, starch, glycerin, water and leaves."With its form, it encourages the freedom and autonomy of the little ones in their family environment."Student: Karla Sofa Durn MartnezCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoZoo-EnsamblebyKarla Sofa Durn Martnez"Zoo-Ensamble is a modular toy with interchangeable animal parts, designed to stimulate creativity and improve children's cognitive skills."Made from a soft biomaterial based on gypsum, starch, glycerin, gelatin and water, it helps calm negative emotions through sensory play."Student: Karla Sofa Durn MartnezCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoRubrumbyAna Camila Nieves Flores"Rubrum is made from a bioplastic with an aesthetic that seeks to match and replicate how menstrual bleeding looks like."With the aim of opening conversations regarding the stigmas and prejudices that exist around the topic of menstruation."Rubrum is a bag tailored to the user's comfort for storage menstrual products."Student: Ana Camila Nieves FloresCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoPequea QuebradabyLuis Fabricio Martnez Salinas"Pequea Quebrada honors the people from Acapulco, bringing them together and giving them light to warmth their homes."This set of candle holders is made from a biomaterial of sand and starch, which gives a rough look that simulates the rock formations of the famous Quebrada site in Acapulco."Student: Luis Fabricio Martnez SalinasCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoOasisbyRegina Rojas Mena"Take refuge in me and with me recover the space that is in you."There are many women who, due to the culture and the latent machismo that exists in Mexico, are embarrassed by the care of their health and sexuality."This problem is intensified thanks to the loss of privacy that comes after a natural disaster."Oasis, beyond being an organiser, symbolises and provides a safe space which users can call completely their own, thus seeking to return that sense of belonging and intimacy that they lost."Student: Regina Rojas MenaCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoEmoverebyMontserrat Crdenas Pea"Emovere helps children identify, understand and manage their emotions in a healthy way."This toy promotes emotional exploration and self-care using a bioplastic made from gelatin and starch."Additionally, it seeks to generate feelings of security, empowerment and self-discovery, fostering an environment of support and emotional growth in your daily life."Student: Montserrat Crdenas PeaCourse: Indito Universitario: Elemental y Cotidiano, 4th semester Campus Estado de MxicoPartnership contentThis school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey spotlights ten design projects appeared first on Dezeen.

We don't get many softgoods case studies, and here's a great one: Nike's Elite EasyOn backpack, originally designed for Paralympians. When Richard Ramsay was a basketball-obsessed teenager, he remembers how his dad would periodically chase him down the court during games to help him retie his shoelaces. Ramsay was born without his left arm, and while his disability didn't stop him from excelling in sports like basketball and football, the challenge to complete dexterous tasks like retying a shoelace was real, and it motivated him to study the human body's interaction with the physical world. He'd go on to study kinesiology at university, compete on his program's basketball practice squad, and graduate into a footwear creation career at Nike, where he eventually joined the Universal Ease team in creating more accessible performance products. He's both a practitioner of, and a validator for, the gear that makes daily life more useful for all athletes. In the spring of 2022, Nike Lead Equipment Designer Brent Radewald met with Ramsay now a Senior Footwear Developer to show him a prototype of a new backpack developed for the brand's Paralympic athletes ahead of Paris 2024.The goal: take maybe the most purely functional piece of equipment that exists, the backpack, and make it easy for all athletes to use. Easy to open. Easy to close. Easy to stay secure.Richard Ramsay, Nike Sr. Footwear Developer, wears the Ease Backpack, a Paralympic innovation that is now available for all athletes."A comment we were frequently hearing from adaptive athletes was how difficult it was to open and close traditional backpacks without a high-dexterity anchor point, like a hand," says Radewald. "If they don't have full use of both hands, small features like zippers and pull tags can be hard to grip."Once athletes opened the bag, the contents needed to be accessible from the very top. Someone with low dexterity, like a quadriplegic, can't easily rummage around the base of their bag and expect to grab what they need. Each component of the bag, down to the circumference of a zipper loop, had to be efficient for athletes of all abilities to use. The product benefits couldn't be particular, but universal.With that in mind, Radewald and his team got to work.Rethinking the BackpackThe first step for Radewald's team was to rethink the traditional opening system. Relying completely on a zipper to close the bag requires the zipper to travel a continuous, winding path from start to finish, which can be challenging for athletes with low motor skills. Radewald and his team brainstormed alternative ways to open the bag. Radewald began the process of testing different sizes, strengths and orientations of magnets and hook and loop. Eventually, the team landed on a patented magnetic closure system that was backed against a TPU-reinforced lining, using the magnetic pull to "swing" the top flap shut and secure it in place. "Magnets and hook and loops have different strengths based on the direction of the opening force, says Radewald. "Magnets have great vertical power in keeping something tight up and down, but they don't hold up as well to shearing forces, side to side. Hook and loops have nice shearing strength, but less vertical strength. If there was some combination of those elements that we put together, we might have something special." By design, the top flap can be opened using one hand when the user applies light force from on top, requiring much lower dexterity than with a traditional backpack. For added security, a G-hook on the back of the bag loops through the top flap, keeping it sealed tight. The team would develop three more prototypes after rolling out the first EasyOn bag for testing, consulting many of Nike's product experts like Ramsay for their observations. The log book describing the bag's updates over the course of two years is filled with precise, meticulous changes: Move top zipper pocket by 1.5 centimeters. Make bottle pocket finger loop 2 centimeters wide. Of course, these improvements couldn't just remain concepts on a product diagram; they had to be practically tested in real conditions that were comparable for athletes with low dexterity. In review sessions, Radewald and his team would attempt to open and close the bag using oven mitts and kitchen utensils like salad tongs. They also held lengthy product feedback conversations with a local wheelchair rugby team, the Portland Pounders.The designs for the EasyOn bag prototypes spanned over two years. Each update needed to make the backpack more intuitive and reliable for daily use. The beauty of the prototype reviews, says Radewald, was how cosmetic variables like colorways common to footwear are secondary to equipment like backpacks. Is this backpack easy for you to use? That's the simple question they presented to the Pounders. Based on the feedback, all signs were pointing to yes.At the same time, the adaptive athletes' feedback revealed new opportunities. One of them, echoed by Ramsey during his feedback sessions, was creating a modular strap system."If we can create a better bag for our adaptive athletes, we create a better product for every athlete." --Brent Radewald, Nike Lead Equipment Designer"Many of the wheelchair athletes we worked with didn't have a bag that worked well with their wheelchairs," says Ramsay. "If you didn't have wheelchair handles that were a standard width, you were out of luck in securing your bag. You'd have to move around with it on your lap."Patented clasps on the backpack's straps allow the user to widen or narrow the bag's fit across wheelchair handlebars, not to mention across the athlete's shoulders a helpful feature that Ramsey witnessed when showing the prototype to his brother."My brother is close to 100 pounds heavier than me, and he adjusted the same EasyOn backpack I have and wear it comfortably," says Ramsay. "The backpack isn't just a better bag for disabled athletes. It's a better bag for everyone."The backpack's modular strap system allow the bag to be carried in many different ways. The straps can be widened or narrowed to fit over wheelchair handlebars. This universality is what excites Radewald ahead of the bag's debut on nike.com this season. Beyond Paralympians, any athlete from pros to weekend warriors to students can benefit from a more efficient, more intuitive backpack."Universal design helps all athletes perform at their best," says Radewald. "If we can create a better bag for our adaptive athletes, we create a better product for every athlete."The Elite EasyOn Backpack is designed to be a more intuitive backpack for all athletes. "The backpack isn't just a better bag for disabled athletes," says Ramsay. "It's a better bag for everyone."

A couple of years ago Minimaliste unveiled the Nomad a tiny house that is perfect for off-grid travel in all kinds of weather. The firm then rejuvenated the home with a larger design but still retained the basic essence. The improved Nomad 5th Wheel features a more spacious interior and can sleep up to five people.It is finished in vertical steel sheets and faux wood steel. It features a length of 30.5 feet, a width of 8.5 feet, and a height of 12.5 feet. It weighs around 14,000 lb and is based on a double-axle gooseneck trailer. Lets dive in more!Designer: MinimalisteYou can enter the home via a motorized folding deck and French doors. It has more floor space than the original Nomad, which makes quite a difference, creating a more spacious and comfortable living environment. The living room is equipped with a sofa bed and a pretty big closet. The home also includes anchor points, since the owner will be traveling with a motorbike within the home. A small dining area is placed next to the living room, and it can seat four people. The dining area can be converted into a single bed, which is quite nifty.The kitchen is well designed and equipped, featuring a twin stainless steel sink, propane-powered three-burner stove, fridge, freezer, oven, cabinetry, and pantry-style storage space, as well as a gun cabinet for the owners hunting rifle. A small bathroom is located near the kitchen, and it contains a small bath/shower, sink, and a composting toilet. The Nomad 5th Wheel only includes one bedroom which is placed in the raised section (gooseneck) of the trailer. You can enter this room through wooden steps, and it is like most bedrooms found in tiny homes. It has a loft style with a low ceiling, a double bed, and a few closets.The tiny home is powered by a standard RV-style hookup, or it can be outfitted with a full-off-the-grid setup including solar panels and batteries. The house is designed to handle a North American winter, and it is equipped with premium-level airtightness and great insulation to help it adapt to the heat and the cold. It is priced at around US$97,500, but it could increase if you select more options.The post Spacious Tiny Home That Sleeps 5 People Proves A Life On The Road Doesnt Need To Be A Tight Fit first appeared on Yanko Design.

In the not-so-distant past, desktop computers were almost literal black boxes, closed and obscured from view. Although theyre still enclosed today to block the easy entry of dust and harmful particles, many desktop towers have adopted transparent designs that show everything inside.This aesthetic is mostly to appeal to gamers who dress up their rigs with RGB lights and fancy-looking cooling systems, but the majority of the hardware you can see inside is hardly aesthetic (unless you go for that look). Graphics cards are slowly getting a facelift, but they still have a more technical and geeky look. This concept tries to challenge that status quo with a GPU design that could interest even non-gaming computer users.Designer: Seunghun LeeOf all the components inside a desktop computer, at least the ones built for gaming or heavy-duty creative work, the graphics card is the bulkiest, boxiest, and most visible one. Of course, that design is intentional because of the electronics it has to pack inside as well as the large fans that keep things from overheating. Such graphics cards today come with some RGB lighting or accents to make them look a little livelier, but the overall aesthetic remains the same.G-Turn360 is a concept design that tries to add some visual appeal by taking inspiration from a completely different product. It chose the turntable, now a staple of the retro movement, as the foundation of the GPU redesign, combining mechanical elements into a more pleasing composition using basic geometric shapes. The cooling fan, after all, is already a large circle, so why not use that form to represent a record player on a box?The concept also goes beyond that simple association with the record player. It completely throws out the conventional LED lighting which, in addition to being over the top, also prevents visual consistency. In fact, the G-Turn360 embraces a lighter color scheme, which better fits desktop designs that are moving away from dark and black boxes commonly associated with gaming gear.The result is a graphics card design that somehow looks both retro and futuristic at the same time, adopting a clean aesthetic that can appeal to a more diverse audience. That said, the G-Turn360 concept could be sacrificing performance and safety with its unconventional design, so its definitely not something that can simply be used without some modification and careful engineering.The post Turntable-inspired graphics card concept adds a retro-futuristic flavor to desktops first appeared on Yanko Design.

A journey into one of the most brilliant and disturbing levels ever committed to PC.In this classic feature, Kieron Gillen goes on a deep dive into one of the most terrifying levels in videogame history.

Celebrating some of the great experiences that come along with building your own rig.The latest Feature,/features,,features, breaking news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at PC Gamer

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