A few surprises in 2015's 'Designs of the Year'

The 1,000-seat <a href="http://www.szczecin.eu/en/odwiedz_szczecin/kultura/filharmonia/filharmonia_szczecinska.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Philharmonic Hall in Szczecin</a> by Barozzi / Veiga is located on the historical site of the "Konzerthaus," which was destroyed during the Second World War. The hall is composed following a Fibonacci sequence whose fragmentation increases with the distance from the scene, and gives shape to an ornamental space whose gold-leaf covering calls to mind the classical tradition.

Philharmonic Hall, Szczecin —

The 1,000-seat Philharmonic Hall in Szczecin by Barozzi / Veiga is located on the historical site of the "Konzerthaus," which was destroyed during the Second World War. The hall is composed following a Fibonacci sequence whose fragmentation increases with the distance from the scene, and gives shape to an ornamental space whose gold-leaf covering calls to mind the classical tradition.

Barozzi / Veiga

Designed by Marjan Van Aubel in collaboration with Solaronix, the <a href="http://www.marjanvanaubel.com/work/current-table/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Current Table</a> harvests daylight to charge electronic devices, using a Dye Sensitive Solar Cell that, unlike conventional solar panels, doesn't need direct sunlight to generate electricity.

The Current Table —

Designed by Marjan Van Aubel in collaboration with Solaronix, the Current Table harvests daylight to charge electronic devices, using a Dye Sensitive Solar Cell that, unlike conventional solar panels, doesn't need direct sunlight to generate electricity.

Marjan Van Aubel /Solaronix

MIT Media Lab Identity —

MIT asked Pentagram to re-brand its interdisciplinary school, and the MIT Media Lab Identity project was born. Using a common graphic theme and a 7x7 grid they unified the 23 research groups within the university to stunning effect.

Pentagram

Designing for the Sixth Extinction —

Created by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Designing for the Sixth Extinction investigates synthetic biology's potential impact on biodiversity and conservation. It imagines a world in which synthetic organisms fill the void left by vanished species, but raises the question as to whether such organisms are ever truly "alive."

Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg

Google Self-Driving Car —

The Google Self-Driving Car is the brainchild of YooJung Ahn, Jared Gross and Philipp Haba. Intended to be simple, friendly and practical, the lack of steering wheel or pedals is sure to raise a few eyebrows. Google plans to use the vehicles to test their newest software & hardware and develop the technologies for use in the real world.

Google

Fondation Louis Vuitton —

Fondation Louis Vuitton is the latest project from star architect Frank Gehry. It houses temporary displays, a permanent art collection and concerts in a 'glass cloud' of 12 curved sails that emerge from the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. The building's distinctive shape has been made using over 3000 curved and fritted glass panels.

Gehry Partners

The<a href="http://www.kano.me/kit" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Kano computer kit </a>is as simple as Lego and powered by Raspberry Pi. Aimed at children and young adults it's intended as an introduction to computer programming and is completely customizable.

Kano Kit —

The Kano computer kit is as simple as Lego and powered by Raspberry Pi. Aimed at children and young adults it's intended as an introduction to computer programming and is completely customizable.

Kano and Map

Archivist —

Nominated in the fashion category, Archivist Magazine is non-seasonal and delves into designers' back catalogs, revealing their early work and important personal collections. Captured here is Hussein Chalayan Spring/Summer 2000.

Axel Hoedt

Loopwheels —

Loopwheels have an internal shock absorption system allowing bicycles and wheelchairs to spontaneously adjust to the terrain. The design, by Sam Pearce for Jelly Products, is hoped to provide people with mobility issues greater freedom.

Jelly Products

Megafaces —

Megafaces by artist Asif Khan debuted at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. The experimental art installation uses a large LED board, a 3D scanning booth and a 3D meshing system, allowing the public to capture their likeness on a massive scale.

MegaFon

Jointly conceived by Metric Design and Snøhetta Design, this sea-themed <a href="http://www.norges-bank.no/en/notes-and-coins/New-banknote-series/Proposed-motifs-for-the-new-banknote-series/" target="_blank" target="_blank">100 Kroner note</a> features a pixel-based design on one side and a more traditional illustration on the reverse.

100 Kroner note —

Jointly conceived by Metric Design and Snøhetta Design, this sea-themed 100 Kroner note features a pixel-based design on one side and a more traditional illustration on the reverse.

The Ocean Clean-Up —

The Ocean Clean-Up by Boyan Slat, Jan de Sonneville and Erwin Zwart has crowdfunded over $2 million thus far. The money will be used to begin implementing what they claim will be the largest clean-up in history, collecting floating plastic from the oceans' surfaces.

Boyan Slat

UC Innovation Center —

The UC Innovation Center in Santiago has been designed by Elemental to work with Mother Nature. The building attempts to negate the elements by allowing air to circulate around a permeable atrium core, while opting for a windowless Brutalist exterior prevents the greenhouse effect of glass.

ELEMENTAL

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A few surprises in 2015’s ‘Designs of the Year’