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leaping olympic gymnasts form shifting colorfield in yuge zhou’s NYC times square takeover

trampoline color exercise lights up times square

Yuge Zhou’s hypnotic work Trampoline Color Exercise takes over 95 billboards in New York City’s Times Square. The moving-image collage depicts leaping gymnasts whose uniforms and identities shapeshift as they flip and tumble on pink gridded trampolines. Created by manipulating aerial vantage points from archival broadcasts of Olympic Games footage, the artwork is a bird’s-eye meditation on the human form and the athletic pursuit of perfection. The mass of figures also reads as an abstract play of primary colors — a timely yet subtle nod to global national flags and fluctuating affiliations in an ever-changing geopolitical climate.

all images by Michael Hull unless stated otherwise

yuge zhou considers complexities of allegiance

Yuge Zhou left her hometown of Beijing for the United States right around the time of the 2008 Olympic games – a monumental event for China. The artist began conceptualizing Trampoline Color Exercise between 2021 and 2024, a period marked by intense political and international divisions. Drawing from personal memories of watching the Olympic Games as a family ritual, being captivated by the athletes’ pursuit of perfection as well as the powerful symbolism of individuals representing their nations, competing on a shared global stage. ‘The Olympics, to me, have always mirrored the dynamics of international relations, especially the tensions and rivalries between global superpowers,’ Zhou notes.

She revisits the visual language of athleticism and pageantry, using it as a lens to explore shifting ideologies and cultural identities. The Olympics, long viewed as a stage for both collaboration and rivalry between nations, here become a symbolic terrain for examining the complexities of allegiance. Working with archival Olympic footage as the starting point, Zhou extracted aerial views of athletes mid-performance and reassembled them into a dynamic visual field as they’re leaping and tumbling on pink gridded trampolines. Their uniforms and identities change as they move across a shifting tapestry of motion and color. Collectively, the mass of figures becomes an abstract composition of primary colors — subtly evoking the national flags of countries that have played outsized roles in shaping recent geopolitical events. The work is currently on view as part of the Midnight Moment program presented by Times Square Arts, the world’s largest public art venue, and plays nightly from 11:57 PM to midnight through June 30th.

Yuge Zhou unveils Trampoline Color Exercise

the hypnotic work takes over 95 billboards in New York City’s Times Square

image by DeShaun Craddock

created by manipulating aerial vantage points from archival broadcasts of Olympic Games footage

the artwork is a bird’s-eye meditation on the human form and the athletic pursuit of perfection

Zhou extracted aerial views of athletes mid-performance and reassembled them into a dynamic visual field

the work is on view as part of the Midnight Moment program presented by Times Square Arts

project info:

name: Trampoline Color Exercise
artist: Yuge Zhou | @yugezhou

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: ravail khan | designboom

The post leaping olympic gymnasts form shifting colorfield in yuge zhou’s NYC times square takeover appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

this backpack vest combines outerwear with storage to carry personal objects anywhere

embedded storage behind Topologie’s reflective backpack vest

Topologie releases a reflective backpack vest that has storage embedded in it so wearers can bring their personal objects behind them. Made of glass microspheres and recycled polyester, the outerwear has a spacious main compartment at the back, enough to fit wallets, smartphones, and other small objects. The fashion piece also features a magnetic buckle as well as two quick-release O-ring carabiners inside the Topologie reflective backpack vest to let users attach or hang their keys and portable gear like power banks.

all images courtesy of Topologie

Glass microspheres for a gleaming surface

The fashion piece also comes with daisy-chain webbing, which is a series of interwoven fabric forming loops, to make the outerwear flexible and strong enough for the attachments. Outside the Topologie reflective backpack vest, there are four-side zippered pockets for easy access to the carried essentials as well as a rear mesh pocket for tiny objects like a lip balm or some coins. Inside the fashion piece, there are an additional four mesh pockets within the side pockets to create more storage aside from the ones present at the back of the vest.

Because of the glass microspheres, the Topologie backpack vest is reflective, which can differ depending on the current light situation, but the brand adds that the reflective coating is susceptible to wear from friction or abrasion, which can lead to peeling over time. The outerwear is also water repellent, so the wearer can put it on on rainy days, and there’s a single buckle at the front to keep the vest fastened to the user. A pair of straps hidden inside the vest allow for a customized fit as well to make sure that it is comfortable enough for long-time wearing.

the brand’s name appears at the front of the fashion piece

there are also side pockets available

the backpack resembles a rolltop rucksack

because of the glass microspheres, the Topologie backpack vest is reflective

weares can also attach objects around the fashion piece

the fashion piece also features a magnetic buckle

project info:

name: Backpack Vest

brand: Topologie | @topologie.official

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netflix house to bring stranger things, squid game and more to life in immersive US venues

netflix house to bring popular shows into the real world

Netflix is set to bring some of its most popular shows and films into the real world with Netflix House, a new kind of entertainment venue set to open in Philadelphia and Dallas by the end of 2025. Located inside the King of Prussia Mall and Galleria Dallas, respectively, the two permanent spaces will span over 9,290 square meters, offering fans a chance to step inside immersive environments inspired by the most iconic titles of the platform, including Stranger Things and Wednesday, as well as Squid Game and One Piece. A third venue is also confirmed for Las Vegas, slated to open in 2027.

The venues, designed to be more than themed attractions, combine physical storytelling with hospitality and retail. Netflix House invites visitors all year round to explore interactive sets, dine at a show-inspired restaurant called Netflix Bites, and browse exclusive merchandise tied to different Netflix universes. Each location will feature a rotating lineup of experiences and installations, allowing returning guests to discover something new with each visit.

Netflix House Philadelphia | all images courtesy of Netflix House

philadelphia and dallas locations coming by the end of 2025

In the Philadelphia Netflix House, guests will find a VR arcade based on Netflix shows, a nine-hole mini golf course called Top 9, and a screening space known as the Tudum Theater. The Dallas location will include Netflix RePLAY, a game-filled arena blending physical challenges with story-driven environments in an arcade-style setting. These activities are tied closely to familiar titles with obstacle courses inspired by Squid Game, moody walkthroughs set in the halls of Nevermore Academy, or adventures at sea with the One Piece crew, complete with snail phones and references to the Going Merry ship.

Netflix House Dallas

welcoming guests to explore and dine subscription-free

While the experiences vary by location, both venues aim to reflect the broader focus of the streaming platform on inclusion and global storytelling. According to the company, the goal is to create welcoming spaces that feel accessible to all, whether or not you’re a Netflix subscriber. Guests can simply walk in, explore the installations, or enjoy a themed meal, no membership required.

The retail side of Netflix House will offer exclusive apparel and collectibles, while Netflix Bites is expected to serve a menu influenced by scenes and characters from across its international catalog. Designed as permanent fixtures rather than pop-ups, both venues will operate year-round, evolving alongside the streaming platform’s changing lineup.

Following the launch of these first two locations, Netflix has confirmed plans to open a third Netflix House in Las Vegas in 2027. The venues shift how the company approaches fan engagement beyond screens to create destinations where people can revisit the stories they love. Fans can already sign up for early access to tickets via the official waitlist, which offers presale opportunities ahead of the general public, along with sneak peeks and exclusive content tailored to each fan community.

Netflix is set to bring some of its most popular shows and films into the real world

immersive environments inspired by the most iconic titles of the platform

the venues combine physical storytelling with hospitality and retail

Netflix House invites visitors all year round to explore interactive sets

a third venue is also confirmed for Las Vegas, slated to open in 2027

project info:

name: Netflix House | @netflixhouse
company: Netflix

locations: King of Prussia Mall, Philadelphia and Galleria Dallas, Dallas, USA (opening late 2025), Las Vegas, USA (confirmed for 2027)

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wutopia lab’s prefabricated waterfront house in shanghai wraps in aluminum & ceramic skin

the lake house is conceived as a ‘house within a house’

Wutopia Lab’s The Lake House – Life Experience Pavilion sits on the site of a former water base along a bayfront park in Shanghai, China. Developed as a design-build project with an accelerated timeline, the project integrates architecture, structure, interiors, signage, and curatorial display into a single modular strategy, transforming two existing buildings into a unified spatial journey. The pavilion, realized within a mere 40 days, reuses curtain wall ceramic panels from earlier residential developments and combines them with a lightweight metal skin system to create a dual-layered enclosure that distinguishes formal expression from climate performance.

The process began with chief architect Yu Ting surveying three potential sites and selecting one located directly on the water. The brief involved addressing that the park mandated that the original structures be preserved without disturbing even a millimeter of surrounding greenery, including two trees abutting the facades. The client requested integration of recycled materials and an architectural design that could be completed in just a couple of weeks. That same evening, Yu proposed a ‘house within a house’ concept, with two volumes clad respectively in metal and ceramic skins, both layered over the retained structural shells. Developed with structural consultant Miao Binhai, they shaped a metal skin that would form the functional climate envelope, while the ceramic would remain purely visual. Prefabricated modules, repeatable systems, and prefixed materials formed the core of Wutopia Lab’s fast-build strategy.

all images courtesy of Wutopia Lab

wutopia lab completes the house within just 40 days

A modular coordination session followed, where every component was streamlined to meet the deadline. 150×150 millimeter steel profiles were integrated directly into the facade system, and cantilevered foundations on the waterfront were used to create a raised platform for rapid assembly. The resulting envelope blended aluminum cladding, vertical greenery, glass partitions, and ceramic panels into a single layered construction, blurring the boundaries between structure and skin.

Inside, the spatial journey of the Lake House unfolds as a horizontal composition, drawing from the metaphor of Chinese landscape scrolls. Wutopia Lab arranged a sequence of elements — preserved trees, vertical gardens, an entry lobby, exhibition halls, three individually themed VIP rooms, a willow colonnade, a terrace, and a waterside café — as a continuous and immersive path. Interior and exterior thresholds dissolved as a result, and orientation became intuitive through shifting materials, dappled daylight, and the calibrated interplay of solidity and openness.

the prefabricated volumes inserts industrial textures in nature

Throughout the space, repurposed and unconventional materials create a quiet undercurrent, suggesting a more reflective engagement with sustainability. Marine plastic plaster, mushroom leather, recycled tiles, and glazed ceramics perform as tactile evidence of a material logic rooted in sensorial awareness. In one of the VIP rooms, a skylight was retained even after its accompanying stair was removed due to park restrictions. That improvised void now takes on a new reading, echoing old Shanghai tiger windows or mirroring the shape of a nearby tree hollow, and marking a moment of alignment between contingency and intention.

Despite its compressed timeline, Wutopia Lab’s Lake House resists the aesthetics of fast architecture and creates space for measured experience. In the final days before opening, a passerby stopped to run his hand across the pearlescent ceramic wall, pausing silently before walking away. For Yu Ting and the design team, that quiet gesture marked the real completion of the project.

project info:

name: The Lake House – Life Experience Pavilion
architect: Wutopia Lab | @wutopia.lab

location: Shanghai, China

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: ravail khan | designboom

The post wutopia lab’s prefabricated waterfront house in shanghai wraps in aluminum & ceramic skin appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

florim’s authentic luxe reinvents classic stone and marble surfaces with carbon neutral design

FLORIM EMBRACES QUIET LUXURY SHIFT IN CERAMIC SURFACES

Florim‘s Authentic Luxe porcelain stoneware collection moves away from decorative excess to emphasize the intrinsic elegance and tactile substance derived from classic travertines, limestones, and marbles. Embracing the rising trend of quiet luxury, these carbon neutral ceramic surfaces are defined by soft tones, subtle mineral details, and rich but restrained veining that offer visual harmony and material depth. The minimalist aesthetic is expressed through a neutral color palette, accentuated by gentle chromatic inflections that remain consistent with the collection’s understated style, all while conveying calm, warmth, and a distinct sense of enduring quality.

Florim’s Authentic Luxe collection recalls classic stone and marble in ceramic surfaces | all images courtesy of Florim

FULLY CARBON NEUTRAL ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES

Florim is an Italian manufacturer known for its architectural surfaces that combine craftsmanship, technological precision, and environmental responsibility. As part of the CarbonZero program, every surface in the Authentic Luxe collection is fully carbon neutral. From raw material extraction and production to transportation, installation, and use, every stage of Florim’s production is measured by its environmental impact to align with the company’s long-term sustainability goals. Wherever emissions remain, they are offset through certified projects that support clean energy production in developing countries.

capturing the visual signature of marble with chromatic vitality

AUTHENTIC LUXE OFFERS SUSTAINABLE STONE AND MARBLE OPTIONS

Authentic Luxe not only offers sophisticated surfaces, but a material statement of accountability — one that supports high-end design without compromising on sustainability. Its collection reinterprets classic stone varieties — travertine, limestone, and marble — ensuring they meet contemporary aesthetic demands while retaining their intrinsic character and appeal.

The collection consists of two travertines in Gold and Pearl tones, four limestones in shades of Jura, Chablis, Montpellier, and Dordogne, and two marbles, Aubisque and Nuage. This curated selection of material tones ensures wide stylistic versatility, allowing for the creation of exclusive environments that prioritize a sense of well-being and tranquility without overt display.

a minimalist aesthetic conveying calm and warmth

Beyond the primary surfaces, Authentic Luxe is complemented by three distinct dimensional additions. The Honeycomb mosaic subtly references the ancient cloisonné technique, offering intricate yet refined detail, while the Rustic Edge motif features irregular edges, embracing the natural imperfection of stone. Finally, Slats provides a precise, symmetrical pattern, creating a subtle two-dimensional interplay.

craftsmanship, technological precision, and environmental responsibility combined

every Authentic Luxe surface is fully carbon neutral

delicate surface textures with an authentic, organic feel

soft matte finishes recalling natural stone nuances

Authentic Luxe supports high-end design without compromising on sustainability

project info: 

name: Authentic Luxe

company: Florim | @florim_ceramiche

material: Porcelain Stoneware

colors: Gold and Pearl Travertine, Jura, Chablis, Montpellier, and Dordogne limestone, Aubisque and Nuage marble

finishes: Matte Leather, Matte Silk, Matte, Glossy

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