Dancing Squares by Nendo

Ann Buehler, who began dancing at 2½ years old due to a medical recommendation for leg braces, developed a lifelong passion for dance, eventually teaching beginner classes at 16. She pursued various dance forms during her time at Southwest Missouri State University and, after graduating, balanced a career as a second-grade teacher with teaching dance on the side. Initially, she taught as 'Ann’s Dancers' in a church basement in Mt. Vernon, progressively expanding and operating studios in both Mt. Vernon and Springfield. Buehler transitioned to full-time dance instruction, founding Ann’s Performing Arts Centre in 1992. After years in a studio that no longer met her needs, an opportunity arose when Paula Daugherty, whose children were Buehler’s students, and her husband, developers of the new Paige Reese Plaza in south Springfield, invited Ann’s to establish a new location. Buehler collaborated with Daugherty and architect Brian Kubik of Buxton Kubik Dodd Creative to design an optimal space based on her extensive experience. Kubik translated Buehler's requirements into architectural plans, while Daugherty oversaw the interior design. The resulting studio features an open and airy layout, incorporating modern furnishings with accents of red and crystal chandeliers. Key areas include an open lobby, a locker room, a tumbling room, two main dance studios, an office, and an upstairs area for staff with a study nook for students. The lobby serves as a communal space for families, equipped with a kitchenette for snacks. The locker room, furnished with 100 lockers, is a popular gathering spot for students. The tumbling room is designed for younger dancers, equipped with mirrors, mats, and safety gear, with all tumbling activities tailored to support dance training. The second level provides a comfortable retreat for employees, featuring a seating area and kitchenette, and offers views into Studio A and the lobby. The two main dance studios are versatile, separated by a garage door that allows them to be combined into one large space for special events. Both studios are outfitted with Marley Sprung floors, mirrors, ballet bars, and stall bars. The studio also accommodates 'The Company,' a group of select dancers who participate in competitive dance, with their photos displayed in the lobby. The new center is celebrated by Buehler for its chic, sleek, and fun aesthetic. #DanceStudio #PerformingArts #InteriorDesign #Architecture #SpringfieldMissouri #DanceEducation #CommercialDesign

Simon Sörensen, a young engineer based in Sweden, has developed a kinetic art table that generates and subsequently erases intricate patterns in sand. This creation, featured on his YouTube channel RCLifeOn, offers a serene and contemplative ambiance, inspiring philosophical reflection on the ephemeral nature of creation and destruction. The table utilizes a metal ball that gently glides across a bed of sand, illuminated to enhance its visual appeal. Sörensen's inspiration for this project stemmed from hearing about a commercial sand-plotting machine called Sisyphus. Sisyphus Industries produces similar artful tables where metal balls create continuous patterns in sand, though these products are noted for their significant cost, with a coffee table model priced at approximately $2,000. In his DIY approach, Sörensen essentially reverse-engineered the concept of the Sisyphus table. To control the movement of the metal ball, he ingeniously adapted components from a 3D printer. Specifically, he utilized the rack-and-pinion mechanism, which is responsible for the motorized movement of an extruder along two axes in a 3D printer. By attaching a magnet to this motorized assembly, positioned beneath the table's surface, Sörensen demonstrated the capability to precisely guide the metal ball within the sand. An initial challenge in the development process involved mitigating a noticeable scratching sound produced by the ball moving across the glass surface. Once this acoustic issue was resolved, the remaining construction and refinement of the table became more straightforward. While Sörensen's self-built kinetic art table may not possess the same level of flawless execution as the commercially produced Sisyphus tables, its functionality is remarkably effective. The table consistently moves its small metal ball to generate mesmerizing geometric patterns that continuously emerge and then gradually dissipate, creating a perpetually shifting display of abstract art. The tranquil and repetitive motion, combined with the geometric designs, is suggested to have a calming effect on observers. #KineticArt #ZenPatterns #DIYProjects #EngineeringInnovation #SandArt #HomeDecor #MagneticControl #3DPrinterParts

Mifune Design Studio has implemented an innovative and interactive design concept for Room 211 of Hotel T'Point in Osaka City, Japan. The project redefines the spatial arrangement of a hotel room by utilizing three flexible partitions, inspired by shower curtains, to delineate different functional areas. This approach challenges conventional hotel room layouts, which typically feature fixed walls, by offering guests the ability to reconfigure their immediate environment. The core idea behind this design is to create a dynamic and engaging experience for the guests. Instead of static boundaries, the translucent curtains can be moved to enclose or open up the bed, shower, and toilet areas. This flexibility allows guests to personalize their space according to their preferences and needs at any given moment, transforming the act of defining space into a 'graceful dance'. The studio intentionally placed these essential functions in close proximity to emphasize the need for their concealment, thereby highlighting the curtains' role. The design aesthetic of Room 211 is minimalist, with decorative elements purposefully omitted. This stripped-back environment ensures that the interaction with the movable partitions becomes the primary visual and experiential focus. The 'dance' of the shower curtains serves as the room's sole decoration, drawing attention to their material quality and the way light interacts with them as they are repositioned. This absence of traditional decor encourages a more thoughtful engagement with the spatial dynamics. A key functional detail in the design is a slight inclination of the floor around the shower area. This subtle change in elevation is the only physical differentiation in the floor plan, serving the practical purpose of containing water while maintaining the overall fluidity of the space. While curtains are commonly used to prevent water splashing, Mifune Design Studio expands their utility beyond this conventional role, showcasing their potential as versatile architectural elements. The project, named 'Room 211 (Hotel T’Point)', was designed by Yasutoshi Mifune of Mifune Design Studio. Located in Osaka City, Osaka, Japan, the hotel room covers an area of 42 square meters. The primary materials used are shower curtains, plaster, and concrete, chosen for their practical and aesthetic qualities within the minimalist scheme. The construction was carried out by Obai Carpentry Shop, and the photography was done by Yasunori Shimomura. This design was submitted to designboom through its 'DIY submissions' feature, inviting readers to share their work for publication. The design offers a unique perspective on hotel room functionality and guest interaction, prioritizing adaptability and interactive spatial experiences over static room layouts. #HotelDesign #ShowerCurtains #FlexibleSpace #MinimalistDesign #InteractiveDesign #SpatialDynamics #YasutoshiMifune #HotelTPoint #OsakaArchitecture