Kengo Kuma's "Faces" Rug Collection: Architecture Reimagined in Textile
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has unveiled "Faces," a collection of 16 wool rugs developed in collaboration with Indian brand Jaipur Rugs. Exhibited at Milan Design Week, these rugs translate the atmospheric essence, rather than the literal forms, of Kuma's iconic buildings into tactile designs, emphasizing sensory memory and subtle textures. The collection features natural, earthy tones and draws inspiration from traditional Japanese construction techniques, offering a unique fusion of architecture and homeware.
The Future of DIY: Exploring Six Innovative Open-Source Gadgets
This article delves into six groundbreaking open-source gadgets that empower individuals to build and customize their own technology. From a navigation device promoting digital detox to a blender utilizing common household jars, these innovations highlight the growing interest in DIY electronics, driven by a desire for self-sufficiency and a critique of corporate tech. The open-source community plays a pivotal role, offering free access to designs, software, and assembly instructions, fostering a culture of making and adaptation.
A Week in Design and Architecture: Milan, Jeddah, and UK Developments
This past week presented a diverse landscape of innovation and progress across the design and architecture sectors. From Milan Design Week's captivating showcases, including an oversized fruit carousel and a pink labyrinth, to the construction milestones of the Jeddah Tower and critical discussions around the gender pay gap in UK architecture, the industry continues to evolve. New product launches from IKEA and the unveiling of the Queen Elizabeth II memorial also marked significant moments.
Slovenia's Centre for Creativity, with the support of government and EU funding, recently unveiled a groundbreaking exhibition titled 'House of Creatures' at Milan Design Week. This unique showcase brought together ten of the nation's most innovative contemporary design studios, presenting an array of works that deliberately defied conventional design norms. The exhibition aimed to broaden the understanding of design beyond aesthetics and functionality, exploring its potential to address contemporary challenges such as sustainability and evolving lifestyles. The carefully curated display, characterized by its unconventional presentation on soft foam plinths, invited visitors to perceive objects not just as static creations but as entities with their own 'creature-like' presence, encouraging a fresh perspective on the interplay between design, environment, and human experience.
Slovenian Innovation Takes Center Stage at Alcova During Milan Design Week
From April 19th to 26th, 2026, the Baggio Military Hospital in Milan, Italy, specifically at Via Giovanni Labus 10, became the vibrant host of the 'House of Creatures' exhibition. This event was a highlight of Milan Design Week, held at the esteemed design platform, Alcova. Under the international curatorial guidance of Sera Malèna Eravci, Vid Žnidaršič, Ryan Barriball, Urša Gantar, Tine Tribušon, and Gašper Uršič, the exhibition presented a collection of works that consistently challenged established design paradigms. Notable exhibits included Lara Bohinc's thought-provoking 'Compulsion Chair,' a piece that ingeniously merged disparate materials without visible connections, embodying a playful defiance of structural expectations. Toasted Furniture presented their 'Toasted Vessels,' created through an innovative process of heating and reshaping plastic waste, offering a compelling narrative on recycling and material transformation. Graphic designer Nejc Prah contributed his series of Milan-themed prints, uniquely tied to seasonal flora. Soft Baroque expanded its 'Soft Metal' furniture line with new additions crafted from aluminum plates, showcasing delicate yet robust forms. Fashion designer Sari Valenci displayed her signature subversive inflatable garments in striking hot pink, while multimedia artist Dan Adlešič exhibited his ethereal, LED-illuminated Flower Lamps, one notably featuring a lampshade fashioned from dehydrated sausage casing. Perhaps the most talked-about inclusion was Juicy Marbles' plant-based meat, a testament to food design's capacity to emulate and innovate, pushing the boundaries of what is typically considered 'design' at such a prestigious event. Exhibition photography was expertly captured by Piercarlo Quecchia, with studio shots by Klemen Ilovar.
This exhibition served as a powerful reminder that design is not confined to traditional categories but is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field capable of addressing profound societal and environmental questions. The curators' intentional choice to display objects on soft foam plinths, allowing them to visibly indent under the weight, metaphorically underscored the idea that design objects are active participants in their environment, echoing the whimsical concept of toys coming to life. 'House of Creatures' successfully demonstrated that truly innovative design can emerge from unexpected places and processes, challenging us to rethink our interactions with the objects that shape our world and encouraging a more holistic and conscious approach to creation and consumption. It suggested that even the most mundane items, through thoughtful design, can ignite dialogue on pressing global issues, from sustainability to our collective future.