Need to Know
02 : 03 : 18

Warsaw – Having started life as a graphic design studio and online magazine dedicated to architecture, photography, and design, Thisispaper recently entered the physical world with a relaunch of its magazine in print and the opening of a flagship store selling luxury leather goods, teas and prints.

To mark this move into the real world, the brand has also acquired and curated a rentable short-stay apartment, A-PLACE, located near its store, offering a space beyond the retail environment ‘where our values take a tangible form’. On arrival, guests are treated to a serving of organic Japanese tea, imported by the brand and sold in its store. Its shelves are stocked with art, design and architecture books and magazines and a 70s sound system includes a gramophone, amplifier, tuner and a selection of vinyls.

In the next iteration of Home-tail and in line with our Brandlords microtrend, there is a shift occurring within the luxury sector as brands move into real estate, offering consumers curated liveable spaces that align with their brand message.

Barcelona – Through machine learning, cloud computing and sensor technology, the Livin Shower creates a bespoke shower experience. The fixture, which can be easily added to bathrooms using household tools, offers 10 custom profiles, allowing individuals to save their preferred temperature and favourite music.

Livin uses a temperature-control algorithm to reach the specified temperature in minimal time, auto-pausing the water stream once the temperature reaches the target temperature until the user walks in to save water.

The system’s one-click button lets users pause and resume their shower while retaining the water at the optimum temperature, while an accompanying app monitors temperature and water usage to inspire greater vigilance. As we have already seen in Connected Kitchens, the Internet of Things is entering new spaces in the home, now extending into the bathroom.

Aberdeenshire – Scottish beer manufacturer BrewDog has announced that it will open Doghouse Hotel in early 2019. The 26-room hotel will overlook the brand’s brewery, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the production process, while in-room beer taps provide ample tasting opportunities.

‘The DogHouse is our gift to passionate craft beer fans making the pilgrimage to our brewery in Aberdeenshire,’ co-founder James Watt told the Guardian. ‘The idea of opening a beer hotel has always been high on our agenda, and now we are finally able to realise that dream, right here at our HQ.’ BrewDog first introduced the idea of a branded hotel last year with the announcement of accommodation in Columbus, Ohio at the site of its American brewery.

Brands like BrewDog and Portobello Road Gin are recognising a growing desire from consumers who want to make the pilgrimage to better understand how the drink is made, and are rewarding these dedicated customers with immersive hospitality experiences.

While ride-sharing apps have long been hailed as the answer to congestion by diminishing the number of cars on the road at any one time, figures show that they are in fact contributing to the problem. The findings suggest that most people are taking ride-hailing trips end-to-end rather than combining them service with public transport. In light of this we spoke to Paul Priestman, chairman of transport design agency PriestmanGood, about the issues that need to be addressed as we herald the rise of autnomous vehicles.