Rodeo FX returns to Middle-earth with groundbreaking visual effects in The Rings of Power Season 2. From towering, ancient Ents swaying majestically in the forests to the eerie Barrow-wights that haunt the shadows, the VFX team masterfully captures the blend of wonder and terror that defines Tolkiens world. Every frame breathes life into the mystical realms, showcasing the artistry of Rodeo FXs meticulous attention to detail.The breakdown delves into the visual storytelling that makes scenes like fiery landscapes in Rhn or the monumental fall of Sauron so dramatic. Scenes like these demand a harmonious marriage of practical effects and digital artistry with innovation in bringing forth the vibrant atmosphere to immerse the viewers into this world of chaos and beauty. The mysterious visions of the Palantr, being dreamlike, add one more dimension to the immersion details.Blending technical brilliance with creative imagination, Rodeo FX once again sets the standard for fantasy visual effects. Season 2 pushes the boundaries of what is possible, capturing the spirit of Tolkiens epic while expanding its visual vocabulary. Fans of the series will undoubtedly marvel at how this team continues to elevate Middle-earths cinematic legacy.The post The Rings of Power Season 2 VFX Breakdown by Rodeo FX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

The Academy has announced the ten films shortlisted in the Visual Effects category for the 97th Oscars. Chosen by the Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee, these ten films represent the pinnacle of cinematic visual artistry in 2024.Branch members will get to see excerpts and insights from the shortlisted films on January 11, 2025, before voting to nominate five titles for final Oscar consideration.ShortlistThe post Visual Effects Shortlist for the 97th Academy Awards appeared first on Vfxexpress.

The U.S. market gained more than 25% for the year to date through mid-December 2024. Thats a healthy showing by any measure. It doesnt seem like it would be a market environment thats conducive to tax-loss selling.But unless your strategy is to buy only U.S. stocks, you may indeed have opportunities to realize tax losses in your portfolio, which you can use to offset gains elsewhere. Thats because other market segments havent performed nearly as well.Must-knows about tax-loss sellingIts important to note that tax-loss selling is only a worthwhile strategy if you have taxable accounts. To benefit from a tax loss that in turn can help you save on taxes, you need to find holdings in your taxable portfolio that are trading below your cost basis your purchase price adjusted upward to account for any commissions that you paid along with reinvested dividend and capital gains distributions.There are different methods for determining cost basis. The specific share identification method for cost-basis elections provides the most opportunities for tax-loss selling or gain harvesting because it allows you to cherry-pick specific lots of a security to sell. But its important to note that the average cost basis is usually the cost-basis election default for mutual funds, while the default cost basis election for individual stocks is often first in, first out. In other words, unless you select a different cost-basis election before selling, your investment firm will report your loss or gain using the default.If you sell securities and your sale price is lower than your cost basis, you have a capital loss. That loss, in turn, can help offset taxable gains elsewhere in your portfolio. (With many mutual funds again poised to make big capital gains distributions in 2024, those losses could come in handy.) If you dont have any gains in the year you realize the losses or your losses exceed your gains, you can use the losses to offset up to $3,000 in ordinary income. Unused losses can be carried forward indefinitely and applied against future taxable gains.Where to look for tax-loss sale candidatesAs 2024 winds down, here are some of the most fruitful spots to look for tax-loss candidates.Long-term bond funds and ETFs: Despite the Federal Reserves interest-rate cuts, many bond funds are still in the red over the past year and over the past three years as well. Long-term bonds and bond funds look especially ripe for tax-loss selling. Losses in intermediate-term bonds havent been as deep 2% annualized losses over the past three years but still could add up to a decent-sized loss if your position size is large. Moreover, tax-loss selling may provide a hook to improve your total portfolios asset location, in that fixed-income holdings are often best situated in tax-sheltered accounts rather than taxable ones. With yields surging, being smart about asset placement now matters more than it did when yields were exceptionally low.Individual stocks: Individual stock investors have the easiest pickings when it comes to unearthing tax-loss sales. Even if your portfolio has performed well in aggregate, its likely that something you own has lost value since you purchased it. For the year to date through mid-November, about 1,100 US stocks with market caps of more than $1 billion had losses of 10% or more. You may even be seeing red on positions youve owned for a while: Roughly 1,200 individual US companies with market caps of more than $1 billion had 10% or greater losses over the past three years.Other places in your portfolio to look are non-US stock funds, sector funds and short and alternative funds. For the latter, its no surprise that investors who own funds and ETFs that bet against stocks have struggled recently, given the strength of stocks gains this year.Next stepsIf you sell a security for a loss, you can go ahead and replace it with something similar right away, provided the new holding isnt so close that the IRS considers it substantially identical. Immediately replacing an actively managed fund with an index fund or ETF would be fine, for example. But swapping an index fund for an ETF that tracks that same index would run afoul of the wash-sale rule, in that theyre substantially identical securities. In that instance, the IRS would disallow the loss. And if you wait 30 days after selling the losing security, you can replace it with the very same security and still claim the loss.You should also consider tying tax-loss selling along with a broaderportfolio review and cleanup effort.Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at MorningstarThis article was provided to the Associated Press by Morningstar.

TheEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA) on Wednesday granted two requests from California to enforce strict standards for vehicle emissions, including a rule aimed atbanning salesof new gasoline-powered cars in the state by 2035. The incoming Trump administration is likely to try to reverse the action.The California rule is stricter than a federal rule adopted this year that tightens emissions standards but does not require sales of electric vehicles.EPA said its review found that opponents of the two waivers did not meet their legal burden to show how either the EV rule or a separate measure on heavy-duty vehicles was inconsistent with the federal Clean Air Act.California has longstanding authority to request waivers from EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. Todays actions follow through on EPAs commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change.The new waiver is important not only to California but to more than a dozen other states that follow its nation-leading standards on vehicle emissions.Even so, the waiver is likely to be short-lived. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will move to revoke all California waivers as part of an industry-friendly approach that includes boosting production of fossil fuels and repealing key parts of a landmark 2022 climate law.Trump rescinded Californias authority on emissions in 2019, only to be reversed three years later by the Biden EPA, which restored the states authority in 2022.Any effort by the new administration is likely to spawn a new set of legal challenges that could delay any action.Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who often touts Californias leadership on climate policy, said EPAs approval of the advanced clean-cars rule was a vote of confidence in Californias accomplishments in protecting our people by cleaning our air and cutting pollution.Naysayers like President-elect Trump would prefer to side with the oil industry over consumers and American automakers, but California will continue fostering new innovations in the market, Newsom said.Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and other major automakers are meeting current California emission standards, but some major car companies questioned the latest EPA waiver.Most of the Democratic-leaning states that have adopted Californias rules clustered along the West Coast and in the Northeast are not selling anywhere near the 35% level of EV sales required next year and are unlikely to meet the 2035 target of 100% EV sales, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a large industry group.Achieving the sales mandates under current market realities will take a miracle. There needs to be balance and some states should exit the (California) program, said John Bozzella, the groups CEO.Automakers are producing electric vehicles, Bozzella said, but theres a huge gap between these EV sales mandates and a customers reasonable expectation they can still choose what kind of vehicle to drive. He expects Trump to revoke the California waiver next year.Scott Vazin, a spokesman for Toyota in North America, said approval of the California waiver will distort the auto industry as companies funnel zero-emission vehicles to the states that have adopted Californias rules. If a customer in a state that follows California cant afford an EV or it doesnt meet their needs, there may not be a non-electric vehicle on the lot to purchase for their mobility needs, Vazin said.Environmental groups hailed the Biden administrations action.EPAs approval is a critical step forward in protecting our lungs from pollution and our wallets from the expenses of combustion fuels, said Paul Cort, director of Earthjustices Right To Zero campaign. The gradual shift in car sales to zero-emissions models will cut smog and household costs while growing Californias clean energy workforce.Kathy Harris, director of clean vehicles at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the decision shows respect for California and other states.California decided that transitioning to cleaner, zero-emission vehicles is the best way to address the unique (air pollution) burdens it faces, she said. This is exactly how our system of federalism should work. If other states dont like Californias approach, they dont need to follow it. But no one should object to the longstanding authority of states to act to protect their residents.The EPAs action comes as the Supreme Court said last week that it will take up a business-backed appeal challenging an earlier California waiver issued by the Biden administration. The justices agreed to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to an EPA waiver granted in 2022.The high court will not be reviewing the waiver itself but a related issue: whether fuel producers have legal standing to challenge it. A federal appeals court ruled that the companies lacked the right to sue because they produced no evidence that they would be affected by the waiver, which directly affects vehicle manufacturers.Matthew Daly, Associated PressAssociated Press writer Sophie Austin contributed to this story.

The crystal blue waters that once surrounded Kabaena are murky brown now, and the octopi and colorful fish that locals used to catch nearby to eat and sell have fled. The lush seaweed they used to harvest is gone. And parents who grew up swimming happily in the Flores Sea now warn their children to stay out of the water for fear of itchy rashes or skin lesions.The people of Kabaena including Indigenous Bajau, a group that has traditionally lived near and relied on the sea are among what experts estimate are thousands of communities around Indonesia where traditional ways of life have been devastated by the impacts of a rapidly expanding mining industry. Most of the materials mined in Indonesia fuel the international supply chain for stainless steel, electric vehicle batteries and more.All residents here have felt the impact, said Amiruddin, 53, a fisherman who like many Indonesians uses only one name.With the worlds largest known nickel reserves and rich deposits of cobalt, bauxite and other materials, Indonesia has been experiencing a mining boom on demand for stainless steel, electric vehicle batteries and more that are needed for the global energy transition. The island nation has sought to expand its mining and processing capabilities while facing backlash from international and local watchdogs for various environmental concerns.Across Indonesia, nickel processing plants sometimes sprawl just a few minutes from the sea, and barges ready to carry away nickel ore often dot the water. Some mines operate near schools.Local communities and the natural environments around these mines can bear the burden of this intense demand. From 2001 to 2020, the world lost nearly 1.4 million hectares (about 3.5 million acres) of trees due to mining, with Indonesia having the highest loss, according to an analysis by the World Resources Institute.EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of on how tribes and Indigenous communities are coping with and combating climate change.On Kabaena, over 3,700 hectares (9,140 acres) of forest including protected forest were cleared by mining companies between 2001 to 2023, according to data analysis by international environmental organization Mighty Earth. That deforestation has devastated the environment and livelihoods on Kabaena, said Amanda Hurowitz, a senior director at Mighty Earth.Where fishers could once catch fish to sell or feed their families, the water is now filled with runoff sediment from mining activities and no fish are to be found. Fishers with boats must travel farther, using expensive petrol, and wind up with smaller catches that earn them less money. Those without boats often resort to eating the small shellfish they can find in the murky water around their homes.(I would) fish near there by setting a net, Ilyas, 70, said while pointing in front of his home. Now its far away before (fish) are found.Communities on land are experiencing the mines impact as well: Sugar cane, palm and clove trees cultivated for food and income dont grow as well, with water sources used for crops tainted by mining activities, residents said.Thats the effect: The growth of the sugar palm trees will not be as good because of the influence of mining, said Amal Susanto, 32, a palm sugar farmer in an area of Kabaena where exploration permits have been granted but mining has not yet begun. I hope no mines around here, because our income will be impacted.Since the mines have opened, theres been a spike in residents complaining of itchy skin, sore throats and other health issues. Villagers no longer want to bathe or wash clothes in the water; when they do, they get itchy skin and rashes said Nina, 33, an Indigenous Bajau resident of Kabaena.Lab results from samples of rivers, sea water, dust and shellfish from Kabaena taken by Satya Bumi, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Indonesia, in July and November showed hazardous levels of nickel, lead and cadmium common mining byproducts.Exposure to these metals at the levels seen in the lab samples could lead to cancer, cardiovascular, kidney and other chronic diseases, said Kathrin Schilling, an assistant professor at Columbia University who researches molecular biology and reviewed the lab results.If people on this island are using the river water as drinking water which has higher levels of the metals and then if they are also eating the shellfish and breathe the air you cannot escape basically any of the exposure to those toxic metals, Schilling told AP.The impact isnt limited to Kabaena. Across the sea to the north, a nickel mine near the village of Torobulu pushes up against a tattered soccer field and nearby athletic courts.The impacts and mining continue despite a March 2024 ruling by Indonesias constitutional court that small islands such as Kabaena require special protection from abnormally dangerous activities, including mining, as they threaten ecosystems in vulnerable areas.But Indonesias government is still issuing mining permits for small islands, said Sayyidatiihayaa Afra, a researcher at Satya Bumi.Since the constitutional court ruling, forest loss has continued on Kabaena, with 150 hectares (370 acres) cleared in areas approved for mining on the island since April 1, according to data analysis by Mighty Earth. Over half of the forest loss occurred in a concession owned by mining company Tonia Mitra Sejahtera.Tonia Mitra Sejahtera did not respond to a request for interviews or comment. Mining company Anugrah Harisma Barakah which caused the most deforestation on Kabaena, according to Satya Bumi also did not answer the publicly listed phone number when AP made requests for interviews or comment.Indonesias Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources did not respond to a request for comment.Meanwhile, people on Kabaena say they feel helpless.What else can we do if the water is like this? said Nina. Were small people we cant do anything. We have to surrender.Yusuf Wahil and Victoria Milko, Associated PressMilko reported from Jakarta.The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Boston architecture studio Studio 3.0 has added a wedge-shaped extension and a screened-in porch to an octagon-shaped house in Cape Cod originally built in the 1970s, keeping the addition distinct from the original core.Located in Truro, Massachusetts, the Octagon: Revisited project followed the owner's desire for more space for a growing family while retaining the original structure of a house built in 1974.Studio 3.0 has added a wedge-shaped addition to a 1970s octagon house in Cape Cod"Importantly, the Octagon itself has enormous sentimentality for the family, so it was imperative that it stay intact and that the addition a new bedroom, bathroom, and office space be a truly independent extension of the existing home," said Studio 3.0 principal Josh Slater.The project encompasses two extensions both of which branch off opposite sides of the house and updates and reconfiguration of the original 780-square-foot (72-square-metre) octagon core.An extension and screened-in porch branches off opposite sides of the original structureIts design centres around the client's desire to keep the addition noticeably distinct from the original house while playing off its structure, which was difficult to add directly on to, according to Slater."Lifted into the tree canopy by a minimal concrete foundation, the entire structure is essentially eight wood trusses that hang off a single 6" (15 centimetres) HSS metal post in the centre," he said.Yellow was used to highlight exterior structural elementsThe solution was to create two cantilevered "wedges" that jut outwards from the octagon's perimeter and are supported by metal columns. One contains an enclosed residential space and the other is a smaller, screened-in porch.The porch aspect juts directly from the face of the octagonal house, while the residential extension was rotated 22 degrees to "assert itself as a distinct volume".Read: The top 10 home extensions of 2024Another rectangular volume was sandwiched between the house and the residential extension. This volume holds a new staircase for the house, which doubles as a gallery for the owner's art."The stair tower between is a simple vertical volume to further separate figuratively and literally the new from the existing," said Slater.On the volume's interior, the designer left a slice of the original column exposed.The original interior was reconfigured as part of the project"I very intentionally set the location of the stair, and that side of the stair wall, just an inch back from that column face. I wanted to express that as its own piece of 'art' within the stair volume, and as another nod to the connection to the existing home," said Slater.The enclosed addition holds a new bedroom, office and bathroom, while the original structure holds one bedroom, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a living area.An original column was left exposed in a new stairwellTo reflect the vernacular architecture of Cape Cod, the entire house was clad in accoya wood, a "more sustainably sourced" version of the common weathered cedar siding found in the area, with vertical siding used on the original house and horizontal on the extension.Additionally, some elements on the exterior were marked with a "playful and joyful" yellow. Slater noted the colour was chosen during the 2020 pandemic when the team wanted something to make them smile.The addition contains a new bedroom, office and bathroom"The 'question', so to speak, in my mind was how do you engage with such a distinctive existing condition, rather than avoiding addressing it but it was critical to do something that is responsive without being too literal," said Slater."The addition should be in dialogue with the existing building."Elsewhere in Cape Cod, a campaign was launched to save Marcel Breuer's holiday home from demolition, while Dezeen recently rounded up the top 10 house extensions of 2024.The photography is by Gregg ShupeProject credits:General contractor: Lemanski ConstructionStructural engineer: Siegel Structural EngineersThe post Studio 3.0 adds dual extensions to 1970s Octagon house in Cape Cod appeared first on Dezeen.

Portland-based studio Hacker Architects has replaced an outdated lodge with a blackened wood-and-glass structure featuring elements informed by the volcanic landscape of Sisters, Oregon.Black Butte Ranch was planned and constructed in the early 1970s, and sits on 1,800-acre parcel of land at the base of The Three Sisters peaks in Oregon's Central Cascade mountains.Hacker Architects has created a lodge in the mountains of OregonNow home to year-round residents and vacationers, the ranch embarked on a redevelopment plan in 2013 that included a recreation and dining complex and general store, completed by Hacker in 2016 and 2021, respectively.Then, the development team turned its attention to the lodge constructed by Portland architect Bing Sheldon in 1969 with landscape design by Doug Macy, founder of Walker Macy Landscape Architecture.It replaced a structure from the 1970s and is one of several structures created by Hacker Architects on the siteDue to accessibility issues, ageing mechanical systems and an outdated layout, the Hacker team opted to replace the lodge using input from a year-long community outreach process rather than renovate it."The original lodge was designed at a time when geometric complexity was in, with lots of floor levels, nooks and crannies, lofts, and a large sheltering roof. Strangely, the interior didn't really create strong connections to the incredible views around the site," Hacker principal Corey Martin told Dezeen."We wanted the experience of the new lodge to evoke memories of the original while connecting people to the site in more meaningful ways."Hacker Architects used a massing informed by the local topographyHacker applied its signature "Landform Building approach", which sets the structure as subordinate to the landscape and draws references from the regional agricultural buildings, connecting the design to both site and place."[Black Butte Ranch] aims to honor and evolve the design language of the original ranch buildings and is intended to elevate the experience of the surrounding landscape through the careful framing and layering of views and a sensitive interpretation of regional materials and forms," said the studio.Volcanic-stone elements feature on the interiorHacker considered the high-elevation desert climate of Central Oregon, with characteristic columnar basalt, underground lava tubes and thunderegg formations that result from the volcanic landscape, to inform the fractured and displaced form of the lodge.The form and pitch of the roof match the slope of nearby Black Butte, while clerestory windows bring light into the space from all directions. The oblique walls create a series of rising and falling profiles, both inside and outside the lodge.Blackened wood features on the exterior and interiorThe exterior is clad in cedar charred in Japanese fashion, which maintains the weathered look of the original lodge while increasing durability and referencing the region's wildfires. Natural-toned wood soffits contract the dark exterior and floor-to-ceiling glazing accesses as much sunlight as the climate affords.The building now twice the size of the original lodge is divided into three public sections.The door was created using a CNC machineA double-height stone fireplace serves as the focal point for the bar and restaurant, which feature booths that are carved out of the wall like lava-formed pools and tables created from a large ponderosa pine tree from the site.The southeastern portion of the plan holds an event area with a large multi-use space that can be partitioned out and leads to an outdoor terrace. Upstairs, a floor lounge, bar and terrace space overlook the ground floor.Read: Slow uses charred wood to clad "hut-like" home in JapanThe back-of-house spaces and state-of-the-art kitchen are located on the north side of the plan, forming a triangle that can serve each of the public areas.Using wood salvaged from the original lodge as guard rails, screens, furniture and wall finishes, "the interior celebrates the ranch tradition of highlighting wood through its exposed structure and finishes".Contrasting wood tones further the sense of "warmth and openness".It has plentiful glass to open up to the landscapeAs a special touch, Martin CNC-ed the entry doors to depict lava flowing from below the mountains and other scenes from the landscape.Recently, Hacker revamped a 60-year-old athletic centre at a school, constructed by Lewis Crutcher Architects, in Portland, wrapping it in stained cedar. The studio also overhauled a 1970s Brutalist library by George Rickrise and Donald Richardson in Salem, Oregon.The photography is by Jeremy Bittermann.Project credits:Architecture and interior design: HackerHacker design team: Corey Martin, Nick Hodges, Scott Mannhard, Brendan Hart, John Dalit, Jake Freauff, Matthew Sugarbaker, Charles Dorn, Jennie Fowler, Mayumi NakazatoContractor: Kirby NagelhoutLandscape: Walker Macy Landscape ArchitectureKitchen designer: Bargreen Ellingson Restaurant Supply and DesignCivil engineer: Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc. (HHPR)Structural engineer: Madden & Baughman EngineeringMechanical & plumbing engineer: PAE Consulting EngineersElectrical engineer: PAE Consulting EngineersLighting: Luma Lighting DesignAcoustical engineer: Listen AcousticsClient: Black Butte RanchThe post Volcanic landscape informs Hacker Architects design of Oregon lodge appeared first on Dezeen.

Dezeen Showroom:French furniture brand Tiptoe has added to its SSD seating collection with the launch of the solid wood SSD stool, available in a palette of contemporary colours.The SSD stool continues the language of the SSD chair, which is characterised by its perfectly circular, slim seat and clean and welcoming, modern lines.The SSD stool comes in a range of coloursHowever, in place of a metal frame, it boasts legs made from solid FSC-certified wood, with a round footrest made of metal on the tallest bar stool version of the product harking back to the original design.The stool's robust and angled legs give excellent stability, according to Tiptoe, while the selection of five different coloured finishes reflects the results of in-depth colour research.A tall bar stool version is also availableAvailable from 20 February 2025, the SSD stool comes in three different heights and is suitable for use in a diversity of environments.It is manufactured in Latvia and shipped flat-packed, in keeping with Tiptoe's commitments to quality craftsmanship and sustainability.Product details:Product: SSD stoolBrand: TiptoeContact: press@tiptoe.frMaterial: woodColours/finishes: Natural Oak, Graphite Black, Brioche Yellow, Grey Blue and Tangerine RedDimensions: 450, 650 or 750 millimetresDezeen ShowroomDezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.The post SSD stool by Tiptoe appeared first on Dezeen.

Everyone's talking about the future, AI, blah blah blah. But this year we saw plenty of cool design solutions from earlier decades and centuries.Early mass production: In ancient China they developed Dragon Kilns, which run up hills. The fires at the bottom send heat throughout the entirety of the structure, enabling mass firings. In Japan, these Inuyarai bamboo slats protect businesses from dog pee and rain splatter. An old-school construction trick, used everywhere from the Swiss Alps to Japan, is using rocks to hold roofing in place. Farmers in Scandinavia have a low-tech way to make it easier for a horse and cart to reach the second story of a barn. Residents of rural Eastern Europe built these Vltoare, a natural washing machine made by tapping into rivers. Here's a 19th-century British design for a multi-tool. Around the same time, the Shakers were building these retractable drying racks for their laundry facilities. Doctors of the era, meanwhile, examined patients on one of these. Hopefully it was padded at some point. Moving into the 20th century, we find this clever design for a no-tools-required-to-install hanging hook. The design persists today. Architect Fabrizio Batoni designed these Art Deco faucets by reaching into manufacturer Mamoli's back catalog, circa 1938. Industrial designer Bruno Munari designed this Cubo, a modernist ashtray, around 1954.Image: Di Albertozanardo - CC BY-SA 4.0 Arne Jacobsen's Cylinda ashtray is another carcinogenic classic, circa late '50s/early '60s. Legendary Italian industrial designer Enzo Mari designed his Formosa and Timor perpetual calendars in the 1960s. They're still in production. Spanish industrial designer Rafael Marquina designed his classic no-drip oil cruet in 1961. It too is still in production.While this might look like an ashtray, it's actually for storing jewelry. It's part of a 1970s line of ceramic objects by Italian industrial designer Robert Grigato. This Wildo Fold-A-Cup, a classic Swedish design, first went into production in 1979. It's still on the market (with a slight materials update). Here's to hoping we encounter more objects in 2025 that have withstood the test of time.

Dubai isnt a walkable city, the scorching heat makes it almost impossible to tread through during the day. However, it will be possible to stroll through Dubai very soon, with the launch of a project called Dubai Walk. This will be an extensive network of walkways, including raised and air-conditioned footpaths. The plan is still in the early phase, but it will include 4,000 miles of walkways throughout Dubai. Around 1,430 miles of this will include rehabilitated existing pathways.His Highness also reviewed The Future Loop project which will be implemented at the Museum of the Future area, said the press release from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This iconic elevated walkway, spanning 2 km [1.2 miles] with a width ranging from 6 to 15 meters [20 to 50 ft], seamlessly connects key landmarks, including the Dubai World Trade Centre, Museum of the Future, Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and nearby metro stations.His Highness then viewed the model of The Future Loop, highlighting its connection to 10 key locations, a 30,000-square-meter [322,000-sq-ft] air-conditioned level for year-round walking, and an additional 30,000 square meters [322,000 sq ft] of shaded, green open spaces. The project, which will include commercial spaces, is set to be developed through a public-private partnership.The project will include 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses to enhance connectivity. This will increase pedestrian mobility from 13% to 25% in 2040. It will contain scenic walkways, waterfront paths, city walkways, and rural and mountain trails. It will also link major landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future via an elevated walkway called the Future Loop. This walkway will be equipped with air-conditioning to ensure people walk through the year. It is a massive project and will take a while to complete. The pilot phase will last run from 2025-2027, and it will be fully completed in 2040.The post The Dubai Walk Master Plan Will Make Dubai A Walkable & Pedestrian-Friendly City first appeared on Yanko Design.