The Opera Hostel Designed By Ktura Architekci

The Opera Hostel is a simple accommodation in Poznán, Poland that’s inspired by the Opera House situated just around the corner. Architecture company Ktura Architekci designed the Opera Hostel to have a similar thespian atmosphere by installing theatrical lighting, curtains, posters and graphics from theatre shows around the hostel’s interiors. As with most hostels, the amenities are modest but enough to get you comfortable for your stay. Unlike a seat at the opera, this budget-friendly hostel won’t cost you an arm and a leg but similarly, you’ll be glad you booked a reservation here.

What: Opera Hostel
Where: Zygmunta Noskowskiego 2/5, Stare Miasto District, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
How much? Rooms start at approximately $12 per night.
Highlights: This budget-friendly option has been getting rave reviews for its cleanliness and friendliness of the hostel staff. Like most hostels, the Opera Hostel is modest but provides everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Design draw: The interiors of the hostel is inspired by the interiors of the theatre, so Ktura Architekci installed theatrical lighting, curtains and decor to mimic a similar atmosphere.
Book it: Visit the Opera Hostel

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/opera-hostel-designed-ktura-architekci/

Native Union Drops Into the Wireless Charger Game

Outfitted in fabric and aluminum, Los Angeles/Hong Kong luxe tech accessorizer Native Union arrives fashionably late to the wireless Qi charger party with a handsomely outfitted Qi wireless charger, the Native Union Drop.

Coming off the heels of CES and the recent Maison & Objet in Paris, the LA+HK based Native Union reinforces their reputation as a brand placing design on equal footing with technology, presenting a hard-wearing home textile top integrated with a non-slip silicone tread above an aircraft grade aluminum base – each an aesthetic and functional treatment designed to keep devices in place while also prevent overheating. 

Underneath the fabric and silicone patterned top, a thermal protection sensor and foreign object detection keeps devices safe while inching back toward 100%.

iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and any other Qi enabled devices, the Drop’s 10W charging base ships with a matching USB-C to USB-A 6.5 foot braided charging cable, complete with an integrated leather strap for wrapping up the cable to adjust the length or for tidy storage (the all-black ensemble could be customized further with one of the company’s other existing USB-C to USB-A belted cables).

Note, the Drop is a 10W charger and thus doesn’t rate for fast charging; impatient iPhone X users should look elsewhere for fast charging options (it’s still double the 5W charger shipping with the iPhone X).

For those looking to get the…ahem…drop on the $60 Native Union Drop Wireless Charger, mark your calendars for March when the charging pad becomes available via NativeUnion.com.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/native-union-drop-wireless-charger/

SelgasCano Designs New Creative Workspace for Second Home

Second Home launched in 2014 offering unique workspaces for entrepreneurs and innovators. The company continues to expand and just recently opened Second Home Holland Park, their second spot in London which was designed by Spanish architects SelgasCano. Second Home Holland Park marks the fifth collaboration between the two companies with a continued study in environmentally sustainable design along with a focus on natural materials, natural light, and greenery.

The offices span 12,000 square feet within a mid-century building with a storied past. Throughout, the interior boasts bright colors, natural light, and a menagerie of plants, some of which grow right up through the floor. While the interior is outfitted with modern essentials, historic details were also restored.

From Second Home co-founder Sam Aldenton:

When it comes to design, we’ll never do the same thing twice – that’s just boring. I love the way SelgasCano responded to the rich cultural heritage of the building, and created something totally unique – and yet recognisably Second Home.

35 trees were planted inside the offices and benefit from new roof surfaces that allow more light in.

Photos by Iwan Baan.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/selgascano-designs-new-creative-workspace-for-second-home/

A Lunch Box Roundup for Adults That Will Make You Want to Take Your Lunch Everyday

January is always a time for fresh starts. Whether you are big on resolutions or not, sometimes you don’t have a choice. This month my twin toddlers started daycare… thus I started making lunches! Here at Pinch, we are spoiled with delicious family-meals daily. So let’s just say my lunch making skills were a little rusty. To get my groove back, I decided to first hunt for the PERFECT bento box.

Now, as you might imagine, most of the findings were not designed for 2 year olds. But lucky for us, we had a post to write. So voila!

Here is our lunch box round up…

Mita by Bruno Marques

Photos by Morley Von Sternberg

Now And Then by Linnie Mclarty and Natascha Madeiski

Bento Colors by Bento&Co

Steel Lunch Box from HAY

Takenaka Bento Box

Magewappa Bento Box Round

Aluminum Lunch Box from MUJI

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/a-lunch-box-roundup-for-adults/

WritersBlok Keyboard Notebook from Kikkerland

Purveyors of quirk, New York based Kikkerland just released a new notebook that’s perfectly sized to sit right in front of your keyboard. The WritersBlok Keyboard Notebook holds 72 gridded pages that are ready to be drawn or written on for note taking, list making, project planning, sketching, or journaling.

The elongated notebooks can rest within reach for spur of the moment ideas without taking up valuable real estate on your desk. Each notebook is $12.50 and it comes in Black or Kraft.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/writersblok-keyboard-notebook-from-kikkerland/

Bee Hospital Investigates the Decline of the Bee Population

Research has shown that the bee population has been on the decline which has the potential to cause major issues with global agriculture. Shau Heng Li, of Shau Design, set out to investigate the issue, specifically Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) where most of the worker bees leave the hive for good, through a concept that takes place in 2030. The Bee Hospital is a series of objects designed to help bees survive the deteriorating planet by implementing them into urban environments.

The collection includes a mite guard dispenser, a bee-detecting device, and a supplement center that offer probiotics, nutrients, and chemicals that help with bee survival in areas where traditionally bees are not kept.

The supplement center provides essential nutrients and probiotics that allow the bees to digest harmful pesticides that seep into the soil during farming. The mite guard dispenser entices bees through the use of syrup and when the bees enter, they’re brushed with a chemical that kills mites. The year 2030 is expected to be rough as far as the environment goes, therefore, scientists will need to observe bees via a bee-detecting device.

Whether or not the Bee Hospital comes to fruition, it’s definitely a thought-provoking concept that should get us all imaging what we can do now to help the bee population before it’s too late.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/bee-hospital-investigates-the-decline-of-the-bee-population/