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The Quiet Revolution: Innovative Design Solutions for a Softer Urban Experience
The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.Living in a city has its perks 24-hour dim sum, a caf for every obscure occasion and, if you have a dog birthday party to organize, theres a lovely little corner spot near the park for that. Dont forget the smug satisfaction of a 15-minute commute or the insight that comes from access to historic neighborhoods that are brimming with unique characters and culture. But lets be honest: urban life can be exhausting. Even without partying until 6 am or submitting to the grind, it can feel like a wind tunnel of noise, where double speed is the only acceptable pace and relentless engagement is non-negotiable.Many scientists predict that by 2050, nearly 70% of the worlds population will live in urban areas, with cities becoming denser as they absorb millions of new inhabitants. Access to resources, housing and employment opportunities will concentrate in these areas, but so too will the challenges: rising noise levels, poor air quality and chronic stress are just a few of the daily realities of urban living. No wonder, then, that architects, designers and urban planners are rethinking the spaces we inhabit be they homes, transit hubs, offices or outdoor promenades across all industries; those in the know are seeking to create and specify innovative products that address the physical and psychological toll of city life.Sticking a few plants in the corner and calling it biophilia, this is not although, sometimes, that might be the answer. The challenge is to transform urban density into something livable, even restorative. From noise-cancelling surfaces to heritage lighting, the tools to soften city life are evolving fast. This years Architizer A+Product Awards winners demonstrate how thoughtful design can create spaces that give back time, energy and calm for those of us whose garden is a fire escape and whose neighbors are nocturnal.Enter the A+Product AwardsGarden on the Wall Story Telling GardensBy Garden on the WallPopular Choice Winner, Furnishings, Accessories, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe Garden on the Wall Storytelling Gardens turns plants into stories and living artworks. At 105 feet long, Garden on the Walls most ambitious installation at Nashville International Airport connects travelers to the local landscape with layers of preserved greenery depicting rivers and bridges. Its maintenance-free design offers architects a no-compromise solution for bringing nature and culture into any urban environment, utilizing unused surfaces in a way that benefits in more than one way.BuzziCee + BuzziPlanterBy BuzziSpaceJury Winner, Contract Seating, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe BuzziCee acoustic seating system curves into playful forms that help to quiet communal spaces, while the BuzziPlanter integrates greenery without demanding additional floor area. Together, they solve two urban challenges: too much noise and too little nature. Made from recycled materials, the modular seating solution proves sustainability doesnt have to come at the expense of comfort or personality.Universal Series Window WallBy CascadiaPopular Choice Winner, Glass & Glazing, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe Universal Series Window Wall has a thermally superior fiberglass frame that supports expansive glazing without sacrificing energy efficiency. Its double and triple-glazing options, plus Passive House certification, make it ideal for architects seeking to balance light, insulation and serenity in the heart of the city.IRIS Luminous SkyCeilingBy Sky FactoryPopular Choice Winner, Recessed & Mounted Lighting, 2024 A+Product AwardsUsing advanced algorithms to mimic natural light and drifting clouds, the IRIS Luminous SkyCeiling can be used to turn even the darkest interiors into serene escapes. By aligning its daylight cycles with the bodys circadian rhythms, it offers a creative solution for spaces like hospitals, offices or retail environments where access to natural light is limited, but calm is critical.ArborisaBy ArkturaJury Winner, Acoustics, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe design of the Arborisa acoustic ceiling is inspired by nature and, more specifically, tree canopies. Its intersecting baffles soften sound while introducing organic forms into shared spaces. With a range of modular designs and customizable finishes, the sculptural product is a versatile tool for creating unique interiors where noise is an issue.VanAir DoorBy VanAir DesignPopular Choice Winner, Doors & Hardware, 2024 A+Product Awards.The VanAir Door solves a modern urban dilemma: air circulation without compromise. Its staggered slots improve ventilation and balance humidity while maintaining acoustic privacy with an impressive STC rating of 26. For apartments, offices or multi-use spaces, its a quiet innovation that makes urban living healthier.Northport LightingBy Landscape FormsJury Winner, Exterior Lighting, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe Northport Lighting collection is a reinterpretation of historical acorn street lamps, layering nostalgia with modern functionality. An optional LED flame creates a gentle flicker, softening streetscapes, parks, or promenades into places that invite pause and reintroduce some historical beauty to our urban environments.Lido Freestanding BathtubByHydro SystemsJury Winner, Fixtures & Fittings Bath, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe Lido Freestanding Bathtub channels Miami modernism into a piece designed to be admired. Its ergonomic curves, crafted from HydroLuxeSS, combine with hydrotherapy options like Cold Plunge to transform private bathrooms into personal retreats. Available in 15 colors, it is brimming with sculptural elegance while providing therapeutic calm.Facet BathtubBy Stone ForestPopular Choice Winner, Fixtures & Fittings Bath, 2024 A+Product AwardsBalancing precision and materiality, the Facet bathtub stone exterior plays with the surrounding light to become a visual delight while its smooth, ergonomic interior is perfectly designed. Carved from Antique Gray Limestone or Noce Basalt, the bath is a grounding focal point for bathrooms where form and function meet in equal measure.TheoryBy Landscape FormsPopular Choice Winner, Outdoor Furniture, 2024 A+Product AwardsThe Theory collection reshapes transitional zones into places of interaction and connection. Its modular system of beams, shelters and seating can be adapted to evolve with the surrounding cityscape by turning functional spaces into intentional environments that support well-being throughout everyday city life.Moving IslandsBy FurnifyPopular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Flexible Design, 2024 A+Product AwardsMoving Islands is a perfectly practical and adaptable solution. Designed to create indoor gardens or flexible seating zones, its modular forms are crafted from repurposed materials. In nursing homes, atriums, or event venues, it introduces nature where its most needed.Archi Folds 3D Textile FacadeBy Studio Samira Boon.Jury Winner, Best of the Year, Innovation, 2024 A+Product AwardsOriginally designed for Hermes, the Archi Folds 3D Textile Faade is an elegant solution for softening interiors. Its origami-inspired folds balance daylight, privacy, and acoustics. Crafted from recycled yarns, it offers architects a way to create textured, layered environments while controlling privacy and light saturation.VetraSkyBy Sentech Architectural Systems.Popular Choice Winner, Best of the Year, Flexible Design, 2024 A+Product AwardsSpanning up to 26 feet, the VetraSky skylight system floods dense spaces with natural light while meeting the rigorous structural demands of curved glass. A transformative tool for architects seeking to bring openness and airiness to the urban core. The Final Entry Deadline for Architizer's 2025 A+Product Awards is Friday, January 24. Get your brand in front of the AEC industrys most renowned designers by submitting today.The post The Quiet Revolution: Innovative Design Solutions for a Softer Urban Experience appeared first on Journal.
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