OpinionWhy the UK must lead on data to unlock AIs full potentialUnless the data silos in government are addressed, the UK risks falling short of the Action Plans ambitious goals to lead in AI adoptionByElena Simperl and Neil MajithiaPublished: 10 Feb 2025 The UK government holds some of the worlds most valuable datasets, including official statistics, cultural heritage records and NHS health data. These datasets have powered scientific breakthroughs, business innovation, and improvements in public services.With the publication of the much-anticipated AI Opportunities Action Plan, the transformative potential of government data for AI has never been more apparent. However, recent research by the Open Data Institute (ODI) reveals critical shortcomings in how government datasets are prepared and published for AI.Government data and AIs reliability challengeFoundation models (FMs), such as ChatGPT and Gemini, are increasingly used to provide information on public policies and services. Yet, the ODIs research highlights that while these models scrape government data repositories, they often fail to deliver accurate outputs based on them. Instead, models draw on secondary or unreliable sources, such as social media posts or opinion articles, or simply fabricate answers.The consequences are significant. Citizens using AI tools to understand benefit entitlements, for example, may receive misleading or incomplete advice, undermining public trust in both AI and government services. This is particularly concerning given the UK governments emphasis on improving public service delivery through AI innovation.Data deficits in the AI ecosystemThe AI Opportunities Action Plan, authored by Matt Clifford, rightly emphasises the role of the National Data Library (NDL) as a means to unlock government data for AI innovators. Yet, the current state of government datasets presents significant barriers to achieving this vision.ODI analysis of CommonCrawl, a key dataset repository for AI models, found that it scraped 13,556 pages from data.gov.uk as of April 2024. However, these pages rarely contributed to accurate model outputs. Across 195 test queries, models correctly referenced data.gov.uk statistics in only five cases.This issue arises because government data is often not published in AI-ready formats. While technologies such as DCAT are used to make datasets discoverable, scraping infrastructure like CommonCrawl does not fully support these technologies. As a result, AI models rely on less authoritative sources, perpetuating misinformation. The ODIs findings suggest that the UKs ambition to lead in AI innovation could falter unless this disconnect is addressed.Evidence from ODI experimentsThe ODI conducted two experiments to examine how government data supports AI models and, in turn, how AI models are enabled to support residents of the UK.The first experiment analysed how important UK government websites are for AI. Researchers conducted an ablation study utilising a machine unlearning technique to remove gov.uk websites from a selection of FMs' training data.The results revealed a 42.6% increase in models inaccuracy when deprived of gov.uk content, leading to fundamental errors. For example, one test found that models that did not have access to government websites misinformed users about their eligibility for Child Benefit.In contrast, the second experiment found that government datasets are currently unknown to AI models. This experiment, a study of models' ability to recall specific statistics from data.gov.uk, found that out of 195 queries, models accurately referenced official government statistics releases just five times.The conclusion from these experiments was that while government websites are vital for AI accuracy, government statistics datasets are underutilised despite their enormous value and potential in delivering public services. If we want to realise the potential of AI to deliver benefits such as improving care quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness in the NHS, the government must prioritise improving the quality, accessibility, and usability of its data.The path forwardThe adoption of FAIR principles - ensuring data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable - has long been championed by data.gov.uk and remains a strong foundation. Emerging tools like Croissant, a machine-readable metadata format designed for machine learning, can further enhance discoverability and integration into developers workflows. If dataset descriptions are improved, they will be more usable for human and machine users.The government must incentivise responsible data sharing to ensure equitable access to high-quality data. This could include tax incentives for private-sector data sharing, mandates for publicly funded projects to make their data open where appropriate, or even a levy on AI-generated content to fund trusted information sources. We must use privacy-enhancing technologies such as Solid, which offer individuals direct access and control of their data - for example, their well-being and health data - to ensure access to sensitive data without compromising personal privacy, commercial sensitivity, or national security. This could provide important benefits, such as using machine learning to identify personal risk factors for health conditions, enabling preventative action. Data Trusts can be built on top of Solid to aggregate data. This aggregated data can be collated into datasets with Croissant metadata to prepare it for research use.Aligning with the Action PlanThe AI Opportunities Action Plans emphasis on high-quality data and strong governance aligns with the ODIs longstanding commitment to socio-technical solutions integrating advanced data infrastructure with public trust. To support the development of interoperable systems, AI-ready datasets, and privacy-enhancing technologies, the ODI is advocating for a ten-year National Data Infrastructure Roadmap. This roadmap would support the Action Plans focus on driving AI innovation through investing in long-term data infrastructure.Read more about the AI Opportunities Action PlanMajor obstacles facing Labours AI opportunity action plan: Skills, data held in legacy tech and a lack of leadership are among the areas discussed during a recent Public Accounts Committee session.Disjointed industrial strategy a barrier to UK scaleup success: The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee calls on Labour to join-up piecemeal initiatives and cut bureaucracy.However, the Action Plan leaves several gaps unaddressed. It does not fully detail how the National Data Library will incorporate user input or engage diverse stakeholders to ensure it delivers public benefit. There is limited detail about formal standards for data quality and provenance, which are critical for ensuring AI-ready datasets. Furthermore, while the Action Plan highlights the need to support AI innovators, it could more explicitly foster data-centric startups specialising in data preparation and governance tools. We hope these gaps are addressed as the government rolls out the recommendations.International leadership through collaborationThe ODIs research highlights the global importance of data-centric approaches to AI governance. However, few nations prioritise this focus, risking undermining the broader adoption of open and shared data practices. Without robust data-centric governance, the foundations of transparent and accountable AI systems could weaken.The ODI has launched the Global AI Policy Data Observatory to address this. This initiative provides practical resources to support policymakers in developing data-centric AI governance. By offering insights into machine-readable metadata, toolkits for responsible data use, and best practices for transparency, the Observatory aims to strengthen the global evidence base for data-centric AI.Realising the UKs AI potentialAccess to high-quality government data is essential for realising AIs potential in public service delivery. By improving data publication practices and investing in long-term infrastructure, the UK can position itself as a global leader in data provision for AI. This leadership will unlock transformative economic and social benefits, aligning with the ambitions of the AI Opportunities Action Plan.The full report is available to download at ODI Report: The UK Government as a Data Provider for AI.Elena Simperl is the director of research at the ODI. Neil Majithia is a researcher at the ODI.In The Current Issue:Forrester: Why digitisation needs strong data engineering skillsLabours first digital government strategy: Is it dj vu or something new?Download Current IssueSLM series: Editorial brief & scope CW Developer NetworkWill Skills England be allowed to change the course of the Government's inherited policy Titanic? When IT Meets PoliticsView All Blogs

A calculator app is seen on the screen of an iPhone on December 6, 2017. (Photo by Jaap ... [+] Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFrom MyFitnessPal to Cronometer, Lose It! and Calory, theres no shortage of calorie counting apps. But heres my hot take: the best app to track your food intake is already on your iPhone (and your Android phone)the Calculator app.Its free, its simple andmost importantlyit does the job as well as any other app in the calorie tracking category. Youll also never have to worry about dealing with ads, permissions, privacy concerns, prompts to subscribe or the temptation of upgrading to a paid tier.Its Already On Your iPhoneIm no stranger to MyFitnessPal and Ive got no squabbles with specialized health and fitness apps, but I found myself succumbing to the culture of over-optimization. I got obsessed with measuring biomarkers, anything from calories, to daily steps and sleep quality. So much so that my quest for optimization was starting to get in the way of savoring the little things.The goal was to improve my life; instead, it only made it less enjoyable.So recently Ive made a conscious effort to simplify things in my lifeespecially when it comes to my phone usage. Less apps, less screen time and less health tracking (or rather, health tracking in moderation).MORE FOR YOUEnter The Calculator AppIve been on a strict diet for the past 15 weeks and so far the Calculator app has been nothing short of great.All you need to do is look at the labels, measure your food and enter the correct amounts. Plus you get to practice basic arithmetic.I work out religiouslyI went to the gym 304 times in 2024, with my longest streak coming at 34 days in a row. But Im not a professional athlete, so I dont necessarily need to track every little detail about my diet, like macros.I do, however, count my calories and protein intake. I eat a protein-heavy diet, so I rarely have to worry about hitting my daily target. Im much more precise with my calorie intake, though. And the Calculator app has been absolutely up to that task.And there has been another positive secondary effect: looking at nutrition value labels has made me more liberal with my meal planning. I actually allow more room for treats and desserts, which has made the overall dieting regimen easier to handle.Looking At The DownsidesObviously, there are downsides to using the Calculator as your primary calorie counting app. For one, it doesnt log your food consumption over timeunless of course youre cool with inputting that data manually in a spreadsheet.Its also not ideal for people who need to get granular with macros. If thats you, then MyFitnessPal is still your pal.But if you like to keep things simple and clean, trust me: the Calculator is the only calorie counting app you needand its already on your iPhone.

Generative AI can help come up with an amazing Valentine's Day plan that will bring joy to all.gettyIn todays column, I showcase how you can use generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to help you brainstorm about Valentines Day, even if it is a last-minute desperation maneuver.Heres why this might be important to you. Not everyone necessarily already has figured out their exact plans for Valentines Day (dont feel bad if you are in that boat). Plus, even if you have planned things out, it might be worthwhile to bounce those plans off generative AI in case there are any guffaws or flaws baked into the vital matter at hand. It is better to get a serious gut check upfront than get awkwardly caught in a dire bind on the revered Valentines Day.Bottom-line is that you can leverage generative AI to stay out of the doghouse.Lets talk about it.This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here).MORE FOR YOUDj Vu But With A TwistI previously described seven major ways that you can use generative AI to assist in planning and carrying out a highly successful Valentines Day, doing so in my coverage last year, see the link here.Those always-valuable seven aspects regarding using generative AI consisted of:(1) Knowing what Valentines Day is truly about.(2) Suggestions for Valentine's Day gifts.(3) Ways to celebrate Valentines Day.(4) Boosting romantic prowess in anticipation of Valentines Day.(5) Being lovingly conversational during Valentines Day.(6) How not to ruin Valentines Day.(7) Contingencies if Valentines Day goes amiss.This was the tagline for that Valentines Day posting: Roses are red, violets are blue, and may generative AI be useful to you. The piece was in-depth and covered nearly everything under the sun. Readers enjoyed it.This year, I am opting to take a somewhat different take on the Valentines Day topic. Suppose you arent sure of what you want to do for Valentines Day. The good news is that you can brainstorm with generative AI. Bounce ideas off the AI. Determine what makes sense. Figure out what direction to go.Im sure some caustic smart-alecky pessimists will instantly say that if someone hasnt already ironed out their Valentines Day plans, they are sunk -- it is seemingly far too late in the game to plan something out. Well, please dont listen to those naysayers. There is still time to get your ducks in alignment. You can use generative AI to brainstorm about activities that can be arranged quickly.Finally, for those of you who firmly have Valentines Day plans all figured out, congrats, but are you really sure that youve covered all the bases? Maybe there is a weak link in the chain of lovingness that youve pieced together. No worries. You can use generative AI to double-check your plans. Best to be safe rather than sorry.Using Generative AI Has Your BackBefore we leap into the Valentines Day details, you might find of overall interest that I have been doing a series of analyses on how to use generative AI to improve your life in a wide variety of aspects (see the link here for my ongoing coverage). In each instance, I emphasize that generative AI is not a cure-all, it has demonstrative ins and outs, and the likely best use entails carrying on a dialogue with the AI, plus making sure to watch out for the AI inadvertently generating falsehoods or making errors. I will be covering those salient points in this discussion since they are vital and go hand-in-hand with using generative AI wisely.Okay, with that said, lets get avidly underway.I went ahead and logged into ChatGPT by OpenAI to come up with handy examples. You might find it of keen interest that ChatGPT garners a whopping 300 million weekly active users. That is a staggering amount of usage. If you prefer to use some different generative AI apps, such as Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta Llama, thats perfectly fine. They will generate similar results.Here we go.My entered prompt: I need some assistance in figuring out what to do for Valentines Day. Ive been busy and havent come up with anything. Any ideas?Generative AI response: I can help. Are you looking for something romantic, adventurous, or unique?My entered prompt: Something romantic but not clich.Generative AI response: Got it! Do you prefer a stay-at-home experience or going out?My entered prompt: Going out, but I dont want just a fancy dinner.Generative AI response: How about a sunset picnic at a scenic spot with a customized playlist of meaningful songs? Or a mystery date night where you plan surprise stops at places that have special meaning to your relationship?My entered prompt: Yes, I like the mystery date night idea!Note that the AI immediately expressed a sense of empathy or understanding for my expressed concerns. This might seem strange since the AI is a machine and not sentient (we dont have sentient AI yet). Turns out that generative AI can appear to be empathetic via computational wordsmithing, see my discussion at the link here.The AI came out quickly with several useful suggestions that are all reasonable and not somehow odd or outlandish. Another aspect to note is that the AI didnt ridicule me or otherwise play any tomfoolery about my need for assistance. Generative AI is typically shaped to be supportive rather than combative.Keep The Dialogue FlowingYour best bet in getting value from generative AI is to think of AI as a conversational partner.The idea is that you are carrying on an interactive dialogue with AI. Some people do a one-and-done angle whereby they ask a question, get an answer, and do not undertake a dialogue with the AI about the matter at hand. That is a shortchanging of what AI can more fully provide. See my explanation about how to get more out of generative AI conversationally, at the link here.To illustrate the value of engaging in a dialogue, lets continue my discussion.My entered prompt: I like the mystery date night idea! Any insights on making it extra special?Generative AI response: Absolutely! A great way to build anticipation is by creating clues that lead from one location to the next. Would you like to include places that are meaningful to your relationship or just fun surprises?My entered prompt: A mix of both. I want it to feel romantic but also a little playful.Generative AI response: Perfect! You could start with a handwritten note or a small, wrapped gift that contains the first clue. Maybe something nostalgic, like a printed photo of your first date spot or a menu from a restaurant you love.My entered prompt: Thats a fantastic approach. I was thinking of starting at the caf where we met. What should happen there?Generative AI response: You could ask the barista to hand your partner the next clue with their favorite drink. The clue could be inside the cup sleeve or attached to a small gift, like a keychain that hints at the next location.My entered prompt: Thats amazing. Thank you you are a lifesaver!Once again, the AI was reassuring and upbeat.A generative AI conversation can continue for as long as you wish. The other thing you can do is pause your exploration and then continue the conversation at a later date. This is handy so that you dont have to start the conversation over from scratch. The AI will retain aspects of what you have discussed earlier in the conversation, see my explanation of how this works at the link here.Dont Fall For AI HallucinationsGenerative AI regrettably encounters said-to-be AI hallucinations from time to time. These are made-up confabulations that are groundless and fictitious. Bad advice can be dispensed. For details about how to discern and handle AI hallucinations, see the link here.Lets see what this looks like.My entered prompt: Do you have any suggestions for where I could have a romantic dinner?Generative AI response: Of course! How about a private dinner at Lumire dAmour in your town.My entered prompt: Wait for a second. I dont think there is such a restaurant in my town. Thats a famous place that isnt even in my state.Generative AI response: I made a mistake, sorry. You are right that it isnt in your town. I should have been more careful.Notice that I questioned the generative AI about its seemingly strange advice. Fortunately, the AI opted to back down and admitted it was wrong. Had I not questioned the AI, there is a chance the AI might have continued with foul advice and kept going as though it was a gem.The key to all usage of generative AI is to stay on your toes, keep your wits about you, and always challenge and double-check anything the AI emits.More To Keep In MindMake sure to let the AI know whatever constraints you might have such as time available for Valentines Day, a budget limit, etc. Without stipulating those factors, generative AI might conjure up outlandish possibilities that just arent realistic for you.Finally, you can ask generative AI to come up with sentimental notes. For example, heres one that I got during the dialogue above about what to do for Valentines Day: Tonight was a journey, just like us; Filled with laughter, love, and trust. But every path, no matter how far; Leads me right back to where you are.Nice.Ill caution you though about using such missives. Some might get upset that you used AI to devise a love note. The assumption is that you should be able to come up with one from your heart. Now then, the odds are that many would look up those kinds of lovey-dovey notes online anyway. I guess youll need to decide whether using AI crosses the line.If you want to play it safe and avoid something generated by AI, heres a long-time human-devised royalty-free classic that you can use without any tribulation: Forever is a long time, but I wouldnt mind spending it by your side.Good luck and wishing you the best Valentines Day that AI can assist you in devising.

Zotac is taking a bold step to combat GPU scalping by selling its latest RTX 50-series graphics cards including the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 directly to gamers through its official gaming Discord server. This initiative is an attempt to ensure that genuine customers have a fair chance to purchase the latest GPUs at MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) without interference from scalpers and bots.To qualify, users must actively engage in the Zotac Discord community by participating in discussions, events, and challenges. Winners are then selected using a random number generator, ensuring a transparent process. Currently, the program is limited to users in the U.S., and while a limited number of RTX 5080 units are available, the RTX 5090 is not yet in stock.RedditZotac has also implemented strict anti-scalping measures to prevent reselling. All GPUs sold through this program have their serial numbers recorded, and any user caught attempting to resell their GPU risks being permanently banned from future Zotac raffles and direct sales events. This zero-tolerance policy reinforces Zotacs commitment to prioritizing real gamers over resellers.Recommended VideosScalping has been a significant issue in the PC hardware market, especially new GPUs, with many high-demand products being hoarded and resold at inflated prices. By offering direct sales to active community members, Zotac is not only making it harder for scalpers but also rewarding its loyal customers with an exclusive opportunity to purchase its GPUs fairly.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming While it remains to be seen how effective this strategy will be in the long run, Zotacs approach sets an important precedent for the industry. If successful, it could encourage other manufacturers to adopt similar measures to ensure gamers, not scalpers, get their hands on the latest hardware.Editors Recommendations

One of the highlights for astronauts who spend time aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is the chance to enjoy breathtaking aurora from some 250 miles above Earth.The space stations X account has just shared some stunning footage showing an aurora captured by a camera on the ISS as it traveled over Canada, from west to east.Recommended VideosThe space station on Jan. 4 soared into a stunning aurora dancing over Canada with city lights dotting the landscape below before orbiting into a sunrise 259 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. pic.twitter.com/xhBJPZm5rm International Space Station (@Space_Station) February 9, 2025Please enable Javascript to view this contentAn aurora also known as the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) in the northern hemisphere, and Southern Lights (aurora australis) in the southern hemisphere is a natural display of light in the sky, most often seen in high-latitude regions.The beautiful phenomenon comprises dynamic patterns of brilliant light that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering much of the sky.Theyre caused by disturbances in the Earths magnetosphere as it interacts with solar winds, with the dramatic effect the result of collisions between fast-moving electrons from space and the oxygen and nitrogen in Earths upper atmosphere.Astronauts on a regular six-month mission at the space station are likely to see plenty of aurora events, so long as theyre looking out of the window as they fly over it.The best place aboard the ISS to see an aurora is from the Cupola, a seven-window module offering panoramic views of Earth and beyond.While the ISS has a number of Earth-facing cameras fixed to the outside of the facility that are constantly tracking events down below, astronauts with a keen photographic eye also enjoy using the stations professional cameras and lenses to try to capture aurora. Current ISS astronaut Don Pettit, for example, recently shared his own footage of one of the light shows.Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield once offered his own take on the spectacular occurrence, saying: To look at the Northern Lights is like magic. To be in them, to surf on them, thats beyond magic. Its surreal.Editors Recommendations

The company appointed Hotard as it moves to diversify and search for new growth areas outside of its traditional telecom operator market.

ASML's CEO advises people focus on breathing before a big presentation.Other executives, including Marc Benioff and Ray Dalio, have long evangelized about meditation.ASML, a key player in semiconductor manufacturing, is facing geopolitical challenges in China.Dutch semiconductor giant ASML's CEO has a simple piece of advice for anyone going into a big presentation: inhale and exhale."Watch the way you are going to breathe for the first 30 seconds," Christophe Fouquet said on a Norges Bank podcast posted on Wednesday. "If you breathe too fast, then your presentation will go wrong very quickly."The CEO most recently spoke at a series of interviews at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January.Fouquet highlighted some activities that help him avoid stress: listening to music, playing sports, and spending time with his kids.Salesforce's CEO Marc Benioff and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio are among other executive-level advocates for mindfulness and meditation. Benioff has said that he starts each day by meditating for 30 to 60 minutes."I'm grateful to have learned how to meditate 30 years ago because I learned how to stop the inner critic," Benioff wrote on X in 2019.Dalio has called his meditation practice which he started in 1969, even before founding his hedge fund "the single most important reason for whatever success I've had."ASML, Europe's second-largest tech company, is known for making large lithography machines needed to produce some high-end chips. Its biggest customers are chip manufacturers TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.Fouquet, who has been the CEO since April 2024, is leading ASML through the artificial intelligence boom and a period plagued by uncertainty over geopolitical tensions between the US and China. He has worked at ASML since 2008.The $282 billion company has been under pressure from the Dutch and US governments to further restrict sales of its technology to China one of its biggest markets over security concerns about AI and other technologies.ASML's shares are down nearly 20% in the past year, due to weakening demand from chipmakers.

DeepMind's Demis Hassabis said DeepSeek's new model is "impressive" but overhyped.Hassabis said it brought "no actual new scientific advance," as firms like his race to develop AGI.He also said many of the techniques used by DeepSeek were pioneered by his team.Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google's DeepMind, said he's impressed by DeepSeek's new AI model but thinks the hype around the Chinese tech is exaggerated."I mean, just briefly, on DeepSeek, it's an impressive piece of work, and I think it's probably the best work I've seen come out of China," Hassabis said on Sunday in Paris, where he's set to attend the AI Action Summit."But it's important to understand that despite the hype, there's no actual new scientific advance there. It's using known techniques," added Hassabis. "Actually many of the techniques we invented at Google and at DeepMind."He cited Alpha Zero, DeepMind's learning system that taught itself chess, go, and shogi to the point where it could beat world champions.Still, Hassabis acknowledged that DeepSeek's new model could make a difference on the "geopolitical scale."The Chinese AI product sent shockwaves through the tech industry last month when it showed that it could rival American models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, threatening to overturn what the markets had believed was a substantial lead held by US firms.DeepSeek also said that it spent a fraction of what American firms were investing in their AI models, shaking perceptions of how much it truly costs to develop and improve advanced machine learning. The model's debut eventually sparked a $1 trillion sell-off in the US market.Meanwhile, Google also said in its earnings on Tuesday that it's planning to spend $75 billion on capital expenditure this year.His team and those at AI powerhouses like OpenAI and Microsoft have been focused on a race to achieve artificial general intelligence, or the point when an AI model can reach or surpass human reasoning.DeepMind, DeepSeek, and Highflyer, the Chinese hedge fund that backs DeepSeek, did not respond to requests for comment sent by Business Insider.

ISO - Inside Shift Outside House / Ply ArchitectureSave this picture! Alexander MillerArchitects: Ply ArchitectureAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:330 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Alexander Miller Lead Architects: Benjamin Edwards, Christopher Jeffery More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. ISO is a family home born from a shared passion for Modernism and making. The alterations and additions to the existing dwelling were carefully handled to celebrate the existing form and materiality, carving out the center of the original U-shaped villa to insert a form that captures a Modern lifestyle.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A delicate balance of public and private, transparency and connection. A balance of volumes and scales push and pull through the project, respondent to the building use. Private zones are constrained to the existing dwellings' framework, compressed to provide intimacy and recluse. The new works are intentionally public, celebrating engagement and leisure; a series of curated sightlines open the dwelling to the surrounding neighborhood, whilst internal layering allows control and operability.Save this picture!Save this picture!The inside and outside are blurred across a series of transparent thresholds. The garden is visually connected and reinforced through all zones of the dwelling. The built form and landscaping have provided inspiration to our client's personal business as furniture makers, encouraging the development of a range of furniture inspired by the dwelling. Macro details observed in the architecture and interiors have informed deliberate aesthetic, tactile, and functional decisions in their work.ISO/ is built on the land of the Kaurna peopleSave this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePly ArchitectureOfficePublished on February 10, 2025Cite: "ISO - Inside Shift Outside House / Ply Architecture" 10 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026631/iso-inside-shift-outside-house-ply-architecture&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

Necklace Villa / 1110 Office for ArchitectureSave this picture! Yohei SasakuraArchitects: 1110 Office for ArchitectureAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:185 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Yohei Sasakura Lead Architects: Hiroto Kawaguchi, Antonin Henrard, Kenta Shimamura More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Dog Villa on Awaji Island: "What Changes and What Remains" On the northern part of Awaji Island, this project is a sea-facing rental villa designed for dog owners. In recent years, the northern part of Awaji has been experiencing a rapid urbanization process, transforming the landscape drastically by adding new cafs and theme park developments along the seaside. Facing such an uncertain and indeterminate context, we wanted to confront these rapid changes with "ambiguity and ambivalence," rather than rejecting them unilaterally or accepting them uncritically.Save this picture!Save this picture!The site reflects the unique topography of the northern part of Awaji Island, where the sea and the mountains connect. With limited flat land, dense housing, and direct proximity to roads and residential areas, the road environment has a direct impact on the site. Therefore, we chose to design a courtyard building that would act as a protective buffer from the noisy road in front and from the close neighbors all around. On the other hand, we created large openings on the front street side to grasp this ever-changing environment as well as the facing sea. These openings quietly draw the reality outside but also operate inside for all the inner spaces to be visually connected, creating interesting perspectives all along the boundary.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!In the courtyard, a gentle hill is created in response to the difference in the steps of the skipped floors, forming a circular flow line through the interior, and exterior, and linking the two terraces. The north-facing terrace provides a bright and peaceful view of the courtyard and distant landscape from the shade, while the south-facing terrace offers a starry sky view after dinner or bathing. These locations, while blocking the view of the surroundings due to the difference in elevation of the building, let in wind and light, forming a "ma-awai" (a shallow space that finds its way between the surrounding buildings).Save this picture!The overall composition takes the shape of a series of beads in which different scales huts are continuously connected to the lines of flow of inner circulation. Inside, the floor height is gradually raised to suppress the dog's barking threats to passing cars, and the living room is placed higher than the car height. The gradual difference in levels between the skipped floors divides the space, creating an environment in which people and dogs can coexist naturally without being separated by any wall. In addition, a small take-out restaurant is located under the living room floor, creating a public space that links the local community to the building and activates the parking in front.Save this picture!The exterior skin of the building is unified with a reddish-brown tone, referring to contextual elements such as neighboring glazed roof tiles, painted cedar boards, warehouse steel facades, and bicycle parking lots. With this project, we aimed to create a place where one can relax in the here and now while resonating with the slight fluctuations of time and environment.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on February 10, 2025Cite: "Necklace Villa / 1110 Office for Architecture" 10 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026579/necklace-villa-1110-office-for-architecture&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