SummaryIndie Selects has turned one year old, and were celebrating by crowning our top six picks for the last year.Check out quotes from the developers of our Anniversary Collection.Were running a huge Indie Selects sale, with discounts on over 200 indie games from 2024.Happy new year to all and happy first birthday to Indie Selects! A year ago, we set up the Indie Selects program with the goal of highlighting and recommending indie games found on the Xbox Store that arent necessarily part of the Xbox Game Pass service, so that great games and great teams never go uncelebrated. Think of Indie Selects as the Staff Picks shelf at a Blockbuster Video or Tower Records. And now you think I am 80 years old. Ah well.Today, were celebrating the one-year anniversary of this program with a 2024 Anniversary Collection featuring our six top Indie Selects titles from 2024 that we believe you need to play they will be enshrined for all time (or until the Xbox Store team tells us to stop). So, without further ado, here are the six titles we picked for our first Yearly Selects line-up: Balatro, Animal Well, The Plucky Squire, Neva, Crow Country, and Hypercharge: Unboxed.Whether you come home from a rough day and need to unwind, or youre just looking for the right adventure that can connect you with a family member, games like these six matter and so do the teams that make them. These contributions to the industry deserve attention, celebration, and enjoyment. The Anniversary Collection can be found in the Indie Selects row on Xbox Store Games home from January 29 to February 11. Heres how to find it:From Xbox Home, select StoreOn Store go to the left nav bar and select Games Home.On Game Home scroll down until you see the collection!Each of these titles are a great representation of what our industry strives to achieve. To celebrate and thank each of these developers for creating such beloved pieces of work, we asked each of them if they would be gracious enough to reflect and share their thoughts with us on the following question:Looking back at the entire development process, what does it mean to your game studio to launch this project and receive so much high praise from both the gaming audience and critics alike?Balatro Developed by LocalThunk Inc.While the praise for the game is certainly nice, Balatro is and always has been a personal passion project more than anything else. I am lucky that the game performed well in this industry at all, and Im really glad to use the attention from Balatro to shine a light on some of the other incredible indie games out there right now. I think its a great time to be a fan of indie games! LocalThunk, Developer of BalatroBalatroPlaystack Ltd231$14.99$12.74Get it nowBalatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. Youre going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory.Animal Well Developed by Billy BassoSeven years ago, I started building a new game/engine from scratch, more as a learning experience than out of any ambition to create the new big indie hit. I drew a few animal sprites. Got a candle to glow the way I wanted. As the game and the engine organically fed off of one another, it took a shape I never would have predicted when I first started. And now that Animal Well is out in the world, players continue to color it with their own perspectives, their pet theories, their love for the game. I feel like I was able to make a small contribution to video game culture and my efforts have been rewarded a hundredfold. Billy Basso, Developer of Animal WellANIMAL WELLBigmode46$24.99Get it nowHatch from your flower and spelunk through the beautiful and sometimes haunting world of Animal Well, a pixelated wonder rendered in intricate audio and visual detail. Encounter lively creatures small and large, helpful and ominous as you discover unconventional upgrades and unravel the wells secrets. This is a truly unique experience that can make you laugh in fear, surprise, or delight.The Plucky Squire Developed by All Possible FuturesWorking on The Plucky Squire has been an amazing journey for all of us at All Possible Futures. From those first prototypes of Jot leaping from desk to book, to seeing players light up as they experience it its been a joy to share with the world. We poured all of our heart into the game, and its been incredible to see players and critics connect with it in ways we couldnt have imagined. Knowing that the game has brought smiles to so many faces is the most rewarding part of it all. Thats what its all about for us, and we couldnt be more grateful for the love and support along the way. Jonathan Biddle, Co-director, All Possible FuturesThe Plucky SquireDevolver Digital65$29.99Get it nowThe Plucky Squire follows the magical adventures of Jot and his friends storybook characters who discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book.When the malevolent Humgrump realizes he's the villain of the book destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever.Jot must face challenges, unlike anything he's ever seen if he is to save his friends from Humgrump's dark forces and restore the book's happy ending.Jump between 2D and 3D worlds in this charming action-adventure solving puzzles, boxing badgers, flying with a jetpack, and enjoying many more delightful and surprising mini-challenges as you become the hero of a living storybook.Neva Developed by Nomada StudioLaunching Neva has been a journey of four yearsmore than double the time it took to develop [our last game] Gris. It has been a long and challenging process.Our biggest fear was living up to the expectations of our fans and critics. After the huge and unexpected success of Gris, we felt the pressure of both external expectations and our own ambitions. Every element of Neva, from its storytelling to its art and gameplay, was crafted with the hope of creating a meaningful connection with players. This is the kind of game we aspire to create as a studio.Seeing both critics and players enjoy and praise Neva has been incredibly fulfillinga perfect final gift to its long development journey and a transformative milestone for our studio. It has proven that players are truly eager for games capable of evoking powerful emotions and telling unique, meaningful stories that resonate with them; and for us, this recognition has provided the strength and motivation to continue pursuing this goal for as long as we can. Conrad Roset, Creative Director, Nomada StudioNevaDevolver Digital51$19.99Get it nowNeva is an emotionally-charged action adventure from the visionary team behind the critically acclaimed GRIS.Neva chronicles the story of Alba, a young woman bound to a curious wolf cub following a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together they embark on a perilous journey through a once-beautiful world as it slowly decays around them.Over time, their relationship will evolve as they learn to work together, helping one another to brave increasingly dangerous situations. The wolf will grow from a rebellious cub to an imposing adult seeking to forge his own identity, testing Albas love and their commitment to one another.As the cursed world threatens to overwhelm them, Alba and her courageous companion will do whatever it takes to survive and make a new home, together.Crow Country Developed by SFB GamesWe had hopes that people would get excited for Crow Country when even early, out-of-context teaser screenshots would get very positive attention. Nothing is certain in game development though, so to have had this many people write so many lovely things about the game, recommend it to their friends or audiences, and rate it so highly its really reassuring that the kind of games we want to make are the kind that people want to play. Its also been a morale-boosting liferaft in a very troubled time for the games industry, and will keep [studio co-founder] Adam and me going through the next game and beyond! Tom Vian, Co-founder, SFB GamesCrow CountrySFB Games135$19.99$15.99Get it nowThe year is 1990. Its been two years since the mysterious disappearance of Edward Crow and the abrupt closure of his theme park, Crow Country. But your arrival has broken the silence, Mara Forest. If you want answers, youll have to venture deep into the darkness of Crow Country to find themA survival horror game, where youll test yourself against puzzles and riddles as you investigate the eerie tranquility of the abandoned theme park. Dont be deceived by the whimsical surroundings, something is awfully wrong in Crow Country.As you unlock new areas, backtrack and discover more, you gradually piece together why Edward really shut down his park and where he mysteriously disappeared to. Youve heard some pretty disturbing rumors, but they couldnt possibly be true..right?For visitors to the park who are more interested in spotting crows and taking in the sights, Exploration Mode allows you to journey on without the fear of being attacked by the mysterious monsters roaming Crow Country. Besides, if you knew what those monsters really are..Just how far would someone go to follow their ambition? Are some sins too wicked for redemption?A tale of reckless hubris and human greed, and now at the center of it all you.Who are you really, Mara Forest?Hypercharge Unboxed Developed by Digital Cybercherries LimitedPower Your Dreams is more than just a slogan: it speaks to the heart of every dreamer, reminding us that with passion and determination, even childhood dreams can come true. We believed in that message and powered our dream of creating Hypercharge. With Xboxs support, we were able to launch on this incredible platform and witness it not only change our lives as a small indie studio, but also bring families closer together through the magic of couch co-op. Seeing parents and children laughing and working together to overcome challenges in Hypercharge has been truly heart-warming. That shared experience, playing together in the same room, on their Xbox thats something really special, where memories will last a lifetime. Were immensely grateful to Xbox for helping make our dream come true and for allowing players to join us on this journey! The overwhelmingly positive response to Hypercharge has been truly inspiring. To everyone who has played and supported our game, thank you! Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay & Marketing Director, Digital CybercherriesHYPERCHARGE UnboxedDigital Cybercherries Limited269$29.99$23.99Get it nowHELP SGT. MAX AMMO TO DEFEAT MAJOR EVIL AND SAVE THE HYPERCORE!There was once an ancient line of action figures, who created a magical power source that would allow humans to keep their favourite childhood memories of their toys. This ancient power source is known as the Hypercore. Inside the Hypercore are the beloved memories of our favorite toys. If Major Evil destroys it, these memories will disappear forever. Defend it with everything you've got, or see our cherished toys turn into lost treasures of the past! Hypercharge is a first and third-person shooter action figure game you've always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete objectives, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys, and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign!PLAY CO-OP WITH YOUR FRIENDSWork together as a team to defend the Hypercore. Grab a friend, break out of your toy packaging, and get ready to fight waves of classic toys. Prepare for each wave by searching for weapons, resources, and even hidden secrets.OFFLINE PLAY FOR SOLO PLAYERSNot everybody likes to play online. Hypercharge supports Offline, Split-Screen and Local play. You can progress and unlock everything in-game while playing solo.PLAYER BOTSDont have a team to play with? Dont worry, weve got you solo players covered. Player bots listen to your commands, collect resources, and even help to build defences.UNLOCK ACTION FIGURESIn Hypercharge, hundreds of unlocks are available, all of which can be earned directly in-game without any microtransactions.PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER MODESGo head-to-head against other action figures as you fight to become top of the scoreboard! Classic PvP modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Battery, Infection, and King of the Hill.On top of the Collection itself, were running an Indie Selects Anniversary Sale from January 28 to February 3, featuring over 200 indie titles that launched in 2024. This is the perfect opportunity to save on titles we recommended, including Balatro, Phasmophobia, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Rounds, and more.Check out the full list of on-sale titles below. Thanks for playing, and stay tuned for even more Indie Selects in the years ahead!Full List of Games in the Indie Selects Anniversary SaleContent TitleDiscountNotesBalatro15%Indie Selects SalePhasmophobia (Game Preview)25%Indie Selects SaleS.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy35%Indie Selects SaleKena: Bridge of Spirits50%Indie Selects SaleRounds50%Indie Selects SaleStarship Troopers: Extermination30%Indie Selects SaleStar Wars Bounty Hunter25%Indie Selects SaleHYPERCHARGE Unboxed20%Indie Selects SaleCat Quest III30%Indie Selects SaleKill Knight33%Indie Selects SaleGarten of Banban 420%Indie Selects SaleGarten of Banban 320%Indie Selects SaleCloser the distance35%Indie Selects SaleHYPERCHARGE COMPLETE EDITION20%Indie Selects SaleThe Last Faith35%Indie Selects SaleINDIKA25%Indie Selects SaleThe Invincible40%Indie Selects SaleWizard with a Gun: Deluxe Edition67%Indie Selects SaleThe Talos Principle 250%Indie Selects SaleLets! Revolution!40%Indie Selects SaleDagon: Complete Edition20%Indie Selects SaleThe Sparkle 2 Evo50%Indie Selects SaleFlooded50%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in London33%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in Paris33%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in New York33%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in Spooky Town25%Indie Selects SaleDinobreak50%Indie Selects SaleTurnip Boy Robs a Bank35%Indie Selects SaleElderand60%Indie Selects SaleCtrl Alt Ego30%Indie Selects SaleBio Inc. Redemption30%Indie Selects SaleCLeM35%Indie Selects SaleTenderfoot Tactics60%Indie Selects SaleDustborn60%Indie Selects SaleRage of the Dragons NEO20%Indie Selects SaleBang-on Balls: Chronicles60%Indie Selects SaleBeyond Galaxyland35%Indie Selects SaleEverdream Valley60%Indie Selects SaleThe Hong Kong Massacre80%Indie Selects SaleReady Steady Ship50%Indie Selects SaleDeep Beyond30%Indie Selects SaleGift (Xbox Series X|S Edition)65%Indie Selects SaleSCHiM20%Indie Selects SaleSCHiM20%Indie Selects SaleThe Star Named EOS20%Indie Selects SaleRusted Moss20%Indie Selects SaleGNOSIA30%Indie Selects SaleAaero220%Indie Selects SaleVampire Hunters30%Indie Selects SaleSongs of Silence20%Indie Selects SaleWW2 Rebuilder30%Indie Selects SaleBrocula40%Indie Selects SaleBraid: Anniversary Edition75%Indie Selects SaleMediterranea Inferno60%Indie Selects SaleKitten Island50%Indie Selects SaleThe Jackbox Party Pack 1040%Indie Selects SaleNeptunia Sisters VS Sisters60%Indie Selects SaleAlien Hominid Invasion20%Indie Selects SaleThe Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication20%Indie Selects SalePaper Trail50%Indie Selects SaleKnights of Braveland25%Indie Selects SaleA Time Travellers Guide To Past Delicacies (Xbox Series X|S)50%Indie Selects SaleKamaeru: A Frog Refuge25%Indie Selects SaleRuff Ghanor60%Indie Selects SaleSpiral20%Indie Selects SaleIron Meat20%Indie Selects SaleRetaliate50%Indie Selects SaleAlisa Developers Cut30%Indie Selects SaleCrypt Custodian20%Indie Selects SaleAthenian Rhapsody30%Indie Selects SaleThe Palace on the Hill40%Indie Selects SaleSky Oceans: Wing for Hire25%Indie Selects SaleSlender: The Arrival60%Indie Selects SaleChoice of Life: MIddle Ages 265%Indie Selects SaleTourist Trap30%Indie Selects SaleSilver Axe The Honest Elf50%Indie Selects SaleNerd Survivors50%Indie Selects SaleLong Gone Days40%Indie Selects SaleLifeless Moon30%Indie Selects SaleTo the Moon30%Indie Selects SaleSlay the Princess The Pristine Cut20%Indie Selects SaleKeylocker20%Indie Selects SaleBBQ Simulator The Squad50%Indie Selects SaleReel Fishing: Days of Summer25%Indie Selects SaleJust Crow Things25%Indie Selects SaleThe Inheritance of Crimson Manor70%Indie Selects SaleHand in Hand40%Indie Selects SaleShieldwall30%Indie Selects SalePuppet House30%Indie Selects SaleAlien Hominid HD20%Indie Selects SaleEndless Dungeon50%Indie Selects SaleEndless Dungeon Last Wish Edition50%Indie Selects SalePanzer Paladin25%Indie Selects Sale8 Bit Adventures 220%Indie Selects SaleAlina of the Arena30%Indie Selects SaleSuper Woden GP 225%Indie Selects SaleEspresso Tycoon30%Indie Selects SaleMotesolo30%Indie Selects SaleAquarium Designer35%Indie Selects SaleTrail Out50%Indie Selects SaleYOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE-50%Indie Selects SaleThe House of Da Vinci 240%Indie Selects SaleThe House of Da Vinci 330%Indie Selects SaleBloomtown: A Different Story20%Indie Selects SaleWhile True: learn()30%Indie Selects SaleTri6: Infinite +50%Indie Selects Salepureya25%Indie Selects SalePaper io 250%Indie Selects SaleThe Coma 2B: Catacomb25%Indie Selects SaleAerial_Knights We Never Yield50%Indie Selects SaleCorpoNation: The Sorting Process40%Indie Selects SaleLil Gator Game40%Indie Selects SaleUltra Foodmess Deluxe40%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in Rome25%Indie Selects SalePixel Cafe90%Indie Selects SaleELDERBORN20%Indie Selects SaleEMPTY SHELL25%Indie Selects SaleManor Lords (Game Preview)30%Indie Selects SaleLil Guardsman50%Indie Selects SaleTamarak Trail50%Indie Selects SaleBroken Roads50%Indie Selects SaleAstor: Blade of the Monolith50%Indie Selects SaleMy Time At Sandrock35%Indie Selects SaleTEVI35%Indie Selects SaleExhausted Man20%Indie Selects SaleHARDCORE MECHA30%Indie Selects SaleStunt Paradise25%Indie Selects SalePhantom Spark35%Indie Selects SaleLaika: Aged through Blood40%Indie Selects SaleWordless45%Indie Selects SaleOffroad Mechanic Simulator20%Indie Selects SaleQomp 235%Indie Selects SaleLunar Landar Beyond35%Indie Selects SalePOed35%Indie Selects SaleBioframe Outpost20%Indie Selects SaleArmed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition25%Indie Selects SaleStolen Realm50%Indie Selects SaleTrinity Fusion50%Indie Selects SaleTrinity Fusion Deluxe Edition50%Indie Selects SaleUnleaving50%Indie Selects SaleDeadlink35%Indie Selects SaleSuper Space Club25%Indie Selects SaleAccess Denied: Escape30%Indie Selects SaleSkeler Boy40%Indie Selects SaleAero The Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge20%Indie Selects SaleA Perfect Day35%Indie Selects SaleLoretta40%Indie Selects SaleDungeon Drafters40%Indie Selects SaleTribe: Primitive Builder20%Indie Selects Sale3XTINCTION40%Indie Selects SaleParkitect: Deluxe Edition50%Indie Selects SaleDrova Forsaken Kin20%Indie Selects SaleCrow Country20%Indie Selects SaleRogue Flight30%Indie Selects SaleWithering Rooms50%Indie Selects SaleBullet Runner40%Indie Selects SaleGarden Witch Life30%Indie Selects SaleAlbatroz30%Indie Selects SaleJorels Brother and The Most Important Game of the Galaxy50%Indie Selects SaleAstrea: Six-Sided Oracles20%Indie Selects SaleCryptmaster20%Indie Selects SaleEverafter Falls20%Indie Selects SaleAnother Crabs Treasure35%Indie Selects SaleTroublemaker: Raise Your Gang50%Indie Selects SaleTetris Forever20%Indie Selects SaleVolgarr the Viking II30%Indie Selects SaleWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord35%Indie Selects SaleLandnama30%Indie Selects SaleSpeedollama20%Indie Selects SaleBorn of Bread55%Indie Selects SaleLords of Exile35%Indie Selects SaleThe Land Beneath Us30%Indie Selects SaleDownward: Enhanced Edition40%Indie Selects SaleFabledom35%Indie Selects SaleTrain Sim World 540%Indie Selects SaleGoons: Legends & Mayhem50%Indie Selects SaleBuilder Simulator40%Indie Selects SaleHighwater75%Indie Selects SaleBlacksad: Under the Skin (X1)75%Indie Selects SaleBlacksad: Under the Skin (Series)65%Indie Selects SaleSam & Max The Devils Playhouse20%Indie Selects SaleSail Forth + Maelstrom Bundle40%Indie Selects SaleSlave Zero X30%Indie Selects SalePepper Grinder40%Indie Selects SaleBotany Manor20%Indie Selects SaleThe Masters Pupil30%Indie Selects SaleBurger Bistro Story30%Indie Selects SaleNinja Village50%Indie Selects SaleHeroine Anthem Zero 2 : Scalescars Oath30%Indie Selects SaleBackpack hero30%Indie Selects SaleHowl50%Indie Selects SaleABRISS build to destroy40%Indie Selects SaleDesktop Dungeons: Rewind30%Indie Selects SaleHeretics Fork30%Indie Selects SaleDaydream: Forgotten Sorrow50%Indie Selects SalePromenade50%Indie Selects SaleShogun Showdown25%Indie Selects SaleDarkest Dungeon II25%Indie Selects SaleSpellcats50%Indie Selects SaleWelcome to Empyreum40%Indie Selects SaleRewind or Die30%Indie Selects SaleHome Safety Hotline30%Indie Selects SaleTimes and Galaxy30%Indie Selects SaleAcross the Obelisk50%Indie Selects SaleDemocracy 4: Console Edition20%Indie Selects SalePets Hotel70%Indie Selects SaleShip Graveyard Simulator 250%Indie Selects SaleEternal Threads60%Indie Selects SaleShadow of the Ninja Reborn20%Indie Selects SaleKing Arthur: Knights Tale60%Indie Selects SaleAurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan50%Indie Selects SaleHorizon Chase 250%Indie Selects SaleBetween Horizons50%Indie Selects SaleMy Child Lebensborn Remastered25%Indie Selects SaleGreat God Grove20%Indie Selects SaleLittle Noah: Scion of Paradise70%Indie Selects SaleLittle Noah: Scion of Paradise Special Edition70%Indie Selects SaleBlindfire20%Indie Selects SalePrune & Milo50%Indie Selects SaleKingdom Eighties50%Indie Selects SaleSuper Rolling Heroes Deluxe50%Indie Selects SaleCandle Knight50%Indie Selects SaleAbathor25%Indie Selects SaleHorror Tales: The Beggar30%Indie Selects SaleRebel Transmute40%Indie Selects SaleReveil50%Indie Selects SaleInsurmountable50%Indie Selects SaleCapes35%Indie Selects SaleCapes King City Edition35%Indie Selects SaleREVEIL Funhouse Edition50%Indie Selects SaleBrothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake50%Indie Selects Sale

Stacy Zarin GoldbergEvery item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.A collection of indoor plants can immediately elevate an interior, bringing in much-needed color, life, and natural texture. Having houseplants around can even help to purify the air and improve your mental health. However, not every room is suited to live plants. Most houseplants are tropical in origin and need ample sunlight, high humidity, and a strict watering routine in order to thrive. While you can search for a low-maintenance houseplant that suits your needs, you can always opt for the alternative: an artificial plant.Fake plants are a little taboo in the interior design realm, well admit. The plastic-looking succulents conjure up images of doctors offices and bank counters. However, if you choose the right type and a high-quality variety, no one may ever know the difference.Faux plants can be a great alternative in the right situations, especially for clients who want the greenery without the maintenance, says interior designer Laetitia Laurent. We asked a handful of interior designers their thoughts on this controversial topic, and what they said might surprise you. Read on to learn how not to commit a faux pas with faux greenery. Related StoriesAre Fake Plants Ever Okay to Use?The short answer is yes! The longer answer is that it really depends on the type of space you're working with and the size of the fake plant. According to Laurent, Fake plants make sense in spaces where sunlight is limited or maintenance is tricky. Theyre also ideal in resort-style outdoor areas where you want that lush, tropical feel without worrying about constant upkeep. Plus, if you have allergies or travel often, fake plants are a low-stress option that youre guaranteed not to kill.As an alternative to plastic, interior designer Erica McLain favors using preserved or dried botanicals instead. These arrangements bridge the gap between natures authenticity and convenience, McLain says. Some favorites include weeping willow eucalyptus, amaranth, and Echinops globe thistles. They retain the organic, textural quality of living plants but dont require watering or sunlight. Related StoryHow to Use Fake Plants WellBefore you start shopping for fake plants to put all around your space, here are the expert-approved pointers to keep in mind.Focus on Imperfect FormsAny faux plant that is too glossy or too symmetrical will immediately read as fake according to McLain. Look for realism in texture, variation in color, and an organic flow in the shape, she recommends. High-quality faux plants mimic the natural irregularities of live greenery. Avoid anything overly glossy or unnaturally symmetricalnature is wonderfully imperfect, and the best faux pieces honor that. Laurent adds that the way to convincingly display a faux plant is all in the styling. Focus on your plantersthe right vessel can elevate any variety of faux plants.The Bigger, the BetterLarger faux plants, like trees, tend to look more convincing because they create that natural, sculptural effect, says Laurent. Fake trees or larger ferns tend to be further from our direct eye line, causing us to scrutinize or notice them less than, say, a fake bouquet or a row of succulents. Stacy Zarin GoldbergThe large tree in this Texas home is surprisingly not real.McLain agrees, saying, A faux tree, when scaled and styled appropriately, can soften a stark corner or add height and dimension to a room. The key is in their placement and qualityuse them sparingly and intentionally.Pair With Natural Textures To offset the artificial look, McLain recommends ensuring there are colors and materials that can actually be found in the great outdoors nearby. If youre incorporating faux plants, balance them with natural elementsthink raw woods, natural stones, or preserved botanicalsto ground the space in authenticity. And dont overuse them; a single statement piece will elevate a room, while too many can feel cluttered or contrived, she says.Try New MaterialsFor an artistic statement, look past realistic-looking fake plants and instead opt for a sculptural approach. McLain turns to handcrafted pieces like Tommy Mitchell's metal florals or Roberta Schilling's suede houseplant collection. They offer a whimsical and sculptural nod to greenery without pretending to be something theyre not, she says.Other options to consider are the silk plants by Afloral. According to Stephanie Brown, an interior designer and former floral designer, They make great plant dupes, she says. These can look good, but they need to be included in your dusting routine or else they will reveal themselves as faux very quickly! Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

TSMC is a major Apple partner, producing chips for its many hundreds of millions of new devices each year. But per the companys founder, there was once a time when Intel got a shot at iPhone chip production, and failed to impress.In a new interview on the Acquired podcast, TSMC founder Morris Chang discussesamong many other thingsthe history of the companys partnership with Apple.One of the most interesting exchanges has to do with a period in February 2011 when Apple reportedly considered giving Intel some of its iPhone chip production business.At the time, Intel still made chips for the Mac. But its iPhone trial phase reportedly left CEO Tim Cook unimpressed.Chang recalls speaking to Jeff Williams at the time, who told him, We need to pause our discussions for two months because the highest level of Intel has approached Tim Cook and has asked Tim Cook to consider Intel. Chang explains, Jeff Williams was talking about the iPhone. Then he goes on:So that was all he said, and I wasnt all that worried because in 2011, Intel was no longer a name that you would, when you hear it, you would stand up and bowI of course had to accept Jeff Williams request, but againI wasnt all that worried.Later, Cook reportedly had lunch with Chang at Apples campus where he told him, Theres nothing to worry about because Intel doesnt know how to be a foundry. Chang called this answer very short, but very satisfactory to me.Chang also shared that his understanding of Intels reputation with customers was not strong at the time:Before Apple became our customer, I knew a lot of Intels customers in Taiwanyou know, all the PC makers are Intels customers. None of them liked Intel. Intel always acted like they were the only guy.Later he said that out of the Intel customers he knew, they all wished there were another supplier.You can watch the full interview here.What do you make of Changs comments about Intel possibly making iPhone chips? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Todays best deals in Apple gear and accessories include Apple Watch Series 10 at up to $136 off alongside ongoing Black Friday pricing across the entire lineup. These offers join the $110 price drop on Apple Watch Ultra 2, but Amazon has also brought back the most affordable M4 MacBook Pro at the lowest we have tracked with $200 in savings alongside a massive $400 price drop on select M4 Max MacBook Pro configs for folks looking to score a real beast of a new laptop. Satechi is running a serious 50% sale on its desktop and workstation accessories, plus youll find everything else down below.Apple Watch Series 10 now up to $136 off at Best Buy from $263 shipped (open-box, 1-yr. Apple warranty)While we are still tracking the return of Black Friday pricing across the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup courtesy of Amazon, matching the lowest prices we have tracked, but we have some open-box deals to scope out today with full Apple warranties. Best Buys trusty open-box listings have now dropped even lower, delivering the the 42mm model in silver or rose gold down at $262.99 and $275.99 shipped, respectively, while the Jet Black is now sitting at $313.99 shipped ($5 under our previous mention). Details below.42mm Apple Watch Series 10 $329 (Reg. $399) 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 $359 (Reg. $429) 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+Cell $429 (Reg. $499) 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+Cell $459 (Reg. $529) 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+CellTitanium modelApples 16GB M4 MacBook Pro in Space Black returns to $1,399 all-time low ($200 off) Update 2: If youre looking to score a real monster of an M4 Max MacBook Pro, Amazon has a massive price drop at the ready on the 16-inch 48GB/1TB model at $3,599 shipped thats $400 off the regular $3,999 list price on this configuration. Update: The silver model has jumped up in price but the Space Black has returned to the $1,399 all-time low after quickly going out of stock the most affordable M4 MacBook Pro at the lowest we have tracked. Details below.We have already seen some notable deals hit on the higher-end and particularly pricey M4 Pro configurations since the end-of-year holiday price drops last year, but today marks your first chance in 2025 to land all-time low pricing on the most affordable new M4 MacBook Pro. Amazon is now serving up an on-page coupon that knocks the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and the 512GB SSD down to $1,399 shipped in both Space Black and Silver thats $200 off the regular $1,599 list price at Apple and elsewhere.Satechi is perhaps best known for its Apple gear accessories chargers, keyboards, and more, but it also makes a suite of gear that can make for a wonderful addition to your at-home workstation. And to get your year started on the right foot, it has now launched a wide-ranging Your Best Work Starts Here sale, offering 50% off its ultimate desk setup gear using code NEWDESK2025 at checkout. Youll find all of the eligible gear right here and additional details on our favorites down below.Type-C Aluminum Monitor Stand Hub for iMac $45 (Reg. $90) R1 Aluminum Hinge Holder Foldable Stand $20 (Reg. $40) 108W Pro USB-C PD Desktop Charger $40 (Reg. $80) Quatro Wireless Power Bank $50 (Reg. $100) With Apple Watch chargerUSB-C Monitor Stand Hub XL $75 (Reg. $150) And even more And youll also find some of its desk mats and mouse pads eligible for the 50% promo code deal as well:Vegan-Leather Premium Mouse Pad $10 (Reg. $20) Vegan-Leather Premium Desk Mat $20 (Reg. $40) Eco-Leather Deskmate $20 (Reg. $40) And even more Natural Apple Watch Ultra 2 undercuts Black Friday at $119 off today, or refurb OG Ultra 1 at $399 offAmazon brings back all-time low pricing on Apples iPad mini 7 at $100 off, deals from $399Todays accessories and charging deals:Last day to score the 50% off intro price on Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete for iOS/AndroidGrab Apples official all-black iPhone 16 case with Camera Control at just $22 (55% off)Tested: Im really liking the new mini magnetic FlashFinder flashlight with Apple Find My, especially at $25Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

LinkedIn has been pretty bullish on AI. So bullish, in fact, that it started grabbing user data to train generative AI without waiting to ask for permission.But everyone has their limit, and algorithm-generated clutter posing as viable employees apparently surpassed the job platform's.As 404 Media reports, the company has now taken action to remove the accounts of so-called AI "coworkers" that were wasting everyone's time by being listed as looking for real work and we doubt that they'll be missed."People expect the people and conversations they find on LinkedIn to be real," a LinkedIn spokesperson told 404. "Our policies are very clear that the creation of a fake account is a violation of our terms of service, and we'll remove them when we find them, as we did in this case."To say that LinkedIn is some sanctuary of authentic human connection might be going too far, since it's plagued with AI slop like everywhere else not to mention equally soulless hustlers. Chatbots, after all, are naturally fluent in the conversational, empty-platitude-infused business speak used by so many professionals on that #Grindset.But compared to sites like Facebook that are deliberately deploying AI users, it definitely could be worse. And snideness aside, it's easy to see why the site's admins thought these "coworkers" went too far.The #OpenToWork profiles, a flair indicating that they're looking for a job, were created by an Israeli firm called MarkeTeam to advertise its "dedicated AI agents" built for, yes, marketing teams, boasting AI-generated "headshots" and plenty of overweening ambition.Take this eye-rolling text from the profile of an AI account called Ella, replete with the usual dumb stereotypes about pesky underlings that tech and business types love to harp on."I don't need coffee breaks, I don't miss deadlines, and I'll outperform any social media team you've ever worked with - Guaranteed," read the AI's page before deletion, per 404. "Tired of human 'experts' making excuses? I deliver, period."Yeah, human "experts." Who ever needed those?But MarkeTeam doesn't get what the big fuss is."These are real LinkedIn profiles of MarkeTeam's AI agents. Our agents have proven marketing capabilities and skills and are working alongside humans in marketing teams as we speak," a spokesperson for the firm told 404. "In fact some startups (including us) sometimes present them as part of the 'team' slide on their decks, and they are working in our own team as well."That's obviously pretty dubious; even the best AI agents are still mordently clunky, with an analysis recently finding that the first "AI software engineer" was failing at the overwhelming majority of its tasks.The company went on to point a finger at Big LinkedIn: "LinkedIn's decision to remove these profiles raises an important question: As AI agents increasingly become legitimate team members in companies across the globe, shouldn't professional networks evolve to recognize this new reality?"A tough question. Maybe the AI agents oughta pull themselves up by the bootstraps for a change.More on AI:Another Chinese AI Company Says It's Beaten OpenAIShare This Article

Jan 30, 2025Ravie LakshmananArtificial Intelligence / Data SecurityOver 57 distinct threat actors with ties to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia have been observed using artificial intelligence (AI) technology powered by Google to further enable their malicious cyber and information operations."Threat actors are experimenting with Gemini to enable their operations, finding productivity gains but not yet developing novel capabilities," Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) said in a new report. "At present, they primarily use AI for research, troubleshooting code, and creating and localizing content."Government-backed attackers, otherwise known as Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups, have sought to use its tools to bolster multiple phases of the attack cycle, including coding and scripting tasks, payload development, gathering information about potential targets, researching publicly known vulnerabilities, and enabling post-compromise activities, such as defense evasion.Describing Iranian APT actors as the "heaviest users of Gemini," GTIG said the hacking crew known as APT42, which accounted for more than 30% of Gemini use by hackers from the country, leveraged its tools for crafting phishing campaigns, conducting reconnaissance on defense experts and organizations, and generating content with cybersecurity themes.APT42, which overlaps with clusters tracked as Charming Kitten and Mint Sandstorm, has a history of orchestrating enhanced social engineering schemes to infiltrate target networks and cloud environments. Last May, Mandiant revealed the threat actor's targeting of Western and Middle Eastern NGOs, media organizations, academia, legal services and activists by posing as journalists and event organizers.The adversarial collective has also been found to research military and weapons systems, study strategic trends in China's defense industry, and gain a better understanding of U.S.-made aerospace systems.Chinese APT groups were found searching Gemini for ways to conduct reconnaissance, troubleshoot code, and methods to burrow deep into victim networks through techniques like lateral movement, privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and detection evasion.While Russian APT actors limited their use to Gemini to convert publicly available malware into another coding language and adding encryption layers to existing code, North Korean actors employed Google's AI service to research infrastructure and hosting providers."Of note, North Korean actors also used Gemini to draft cover letters and research jobsactivities that would likely support North Korea's efforts to place clandestine IT workers at Western companies," GTIG noted."One North Korea-backed group utilized Gemini to draft cover letters and proposals for job descriptions, researched average salaries for specific jobs, and asked about jobs on LinkedIn. The group also used Gemini for information about overseas employee exchanges. Many of the topics would be common for anyone researching and applying for jobs."The tech giant further noted that it has seen underground forum posts advertising nefarious versions of large language models (LLMs) that are capable of generating responses sans any safety or ethical constraints.Examples of such tools include WormGPT, WolfGPT, EscapeGPT, FraudGPT, and GhostGPT, which are explicitly designed to craft personalized phishing emails, generate templates for business email compromise (BEC) attacks, and design fraudulent websites.Attempts to misuse Gemini have also revolved around research into topical events, and content creation, translation, and localization as part of influence operations mounted by Iran, China, and Russia. In all, APT groups from more than 20 countries used Gemini.Google, which said it's "actively deploying defenses" to counter prompt injection attacks, has further emphasized the need for heightened public-private collaboration to raise cyber defenses and disrupt threats, stating "American industry and government need to work together to support our national and economic security."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Remember when Hollywood studios used to make comedies? And you could go to the movie theater and laugh at them with a roomful of strangers?That was neat.It would have been nice to watchYoure Cordially Invitedthat way. Its a funny movie. A couple of the laughs are really big; the kind where, in a theater, people wouldscream and yell so muchthat you wouldnt be able to hear the next couple lines.You dont hear that sound much anymore.Beggars cant be choosers, I suppose. I guess I should just be happy the movie exists at all; that people cansee it on Prime Video and laugh alone or with a couple of friends. Its certainly still worth watching at home. (If youve already got Amazon Prime, you cant beat the price.)Its got two bona fide comedy stars, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, whove never made a movie together before but turn out to be an extremely complementaryonscreen duo: Ferrell with his towering beta energy, and Witherspoon as the tiny alpha refusing to give an inch to his absurd demands and claims of superiority.With their odd couple physicality, theyre like an old fashioned comedy duo; an ideal visual mismatch.AmazonAmazonloading...READ MORE:Our Interview WIth Youre Cordially Invited Director Nicholas StollerIts fitting, then, that Ferrell and Witherspoon have been plucked down into a classic screwballcomedy premise. Ferrells Jim is the doting single dad of Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan), a free-spirited young woman who decides to marry her boyfriendOliver (Stony Blyden). Jims picturebelongs onWikipediashelicopter parent page; hes on tilt from the moment he learns his babys moving out for good. Hethinks hes reserved the picturesque island getaway where he married Jennis mother many years earlier for her nuptials but a snafu leavestheir names out ofthe venues calendar. So when Witherspoons Margot agrees to plan her sister Neves (Meredith Hagner) wedding to exotic dancerDixon(Jimmy Tatro), she grabs the date Jim thinkshesJennis best friend takes over the rest ofher wedding planning, and shes not entirely on the ball, which is how both parties arrive for their weddings at the same time each believing they are entitled to the same cramped space. Margot works in reality television and shes just as intense as Jim. They each try to play nice for a bit, and agree to share the tiny inn andits limited optionsfor the two wedding ceremonies and receptions. But what would the movie be if everyone got along? Instead, tensions rise untilJim and Margot are flinging profanities and the occasional wild animal at one another.AmazonAmazonloading...On the one hand, the extremes Jim andMargot go to in order to screw witheach other are absolutely ridiculous. (I was not kidding about the wild animal thing.) On the other hand, I have seen real people lose their minds while stewing inthe pressure cookerofa lavish destination wedding. And even if some of what happens inYoure Cordially Invitedisfar fetched, its no more ludicrous than the more fancifultwists in other Ferrell comedies.And thats how Ferrell plays Youre Cordially Invited. Jim is a classic Will Ferrell character; a sweet soul with a limitless capacity for outrage and fury at anyperceived slight or injustice. Writer/director Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall,Neighbors) gives Ferrell plenty of room to improvise and goof around and a surprisingly game scene partner in Witherspoon, who emerges ashisfeistiest female co-star since Christina Applegate in theAnchorman films.Witherspoon also has a whole chunk of the movieto herself, where she explores Margots family history witha deep cast of supporting players, including the wonderful Celia Weston as Margots perpetually disappointed, politely disagreeable mother.AmazonAmazonloading...This is not a complicated movie, although based on how rarely Hollywood even attempts to make something likeit these days, youd think that it were. Stollercooked up a solid premise, assembled a funny cast, gave them some good scenes to play and lines to deliver, and let them do their thing. Ferrell looks rejuvenated here, giving possibly his funniest performance in years. (His line where he reveals Jims job is possibly the hardest Ive laughed at any movie sinceBarb and Star Go to Vista Del Marin 2021.) I saypossibly because without having seen this movie with a packed crowd on opening night, its tough to know for sure.RATING: 7/10Get our free mobile appThe Worst Comedies Ever MadeCinema has brought laughter to generations of moviegoers. In these cases, though, the laughs were on the paying customers.

We are looking for a skilled developer to join our team and take ownership of the development, maintenance, and optimization of our internal tools. Youll be joining a team of passionate, self-driven individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. We value collaboration, innovation, and delivering high-quality solutions. What Youll DoBuild and maintain internal tools using Python, PHP, JavaScript.Implement and maintain automated testing for all tools to ensure reliability.Set up and manage monitoring and alerting systems for internal tools.Work with internal stakeholders to gather requirements, document needs, and deliver solutions.Provide technical support for internal tools and troubleshoot issues as they arise.Must-Have SkillsProficiency in PythonExperience in SQL and MySQL query optimization.Solid foundation in PHP and JavaScript.Knowledge of CI/CD configuration and management.Proficiency in Git and understanding of GitLab CI/CD pipelines.Strong knowledge of automated testing and monitoring.Knowledge of AWS services, particularly CloudWatch and Logs Insights.Nice-to-Have SkillsFamiliarity with load and stress testing tools.Experience with TypescriptBasic knowledge of ECSWhat We Offer100% remote work.Support for hobbies and physical activities through our BAMM program.Computer budget to improve your workspace.Kindle and access to our company Amazon account.Respect for national holidays in your country.Opportunity to work with a global team of smart, driven individuals.Opportunities for growth and development within the company.Ready to Join?Apply today - we look forward to meeting you! Related Jobs See more Full-Stack Programming jobs

Submitted by WA ContentsThe Austrian Pavilion will explore theme "Agency for Better Living" at 2025 Venice Biennale Austria Architecture News - Jan 30, 2025 - 15:50 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The Austrian Pavilion has unveiled the theme for its exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy. Titled "Agency for Better Living," the exhibition will explore affordable housing, starting with the cities of Vienna and Rome.Curated by Sabine Pollak, Michael Obrist, and Lorenzo Romito, the curators will pose these questions that affect all of us: What defines good housing and a good living environment? What political framework do we need in order to create them? How can we design socially equitable, affordable housing? And what strategies lead to the best results?.Starting with the cities of Vienna and Rome, they are comparing the bottom-up self-organization strategies that civic society in Rome pursues with the top-down social housing model in Vienna. The curators want to know what an unofficial activist approach and a system that is organized at the national or local level may learn from each other. The Austrian Pavilion will thus develop into a venue for information exchange regarding how to make life better for everyone.Curators Lorenzo Romito, Sabine Pollak und Michael Obrist. Image Michael ObexThe world's housing supply is under pressure due to extremely potent displacement mechanisms brought on by the confluence of massive financial flows and the profound changes in our culture. A new political component is being added to the fundamental right to a house.Housing has long been seen in Vienna as a socio-emancipatory issue in addition to a strictly practical one. This international interest in the Austrian model serves as the foundation for the Austrian Biennale participation. It connects two opposing "mythical" narratives about how we would like to coexist in the future: the history of the top-down, successful national or municipally organized model, which is illustrated by a century of Vienna's social housing design; and the history of informal housing, which is a bottom-up model that utilizes incomplete or abandoned buildings and former infrastructure.The City of Rome, an urban laboratory where responses to today's significant displacements take the form of creative interventions and civil resistance, serves as an example from Italy, the host nation of the Biennale.The pavilion will provide a discussion space in addition to the exhibition. The courtyard will transform into a user-friendly venue for a variety of event formats that will focus on Better Living opportunities and tactics throughout the Biennale. In Vienna, Rome, or any other city, visitors to the Biennale will encounter activists, locals, experts, and anybody else interested in bettering housing and living conditions.Communal swimming pool, Alterlaa, Vienna. Image Zara PfeiferPresentations, discussions, and workshops will cover a variety of topics, including the economics, migration, nature, climate, tourism, and many more, twice a month on Fridays or Saturdays from June to October.Participants will include visitors to the pavilion, actors from a variety of specialized fields, and students from summer schools and international institutions. A key component of the pavilion's overall layout is the courtyard. It will develop into a location where visitors are inspired to take a short break, exchange knowledge, and exchange concepts for Better Living. And in the symmetrically designed areas to the left and right of the pavilion's main entrance, some of the most recent instances of housing problems in Vienna and Rome will be discussed and presented in a variety of media.The discursive courtyard space, the idea of learning from two systems, and the processing of the concerns all fit with the Biennale's overall theme, Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. Artificial and natural. group. In order to create future models for Better Living, the specific objective is to integrate a broad variety of knowledge and experiencenot just from Vienna and Rome, but from as many of the towns, organizations, and players that are involved in the Biennale as possible."We want to use the Biennale to share knowledge about the two systems in Vienna and Rome with as many other people as possible in the spirit of Intelligens. The exhibition forms the basis for a discussion of potential futures for a Better Living that will hopefully be maintained long after the Biennale has ended. One of the tasks of the Agency will be to ensure that this discussion continues," said Sabine Pollak, Michael Obrist and Lorenzo Romito.Protests at Lago Bullicante / Ex-SNIA, Rome, 2021. Image Pierre Kattar"With their contribution on the housing question, the curators are devoting themselves to a subject of urgent socio-political relevance. By comparing Viennas social housing model with the bottom-up practices in Rome, they are opening up a range of perspectives and potential approaches to the development of affordable housing, which is coming under increasing pressure due to phenomena such as gentrification," said Elias Molitschnig, Commissioner of the Austrian Contribution to the Biennale Architettura 2025 / Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport."By integrating workshops, lectures, and interactive formats, the Austrian pavilion will become a dynamic place of knowledge sharing, in which questions of social justice, political responsibility, and sustainable urban development can be addressed across national boundaries," Molitschnig added.Under the title Agency for Better Living, the German architecture and urbanism magazine ARCH+, which is renowned for defining the debate, is dedicating a special edition (with a print run of 10,000) to the Austrian Pavilion.The magazine will be published in both German and English.Community Room, Spin Time Lab, Rome. Image Zara PfeiferThe 19th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 10 May to 23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy. The exhibition is curated by Carlo Ratti who announced the theme as "Titled Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective."The title has ambient meanings in English and Italian, addressing modern term "intelligence", and expands into a broader context that includes "art, engineering, biology, data science, social and political sciences."The top image in the article: Helmut-Zilk-Park at Sonnwendviertel, Vienna. Image Paul Sebesta.> via art:phalanx

Submitted by WA ContentsThe Austrian Pavilion will explore theme "Agency for Better Living" at 2025 Venice Biennale Austria Architecture News - Jan 30, 2025 - 15:50 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The Austrian Pavilion has unveiled the theme for its exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy. Titled "Agency for Better Living," the exhibition will explore affordable housing, starting with the cities of Vienna and Rome.Curated by Sabine Pollak, Michael Obrist, and Lorenzo Romito, the curators will pose these questions that affect all of us: What defines good housing and a good living environment? What political framework do we need in order to create them? How can we design socially equitable, affordable housing? And what strategies lead to the best results?.Starting with the cities of Vienna and Rome, they are comparing the bottom-up self-organization strategies that civic society in Rome pursues with the top-down social housing model in Vienna. The curators want to know what an unofficial activist approach and a system that is organized at the national or local level may learn from each other. The Austrian Pavilion will thus develop into a venue for information exchange regarding how to make life better for everyone.Curators Lorenzo Romito, Sabine Pollak und Michael Obrist. Image Michael ObexThe world's housing supply is under pressure due to extremely potent displacement mechanisms brought on by the confluence of massive financial flows and the profound changes in our culture. A new political component is being added to the fundamental right to a house.Housing has long been seen in Vienna as a socio-emancipatory issue in addition to a strictly practical one. This international interest in the Austrian model serves as the foundation for the Austrian Biennale participation. It connects two opposing "mythical" narratives about how we would like to coexist in the future: the history of the top-down, successful national or municipally organized model, which is illustrated by a century of Vienna's social housing design; and the history of informal housing, which is a bottom-up model that utilizes incomplete or abandoned buildings and former infrastructure.The City of Rome, an urban laboratory where responses to today's significant displacements take the form of creative interventions and civil resistance, serves as an example from Italy, the host nation of the Biennale.The pavilion will provide a discussion space in addition to the exhibition. The courtyard will transform into a user-friendly venue for a variety of event formats that will focus on Better Living opportunities and tactics throughout the Biennale. In Vienna, Rome, or any other city, visitors to the Biennale will encounter activists, locals, experts, and anybody else interested in bettering housing and living conditions.Communal swimming pool, Alterlaa, Vienna. Image Zara PfeiferPresentations, discussions, and workshops will cover a variety of topics, including the economics, migration, nature, climate, tourism, and many more, twice a month on Fridays or Saturdays from June to October.Participants will include visitors to the pavilion, actors from a variety of specialized fields, and students from summer schools and international institutions. A key component of the pavilion's overall layout is the courtyard. It will develop into a location where visitors are inspired to take a short break, exchange knowledge, and exchange concepts for Better Living. And in the symmetrically designed areas to the left and right of the pavilion's main entrance, some of the most recent instances of housing problems in Vienna and Rome will be discussed and presented in a variety of media.The discursive courtyard space, the idea of learning from two systems, and the processing of the concerns all fit with the Biennale's overall theme, Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective. Artificial and natural. group. In order to create future models for Better Living, the specific objective is to integrate a broad variety of knowledge and experiencenot just from Vienna and Rome, but from as many of the towns, organizations, and players that are involved in the Biennale as possible."We want to use the Biennale to share knowledge about the two systems in Vienna and Rome with as many other people as possible in the spirit of Intelligens. The exhibition forms the basis for a discussion of potential futures for a Better Living that will hopefully be maintained long after the Biennale has ended. One of the tasks of the Agency will be to ensure that this discussion continues," said Sabine Pollak, Michael Obrist and Lorenzo Romito.Protests at Lago Bullicante / Ex-SNIA, Rome, 2021. Image Pierre Kattar"With their contribution on the housing question, the curators are devoting themselves to a subject of urgent socio-political relevance. By comparing Viennas social housing model with the bottom-up practices in Rome, they are opening up a range of perspectives and potential approaches to the development of affordable housing, which is coming under increasing pressure due to phenomena such as gentrification," said Elias Molitschnig, Commissioner of the Austrian Contribution to the Biennale Architettura 2025 / Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport."By integrating workshops, lectures, and interactive formats, the Austrian pavilion will become a dynamic place of knowledge sharing, in which questions of social justice, political responsibility, and sustainable urban development can be addressed across national boundaries," Molitschnig added.Under the title Agency for Better Living, the German architecture and urbanism magazine ARCH+, which is renowned for defining the debate, is dedicating a special edition (with a print run of 10,000) to the Austrian Pavilion.The magazine will be published in both German and English.Community Room, Spin Time Lab, Rome. Image Zara PfeiferThe 19th International Architecture Exhibition will take place from 10 May to 23 November 2025 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and various venues in Venice, Italy. The exhibition is curated by Carlo Ratti who announced the theme as "Titled Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective."The title has ambient meanings in English and Italian, addressing modern term "intelligence", and expands into a broader context that includes "art, engineering, biology, data science, social and political sciences."The top image in the article: Helmut-Zilk-Park at Sonnwendviertel, Vienna. Image Paul Sebesta.> via art:phalanx