Design + Magazine

The yellow came from outside. Joanna Ochota brought it in and made it structural. This terraced house in Bytom sits within the Bolko estate, designed by Medusa Group, its facades marked by intense yellow accents and distinctive concrete detailing. ConceptJOana's interior does not borrow from the building so much as continue its logic inward. The yellow becomes a luminous core at the staircase, where fluorescent lights arranged with apparent casualness and a balustrade echoing the building's balcony motifs turn a functional transition into a sculptural one. On the ground floor, concrete ceiling, warm wood, and terrazzo flooring are held together by a continuous MDF wall panel that runs from living room through hallway to kitchen, shifting function seamlessly from panelling to concealed door to kitchen units without announcing any of the changes. The client is a graduate of architecture. The conversation happened at a level that made the project possible. 📐 @joannaochota 📸 @fotownetrza #polishinteriors #interiorarchitecture #interiordesign #colorinteriors #residentialdesign

A mother walked into a studio and said: design this apartment for my teenage son, not for me. That instruction became the whole project. Kazakh studio Sdelaemremont approached the 110-square-metre apartment as a rite of passage, designing not for the teenager he is today but for the young adult he is about to become. Mint green kitchen, pastel palette, bold colours, large designer furniture, a sculptural Secolo dining table, a generous Arflex sofa, and at the centre of it all, a large mirrored cube that conceals the laundry room while doubling as the visual anchor of the entire living space. The hallway, unexpectedly, became the studio's favourite: symmetrical coloured doors, a large mirror amplifying the pastel composition, a graphic sequence that compresses the apartment's entire aesthetic into one corridor. Two bedrooms, one for the son and one for the mother when she visits. An apartment designed for someone else's independence, built with all the care of someone who loves them. 📐 @sdelaemremont.kz 📸 @varvara__top #interiordesign #apartmentdesign #archilovers #colorinteriors #interiorarchitecture

Each cone is blown individually. Then they are linked into a line that can descend through a stairwell or stretch the length of a dining table. Boga is a family of glass pendant lamps designed by @mukalab for @robinlamps , its form inspired by traditional Cantabric boats. Opal glass cones suspended from a black iron structure in a regular rhythm, each one diffusing LED light evenly without glare. Vertical configurations draw the eye downward through height. Horizontal versions hover at 138 centimetres, their repeating volumes following the logic of a long table beneath them. Wall sconces offer the same cone in either direction, bringing the same graphic rhythm to a hallway or bathroom wall. No metal shade. No fabric cord. Glass, light, and the interval between them. #lightingdesign #pendantlamp #glassdesign #objectdesign #interiorlighting

Three stems. Two at the base holding the fabric. One above acting as tension. The geometry solves itself. Markis is a linear suspension lamp designed by @danielrybakken for @luceplan_lighting , built around a prismatic structure whose logic is entirely visible. The T-shaped ends, the tensioning stem, the recycled fabric shade suspended between them: each element is doing something specific and the form makes that legible. Two units can be joined to extend the configuration across larger spaces. Two structural finishes, three fabric options. Light and rigorous at once. The kind of combination that takes longer to achieve than it looks. #lightingdesign #lightingdesigner #pendantlamp #productdesign #suspensionlamp

Oak rings stacked on a lightweight metal frame. Fabric draped over the structure. The light that comes through is soft enough to change the temperature of a room. The Lucén lamp series by Ferriani Sbolgi for Bolia sits between Scandinavian restraint and Japanese material honesty, two traditions that have more in common than they usually get credit for. FSC-certified oak, delicate fabric, a form that is simple in its logic and considered in its proportions. Available across a range of shapes and sizes, each one designed to complement rather than compete with the space it enters. Soft luminosity as a design intention, not a byproduct. 📐 @ferriani.sbolgi for @boliacom #lightingdesign #boliadesign #japandidesign #scandinaviandesign #interiorlighting

An arched timber pavilion now rests among the hills south of Chengdu, serving as a telescopic viewpoint that restores the landscape it inhabits. The design responds to a site that was previously flattened, using an earth-covered structure to recreate the silhouette of the original hill. Built primarily from timber to promote sustainable construction at scale, the pavilion functions as both a quiet retreat and a versatile event space. The interior floor slopes downward to follow the natural terrain, creating a tribune that directs the eye toward a ten-meter-tall glass facade and an expansive balcony over the slope. The project operates as a demonstration of environmental integration. The green roof provides thermal insulation and supports local biodiversity, while the north-facing orientation and geothermal heat pump significantly reduce operational emissions. At night, the large viewing window transforms the structure into a beacon visible from the plains below. It is an architecture of restoration, where the building does not simply sit on the land but seeks to become part of it again. 📐 @mvrdv 📸 @archexist #archdaily #sustainabledesign #woodarchitecture #landscapedesign #viewpoint

Deep in the woodlands of Valle de Bravo, Casa Mavra emerges as a monolithic dialogue between shadow and light. Designed by Taller Alberto Calleja (TAC), the home derives its name from the Greek word for "black," utilizing black-pigmented concrete to disappear into the depths of the surrounding forest. The architecture is defined by two intersecting, low-lying volumes that form an X-shaped plan. Rather than dominating the terrain, the structure acts as a "sculptural object" grounded within the mountains. The journey begins on a long, stepped path alongside a narrow pool, where the sound of descending water leads you toward the heart of the home. Key features of the design include: Punctured Volumes: Circular and square cut-outs in the roof and walls allow trees to grow through the structure, creating intimate, tree-filled patios. Material Honesty: Exposed board-marked concrete provides a rugged, tactile contrast to the vibrant greenery and the soft sunlight filtering from above. Balance of Mass: The solidity of the black concrete is countered by expansive glazed walls at the end of each wing, framing views of the landscape and opening onto timber terraces. By treating transitions as gradients and light as a primary material, TAC has created a residence that feels both impenetrable and deeply connected to the earth ,a sanctuary where the architecture recedes to let the landscape lead. 📐 @taller_alberto_calleja 📸 @onnisluque_fotografia #archilovers #brutalism #casasmodernas #designboom #concretearchitecture

In the windswept landscape of Odsherred, Denmark, Shoreline Studio rests as a retreat for artistic immersion. The space was commissioned as a secluded atelier, envisioned as a refined counterpart to an existing brick summerhouse where the act of making can unfold without distraction. The architecture balances Danish building tradition with a Japanese spatial sensibility. Rooted in local craft, the studio draws on archetypal materials including a thatched roof, brick flooring, and reclaimed timber beams. Principles of layered thresholds and filtered daylight inform its character, lending the modest structure a near-sacral calm. Inside, the volume is defined by restraint. A skylight draws natural light deep into the space, allowing it to shift across the tactile surfaces throughout the day. Secondary functions are discreetly integrated into the architecture to ensure the primary workspace remains open, supporting sustained creative focus across the seasons. The studio responds to its setting through material resonance. The hardwood façade is designed to weather into a silvery tone that echoes the surrounding pines, while the thatched roof mirrors the hues of the coastal grasses. It is a shared language shaped by stillness and material honesty. The result is a space where time slows and the boundary between built form and nature dissolves. 📐 @normarchitects 📸 @jonasbjerrepoulsen & @karl_tranberg #danisharchitecture #minimalistinterior #archdaily #archilovers #danishdesign

Honda is exploring the future of urban commuting through a design study that prioritizes simplicity and scale. The Micro EV, recently showcased at the Japan Mobility Show, is a tiny two-seater concept designed to bridge the gap between public transit and the final destination. The vehicle is built on the philosophy of maximizing a compact footprint. Inside, a single bench seat is integrated directly into the body structure to save space, leaving enough room underneath to store a skateboard or personal mobility device. It is a functional approach to the last-mile segment that remains accessible for both younger drivers and older buyers. The interior reflects a commitment to affordability and modern utility. A yoke steering wheel holds a smartphone, which feeds data to a dashboard screen spanning the width of the car. There is no unnecessary clutter here; even the doors are stripped down to essential illuminated controls. While there are currently no production plans, the Micro EV suggests a clear direction for Honda. It is a focused look at how we might move through congested cities when space is the ultimate luxury. The goal is to make mobility spark joy rather than just solve a logistical problem. Design and photos: @honda #urbanmobility #honda #conceptualdesign #conceptcar #conceptdesign

Three separate problems. One system. NIKE ACG ROVER is a mobility concept designed by Jungwon Lee @ss_mywy that treats transport, shelter, and field research not as adjacent concerns but as a single integrated setup. The project is built for people working in remote environments where conditions shift quickly and every piece of equipment has to justify the space it takes up. Living space, gear storage, and mobility folded into one compact form, designed for efficiency first and aesthetics as a consequence of that. The concept sits where the best experimental outdoor design tends to live: pragmatic enough to function in rugged terrain, forward-thinking enough to make you reconsider what expedition gear could look like when the systems stop working in isolation. #conceptcar #conceptdesign #outdoordesign #mobilitydesign #industrialdesign

The reinvention of the two-seater city car has arrived. At the Global Brand Event in Beijing, @smart_worldwide introduced a change of perspectives with the world debut of the smart Concept 2. Designed by the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, the vehicle moves beyond utility to adopt a lens where function becomes fashion. A matte white and warm gold palette defines the compact silhouette, while the interior uses generous volumes and fine leather hardware to elevate the experience of urban mobility. The Concept 2 is built on the new Electric Compact Architecture. It maintains the iconic wheels-at-the-corners stance, allowing for a 6.95-meter turning circle and a total length of just 2,792mm. It is a design engineered for the reality of European city life: effortless, agile, and efficient. This debut marks the start of an accelerated chapter for the brand. Alongside the Concept 2, smart premiered the 6 EHD fastback sedan for the Chinese market, expanding the global portfolio to five models this year. The journey continues in Europe. The production model of the Smart 2 is set to make its world premiere in Paris this October. Photos: @smart_worldwide #urbanmobility #electricvehicle #mercedesbenz #designplusmag #smartcar

The client used to run a professional kitchen in Berlin. The brief was to build him one at home. PL.architekci took that instruction seriously. For a house near Poznań, the architects transformed a standard developer layout around a single organising idea: the kitchen as the true centre of domestic life, not adjacent to it, not open to it, but defining the character of every space around it. A passionate cook who knows exactly what a kitchen needs to do got the space that matches that knowledge. 📐 @pl.architekci 📷 @tomkurek.co #kitchendesign #polisharchitecture #interiordesign #residentialdesign #kitchenarchitecture