this week, we revealed that japanese architect junya ishigami is constructing a cave-like restaurant in yamaguchi, japan that looks like it was tunnelled by giant worms. ishigami went about creating the unique architecture by digging holes in the ground, filling them with concrete and burrowing out the soil around them. on a tour of junya ishigami's office in tokyo, the architect shows designboom details of the initial design process, which he says took seven years of planning before construction could even begin. he explains that the client requested a cave-like space, where he could use part of the building as a restaurant and part of it as his private residence -- he tells designboom the full story, here.

 

meanwhile, for the 2020 spring/summer prada menswear show in shanghai, AMO — OMA’s research studio — has devised a light installation that seeks to amplify the industrial monumentality and rawness of minsheng wharf’s silo hall. the colossal and labyrinthine quality of the chamber is augmented with a linear catwalk slicing through the longitudinal axis of the space. guests are arranged in the central nave of the building in an amphitheater of circular seats that mirror the shape of the silos above.

designboom hit record-breaking registrations for Hermès scarf design competition. more than 11,000 creatives hailing from 123 countries registered for LE GRAND PRIX DU CARRÉ HERMÈS, setting their sights on designing an Hermès scarf print! the first phase of the global scarf design competition came to a close on may 31, 2019 and — with a total of 11,366 registered participations received — designboom has established a new world record in the organization of international creative competitions. the free-to-enter scarf design competition has been open to anyone possessing artistic talents, such as designers, artists, illustrators, graphic designers, draftsmen, whether professional or amateur. see more competitions on designboom here.

 

in other news, plans are underway to build the world’s first rooftop 360-degree infinity pool in london. UK-based pool manufacturer, compass pools, unveiled its design for 'infinity london', a 600,000-liter pool that would top a 55-story hotel, allowing visitors to float over 200 meters above the capital's skyline.

at sunrise on june 2, 2019, artist spencer tunick gathered 125 people to pose nude in front of facebook and instagram’s headquarters in new york city for the national coalition against censorship’s (NCAC) #wethenipple campaign. participants in the art action challenged social media censorship by covering their nipples with stickers of photographed male nipples — an act to 'highlight the rigid — and anachronistic — gender inequality in existing nudity policies'. the imagery celebrates the work of feminist artist micol hebron, who created a male nipple pasty in 2014 and encouraged fellow artists to use it to cover female nipples on social media.

this week in technology, a two-pronged innovative flight concept coined the ‘flying-V’ embraced an entirely different approach to aircraft design, and anticipates a future for sustainable long-distance flight. dutch airliner KLM will be contributing towards the research of the aerospace engineering team at delft university of technology (TU delft) to make this highly energy-efficient long-distance airplane a reality. its aerodynamic shape and reduced weight will allow it to use 20% less fuel than today’s most advanced aircraft — the airbus A350. furthermore, the spectacular, V-shaped design — which takes its name from the gibson guitar model — will accommodate the passenger cabin, the cargo hold and the fuel tanks within its wings.

 

in other news, michelin — the company behind the chubby white tire man we all know and love —  together with general motors, is stretching out one plump arm towards the future with its new visionary tire concept. dubbed the 'michelin uptis' prototype, this new generation of wheel technology for passenger vehicles is completely airless. with a joint research agreement underway, the two mobility giants intend to validate the prototype as early as 2024.

amidst dense vegetation and rural thai plains, lies the keang krachan library designed by bangkok-based architecture firm junsekino. the library is located among the peaceful nature of the petchaburi province in thailand, with 360 views of its surroundings. the owner wanted to build a small public library, run only by one librarian, as a gift to the community to be enjoyed by anyone.

 

in other news from our readers, in collaboration with creative studios, the mighty machines has developed a bespoke suit specifically designed for motorcyclists. launched together with the ‘sarolea’ electric motorbike, the 'MM.01' project combines a finely-tailored suit with integral road protection from café costume, a designer helmet and the traditionally crafted studio blade knife. in an effort to combine quality craftsmanship with innovative design, the team intends to form an exclusive lifestyle brand.

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