Articles by Hana Abdel

The recent health boom has increased the number of people who prefer to eat brown rice. However, because of the taste and texture, there are not many who choose to eat it every day. There is an enzymatic brown rice recipe which is a tasty and nutritious way to eat brown rice as part of one’s daily diet. The only ingredients are brown rice, azuki beans, and sun-dried salt, but the cooking process is quite time-consuming to make it every day. The owner of this company is the first person in Japan to make it possible to cook brown rice in a rice cooker, just as you would cook white rice. She and her partner, who is an engineer, succeeded in commercializing the product several years ago, and the company has been making steady progress ever since.

The Ghent-based architectural duo Basile Graux and Koen Baeyens were given full creative freedom by homeowners Marieke (surname) and Rob Stockman. Around three years ago, the couple was captivated by a large, beautiful garden near Ghent. Despite a typical 1980s bungalow standing on the plot, their focus was immediately drawn to the expansive 1,400 m² garden, a rare find so close to the city center. The bungalow itself became secondary in their decision.

The site is located at the alley intersection in Hapjeong-dong. Due to these geographical characteristics, every road connects to this space. The name of the space, ‘Pivot’, meaning the center of transition, originated from this concept. In addition to being a geographical focal point, various visual and spatial transformations were realized through different architectural elements within the space.

The cafe called Prompt is a cafe with a small nature in the city center. To contain the outside nature, we had to blend well with the inner space and intended to create a space that would be comfortable and relaxing. Therefore, when designing the space layout, the table and furniture were arranged so that the gaze could be directed outward.

In designing for a client seeking respite from the bustling workday life, we crafted the Weekend House in Futtsu as a haven of freedom and tranquility. Nestled along the coastline near Tokyo Bay, this idyllic retreat offers an uninterrupted view of the vast seascape. Perched on a gentle hill, the residence boasts a clear view of Mount Fuji on sunny days, while on the opposite side, lush mountains rise, their dense foliage almost embracing the property. Recognizing the allure of the sea and the mountains, we designed a space that naturally draws the gaze outward in every direction.

MORICO is a renovation project for a café and restaurant located in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. The existing building is an old brick row house, 5 meters wide and 37 meters deep, facing a major downtown street. Many surrounding shops have glass walls facing the road to maximize air-conditioned space, which disconnects them from the city. In tropical cities, as streets become more commercialized, the depth of the city is lost, and sidewalks tend to become mere passageways.