Blog TSK

retro-futurism miyagi block 1 XR headset designed for immersive interaction

retro-futuristic miyagi block 1 xr headset

 

In a world of sleek, minimalist technology, Miyagi presents a bold departure with the Block 1 XR headset, a device that is as much a design statement as it is a powerful tool for spatial computing. The Block 1 is a deliberate nod to retro-futurism, blending the chunky, sculptural forms of early electronic devices with the polished finishes of contemporary design. This aesthetic choice is more than just stylistic; it creates an object that is both visually and physically engaging, designed to be a desirable piece of technology that users will be proud to own and display.

Miyagi’s Block 1 XR headset is as much a design statement as it is a powerful tool for spatial computing

 

 

spatial creation headset

 

At its core, the Miyagi Block 1 XR headset is a powerful tool for spatial creation, powered by a decentralized AI that generates a wide array of spatial imagery, from static objects to complex, immersive environments. The headset is equipped with advanced space and object mapping, enabling it to understand and interact with the user’s physical surroundings. This spatial awareness is complemented by hand-tracking technology for natural and intuitive interaction, as well as controllers for more precise control. Users can create through both voice and text prompts, making the technology accessible to a broad range of creative workflows.

the Miyagi Block 1 XR headset is a powerful tool for spatial creation, powered by a decentralized AI

 

 

burn to claim headset NFT

 

The project is pioneering a new model of ownership through an innovative crowdfunding approach. Supporters can mint a headset NFT, which acts as both a reservation and proof of ownership. This digital token will be ‘burned’ to redeem the physical headset when it ships. This ‘burn to claim’ mechanism intrinsically ties the hardware to the blockchain from day one.

it generates a wide array of spatial imagery, from static objects to complex, immersive environments

 

 

The Miyagi Block 1 headset is also paired with a decentralized web application where users can view their minted creations. This platform offers an inclusive path for those without the headset, allowing them to use the project’s native token to create imagery and broadening the ecosystem of participants. This approach positions the Block 1 not just as a piece of hardware but as the entry point to a vibrant, decentralized creative community.

supporters can mint a headset NFT but the digital token will be ‘burned’ to redeem the shipped physical headset

 

 

project info:

brand: Miyagi

product: Block 1 XR headset

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

The post retro-futurism miyagi block 1 XR headset designed for immersive interaction appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

szymon rychlik of mute on why meta, airbnb, and gensler are turning to modular office design

MUTE CREATES A NEW STANDARD FOR MODULAR OFFICE DESIGN

 

Mute challenges the static nature of traditional office design, introducing a new paradigm where adaptability is embedded into the very structure of the workspace. As companies grow, shrink, or reconfigure their teams, the demand for dynamic workspaces has never been greater. Yet, traditional office layouts — fixed, costly, and time-consuming to update — can no longer keep pace. Mute’s approach to modular design has already garnered the trust of global giants like Meta, Airbnb, and Gensler. In an interview with designboom, Szymon Rychlik, Mute’s CEO, shares his insights on the core principles of adaptability, the journey behind Mute Modular, and his vision for the future of office design.

Mute Modular in UpHill Health Office, Lisbon | image © Emontenegro Architectural Photography | all images courtesy of Mute

 

 

AN ANSWER TO EVOLVING workspace DEMANDS

 

Mute, a company specialized in interior acoustics, has developed a modular system that responds directly to the demands of contemporary office life. Called Mute Modular, the system replaces static interior construction with a room-in-room concept that enables easy, low-impact spatial transformation. It allows for the creation of nearly any space a modern office requires, from conference rooms, hot desking zones, and quiet focus areas to lounges, or social coffee points.

Mute Modular in LinkedIn Office | image © Shai Epstein

 

 

IN CONVERSATION WITH  SZYMON RYCHLIK, CEO OF MUTE

 

designboom (DB): The journey of office design has seen numerous shifts, from cubicles to open-plan spaces, each addressing past challenges while introducing new ones. What were the most significant learnings or key takeaways from these historical iterations that informed Mute‘s decision to develop Mute Modular?

 

Szymon Rychlik (SR): What we’ve learned from this evolution is that neither the total isolation of cubicles nor the full openness of open-plan offices truly supports how people work. The modern workplace must offer a purposeful balance of both — a range of spaces that support deep focus, collaboration, and hybrid meetings. Mute Modular was created to meet this challenge by enabling adaptable, reconfigurable offices that support all work modes in a future-proof, cost-efficient, and sustainable way. 

 

DB: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the world of work towards hybrid setups and new employee expectations around flexibility and working from home. Why do you believe having a physical office space is still profoundly relevant today?

 

SR: Even in a hybrid world, the physical office remains vital for genuine connection. It’s where collaboration happens naturally, where people build relationships over coffee, exchange ideas, and form the kind of informal bonds that lead to stronger teamwork, higher engagement, and lower turnover. This is why innovative companies like Google, Meta or Nvidia maintain physical hubs. The challenge today is to create environments people genuinely want to be part of — comfortable, valuable, and inspiring spaces that are worth the commute.

with Modular Pods, the same pod size can be arranged and rearranged in hundreds of different ways

 

 

DB: Could you tell us about the journey of Mute Modular’s development and launch? What specific market gaps or challenges did Mute aim to address with this adaptable office system?

 

SR: The idea for Mute Modular came from understanding the simple but pressing challenge that modern offices must meet ever-evolving needs while staying sustainable. We set out to create something more universal than pods and more flexible than traditional drywall solutions: a scalable and customizable space arrangement system. Built from prefabricated modules, it combines the acoustic performance and consistent quality of top-tier pods with the design freedom of conventional methods. Mute Modular was designed for quick, low-impact assembly, allowing offices to be built in hours and reconfigured as easily as a set of Lego bricks.

 

DB: The term “adaptability” is central to contemporary office design. From Mute’s perspective, what does it mean for an office space to be adaptable?

 

SR: An adaptable office evolves as teams grow or shrink, projects shift, or workstyles change, without the need for costly renovations, construction waste, or high CO₂ emissions. It’s not about short-term flexibility, like moving a table or adjusting lighting. It’s about creating a space that’s fundamentally designed to change — in size, function, and layout — again and again, without disruption. Our own Warsaw headquarters, built entirely with Mute Modular in just two weeks, serves as a powerful real-world example — a testament to designing spaces that can last longer and adapt over time. 

 

DB: A key advantage of Mute Modular is its flexibility, but on the other hand, the market has been full of products described as flexible or moveable for years. How are adaptable office systems different in this regard?

  

SR: To me, “Flexibility” has become a buzzword — used so often that it’s lost much of its meaning. We often see companies describe their products as flexible, but in practice, it usually means just moving a product across the room.  Mute Modular offers something fundamentally different: architectural-level flexibility. This isn’t about minor tweaks — it’s about the ability to completely change the size, layout, and function of a space. Mute Modular allows you to do that without major costs, without emissions, and whenever needed.

Mute Modular in ELCA Office, Lausanne | image © Florian Amouser

 

 

DB: Looking back at Mute’s journey and implementations, could you share a project that you’re personally most proud of? What made that particular project stand out, and what were some of the most rewarding aspects of seeing Mute Modular come to life in that specific context?

 

The project for Gensler at their Washington, D.C. office stands out. The world’s leading architecture firm believed in our solution so much that they wanted it in their own workspace even before we officially launched in the U.S. They saw it during NeoCon, where Mute Modular received the Gold Award. They loved the idea of flexible, customizable spaces and they used Mute Modular to build a “creative zone” with 12 rooms for teamwork, focused work, and meetings, showcasing a profound trust in our product’s potential.

Mute Office Warsaw | image PION Studio

 

 

DB: Mute recently launched its Modular Pods collection. How do these new pods build upon the success and principles of Mute Modular, and what are the key shortcomings or limitations of conventional office pods that Mute aims to explicitly overcome through its adaptable design?

 

SR: There is a lot to choose from, but let’s start with more ergonomics in space planning. Most manufacturers still offer just 2 to 6 pod variations, assuming that’s enough to cover all needs. Modular Pods break that mold, by offering 30 unique models in 11 sizes, with 0.5-meter increments. This makes it easy to match any office layout and make the most of available space.

 

Traditional pods also fall short when it comes to customization. Most offer only a selection of finishes and additional accessories. In contrast, Modular Pods can be arranged as freely as a regular room  both in look and functionality. With our dedicated Mute Modular furniture system, single pod size can serve as a meeting room, a focus space, or something else entirely. Plus, for the first time, the pod’s wall layout is fully customizable. The user can decide on door placement and each wall configuration — whether it’s solid, transparent, or semi-transparent. That gives users total control over both the design, function, and level of privacy of each unit.

 

And finally, accessibility. We believe it’s time to move beyond the idea of one, dedicated, “special” pod for people with mobility challenges. Instead, every Modular Pod is designed with inclusion in mind: barrier-free access, no flooring, accessible thresholds, and height-adjustable furniture.

Szymon Rychlik, CEO of Mute

 

 

DB: Looking ahead, what is Mute‘s long-term vision for the evolution of office design, and how do you see Mute continuing to innovate?

 

SR: The keyword that will define the future of office design is adaptability. Our long-term mission is to lead this transformation and redefine the world of interior architecture through adaptability. With our Mute Modular system, we believe we can make true adaptability more accessible. That’s why we’re committed not just to promoting our innovations, but also to educating the market and showcase the powerful potential adaptability brings to the future of workspace design.

 

 

 

project info:

 

company: Mute | @insta.mute
products: Mute Modudar, Mute Pods

The post szymon rychlik of mute on why meta, airbnb, and gensler are turning to modular office design appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

lake como’s magical mists inspire zoltan varro’s fantastical hotel redesign

zoltan varro’s vision for nuvole garden hotel

 

The tranquil town of Brunate, known as the Balcony of the Alps, offers a panoramic view of Italy’s majestic Lake Como. It was this vista that inspired Zoltan Varro in his redesign of the historic Grand Hotel Milano in the town. The interior designer found his muse in the morning mist that often blankets the lake – a sight that evoked a childhood tale of the gods of Mount Olympus looking down from the clouds. This moment transformed a hotel destination steeped in tradition into something mythical, a vision now realized in the newly opened Nuvole Garden Hotel in Brunate, Italy.

the Sole Luxury Rooms are facing the lake with door to ceiling windows allowing for full exposure to the sky, mountains, and water below.

 

 

design celebrates heritage with magical twist

 

Zoltan Varro’s work was to restore the beloved art nouveau treasure, which had fallen into disrepair, with a grand plan to create a five-star destination. He ingeniously wove motifs from his misty lake inspiration into the hotel’s distinct spaces. The fine-dining Sole Gourmet Restaurant on the top floor pays homage to the sun, with ceilings that can open to the sky and a central screen that lights up in the evenings, radiating warmth through its subdued golden flourishes. Conversely, the ground-floor BLU restaurant plunges guests into the depths of Lake Como itself. Here, blue and teal hues, a custom carpet mimicking the seafloor, and bubble-style lighting create the feeling of dining underwater with mermaids and fish.

in the Sole Gourmet Restaurant, Zoltan Varro wanted to worship the sun, which is best achieved during the warmer months where the ceilings can be opened up to bask in the sunlight

 

 

The hotel’s restoration also celebrates its rich Belle Époque heritage. The adjacent Bar Negroni, with its wood-paneled ceiling and ornate wall sconces, evokes the grandeur of an Edwardian-era ocean liner. Outside, Varro celebrates the la dolce vita lifestyle with a fantastical twist. The courtyard, overlooking the lake, is reimagined as an elegant dining room exposed to the elements – complete with a grand chandelier, fireplace, and handmade mosaic floor. The common interior spaces of the lobby and reception resemble an indoor garden, with floral and hedge-like textures and peacock-patterned chairs, as if nature has crept inside and taken hold.

guests can dine in a scene seemingly right out of the Mad Hatter’s tea party, as the courtyard functions as a grand dining hall exposed to the elements

 

 

Varro’s custom design extends to the 80 guest rooms, each telling a part of the story. Rooms facing the lake share the ‘Sole’ theme, with floor-to-ceiling windows, golden accents, and a custom Como-focused print on the curtains and headboards, giving guests the feeling of floating among the clouds. The ‘Cabana’ rooms and suites, inspired by Italian poolside cabanas, offer a cozier feel with flowing curtains and a warm, glowing ambiance. From worshiping sun deities to dining with mermaids, every aspect of the Nuvole Garden Hotel originates from Varro’s vision of the magical Lake Como mists, creating a hotel that celebrates its traditional grandeur with a fantastical, extraordinary aesthetic.

golden touches and warming colors blend into the rooms, while a custom Como-focused print dresses the curtains, the beds’ headboards, and other furnishings.

in the Grand Salon unique floral or hedge-like textures cover the walls and furniture, while bold peacock-patterned chairs wear their Como Gardens reference with pride.

the reception of the enchanted Nuvole Garden hotel

the courtyard overlooking the lake resembles an elegant dining room, with its own chandelier, fireplace, and a handmade mosaic floor fit for the grand villas of the region

at BLU Restaurant, bubble-inspired lights shimmer like air rising from the lakebed, enhancing the underwater illusion with a playful yet refined glow that mirrors the depths of Lake Como

at the center of Sole Gourmet Restaurant, a grand screen is emboldened with the Sole motif, lighting up in the evenings to draw all attention to this altar of the sun

 

contemporary wooden design of the Spa

the Spa’s sophisticated wooden aesthetic

 

 

project info:

 

name: Nuvole Garden
interior designer: Zoltan Varro / @varrodesign
landscape and garden design: Zoltan Varro Architect / original: Achille Manfredini (1911)

architecture (restoration): Domenico Garritano, Studio Ingegneria

developer: Italiana Hotels & Resorts

project completion: 2025

project size: 6000 m2

photos: Gyorgy Darabos

location: Brunate, Lake Como, Italy

rooms: 80 guest rooms / suites

dining: Sole Gourmet Restaurant, BLU Restaurant, Bar Negroni

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

The post lake como’s magical mists inspire zoltan varro’s fantastical hotel redesign appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

headphones carry CD player, remote and jewel case above user’s head for on-the-go music

Wireless headphones with CD player on top of user’s head

 

Pud makes headphones that let users carry the CD player, remote control, and even a jewel case on top of their head. A functional device, the different audio components are mounted on a shelf-like frame, and each of them works independently but connects to the same audio output system. The CD player sits in the front section of the device, where users can insert compact discs just above their forehead and control playback using a remote control on the left side of the headphones. As usual, the remote has buttons for play, pause, skip, and volume functions.

all images courtesy of Pud

 

 

self-powered battery pack embedded onto the frame

 

Behind the headphones by maker Pud lies a self-powered battery pack that keeps the CD player going for some time. In this way, users don’t need to have the device plugged in, and they can just walk around with their wireless headphones as they vibe with their music. The frame looks like it uses metal with mounting points for each audio component. Green-colored accents mark connection points and adjustment mechanisms throughout the device.

 

The frame also distributes weight across the user’s head so it’s not weighing down on them when they wear it for a long time. The speakers inside the headphones that Pud assembled mount directly to the frame structure, so users hear sound directly from them as soon as they slide the disc into the CD player just above their forehead.

Pud makes headphones that let users carry the CD player, remote control, and even a jewel case on top of their head

 

 

CD player from car mounted onto wireless headphones

 

In a Reddit comment, Pud says that the weight of the headphones with CD player, remote control, and jewel case box can be around two kilos, excluding the discs on the spindle. The player the creator embeds into the frame comes from the one typically used in cars. The battery life can depend on how actively the wearer is using the device, but it can last for several hours given the self-powering and rechargeable battery pack embedded onto the frame. Pud, known for his headphone works, created the system as a personal project that can bring all essential audio equipment with the user anywhere they go and without needing to bring cases and bags with them.

the CD player sits in the front section of the device, where users can insert compact discs just above their forehead

there are embedded speakers into the headphones

detailed view of the side

 

Pud explaining his project

 

 

project info:

 

name: Headphones with integrated CD player, remote control, battery, disc storage, and jewel box compartment

design: Pud | @pudphones

The post headphones carry CD player, remote and jewel case above user’s head for on-the-go music appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

unfinished concrete structure turns into nature-filled tropical café in cambodia

khoan + partners transforms abandoned frame into eatery

 

Khoan + Partners unveils A Living Frame, a renovation project that turns an unfinished concrete structure into the Phum Sambo Café & Eatery in Cambodia. The original building consisted of a rigid structural grid — exposed slabs, beams, and columns — intended for utilitarian use but left incomplete. Instead of demolishing the framework, the design retains its structural clarity while introducing layers of warmth, environmental responsiveness, and human scale. Timber components such as operable louvers, soffits, and cladding soften the concrete frame and regulate sunlight, while cascading vines and climbing plants weave through the structure to blur boundaries between architecture and nature.

all images courtesy of Khoan + Partners

 

 

climate-sensitive design in cambodia

 

The intervention preserves the integrity of the original concrete skeleton, using it as the foundation for a more permeable and climate-sensitive spatial arrangement. Khoan + Partners organized the layout so that the ground floor opens into a shaded, open-air zone that connects directly to the surrounding landscape and encourages cross-ventilation, minimizing mechanical cooling needs. The Cambodia-based studio also applied passive shading strategies, wooden railings, and a green roof for thermal insulation on the upper levels, ensuring comfortable interior conditions despite the tropical environment.

the project turns an unfinished concrete structure into a café & eatery

 

 

timber and greenery shape adaptive architectural system

 

Wood is not only an aesthetic counterpoint to concrete but also a functional component, moderating solar exposure and introducing tactile qualities. Similarly, greenery operates as a design material, acting as a natural filter to cool the air, cast dynamic shadows, and foster biodiversity on site. These interventions frame the building as an adaptive system in dialogue with its climate and context rather than a sealed enclosure. The project illustrates an alternative approach to construction in which adaptation replaces erasure. By layering new elements onto an existing skeleton, Khoan + Partners demonstrates how unfinished or abandoned structures can evolve into sustainable, inhabitable spaces rooted in place.

the intervention preserves the integrity of the original concrete skeleton

the studio applied passive shading strategies

timber components such as operable louvers, soffits, and cladding soften the concrete frame

 

 

project info:

 

name: Phum Sambo Café & Eatery
designer: Khoan + Partners | @khoanandpartners

location: Cambodia

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

The post unfinished concrete structure turns into nature-filled tropical café in cambodia appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.