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This Surreal Café Gallery Floats On A Lagoon Inviting You To Sip Coffee, Admire Art & Reflect

Picture a building that floats on water like a gentle thought. That’s what Azadeh Hamidi achieved with the Aban Café-Gallery, a project that makes you question where architecture ends and nature begins. Set within a quiet lagoon, this isn’t your typical café tucked into a busy street corner. The water surrounds the structure, turning reflections into an ever-changing art installation that costs nothing to enjoy. When sunlight hits the structure, shadows dance across the lagoon’s surface in patterns that shift with the hours.

Hamidi clearly studied how water moves before designing these walls. The building’s curves feel like frozen waves, capturing that fluid motion in permanent form. She used natural materials and flowing forms that echo the lake’s gentle ripples, creating visual connections that feel inevitable rather than forced. The building doesn’t announce itself with sharp angles or bold statements. Instead, it whispers its presence through soft lines that complement the water’s vocabulary. The whole scene becomes this living collaboration between human design and natural forces.

Designer: Azadeh Hamidi

The interior takes a step back to let the lagoon steal the show. White and golden tones warm the space without competing with those spectacular water views. Those huge glass walls work like picture frames, except the artwork never stops changing. Morning light creates one mood, afternoon sun another, evening reflections something entirely different. Visitors get front-row seats to nature’s daily performance that requires no ticket price.

Hamidi designed this as something more ambitious than a place to grab coffee or browse art. The space encourages a different pace, where rushing feels almost rude. The open terrace extends this philosophy outdoors, permitting people to linger over their drinks while watching water patterns shift around them. Inside, curated artworks add human creativity to the natural beauty, creating layers of visual interest. Every design decision seems aimed at slowing people down.

In our screen-obsessed world, this feels revolutionary. Visitors find themselves actually looking around instead of scrolling through their phones. The lagoon setting helps, offering natural entertainment that requires no wifi connection. You can spend an hour just watching light play across the water’s surface. Every corner of the space encourages this kind of genuine connection with surroundings. The building becomes a sanctuary that reminds people why they fell in love with beautiful spaces.

The café/gallery shows us that architecture can be more than a functional shelter. When done thoughtfully, it becomes a bridge between human needs and natural beauty. Hamidi created something that enhances both the landscape and the human experience of being within it. The lagoon gains a sculptural element while visitors gain a retreat from contemporary life’s relentless pace. Here, design serves deeper purposes beyond simple shelter, creating spaces where tranquility feels tangible and inspiration flows as naturally as water.

The post This Surreal Café Gallery Floats On A Lagoon Inviting You To Sip Coffee, Admire Art & Reflect first appeared on Yanko Design.

Scratch and heat-resistant 3D-printed modular Bluetooth speaker is built for longevity

Product design has a clear language and an influence on various sources. Thus, a Bluetooth speaker you and I own can look different on the outside, with varied materials and constructions, but likely offer a similarly sonic experience. In most cases, however, the device wouldn’t be created to last forever. If the battery dies or a component fails; that’s it. It has to go!

But that’s not how it should be. A speaker should be built for decades – not years – and should be repair-friendly. Modular, easy-to-repair speakers are rare to come by, which is why Maker Hardware’s idea of a product that “prioritizes longevity, sustainability, and customization” deserves a discussion. It is a portable Bluetooth speaker, and it’s called the TTD.3000 Boombox.

Designer: Patrick Cronin

TTD.3000 Boombox, as the name and appearance suggest, has a direct influence on the portable boombox culture. Other than that, Partrick Cronin, the designer, suggests it is also inspired by vintage hi-fi equipment and handcrafted furniture, making it an adaptable speaker equally fun to use at home and outdoors.

The speaker is 3D printed from FDM using industrial-grade PETG, and is assembled by hand in Brooklyn, New York. The material choice renders the speaker unique and resistant to scratches, heat, and chemicals. As unique it looks, it is no less on account of functionality. The hi-fi Bluetooth speaker is designed with a focus on repairability, with stainless steel and aluminum finish elements used to safeguard the speaker against rust and wear.

Maker Hardware offers the TTD.3000 Boombox with a replaceable battery and a modular faceplate which helps extend the speaker’s lifespan and facilitates long-term maintenance. The speaker components can be replaced or upgraded over time using standard hand tools, and the rechargeable battery can be replaced with a new one, like in the good old phones.

Additionally, 3D printed construction allows the TTD.3000 to be delivered in a range of colors (by substituting filament types) and body patterns, in a matter of days. Choose your favorite face type (cloud, birch, lightning, and squiggle) and customize the color combination (white, blue, green, purple, and red). If you don’t like the catalog, go out and print your own. Cronin provides 3D files so that interested DIYers can download and build their own speaker, in their own choice of color, style, and modularity.

As each unit is hand assembled, the lead time can be longer than expected. The in-house assembly of units can be time-consuming, but it facilitates Maker Hardware to create a unified ecosystem of repairs, where damaged or worn parts of the TTD.3000 can be replaced efficiently. Each TTD.3000 Boombox is priced at $400.

The post Scratch and heat-resistant 3D-printed modular Bluetooth speaker is built for longevity first appeared on Yanko Design.

Hotel Waste Finds New Life As Sustainable & Trendy-Looking Furniture In Bali

British designer Max Lamb has done something pretty cool at Bali’s Desa Potato Head hotel. He’s taken their actual trash, old bed sheets, used cooking oil, broken glass, leftover oyster shells, and somehow made furniture that looks like it belongs in a design magazine. The whole thing took five years to figure out, which makes sense when you think about it. You can’t just decide to make chairs out of garbage and expect it to work overnight.

The best part is how these pieces don’t try to hide what they used to be. Those compressed hotel linens in the stools have this incredible layered texture that tells the whole story. The cooking oil creates these wild organic patterns on trays that you’d never see in regular furniture. It’s the opposite of what most sustainable design does—instead of pretending to be something else, each piece celebrates being made from waste. Your friends will ask questions, and you’ll actually have interesting answers.

Designer: Max Lamb

Lamb worked directly with Balinese craftspeople, which turned out to be crucial. He didn’t just show up with sketches and expect them to figure it out. They spent time together developing techniques that work with these weird materials. The furniture feels genuinely handmade in the best way—you can see the human touch in every piece. Plus, it’s keeping traditional skills alive while creating real jobs, which feels good when you’re buying something.

What’s really amazing is that this stuff truly works as furniture. The chairs are comfortable. The tables are sturdy. The lamps give off good light. Lamb made sure that these pieces don’t just look interesting; they hold up to daily use. The waste materials perform better than you’d expect, often lasting longer than conventional options while giving you textures and colors you literally cannot find anywhere else.

The whole process is refreshingly honest. When you visit Potato Head, you can see the raw materials sitting right next to the finished pieces. You understand exactly what went into making each object, which is rare in furniture shopping. The hotel setting helps too; you get to see how these pieces work in real spaces before deciding if you want to live with them. They sell online now, but seeing them in person drives home how special they are.

It never feels like Lamb is lecturing you about saving the planet through the collection. The sustainability angle comes naturally from the design being good, not the other way around. He managed to develop 14 different products in just 12 months once they got the process down, proving this approach can scale up. Other designers are probably looking at this, thinking about their waste streams differently. But honestly, the real win here is that Lamb created objects people will want to own, regardless of the environmental story. That’s how you change things: make sustainable design so good that the sustainability part becomes secondary to just wanting beautiful, functional objects in your space.

The post Hotel Waste Finds New Life As Sustainable & Trendy-Looking Furniture In Bali first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lucid Gravity Off-Road Concept: Electric Adventure SUV Teased for Pebble Beach Debut

The three teaser videos shared on Lucid’s social media channels provide fascinating glimpses into the concept’s design philosophy. The first video shows coordinates for Pebble Beach, California etched into what appears to be brushed metal surfaces, creating an immediate connection between the vehicle and its debut location. This isn’t marketing theater; it’s a design element that suggests geographic awareness and location-based personalization might be part of the concept’s digital experience.

Designer: Lucid

The second teaser reveals the most striking design element: a futuristic-looking roof rack system with integrated LED lighting. Unlike traditional bolt-on accessories, this appears to be a fully integrated design that maintains the Gravity’s aerodynamic profile while adding genuine utility. The lighting integration suggests this isn’t about carrying gear, but about extending the vehicle’s presence and functionality into outdoor environments.

Perhaps most intriguing is the wheel design showcased in the third teaser. The concept features unique six-spoke wheels with distinctive red accents and a blocky, geometric design language that departs significantly from the production Gravity’s more refined aesthetic. These aren’t design exercises; they signal a fundamental shift toward capability-focused engineering.

The Pebble Beach coordinates detail is particularly clever, suggesting the concept might incorporate location-aware features or personalization elements that connect the vehicle to specific places or experiences. This kind of contextual design thinking aligns with modern luxury consumers’ desire for products that adapt to their lifestyle and environment.

Performance Foundation and Mechanical Expectations

The concept is built on the Gravity Grand Touring platform, which delivers 828 horsepower from dual electric motors and achieves 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. This foundation provides serious performance credentials that could translate beautifully to off-road applications. Electric motors deliver instant torque, which is ideal for crawling over obstacles or navigating challenging terrain.

The production Gravity already offers impressive capability with up to 450 miles of EPA-estimated range and a 6,000-pound towing capacity. For an off-road concept, these numbers become even more compelling. Extended range means fewer charging stops during remote adventures, while substantial towing capacity opens possibilities for hauling equipment, trailers, or recreational vehicles.

What’s particularly interesting is how Lucid might adapt their air suspension system for off-road use. The production Gravity features adaptive air suspension that can adjust ride height and damping characteristics. An off-road concept could extend this capability with increased ground clearance, specialized damping maps for different terrain types, and perhaps even individual wheel articulation for maximum traction.

The electric drivetrain also opens unique possibilities for off-road capability. Features like precise torque vectoring between wheels, regenerative braking that could provide engine braking-like control on descents, and silent operation that doesn’t disturb wildlife or camping companions all become natural advantages.

Battery placement in the floor pan creates a low center of gravity that should improve stability on uneven terrain. However, Lucid will need to address ground clearance and underbody protection to prevent damage to the battery pack during serious off-road use.

The 123-kWh battery pack from the Grand Touring could potentially power auxiliary systems like camping equipment, work tools, or emergency devices, turning the vehicle into a mobile power station for extended outdoor adventures.

Design Language and Aesthetic Direction

The teaser imagery suggests Lucid is exploring a more rugged design vocabulary while maintaining their signature sophistication. The roof rack integration appears seamless, suggesting it was designed as part of the vehicle’s overall form rather than an afterthought. This approach aligns with Lucid’s commitment to holistic design thinking.

The wheel design represents the most dramatic departure from production aesthetics. The geometric, blocky spokes with red accents suggest a more aggressive, capability-focused design language. This could indicate the concept features wider wheel arches to accommodate larger tires, enhanced suspension travel, or other modifications that require visual differentiation from the standard model.

Lucid’s existing design language emphasizes flowing, organic forms inspired by nature. An off-road concept provides an opportunity to explore how these principles translate to more functional, utilitarian applications. The challenge will be maintaining Lucid’s sophisticated aesthetic while incorporating the visual cues that communicate serious capability.

The integrated lighting in the roof rack system suggests Lucid is thinking about how electric vehicles can enhance outdoor experiences through technology integration. This could extend to features like exterior work lighting, campsite illumination, or even emergency signaling capabilities.

Color and finish choices will be crucial for establishing the concept’s character. The teaser images show muted, earth-tone environments that suggest the concept might feature more subdued color options or perhaps specialized finishes that can withstand outdoor use.

The coordinate etching detail hints at personalization possibilities that could allow owners to commemorate specific locations or adventures. This kind of bespoke customization aligns with luxury consumer expectations while adding meaningful personal connection to the vehicle.

Market Context and Production Potential

Lucid’s timing with this concept is strategically sound, as the luxury electric SUV market increasingly demands versatility beyond city driving. Competitors like BMW with their iX xDrive50 and Mercedes with the EQS SUV have established the premium electric SUV category, but none have seriously explored adventure-focused variants. The concept positions Lucid to compete with traditional luxury off-road vehicles like the Range Rover or Mercedes G-Class, but with electric power and modern technology integration.

From a brand perspective, an off-road Gravity concept demonstrates Lucid’s engineering versatility and challenges perceptions about electric vehicle limitations. It shows that electric power can enhance rather than compromise capability, potentially attracting customers who might otherwise dismiss EVs as impractical for their lifestyle. The Monterey Car Week debut is perfectly timed to reach Lucid’s target demographic: affluent consumers who value both performance and exclusivity.

While Lucid hasn’t announced production plans for the concept, market demand for adventure-capable luxury EVs suggests strong commercial potential. The modifications shown in the teasers appear production-feasible rather than pure fantasy, indicating Lucid may be testing market response for a future variant. Production considerations would likely focus on maintaining the concept’s visual impact while meeting safety and regulatory requirements.

Pricing for a production version would likely position above the standard Grand Touring, potentially reaching $100,000 or more depending on included features and modifications. This pricing would align with luxury off-road vehicles while offering the advantages of electric power and Lucid’s advanced technology. The concept could serve as a halo vehicle that demonstrates Lucid’s engineering capabilities while generating excitement for the brand.

What makes this concept particularly compelling is how it challenges assumptions about electric vehicle limitations while maintaining Lucid’s commitment to design sophistication. It suggests a future where electric power enhances rather than compromises adventure capability, opening new possibilities for how we think about sustainable mobility. Even if production numbers remain limited, it could influence future Gravity variants and establish Lucid as a serious player in the adventure vehicle segment.

The post Lucid Gravity Off-Road Concept: Electric Adventure SUV Teased for Pebble Beach Debut first appeared on Yanko Design.

McLaren launched earbuds with Bowers & Wilkins and they’re ridiculously over-engineered like their cars

When you think of McLaren, your mind probably conjures images of screaming engines, lightning-fast pit stops, and sleek, aerodynamic cars tearing around a track. You don’t typically associate that name with earbuds, do you? Yet, here we are, with the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 McLaren Edition, a surprising collaboration that makes perfect sense once you dig a little deeper. It’s about taking that same relentless pursuit of performance and engineering excellence, usually reserved for the asphalt, and shrinking it down to fit in your ears.

Bowers & Wilkins has built its reputation on delivering sound that feels authentic, and they’ve poured that same dedication into these wireless earbuds. When we talk about “true 24-bit wireless connection,” think of it like getting the full, uncompressed version of your music. Thanks to a special Qualcomm chip and smart audio tech like aptX Lossless, these tiny devices can beam incredibly detailed sound right to your ears, minimizing any loss that usually happens with wireless audio.

Designer: Bowers & Wilkins

The first thing that strikes you about the Pi8 McLaren Edition is its look. That sleek galvanic grey, punctuated by the vibrant papaya orange, immediately calls to mind McLaren’s racing pedigree. It’s a design language that speaks of precision engineering and speed, neatly packaged into a pair of earbuds. The earbuds themselves are sleek and ergonomically shaped, designed for comfortable, secure fit during extended listening sessions. The subtle McLaren branding is integrated thoughtfully, enhancing the product’s identity without being ostentatious, maintaining Bowers & Wilkins’ signature understated elegance.

The adaptive noise cancellation system automatically adjusts to whatever environment you’re in, creating your own personal sound bubble whether you’re on a noisy subway or trying to focus in a busy coffee shop. Each earbud has three microphones working overtime to both block out unwanted noise and make sure your voice calls come through crystal clear. It’s the kind of attention to detail that separates premium products from the budget alternatives.

Here’s where things get genuinely clever: the charging case doubles as a wireless audio retransmitter. Plug the case into an airplane’s entertainment system, a gym treadmill, or any device with a headphone jack, and it beams the audio wirelessly to your earbuds. No more hunting for dongles or dealing with tangled wires on flights. It’s one of those features that sounds simple but required serious engineering to pull off properly.

Battery life delivers 6.5 hours from the earbuds themselves, with additional charges stored in the case. The case supports both USB-C and wireless charging, so you’ve got options for keeping everything powered up. These practical considerations matter when you’re investing in premium audio gear that you actually plan to use daily.

While positioned at the higher end of the market, the Pi8 McLaren Edition aims to justify its price tag through a combination of cutting-edge technology, unique features, and a distinctive design narrative. It caters to an audience that appreciates the finer details, whether those are found in the nuanced soundstage of a favorite track or the precise lines of a high-performance machine. This earbud is a statement of refined taste and technological ambition.

The post McLaren launched earbuds with Bowers & Wilkins and they’re ridiculously over-engineered like their cars first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 1,200-brick LEGO Louis Vuitton Train Case looks exactly like the original

Not many people remember, but the one and only Louis Vuitton started his humble fashion journey making train cases in 1854. What started as a journey encasing the belongings of other people turned into a conglomerate that has an iron grip on the fashion world today. The Louis Vuitton brand has transcended mere train cases, with their broader group (LVMH) owning practically every haute company you can think of, from Christian Dior and Givenchy to Hennessy, Bvlgari, Tag Heuer, Hublot, and a bunch more. But this LEGO build pays tribute to arguably the one product that LV owes its entire legacy to – the Train Case.

Vuitton, born in 1821 in France pioneered something rather unusual. Most travel cases and trunks had dome-topped designs (made so that water would drip off of them, like umbrellas), but this made them notoriously difficult to stack. In an era where most people traveled by train, steamboat, and horse-drawn carriages, Vuitton chased efficiency, but added his fashionable spin to them. He did so by building some of the first perfectly rectangular travel cases, with reinforced corners and air-tight designs. Vuitton’s cases were so famous they became the unwavering choice of the Empress of the time, beginning a legacy that would continue for nearly a hundred years. This LEGO Train Case from Terauma is a reimagination of the company’s iconic case, designed and manufactured since 1980. Although nobody who buys authentic LV gear travels by trains anymore, these cases are still an icon of the company’s heritage… and now you can build one too!

Designer: Terauma

Terauma managed to build out the case with as much detail as physically possible. This includes the reinforced corners, the handle, the stackable inner compartments, and even the monogram that you see on the outside. Obviously LV was (and still is) a very litigious company, so this concept is for pure representation only. I’m assuming if LEGO were to make this fan-made design a reality, it would involve partnering extensively with the LV brand to get the prerequisite permissions.

The design is marvelously realistic. Terauma uses the perfect tans and browns to build the canvas and leather case. The monogramming is perfectly aligned, and the hinge on the back works impeccably. The handle of the case is made to be dynamic too, flexing ever so slightly to adjust to your grip rather than being a fixed, rigid, molded part.

The case features 1200 parts, which might sound like much, but a lot of those parts are the small studs used to build out the geometric detailing on the box itself and the monogramming on the exterior. The width of the box is approximately 28 studs, says Terauma, and the organization tray on the top (which comes out) is perfectly sized to store and display minifigures, while the inner container can be a place to stash bricks while not in use.

Terauma’s MOC (My Own Creation) is in the final stretch of voting on the LEGO Ideas platform with a staggering 9250 votes. If it does cross the 10,000 vote mark, it gets sent to the LEGO internal team for review, and if all goes well (and LV gives their blessing), this build could potentially turn into a box set. If you’d like to see that happen, go down to the LEGO Ideas website and cast your vote for this Louis Vuitton Train Case build! It’s free.

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DIY Dual-Screen E-Reader Brings the Book Experience to E Ink

There’s something irreplaceable about opening a real book and seeing two pages spread before you. Modern e-readers, for all their convenience, reduce this experience to a single screen that never quite captures the tactile ritual of turning pages and absorbing content across a natural spread.

Reddit user spacerower felt this limitation deeply enough to build something better. Their DIY dual-screen e-reader recreates the authentic book experience using modern E Ink technology, proving that sometimes the best innovations come from missing what we’ve lost rather than chasing what’s next.

Designer: spacerower

The hardware foundation is impressively thoughtful. Two 5.83-inch E Ink displays provide crisp, paper-like text rendering across both pages. An ESP32S3 microcontroller handles the complex task of managing dual screens while maintaining the power efficiency essential for any serious reading device.

The transparent 3D-printed case adds unexpected charm to the build. Rather than hiding the electronics, the clear housing celebrates the project’s DIY nature while serving practical purposes. The integrated hinge allows the device to fold shut like a real book, protecting both screens without requiring a separate case.

The user experience feels genuinely book-like in ways commercial e-readers never achieve. Open the device, and two pages appear simultaneously, just like opening a physical book. The ESP32S3 enters deep sleep mode after ten minutes of inactivity, dramatically extending battery life between reading sessions.

The transparent case transforms what could be utilitarian electronics into something almost sculptural. You can see the internal components working together, adding visual interest that most consumer devices deliberately hide. It’s functional transparency that celebrates rather than conceals the engineering.

Dual 1300mAh batteries power extended reading sessions, while a microSD card provides local storage for entire libraries. USB-C handles both charging and programming, keeping the modern conveniences while preserving the analog reading experience. The device folds down to just 16mm when closed, remarkably slim for a dual-screen setup.

Both hardware and software remain works in progress, which adds to rather than detracts from the project’s appeal. This isn’t a finished product but an ongoing exploration of what e-readers could become when freed from commercial constraints and single-screen limitations.

Managing dual E Ink displays presents unique programming challenges. Synchronizing page turns, refresh rates, and power management across two screens requires careful coordination. The ESP32S3’s capabilities make this possible while maintaining the efficiency essential for portable reading devices.

This project represents something bigger than just another DIY gadget. It’s a reminder that innovation often comes from recognizing what we’ve lost rather than blindly pursuing what’s new. Commercial e-readers optimize for cost and manufacturing efficiency, not reading experience. Sometimes the most meaningful technology projects are those that ask why we settled for compromises in the first place.

The post DIY Dual-Screen E-Reader Brings the Book Experience to E Ink first appeared on Yanko Design.