Design for Multi-taskers

Throughout the past year, I have been a part of a team that is working to open up a student-run coffee shop near our university. Through this process we have all done a considerable amount of research to help make the project happen. As one of the designers on the team, I have been a "fake traveler" to many coffee shops and during one of our searches I came across this coffee shop called Wash & Coffee located in Munich, Germany. I loved the idea that this shop presented, since we all obviously have to do laundry, and most of us generally love the environment that coffee shops offer, so why not combine the two into one fun location?

Exterior of Wash & Coffee

The design of the shop is very refreshing and well thought out for the uses of the space, allowing customers to easily monitor their laundry while participating in community. 

Wash & Coffee's Munich location

They also have a shop in Amsterdam. This location has the same modern, simple, and clean design that Wash & Coffee is going to be known for.

I love the water droplet light fixtures above this serving counter at the Amsterdam location!

Wash & Coffee's Amsterdam location

Wash & Coffee's Amsterdam location

I also am a sucker for good logo design, and I fell in love with their logo. It is such a strong piece of design that so clearly and simply explains what the company is about.

Also, from the looks of their website, they even have different specials such as Wash & Dry & Coffee, Wash & Coffee, or Wash & Dry & Snack & Drink!

For more information about Wash & Coffee, or to find out how to take one of their ironing classes that they apparently offer, check out their website at http://wash-coffee.com/

I would say that I have definitely used my fair share of university laundry rooms, so I could see how a location like this would be a refreshing change to what a lot of college students or laundromat users are used to! I hear there are some shops popping up in the U.S. with the same concept as Wash & Coffee, so let me know if you know of any!

Destination: Airports

In honor of fake traveling, I thought it was only appropriate to start out this journey where so many journeys start. Our plane tickets tell us that are destinations are simply airports, but really, none of us sets out on a trip excited to see which airports we will get to spend hours of layover time in. In fact, we all hope to spend as little time as possible at these "destinations." So let me introduce you to a few of my favorite airports that I have found that truly feel as though they could be great design destinations.

Madrid-Barajas

First, check out terminal 4 of the Madrid-Barajas Airport located in Madrid Spain. The unique design of the ceiling is hard to miss at this destination, and I feel that I would not get quite as bored if I had to spend a few hours in a layover here. This terminal was designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers and was completed in 2004. It is one of the world's largest airport terminals, which I feel is accurately depicted by its pictures.

The waves of the ceiling are bamboo strips that are supported by steel beams.

Singapore

Another of the most unique airports I have found is the Singapore airport. Terminal 3 of this airport caught my attention as it has a wide array of natural plant life as an extensive part of the design. I always appreciate the use of plants in design and the freshness they introduce.

I especially love the Green Wall, which is a 15 foot high, 980 foot span of climbing plants at the baggage collection point. The Green Wall was designed by Tierra Design, which is a Singapore based Landscape Design firm. An interesting feature of this wall is that it helps regulate the internal temperature  of terminal 3 with the occasional misting. 

The airport even has a butterfly garden which is the first of its kind, allowing travelers to experience state of the art architecture, landscape, and garden design. I don't know about you, but I would definitely forget about the worries of traveling if I stopped through a butterfly garden in the middle of an airport!

Here are a few more views of this unique airport.

New Zealand

The last airport I will share with you has not always been called the most beautiful airport terminal, but I think we would all agree that it is definitely one of the most unique out there. This terminal is named "The Rock" and is located in the Wellington Airport in Wellington, New Zealand. From the outside, I would say that it has somewhat of an awkward appearance, especially next to the rest of the existing airport. Inside, the structure is so rigid and uncommon that I as a traveler would forget that I'm even in an airport. I feel as though the volume inside these egg-shaped structures would be such a distinct difference as one gets off or onto a plane, that I'm not sure if it would be a pleasant or a shocking surprise. Regardless of which it would be, it would promise to be a memorable stop on the trip.

"The Rock" from the outside.