#BeOpenART
Kelly Akashi’s Monument (Altadena) transforms the familiar silhouette of a house chimney into a luminous memorial to loss and rebuilding after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Constructed from 821 hand-cast glass bricks, the sculpture recreates one of the few architectural elements that often remain standing after homes burn, referencing the charred landscapes of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Akashi, who lost her own 1926 home and studio in the fire, uses translucent glass instead of traditional masonry to destabilize the idea of permanence, allowing light to pass through a form normally associated with solidity.
Striking memorials and monuments on our blog.
Kelly Akashi’s Monument (Altadena) transforms the familiar silhouette of a house chimney into a luminous memorial to loss and rebuilding after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Constructed from 821 hand-cast glass bricks, the sculpture recreates one of the few architectural elements that often remain standing after homes burn, referencing the charred landscapes of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Akashi, who lost her own 1926 home and studio in the fire, uses translucent glass instead of traditional masonry to destabilize the idea of permanence, allowing light to pass through a form normally associated with solidity.
Striking memorials and monuments on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The Golden Ei chicken coop by Einhuhn Design reimagines poultry housing as a compact piece of garden architecture. Designed to host up to six chickens, the minimal geometric structure is wrapped in reflective golden surfaces that subtly interact with the surrounding landscape. Behind the striking exterior, the coop prioritizes animal welfare and everyday practicality. A double facade diffuses natural light and supports rear ventilation, while continuous ventilation slats maintain steady airflow without drafts. Smooth surfaces simplify cleaning and maintenance, allowing the design to merge elegance with function. The result transforms a humble chicken coop into a refined architectural object that balances beauty, usability, and thoughtful care for the animals.
More design-minded chicken coops on our blog.
The Golden Ei chicken coop by Einhuhn Design reimagines poultry housing as a compact piece of garden architecture. Designed to host up to six chickens, the minimal geometric structure is wrapped in reflective golden surfaces that subtly interact with the surrounding landscape. Behind the striking exterior, the coop prioritizes animal welfare and everyday practicality. A double facade diffuses natural light and supports rear ventilation, while continuous ventilation slats maintain steady airflow without drafts. Smooth surfaces simplify cleaning and maintenance, allowing the design to merge elegance with function. The result transforms a humble chicken coop into a refined architectural object that balances beauty, usability, and thoughtful care for the animals.
More design-minded chicken coops on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
California-based creative studio Designers on Holiday (DOH Studio) has designed a solar-powered “chicken caravan” for the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. The mobile coop allows hens to roam fresh ground while supporting regenerative farming. Built on wheels and light enough to move by hand or tow by tractor, the aluminum-clad structure reflects heat and features fold-out “wings” that provide shade and ventilation. A solar panel powers an automated door that opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, while a portable fence keeps hens safe from predators. By relocating the coop across harvested plots, chickens feed on leftover scraps, fertilize the soil, and help prepare the land for the next planting cycle.
California-based creative studio Designers on Holiday (DOH Studio) has designed a solar-powered “chicken caravan” for the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. The mobile coop allows hens to roam fresh ground while supporting regenerative farming. Built on wheels and light enough to move by hand or tow by tractor, the aluminum-clad structure reflects heat and features fold-out “wings” that provide shade and ventilation. A solar panel powers an automated door that opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, while a portable fence keeps hens safe from predators. By relocating the coop across harvested plots, chickens feed on leftover scraps, fertilize the soil, and help prepare the land for the next planting cycle.
#BeOpenART
A trio of exuberant sculptural works by Italian artist Paola Pivi exemplify her playful approach to blurring fantasy and reality. Crafted from polyurethane foam, plastic, and vibrant feathers, the anthropomorphic forms balance humor and spectacle with a sense of theatricality, one even poised on a trapeze. Installed together, the works radiate color, texture, and movement, inviting viewers into Pivi’s surreal visual language where familiar materials become strange and celebratory objects. Known for transforming everyday imagery into unexpected scenarios, the artist uses these feather-laden sculptures to evoke curiosity and delight while subtly reflecting on imagination, nature, and the emotional power of art.
A trio of exuberant sculptural works by Italian artist Paola Pivi exemplify her playful approach to blurring fantasy and reality. Crafted from polyurethane foam, plastic, and vibrant feathers, the anthropomorphic forms balance humor and spectacle with a sense of theatricality, one even poised on a trapeze. Installed together, the works radiate color, texture, and movement, inviting viewers into Pivi’s surreal visual language where familiar materials become strange and celebratory objects. Known for transforming everyday imagery into unexpected scenarios, the artist uses these feather-laden sculptures to evoke curiosity and delight while subtly reflecting on imagination, nature, and the emotional power of art.
#BeOpenDESIGN
New York based designer Elif Bulut has conceptualized a striking fusion of modern minimalism and vintage charm with her conceptual alarm clock and wristwatch, where time is told through rolling orbs gliding across elegantly sculpted dials. Crafted mainly from brushed steel and soft-touch plastic, the timepieces feature metal faces etched with deep, flowing lines reminiscent of Japanese Zen garden patterns, creating a sense of infinity. The orbs follow conventional 12-hour layouts, with one indicating hours and the other minutes, possibly guided by a magnetic or mechanical system, while a prominent side knob hints at how time might be adjusted.
New York based designer Elif Bulut has conceptualized a striking fusion of modern minimalism and vintage charm with her conceptual alarm clock and wristwatch, where time is told through rolling orbs gliding across elegantly sculpted dials. Crafted mainly from brushed steel and soft-touch plastic, the timepieces feature metal faces etched with deep, flowing lines reminiscent of Japanese Zen garden patterns, creating a sense of infinity. The orbs follow conventional 12-hour layouts, with one indicating hours and the other minutes, possibly guided by a magnetic or mechanical system, while a prominent side knob hints at how time might be adjusted.
#BeOpenNEWS
The following opportunity is only for students affiliated with higher education institutions in ASEAN Member States. Kindly note we are not in the place to answer any inquiry.
The ASEAN Symposium for Youth Leaders (ASYL) 10 September 2026 - 12 September 2026 OFFERS FULLY FUNDED TRAVEL TO SINGAPORE
APPLY HERE BEFORE 30 APRIL 2026
The ASEAN Symposium for Youth Leaders (ASYL) is a regional forum designed to equip emerging leaders with insights, networks and practical perspectives on governance and public policy. Convened by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), this three-day flagship programme brings together youth leaders from across ASEAN countries for networking and regional collaboration.
The theme for this inaugural symposium is ASEAN Youth Leaders: Diverse Perspectives, Shared Future. The symposium is centred on contemporary governance and public policy, and features keynote plenaries, facilitated dialogues and skills workshops led by LKYSPP faculty and invited experts.
The following opportunity is only for students affiliated with higher education institutions in ASEAN Member States. Kindly note we are not in the place to answer any inquiry.
The ASEAN Symposium for Youth Leaders (ASYL) 10 September 2026 - 12 September 2026 OFFERS FULLY FUNDED TRAVEL TO SINGAPORE
APPLY HERE BEFORE 30 APRIL 2026
The ASEAN Symposium for Youth Leaders (ASYL) is a regional forum designed to equip emerging leaders with insights, networks and practical perspectives on governance and public policy. Convened by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), this three-day flagship programme brings together youth leaders from across ASEAN countries for networking and regional collaboration.
The theme for this inaugural symposium is ASEAN Youth Leaders: Diverse Perspectives, Shared Future. The symposium is centred on contemporary governance and public policy, and features keynote plenaries, facilitated dialogues and skills workshops led by LKYSPP faculty and invited experts.
#BeOpenART
Morphosis by Raza Zahid transforms discarded paper into a living architectural installation. Using hand-formed papercrete branches supported by a metal frame, the structure recreates the spatial experience of a tree canopy while hosting the growth of microgreens on its surfaces. The project blends recycled material, craft techniques, and biological processes to create an environment that evolves over time, turning paper waste into a porous landscape where architecture, ecology, and design experimentation intersect.
More nature-inspired designs on our blog.
Morphosis by Raza Zahid transforms discarded paper into a living architectural installation. Using hand-formed papercrete branches supported by a metal frame, the structure recreates the spatial experience of a tree canopy while hosting the growth of microgreens on its surfaces. The project blends recycled material, craft techniques, and biological processes to create an environment that evolves over time, turning paper waste into a porous landscape where architecture, ecology, and design experimentation intersect.
More nature-inspired designs on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Trees From The Garden by MJ Fraser transforms the textures of childhood memories into sculptural lighting. Using moulds taken directly from tree bark and branches, the designer casts intricate lamp components in a biodegradable thermoplastic that contains waste sawdust. The pieces are assembled through a layered “cut and paste” process that preserves the irregular patterns of nature while creating contemporary light objects that blend organic reference with efficient, low-waste fabrication.
Trees From The Garden by MJ Fraser transforms the textures of childhood memories into sculptural lighting. Using moulds taken directly from tree bark and branches, the designer casts intricate lamp components in a biodegradable thermoplastic that contains waste sawdust. The pieces are assembled through a layered “cut and paste” process that preserves the irregular patterns of nature while creating contemporary light objects that blend organic reference with efficient, low-waste fabrication.
#BeOpenDESIGN
At a school playground in Ingré, France, architecture studio Exercice has transformed the traditional ping pong table into a series of sculptural play objects. The four experimental tables feature unusual shapes that change how the game is played, encouraging students to invent their own rules and strategies. Designed as both playground equipment and public art, the installation turns table tennis into a social experiment where negotiation, collaboration, and imagination become part of the game.
More ping pong tables on our blog.
At a school playground in Ingré, France, architecture studio Exercice has transformed the traditional ping pong table into a series of sculptural play objects. The four experimental tables feature unusual shapes that change how the game is played, encouraging students to invent their own rules and strategies. Designed as both playground equipment and public art, the installation turns table tennis into a social experiment where negotiation, collaboration, and imagination become part of the game.
More ping pong tables on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
US clothing brand Pangaia has introduced a puffer coat filled with “Flower Down,” a plant-based insulation developed over a decade as a cruelty-free alternative to goose or duck down. Made by combining shredded wildflowers with a vegetable-waste biopolymer and a lightweight aerogel, the material is designed to be warm, water-repellent, and biodegradable. Encased in a recycled polyester shell, the jackets also support regenerative growing practices that help restore habitats and protect local butterfly species, reflecting the company’s ongoing focus on material innovation.
US clothing brand Pangaia has introduced a puffer coat filled with “Flower Down,” a plant-based insulation developed over a decade as a cruelty-free alternative to goose or duck down. Made by combining shredded wildflowers with a vegetable-waste biopolymer and a lightweight aerogel, the material is designed to be warm, water-repellent, and biodegradable. Encased in a recycled polyester shell, the jackets also support regenerative growing practices that help restore habitats and protect local butterfly species, reflecting the company’s ongoing focus on material innovation.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Designer and artist Jérôme Pereira creates delicate lighting sculptures using foraged tree branches and blown-glass lamps, forming balanced compositions that explore gravity and equilibrium. In the series Celestial Attraction, branches act as suspended mobiles or tripod supports while carefully placed counterweights keep each piece in perfect balance. Blending natural materials with influences from physics and cosmology, Pereira’s works read as quiet studies of weight, motion, and the poetic relationship between nature and light.
Designer and artist Jérôme Pereira creates delicate lighting sculptures using foraged tree branches and blown-glass lamps, forming balanced compositions that explore gravity and equilibrium. In the series Celestial Attraction, branches act as suspended mobiles or tripod supports while carefully placed counterweights keep each piece in perfect balance. Blending natural materials with influences from physics and cosmology, Pereira’s works read as quiet studies of weight, motion, and the poetic relationship between nature and light.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Seattle-based designers Chet Kittleson, Max Blumen, and Graeme Davies created Tin Can, a screen-free landline-style phone designed to help children call friends without the distractions of smartphones. Shaped like a colorful cylinder that nods to the classic tin-can-and-string toy, the device features a handset with no display, relying on simple voice calls to keep communication focused. Plugged into the wall and paired with a parent-controlled app that manages approved contacts and quiet hours, the phone encourages independent yet safe conversations.
Seattle-based designers Chet Kittleson, Max Blumen, and Graeme Davies created Tin Can, a screen-free landline-style phone designed to help children call friends without the distractions of smartphones. Shaped like a colorful cylinder that nods to the classic tin-can-and-string toy, the device features a handset with no display, relying on simple voice calls to keep communication focused. Plugged into the wall and paired with a parent-controlled app that manages approved contacts and quiet hours, the phone encourages independent yet safe conversations.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Marka by Adel Alserhani is a modular seating concept inspired by the Bedouin tradition of adaptable, community-centered living. Drawing from objects once used as camel saddle supports that later evolved into low seating, the design reinterprets this heritage for contemporary life. Its interlocking structure allows the seat to shift between a shared configuration for conversation and a personal chair for quiet moments. Made from recycled polypropylene sourced from local manufacturing waste, Marka blends cultural memory, sustainability, and flexible design while encouraging small moments of connection in modern living spaces.
More seating design on our blog.
Marka by Adel Alserhani is a modular seating concept inspired by the Bedouin tradition of adaptable, community-centered living. Drawing from objects once used as camel saddle supports that later evolved into low seating, the design reinterprets this heritage for contemporary life. Its interlocking structure allows the seat to shift between a shared configuration for conversation and a personal chair for quiet moments. Made from recycled polypropylene sourced from local manufacturing waste, Marka blends cultural memory, sustainability, and flexible design while encouraging small moments of connection in modern living spaces.
More seating design on our blog.
#BeOpenNEWS
Here are the top 50 entries in the Design Equality competition short-listed for the Public Vote based on such criteria as viability, feasibility and desirability of the design, evidence of a rigorous research process informing the solution proposed, and its creative value.
The winner of the public online vote by the majority of votes will be awarded a grant of €2,000. The online vote will last till midnight May14th, 2026 (CET).
All those passionate about sustainability and creativity can cast their own vote in favour of the most promising projects.
Successful projects should answer to the needs and aspirations of its intended audience, have a clear plan of what is needed for its realisation, be sustainable and efficient, very well researched in terms of the problem to be solved, the stakeholders and purpose, and most certainly be passionate, innovative and out of the box.
Here are the top 50 entries in the Design Equality competition short-listed for the Public Vote based on such criteria as viability, feasibility and desirability of the design, evidence of a rigorous research process informing the solution proposed, and its creative value.
The winner of the public online vote by the majority of votes will be awarded a grant of €2,000. The online vote will last till midnight May14th, 2026 (CET).
All those passionate about sustainability and creativity can cast their own vote in favour of the most promising projects.
Successful projects should answer to the needs and aspirations of its intended audience, have a clear plan of what is needed for its realisation, be sustainable and efficient, very well researched in terms of the problem to be solved, the stakeholders and purpose, and most certainly be passionate, innovative and out of the box.
#BeOpenARCH
Metamorphosis in Motion by Lina Ghotmeh is a vivid pink labyrinth installed in the courtyard of Milan’s Palazzo Litta for this year’s Milan Design Week. Commissioned by MoscaPartners, the installation transforms the historic baroque courtyard into an interactive spatial experience without altering its structure. Using curved geometries, shifting perspectives, and sequential pathways, the design guides visitors through a playful maze of screens and seating that encourages pause, movement, and reflection. Positioned as both architectural intervention and social space, it reimagines the courtyard as a living environment where circulation becomes experience and the boundaries between passage and place dissolve.
More contemporary labyrinths on our blog.
Metamorphosis in Motion by Lina Ghotmeh is a vivid pink labyrinth installed in the courtyard of Milan’s Palazzo Litta for this year’s Milan Design Week. Commissioned by MoscaPartners, the installation transforms the historic baroque courtyard into an interactive spatial experience without altering its structure. Using curved geometries, shifting perspectives, and sequential pathways, the design guides visitors through a playful maze of screens and seating that encourages pause, movement, and reflection. Positioned as both architectural intervention and social space, it reimagines the courtyard as a living environment where circulation becomes experience and the boundaries between passage and place dissolve.
More contemporary labyrinths on our blog.