MIT Department of Architecture的动态

In today’s world, product design isn’t limited to making objects that look appealing or function smoothly on their own — it’s about integrating thoughtful solutions into the environments where those products will be used. One increasingly important arena is the public space, where design and industrial manufacturing come together with sound analysis to create places that are not only visually welcoming, but also acoustically comfortable. Public spaces, whether bustling city squares or quiet libraries, benefit from carefully designed furniture, signage, and structures that consider the full human sensory experience. Industrial manufacturing techniques allow designers to mass-produce these elements at scale, ensuring that high-quality, durable pieces are available for a wide range of projects, from municipal parks to transit stations. Good manufacturing processes ensure that the materials chosen—wood, metal, or composites—hold up under heavy use, while still meeting aesthetic and safety standards. But it’s not enough to produce visually appealing elements; how people experience sound in these spaces is also critical. Too much noise can make a public area uncomfortable, discouraging conversation and relaxation. On the other hand, good acoustic design can encourage social interaction, enhance safety, and contribute to a sense of well-being. This is where sound analysis comes in. By measuring noise levels, frequencies, and reverberations, experts can help pinpoint solutions to reduce echoes, shield against unwanted sounds, and even introduce pleasant ambient audio elements. For example, carefully placed acoustic panels, vegetation barriers, or certain architectural shapes can influence how sound travels. Industrial manufacturing allows these solutions to be mass-produced for various settings. The result is a harmonious blend of aesthetic quality, structural integrity, and acoustic comfort. In short, the best product design for public spaces doesn’t just create objects—it creates environments. By combining innovative design principles, efficient manufacturing methods, and smart sound analysis, we can make public spaces that feel as good as they look.

Silver Jubilee Bridge wins highest accolade in Build Back Better Awards The illumination of the Silver Jubilee Bridge, which crosses the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes, has won a PLATINUM Build Back Better Award in the 2024 lighting category. The lighting designer Arup aimed to celebrate the intricate beauty of the structure, with its graceful form that swoops high over the river, and connect it with the community below.? ‘We see lighting as a useful tool for placemaking, landmarking, and educating observers. We thought beyond our title as designers to becoming historians and storytellers. Our ambitions were to reflect the history, structural form and details, honour its builders, reduce obtrusive light, and emphasise the structure against the modern Mersey Gateway Bridge upstream’ says the practice.? The old lighting scheme inefficiently flooded the bridge with cold white light, flattening architectural details and causing significant light obtrusion.? Arup’s design began by characterising the nocturnal scene, followed by archive research into the bridge’s site, context, and history.? This informed its ‘inside-out’ lighting concept, illuminating the lower and upper chords of the bridge arch with concealed projectors.? Its research showed how the lack of local lighting competition allowed subtler techniques, using low-power luminaires discretely concealed within the structure.? This technique of ‘lighting from within’ reveals all the fine detail of the structure, telling the story of its construction from the foundations to the apex, highlighting textures, and revealing the labour behind every structural rivet which binds it together.? From afar, its magnificent form is clearly defined and offers an alternative visual perspective after dusk. The concept aimed to minimise obtrusive light for residents and its negative impacts on biodiversity and the nocturnal environment.? By integrating luminaires within the structure, the team significantly improved efficiency, achieving over 95 per cent energy savings and a similar reduction in light spill into the night sky.? Normally, elegant white light illuminates this landmark. However, Arup engaged children at Widnes Academy to create their own coloured light show. Through an interactive workshop with colour pens, gels, torches, and large-format drawings of the bridge, they developed a set of colourful concepts. Their show is displayed every January. Client: Halton Borough Council? Lighting Designer and Light Show Content Design: Arup? Main Contractor: Balvac Ltd? Lighting Sub-contractor: Studiotech? Lighting Equipment: GRIVEN S.r.l.? Controls: traxon e:cue ? Community Engagement: Widnes Academy Picture: Mike Dinsdale / Midi Photography and Steve Samosa Photography ??The Build Back Better Awards celebrates and rewards innovation, creativity, environmental leadership and social purpose in the built environment. Learn more: link in the comments

NANKO is the dream of two designers, brought to life through collaboration. ?? In 2020, we both began our studies in interior architecture and furniture design at Xamk. With around ten years of professional experience behind us, these new studies marked an exciting and much-needed change. ?? The idea of starting a joint company began as a joke during a walk in our first year of studies. Over time, this joke evolved into a viable business idea, which we named NANKO after our hometowns (Elina from Hanko, Janita from Naantali). ?? While our initial feeling was excitement, the prospect of starting a business together was also intimidating. How it might affect our friendship, which is far more important to us than any work or financial disagreement? ??♂? Throughout our studies, we had the opportunity to work on many joint projects, which taught us about each other's working styles and characteristics as partners. In our Design Process course, we were tasked with designing and creating a service trolley as a group project. This project was both exhausting and labor-intensive but also extremely educational and important. As a result, we produced three trolleys that carry the same name as our company. In our Design Entrepreneurship course, we discussed company values extensively and laid the foundation for our business plan. During the course, we also made a playful offer to an actual customer, which turned into our first paid design project. ?? In our third year, Elina took an elective course that involved various client collaboration projects. Several clients were found through this course, and for one particularly extensive project, Elina invited Janita to join. This project involved designing new office spaces for the metal industry company Pelaser. The following year, we were again assigned a significant design project together: a multifunctional space for the planned Wilderness Museum in Imatra. ?? These real-world design projects and meetings with clients were crucial in our development as designers. Whether we worked on collaborative or individual projects, the feedback we received and the comprehensive project management experience gave us confidence and belief in our skills. ? Our most extensive project to date is our joint thesis. We were tasked with designing a theme park, which included interior design, technical structural design, service design and many more. NANKO represents our shared vision and dedication to creating meaningful, client-centered design solutions. We look forward to bringing our unique blend of creativity and professionalism to more exciting projects in the future. ??

MASTERING THE ART OF EXTERIOR DUSK RENDERING: CREATING TWILIGHT SCENES ? Link to full article on our website https://lnkd.in/dsMBAqgg ? Step-by-step process for exterior dusk rendering ? Step 1: choosing the right time of day and camera angle The first step in creating a stunning exterior dusk render is selecting the optimal time frame during twilight. Typically, this occurs just after sunset, during the ?blue hour? when the sky takes on a mix of warm and cool tones. ? Camera angles play a critical role in capturing the right perspective. Low angles can emphasize the height and grandeur of a building, while wider angles might showcase more of the surrounding environment, integrating landscape features with the architectural elements. ? Step 2: setting up your lighting sources Once the scene is set, lighting becomes the most important aspect to configure. In exterior dusk rendering, achieving a harmonious balance between natural and artificial lighting is crucial. Start by setting up the natural light source: the sunset. Position it to create soft, warm light that illuminates the building at a low angle, casting elongated shadows. This helps create a golden hour effect, where the light is warm and the shadows are gentle yet dramatic. ? Next, integrate artificial lighting from within the building and exterior fixtures. Interior lights should be warm, mimicking typical residential or commercial lighting, and should spill out gently from windows and doorways. Exterior lighting fixtures, such as pathway lights or garden lamps, can enhance the building’s surroundings and bring focus to specific design elements. ? Step 3: adding atmospheric elements To enhance depth and ambiance, adding atmospheric elements like fog, haze, or clouds can significantly boost the realism of a dusk render. These elements simulate real-world weather conditions that often accompany twilight and can give the scene a moody or dramatic effect. ? Step 4: post-processing and color grading The final step in the process is post-processing, where you can make crucial adjustments to refine the mood of the render. Color grading is key to perfecting the warmth of the twilight tones and enhancing the contrast between the warm artificial lighting and the cooler natural twilight hues. ? Software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom is commonly used for this step. Focus on enhancing shadows and highlights to create a balanced scene. Warm up the interior lights and adjust the overall contrast to make the render pop without losing the subtle softness of the dusk light. Adding subtle vignettes or lens flares can also help draw attention to focal points in the image. ? Check out our photorealistic exterior dusk renderings on the website: https://provisual.pro #3d #exterior #3dvisualization #duskexterior #rendering #render #cgi #archviz #architecture #architecturaldesign #provisual #provisualstudio

"Transforming Spaces: Master the Art of Inclusive Design with Expert Ceramic Tiling Strategies – Essential Tips for Quantity Surveyors" In the quest to construct spaces that welcome everyone, the role ceramic tiling plays is often understated. For my peers impassioned by creating accessible & inclusive environments, here's nuanced wisdom that underscores the importance of considered tile selection and installation: ??? Slip-Resistant Tiles: More than just a regulatory checkbox, select ceramics with high slip resistance. The implication for ensuring safe navigation cannot be overstated, particularly in areas prone to moisture. ?? Tactile Surfaces: Guiding visuall challenged individuals is more than a courtesy—it's essential. Raise the bar, and tactile standards, with tiles designed to lead and inform. ?? Color Contrasting Designs: It's the difference between confusion and clarity. Implement contrasting color palettes effectively to delineate spaces and alert to changes, such as level differences. ?? ADA Compliance: Dive into the specifications; every inch counts. Properly installed ceramic tiles can elevate a project from compliant to commendable, especially when slip-resistance and visual aids merge seamlessly. ?? Universal Design: Let's champion an ethos where design accessibility is not an add-on but a given. The right tile choice can contribute to an environment welcoming to all, balancing aesthetics and practicality. ?? Wayfinding Systems: Leverage the humble tile in your navigational toolkit. Tactile paths and contrasting colors can direct more than just steps; they direct experiences. ?? Acoustic Properties: In the cacophony of bustling spaces, the acoustic role of ceramics can soften the auditory overload, aiding in creating a more inclusive environment. ??? Durability and Maintenance: Practicality meets longevity. Tiles suited to high traffic demand fewer repairs and retain accessibility features, ensuring lasting safety. ??? Accessible Storage and Shelving: Infuse versatility. Shelves and fixtures anchored in ceramic add a layer of valuable functionality within everyone's reach. ?? Collaborative Design Process: Dialogue is the cornerstone of inclusive design. Engage with users and experts alike to embed genuine utility and comfort into every tile laid. At Specialist Ceramics, we're not just about the installation; we're advisors, collaborators, and executors in ensuring your tile work embodies these principles. ?? Takeaway: Invest in tiles that lead, not just follow. Create spaces that speak the language of inclusion as fluently as they do design. I challenge you to rethink ceramic tiling's potential ????. Have you incorporated these elements into your recent projects? Share your insights or seek our expertise at SpecialistCeramics.co.uk. #InclusiveDesign #ConstructionUK #CeramicTiles #Accessibility #CommercialConstruction #SpecialistCeramics

A Day in the Life of Our Design Studio: Where Purpose Meets Craft What does our day-to-day look like? It’s a question we’re often asked, and it’s not easy to answer. Why? Because no two days are the same—and that’s intentional. Our work isn’t about checking boxes; it’s about creating transformative experiences. Walk into our studio, and you’ll find us immersed in shaping life. One day, we’re designing customer experiences that redefine home. The next, we’re crafting streets that tell stories or integrating water’s edges with public spaces. Another day, we’re debating dimensions of a community kitchen, testing materials, or consulting with forest experts on local tree species. Our work is unpredictable, as it should be. Variety fuels innovation. We’re the go-to team for process questions, system challenges, or bold ideas. From that first conversation, we guide, articulate problems, connect dots, and provide resources. Whether it’s methodologies, tools, or expertise, we anchor creativity and knowledge. Our Core Mission: Building Communities That Inspire At the heart of our work are four pillars: 1. Designing Homes, Streets, and Neighborhoods: Collaborating with our sister firm, FHD India, we marry programmatic clarity with conceptual vision. We turn aspirations into master plans, designs, and budgets that inspire. 2. Crafting Stories and Narratives: Every community begins with a user story. We envision families waking to birdsong, running through forests, or unwinding by water. These narratives guide our designs and bring clarity to decisions. While marketing refines the story for audiences, the designer’s authentic voice remains its core. 3. Creating Tools for Clarity: From unit books to specifications, we equip sales and marketing with tools for clear, honest customer conversations. Buying a home with us is about more than square footage—it’s about understanding eco-community living, from shared farms to renewable energy. 4. Supporting Handover and Operations: Our role extends beyond blueprints. We collaborate with interiors to ensure sustainability principles are executed, support facilities and food services to activate spaces, and measure performance. Are systems delivering? We relentlessly pursue improvement. The Spirit of Our Studio To thrive here, you must be a dreamer and a pragmatist, zooming into details and out to the big picture. It’s not easy, but it’s rewarding. You’ll balance aspiration with execution, building systems that inspire, designs that endure, and experiences that delight. We’re dreamers and builders. If you share that spirit, there’s a place for you here. Because ultimately, our work isn’t just about homes or neighborhoods—it’s about creating spaces where life unfolds beautifully and meaningfully. And that’s a purpose worth waking up for. Mail us at [email protected] if you are an architect wanting to join us and explore eco-habitat product design and detailing. #organo #innovation #studiolife

Design Takes Time | One thing about my services, that hasn’t changed ever, is wherever possible at all costs, coming on board and designing homes well before a tool even comes close to hitting a wall. These designs help form the $$ basis and a better reality of what it’s going to cost when then obtaining quotes as they’re based on the designs. Second to this, clients aren’t rushed either. They have time to get their head around, understand and therefore love what’s actually going to be done. The design doesn’t only take time for clients to sit and feel comfortable with though… and let’s be honest, me at times pushing them out of their comfort zones, bless!... but also for me to sit with designs too. I weigh up the pros and cons, the various cost factors ie the cost factor around whether it’s worth it or will be over capitalising based on the reason behind the renos, and more than anything… while these homes are not my homes… I often (and openly say to clients) what would I/would I do this if it were my home? If there’s something I wouldn’t do, then I’m not going to suggest they do it… whether that be because it just won’t work, it’s a waste of money, or it just won’t give both an aesthetic and functional feel to the space. One Upper North Shore project, amongst many areas, until recently I had been designing one particular space for weeks… and yet while the designs were ‘fine and worked and looked good’, it hadn’t 100% hit the nail on the head for me yet… haha, it was one of those ‘get up, get another coffee, scratch my head, sit down and re-jig, leave for 2 days and come back to’ (and repeat) spaces. Now, I am smiling… I’m very satisfied it’s ticked every box, including the gut instinct, and I slept easy! If there’s one tip I may suggest… even if you’re not working with a designer, start thinking about and designing the spaces well before the works start. It gives you a plan, it gives you direction, it gives you a better cost basis and alleviates the stress of having to choose pieces or make endless decisions on the fly (leading to all sorts of headaches)… which all in turn makes the building and renovating process fun, which it should be! #building #renovating #kitchen #interiordesign

The Brief: How to provide project information to Provisual.pro Studio We strive to create photorealistic 3D renderings for your projects. To achieve this goal, we need detailed and clear project information. Project Information ·???????????????????Location: The first step is to specify the location of the project. This will help us to take into account the features of the environment. For example, such as surrounding buildings and landscape. ·???????????????????Number of images: Determine how many images you need. The more accurate you are in determining the number, the better we can allocate resources to create quality 3d visualizations. ·???????????????????Camera angles (if possible) Specify which angles you are interested in: -????????????????????Human height view (exterior) - for a more realistic sense of scale and proportion. -????????????????????Aerial view (exterior) - for an overall view of the project and its surroundings. -????????????????????Interiors - specify which rooms you want to show (e.g. living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc.). ·???????????????????Time of day: Let us know what time of day the 3d visualizations are to be done (day or night). This will allow us to properly set the lighting and atmosphere in the images. ·???????????????????Reference images (mood): Provide examples of images you like that reflect the desired mood and style of the project. Documents required To get started, we will need the following documents (in PDF or DWG format if possible): ·???????????????????3D model (if available): Having a 3D model ready will greatly speed up the work process and increase the accuracy of the 3d visualizations. ·???????????????????Facades: Facade drawings will help us recreate the exterior of the building as accurately as possible. ·???????????????????Sections: Sections are necessary to understand the internal structure and features of the building. ·???????????????????Floor plans: Floor plans provide information about the layout of rooms and spaces, which is important for interiors. ·???????????????????Roof Plan: A roof plan will help to capture all the details and elements of the roof in 3d visualizations. ·???????????????????Site Plan: A site master plan will show the location of the building on the site, including surrounding elements. ·???????????????????List of materials and colours: Information on materials and colours will help us to accurately recreate the exterior and interior of the building. ·???????????????????Landscape Plan: The landscape plan is necessary to create the environment around the building. ·???????????????????Interior Design: Interior drawings and descriptions will help us understand exactly how the interior spaces should look. We can also create interior 3d renderings based on reference images. ? Starting information is the key to working on your architectural or design project successfully and quickly. ? Contact us for more information https://lnkd.in/dFcQYuzS

Ideas on design - and engine - thinking. *** It will be useful in our discussion to take as a reference facts surrounding the interesting and controversial Brazilian case of the Monroe Palace. The name given to the Palace that serves as an example here, in honor of the US president, author of the doctrine, “America for Americans”, may not have effectively contributed to the Palace’s survival amid the aesthetic and political debates surrounding it. The Monroe’s statement, in itself, seems to give rise to double interpretations. Geopolitically, I can imagine that the Brazilian military would prefer something less ambiguous, perhaps aligned with the idea - “Brazil for Brazilians”. This nationalism also seemed to be present in the justifications for demolishing the Palace: because Monroe did not have a genuinely Brazilian aesthetic style. Hence the sense of loss we feel today, when thinking about the demolition of the Monroe Palace, which previously, in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, made a greater contribution to urban aesthetics. The construction of this Palace was only part of a larger urban reform initiative in the city. This major urban reform was necessary and strategic. The urban design employed, which was quite refined, was a central aspect of this initiative. At the end of 1906, the remodeled and sanitized center of Rio de Janeiro was described as "the most beautiful city in the world", the "marvelous city". In this case, the aesthetic content prevailed and was praised as a great job. But not everything is a question of aesthetics: a considerable part of the immense population affected by the remodeling remained in the region, and the hills located in the city center, which were previously sparsely populated, underwent rapid occupation by proletarian housing. Favelas emerged and, since then, they have marked the configuration of the city of Rio de Janeiro to this day. When developing products, in addition to their aesthetics, if there are deficiencies in other disciplines or other aspects, such as their durability, reliability, their dimensioning to withstand mechanical stresses or the appropriate selection of materials, etc., this will affect the credibility and survival of the product in the market in the medium and long term. In short, good or bad products can be generated depending on the methods and conduct adopted. The same seems to me to be true whether we are developing any project: new cars; buildings; household utensils or pieces of furniture, in wood, plastic or metal; clothes and shoes, etc. More than that, even when dealing with broad social issues, such as urban reforms or territorial planning initiatives. *** #Design #Urbanism #Products #Energy #Oil #Society #Politics #Education #Technology #Strategy #UrbanReforms #SocialInequality #RegionalPlanning #UrbanPlanning ***

Lighting design is very important in projects, it is a key checkpoint and it also reflects the professionalism of the designer. So what is lighting design? Lighting design is based on the function and activity requirements of the place, to determine the lighting level and lighting standards, and then to carry out data processing, and based on people's feelings, consider people's vision and the use, architectural style, environmental factors and other reasonable decisions to consider. Lighting design can often be categorized by type of light, type of fixture, and location: a. The types of light Ambient lighting, focus lighting, and main lighting. b. The types of fixture Light sources and decorative lights. Almost all designers will consider the lighting issues in the middle and late stages of design, but I suggest lighting design should start from the very begining. Following is a summary of the 5-step design process. 1. Who is it designed for? First of all, it is important to clarify who the user is. Find out the age, gender, preferences and whether there are any special requirements. 2. Where do you need light? Where light is needed is usually determined by the purpose of the space, and the properties and characteristics of the illuminated objects and surfaces play an important role in this. 2.1. Analyze the function, architectural features, visual operations, design style, furniture location, object placement and atmosphere requirements of the overall space, and determine the lighting position. 2.2. Set priorities according to the types, and find the eye-catching visual focus in the space in the same space, and there may be multiple lighting targets that need to be prioritized at the same time, which need to consider operation lighting and accent lighting. 3. How to arrange the lights? The lighting arrangement is mainly divided into three steps: a main line, a certain point, and the fundamentals of space. 4. How to deepen the plan? A complete lighting design plan mainly includes the following points: 4.1. Project analysis and diagram Combined with renderings or other exquisite case drawings to give a demonstration of lighting techniques, so that the owner can understand the purpose and effect of lighting. 4.2. Lighting point (node & selection) In the deepening stage of the construction drawing, the specific lighting points, parameters, construction nodes, etc. are given. 4.3. Intelligent control According to user’s needs, the intelligent control mode scene can be set to add value user’s experience. 5. How to do professional argumentation? From an overall perspective, examine the rationality of the lighting at each point, such as whether the color temperature is uniform, whether the beam angle, and lux value are appropriate. Then, the lighting design concept is verified by selecting the appropriate luminaires, or the lighting scheme is deepened with the professional support of the lighting manufacturer, such as MEERA LIGHT.