LSN : Daily Signals : Tencent wants to build a car-free smart city

A digital exhibit tackling architecture’s carbon impact

Carbon Counts by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and Studio Mothership, UK

UK – Carbon Counts is a digital exhibition created to accelerate the shift to low embodied carbon in architecture.

Created by Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, it is response to the recent Architects Declare Manifesto, and brings together film, animation, research and case studies to demystify the language of architecture and create more actionable conversations about its environmental impact. Through its online interface, it reveals the carbon impact of materials commonly used in architecture, such as steel, limestone and PVC, with the platform designed as a springboard for debate and discussion.

While focused on architecture, Carbon Counts suggests new ways to represent transparency across multiple industries. Featuring clear graphics and accessible UX design, this virtual exhibition offers an example of how complex yet crucial issues can be represented, unpacked and acted upon in an online space.

With multiple industries beginning to lean into business responsibilities, we explore the visual landscape of New Consciousness in our dedicated design direction.

Tencent wants to build a car-free smart city

Net City designed by NBBJ for Tencent, Shenzhen

Shenzhen – The Chinese technology giant has unveiled plans to build an inter-connected smart city of a similar size to Monaco.

Dubbed Net City, the futuristic metropolis is being designed by NBBJ with the aim of re-imagining traditional urban neighbourhoods by putting pedestrians and the environment first. Eschewing the tradition of cities prioritising the flow of goods, cars and commuters, the Net City hopes to provide a more convivial and healthy lifestyle for its 80,000 residents.

According to NBBJ, it will prioritise greenery and a more sustainable approach to daily living. ‘In today’s computer-driven world, we are free to imagine a highly integrated city that brings ‘work, live, play’ closer together to foster more synergy between people. This fits in perfectly with the collegial, collaborative culture of Tencent,’ explains Jonathan Ward, design partner at NBBJ.

With the climate emergency and acceleration of remote working leading city dwellers to re-evaluate their urban surroundings, we can anticipate an increase of technology meeting architecture through Research Cities.

FitArt is a creative collision between exercise and art

Global – FitArt is an app that combines digital art with fitness regimes.

The app positions various exercise classes as a form of immersive art exhibition, featuring different artists who combine workouts with their creative projects.

Launching with a seven-minute routine and in-app show called Connected in Isolation, FitArt is curated by Roehrs & Boetsch gallerist Nina Roehrs and artist Damjanski. The duo have invited 14 artists, all with a background in digital or virtual art, to present their own FitArt sessions.

‘Digital devices, network technologies and protocols, namely the internet, YouTube or Instagram, are both the object and subject of their research – digital spaces where and for which they create and where they meet their audience,’ says Roehrs.

As we explore in Enlightened States, people are seeking cultural immersion in the form of virtual museums. During the pandemic, this has advanced as creative activities and virtual spaces combine to alleviate stress and boost wellbeing.

FitArt by Roehrs & Boetsch, global

Stat: UK women get a taste for whisky

Endless West

UK women now drink 40m more glasses of whisky a year than they did in 2010, a rise of 15%, according to research by Kantar.

This shift comes as a contrast to changing drinking patterns among the opposite sex – Kantar reports a 6% decline in whisky consumption among men. As the drink sheds its old fashioned and masculine associations, women are embracing whisky and exploring and experimenting with its flavour profiles. An increasing number of whisky brands are also emerging from Asia-Pacific countries including Taiwan, South Korea and Japan – also leading to a rise in local female drinkers.

In 2013, we began tracking a tribe of Female Whisky Drinkers, thirsty for a contemporary twist on the drink. Now, this market is continuing to show signs of growth and innovation.