Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2023 i Frame

In the era of increased hybrid working, the physical office has become a place for in-person collaboration. Wilkhahn noticed this shifting role early on, launching the Timetable Lift by Andreas Störiko back in 2018. The team realized that while the table is still a crucial element for collaboration, it could be so much more than a flat surface for gathering around. Timetable Lift’s tabletop can be flipped over to reveal a magnetic, writeable whiteboard. Mobile and battery-operated – and adjustable for sitting or standing heights – the product answers the need for agile ways of working. Now the brand has given Timetable Lift a suite of new functional features that offer even more scope for agile collaboration – whether analogue or hybrid. Designed to support innovative and creative processes, these…

ENCOUNTERS BY DESIGN Strategies for Spatial Stories by Atelier Markgraph Discover the strategies behind the visionary new practice of designing spatial encounters: whether it be a museum exhibition, brand experience or urban installation, space has become the unexpected medium through which to tell stories and craft identities. This comprehensive investigation delves into Frankfurt-based spatial design agency Atelier Markgraph’s portfolio through the lens of encounters. €59 CRAFTING CHARACTER The Architectural Practice of CHYBIK + KRISTOF Crafting Character echoes the ‘red thread’ connecting all of the diverse projects of Chybik + Kristof Architects, be it adaptive reuse, a new meticulously designed public building as an icon or a largescale development. Fourteen cinematic vignettes highlight projects as personified characters that have their own histories, dreams, secrets and stories to tell. €49…

‘PEOPLE FEEL REALLY CALM WHEN THEY ENTER’ The wellbeing of Booking.com employees was an integral part of the design of its Amsterdam head office from the outset. Bob Elshof, global head of real estate at Booking.com: ‘That’s why we chose UNStudio as the lead architect. The team is on the same level when we talk about wellbeing, and listened carefully to us.’ At Booking.com, wellbeing starts with the architectural shell. For example, to encourage the use of the stairs, the escalators are somewhat hidden from those entering. To stimulate movement, a diagonal walkway in the central atrium leads from the fifth to the sixth level. Instead of the bare concrete boxes typical of escape stairwells, Booking.com’s are transparent glass, making them look much more inviting. Thanks to two atria and…

Combined solutions for ACOUSTICS and illumination. Turning MIGRAINES into tapestries. Foldable FLEXIBLE study pods for temporary workspaces. The GYMNASIUM aesthetic gets an update. STRESS-REDUCING light that mimics breathing patterns. MENTAL WELLBEING meets water conservation in the bathroom. A hugging chair for behavioural and emotional SUPPORT. We share the PRODUCTS defining the market today. In collaboration with colour expert Margrethe Odgaard, MONTANA FURNITURE introduces three poetic tones to its palette: RUBY (pictured far right), ACACIA and CLAY. These gentle and uplifting hues are designed to improve our mood and wellbeing. They come to life by interacting with daylight and change throughout the course of the day. montanafurniture.com On show at Designmuseo Helsinki through 5 October as part of KUSTAA SAKSI’s solo exhibition In the Borderlands, FIRST SYMPTOMS is a collection of six…

Can design be used as a tool for self-healing? And how can we carve out more care-forward spaces? We put three studios with enticing answers in the spotlight as this issue’s Ones to Watch. AB+AC ARCHITECTS explores how parasympathetic responses to our environments could boost our immune systems, LISE VESTER produces stigma-free products that address specific needs, and SENSIKS employs simulated realities to support stress reduction and trauma therapy.…

Over 50 per cent of the world’s population lives in urban areas and that number is expected to rise to 7 in 10 by 2050. And whereas most citizens have 24/7 access to mobile devices, many spend less than half an hour a day in nature, leaving us with a disconnect to its restorative power. That’s something Fred Galstaun, who describes himself as a soul searcher with an interest in tech, became very aware of while spending a day at the Dutch beach during a stressful period of his life. Realizing the impact of the environmental sensory stimuli on his wellbeing, he set out to re-create that feeling and started Sensiks, a platform for Sensory Reality (SR), a term he coined to describe the illusion of being present in a…

SLOW BOOST At Nana Coffee Roasters in Bangna, Bangkok, drinking coffee is an activity equivalent to meditation. IDIN Architects designed the project to reflect this idea, creating a zen-like space nestled in a rich green landscape. The café is located near one of Bangkok’s busy motorways, hoping to serve as an escape for drivers and city dwellers alike. A minimalist greyscale palette, use of natural materials like stone, and the visibility of the lush surrounding landscape all contribute to providing a restorative space that encourages visitors to slow down, even those popping in for a quick takeaway coffee. ACTIVE ARCHITECTURE Designed by Specific Generic and Spillmann Echsle Arkitekten, running brand On’s headquarters in Zurich fosters a sense of belonging for its 700 employees. The 15,000-m2 complex is broken up into…

Amenities, amenities, amenities. Check out the latest high(er)-end housing developments, and you could very well find a list of trimmings like a cinema, swimming pool and shared cars. But the very definition of the word amenity – ‘useful or pleasant facilities or services’ – highlights their expendability. Before tacking on bonuses, living spaces should have a solid base for wellbeing. Linq-X founder Steve Lastro agrees that the word ‘wellbeing’ is being misconstrued in the world of housing. ‘Developers talk about “community” and “wellbeing” in terms of things like spas and gyms,’ he says. ‘That’s not wellbeing; that’s a lifestyle decision. To me, wellbeing is about creating conditions in a space that contribute to being well.’ AN ESSENTIAL RECIPE And just what are the ingredients for creating those conditions? Unlike sports…

1 EXAMINE YOUR DEFINITION What does wellbeing mean? Many developers and designers have tied the term to ‘wellness amenities’ like spas and workout spaces, rather than to its true essence of ‘being well’. Defining this key difference will help you to become aware of which spatial conditions contribute to being well (and which don’t) and to translate those elements to every user touchpoint, including online. 2 RETURN TO ESSENTIAL NEEDS Before adding on extras, get the wellbeing basics right. Think of sunlight, access to nature, clean water and air, and reasonable sound levels, all of which are key considerations in the Well Building Standard. How can spatial design not only integrate but maximize these aspects? 3 GET PHYSICAL Physical spaces have the power to direct their inhabitants. With sedentary lifestyles on…

After gaining experience working for internationally acclaimed practices such as Buro Ole Scheeren, Superimpose Architecture and Vector Architects, Italian Arianna Bavuso and Lebanese-American Andre Chedid set up AB+AC Architects during the pandemic, which offered the time for reassessment. Dedicated to bringing back the humanistic aspect of their profession, the studio puts the physical and social, as well as mental and emotional needs of users at the centre of its projects. ‘We aim to develop architecture that engages with all the senses, provoking positive responses, inspiring happy thoughts and stimulating a healthier way of life,’ says Chedid. The husband-and-wife duo believes that spaces, and thus spatial design, can be used as tools for healing. The consumer awareness of that quality, however, is often lacking. ‘The healthcare, fitness, fashion, cosmetics and of…

ROBERT The future of retail is often discussed in terms of offering enhanced in-store experiences and omnichannel integration. Recently, doing so more sustainably is also making its way up the agenda. But can – and should – retail also contribute to our health and wellbeing holistically, beyond selling products? IAN As an extension of mental health, wellbeing is one of the most significant social issues that remains largely untouched by global retail brands. Let’s assume that a retail store can enhance a shopper’s wellbeing, albeit fractionally. We believe this is significant enough to justify a retailer’s motivation, or even a sense of duty. No single store or global business will have a sizeable environmental impact through its sustainability practices. Despite this, retailers are beginning to understand the urgency and value…

Headlines abound referencing the use of psychedelics to treat mental health issues, backed up by studies from across the globe, from Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. Google ‘psychedelic therapy’ and you’ll see a notable rise since 2021, with a radical, near-vertical leap on the line graph in July 2022. This can perhaps be attributed to the launch of the Netflix docuseries How to Change Your Mind, in which author Michael Pollan explores the history and uses of psychedelics. As awareness rises and the laws surrounding psychedelics become more lenient in certain areas – particularly North America – the commercial psychedelics industry looks set to double by 2027, when it will reach a value of €9.83 billion, according to the ‘Psychedelic Drugs Market…

How can a heritage brand adapt to the times and appeal to a wider – and younger – audience? Over the past few years, Dutch furniture producer Leolux has been answering that question through a collaboration with Kate and Joel Booy, aka Studio Truly Truly. As the brand’s newly appointed art directors, the studio was tasked with looking back at Leolux’s 85-year-long history and uncovering its true identity, explains Joel. ‘What we discovered is that the company had a long tradition of bringing an artistic sensibility into the equation and working closely with outside designers to achieve that vision. Our goal was to revive this approach, but with a contemporary perspective.’ Now based in the Dutch city of Dordrecht, both Kate and Joel trained as graphic designers in their native…