Duo of expanding Winter Olympic cauldrons revealed for Milano Cortina 2026

Italian designer Marco Balich has revealed a pair of cauldrons that will be set up in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo during this year's Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Set to be lit and extinguished "in perfect synchrony", the pair of cauldrons will be placed in Milan and nearby ski resort Cortina d'Ampezzo to mark the fact that the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be hosted across both locations.

"For the first time in history, the cauldrons will be lit and extinguished in perfect synchrony, in two different cities, symbolizing a widespread edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that...

In Ireland, You Can Ride a Bicycle in a Vertical Loop

In Dublin, Ireland is the Explorium, a/k/a the National Sport and Science Centre. This is a family-friendly facility that features hands-on activities to teach kids and adults about science.

In addition to featuring a Lightning Room with a gigantic Tesla coil, a Robotics Arena and a VR Zone where you can walk around with life-sized dinosaurs, there are physical activities where participants can run, jump and climb.

The interactive exhibit that teaches about centripetal/centrifugal force is rather novel. Called G-Force Bike, it consists of a bicycle you can ride through a...

FCVQ | L'émotion en mouvement

In 2024, Festival de Cinéma de la Ville de Québec needs to refocus on its core: cinema. At the heart of the festival's reinvention lies a simple yet powerful concept ? the festival is cinema, and so is its identity. The interplay of visual elements allows multiple narratives to unfold simultaneously, capturing cinema's depth and dynamism.

House Macana / Taller Carlos Marín

© Onnis Luque architects: Taller Carlos MarínLocation: Ciudad de México, MexicoProject Year: 2025Photographs: Onnis LuqueArea: 700.0 m2

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Peugeot's "Hypersquare" Steering Wheel Prioritizes Novelty over UX

Is it a problem that steering wheels are circular? Peugeot's designers, like Tesla's, seem to think so. The French marque's Polygon concept features a new "Hypersquare" steering wheel, which they refer to as a "new ergonomic approach."

The company says that by modulating the ratio between the speed the car is traveling and how far the wheels turn, the new interface offers "effortless handling in every situation." The idea is that at high speeds, the ratio is normal, i.e. only small movements are required to say, change highway lanes. But at slow speeds, each degree...

Metropolitan collection by Clarke & Clarke

Dezeen Showroom: British brand Clarke & Clarke looked to cityscapes and abstract art as inspiration for its Metropolitan fabrics and wallpapers, designed to make a bold impression.

The Metropolitan collection features dynamic patterns with brushstroke-like textures and stark monochrome colour schemes, all intended to capture the invigorating rush of urban life.

The collection nods to 20th-century artists in both its patterns and style names, with titles like Gormley, Hatoum and Kazimir.

"The collection emerges from a desire to capture the fluid, evolving nature of the urban environment," said Clarke & Clarke lead designer Jayne...

This Russian City is Not Buried Under 40 Feet of Snow

https://invidious.privacyredirect.com/watch?v=PI1WaUkdD1c

Now making the rounds on social media, racking up hundreds of thousands of "likes," is this false claim:

"Local authorities in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula have declared a state of emergency after an exceptionally severe snowstorm buried neighbourhoods, triggered rooftop avalanches, and caused fatalities. Snow accumulation ranged from 3 to 12 metres, engulfing buildings, blocking roads, and covering vehicles and entrances, with some residential areas nearly buried under towering snowdrifts."

The claim was accompanied by AI-generated images:

Folks, 12 meters is nearly 40 feet. What's shown in the photo is drifts well...

21-24 Nikkakjøkken Restaurant / OFFICE INAINN

Courtesy of OFFICE INAINN architects: OFFICE INAINNLocation: Sylte, NorwayProject Year: 2025Photographs: Courtesy of OFFICE INAINNArea: 127.0 m2

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Akio Isshiki Architects clads House in Saidera in charred cedar

Japanese studio Akio Isshiki Architects has used details including a floor-level window and shoji screens within this wood-clad Osaka residence that aims to "set a new standard for contemporary living".

The two-storey gabled home, which was designed for a family of five, is named House in Saidera after its location in Osaka, where a mix of traditional and contemporary Japanese dwellings can be found.

Studio founder Akio Isshiki wanted to create a modern interpretation of a Japanese house and construct it using the traditional shinkabe method, which sees the columns and beams of the...

Mario Paroli creates "larger-than-life" Biro lamp to mark Bic pen's 75th anniversary

Designer Mario Paroli and Italian brand Seletti have unveiled an outsized, light-up version of the iconic Bic Cristal ball-point pen for French company Bic, at Maison&Objet.

Presented during the January 2026 edition of the Paris-based furniture fair, Bic Lamp is 12 times size of the standard pen. It was created to mark the end of the brand's celebrations for Bic Cristal's 75th anniversary, which was in 2025.

Its scaled-up iteration was created by Italian designer Paroli, who conserved the original proportions of the pen, which was originally designed in 1950 by Italian-French manufacturer...