Next in our 21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings series we examine SOM's Burj Khalifa the most significant building completed in 2010 and still the world's tallest skyscraper."In 2010, when the Burj rose from the sand dunes of the Arabian desert, it announced the emergence of Dubai as a global powerhouse," wrote Julie Satow in the Wall Street Journal last year.Indeed, it is difficult to think of another building that has done a more effective job of putting its city on the map since Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum Bilbaocompleted in 1997.The Burj Khalifa was the most significant building of 2010Dubai's meteoric rise to become a city of undisputed global significance has been one of the most distinctive geographical phenomena of the last 25 years.The Burj Khalifa, then, reasserted the power of skyscrapers and the ability of architecture to placemake.Rising 828 meters above Downtown Dubai, the mixed-use towertransformed the landscape of skyscraper design when it topped out in January 2009, dramatically surpassing Taiwan's 508-metre-tall Taipei 101, which formerly held the title of the world's tallest building.It was designed by Adrian Smith during his time at SOMFifteen years after it officially opened on 4 January 2010, the 160-storey Emirati megatall tower has comfortably maintained its ranking, highlighting the landmark's enduring significance on the global stage. It is roughly three times the height of Paris's Eiffel Tower.Architect Adrian Smith designed the neo-futurist Burj Khalifa, made of reinforced concrete and clad in vertical glass fins, while practicing at Chicago-based office SOM.The skyscraper is supported by a central buttressed core, an architectural invention by the building's lead engineer Bill Baker first applied to Seoul's Palace Tower III.Construction took place over six years. Photo by Bradley YoungSculptural wings fan out from the Burj's Y-shaped tripartite floor plan, built into a solid-rock foundation. The wings taper upwards in 27 setbacks, which create outdoor terraces, gradually decreasing the tower's cross-section and concluding in a record-breaking steel spire.This three-pronged design was chosen to echo the hymenocallis, or spider lily a desert flower found across the region. Smith was also inspired by examples of Islamic architecture; in particular, the 9th-century Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, defined by its ancient minaret encircled by a distinctively bottom-heavy spiralled ramp.The Burj Khalifa's sturdy foundations were, and remain, a feat of engineering. Each of the skyscraper's wings contains its own concrete core and perimeter columns, which buttress the others thanks to a six-sided central core, creating a torsionally stiff tower.The stepped shape helps to confuse the windAdrian Smith in the Wall Street Journal"This innovative structural solution allows the Burj to be remarkably tall and remarkably thin, with one-third less square footage than [Chicago's] steel-framed Willis Tower even though it almost doubles Willis's height," wrote Blair Kamin in the Architectural Record in 2010."This skyscraper looks like a skyscraper, its elegant, exultant verticality providing Dubai's random clumps of high-rises with an unmistakable centre of the tent," he added.The Burj's aerodynamic profile means that the building can sway up to two metres in the wind, reducing the risk of structural damage or collapse.Sculptural wings fan out from the skyscraper's Y-shaped tripartite floor plan. Photo courtesy of SOM"The stepped shape helps to confuse the wind," Smith told the Wall Street Journal in 2011. "The wind doesn't have an opportunity to organise very rapidly because of the steps."It is impossible to consider the significance of the Burj without acknowledging the precarious economic backdrop against which it was achieved.Originally called Burj Dubai, the skyscraper was renamed the Burj Khalifa after the former ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, granted Dubai a $10 billion bail-out loan to complete the project. After a sustained period of rapid architectural expansion around the millennium, the emirate was hit hard by the global financial crisis of the late 2000s.A series of mixed-use spaces make up the interiorWriting in the Financial Times on the day of the building's official opening, Simeon Kerr called the Burj Khalifa "a testament to a boom-time mentality that gripped the city in the first decade of this century but one that has been replaced by a more sombre reality"."It would be shortsighted to conflate the messy circumstances surrounding the Burj Khalifa's completion with the tower's exhilarating and surprisingly refined architecture," agreed Kamin."And such a dismissal would ignore previous supertall sagas," he added, referring to the 1929 Wall Street Crash that threatened the success of New York City's Empire State Building, which prevailed against the odds to become arguably the world's most recognisable skyscraper.The Burj is an almost perfect representation of Dubai's own complexities and contraditionsLandon Thomas Jr in the Architectural Record"To be sure, the world's record-breaking skyscrapers, such as Burj Khalifa, often presage recession," continued Kerr. "But with time these buildings have gone on to form the centrepiece of thriving economic centres."The most significant building of 2010 is not without controversy. In 2006, 2,500 migrant workers, mostly from South Asia, went on strike and rioted to protest against their poor living conditions and lack of pay while constructing the Burj Khalifa.Subsequent investigations brought global attention to working conditions in the United Arab Emirates, while other commentators were quick to express a lack of faith in the skyscraper's sustainability credentials.Read: Waugh Thistleton Architects' Murray Grove was the most significant building of 2009"The Burj is an almost perfect representation of Dubai's own complexities and contradictions," summarised Landon Thomas Jr in the New York Times on the day of the day of the skyscraper's official opening.Since its opening, the landmark has attracted visitors from across the globe, who have ascended to the world's highest observation deck on the building's 148th floor to take in sweeping views of the cityscape.Actor Tom Cruise scaled the building when performing stunts seen in the 2011 Mission: Impossible film Ghost Protocol, while renowned urban climber Alain Robert reached the Burj's spire the same year.The Burj Khalifa has maintained its title of tallest building in the world for 15 yearsThe Burj Khalifa marks the first time that the Arab world has hosted the tallest building on Earth since Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, built over 4,000 years ago, and its height is yet to be beaten.That looks likely to change in the coming years as other places notably Saudi Arabia seek to mimic its success, but many critics agree that the Burj's distinctly thin and stepped design will ensure the skyscraper's enduring reputation."Building booms and busts come and go, as do the temporary wearers of the world's-tallest-building crown. What matters, in the long haul, is the artistry that separates skyscrapers that are merely yardstick-tall from those that make of their tallness a smashing aesthetic virtue," wrote Kamin."And the Burj Khalifa easily meets and exceeds that standard, soaring in both height and design quality above Dubai's often-ludicrous collection of architectural cartoons," he added."I think human nature is always going to go after spectacular achievements," reflected Smith in 2011. "As long as they can, they will."Did we get it right? Was the Burj Khalifa by SOM the most significant building completed in 2010? Let us know in the comments. We will be running a poll once all 25 buildings are revealed to determine the most significant building of the 21st century so far.This article is part of Dezeen's21st-Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildingsseries, which looks at the most significant architecture of the 21st century so far. For the series, we have selected the most influentialbuilding from each of the first 25 years of the century.The illustration is byJack Bedford and the photography is by Nick Merrick unless stated otherwise.21st Century Architecture: 25 Years 25 Buildings2000:Tate Modern by Herzog & de Meuron2001:Gando Primary School by Dibdo Francis Kr2002:Bergisel Ski Jump by Zaha Hadid2003:Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry2004:Quinta Monroy by Elemental2005:Moriyama House by Ryue Nishizawa2006:Madrid-Barajas airport by RSHP and Estudio Lamela2007:Oslo Opera House by Snhetta2008:Museum of Islamic Art by I M Pei2009:Murray Grove by Waugh Thistleton Architects2010: Burj Khalifa by SOMThis list will be updated as the series progresses.The post SOM's Burj Khalifa put Dubai on the map appeared first on Dezeen.

Public spaces are the heartbeat of urban life, offering citizens a shared environment for cultural, recreational, and formal activities. However, the durability and functionality of public facilities often fall short of constant use. Addressing this gap, Form&Foam emerges as a revolutionary product that reimagines public seating with innovative design and material.Designer:BKID coForm&Foam offers a dynamic seating solution tailored to diverse public needs. Designed with Expanded Polypropylene (EPP), the chairs boast an impressive combination of softness, shock resistance, and lightweight construction. This unique material makes them not only highly durable but also remarkably easy to transport and rearrange.The flexibility of these chairs shines in their adaptability to different public events. For instance:Sit Chair:Encourages an upright posture, making it ideal for formal events such as conferences or civic meetings.Lean Chair:Supports a relaxed posture, perfect for casual concerts or open-air gatherings.This adaptability ensures that Form&Foam enhances the comfort and experience of users across a wide spectrum of public activities.One of the standout features of Form&Foam is its user-friendly design. A hollow space at the back of each chair, coupled with a debossed grip area, provides excellent ergonomics for moving the chairs effortlessly. Whether setting up for a bustling city event or reorganizing an indoor space, this design feature ensures practicality and ease of use.However, one area where the design could be further refined is its transport convenience. While lightweight and portable, Form&Foam could benefit from a stackable form, allowing multiple chairs to be efficiently stored and transported in bulk. This enhancement would elevate its usability, particularly for large-scale events requiring quick setup and teardown.Initially proposed in five vibrant colors, Form&Foam offers ample room for customization. Its EPP material can be dyed in a variety of shades, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with the aesthetics of different environments. This feature makes the product not only functional but also visually appealing, enhancing the ambiance of public spaces.By leveraging EPP, a recyclable and long-lasting material, Form&Foam aligns with eco-conscious design principles. Its durability reduces the need for frequent replacements, minimizing waste and promoting a sustainable approach to public facility design.Form&Foam is broadly about creating public spaces that are more inclusive, comfortable, and versatile. Its innovative design caters to the behavioral nuances of citizens while addressing the challenges of maintenance and durability. While the absence of a stackable feature presents a missed opportunity, its other strengths functionality, style, and sustainability set a high benchmark for public seating solutions.The post This Styrofoam Chair Transforms Public Spaces With A Stylish, Durable, and Eco-Friendly Seating Solution first appeared on Yanko Design.

Its a major get for Muratis mysterious startup, which has also poached engineers and researchers from a number of other prominent AI firms.

The companys Apple Intelligence system has erroneously characterized news stories, provoking a backlash from media companies.

MacworldThe new year is always a good time to start upgrading your charging gear. Like maybe a new charger: The excellent Anker Nano 3 is now 43 percent off, which means you can get your hands on it for $13.This 30W charger is pretty much perfect for most of your gear, including your iPhone and iPad, and most definitely for your earbuds and Apple Watch. The Anker Nano 3 is also fairly small, and the prongs are foldable, making it ideal for traveling or throwing into your laptop bag. Given its shape, it will fit pretty much anywhere and wont snag on your other tech or material of whatever you hold on your phone. This charger uses GaN technology, which means its not only smaller in size but also more efficient in charging your devices. Theres only one port on this Anker Nano 3 charger, and its a type-C charger, so you may need a new cable: Like this 6-foot Anker braided model for just $13, on sale for 30 percent off.Place your order sooner rather than later for the Anker Nano 3 before the price jumps back up.Buy now at Amazon

Apple hasbig plansfor satellite services,a new patent filing confirms. Its the latest nugget of information to roll down Apple Confidential mountain, a plan to make it much easier for devices to maintain connectivity as they move between satellites.If youve been able to use any of the companys satellite services, youll already know that it takes a while to reach a connection with your nearest satellite. Apple has built a handy little visual guide to help you point your device at the best available satellite, but connection takes time and as the satellite drifts over head on its orbit, you might eventually find you must reconnect to another station.Space oddityWouldnt it be better if your connection could automatically move between satellites once it is achieved? That kind of capability might support a more stable connection, and (conceivably) let you get more sophisticated tasks done perhaps even calls or at least extensive two-way messaging.Whats new is that Apple now appears to have achieved a way that could enable that.As first spotted byPatently Apple, the new patent describes a handover procedure that means the connection a device has with one satellite will smoothly shift over to a second. The technology means that a satellite will generate a group configuration message for all the devices currently connected to it that, when sent, tells the connected devices to transfer their connection to the second satellite.The idea is that each satellite then acts as a transparent network relay mode, according to the patent. That, the patent claims, would enable groups of smartphones to remain connected. Effectively, this turns those satellites into always moving mobile network masks above the sky.Just as mobile networks will serve all the smartphones connected to them in a local area, the satellites will do the same thing. I imagine the aim is to create a seamless satellite connection users dont have to think too deeply about, once the initial connection is made.Sun machineThis kind of stable connection is of course essential to support voice calls and internet browsing, though Apple might not be thinking about a future satellite communications service in quite the same way. It could, for example, be simply searching for a global backbone to support its Find My services, or to deliversmart device connectivityoff more traditional grids, or even be pondering a highly secure, network agnostic private and secure communications system as a premium service.Apple isnt alone.Carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, are also now working with satellite services to provide messaging and other features to devices, and Apple will not be investingbillions in its satellite partner, GlobalStar, simply to be a bystander in this race.It is also interesting, given thequantity of data shared with mobile networks, that Apples filing makes particular mention of this: It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users,.You can take a look at the new patenthere.FreecloudAll this investment isnt just focused on voice and messaging.Operators also recognize that as demand for mobile connectivity increases, it becomes essential to find ways to offload some of this activity to alternative networks. Thats why carriers support Wi-Fi calls because shunting relatively unprofitable voice calls off their network enables them to offer their capacity to support more profitable services.Ultimately, its all about demand management, and satellite (particularly as 5G tech advances and 6G looms) has a part to play in the tapestry of solutions emerging to help handle the rapidly growing pressure on communications networks. Though there is something to be said for highly private communications and messaging services. Fifty-five years since the first human landing on the moon, if Neil Armstrong landed there today, perhaps hed call Earth from his iPhone.You can follow me on social media! Join me onBlueSky, LinkedIn,Mastodon, andMeWe.

Apple TV users can now download tvOS 18.2.1, which addresses an issue where data may not sync correctly across devices.tvOS 18. Image source: AppleApple releases periodic updates for all of its operating systems, and they're not always significant. The tvOS 18.2.1 update showed up in Apple's update tracker earlier Thursday but began rolling out around 6 p.m. Eastern.The original tvOS 18.2 launched the Snoopy screensavers that change periodically, similar to the Snoopy Apple Watch face. The point update addresses an issue where data may not sync correctly across devices. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Phillippe Starck has shared news of a newly completed architectural project in Spain called LA Almazara. The resorted olive oil manufacturing plant now allows for an inspiring epicurean museum-like experience for tourists in search of a day trip or hands-on romantic getaway.Image courtesy Starck Network/LA Almazara.References to Picasso beset the architecture, which stands out against the Andalusian landscape near the artists birth city of Mlaga thanks to the decorative bulls eye smokestack and Corten steel horns inscribed on and punctured through the facade at either orientation.Image courtesy Starck Network/LA Almazara.This otherwise surrealism-inspired blend of food production, food culture, design, art, and gastronomy contains a working mill press and wastes no gestures or materials (save for the monumental half olive embedded into its weather steel walls) with the deliberate exclusion of cladding or exterior finishes.Image courtesy Starck Network/LA Almazara.Starck himse...

Nexons free demo for The First Berserker: Khazan is now on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC via Steam (with Steam Deck compatibility). Its available permanently and offers two missions: Mount Heinmach and Stormpass. The former focuses on Khazan meeting the Blade Phantom for the first time, while the latter presents a tricky spiritual trial. Check out the trailer below.Promising approximately three to four hours of gameplay, the demo also sports a difficulty option. Players can choose an Easy option upon finishing the first mission. Since progress carries over to the game, you can effectively farm XP, unlock skills, and prepare beforehand. The demo requires 30 GB of storage space to install.The First Berserker: Khazan launches on March 27th, with Deluxe Edition owners receiving three days of advanced access. Set in the Dungeon and Fighter universe, the story focuses on the titular Khazan (played by Ben Starr of Final Fantasy 16 fame) as he seeks vengeance. Check out our impressions of the closed beta here, which outlines the different weapon types, gameplay mechanics, and more.

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general. Franklin became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette at age 23. He became wealthy publishing this and Poor Richard's Almanack, which he wrote under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". As a scientist, his studies of electricity made him a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics. His inventions include the lightning rod, bifocals, glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. This 1778 portrait of Franklin was painted by Joseph Duplessis.Painting credit: Joseph DuplessisRecently featured: Green iguanaRhinanthus angustifoliusNigeen LakeArchiveMore featured pictures