James Gunn redefines the iconic Man of Steel in a stunning new trailer for Superman. This first look promises to be bold and fresh with a legendary hero, blending emotional depth with thrilling action sequences that redefine the essence of Superman.It features a fantastic visual effects created by the industry giants Framestore, ILM, and Weta FX. This movie trailer is guided under Production VFX Supervisor Stephane Ceretti and VFX Producer Susan Pickett, with great awe-inspiring visuals, giving a glimpse of Supermans world in terms of its scale and wonder.Directed by James Gunn, Superman is scheduled to fly its way into theatres across the United States on July 11, 2025, with an exciting new take on the epic tale of the Earths greatest superhero.The post Superman: A James Gunn Vision appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Seventeen days after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, tearing down power lines, destroying water mains, and disabling cellphone towers, the signs of relief were hard to miss.Trucks formed a caravan along Interstate 40, filled with camouflaged soldiers, large square tanks of water, and essentials from pet food to diapers. In towns, roadside signsofficial versions emblazoned with nonprofit relief logos and wooden makeshift ones scrawled with paintadvertised free food and water.And then there were the generators.The noisy machines powered the trailers where Asheville residents sought showers, weeks after the citys water system failed. They fueled the food trucks delivering hot meals to the thousands without working stoves. They filtered water for communities to drink and flush toilets.Western North Carolina is far from unique. In the wake of disaster, generators are a staple of relief efforts around the globe. But across the region, a New Orleans-based nonprofit is working to displace as many of these fossil fuel burners as they can, swapping in batteries charged with solar panels instead.Its the largest response effort the Footprint Project has ever deployed in its short life, and organizers hope the impact will extend far into the future.If we can get this sustainable tech in fast, then when the real rebuild happens, theres a whole new conversation that wouldnt have happened if we were just doing the same thing that we did every time, said Will Heegaard, operations director for the organization.Responders use what they know works, and our job is to get them stuff that works better than single-use fossil fuels do, he said. And then, they can start asking for that. It trickles up to a systems change.Nick Boyd, left, and Blake Davis unload solar panels in Asheville, North Carolina. [Photo: Elizabeth Ouzts]A no-brainer solution to the problem of gas generatorsThe rationale for diesel and gas generators is simple: theyre widely available. Theyre relatively easy to operate. Assuming fuel is available, they can run 24/7, keeping people warm, fed, and connected to their loved ones even when the electric grid is down. Indubitably, they save lives.But theyre not without downsides. The burning of fossil fuels causes not just more just more carbon that exacerbates the climate crisis, but smog and soot-forming air pollutants that can trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory problems.In Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, generators were so prevalent after the electric grid failed that harmful air pollution in San Juan soared above the safe legal limit. The risk is especially acute for sensitive populations who turn to generators for powering vital equipment like oxygenators.There are also practical challenges. Generators arent cheap, retailing at big-box stores for more than $1,000. Once initial fuel supplies run outas happened in parts of Western North Carolina in the immediate aftermath of Heleneit can be difficult and costly to find more. And the machines are noisy, potentially harming health and creating more stress for aid workers and the people they serve.Heegaard witnessed these challenges firsthand in Guinea in 2016 when he was responding to an Ebola outbreak. A paramedic, his job was to train locals to collect blood samples and store them in generator-powered refrigerators that would be motorcycled to the city of Conakry for testing. He had a grant to give cash reimbursements to the lab techs for the fuel.This is so hard already, and the idea of doing a cash reimbursement in a super poor rural country for gas generators seems really hard, Heegaard recalled thinking. I had heard of solar refrigerators. I asked the local logistician in Conakry, Are these things even possible?The next day, the logistician said they were. They could be installed within a month. It was just a no-brainer, said Heegaard. The only reason we hadnt done it is the grant wasnt written that way.A solar-powered water filter station in Asheville [Photo: Elizabeth Ouzts]Game-changing for a responseTwo years later, the Footprint Project was born of that experience. With just seven full-time staff, the group cycles in workers in the wake of disaster, partnering with local solar companies, nonprofits, and others, to gather supplies and distribute as many as they can.They deploy solar-powered charging stations, water filtration systems, and other so-called climate tech to communities who need it moststarting with those without power, water, or a generator at all, and extending to those looking to offset their fossil fuel combustion.The group has now built nearly 50 such solar-powered microgrids in the region, from Lake Junaluska to Linville Falls, more than it has ever supplied in the wake of disaster. The recipients range from volunteer fire stations to trailer parks to an art collective in West Asheville.Mike Talyad, a photographer who last year launched the collective to support artists of color, teamed up with the Grassroots Aid Partnership, a national nonprofit, to fill in relief gaps in the wake of Helene. The whole city was trying to figure it out, he said.Solar panels from Footprint that initially powered a water filter have now largely displaced the generators for the teams food trucks, which at one point were providing 1,000 meals a day. When we did the switchover, Talyad said, it was a time when gas was still questionable.The team at Footprint also provided six solar panels, a Tesla battery, and a charging station to displace a noisy generator at a retirement community in South Asheville.The device was powering a system that sucked water from a pond, filtered it, and rendered it potable. Picking up their jugs of drinking water, a steady flow of residents oohed and aahed as the solar panels were installed, and sighed in relief when the din of the generator abated.Most responders are not playing with solar microgrids because theyre better for the environment, said Heegaard. Theyre playing with it because if they can turn their generator off for 12 hours a day, that means literally half the fuel savings. Some of them are spending tens of thousands of dollars a month on diesel or gas. That is game-changing for a response.Showing up for their neighborsFootprints robust relief effort and the variety of its beneficiaries is owed in part to the scale of Helenes destruction, with more than 1 million in North Carolina alone who initially lost power.From left: Nick Boyd, volunteer Blake Davis, and Will Heegaard of the Footprint Project on the ground in Asheville [Photo: Elizabeth Ouzts]Its really hard to put into words what [happened] out there , said Matt Abele, the executive director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, who visited in the early days after the storm. It [was] just the most heartbreaking thing Ive ever seenwhole mobile home parks that are just completely gone.But the breadth of the response is also owed to Footprints approach to aid, which is rooted in connections to grassroots groups, government organizations, and the local solar industry. All have partnered together for the relief effort.Weve been incredibly overwhelmed by the positive response that weve seen from the clean energy community, Abele said, both from an equipment donation standpoint and a financial resources standpoint.Some four hours east of the devastation in Western North Carolina, Greentech Renewables Raleigh has been soliciting and storing solar panels and other goods. It also raised money for products that are harder to get for freelike PV wire and batteries. Then it trucked the supplies west.Weve got bodies, weve got trucks, weve got relationships, said Shasten Jolley, the manager at the company, which warehouses and sells supplies to a variety of installers. So, we try to utilize all those things to help out.The cargo was delivered to Mars Hill, a tiny college town about 20 miles north of Asheville that was virtually untouched by Helene. Through a local regional government organization, Frank Johnson, the owner of a robotics company, volunteered his 110,000-square-foot facility for storage.Johnson is just one example of how people in the region have leapt to help each other, said Abele, whos based in Raleigh.You can tell when youre out there, he said, that so many people in the community are coping by showing up for their neighbors.Available for the next responseTo be sure, Footprints operations arent seamless at every turn. For instance, most of the donated solar panels designated for the South Asheville retirement community didnt work, a fact the installers learned once theyd made the 40-minute drive in the morning and tried to connect them to the system. They returned later that afternoon with functioning units, but then faced the challenge of what to do with the broken ones.This is solar aid waste, Heegaard said. The last site we did yesterday had the same problem. Now we have to figure out how to recycle them.Its also not uncommon for the microgrids to stop working, Heegaard said, because of understandable operator errors, like running them all night to provide heat.But above all, the problem for Footprint is scale. A tiny organization among behemoth relief groups, they simply dont have the bandwidth for a larger response. When Milton followed immediately on the heels of Helene, Heegaards group made the difficult choice to hunker down in North Carolina.With climate-fueled weather disasters poised to increase, the organization hopes to entice the biggest, most well-resourced players in disaster relief to start regularly using solar microgrids in their efforts.As power is slowly restored across the region, with just over 5,000 remaining without electricity, theres also the question of what comes next.While theres a parallel conversation underway among advocates and policymakers about making microgrids and distributed solar a more permanent feature of the grid, Footprint also hopes to inspire some of that change from the ground up. Maybe the volunteer fire station decides to put solar panels on its roof when it rebuilds, for instance.We can change the conversation around resilience and recovery by directly pointing to something that worked when the lights were out and debris was in the street, Heegaard said.As for the actual Footprint equipment, the dream is to create lending libraries in places like Asheville, to be cycled in and out of community events and disaster relief.The solar trailer or the microgrid or the water maker that went to the Burnsville elementary school right after the stormthat can be recycled and used to power the music stage or the movie in the park, Heegaard said. Then that equipment is here, its being utilized, and its available for the next response, whether its in Knoxville or Atlanta or South Carolina.ByElizabeth Ouzts, Energy News NetworkThisarticlefirst appeared onEnergy News Networkand is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Leaders dont always have the answers, and the best of them know that and will often be the first to remind you of this. Consider a situation in which a leader opens up a discussion about a topic important to an upcoming meeting and invites discussion and disagreement with her proposed course of action. She weighs alternatives and takes into account a variety of opinions.Contrast that case with a leader who gets defensive at the first sign of disagreement. This leader defends the choices she has made, shuts down offers of alternative perspectives, and ultimately fails to learn much from a group discussion.This first leader feels like she is handling the situation better than the second, and is clearly displaying more confidence in her abilitydespite showing vulnerability that she may be wrong on some counts.In order to have the confidence to display this vulnerability in a group setting, you must believe that you belong in the discussion and in your role. This belief then allows you to treat discussions as being about the topic at hand, rather than thinking of them as a referendum on your knowledge and skills. As a result, finding out that someone disagrees with your proposed course of action signals that you may need to change your thinking about the issue, but says nothing about your fitness to lead.When you have doubts that you should be in your role, then you start looking to others for evidence that you deserve to lead. Disagreement and suggestions that you consider an alternate approach are now taken as threats to your position, rather than differing perspectives on the current topic. You defend yourself vigorously, because you feel like you are fighting for your role as a leader.At the root of the problem here is that if you get defensive when you have a lack of knowledge or have a disagreement about approach, youre outsourcing your confidence to someone else. Youre allowing someone elses approval or disapprovaltheir agreement or disagreementto determine whether you think that you should have your role as a leader.In the end, leadership is not about your position in an org chart. It relies on you own belief in the contributions you can make to an organization. Youre leading whenever you engage in constructive discussions that promote disagreement and challenge in order to reach a positive outcome. Only you should decide whether you belong in the room.

Wouldnt it be great to have a crystal ball that would give you a peek into the future? Winning lottery numbers aside, knowing what lies ahead could give you insights to workplace trends that could propel your career growth.Sometimes, though, there are clues hiding in the past and present that can point the way. We talked to hiring experts and CEOs to get their take on what could be waiting for us after the ball drops in Time Square.1. Hybrid Is Here to StayThe full return has failed, says Frank Weishaupt, CEO of the AI-powered video conferencing tool Owl Labs. Our data shows full-time office work is down 6%, with remote roles up 57% year-over-year. The flexible 3-2 hybrid model is set to become the norm, while companies still mandating five-day office work face the threat of increased employee turnover.Sam Naficy, CEO of the employee visibility and productivity intelligence software provider Prodoscore, agrees: Hybrid work is the new normal, he says. Despite the push for in-office mandates, hybrid work is here to stay, driven by the need for flexibility. Few companies will fully revert to all-office models without risking talent loss.An Owl Labs survey found that employees rank flexible hours nearly as highly as healthcare benefits in evaluating prospective employers. [This underscores] a shift toward autonomy and balance as key components of job satisfaction, says Weishaupt. To adapt, companies should embrace a more flexible approach, including meeting-free days and valuing outcomes over rigid hours.2. Paid Leave Requests and Resignations Will RiseIf your company is pushing for RTO, dont be surprised by a mountain of paid leave requests or even resignations, says Deborah Hanus, CEO of Sparrow, an employee leave management platform.The push for a return to office will have unintended consequences, says Hanus. We expect to see a rise in disability and caregiving leave requests as employees seek ways to maintain remote or hybrid work arrangements in addition to an increase in resignations as people find ways to maintain their routines with employers who support the reality of their needs to work remotely.Organizations clinging to rigid in-office policies risk alienating their workforce and losing productivity in the process.3. AI Will Accelerate CareersAI will move beyond being just a task helper to becoming a career enabler in 2025, predicts Danielle McMahan, chief people officer for academic publishers Wiley. Organizations will focus on using AI to create personalized career pathways and helping employees align their skills and aspirations with future opportunities, she says.Shaji Mathew, group head of human resource development at IT-service provider Infosys, agrees: AI itself has the potential to help employees enhance their skills and advance their careers through personalized and targeted training, he says. It can help identify skills gaps, recommend new skills, and create tailored learning paths to continuous learning.To tap into the potential, however, leaders will need to develop upskilling and reskilling initiatives to prepare their people for the evolving future of work, says Mathew. While AI can provide insights based on data, humans give it meaning and purpose, he says. In 2025, employers should focus on building this human + AI work model, integrating AI with human capabilities to amplify the latter while upskilling their employees so they can be the I in AI.McMahan says AI training should be an urgent priority for the year ahead, referencing a Wiley Workplace Intelligence survey that found 61% of workers are eager for AI training. This points to the growing role AI is playing in the workplace and the need for AI-driven development strategies, she says. I fully expect that the growing emphasis on AI learning and development will also help to shift AI from enabling tasks to enabling career growth.4. Recruiters Core Role Will ChangeAI will also impact the role of recruiters. In addition to being integrated into applicant tracking systems to match keywords, Felix Kim, CEO of the recruitment platform Redrob, predicts that AI will take over the interview process, either by serving as the sole interviewer or providing questions that maintain consistency and reduce bias.We still want the human in human resourcesits an essential part, he says. But sourcing candidates and doing the initial phone screen calls arent the core aspects of recruitment. Well start to see a bigger difference between a great recruiter and a mediocre recruiter, because AI will be able to duplicate what a mediocre recruiter is doing. The core aspect of a recruiter is to get that human connection and get people pumped up about a job or an opportunity that might not be visible just through a job description.5. The Continuation of Conscious UnbossingConscious unbossing became a popular phrase in the latter part of 2024 used to describe the current leadership climate. It describes the resistance newer generations are having when it comes to stepping into leadership roles. Stephanie Neal, director of research at DDI, leadership development and HR consultants, predicts that the trend will continueTheres different reasons that leaders are motivated to take on leadership roles, she says. Were seeing some tension in the workplace around that. The biggest risk to us is that leaders who do take early first management roles, often regret it if they dont get the support that they need.Neal says organizations must address if they want to attract leaders to their roles. Keep them growing and keep them feeling like they have a purpose, she says. One of the biggest mistakes that organizations often make is taking top technical people that have done well in their individual contributor roles and advancing them into the management.

Dezeen Events Guide has selected some of the best exhibitions featured on the site in 2024, from architecture spotlights to cafe takeovers.A Fragile Correspondence and Design You Can Feel are among the architecture and design events featured in Dezeen Events Guide this year.Other event highlights include Arab Design Now, I Will Follow the Ship and Origin of Simplicity: 20 Visions of Japanese Design.Photo by Studio Periphery. Top photo by Chi LamLife Cycles: The Materials of Contemporary Design2 September 2023 to 25 August 2024, USAThe Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City held an exhibition exploring a circular economy and materiality, displaying projects made from reused or regenerated matters.Life Cycles: The Materials of Contemporary Design spotlighted objects such as bricks and lamps made from fungi and manure, encouraging visitors to think about alternative uses for waste materials.Photo courtesy of the Barbican CentreUnravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art13 February to 26 May 2024, UKThe work of more than 50 global artists was on display at London's Barbican this year, in an exhibition presenting tapestries and textiles that depict and explore themes of oppression and power, identity and community.The exhibition featured more than 100 pieces of various scales, materials and colours, addressing the use of textiles beyond domestic spaces.Dezeen was a media partner of Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art.Photo by Edmund SumnerArab Design Now24 February to 5 August 2024, QatarArab Design Now was the largest exhibition in the Design Doha 2024programme, celebrating the inaugural edition of the biennial festival.Curated by Rana Beiruti, the exhibition aimed to spotlight the heritage of Middle Eastern, Asian and North African regions through contemporary design and traditional crafts.The exhibition included the work of designers Abeer Seikaly, Anne Holtrop (pictured), Omar Chakil and Sama El Saket.Dezeen was a media partner of Design Doha 2024.Origin of Simplicity: 20 Visions of Japanese Design23 March to 9 June 2024, ItalyCurated by Rossella Menegazzo for the ADI Design Museum in Milan, the Origin of Simplicity: 20 Visions of Japanese Design exhibition displayed over 150 designs.The showcase focused on simple designs, each an interpretation of quintessential Japanese design.Photo courtesy of MarimekkoBar Unikko by Marimekko and Apartamento15 to 21 April 2024, ItalyDuring Milan design week 2024, lifestyle brand Marimekko partnered with interior design magazine Apartamento to launch a takeover of Bar Stoppani.The event saw the cafe decorated with Unikko poppy print to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the pattern, designed by Maija Isola in 1964.Visual by Matthew Attard and Galleria Michela RizzoI Will Follow the Ship20 April to 24 November 2024, ItalyI Will Follow the Ship was Malta's pavilion contribution to the Venice Art Biennale 2024, created by artist Matthew Attard and curated by Elyse Tonna and Sara Dolfi Agostini.The installation aimed to contrast cultural heritage, referencing Mediterranean chapels, with modern technologies such as virtual reality (VR).Photo by Wilson LamI M Pei: Life is Architecture29 June 2024 to 5 January 2025, Hong KongWorks by Chinese-American architect IM Pei are on display at this retrospective at M+ Museum in Hong Kong, including models, sketches, photographs and videos.The exhibition explores Pei's 70-year-long career through six categories: Peis Cross-Cultural Foundations; Real Estate and Urban Redevelopment; Art and Civic Form; Power, Politics and Patronage; Material and Structural Innovation; and Reinterpreting History through Design.Photo by Mark CocksedgeDesign You Can Feel17 to 22 September 2024, UKDezeen partnered with technology company ASUS to create the Design You Can Feel exhibition for London Design Festival 2024.The exhibition spotlighted the brand's new material, named Ceraluminum, showcasing furniture, lighting and installations incorporating it, as well as its Zenbook laptop.Included in Design You Can Feel was a specially commissioned piece by design and research studio Future Facility.Photo by Matt Crossick, courtesy of the Design MuseumThe World of Tim Burton25 October 2024 to 21 April 2025, UKThe Design Museum in London is currently exhibiting the World of Tim Burton, exploring the universes of the characters created by the director and artist.The display includes installations, sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography and video from the sets and costumes of Burton's films.Photo by Simon ForsytheA Fragile Correspondence22 November 2024 to 25 May 2025, UKThis ongoing exhibition held at V&A Dundee aims to demonstrate the relationship between architecture and land through Scotland's Highlands, Lowands and islands.The exhibition was first displayed at the 2023 edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale, created to follow the festival's theme Laboratory of the Future.About Dezeen Events GuideDezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.Inclusion in the guide is free for basic listings, with events selected at Dezeen's discretion. Organisers can get standard, enhanced or featured listings for their events, including images, additional text and links, by paying a modest fee.In addition, events can ensure inclusion by partnering with Dezeen. For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide and media partnerships with Dezeen, emaileventsguide@dezeen.com.The post The 10 best architecture and design exhibitions of 2024 appeared first on Dezeen.

Photographer Paul Tulett has toured Japan to publish a book documenting the country's vast collection of concrete edifices. Here, he spotlights nine unusual examples featured in it.The book, fully titled Brutalist Japan: A Photographic Tour of Post-War Japanese Architecture, has been published with Prestel to showcase the diversity of the country's brutalist buildings.It was the result of Tulett's growing interest in the style of architecture, which he said has a "unique tactility" in Japan thanks to its links to the country's traditional carpentry and craftsmanship.Paul Tulett has documented brutalist architecture across Japan"Upon arriving in Japan, I was struck by the abundance of brutalist buildings, their refinement and the fact that no one was really covering the style here," he told Dezeen."I quickly became interested in brutalism's links to traditional Japanese architecture," Tulett continued. "The refinement in Japanese brutalist construction is due to the amazing timber formwork seen here. It results from incredible expertise in carpentry within the nation."All the buildings featured in the book were photographed by Tulett over the last five years and selected to showcase the range of styles that fall within Japanese brutalism.One of Tulett's favourite examples is the brutalism in Okinawa, where he is based, which he said incorporates traditional breezeblocks to mimic chinibu a traditional perforated wall used to provide both ventilation and protection from harsh sunlight."I wanted to present the diversity of Japanese brutalism in terms of function, size, style, design and age," Tulett explained. "From large civic and governmental buildings to small barber shops and public toilets, the diversity of function is not seen elsewhere."Read: Sacred Modernity showcases "unique beauty and architectural innovation" of brutalist churchesTulett's aim was for the book is to spark interest in the style of architecture, which he said is "too often demolished based on the subjective opinion of a few individuals"."Many brutalist buildings across the world are slated for demolition at a time when there is increasing fascination with the style particularly amongst younger generations," said Tulett."Brutalist buildings in Japan, even the grandest, are not immune to talk of demolition. These include Hiroyuki Iwamoto's sublime National Theatre in Tokyo, Kenzo Tange's incredible Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium and the fantastic Nago City Hall in Okinawa.""I aim to inspire an appreciation for the aesthetic beauty of these structures while fostering discussions around their preservation. Ultimately, I advocate for the continued recognition and preservation of this often misunderstood architecture."Read on for Tulett's picks of nine unusual buildings featured in Brutalist Japan:Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium, 1964, by Kenzo Tange"Concurrent with Kenzo Tange's creation of Tokyo's mammoth Olympic structure for the 1964 Summer Games, a humbler athletic vessel was birthed further west."Between 1962 and 1964, the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium arose in Takamatsu, with a brutalist silhouette strong enough to renounce any kinship with its neighbours."An oval hull is hoisted by four titanic columns, extending its form in a defiant cantilever that bestows upon it the visage of a seafaring leviathan, mirroring both the formidable might and grace of an Olympian."Kyoto International Conference Center, 1966, by Otani Sachio"Enshrined amidst Kyoto's venerable aura, the Kyoto International Conference Center straddles the architectural zeitgeist of its time."This edifice stirs a lively discourse: does it belong to the brutalist canon, or does it bear the hallmark of metabolist architecture? The centre's silhouette, a composition of bold geometric lines and the stark honesty of exposed concrete, channels the brutalist ethos."Its colossal, forthright forms stand in sharp relief to Kyoto's delicate tapestry, an assertion of brutalism's unapologetic gravitas. Yet, within its robust frame, the structure nurtures the flexible, organic essence of metabolism."Nago City Hall, 1981, by Team Zo (Elephant Design Group)"This tumbling agglomeration of colonnades, pergolas and terraces set upon a floor plan resembles the outline of a B-2 stealth bomber."The colonnades are formed of porous vermillion and grey concrete blocks. Tilted concrete screening slats set within the pergola roofs absorb ambient moisture and provide a breeding ground for moss."The whole structure exudes an earthy pungency that is tempered by the fragrance of weaving bougainvillaea. Drinks vending machines aside, the place smacks of an undiscovered jungle ruin."Nago Civic Hall And Center, 1985, by Shiro Ochi"This is a U-shaped complex of civic centre, public halls and general welfare centre. Recognisable modernist features contrast with its mad tree-hugging neighbour the City Hall above and evoke a Corbusian rationality triumphing over nature."Reminiscent of Mayan architecture, a sharply terraced escarpment is carved down to the northern and western flanks of what would otherwise be a trapezoidal behemoth."The exterior austerity is juxtaposed by intricate interior precast trusses and sublime modulated concrete slabs on either side of the stage. These emanate a peachy hue that compliments the velvety seating."Mixed-use complex, 1994, by Kuniyoshi Design"Darth Vader's holiday home? Nah. This striking complex features affordable housing stacked above a ground-floor elderly daycare centre."It models Okinawa's social aspect of planning, more characterised elsewhere by the interests of private developers. This planning philosophy seeks to create urban spaces that nurture community bonds and ensure equitable access to resources."That said, a friend of mine had the opportunity to move into one of the apartments but his wife declined, arguing it wasn't close enough to a convenience store. Definitely grounds for divorce."Keihan Uji Station, 1995, by Hiroyuki Wakabayashi"In the shadow of tradition, where the air hums with tales of ancient temples and the crackle of fireworks over the Uji River, Keihan Uji Station emerges like a scene from a sci-fi odyssey."This architectural spaceship, helmed by visionary captain Hiroyuki Wakabayashi and launched in 1995, defies its historic backdrop with a daring leap into futurism."The design is audacious, a semicircular cocoon that dares to embrace both the circle's zen-like simplicity and the boundless possibilities of the cosmos. It is quite possibly my favourite building."Kihoku Astronomical Museum, 1995, by Takasaki Masaharu"Clearly in the throes of his Smack My Bitch Up phase, architect Masaharu took inspiration from the moon crab on The Prodigy's The Fat of the Land album cover."From certain angles, this Cancerian creature seems to be embracing the stars in rave-like rapture or wondering where it left its whistle and helium balloon."Actually, the design slightly predates The Prodigy's third album. More cerebral appraisals cover Masaharu attempting a cosmic connection between Earth and the universe. A participatory approach allowed for the local community to showcase the potency of the region's mushrooms."Okinawa Prefectural And Art Museum, 2007, by Ishimoto and Niki Associates"The Naha Prefectural Museum appears as both a cascading, multi-tiered limestone waterfall and immovable monolith the result of a geological phenomenon aeons ago."Its appearance borrows from ancient Okinawan fortresses, or gusuku, yet is simultaneously futuristic with gentle curves, rectilinear geometry and stacked forms."A look of natural stone is achieved through the use of white cement local limestone as the coarse aggregate and coral sand as the fine aggregate. Doctor Who fans might see a Dalek and the more domesticated an upturned laundry basket. I see it as my muse."Matsubara Civic Library, 2019, by Maru"Beside a tranquil pond, the Matsubara Civic Library rises like a tome from the annals of time, its spine crafted from 600-millimetre-thick concrete."The architects, in a stroke of narrative genius, penned a story of integration rather than erasure, allowing the library to float out into the water like a literary ark."Inside, the seismic-resilient walls have inscribed freedom into the library's chapters, with split levels that unfold storeys upon storeys, where readers perch like characters in a plot, poised between lines of text and water."The post Nine examples of "misunderstood architecture" featured in Brutalist Japan appeared first on Dezeen.

Traditional and contemporary South Korean crafts are experiencing growth, according to a panel of experts at a filmed talk hosted by Dezeen and Bentley in Seoul.The talk brought together a panel of designers and design experts to discuss crafts and luxury in design at the Bentley Cube, the brand's showroom and clubhouse in Seoul.The event was filmed by Bentley and can be watched above.Teo Yang is a South Korean designer and studio founderThe panellists discussed how interest in local crafts was growing amid the global explosion of interest in South Korean culture and society known as the "Hallyu," or "Korean wave.""We're using new design with old techniques of craft, using local materials and really showing something new to the design world," said panelist Teo Yang, a local designer and founder of Teo Yang Studio."Craft has been considered as something that's from the past, but now people are really trying to use craft to create new business and ways of introducing new aesthetics into the design scene," he continued.Jiyoon Lee is curator and founder of SUUM ProjectJoining Yang on the panel was Jiyoon Lee, founder of the curatorial platform SUUM Project and former managing director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea, as well as Chris Cooke, head of design collaborations at Bentley Motors.The talk, moderated by Dezeen's editorial director Max Fraser, was the third in the Lighthouse series of panel discussions hosted by Dezeen and Bentley exploring the future of luxury. It was held at the Bentley Cube space in Gangnam, Seoul, in October 2024.Titled Contemporary Crafts: Preserving Heritage in Luxury Design, the discussion also explored how the once-separate worlds of art and craft were merging.Chris Cooke is head of design collaborations at Bentley Motors"There was a really strong division between craft and art," said Lee. "Art was seen as very luxurious and important, but compared to that, craft was only found in very small shops. People were not really interested in craft before.""As lifestyles change and the Korean economy is developing and growing, I think people start to look at traditional Korean values," she added. "I think we can witness the moment craft and art start to engage in a very amazing way."Cook, who appeared in two previous Dezeen x Bentley Lighthouse talks in Milan and London, went on to describe the importance of craftsmanship in Bentley's designs.Read: Electrification will transform vehicle design philosophy say automotive industry experts"Craftsmanship and Bentley have gone hand in hand for many years," he said.He also spoke of Bentley's enduring appeal, referencing the materials and handmade features found in Bentley's cars."People do really appreciate and resonate with working with their hands and trying to fine-tune something to get it to an absolute state of perfection," Cook concluded.Partnership contentThis video was produced by Dezeen as part of a partnership withBentley. Find out more about Dezeen partnership contenthere.The post South Korean craft is making a resurgence say panellists at Dezeen x Bentley Lighthouse talk appeared first on Dezeen.

Each year, over 100 million bicycles are produced worldwide, versus 94 million automobiles. The modern buyer includes urban residents seeking environmentally-friendly transport and exercise, as well as those in developing nations seeking a reliable and affordable means of transport. Bike ownership surged during the pandemicsome estimates have it at 25% growth in 2020 aloneand sales will only grow. So it's not surprising that we saw a ton of bike-related designs this year.We'll start off with the precursor to the bicycle: The running machine, a/k/a the Draisine, developed by German inventor Karl Drais in 1816. Drais could never imagined that in 208 years, his invention would yield descendants like these:This low-maintenance, corrosion-proof RCYL Bike. Some 90% of the bike is made out of plastic. Taiwanese manufacturer BESV's stylish PSF1, a folding e-bike. The Owlet, a radicalnew form for the e-bike. Bleeding into motorcycle territory is this electric, off-road 2x2 Ultra Bike by Russia's Robo Systems. As e-bikes proliferate, so too do e-bike accidents. In a drive to increase safety, Dutch police have begun using this roadside e-bike speed testing contraption. E-bikes need to be charged, of course. Industrial Design student Matthew Quejada designed this Ultium Lift, an e-bike charging station for garages. Another type of bike Drais probably couldn't have foreseen is the cargo bike. German company Dynamic Drives has completely re-thought the cargo bike form factor with their Intelectra pedelec. Meanwhile in London, manufacturer Cityshuttle has mashed up the electric cargo bike with a tractor-trailer to create their ePack.For those who don't need a full cargo bike, from Germany comes this Allpacka One, a collapsible cargo box for bikes.Engineer Robert G. Ozarski invented the Kradl, an electricity-free, spring-loaded bike hoist that makes it easier to store.Industrial designer Adrien Rovero designed this cheeky bike rack as a clear statement. Swiss company V-Locker designed these space-efficient, paternoster-like bike storage lockers. Also in Switzerland, industrial design firm Erfindergeist created this transforming train seating for bike storage.Bike helmets, too, are increasingly receiving design attention. The Ventete aH-1 is an inflatable, collapsible design.Industrial designers Masaru Kiyota and Sawyer Hagen designed the Oshel, a lockable bike helmet. Another industrial designer, Ash Lewin, has realized his dream for the fastest bike helmet ever. And finally, for you mountain bikers: The RinseKit Tailgate Showermakes it easy to hose your bike off after a muddy ride.

Accuracy is a curious thingubiquitous in daily life but often overlooked until a tool falters. A warped tape, an unreadable screen, or an imprecise laser can turn a simple task into a source of frustration. Measurement tools are expected to work seamlessly, yet few truly adapt to the evolving demands of their users. The XTAPE1 Digital Laser Tape Measure enters this space with quiet confidence, bridging classic utility with modern expectations in a way that feels natural, not forced.Designed to outwardly look like some sci-fi hacker weapon/gadget, the XTAPE1 is the most capable instrument in any architect/engineer/designers tool arsenal. Its unique shape is like nothing youve seen before, merging accuracy and adaptability in ways that feel both natural and overdue. At its heart lies a pairing of traditional and modern measurement methodsdigital tape and lasereach tuned to exacting standards. The tape delivers accuracy down to 1/32-inch, while the laser extends that reliability across 330 feet at 1/16-inch. Its almost the year 2025 and standard measuring tapes officially feel old-school.Designer: Tommy YangClick Here to Buy Now: $269.32 $399 ($129.68 off, use coupon code YANKO). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The XTAPE1 combines three key measuring features into its novel design. It has a tape measure, a laser measure, and even a green laser alignment, pretty much allowing you to work with linear distances, angles, areas, and volumes while relying on accurate digital accuracy all along the way. It all starts with the XTAPE1s unique design, which combines minimalism, sci-fi detailing, and modularity into one compact, handheld package. The entire gizmo splits into two parts the upper component with the laser measure and the IPS display, and a lower grip that houses the devices laser alignment tool along with its metal measuring tape. Dock the two halves together and youve got your all-in-one tool, capable of conquering nearly any kind of distance-based measurement.Based on the task at hand, the XTAPE1s various features come in handy. Want to rely on analog measurement, the measuring tape unfurls outwards, with a highly durable carbon-steel construction that doesnt warp or deform even with years of usage, and the digital screen on top that records accurate measurements on the device instead of you having to scribble them down. If you crave something more advanced, switch to the laser measuring tool, capable of measuring distances up to 330 feet or 100 meters in seconds. Units are clearly not a problem as the digital display lets you easily swap between metric and imperial systems, depending on what you need.A good tool is only as good as the human using it because machines dont account for human error. However, the XTAPE1 prevents it, thanks to a bright green laser alignment tool that ensures youre measuring distances at the exact right angle. The laser alignment tool helps align your XTAPE1 before taking measurements, as well as lets you use it to ensure objects like paintings, wall-mounted shelves, or switch boxes are all in line, rather than being askew. Aside from being a stickler for accuracy, the alignment tool also helps you measure angles, with the digital display calculating accurate angular changes for you, so you know that your corners are 90 or that the 37 angle staircase in your plan actually translated to the accurate degree in reality.Speaking of accuracy, the XTAPE1 maintains that strict standard throughout. The digital measuring tape offers a pinpoint 1/32-inch accuracy, and the laser maintains 1/16-inch accuracy across its range. Whether aligning cabinetry or mapping a room, this device provides measurements you can trust, with fewer chances for costly mistakes. Patented technologies like the Super OptiTracking reading sensor that powers the digital tape, or the AccuMeasure calibration system ensure that accuracy isnt a feature on the XTAPE1, its the very foundation.The built-in IPS display makes measuring activities extremely intuitive. Rather than guessing readings, the display shows them to you down to the 10th of a decimal. Measurements get automatically saved on board the XTAPE1 so you dont have to rely on memory or scribbled notes. The device also lets you calculate areas and volumes in seconds going beyond simple point-to-point measurements and the XTAPE1s companion app makes things even easier, transforming the tool into a powerful project planner. Users can collect, store, and analyze data in real-time, making angle measurements, layout adjustments, and tracking projects intuitively.The modular design plays a unique role in longevity. While most all-in-one measuring tools are fairly monolithic, the XTAPE1 separates its two key parts just in case they need replacing. If your tape wears out, simply swap the older tape module for a newer one. Even though the entire system is modular, makers at MILESEEY are fairly confident the XTAPE1 can weather any sort of rough use. The AISI 1060 carbon steel blade withstands heavy use, while the magnesium-aluminum frame and DuraShield hardshell protect the device from the wear and tear of demanding environments. From job sites to home workshops, its built to endure while maintaining its accuracy.What youre eventually left with is a powerful tool that does a fairly good job of leaving nothing to chance, and leaving no room for compromise. The XTAPE1 is feature-packed, easy to use, modular, compact, and frankly, futuristic-looking enough to make others walk over and admire the instrument just the way people walk over to admire sports cars up close. While being fairly expansive in its feature list, the XTAPE1 is still ergonomic and portable, allowing you to slip it into your backpack to carry to and back from your site.The XTAPE1 feels less like an upgrade from older measuring systems and more like a rethinking of what measurement tools should be. It doesnt rely on novelty to stand out, but rather, finds relevance in meeting practical, often overlooked needs. By combining reliability, adaptability, accuracy, and eco-conscious design, it becomes a tool that fits seamlessly into the workflows of builders, woodworkers, architects, and DIY enthusiasts.Click Here to Buy Now: $269.32 $399 ($129.68 off, use coupon code YANKO). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The post The XTAPE1 Measuring Tape + Laser Is the Ultimate Modern Tool for Accuracy and Speed first appeared on Yanko Design.

Whats the best all-season camper trailer you can think of If you are not yet ready with a name, you should give the WLY or Wooly from Mammoth Overland more than just a cursory glance. The trailer is built from the ground up for adventures in sub-zero temperatures, with your house-like level of insulation, power backup to explore the wilderness for more than a day, and space enough to haul your snow sports equipment along.Mammoth Overland WLY trailer is likely to retail for $56,900. Shipping will begin in the second quarter of 2025, but the stellar camper trailer will only be built to order. Of course, you cannot commit to a trailer by its mere looks or a few feature highlights. The article thus delves into the exciting features onboard the WLY that would, if not instantly, eventually get you enticed to pre-order it.Designer: Mammoth OverlandThe durable all-season, off-road camper trailer is made entirely from aluminum, and as the company notes, is a worthy successor to the Tall Boy and Extinction Level Event trailers. As a potent hauling camper designed for riding the snow, the WLY features bronze Method Race Wheels with a 3PMS rating for confident grip in snow.On the inside, an 11,500-BTU/hour VarioHeat heater from Truma thats made to keep up to 600-square-foot space cozy in sub-zero temperatures at elevations as high as 8,694 feet ensures the ideal temperature. This with wool insulation on all the walls allows the Wooly (thats where the name is derived from) to keep warm and comfortable in temperatures as low as -20 Fahrenheit or -28 degrees Celsius.With the off-roading ability and substantial prowess to negotiate snow trails with confidence, the Wooly can be your perfect partner for winter sports activities like skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling in remote locations, where you previously thought camping wouldnt be an option. Wool is not only a choice because it is an excellent natural fiber insulator, even when it is wet, but Mammoth Overland points out that its hypoallergenic and fire resistant as well, and interestingly keeps the enclosed space cool when the weather outside is warmer to your liking. Coupled with an installed RTX 2000 air conditioner, this makes WLY all-ready for summer camping as well.The trailer arrives with its water storage and supply, while four alternative energy options power its built-in 800-Amp-hour lithium battery. The 21-gallon water tank is connected to a heater with pipes plumbed to ensure water does not freeze even when the mercury is dipping at an alarming rate. Stationed at the camp, the WLY allows you to prep a meal in the kitchen located in the annex that deploys over the rear hatch. A heated king-size mattress blesses you with a cozy sleep. A 23ZERO Bushman awning room makes extra space to keep you from carrying wet clothes into the cabin. When its a sunny day and you have the snow gear unloaded from the roof rack, climb up to the roof-based observation deck to bask in the sun or enjoy the expansive white panorama.The post The Ultimate All-Season Trailer: Wooly is a Game-Changer for Winter Camping Enthusiasts first appeared on Yanko Design.