Articles by Claire Brodka

The weather across the northern hemisphere is getting warmer, and with rising temperatures comes the urgent need for many of us to spend as much time outside as possible. While a variety of outdoor activities bring with them their own sense of accomplishment and relaxation, one in particular combines feelings of leisure, indulgence and community: outdoor cooking. But how did this tradition start? And what has it evolved into?

The importance of lighting in interior design cannot be overstated: done right, it not only accentuates a space’s architectural features but also makes inhabitants feel at ease. As Carmelo Zappulla of Lighting Studio External Reference explains in an interview with Architonic, light is a crucial tool to add an emotional element and ‘animate a space.’

Following findings from a study published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution journal this April, it has become public knowledge that the phenomenon dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (an area of 620,000 square miles between California and Hawaii) is serving as host to an entire coastal ecosystem. Marine wildlife is using the massive area compiled of human plastic waste as a floating habitat, and scientists are shocked at the number of species that have managed to establish life in this otherwise hostile environment.

As summer in the Northern Hemisphere is inching ever closer and nature is rapidly responding to the increase in temperature, our desire to spend time outside (by ourselves and collectively) is growing at an equally fast pace. And although public parks are a great option for those of us who live in urban centers, the luxury of having one’s very own, at-home access to nature cannot be overstated.

When it comes to forward-thinking interior design, adaptability, and timelessness are two key factors that can guarantee a home will look just as current years from now as it does today. One interior style that makes use of them more than any other is: contemporary. By borrowing elements from several prominent styles and combining them into a harmonic whole, contemporary interiors stay current even as trends move on. But what are the components that remain constant even with this ever-changing fashion? We explore seven evergreen design elements that define contemporary interiors.

When approaching the design of cultural spaces such as museums, performance venues, or places of research and study, architecture and design professionals often have to assemble pieces of a uniquely challenging puzzle in order to make the structure resonate with a variety of visitors and occupants. Hitting the right chord can be difficult, especially when trying to combine forms into a whole that pays respect to a building’s intended use while being timeless in its universality.

Lighting is often a numbers game — too much, and interiors lose their edge (literally), too little, and the dim atmosphere can make a space seem bland. Its importance in interior design cannot be overstated: done right, it not only accentuates a space’s architectural features but also makes inhabitants feel at ease. As Carmelo Zappulla of Lighting Studio External Reference explains in a recent interview with Architonic, light is a crucial tool to add an emotional element and “animate a space.” It follows that a lighting concept gone wrong can have catastrophic consequences for an otherwise perfectly designed room.

Though it has long been assumed that newborns don’t see color at all, more recent studies have shown that they can indeed distinguish between different shades. And even though young minds may not fully realize what they’re looking at, the impression and effect of a bright visual still elicit a potent response. This remains true throughout our lifetime: colors can influence our feelings in powerful ways. Architects and designers have long employed this to their advantage, especially when it comes to interior spaces. Whether it be to highlight specific architectural features, create certain moods, distinguish areas in open concept layouts, or brighten a room with its finishing touches, colors are a pivotal tool for professionals throughout the design process. The combination of multiple bold shades — color blocking — in particular can be a success if done right.

Contemporary architecture’s approach to space is fairly linear: enveloping a specified volume within some form of material construct. But if we take a look at humanity’s first intentional dwellings, it becomes clear that they were much less premeditated.

Despite the initially slow and arduous process of molding glass into shape, mankind has used the material for thousands of years. According to archaeological evidence, the first human-made glass tools and jewelry were found in Eastern Mesopotamia and Egypt around 3500BC — and after the invention of the blowpipe in Syria in the 1st century BC and the Western Industrial Revolution made mass production easier, the material’s signature traits of transparency and durability could finally be applied on a large scale in architecture and design.