As the legislative election in France approached this summer, a research team decided to reach out to hundreds of citizens to interview them about their views on key issues. But the interviewer asking the questions wasnt a human researcher it was an AI chatbot.To prepare ChatGPT to take on this role, the researchers started by prompting the AI bot to behave as it has observed professors communicating in its training data. The specific prompt, according to a paper published by the researchers, was: You are a professor at one of the worlds leading research universities, specializing in qualitative research methods with a focus on conducting interviews. In the following, you will conduct an interview with a human respondent to find out the participants motivations and reasoning regarding their voting choice during the legislative elections on June 30, 2024, in France, a few days after the interview.The human subjects, meanwhile, were told that a chatbot would be doing the online interview rather than a person, and they were identified to participate using a system called Prolific, which is commonly used by researchers to find survey participants.Part of the research question for the project was whether the participants would be game to share their views with a bot, and whether ChatGPT would stay on topic and, well, act professional enough to solicit useful answers.The chatbot interviewer is part of an experiment by two professors at the London School of Economics, who argue that AI could change the game when it comes to measuring public opinion in a variety of fields.It could really accelerate the pace of research, says Xavier Jaravel, one of the professors leading the experiment. He noted that AI is already being used in the physical sciences to automate parts of the experimental process. For example, this years Nobel Prize in chemistry went to scholars who used AI to predict protein folds.And Jaravel hopes that AI interviewers could allow more researchers in more fields to sample public views than is feasible and cost-effective with human interviewers. That could end up causing big changes for professors around the country, adding sampling public opinion and experience as part of the playbook for many more academics.But other researchers question whether AI bots should stand in for researchers in the deeply human task of assessing the opinions and feelings of people.Its a very quantitative perspective to think that just having more participants automatically makes the study better and thats not necessarily true, says Andrew Gillen, an assistant teaching professor in the first-year engineering program at Northeastern University. He argues that in many cases, in-depth interviews with a select group is generally more meaningful and that those should be done by humans.AI doesnt judgeIn the experiment with French voters, and with another trial that used the approach to ask about what gives life meaning, many participants said in a post-survey assessment that they preferred the chatbot when it came to sharing their views on highly personal topics.Half of the respondents said they would rather take the interview again, or do a similar interview again, with an AI, says Jaravel. And the reason is that they feel like the AI is a non-judgmental entity. That they could freely share their thoughts, and they wouldnt be judged. And they thought with a human, they would feel judged, potentially.About 15% of participants said they would prefer a human interviewer, and about 35% said they were indifferent to chatbot or human.The researchers also gave transcripts of the chatbot interviews to trained sociologists to check the quality of the interviews, and the experts determined that the AI interviewer was comparable to an average human expert interviewer, Jaravel says. A paper on their study points out, however, that the AI-led interviews never match the best human experts.The researchers are encouraged by the findings, and they have released their interviewing platform free for any other researcher to try out themselves.Jaravel agrees that in-depth interviews that are more typical in ethnographic research are far superior to anything their chatbot system could do. But he argues that the chatbot interviewer can collect far richer information than the kind of static online surveys that are typical when researchers want to sample large populations. So we think that what we can do with the tool here is really advancing that type of research because you can get much more detail, he tells EdSurge.Gillen, the researcher at Northeastern, argues that there is something important that no chatbot will ever be able to do that is important even when administering surveys something he called positionality. The AI chatbot has nothing at stake and cant understand what or why it is asking questions, and that in itself will change the responses, he argues. Youre changing the intervention by having it be a bot and not a person, he adds.Gillen says that once when he was going through the interview process to apply for a faculty job, a college asked him to record answers on video to a series of set questions, in what was referred to as a one-way interview. And he says he found the format alienating.Technically its the same as answering questions on a Zoom call with humans, he says, and yet it felt so much worse. While that experience didnt involve AI, he says that he imagines that a chatbot interviewing him would have felt similarly impersonal.Bringing in VoicesFor Jaravel, though, the hope is that the approach could help fields that dont currently ask for public input start doing so.In economics we rarely talk to people, he says, noting that researchers in the field more often look to large datasets of economic indicators as the key research source.The next step for the researchers is to try to add voice capabilities to their platform, so that the bot can ask the questions verbally rather than in text chat.So what did the research involving French voters reveal?Based on chatbot interviews with 422 French voters, the researchers found that participants focused on very different issues depending on their political leaning. Respondents on the left are driven by the desire to reduce inequality and promote the green transition through various policies, the researchers concluded in their paper. In contrast, respondents in the center highlight the importance of ensuring the continuity of ongoing policies and economic stability, i.e. preserving the agenda and legacy of the President. Finally, far right voters highlight immigration (77 percent), insecurity and crime (47 percent) and policies favoring French citizens over foreigners (30 percent) as their key reasons for support.The researchers argue that the findings shed new light on these questions, illustrating that oursimple tool can be deployed very fast to investigate changes in the political environment in real time.This article was syndicated from EdSurge. EdSurge is a nonprofit newsroom that covers education through original journalism and research. Sign up for their newsletters. And follow their full AI coverage.

Think of how much has happened since March 2020 when millions of employees started working from home: Two presidential elections, war and humanitarian crises, countless climate disasters, a roller-coaster economy of inflation and interest rates, the birth of ChatGPT and AI anxiety, eight Taylor Swift albums, and an endless string of debates about if, how, and when employees should return to office (RTO).The first wave of RTO started in late 2021 and early 2022. But here we are at the end of 2024 still debating the topic. So whats really behind the yearslong struggle over return to office and where do we go from here?Hybrid versus full-time in-officeMost companies who started to call employees back to the office did so with a hybrid model, a compromise that was either the best or worst of both worlds depending on who you asked.Most companies that opted for the hybrid model offeredtwo to three days in the office in the middle of the week. Employees could still have some flexibility and no commute a couple days a week, and employers got the face time and in-person collaboration that they desired. But recently, companies including the Washington Post, Amazon, and Apple have said that even a few days of remote work stifles innovation.Yet, research doesnt support their claims. In fact, as Fast Company contributor Russ Kennedy points out, more than 80% of hybrid employees report being highly engaged at work, compared to 72% of on-site employees, andStanford researchers found that hybrid work improves employee morale and boosts corporate profits.Many have pointed out that a sense of power and control are whatsbehind the continued push to have employees in the office.Power and controlSome managers even admitted that control was their main motivation. In a 2022 survey of more than 1,000 managers and executives, and more than 1,000 owners on freelance platform Fiverr, one-third said that employees are more motivated when they know they are being watched by managers; a quarter said they wanted employees in the office so they would take shorter breaks.However, employees disagree: In a 2020 survey of 800 employers, 94% said productivity was the same as, or higher, than it was before the pandemic.Data is on the employees side in this debate: Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom found that hybrid working has no negative impact on business performance. According to a recent Fast Company article by Mark Dixon, Blooms research found that businesses can see productivity increases of about 4%. If thats not enough, employee satisfaction also increased, while resignation rates dropped.There is also a belief that some employers are using RTO mandates as a method of quiet firing. Since its been so widely covered how much employees prefer remote and hybrid work, when they are forced to return, they may quit, thereby saving their company the costs of severance associated with layoffs. The data backs this up too: ResumeBuilder surveyed 756 business leaders who had implemented a return-to-office (RTO) mandate since 2021 and found that eight in 10 companies had lost talent due to their mandates.Real estateAnother reason why the RTO debate has dragged on so long has nothing to do with people or the work they do and more to do with loss cost. In a recent Fast Company article, Emily Levine, executive vice president at recruitment firm Career Group, said [Companies are] also feeling as though theyre paying a lot of money in rent, so to only have people come on-site two days a week, they may as well forgo their real estate. But since commercial leases last between five and 10 years, many companies are locked into staying in their offices and call their employees back as a way to justify the cost. The result is what Levine calls a misalignment between what employers and employees want.Advice for managersIf youre a top decision-maker at your company, your remote/hybrid/in-office policy should reflect your business needs as well as the needs and preferences of your staff. You likely know by now how your teams work best together and have four years of lived data to show how innovation and productivity are impacted. But if you need more information, an employee survey is a good starting place.RTO policies get trickier for middle managers who are often pulled in both directions, navigate the challenges of supporting their teams while committing to a company policyeven if they disagree with it.Executive coaches Faith Cohen and Craig Revord point out that having a framework to guide challenging conversations in managing up and floating problems to the top, while also empowering teams below is crucial. They recommend the CUBE model developed by Neuberg Gore. CUBE stands for:C: Create the context and objectives of the conversation. Tell executive leadership something like: Id like to discuss feedback from the team regarding the new in-person mandates, as morale is low.U: Understand each others world and put theirs first. Ask open-ended questions, such as, Whats the reasoning behind these mandates? or How can I support you in adapting? After gaining insight, share your own thoughts and concerns.B: Brainstorm options. Try brainstorming questions instead of solutions. Once you identify the most accurate question, a clear solution often naturally unfolds.E: End with commitments. This could be commitments and a policy change or it could just be scheduling a follow-up/check-in.Advice for employeesIf your boss wants you in the office and you want to work from home, its likely that all the statistics laid out in this article wouldnt convince them. So what will? Just like making the case for why you deserve a raise or a promotion, you should come prepared with examples of how well youve worked in the times you have worked remotely.Show the volume of work and projects youve completed and how it compares to the amount of work you can do in the office. This can help illustrate how productive you personally can be. You should also highlight the ways you are still able to collaborate with your colleagues, as thats often one of the biggest reasons employers give for wanting everyone in the office.

Deep red accents and a redbrick facade define the renovation and extension of this duplex in Montreal, which has been completed by local architecture studio Naturehumaine.Named Le Petit Merlot after its red palette, the project involved the expansion of a 1920s building containing two apartments located in the city's Plateau Mont-Royal district.Naturehumaine looked to maintain and reference the heritage character, reinstating its original redbrick street front and creating a more contemporary glazed facade overlooking the rear garden, framed in red steelwork.Naturehumaine has renovated and extended a duplex in Montreal"Ultimately, Le Petit Merlot is intended to be a project on the scale of its neighbourhood which is inspired by the specific particularities of its neighbourhood," explained the studio."Unlike the heritage character of the front facade marked by limited fenestration, the rear facade is worked in transparency on four levels.""The visual homogeneity of the project is ensured by shades of red. The theme of this colour is present both in the choice of brick, window mullions, parapet flashings, painting of hemlock lintels and painted steel wall covering," it continued.The exterior is finished with red steelworkThe lower unit of the duplex, which occupies the basement and ground floor level, was designed to enjoy a close connection to the garden, with the main bedroom and office overlooking a sunken gravel patio with a stepped, weathered steel planter.Above, the ground floor contains an additional bedroom and large living, dining and kitchen space with access out onto a decked wooden patio at the end of the garden.Read: CAN relinks Verdant House with garden using statement green window"In order to improve the spatial quality of the lower accommodation and to eliminate the effect of being embedded in the ground, a recess allows for floor-to-ceiling glazing in the bedroom and office," described the studio.Due to height restrictions in the area, the upper apartment has been extended through the introduction of a mezzanine level, containing a kitchen and dining area that opens onto a rooftop terrace.A kitchen and dining space connects to the gardenThe reddy-brown tones of the exterior have been carried through to the interiors in window frames, light fittings and a deep "library" reveal with built-in shelving in the upper apartment.A contrast with these elements is emphasised through the use of pale wood floors and carpentry and white walls throughout the rest of the interiors.The main bedroom and office overlook a sunken gravel patioNaturehumaine was founded in Montreal in 2004 by Stephane Rasselet and Marc-Andr Plasse.Previous projects by the studio include a "micro chalet" raised on stilts above a woodland in Qubec, and a redbrick housing block in Montreal that draws on the area's 1930s architecture.Several other studios have carried out recent renovations of Montreal's heritage housing stock, such as projects by Diandra Maselli and Atelier L'Abri.The photography is by Raphal Thibodeau.The post Naturehumaine uses Merlot red palette for duplex renovation in Montreal appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen School Shows: a thesis project proposing energy conservation methods for The Netherlands is included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.Also included is a project exploring wind patterns to influence infrastructures, and another exploring ways to improve seawater conservation.Amsterdam Academy of ArchitectureInstitution: Amsterdam University of the ArtsSchool: Amsterdam Academy of ArchitectureCourses: Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape ArchitectureTutors: Gert-Jan Wisse (mentor), Nikol Dietz, Ren van der Velde, Jerryt Krombeen (mentor), Jandirk Hoekstra , Hiroki Matsuura, Jeroen van Mechelen (mentor), Marten Kuijpers, Jana Crepon (mentor), Jacques Abelman, Raul Corra-Smith, Wouter Kroeze (mentor), Txell Blanco Diaz, Paul Kuipers, Stephan Verkuijlen (mentor), Bernard Foing, Natalie Dixon, Thijs de Zeeuw (mentor), Erik A. de Jong and Lada HrakSchool statement:"The Academy of Architecture is an internationally-oriented educational and research institute where students are trained for the national and international field of architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture."The artistic and personal development of the student is the key focus within the intensive education, which is characterised by a high level of expertise, where a culture of innovation, collaboration and experimentation challenges students to look beyond borders and break new ground."Students study and work simultaneously to become spatial designers and thinkers, with strong roots in practice, as well as critical thinking focused on the future of the respective professions."Architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture courses are offered concurrently and in an interdisciplinary manner in order to prepare students for integrated and future-focused professional practice, thus paving the way for a transformation of the design professions."The world around us is constantly changing and at a rapid pace. The new generation of designers faces major, cross-border and wide-ranging questions."The challenges related to climate change, resource scarcity, energy transition, social inequality and declining biodiversity are urgent, complex and also all spatial issues for which answers must be sought now in order to maintain perspective on a sustainable and inclusive future."Low-Tech HavenbyIaroslava Nesterenko"My thesis Groningen, Low-Tech Haven explores how the energy transition will impact the cities we live in, proposing a prioritisation of energy conservation over production."This dichotomy shapes my research, influencing my perspective on energy transition as a crucial societal and spatial endeavour."The layers of the Dutch landscape shaped over centuries by various energy sources now await the integration of renewables. How will this new layer change the urban environment of the Dutch context?"The thesis emphasises the urgent need to reassess how we use and distribute energy, developing a toolkit of practical, low-tech solutions, including urban green-blue network, natural climate control through methods like solar envelopes and wind management, and boosting the efficiency of cargo transport, mobility and food distribution."Student: Iaroslava NesterenkoCourse: UrbanismTutors: Jerryt Krombeen (mentor), Jandirk Hoekstra and Hiroki MatsuuraThe CreaturebyMinnari Lee"The North Sea has long been an imaginary space for mankind. This project is a future archive from the year 2200 in IJmuiden."It imagines a new form of offshore infrastructure: a floating entity that serves as an 'indeterminate interface' intertwining 'hard' technological systems with 'soft' biophysical processes."This entity can be seen as a regenerative farmer of the North Sea: growing seaweed and fish, desalinating seawater into freshwater, harvesting energy using waves and carrying these sea products to nearby cities, such as IJmuiden."People live in close proximity to it, they engage in its construction, operation and maintenance in return for 'harvest'."It aims to redefine our somewhat forgotten relationship with our resources, landscape, non-humans and natural elements."Ultimately, it seeks to replace the way conventional infrastructure operates in our current environment. This is also a criticism of the latter, which involves brutal removal of unwanted mostly natural elements for its efficient operation and for the benefit of humans."Student: Minnari LeeCourse: ArchitectureTutors: Jeroen van Mechelen (mentor), Jandirk Hoekstra and Marten Kuijpers(Be)Coming HomebyRenan Dijkinga"(Be)coming Home focuses on the Campos Gerais region and my home of the Devonian Scarp in southern Brazil. This area's identity is shaped by a rich tapestry of geological, natural and cultural-historical layers."However, extensive monocultures, exotic forestry and unregulated tourism risk making the region inhospitable, threatening the environment and local communities."I believe that landscape architecture's role is to highlight, preserve and strengthen local identity, therefore focusing on developing a network of natural and cultural tourism sites, linking properties through regenerative land use."(Be)coming Home envisions reconnecting people with the land, blending traditional practices with natural systems, offering new ways for locals to engage with and transform land use, generating opportunities for landowners and residents."Initiatives aim to create alternative livelihoods, regenerate the environment, attract new economic activities and help communities rediscover their landscape's beauty."By leveraging tourism potential with a focus on residents, locals can be encouraged to appreciate and engage with their landscape through diverse uses and activities, with tourists remaining a secondary consideration."Student: Renan DijkingaCourse: Landscape ArchitectureTutors: Jana Crepon (mentor), Jacques Abelman and Raul Corra-SmithLunar LessonsbyThais Zuchetti"Lunar Lessons is the design of a planetary habitat aimed at knowledge transfer between the Moon and Earth."The idea is to learn from the Moon what it takes to live in an unliveable place, so that we could perhaps apply such lessons to an alien Earth in the future."On the other hand, the lessons from Earth are a direct alternative to the coming space exploration settlements, which are often envisioned and developed to look as clinical and cramped as possible and provide just the bare minimum for astronauts."Through the process, it became clear the fact that 'cramped' and 'bare minimum' conditions for the inhabitants are not exclusive characteristics of lunar habitats; the lessons from the Moon are closer to home than what we expect."Lunar Lessons: Habitat for planetary living is, in fact, a project about the people (regardless of which planet they are on)."Thinking of the people, the Moon base is designed from the perspective of the wellbeing of the crew, incorporating conceptual architectural techniques from Earth to simulate not only the variety of spaces and atmospheres we are used to on our planet, but also the interactions between people and the rituals from home."Student: Thais ZuchettiCourse: ArchitectureTutors: Stephan Verkuijlen (mentor), Bernard Foing and Natalie DixonEchoes of HomebyVincent Lulzac"Echoes of Home: Rediscovering Nantes' landscape through movement is a cultural garden project in which visitors are invited to interact and connect with the geological, hydrological and anthropological forces that lay the foundations of the city of Nantes."The seven ha project site lies at the crossing of a 300-kilometre-high geological fault and the 1000-kilometre-long horizontal Loire river, dividing the greater landscape of Nantes."In response to the city's heritage, the project seeks to emancipate itself from extractive practices, both in its narrative and execution."Rooted in a personal quest to decolonise the practice of landscape architecture, this project tries to reclaim Nantes' cultural and natural heritage, while encouraging a deeper connection between visitors and the land."By suggesting movement, visitors are invited to engage with the space, not only visually, but also physically. The design was approached like choreography, where the visitors and the elements are part of a dance."Student: Vincent LulzacCourse: Landscape ArchitectureTutors: Thijs de Zeeuw (mentor), Erik A. de Jong and Lada HrakModus VivendibyDennis Koek"Modus Vivendi stands as the monument of social integration, serving as an ode to the social encounter and flexibility that we have lost in our polarised, intercultural society, yet so desperately need."The monument is a socio-architectural sculpture that honours, facilitates and stimulates social exploration, discovery and interaction in our intercultural co-existence."The research question in this project revolves around the role architecture should play in the social integration of intercultural society."The research, the developed theories and the realisation of the socio-architectural project Modus Vivendi are based on scientific theoretical studies from sociology and environmental psychology."This has resulted in an architectural design of the social monument, which also serves as a manifesto for a shift in mentality regarding the social aspect of design in public architecture."Student: Dennis KoekCourse: ArchitectureTutors: Wouter Kroeze (mentor), Txell Blanco Diaz and Paul KuipersWind wovenbyRachel Borovska"Urban heat islands pose a significant challenge in today's cities and the need for cooling and preserving biodiversity are pressing issues."This research-by-design project is dedicated to uncovering the conditions necessary to enhance the cooling capacity of wind, starting from two primary wind directions: in the Netherlands, the southwesterly winds typically bring strong cold winds, peaking from autumn to spring, whereas during summer, warm air from the east can exacerbate the urban heat effect."Wind patterns are explored as a design tool along the railway corridor site of Breda, stretching from east to west, which play a crucial role in ventilating urban environments due to their expansive linear profiles and open surfaces."Rather than treating these design areas as blank slates, they are seen as integral elements contributing to ventilation, (airborne) ecology and cooling principles."They are infused with wind as a medium, composing a green wedge that weaves through the existing context and structures, connecting neighbourhoods through a biodiverse, ecological network."Student: Rachel BorovskaCourse: Landscape ArchitectureTutors: Gert-Jan Wisse (mentor), Nikol Dietz and Ren van der VeldePartnership contentThis school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Amsterdam Academy of Architecture. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.The post Amsterdam Academy of Architecture presents seven student architecture projects appeared first on Dezeen.

The Cumberland is designed by Wind River Built, and it features a length of 45 feet. It is quite a big home, and as big as a tiny home can be before it needs to be called something else. All the rooms are arranged on one level, and the house showcases a spacious open interior with a home office as well as a large porch.It has an increased width of 12 feet instead of the typical 8 feet. It needs a permit to be towed on a public road in North America, but this also implies that it has a spacious and free-flowing interior. The exterior showcases a finish of engineered wood, and it is topped by a metal roof. You can access the home through a porch area, and it also includes a ceiling fan.Designer: Wind River BuiltThe interior of the home occupies around 400 sq ft, with the entrance opening into the living room. The living room includes a sofa, as well as space for a TV and entertainment center. The kitchen is placed next to the living room, and it is quite spacious. It features a breakfast for two, an oven, a built-in dishwasher, an electric cooktop and an entertainment center. There is space for a microwave and cabinetry as well.The kitchen is connected to the home office, which includes a big desk and seating. The bathroom is adjacent to the home office, and it includes a flushing toilet, vanity sink, and a tiled shower. The office is next to a small laundry room with sufficient space for a stacked washing machine and dryer. The opposite end of the home includes the bedroom, and since it is a downstairs bedroom, it has plenty of headroom to stand upright. The room seems quite spacious, and it includes a king- or queen-sized bedroom with plenty of floorspace, and storage areas.The Cumberland only includes one bedroom, but it can be incorporated with more if needed. You can swap the office for bunk beds, creating additional sleeping space if needed. A loft bedroom can also be installed, so the home will then have a sleeping capacity of six people. The tiny home is currently up for sale, and priced at around US$148,000.The post This Tiny Home Offers A House-Like Layout, Pushing The Boundaries Of Micro-Living first appeared on Yanko Design.

Picture your ideal couch setup. Maybe its a cozy corner where you can curl up with a book, or perhaps its a spacious centerpiece for gatherings with friends. This modular beauty adapts to both scenarios effortlessly. Designed with modular cushioned blocks that can be rearranged at will, it molds itself to your space and needs. But it doesnt stop there. Tucked into the armrests, like a delightful secret waiting to be discovered, are wooden cubbies that cater to two audiences: the human and the feline. Yes, your cat is going to have opinions about this couchand for once, theyll be good ones.Lets start with the pet-friendly design because, frankly, its genius. Cats love small spaces; its a quirk of their nature. Those armrest cubbies are the equivalent of feline paradise. Theyre just the right size for hiding, lounging, or staging an ambush on an unsuspecting houseplant. Whats particularly appealing is how these cubbies feel purposeful. Theyre not awkward afterthoughts stapled onto an otherwise sleek design. Instead, their smooth wooden curves and built-in placement make them look entirely intentional. You almost imagine the designers grinning as they realized theyd just solved two problems at once: clutter and cat contentment.Designer: Great StudioFor youthe human in this relationshipthe cubbies offer a place to stash books, magazines, or even a trailing pothos plant that adds a bit of greenery to your space. If youve ever been frustrated by couches that hog space without offering storage, this feature alone feels like a small victory. But what really stands out is how the sofa balances practicality with an understated elegance. The wood grain of the cubbies contrasts gently with the soft, fabric upholstery, creating a look that feels modern without veering into cold minimalism. Its warm and welcoming, the kind of design that makes you want to sit down and stay awhile.But a sofa isnt just about looking goodit has to feel good too. Luckily, this one has comfort baked into its DNA. The cushions are plush yet supportive, and the modular nature of the design means you can expand or rearrange the setup as needed. Hosting friends? Stretch it out into a long sectional. Feeling introspective? Shrink it down to a snug reading nook. The flexibility makes it an excellent fit for spaces of all sizes, from compact apartments to sprawling living rooms.Then theres the visual appeal. Some modular sofas tend to look, well, modular. They can feel boxy or industrial, like something youd see in a coworking space rather than a home. This one avoids that trap entirely. The soft curves of the armrests and the way the cubbies integrate into the design make it feel like a cohesive piece, not a collection of parts. Its the kind of sofa that effortlessly blends into any aesthetic, whether your home leans toward Scandinavian chic or mid-century modern.And while its clearly designed with cats in mind, its not exclusive to them. Small dogs, rabbits, or any curious tiny pet would likely find those cubbies just as inviting. Its rare to see furniture that accommodates so many lifestyles without compromising its core design, but this sofa pulls it off. Its as if the designers anticipated all the little momentsyour cat peeking out from its new hideaway, a stack of well-thumbed books within arms reach, or the way the light catches on the wooden edges during golden hour.The post Why This Stylish Modular Sofa Is a Must-Have for Small Spaces and Small Pets first appeared on Yanko Design.

If you love reading you want to gift yourself this Honygebia Black Acrylic Book Stand! It is a sleek and modern accessory designed to hold your favorite books or magazines. It can also hold art pieces!The cross-frame structure of this piece is crafted from black acrylic. Its lightweight yet robustand can hold books of various sizes. The transparent material adds elegance without overpowering any existing decor. Plus, we love how its surface is easy to clean; simply wipe it with a soft cloth, and its appearance will be as good as new.Whether youre displaying a cherished art book, keeping your cookbook open in the kitchen, or showcasing a magazine on your coffee tablethis stand provides sturdy support. Its open design gives you a comfortable reading position and lets you easily turn those pages.The best part? Its perfect for gifting! So, if youve got a nerdy little one or a parent who loves to read, youve already found the perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season. Maybe even a friend whos fond of home decor can make good use of this piece; its combination of form and function is sure to impress.Available now on Amazon.

A sandbox adventure that owes some obvious debt to videogame design.Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition really did kick off with a bang.

The native PC port of Star Fox 64 looks great, and is set to come out in December.The port, called "Starship," is looking pretty crisp in beta form.

A slow trundle towards a soggy end.