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THE LEARNING HOUSE
James Shen, Zang Feng, He Zhe,
Anouchka van Driel and Olivia Chen,
People's Architecture Office
James Shen, Zang Feng, He Zhe, Design Trust Feature Grantees
'The Learning House' serves as a metaphor and point of
inspiration within the reality of life during the COVID-19
pandemic. As people remain indoors for their own
safety and that of others, the home becomes the pivot of
life, it becomes the school, the city and the world all in
one.
ANTIBACTERIAL DOOR HANDLES
Michael Young, Michael Young Studio
DTFS 2019 Mentor
In response to the heightened concerns around hygiene,
health and wellness during the ongoing pandemic,
Michael Young has designed door handles out of a
metal which utilises lasers and photonics technology to
develop fluid-repellent, antibacterial surfaces, taking
us a step closer to self-cleaning appliances and more.
Inspired by their award-winning Plugin House design,
the People's Architecture Office has designed a simple
activity kit for kids to construct at home to stimulate
creativity and exercise fine motor skills. Folded up,
The Learning House serves as a little house-shaped
protective box. Unfolded, it reveals a whole world from
the small space of this home, a whole world that one
can colour and make better – something much needed
at this time.
PAO
An innovative example of incorporating biomimicry into
design, the unique surface qualities of the 'Antibacterial
Door Handle' mimics the hydrophobic surface of
lotus leaves. Specifically tailored laser processing of
metal surfaces creates a roughened surface, whereby
miniature pockets of air are created to minimize the
contact area between the surface and a liquid. In this
way, surfaces keep themselves clean without the need
for cleaning products or chemicals, and by repelling
liquids such as water, surfaces are no longer suitable
for bacteria to grow.
Michael Young
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