Here are the winners of the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2022 – discover what’s new and next in the world of domestic design and technology
Winner of Life-Enhancing Object Or Service: ‘A Space for Prayer’ rugs by Katsuki Connection. Image courtesy of Katsuki Connection
Welcome to the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2022, where we announce the winners of our second annual exploration of the fast-changing worlds of new domestic technology. This year we were honoured to be joined by Industrial Facility’s Kim Colin, as well as Rossana Hu and Lyndon Neri of Neri & Hu as judges, overseeing a wide array of devices, gadgets, appliances, and more.
These awards are a welcome chance to see what’s new and next in the world of product design, exploring both innovative ideas and updated approaches, with a weather eye on goods that will go the distance and give good service and lasting pleasure.
Sinonimo Essentials coffee tools by Sinonimo
This delectably simple set of espresso-making tools was created by the San Francisco-based company Sinonimo and made in Taiwan. The neatly stacking set is formed from textured hybrid coated solid aluminium, oak and cork, and was explicitly intended to emphasise the ritual and delight of the coffee-making process. The company has even thought of things like the sound each material makes when the grounds are tapped out, and the level of quality ensures these utensils will last a lifetime, whether it’s at home or in the studio.
Lick Palette 05: Maximalist Brights by Yinka Ilori x Lick
Acclaimed artist Yinka Ilori partnered with the British home decor brand Lick to create a dazzling range of paints and wallpapers. Ilori’s polychromatic powers are well-known, and his collaboration with Lick taps into the vibrancy of his art and installations. The Palette 05: The Maximalist Brights collection includes five colours and two geometric wallpaper prints, all designed to harmonise in a bold and relentlessly refreshing way. lick.com
Our second award-winning collaboration paired contemporary American artist Daniel Arsham with Kohler. The result was Rock.01, a strikingly sculptural 3D-printed sink. Kohler, which has nearly one and a half century’s worth of experience in stone manufacturing, worked with Arsham to create this limited-edition piece. Debuted at Design Miami 2021, Rock.01 marks the start of an ongoing partnership between the artist and American manufacturer.
We’ve all been seduced by the aesthetics of Syng’s Cell Alpha speaker. An unashamedly bold piece of industrial design, the circular Cell Alpha uses sensors to measure up your room and shape the soundfield accordingly. Best used in open-plan rooms where you can maximise the feeling of space, Cell Alpha can be floor-standing, wall-mounted or even suspended from the ceiling. ‘The product makes me want to listen,’ says judge Kim Colin of Industrial Facility, who chose the Cell Alpha as one of her favourite entries in the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2022, ‘because it looks like Syng know something about how the future could be better!’
A Space for Prayer rugs by Katsuki Connection
Katsuki Connection’s new rug collection snared our Life-Enhancing Object category, thanks to the rich combination of hand-crafted technique and bold colourways. ‘A Space for Prayer’ is a design that evokes the traditional art of ink brushed onto washi paper, with the shifting array of textures intended to trigger sensory cues. The colourful rugs also hint at the art of origami, and the whole collection is fully customisable in terms of size and thickness. Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2022 judge Rossana Hu praised the company for taking ‘a traditionally boring and one-piece product and twisting its visual playfulness to provide a culturally inspired aesthetic that enhances its function’.
Sonos Soundbar Recessed Wall Mount by Wall-Smart
One of our two winning Hi-fi components worked with a market leader to transform the way their product was used. Wall-Smart’s Sonos Soundbar Recessed Wall Mounts provide a simple and straightforward alternative to the norm. Capable of being changed into a number of different wall finishes, the carefully shaped mount allows you to seamlessly incorporate Sonos’ award-winning streaming tech into your space.
Alva TT V2 turntable by Cambridge Audio
A stylish and minimal way to get back into vinyl, the Alva TT V2 impressed our judges with its no-nonsense aesthetics and wireless capability. Cambridge Audio has paired a quality cartridge, arm, and platter with the convenience of Bluetooth streaming.
Polestar has pushed the boat out with its retail design spaces. From the outset, this off-shoot of Volvo’s automotive division was determined to do things differently, whether it’s with the design of its cars, its use of materials, or even the way it goes about selling things. Rather than rely on conventional showrooms, the Swedish company is creating a series of ‘Polestar Spaces’ to inform and educate potential customers – all of whom will complete their ordering experience online. The spaces are straightforward and minimal, with a design-led focus on the car’s finishes, materials, and components.
‘Echo’ table lamp by Caussa
Caussa’s ‘Echo’ series of table lamps impressed with its ability to work seamlessly in both home and office. Designed by Simon Busse, the lamp base was informed by the shape of a tuning fork, creating a narrow loop-like rail to hold the adjustable circular lamp head. Offered in black, white, red, and blue, ‘Echo’ is made from powder-coated aluminium and acrylic glass and can easily switch from formal to informal.
The Charge 5 proved that Fitbit’s focus on dedicated trackers was a smart move. Way less bulky than even the slenderest smart watch, the Charge 5 offers just about every level of functionality packed into its slender band. Fitbit’s holistic approach to all facets of wellness metrics expanded still further with the addition of high and low heart-rate monitoring, as well as a special sensor that keeps tabs on your stress levels. Built-in GPS, exercise modes and sleep tracking all come as standard, wrapped up in a recyclable aluminium housing.
Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold Level range by Grohe
Grohe’s first attempt at bringing design circularity to market hit a chord with our judges. The German manufacturer has revisited four of its best-selling products to ensure that they meet the Cradle-to-Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s rigorous Certified Gold Level. As a result, key products like the Grohe Eurosmart basin mixer and Grohe BauEdge mixer, along with shower sprays and fittings, are now manufactured in such a way that their core materials can be recycled and reused endlessly. All four also benefit from Grohe’s EcoJoy water-saving technology.
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum by Roborock
Our domestic futures are looking increasingly clean. Our panel was impressed by Roborock’s S7 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum, which combines the usual sweeping mode with the ability to mop, giving this puck-shaped device the ability to switch between surfaces and scrub as well as suck. With a charging dock capable of storing seven weeks’ worth of dirt, this little machine is designed to fire up and forget.
Jet Bot AI+ by Samsung
Samsung’s Jet Bot AI+ takes the day-to-day drudgery out of dusting with the addition of a 3D sensor and AI mapping to increase the accuracy of its navigation and cleaning speed. Unlike some of its rivals, the Jet Bot adopts a more overt sci-fi aesthetic, with clean white lines and an onboard camera that can stream imagery to your smartphone for home security check-ins.
Hypertouch surface by Iris Ceramica Group
Iris Ceramica Group developed Hypertouch to give the smart home a more seamless aesthetic. A capacitive switching system, it’s limited only by the imagination of the designer and can be integrated into any of the Italian ceramic specialist’s huge variety of material finishes. The end result is a completely smooth control surface that’s indistinguishable from its surroundings, allowing the operation of lighting, heating, cooling, and audio-visual equipment to be almost invisible.
Ami by Citroën
Citroën has hit the jackpot with its electric Ami, a city car that debuted as a concept, took Paris by storm and now looks set to do the same in the UK. The imminent arrival of Ami 100% Ëlectric will be a rare chance to savour what the French already know; purpose-built urban EVs make far more sense in crowded European city centres. The 46-mile range and top speed of 28mph is all you need for short hops, and the micro-car footprint doesn’t take up any more space than it needs. A delivery van version is also available; all models share a commitment to recyclability and low, low impact.
Samsung’s Sero TV flips convention on its head by catering to the inexorable and unstoppable rise of vertically formatted content. Sero is a high quality 4K QLED screen, capable of delivering conventional TV and cinema content in stunning resolution. Pair it with your smartphone, however, and the display rotates through 90 degrees to tally exactly with what you see on screen. That vertical mode is also ideal for minimising the TV’s presence in your life when it’s not required.
The Carry-on Pro by Carl Friedrik
Carl Friedrik’s latest foray into lovable luggage is the Carry-on Pro, which melds a hard-shell front pocket for peace of mind for laptops and tablets, an aluminium frame and ultra-light ribbed polycarbonate shell, making it one of the best carry-ons around. The vintage look is enhanced by Italian leather detailing in a choice of three rich colours (cognac, chocolate or black) and there are four silent spinner wheels that won’t draw unwanted attention to your treks through the terminal.
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