29 : 01 : 21 : Weekly Debrief

1. An eco community for elevated living in Utah

Utah, US – Benloch Ranch, a new housing community in the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, is built around minimalism and practicality.

Designed to offer luxury living in near-wilderness, the houses sit easily in the natural environment, prioritising fluid outdoor living spaces. Featuring over 900 acres of open space, Benloch Ranch's expansive land provides residents with trail walks, skiing and golfing, among other outdoor activities. A community retail centre and grocery store, as well as restaurants and bars, are accessible in nearby Park City.

To bolster the Ranch's eco credentials, its developers are seeding native plant species, sourcing sustainable materials and reducing noise pollution to protect the health and safety of native wildlife species. Developer Jamie Mackay explains: ‘We have adopted a high level of sustainability standards including protection policies surrounding wildlife preservation, conservation of vegetation, and water quality protection.’

This new development is providing a level of luxury living tied to outdoor activities and the preservation of nature, reflecting the wider shift towards rural living as a luxury.

3. A positively messy rebranding for Karma Kitchen

London – Creative agency Droga5 has tuned in to the honest side of food preparation with a playful rebranding for Karma Kitchen.

The London-based commercial catering company, which offers food and catering companies access to shared and private kitchens, has opted to rebrand after a surge in interest in its services during lockdowns in the UK. It hopes to better communicate its culture and concept through a vibrant rebranding that reflects the 'messy' reality of food innovation, preparation and catering.

Simplified graphics reminiscent of kitchen pans and equipment sit alongside capitalised typography. Meanwhile, imagery of real food shot close-up by photographer Maisie Cousins is purposely raw. Karma Kitchen says of the visuals: ‘[They] have nothing to do with overly styled food porn and everything to do with the visceral, messy business of cooking and eating.'

Moving away from refined aesthetics, more food and drink companies are using their branding to communicate the pleasure and escapism found in food – a design direction we explore in Frivolous Foods.

5. Boosting psychological wellbeing via interior design

London – Design studio Covet & Noir unveils its latest project, designing comforting interiors for mental health clinic, The Soke.

The use of neutral colourways throughout the London-based facility aims to evoke feelings of tranquillity for visitors. Other design features in the 10-room family-focused clinic include soundproof walls to block out local traffic, linen curtains for privacy and a natural feel, and relaxation pods. The design studio purposefully selected furniture such as leather upholstered chairs and vintage sofas to make the space warm and inviting, similar to being at home.

‘The non-clinical character has been carefully curated to shift the image of prevalent everyday mental health issues and to encourage people to embrace regular engagement with their psychological well-being, as one other aspect of their positive lifestyle choices,’ says Maria Lindgren, co-founder of Covet & Noir.

In our macro trend Conscious Deceleration, we explore the calming impact interior design can have on people's subconscious and how this design can be replicated in healthcare environments.

To future-proof your world, visit The Future Laboratory's forecasting platform LS:N Global for daily news, opinions, trends, sector specific insights, and strategic toolkits.