Category: Architecture

Design ni Dukaan subverts expectations of the architectural process from the creative brief to the fully realized concepts reflected in their fresh approach to interiors and space planning in an office project located in the city of Gandhidham in Gujarat, India. Through enhancing the intrinsic qualities of their material palette, the Ahmedabad-based architecture firm, helmed by Veeram Shah, seeks to elevate the level of craft one might expect in workplace design.

Built-ins to create seating for guests to remove and store shoes

“Let us make an attempt to use our knowledge and details to reimagine office spaces,” Shah says in his client briefs. “Can we use materiality as a means to find a solution for this? Can we use this process to create a warm work culture? Can art inserts become a seamless part of the volume?” As evidenced by this project, an atmosphere empathetic to user experience has the potential to induce positivity and in turn foster a more productive workplace.

Art-wall made with five layers of brown glass

Detail of the art-wall glass demonstrating transparency

The 1,328-square-foot space embraces the existing architectural structure, weaving material and programming together through a volume that feels more like inhabiting an art installation than a corporate headquarters. Much like adaptive reuse, this approach conserves resources by forgoing the need for a great deal of virgin materials while allowing the building’s unique imperfections to be sewn into the present with warm teak, brown glass, and terracotta microcement. “We are glad that the client’s vision is aligned with ours,” Shah says.

The reception table as guests turn the corner

Glass installation and reception table as guests turn the corner

Details in hall-wall viewing reception area

Traditional sliding shutters are traded for a folding door adorned with modernist patterns to avoid using commercial solutions upon entry to the building proper and foreshadowing the bespoke experience ahead. Visitors make their way to a vestibule seemingly carved out of stone, with ledges that serve as seating for rest and shelves to accommodate shoe storage, before turning the corner to be greeted by an art wall. The intervention is composed of 5 layers of 5mm thick brown glass that creates a halo effect when activated by daylight. A sculptural reception table pulls focus then moves the eye opposite to a sinuous curve wrapping around the waiting area and casual seating, which is flooded with daylight.

Details in hall-wall viewing waiting area

Beyond reception and adjacent to a waiting area is an open workspace for discussion

Office project head cabin

Flanking the public spaces are a variety of workstations with varying amounts of privacy. The southernmost end of the office houses the first executive cabin, kitchenette, and lavatory, while the opposite end features the second executive cabin and marble Mandir hidden behind doors with ornamentation to denote its significance. Furnishings like the tables take a cue from their context showcasing micro concrete punctuated by wood’s warmth.

Executive cabin 1 off the hallway with a mandir

Executive cabin 1

Executive cabin 1

Illustrated elements also echo through wall treatments, installations, and artwork. Successful solutions are just as much a collaboration between the client and design team as they are conversations with the visual language of the past and present. Pattern-making is a particular device employed by the studio taking inspiration from Burle Marx to inspire surface treatments for solid partitions and sandwiched glass details.

Executive cabin 1

Custom workstations

The firm also collaborated with artist Rutva Joshi for original pieces that hang in the executive cabins. “We deliberated upon the conceptualization of an office environment characterized by monochromatic aesthetics. As an artist, my creative vernacular is rooted in map making, and in this particular context, I drew inspiration from the intricacies of Gandhidham city where the office is situated,” Joshi says. “The resulting artistic expression manifests in the deliberate integration of geometric forms within a cartographic framework. It’s crucial to note that the mapped representation of Gandhidham is a result of imaginative exploration, not an accurate depiction.”

Custom workstation and view through adjacent office spaces

Executive cabin 2

Executive cabin 2

This peculiar assignment evolved into a creative exercise for the architect rather than a curation of furnishings at the client’s behest, typical of some interior design. “Every facet of this project from the lights, loose furniture, office chairs, handle details, murals, art and even the logo of the company was designed by Design Ni Dukaan,” Shah adds. “The sense of artistic fulfillment that permeates this endeavor is simply sublime.”

Executive cabin 2 detail

Photography by Kuber Shah, courtesy of Design Ni Dukaan.

With professional degrees in architecture and journalism, Joseph has a desire to make living beautifully accessible. His work seeks to enrich the lives of others with visual communication and storytelling through design. A regular contributor to titles under the SANDOW Design Group, including Luxe and Metropolis, Joseph serves the Design Milk team as their Managing Editor. When not practicing, he teaches visual communication, theory, and design. The New York-based writer has also contributed to exhibitions hosted by the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture and Architectural Digest, and recently published essays and collage illustrations with Proseterity, a literary publication.

Every summer as a child, architect Joe Herrin looked forward to his family’s boat trips to the San Juan Islands. Those trips led to a love of boating and a lifetime affinity for the islands. That love drove the Heliotrope Architects’ principal and his wife to acquire a modest, 1960s A-frame kit cabin on Orcas Island. The cabin lives on a shared 36-acre waterfront that’s held in common with eight other families and is located adjacent to a seasonal stream, wetland, and alder and fir forests. The Buoy Bay A-Frame Cabin was originally built by the preview owners on a tight budget. Over time, Joe and Belinda have renovated the modern cabin, transforming it into a cozy retreat.

The couple’s commitment to sustainable living is evident, from the installation of solar panels that zero-out energy use to the careful selection of reclaimed pine floors and birch-ply cabinetry. The focus on maximizing daylight and comfort resonates in every corner, creating a space that feels simultaneously expansive and intimate.

Throughout their ownership, Joe and Belinda have installed a foundation, rebuilt the deck, added insulated windows, cut-in a big skylight, and insulated the roof. Most recently, they renovated the kitchen and bathroom, and created an addition in the back, which added an entryway and a shower.

The open interior feels spacious with the exposed fir structure that’s been finished with wood bleach, along with beams that have been painted to hide the original dark stain.

The living and dining room open out to the large deck, making the interior feel double in size.

A staircase leads to the upper loft, which houses two beds and additional floor space for extended family to sleep.

The cabin is clad in stained TI-11 plywood, with the exception of the addition, which is wrapped in locally milled stained cedar.

Photography by Sean Airhart.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

Located in Carpinteria, California, a small corner of a backyard has been transformed into a unique ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) by Obreval and Catch Architecture. ADU Carpinteria is not just another dwelling, it’s an innovative modern house designed for sustainable, compact living. And while most ADU units are boxes, this one carries on California’s tradition of redefining the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces with a curved wall of windows that forms a circular patio in front. The window feature helps flood the interior with natural light, while creating an open and airy space that defies the constraints of its 550-square-foot size.

Inside, one is greeted by the warmth of exposed wood beams. This marriage of rustic charm and modern aesthetics creates a cozy environment that encourages you to relax and unwind. The ADU’s exposed beams not only add character but also connect you to the natural world outside, blurring the lines between the structure and the surrounding environment.

Crafted with sustainability in mind, this ADU boasts energy-efficient features, eco-friendly materials, and a design promoting natural ventilation to make it as environmentally conscious as it is beautiful.

The pièce de résistance is the centrally located fire pit within the circular patio. As the sun sets, this gathering point transforms into a place to socialize, unwind, and connect. When the fire is burning, it casts a warm glow throughout the entire space.

Photography by Pablo Zarama.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

TELO, a new electric truck that was announced as the antithesis of the modern truck, a small but capable EV pickup designed for urbanites who want all of the perks of a truck with a fraction of the parking space footprint. Dubbed the “world’s most efficient EV pickup,” the TELO is still available for pre-order with a $49,999 base price, which seems pretty reasonable for the design-forward model.

If you’ve ever researched residential energy storage systems, you’ll notice most battery systems should be hidden away from view. Because nothing says eyesore more than big blocks of batteries with visible cables and wires needed to connect the system to the energy pathways of your home. Luckily, Lunar Energy’s Head of Design Matt Jones set out to find a way to balance functionality and aesthetics in a category within residential that typically leans towards the former.

This standout, 430-square-foot apartment in Rivne, Ukraine was designed by TAK office to make the most of its compact space. The main room operates as the kitchen, dining space, living room, and bedroom complete with a Murphy bed that hides in the wall when not in use. When it’s bedtime, the bed comes down and a curtain closes around it to create a private bedroom. The clever design proves bigger isn’t always better.

Even in its concept phase, this 484-square-foot tiny home is a design that everyone seems to gravitate towards. The rectangular structure, which “lives” in an idyllic location surrounded by mountains, has floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the views while creating an open and light-filled interior. The inside boasts an open living space that’s cleverly designed to feel modern yet cozy with outdoor views from most angles, helping to connect the home with its location.

Those looking for new outdoor adventures got a worthy new competitor in the camper genre this year, thanks to Icelandic brand Mink Campers. They raised the bar with their latest creation, the MINK-E, a teardrop camper that isn’t just another camper – it’s the world’s first fully electric, towable teardrop camper. It makes non-camping people want to embark on an outdoor adventure within its sustainable, eco-friendly, and comfortable camper.

Another super cool electric teardrop camper entered the market this year – this time from Colorado Teardrops. The Boulder camper, which looks like it could have come off the Tesla assembly line, was designed to complement said company’s popular EV with it’s gull-wing doors and aerodynamic wheels. Packed with a 75 kWh bank of EV batteries, this camper will take travelers far without needing to stop at charging stations along the way.

Those that appreciate nostalgia when it comes to gaming clearly loved Analogue’s latest drop, a Game Boy Advance inspired device available in eight new hues. The Classic Limited Edition Pockets are tricked out Game Boys that plays everyone’s favorite retro game titles at 10x the resolution as the original. To top it off, this gaming machine is compatible with more than 2,780 Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance titles, as well as Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color, and Atari Lynx games with optional adapters. Whatever color selected, the user will have endless hours of gaming pleasure in their future.

Proving again that everyone loves interesting keyboards, the Geistmaschine ASP series lands in the Top 3 with it’s elegant exterior that’s embellished with polished steel, copper, or rose gold. Built with a modular customization system, the full-size keyboard is outfitted with ferritic stainless steel bands that allow the magnetic attachment of accessories as one sees fit. The monolithic shape can even be elevated by an accessory to 6.5 degrees to make typing more comfortable. So, if you’re looking for a keyboard that can be customized to your liking, that also looks like an aesthete’s dream, this may be for you.

IKEA’s collaborations proved more than popular this year, landing three of them in more than one Top 10 list. The Marimekko collab came out on top with its BASTUA Collection centered around self-care. The Nordic brands joined forces to release the limited edition series of 26 products – from furniture to textiles to glassware – with bold patterns that reflect nature. With its “wellness first” ethos, the collection aims to bottle up the feelings of endless summers and Nordic nature’s natural beauty.

Drumroll, please… The most popular post of all posts in 2023 is…

The readers have spoken and it’s all about the future of modern homes, and according to LG Electronics, it should be smaller, smarter, modular, and more energy efficient. The Korean brand showcased their LG Smart Cottage, as an example of possibilities, which is a pre-fabricated home they outfitted with their line of premium appliances and high energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions. Despite cottage being in the name, this high tech tiny home is all modern, but with added homey touches, like warm hardwood, tile, and fabric finishes. Still in the concept phase, yet it has us wondering when one of these homes for the future will become a reality.

Check out the rest of Design Milk’s end of the year coverage here!

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.