Local studio Amit Upadhye Architects added a guest house and updated Polaris House in Arizona to capture the "diurnal journey of the sun".Located on a one-acre desert property in Paradise Valley, Polaris House is named after and directed toward the North Star.Polaris House is named after and directed toward the North StarIn 2023, Amit Upadhye Architects, which is based in nearby Scottsdale, updated and extended the Arizona School house designed by architect Eddie Jones for a NASA planetary scientist and a mathematician to connect with the geometry of the sky.The existing house was constructed with locally sourced slump block that is inexpensive, low-maintenance and durable in the harsh Arizona climate.Amit Upadhye Architects added a guesthouse to the homeThe team chose to continue sourcing materials for the addition with the same priorities to reduce the environmental impact and cost.In the main house, the team renovated the primary bathroom and closet a small space measuring 273 square feet (25 square metres) to serve as a "sanctuary and observatory" by adding three distinct apertures.It works in dialogue with the existing dwellingA metal hood rises out of the white brick house facing Polaris. It draws soft northern light through a clerestory opening, along the sloped ceiling and down into the shower, and shields the space from the summer sun with a perforated brise soleil.Meanwhile, a low rectangular window with a translucent tangerine-coloured film illuminates the shower bench from the east. A triangular protrusion in the form of an oriel window brings both morning eastern and evening western light across the vanity.Amit Upadhye Architects installed a Tesla Ecosystem to make the residence net zero"This way the entire diurnal journey of the sun across the sky is captured and rendering the space differently at different times of the day," the team said.The guest house a nearly symmetrical 550-square foot (51 square metre) pavilion works in dialogue with the existing home, weighing the main home's rough masonry with the guest house's steel-framed roof and three-sided glazing.A metal hood rises out of the brick house, drawing soft northern light through a clerestory openingOutdoor patios hold the east and west ends, leading through floor-to-ceiling glass doors to parallel bedrooms that could be either bedrooms or offices. Closets and a bathroom form a core in the centre of the space.The southern wall of the guest house is exposed concrete perforated with seven small holes. These were arranged to form the Big Dipper constellation with coloured lenses that represent abstracted desert flowers and serve as a place for small desert animals and birds to hide.The project is fitted with water-conserving plumbing fixtures"The clients are nature lovers and love watching the local flora and fauna in their backyard," Amit Upadhye Architects said."We have deployed synanthropic strategies on other parts of the house where the synanthropes such as birds and bees are encouraged to roost in the thick concrete walls making the exterior wall a living membrane," the studio added."Their love for urban farming is an added bonus contributing to the ecosystem."Read: Telescope House by Wendell Burnette offers framed views of SedonaAmit Upadhye Architects designed the residence to be net zero. Features that work towards that goal include a self-reliant system with solar panels and a battery-powered Tesla Wall, which supply energy to the entire property and can be returned to the electrical grid to support other households.Additionally, the project is fitted with water-conserving plumbing fixtures and onsite rainwater retention strategies to preserve the vital resource in Arizona's Sonoran Desert.Amit Upadhye Architects designed the project in ArizonaOther recently completed homes in Arizona include a weathering steel Flagstaff home outfit with a lookout tower by The Ranch Mine and a Corten steel-clad cabin that disappears like a "dark shadow" into the red rocks of Sedona by Wendell Burnette Architects.The photography is by Matthew Winquist.Project credits:Client: James Tanton & Linda Elkins TantonArchitect: Amit Upadhye AIA of AU Design StudioGeneral Contractor: SmithBuilt Design BuildStructural Engineer: Augsperger Komm EngineeringCivil Engineering: Land Development GroupElectrical Engineering: Tuley Engineering ProfessionalsMechanical Engineering: NP MechanicalConcrete: Lavek ConcreteGlass: Mountain View Glass and MirrorsMasonry: GV MasonryStructural Steel: Kachina SteelPlumber: Fair PlumbingElectrician: DE ElectriciansArchitectural Metals: Weld WorksPainting: Supernova PaintingRoofing: Ultra Foam RoofingThe post Amit Upadhye Architects orients Arizona home to the stars appeared first on Dezeen.

The 2024 Core77 Design Awards has wrapped, but we're not done until the trophies have shipped to the winners. Our trophies are individually milled and engraved from solid aluminum blanks, and this year we're thrilled to be working with the good folks at RapidDirect, an advanced manufacturer with an easy-to-use online quoting and ordering platform and state of the art facilities.RapidDirect launched its online manufacturing platform in 2019 to provide rapid prototyping and custom manufacturing services worldwide. Through this platform, users can upload design files and receive instant quotes within seconds, saving time and eliminating unnecessary back-and-forth emails.Since 2023, RapidDirect has expanded its original CNC machining instant quote feature to include 3D printing services and sheet metal services, making custom manufacturing even more accessible. Powered by AI, RapidDirect's online manufacturing platform bridges the gap between design and production, making custom manufacturing easier for everyone.Before we show you how it is done, below are a few shots of this year's finished product: For those of you not familiar with CNC machining processes, here's a video and some detailed images of how the trophies get made: It all starts at the RapidDirect facility in Shenzhen, China. Operating within their own factory enables fast turn-around times, providing tight control over production speed and quality. To improve efficiency and consistency, trophy production is staged: first, rough machining shapes the raw material with a 3-axis CNC; then, the cavity and top surface are machined. After rough machining, the trophy's outer surface is bead blasted to remove burrs, mask tool marks, and enhance surface finish. The cavity and top surface are finely machined, with a custom small end mill used to engrave the winner's name on each trophy. To achieve a mirror-like finish on the top surface, three polishing stages are performed, from coarse to fine, with careful hand polishing. Ultrasonic cleaning is used to remove oil and grease from the trophies, ensuring they arrive in excellent condition. All parts manufactured by RapidDirect undergo a full dimensional inspection to ensure they meet the required specifications. In this image, a inspector uses a CMM machine to check the trophies' dimensions for accuracy. We're really happy to be working with RapidDirect this year on our trophy production project. If you're seeking a manufacturing partner that can deliver high quality parts quickly and affordably we encourage you to give them a try. And mark your calendars for the 2025 Core77 Design Awards - open for entries in January, 2025!

This RinseKit Tailgate Shower is designed for pickup-truck-owning mountain bikers. It's a tailgate pad that features five molded EVA slots to hold bikes: And on the inside of the tailgate, it's got a 10-gallon bladder connected to a pump and hose. You plug the pump into your bed's 12V outlet or 4-pin trailer socket. You can then hose off your bikes (or yourself, if you're a cold-shower person) for, the company says, up to 16 minutes. The system runs $400, but you might want to go through some YouTube reviews by actual users (i.e. not influencers). Some have reported reliability issues with RinseKit products.

European tiny homes may not be as large and extravagant as their North American counterparts, but they do tend to be more detailed and impressive. Since the towing laws in Europe are stricter, they tend to be more compact and lightweight. Designed by Baluchon, Lelas Tiny House is a comfortable and cozy home featuring a length of 20 feet. It is a lovely light-filled space that is ideal for two people.Designer: BaluchonThe tiny home is based on a double-axle trailer and features a finishing in red cedar, topped with a metal roof. It has a compact size, amped with generous glazing. The interior of the home is finished in spruce, and hints of Moroccan-inspired color have been added to the home, integrating an interesting vibe. The inside feels warm and inviting. The vibrant colors create an environment that also feels lively, forming a positive aura.The home features one entrance that leads you to the kitchen. It is quite spacious for a tiny French home, with a simple yet well-equipped interior. The home includes an oven, a two-burner propane-powered stove, a sink, a small fridge and freezer, cabinetry, and a breakfast bar for two. The living room is closely located, and it includes a large window as well as a small wood-burning stove for warmth. A big daybed with integrated storage is included as well, and it can be used as a sofa and guest bed.The opposite end of the house hosts the bathroom. It can be accessed through a sliding door, and it is equipped with a toilet and shower, but no sink. This isnt hygienic and is pretty inconvenient if were honest. Residents will have to wash their hands in the kitchen. The home only includes one bedroom, and it can be accessed by a wooden ladder. The bedroom is like most bedrooms found in tiny homes, with a low ceiling, a double bed, and shelving. Lelas Tiny Home is priced at US$90,000.The post This 20-Ft-Long House Is An Impressive European Tiny Home Intended For Full-Time Living first appeared on Yanko Design.

If an idea is the life of a product story, its design is the oxygen to keep it alive. Design however doesnt have to always reinvent the wheel to visualize an idea; it can sometimes just draw inspiration and reimagine the familiar with a new breath of air. The Modern-day Vintage Alarm Clock & Wristwatch combo by a young designer on Behance is an embodiment of this. It is a beautiful blend of nostalgia with modernity that would strike a chord with minimalists and vintage lovers alike.The wristwatch and alarm clock concept envisioned with the inspiration of whats existed in the past, isnt just about aesthetics; its about telling that vintage tale with new characterization and symbolism. Through the idea of these analog timepieces, the designer draws us to appreciate the past and embrace the innovative simplicity that forms the mainstay of her work.Designer: Elif BulutThe clean lines and the smooth finish of the cases of both the watch and the clock are instant enticers, but the charm lies in their dials. The center of the dial is minimalist, it features four strokes marking the 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock positions. This unembellished center amplifies the retro aesthetic while the timepieces scale up to modernism high with a labyrinth-style periphery of the center.This labyrinth-style dial layout with two colored balls acting as hour and minute indicators of an analog timepiece is a playful way of telling the time. Idealistically, the balls glide along the labyrinth paths to represent time, in their way transforming every glance at the watch/clock into simple to see and clutter-free to read.The design of the alarm clock leans heavily into its vintage roots. Its visual charm is accentuated by its two-pusher top that reminds of the classic bedside clocks from yesteryears. The square face of the clock is complemented with the similar silhouette of the watch which comes paired with a sleek silicone strap ensuring comfort without compromising style.The overwhelming digital minimalism of the watch and the accompanying clock is not only for the collectors and horologists to spend a moment with, it is for me, an encouraging concept for other designers to think in the past and design in the present. Its balance of ingenuity and simplicity is overpowering to look, but that at no point understates the basic time-telling function of these timepieces.The post Retro modern watch features an analog dial with a maze for a unique time-telling experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

rcane's finale spun a hundred plates and moved fast enough to lose some viewers. And you know what? I wouldn't want it any other way.If you weren't signed up for this, what were you signed up for?

Arcane is done, but there's going to be three different LoL shows from the same animation studio following it up.The first has been in pre-production for around a year.

This could be the portable tablet to choose just $299.

(And by a 2D artist who had no experience in 3D).

Elon Musks brain implant company is launching a new study to test whether its wireless device can control a robotic arm.