I scoffed when MSI put the Claw 8 AI+ in my hands with Black Myth: Wukong selected. Id spent 80 hours in the game on my full desktop packing an RTX 4090, and I knew just how demanding the game was. Its a pipedream for a handheld gaming PC.I pressed Continueand loaded up at the Pool of Shattered Jade rest point the ideal spot to farm; if you know, you know and proceeded to run up to the cocoons spotted around the area, unleash my spirit ability, and run back. Sitting in a dimly-lit New York City bar, I continued the loop a few more times. Id done plenty of farming in the game before.Recommended VideosAnd thats when I realized I was fully in the zone, just playing Black Myth: Wukong forgetting that it was on a handheld. The game didnt look perfect, and it wasnt locked to 60 frames per second (fps). But here I was playing one of the most demanding games of the year on a device that I could have brought with me on the plane ride over.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Before things get too rosy, its important to remember the context. The original MSI Claw, which I gave a measly review score of 5/10, was a bit of a mess. In my MSI Claw review, I wrote it isnt worth your time, and certainly isnt worth your money. More expensive than the competition, and with inconsistent performance to boot, the MSI Claw was a certified failure.RelatedBut the MSI Claw AI 8+ is a shot at handheld redemption with one of Intels new, souped-up Lunar Lake chips, and based on that chip alone, I wouldnt blame you for having a hint of cautious optimism.MSIWith this new handheld, MSI is really targeting the Asus ROG Ally X. In addition to the Core Ultra 258V chip and 32GB of LPDDR5x memory Lunar Lake is a system-on-a-chip (SoC), so 24GB isnt possible the handheld comes packed with an 8-inch 1200p screen, Hall Effect joysticks, an 80Whr battery, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and Wi-Fi 7. On paper, at least, the Claw 8 AI+ outclasses the ROG Ally X point-for-point.MSI claims that it outclasses the ROG Ally X on performance, too. At 17W, MSI says its handheld is 20% faster on average, and out of the box with MSIs dynamic AI Engine power setting, the company claims its 28% faster. Even more impressive, MSI claims that it offers 7% higher performance at 17W compared to the ROG Ally X at 30W, and it manages 44% longer battery life.MSIBold claims, but weve seen bold claims from MSI before. Im holding out judgement until the handheld is actually here, and I suggest you do the same. With the original MSI Claw, the handheld would often consume more power and offer less performance when compared to the original ROG Ally, so MSI has a lot of work to do.Still, I was able to play a bit ofBlack Myth: Wukong,and that alone is impressive. Not impressive enough to earn a recommendation, but impressive even to catch my interest. Hopefully MSIs performance claims actually hold up once the handheld is out in the wild.MSI has two versions of this handheld coming the Claw 8 AI+ and the Claw 7 AI+, the latter of which uses the shell of the original MSI Claw but the guts of the Claw 8 AI+. Theyre priced at $899 and $799, respectively, so MSI has to not only match what Asus is offering with the ROG Ally X; it has to go further with the higher price point.Jacob Roach / Digital TrendsWhat makes me nervous is the release. Both handhelds are available for preorder now, and theyll go on sale officially on December 26. MSI tells me that there wont be any reviews available on release day. Just like the original Claw, MSI is releasing the handheld at retail without any review program with media.That means the first impressions youll get are from people rolling the dice with their own money. Thats usually a red flag in the world of tech launches. Either way, it should go without saying that if youre interested in the Claw 8 AI+, Id wait a while after it releases to see what independent reviewers have to say.Editors Recommendations

DC Extended Universe auteur Zack Snyder may have gotten the chance to release his original version of Justice League back in 2021, but a similar opportunity has not yet been extended to Suicide Squad director David Ayer. The filmmakers 2016 comic book movie was, like Snyders Justice League, heavily tampered with behind the scenes, and Ayer has remained adamant that the version of Suicide Squad that was theatrically released differs greatly from his original, preferred iteration.The ongoing wait for a release of his cut of Suicide Squadhasnt stopped Ayer, however, from publicly voicing his support for DC Studios co-CEO James Gunns Superman. On December 17, Ayer asked fans not to divert any attention away from the release of the first Superman trailerby launching another Suicide Squad campaign in his honor, writing, Im excited to see the trailer and have heard through the rumor mill its pretty incredible. His tweet was, unfortunately, met with negativity from certain fans, who took issue with the courtesy he was trying to extend to Gunn and, by extension, DC Studios new DC Universe.Recommended VideosIn response, Ayer defended his actions and expressed dismay over some of the replies he received. If supporting another film maker is so contentious, Im just lost at this point, he wrote on X. I cannot fing wait to see Jame[s]s trailer. Real talk. And I cannot wait to see his film. And absolutely am sure he crushed it. Because that simple optimism of Superman is all over it. And the little kid in me needs that right now. He finished his tweet by announcing, Gonna step back from all this for a moment.Superman | Official Teaser TrailerOver the past few years, Snyderverse fans, as well as Ayer himself, have consistently and passionately called for the release of his original, intended version of Suicide Squad, even as Warner Bros. has worked hard to leave the DCEU in its rear view mirror. A year ago, Ayer notably told Total Film that he believes his version of Suicide Squad will eventually see the light of day, too, predicting, Its coming. Somethings going to happen. Somethings going to be revealed. The truth always comes out.Please enable Javascript to view this contentIn August 2023, Ayer also wrote on X, All I know is my unseen film plays much better than the studio release. The interest in my cut being show[n] seems real and organic. And Gunn told me it would have its time to be shared.RelatedOnly time will tell whether or not Ayers cut of Suicide Squad is ever actually unveiled publicly. For his part, he seems content, if a bit understandably disappointed, to wait and see how the future unfolds. The Beekeeper director has, at least, made it clear that he isnt letting the uncertainty surrounding his Suicide Squad cut get in the way of his enthusiasm for Gunn and his still-fledgling DC Universe, and he doesnt want fans to let it, either.James Gunns Superman is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.Editors Recommendations

When iOS 18.2 released just over a week ago, it unlocked a lot of long-awaited features like Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, and improvements to writing tools. Now it seems like another update could be just around the corner: version 18.2.1.MacRumors found evidence of the update in their analytic logs, a source that has supposedly revealed quite a few iOS versions before release. Given that this is a minor update, it isnt likely to come with new features or anything groundbreaking. Instead, it will most likely be targeted at bug fixes, although no specific problems have been named. You should expect this update to drop either in late December or early January, but a year-end release is more likely.Recommended VideosiOS 18.3 is also in development, with developers and beta testers putting the system through the motions. Given that its due to release in January, an update to the existing version of iOS especially one likely meant to act as a hotfix instead of a major update will probably release sooner rather than later.Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital TrendsSince the last update, iPhone 18.2 users have reported a few concerning bugs, including an uncomfortable amount of heat production. The new Apple Intelligence features put a strain on the iPhones hardware, so an update like this might include a way to reduce the load on older iPhones that arent equipped for it.Please enable Javascript to view this contentBefore Apple releases a software update, its tested internally on company devices. That way, developers are able to identify any potentially critical errors and correct them before the update goes live. Since 18.2.1 has appeared in analytics, its highly likely that it will release soon.Editors Recommendations

Pantomimes, or "pantos," are plays performed around Christmastime in the UK.Pantomime dames playing the role of the Ugly Sisters in a production of Cinderella. Gideon Mendel/Corbis/Getty Images Pantos are humorous, slapstick entertainment for the whole family, often featuring men dressed in drag. They are sometimes based on a famous fairy tale or story, like "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," or "The Wizard of Oz."Pantomimes rely on specific tropes. For example, there's often a villain who will sneak up on the protagonist intermittently throughout the play. It's then the role of the audience to scream, "He's behind you!" to the main character while he or she struggles to figure out what's going on. Yorkshire puddings are perfect with gravy, but people outside the UK may have never heard of them.A traditional British roast dinner with Yorkshire puddings. Shutterstock A traditional British roast dinner wouldn't be complete without Yorkshire puddings filled with Bisto or homemade gravy. Yorkshire puddings not to be confused with sweet puddings are made of eggs, flour, and milk or water.After they're cooked in hot oil in the oven, they end up with a distinct hole in the middle. They closely resemble what Americans know as popovers.While Yorkshire puddings are commonplace at Sunday dinners throughout the year, they're also eaten at Christmastime, though some argue they have no place on a Christmas plate. Santa Claus is referred to as "Father Christmas."Santa Claus. Hasloo Group Production Studio/Shutterstock While some do refer to old Saint Nick as Santa Claus in the UK, it is widely accepted that Father Christmas is his more traditionally British name."Santa Claus" is seen as an Americanism, and The Telegraph reported that even the British National Trust said that "Santa Claus should be known as 'Father Christmas' in stately homes and historic buildings because the name is more British."British children hang Christmas stockings at the ends of their bed.A child on Christmas morning. Altrendo Images/Getty Images In America, Christmas stockings are hung by the fireplace with care. However, some British children hang their stockings at the ends of their beds for Father Christmas to fill up while they're sleeping. Christmas Eve is a time for school-friend reunions.Festive people drinking in a pub in Bath, England. Matt Cardy/Getty Images Thanksgiving weekend is seen as an opportunity in the United States for students to reunite with friends from high school or middle school. In the UK, it's a tradition for school friends to come together on Christmas Eve, often at the local bar or pub. Christmas pudding is a traditional British dessert popular during the holiday season.Christmas pudding. Shutterstock A Christmas pudding is a dense fruit cake often made weeks or even months in advance. This time allows the dried fruit to soak up alcohol that's regularly poured onto the cake in the weeks before it's consumed.On Christmas, the cake is set alight and then topped with a sauce of brandy butter or rum butter, cream, lemon cream, ice cream, custard, or sweetened bchamel. It is also sometimes sprinkled with caster or powdered sugar.For many years, Queen Elizabeth II even gifted each member of her staff a Christmas pudding from Tesco. Another dessert of choice is Christmas cake, a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing.Christmas cake. nelea33/Shutterstock While fruit cake is certainly a polarizing dessert wherever you are, Brits seem to make it a little better with thick, sweet white icing.Oftentimes, Christmas cake also comes topped with festive holly decorations. Mince pies are pastries filled with dried fruits and spices that are eaten at Christmas.Mince pies. Getty Images The BBC reported that the first-known mince-pie recipe dates back to an 1830s-era English cookbook. By the mid-17th century, people reportedly began associating the small pies with Christmas.At the time, they were traditionally filled with pork or other kinds of meat, sage, and other spices. Nowadays, the pies are filled with dried fruits and sugar powder. British Christmas desserts are often enjoyed with brandy butter.Christmas pudding and brandy butter. Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock The perfect accompaniment to Christmas pudding and mince pies, brandy butter consists of butter and sugar beaten together before brandy is added. Rum butter is an alternative.The result is still butter-like in consistency, and it's served cold alongside desserts. Americans might know it as "hard sauce."Brits say "Happy Christmas" instead of "Merry Christmas.""Merry Christmas" lit-up sign. Johnnie Pakington/Getty Images You might remember a scene from the first "Harry Potter" movie in which Ron says, "Happy Christmas, Harry!" While this may sound strange to an American, saying "Happy Christmas" is commonplace in the UK, as opposed to "Merry Christmas." Christmas crackers are cardboard tubes wrapped in brightly colored paper and twisted at each end that two people pull for a fun surprise.Girl pulling a Christmas cracker at the dinner table. PeopleImages/Getty Images Christmas crackers are often pulled at the start of the meal, and the paper hats found inside are worn throughout the meal. Also inside each cracker is a "banger," which makes a loud pop when the cracker is pulled, a joke, and a small prize.The jokes are usually cheesy and festive. For example: "Why did Santa's helper go to the doctor? Because he had low elf esteem!"However, be sure not to pack them if you're traveling to or from the UK on an airplane they're not permitted to go through TSA in carry-on luggage. "Top of the Pops" is a television special featuring performances of the year's most popular songs.A stage with the "Top of the Pops" logo. Phil Dent/Redferns/Getty Images On Christmas, the BBC usually runs a holiday special of the since-retired show "Top of the Pops," whichfeatures performances from the year's most popular musicians.The programran weekly from 1964 until 2006, when it was canceled. People were so upset that the BBC decided to keep the Christmas special,which airs late in the morningon December 25. Millions of people watch the King's annual televised Christmas Day speech every year.King Charles III is seen during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast. Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images Every year, families gather to watch the royal Christmas address, informally known as the Queen's or King's speech.The Telegraph reported that the first Christmas address was 251 words long, but Queen Elizabeth II later came to average 656 words in each speech. It is often one of the most-watched television programs on Christmas Day in the UK. Christmas commercials are as talked-about as Super Bowl commercials are in the United States.People watching TV with mugs. Hoxton/Sam Edwards/Getty Images While Super Bowl commercials are highly scrutinized in the US, Brits pay just as close attention to Christmas commercials.Not only is the John Lewis ad, or "advert," a Christmas tradition, but almost every supermarket and clothing brand tries to get in on the buzz with a talked-about Christmas commercial. Brits also anticipate which song will become the annual "Christmas No. 1" single.The Spice Girls. Getty Images The British "Christmas No. 1" has been a tradition for over half a century. Starting in 1952, the top song on the British singles chart has been a coveted spot every Christmas. Christmas No. 1 alums include The Beatles, Queen, Ed Sheeran, and more.While some Christmas No. 1s have indeed been Christmas songs "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II in 1989, for example they don't have to be. School nativity plays are a popular tradition in UK primary schools.Year one pupils from Kingsmead School perform in their annual Christmas nativity play. Gideon Mendel/In Pictures/Corbis/Getty Images While religious elementary schools in the United States may put on nativity plays, they are arguably much more popular and part of the culture in Britain.In the popular British Christmas movie "Love Actually," the characters even attend a Christmas nativity play. Brits take advantage of after-Christmas sales on Boxing Day.Boxing Day sale signage at Selfridges department store in London. Getty Boxing Day is typically called British Black Friday, but there are some differences between the holidays. Boxing Day, which is a public holiday in the UK, falls the day after Christmas and has a rich cultural history in Great Britain.Originating in the mid-1600s, the day was traditionally a day off for servants. On this day, servants would receive a "Christmas Box," or gift, from their master. The servants would then return home on Boxing Day to give "Christmas Boxes" to their families. In the UK, it can be bad luck to keep your decorations up for more than 12 days after Christmas.A Christmas tree with a handmade ornament. Peter Lourenco/Getty Images Another difference between US and UK Christmas customs comes after all of the festivities have ended.In the UK, it's tradition to take down yourtree and decorations 12 days after Christmas known as Twelfth Night to avoid bad luck in the new year.In the Anglican tradition, Twelfth Night, or Epiphany Eve, is the day before Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Magi to baby Jesus and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas.

My children have lied to me ever since they were young.This is a normal part of development as kids test the waters and try to avoid punishment.I've struggled to deal with the lying and tried to remain a positive role model for them.It never ceases to amaze me how effortlessly my children lie. My 18-month-old, whose face was covered with crumbs, swore up and down that she hadn't been near the cookie jar. My preschooler looked me in the eye and denied breaking the window with his plastic bat that was still in his hand. It didn't seem to get better as they got older.After I handed my ATM card to my two oldest sons so they had money for lunch, I asked for the change, and they said, "We only took out $5, so there is no change."We all know you can't just withdraw $5.00. How could they tell me such a bald-faced lie with a straight face?Dealing with my children's lies has been one of the most challenging aspects of parenting.Lying is natural in childhoodHere's the problem: Lying is easy. What I find especially distressing is that no one has to teach children how to lie."Lying is developmentally appropriate," Ailen Arreaza, the executive director of Parents Together, a national nonprofit parent and family advocacy group, told me. "When a toddler or a 4-year-old lies, it's frustrating for the parent, but it's perfectly normal. It means that your kid's brain is developing in the way that it should be."Arreaza also told me kids tell three kinds of lies: attention-seeking ones, careless ones, and serious ones that happen when they're older.For example, one of my sons told me he missed curfew because he lost track of time when, in fact, he was at his girlfriend's house and just didn't want to leave."Often teenagers tell lies because they're afraid of the consequences or they're embarrassed," Arreaza said.I struggled with how I should handle lyingConfronting my children in search of the truth is never comfortable. In fact, it can be exhausting a round-robin of questions and denials before they finally break and admit what they've done.There have been times when I was so eager to know the truth that I promised to refrain from any form of punishment. I want to hear a confession to satisfy my suspicion and feel vindicated, but then I face the sticky situation of what happens next time they lie."It's important to address the lie, but not in a way that shames the child and labels them as liars," Arreaza said. "This is about changing a behavior, not who the child is. Create a safe environment where truth-telling is encouraged. If they think they're disappointing you or they're going to get in trouble, they're going to continue to lie to please you."I try to be a role model for my kidsI want nothing more than for my children to tell the truth, and often they do.When he was 12, one of my boys came to me and, unprompted, confessed to a more serious lie he'd told previously. I had no clue, but it was eating him up inside. My son expressed his remorse and asked for forgiveness. I imagined the guilt was gnawing at him for betraying my trust.I'm glad he admitted that he lied. In modeling the truth for my children, I hope they understand they can always come clean to me. My son felt safe and supported to do just that.In that way, I have to believe that the truth will always win out in the end.

When my son was little, his father and I went through a custody trial and agreed on a holiday-sharing schedule. It outlined that if my son spent a holiday with me, the following year, he would spend that same holiday with his dad. So if I got Christmas Eve and Day with him one year, the next, his father would spend those days with him.Initially, my son's father and I stuck to the original holiday-sharing schedule. I observed that while my son never had a preference for who he spent the holidays with, he did miss the parent he didn't get to see. After a few years of splitting holidays up, I was compelled to work with his father on a better arrangement. While it doesn't always work out perfectly, we have found that it's best for our son to spend time with each of his parents on any given holiday.We do our best to come up with a plan that works for the whole familyOur new arrangement is informal, and I think we each try to work with each other based on what's going on with our respective families that year and how we divided up the holidays the year prior. While initially we had every holiday divided up until my son turns 18, I think the way we work with each other now is far more realistic.One downside to co-parenting around the holidays is that I always have to tell other people that I need to talk to my son's father before we make any definite plans. Sometimes, I've wished I could just book a vacation over the winter break. However, I've realized that not only does his father deserve to spend time with his son on the holiday as much as I do, I know our son prefers it that way, too.My immediate family understands that I may not have my son for certain traditions, so they factor this in when they're making their plans. They will ask me ahead of time on which days or times I'll have my son; not only are his father and I working together to make sure my son gets to see most of his extended family, but our families do their best to work with us, too. The author's son spends time with both of his parents over the holidays. Courtesy of Ashley Archambault It doesn't always work perfectly, so there have been exceptionsThere are certain holidays where the division is an easy decision, such as Thanksgiving. Growing up, I always liked watching the parade in the morning. Every year, I had an aunt who would suggest we just eat our pie for breakfast, but no one ever went through with it.When I had my son, I had the opportunity to make our own traditions. So now, he and I make pumpkin and apple pies the night before Thanksgiving and then have some for breakfast the next morning while we watch the parade. Since his father's family has a big dinner in the afternoon, we usually just split the day in half so that my son is with me in the morning and with his dad in the afternoon.It might not be a perfect system, as my son is missed at our family's dinner on Thanksgiving, but after co-parenting for a decade, I've come to accept that his father and I always need to work together to come up with a plan that works best for our son, even if that means dividing up every holiday. Sometimes it doesn't work out, so we've learned to address every holiday individually.Last year, my son's father wanted to take him up to New England to spend a week with his family that lives up there, and I was hesitant. My son and I had never spent a Thanksgiving apart before. When I asked my son if he wanted to go, he was excited. Not only does he rarely get to visit with those family members, but we live in Florida, so he had never seen snow before. I made sure he understood that he and I would spend Thanksgiving apart, and while he was sad about that part, we agreed that because it was a special opportunity for him, he should go.Our new agreement feels rightThis year, his father asked for Christmas Eve since I had my son for Christmas Eve last year. Then, my son will come home Christmas morning and spend the rest of the holiday with me, which is what he did with his dad last year. While I love to have my son on Christmas Eve, it's nice when I have him on Christmas Day, too. After spending alternate years without him on either of those days, I think our way of dividing up the holidays works out so much better.Not only do we each get to share our traditions with our son every year instead of every other year, but my son can count on spending the holidays with both of his parents. It's always a little sad for him when he is separated from one of us, and that emotion is amplified on holidays. But I think it comforts him to know that his father and I will always work together to make sure he doesn't have to spend the holidays without seeing one of his parents.

While Chainsaw Mans manga has been putting fans through the wringer the past few years, weve not heard much about its pretty good anime adaptation in quite a while. Studio MAPPAs been quite busy, but last year, it revealed itd go back to Denji and Pochita not with a new season, but a moviewhich got its first look at this weekends Jump Festa. Based on the mangas Reze arc, the film finds Denji excited to finally go on a date with his boss Makima. Its not long after that he finds himself crossing paths with a sweet girl named Reze who seems to like hanging out with him, and the young (chainsaw) man cant help but be smitten with her. Unfortunately, it turns out Rezes intentions arent quite as pure as they seemed, and shes a Devil, just like him. As such, Denjis gotta fight his new crush and save Japan from the chaos she wants to cook up. And part of that will involve riding a shark in midair becausewell, its Chainsaw Man,sometimes thats just part of the job. When MAPPAs work looks good, it looksgood,and this movie seems to be no exception. Between Chainsaw Mansfirst season and Reze, the studios continually pushed itselfoften literally, and in worrying waysand you can see the results of that effort here. The Rezemovies expected to drop in 2025, in whats going to be a pretty big year for MAPPA: in addition to this, its other filmRose of Versaillesis dropping, and itll be releasing Lazarus for Adult Swim,the original seriesZenshu,and another season of Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill.As for whenChainsaw Mansgetting a proper season two, MAPPA didnt say. But if new seasons forJujutsu Kaisen, Ranma 1/2, andHells Paradiseare coming, that hopefully cant be far behind. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Come springtime, many of us will be sniffling from seasonal allergies. Scientists recently identified some potentially fundamental differences between people with runny-nose allergies and those withoutand it has to do with nose fungi. An international team of researchers say people with allergy-induced sniffles and asthma have different fungal communities in their noses than symptom-free individuals. Their findings, detailed in a December 17 study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, could have important applications for future allergy and asthma treatments. We showed that allergic rhinitis samples displayed a significantly higher fungal diversity and a different fungal community structure compared to those of healthy controls, Lus Delgado of the University of Porto, who participated in the study, said in a Frontiers in Microbiology statement. Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for allergy symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, itching, and inflamed nasal membranes. This may suggest that allergic rhinitis increases the diversity and changes the composition of the upper airways microbiome, Delgado added. Allergic rhinitis is often linked to asthma, which also involves inflammation and blocked airways. The researchers suggest that allergic rhinitis and asthma may be two aspects of the same underlying condition.The team, including researchers from The George Washington University, took nasal swabs from 215 patients from an immunology and asthma clinic in Porto, Portugal, in addition to 125 healthy individuals. Of the patients from the clinic, 155 had both allergic rhinitis and asthma, 47 had only allergic rhinitis, and 12 had only asthma. They then sequenced the DNA of the fungi from the nasal swabs and detected common fungi that have been recognized in humans as allergenic or opportunistic pathogenic fungi, said Delgado.This confirms at fungal level what is already known for bacteria, that the nasal cavity is a major reservoir for opportunistic pathogens that can cause allergic rhinitis and asthma, the researchers wrote in the study. While these pathogenic fungi were discovered in all samples, Delgado and his colleagues found that clinic patients had richer and more diverse fungal communities in their noses than healthy individuals. Additionally, the team noted evidence suggesting that the fungi of patients with both respiratory diseases are impacting the noses immune environment. Perhaps most importantly, however, they also found a surplus of 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotidea chemical compound associated with energy metabolism and DNA synthesisin the noses of patients with both respiratory diseases. The scientists suggest that, with further research, this potential association could direct future therapeutics to target AIR to treat or diagnose sniffly allergies and asthma.The team plans to conduct follow-up studies, giving hope to the hundreds of millions of people that tell their friends that it really is just allergies every time they reach for a tissue.

Penitentiary Warehouse / Buro NordSave this picture! Stijn Poelstra | Maarten MeesterArchitects: Buro NordAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:1200 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Stijn Poelstra | Maarten Meester Lead Architects: Maarten Meester More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The store is one of the labor facilities in the penitentiary complex. This building takes a special place within the penitentiary regime. It is a social environment where inmates can earn some extra money and gain work experience. Important considering their resocialization after serving their sentence.Save this picture!Save this picture!The work building consists of three zones; expedition, (grocery) shop and supporting / supervision facilities. In order to make the flexibility and adaptivity capacity of the building as great as possible, the construction consists of trusses with a large span within which the space can be freely divided. Facades and interior walls are not load-bearing and can be modified quite easily. Stability of the construction is generated by cross-braces in two directions between the columns. On the side of the expedition areas, the trusses form a canopy with a generous overhang under which loading and unloading can take place in a dry and sheltered environment.Save this picture!Save this picture!Focus point in the design is to contribute to the inmates' perspective on life outside the walls. By turning the store into a spacious, light and comfortable space in which all security components are (invisible) integrated into the design as carefully as possible. The use of warm, robust materials has created a working environment that can withstand a knock or two, but with a comfortable appearance.Save this picture!Sustainability and circularity have become a fundamental pillar in the justice housing policy in recent years. The construction of the store consists of columns and trusses made of CLT wood. The facades are made of untreated thermally modified wood and polycarbonate cladding. The plinth is made of prefabricated epoxy concrete elements.Save this picture!Save this picture!The structure, facade and roof can be completely dismantled, so that the store can be moved to another location in the complex (or outside) over time.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Vught, The NetherlandsLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialsWoodPlasticMaterials and TagsPublished on December 22, 2024Cite: "Penitentiary Warehouse / Buro Nord" 22 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024461/penitentiary-warehouse-buro-nord&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Hayat Restaurant / Ivy StudioSave this picture! ALEX LESAGEArchitects: Ivy StudioAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:1500 mPhotographsPhotographs:ALEX LESAGEMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Located on De La Commune Street in Montreal, Hayat offers a luxurious and truly authentic dining experience directly across from the city's famous Old Port.Save this picture!Save this picture!This Middle Eastern restaurant's colour palette was inspired by the earthy tones of the Syrian deserts and their surrounding greenery. The sinuous ceiling lines mimic the smooth landscapes of the area, while guiding guests through the dining space. The entire ceiling and most walls were painted a warm and inviting cream colour, while the existing structure and window frames were coated with a deep charcoal paint. The ancient stone walls at the front and rear facades were, on the other hand, left intact to showcase the building's history.Save this picture!Save this picture!The 1500 square foot space holds one main dining room, a bar, a kitchen and private washrooms. The dining area is an open space with wooden floors and scattered tables. Above, a series of curved fabric bannisters come together to make a central light piece, surrounded by several sleek beige pendant fixtures. Enclosing the space, one long banquette follows the peripheral walls and two private booths are set for larger groups. Each seat is upholstered with forest green leather and their back rests with a silky pink velvet. Right behind, the kitchen is separated from the dining room by a walnut and hammered glass partition, revealing only glimpses of the action that occurs during service.Save this picture!The bar offers a more intimate setting, with only a few bar stools and a chef's table. This cozy ambiance is enhanced with the dimmed, individual bespoke light fixtures that are placed on the bar between diners. A striking teal, cream and pistachio marble covers the bar structure itself, somewhat replicating the stone walls behind. The overall intention of the palette was to bring together the worlds of Middle Eastern nature and Old Montreal construction.Save this picture!Save this picture!All of the millwork is built with natural dark walnut. Aside from the bar, 2 other marbles cover the tables and service stations, each contributing their own touch of colour into the space. Besides the central fixture and scattered pendant globes, the general lighting in the room comes from a multitude of indirect lighting sources. Whether it be on the ceiling, behind the walls or under the millwork, multiple dimmed linear lights come together to create an invitingly warm glow throughout the restaurant.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Montreal, CanadaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeIvy StudioOfficePublished on December 22, 2024Cite: "Hayat Restaurant / Ivy Studio" 22 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023893/hayat-restaurant-ivy-studio&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream