Four Australian designs have been selected from an international design competition hosted by Airbnb, turning 100 of the whackiest design concepts into realities. Under its $10 million OMG! fund, each successful applicant will receive up to USD $100,000 (around AUD $144,000) to realise their design.
Among the successful Australian designs, one submission was created by a brother-and-sister design team, comprising the founder of a tiny house provider and a University of Melbourne architecture and design student.
Matt Decarne created Elsewhere Pods as a luxury eco-tourism accommodation provider using stylish, customisable pods. The design, led by architecture student Natalie Decarne, takes the modern and minimalist aesthetic and modular structure of the Elsewhere Pods, and “supercharges” it in a cantilevered glass structure designed for Daylesford in Victoria.
“Kangaroom”, as it has been titled, connects occupants seamlessly with the outdoor environment, employing the concept of a “reverse zoo”, enabling visitors to observe local kangaroos in their natural habitat.
“Kangaroom” floating pod designed by brother-and-sister duo Matt and Natalie Decarne.
Other winning concepts by Australian entrants included a luxury bubble on top of a mountain, an eco-igloo dome situated in a rainforest, and a salvaged Boeing 737 reimagined as a lodging.
Airbnb launched the competition in June, calling on the imaginations of architects, designers and DIYers to conjure up visions for the next homes in its OMG! category of weird and wonderful stays.
The competition received tens of thousands of entries from around the world, from which 100 designs were selected from 23 countries. The competition ran for one month and applications were reviewed by a judging panel including Australian architect Koichi Takada.
The winning ideas stood out for their “unique and inspiring design, sustainable consideration, and novel ways of offering immersive guest experience,” a spokesperson for Airbnb said.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
