Kengo Kuma Designs Japan's First Ace Hotel

Famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has signed on as the principal architect for Japan's first Ace Hotel in Kyoto, which is scheduled to open in the winter of 2019. Japan's first outpost of the hip, Seattle–based chain will land in a historic city that's rich with industrial and imperial legacy. The project will be an example of adaptive reuse, incorporating renovations of the Kyoto Central Telephone Office—originally designed by one of the great Japanese modern architects Tetsuro Yoshida in the mid-1920s—into the new build.

IKEA Launches its First Bluetooth Speakers

Perhaps in anticipation of the announced Sonos x IKEA collaboration, IKEA is debuting its first line of speakers. Called the ENEBY, the Bluetooth-connected unit features the same elegant, minimalist design and wallet-friendly pricing that we associate with the Swedish mega-retailer. The unit comes in two sizes: an eight-by-eight inch model for $49, and a 12-by-12 inch for $89. Although it has an auto-off function, an additional $20 will get you an battery pack that can provide up to 10 hours of extra battery life.

via The Verge

This Is the World's Smallest Working Phone

Designed and developed by Zini Mobiles, the Zanco tiny t1 claims to be the smallest working mobile phone in the world. With the device measuring just 21-by-46.7 millimeters, they're probably right. The company's Kickstarter page explains, "The first time you see it, you can’t believe it exists. Your second thought is, Why does it exist? When you look a third time, you realize how much you want it." The nano-SIM can be changed at any time, making the mini mobile compatible with any phone network. There's still time to back their Kickstarter campaign here, starting at just £39 (approximately $55).

Designer India Mahdavi's Chez Nina Is a Club-Inspired Hangout at Salone del Mobile in Milan

Paris–based architect and designer India Mahdavi has created a refined lounge environment inside Milan's exclusive Nilufar Gallery specifically for Salone del Mobile. Dubbed Chez Nina after Nina Yashar, the founder of the gallery, the space features exquisite, textured silk wallpaper from De Gournay, rich velvets from Madhavi's True Velvet collection for Pierre Frey, and geometric patterns on a sweeping silk mural drawn by Mahdavi herself. Gorgeous pieces from Gio Ponti, Martino Gamper, and a selection from Yashar’s collections furnish the space alongside custom-made, candy-colored table tops.

April 17-22 at Nilufar Gallery, Via Della Spiga 32

via Wallpaper

This $4K House Can Be 3D-Printed in a Day

New Story, a company that builds housing in the developing world, has invented a massive 3D printer that will soon be able to create an entire four-room house in less than a day. The Silicon Valley–based nonprofit has been examining how to build safe housing for those living in extreme poverty for years, and now have partnered up with Icon, a construction tech company, to create a 3D printer called the Vulcan that can build a house for approximately $4,000. The printer was recently unveiled at SXSW, together with a 3D-printed home that now stands in an Austin backyard.

via Fast Company

Design Digest: Ace Hotel Kyoto, IKEA Speakers, India Mahdavi, and More