IKEA, Guinness, VW and Nike encourage social distancing and staying home

Many brands are altering their logos to promote social distancing and creating adverts to encourage staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Brands with extremely well-known logos, including restaurant company McDonalds and German car companies Audi and Volkswagen, have separated elements within their logos to encourage social distancing.

VW is among the brands to alter its logo to encourage social distancing

Social distancing – reducing non-essential contact with others and maintaining a distance of around two metres from other people – is one of the key strategies that will slow the spread of coronavirus Covid-19.

To raise awareness of the need to distance from others, Volkswagen increased the gap between the V and the W in its flat logo, which was recently created to mark to the "start of a new era". The logo was placed above the words "Thanks for keeping your distance".

McDonalds Brasil separated the golden arches in its logo

In Brasil, McDonalds altered its iconic golden arches M logo in a similar manner. The company posted a picture on its Facebook page with the two arches separated and standing alone.

Audi also separated the four, usually interconnected, rings of its logo for a post on social media. The automobile company posted a video showing the altered logo on Twitter, alongside a message that read "stay at home, keep your distance, stay healthy, support each other – we are in this together."

IKEA is encouraging people to stay at home

Other brands have focused on the need for people to stay at home. Numerous countries are now on lockdown with the majority of people being encouraged to stay within their homes for their own safety and to slow the spread of the virus.

In Israel, advertising company McCann's created a version of an IKEA-assembly manual for the furniture company. Alongside the words "stay höme" is a picture of a house, with icons of a key, lock and toilet paper.

Guinness is circulating an image created by Luke O'Reilly

Brewer Guinness has been circulating a version of one of its classic averts, but with the foam on top of the pint replaced with a sofa. The advert was designed by freelancer Luke O'Reilly, who gave permission for Guinness to circulate it.

"The stay at home creative really drove home the message," explained Grainne Wafer, global brand director of Guinness.

"In one simple visual it captured the seriousness of the times that we’re in, while also bringing a smile to people. We've been in touch with Luke – and hopefully we'll get to meet over a pint in the not too distant future."

Nike is also encouraging people to stay at home

Nike has also created an advert to promote staying at home. The sportswear brand opted for a simple message rather than altering its logo. "Play inside, play for the world", states the advert.

Other designers have also been redrawing brands logos to show the impact of coronavirus.

Last week Slovenian graphic designer Jure Tovrljan redrew the logos of brands including the Olympics, Starbucks and Nike to show the affect the virus is having on people's lives.

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The Parchment Works house extension built inside ruined stone walls

The ruins of a 17th-century parchment factory and old cattle shed form part of a residential extension by Will Gamble Architects in Northamptonshire, UK.

Named The Parchment Works, the extension introduces an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area to a listed Victorian house.

It was designed by Will Gamble Architects for a semi-retired couple who desired an open and unique counterpoint to the dwelling's otherwise truncated interior.

The client's brief for the studio asked that the home's adjoining cattle shed was converted, but that the adjacent ruin – remnants of a factory built in the 1600s to produce parchment paper – was demolished.

However in recognition of the ruin's historical significance, Will Gamble Architects instead proposed preserving and celebrating it by inserting the extension within its masonry walls.

"The ruin was built in the 1600s and is the oldest part of the house," said the studio's director Will Gamble.

"Despite falling into disrepair the ruin was a very important building within the community and further a field – it used to produce parchment paper and was rumoured to have made paper for members of the royal family," he told Dezeen.

"It has real charm both historically and aesthetically," Gamble continued. "It was very much part of the character of the building as a whole and therefore we felt strongly that it needed to be preserved and celebrated."

"It ended up being the driving force behind the entire scheme and the change in approach was eventually well received by both the client, the planners and Historic England."

The Parchment Works' extension has a stepped form, measures a single-storey in height, and occupies one half of the ruins footprint.

This was designed by Will Gamble Architects to reduce the visual impact of the structure and ensure it is subordinate to the ruin.

"At first we looked at infilling the entire ruin but felt that the character and appearance of the ruin walls internally were just as if not more important than their exterior," Gamble explained.

"We therefore infilled half of the ruin and left the remaining half untouched to expose the internal face of the walls."

By filling in half of the ruin's footprint in this way, Will Gamble Architects was able to incorporate a courtyard on the ground floor.

Meanwhile, its single-storey height enabled the studio to incorporate a roof terrace above that is accessible from the existing master bedroom on the first floor of the house.

The materiality of extension was dictated by the studio's ambition to use as many materials found on site from factory's outbuildings that once occupied it.

Salvaged local bricks form the walls of the extension, while stone slabs from the floor of the old parchment factory line the base of the courtyard.

Elsewhere, five-metre-long oak beams found on the site were also cut down to be create lintels for the extension's doors and windows. This is paired with contemporary weathered steel and wood detailing.

Will Gamble Architects' ambition to preserve the history of the site is also evident inside The Parchment Works, where timber joists from the cattle shed and the ruin's masonry walls are visible throughout the extension.

"The concept behind the interiors was to go for an honest palette of materials that celebrated the architecture of the cattle shed and the ruin," Gamble explained.

"We tried to preserve the character of the ruin and the cattle shed as much as possible by leaving most of what was already there uncovered."

Elements of the new structure for the extension, including oversized timber joists and white-painted steels, are also exposed inside in an effort to "continue the concept of celebrating the bones of the building".

These are teamed with a minimal backdrop of white-washed oak floorboards with a chunky concrete skirting, and walls with a textured sand and cement render finish.

According to Will Gamble Architects, the original Parchment Works was built on the site because of a natural spring that runs under the building. This water was used to clean the hides from which the parchment was made, by lowering them into a series of baths.

As part of the project, the studio opened up one of these underground baths to create a water feature. This also doubles as a dry well to dispose of surface runoff.

Other homes built from ruins featured on Dezeen include the Astley Castle in Warwickshire by Witherford Watson Mann, which won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2013.

More recently, architecture studio Arquitectura-G transformed a crumbling stone structure in the medieval village of Palau-Sator, Spain into a contemporary family dwelling.

Photography is by Johan Dehlin.

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Daily coronavirus architecture and design briefing: 31 March

Daily coronavirus briefing: today's architecture and design coronavirus briefing includes news on Dubai Expo 2020, how Covid-19 hospitals are built, Sam Jacob's design academy and an F1 team making a breathing aid.

How emergency coronavirus hospitals are built

Architects for Health chair Christopher Shaw explains how conference centres such as the ExCel in London are being converted into hospitals for coronavirus patients (via RIBAJ).

UN and WHO launch Global Call Out To Creatives to make informative coronavirus visuals

The United Nations and World Health Organisation have launched an open competition for creatives to create informative works that accurately communicate public health messages in a bid to "flatten the curve" of the coronavirus pandemic (via Dezeen).

Dubai Expo 2020 set to be delayed until 2021

The organisers of the Dubai Expo 2020, which was scheduled to begin on 20 October, want to delay the event until 2021 (via Bloomberg).

Sam Jacob launches weekly Desktop Design Academy

Dezeen columnist Sam Jacob has launched a weekly design challenge for those in isolation called the Desktop Design Academy. The first exercise, which is open to all, is to create a souvenir (via Sam Jacob).

SheltAir gridshell pods inflate in eight hours to isolate coronavirus patients

German architectural engineer Gregory Quinn has developed a domed bio-containment pod made from inflatable cushions that could help coronavirus patients isolate (via Dezeen).

National 3D Printing Society calls for printers to items for NHS

The National 3D Printing Society looking for architects and designers to donate their 3D printers to help create items for the National Health Service. The organisation has set up a database to coordinate manufacturing and distribution (via National 3D Printing Society).

Mercedes Formula One team create breathing aid in a week

Engineers from the Mercedes Formula One team and University College London (UCL), along with doctors at the UCL hospital, have made a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) breathing device, which can be used by coronavirus patients not in intensive care (via BBC).

Sick pay and self-isolation employment rights for architects

Architecture magazine Architects' Journal has created a practical guide that explains architects employment rights during the coronavirus period of self-isolation (via Architects' Journal).

Brooks Brothers making 150,000 masks a day

Brooks Brothers is the latest clothing company to begin mask production. It is set to make 150,000 masks a day in its factories in New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina (via National Review).

Apple launches coronavirus screening app

Apple has launched a new app that provides users with information about coronavirus. It also allows them to take a basic assessment, asking about relevant symptoms and recent travels, to find out whether they should seek medical care or not (via Hypebeast).

Virgin Orbit plans to mass-produce new medical breathing device

Richard Branson's satellite launch company Virgin Orbit has developed a new breathing device to help medical workers treat patients with Covid-19, which the company is planning to mass-produce after FDA approval (via The Verge).

London Design Fair 2020 cancelled 

This year's edition of the London Design Fair, which was set to take place 17-21 September, has been cancelled (via Art and Collections).

Keep up with developments by following Dezeen's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak. For news of impacted events, check Dezeen Events Guide's dedicated coronavirus page.

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This Dog Named Sunny Is Delivering Groceries To His Elderly Neighbor With Respiratory Problems

We all know that to get through these tough times, we have to work together. Our pets are no exception, and unsurprisingly, they absolutely love to lend a helping paw. One such pet is a good boy named Sunny, who lives in Colorado. The adorable golden retriever recently went viral for helping his elderly neighbor by bringing her groceries. The neighbor, Renee, is currently in self-isolation and takes social distancing seriously; however, she just can’t resist giving a belly rub to this helpful boy.

More info: kktv.com

Recently, this good boy named Sunny went viral for lending a helping paw to his neighbor

Image credits: KKTV

Sunny’s owner Eveleth has known Renee for over a decade, so when the pandemic started, she didn’t hesitate to assist her elderly neighbor. As it turns out, Renee suffers from chronic respiratory issues and relies on an oxygen tank. It is known that COVID-19 is dangerous to people who have underlying conditions, especially respiratory problems. So, to protect herself, Renee decided to self-isolate. That’s when Eveleth decided to make Sunny her neighbor’s delivery doggo.

After his neighbor Renne self-isolated, Sunny started delivering her groceries

Image credits: KKTV

The delivery process is quite simple: “She got the list, she gave it to Sunny, Sunny brought it to me. I went to the store, got her groceries, and he delivered them all to her,” Eveleth told KKTV.

Image credits: KKTV

Sunny has been performing his duties to Renee for the past few weeks without fail. “What a wonderful thing, just a sweet thing. So he started doing the schlepping, back and forth. It’s been fun, it’s been a real treat,” Renee said.

Image credits: KKTV

Not only does Sunny help her with social distancing, but the good boy also makes her feel less alone. “Little things like Sunny coming over to visit is nice and it makes you feel good. It’s a way of communicating,” Renee said.

If you watch anything today, make it this. A #ManitouSprings dog is making deliveries to a self-quarantined neighbor so she doesn’t have to risk getting sick https://t.co/IqirOsztHV pic.twitter.com/DY9MJUebnh

— Megan Hiler (@MeganHilerTV) March 29, 2020

What makes Sunny’s assistance even better than a person’s is that, according to the World Health Organization, dogs can’t get or pass COVID-19 to humans. “There is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19,” the organization said in its statement.

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This 144-Piece Transparent “Impossible” Puzzle Looks Like A Cruel Joke

As the end of quarantine is nowhere near yet, we still have enough time on our hands for fun, in-house activities. Some love reading books, some—watching shows they never had time for before, and then there are the jigsaw puzzle people. They’ll get their hands on the biggest, the most difficult puzzles that take days to do. For these people, we’d like to recommend the most difficult jigsaw puzzle we’ve seen yet—this entirely clear jigsaw puzzle. Get ready for your brain to melt, because this one is not bound to be an easy one.

More info: Etsy

For all of you jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts out there, there’s an impossibly difficult all-clear jigsaw puzzle

Image credits: Etsy

For those yearning for a brain-melting challenge, these entirely clear puzzle pieces should be a delight. Currently available on Etsy from the seller LittleFlowerPotShop, the jigsaw puzzle seems to be really enjoyed by many people who’ve already bought it. “I only have 2 pieces together so far, but I’m loving this! Such a great idea and so well made. Great seller! I’m buying more as gifts,” one person comments under the product.

There are several sizes to choose from

Image credits: Etsy

Based on the level of difficulty, there are four variations of the jigsaw puzzle available with the easiest one consisting of 9 pieces. The moderate puzzle has 25 pieces, the hard one—49, and the crazy difficult one (also known as impossibly difficult) consists of 144 tiny acrylic pieces.

And the pieces are made from clear cast acrylic

Image credits: Etsy

The pieces of the easiest option are approximately 2″ and, as the seller writes, it takes an average adult about 5 minutes to solve it. In contrast, the pieces of the 144-piece puzzle are approximately 1/2″, while the seller writes that it takes “DAYS of fun assembling.”

With the prices starting at $17

Image credits: Etsy

The Etsy seller is based in California, United States and estimates that shipping the jigsaw puzzle should take approximately 4 weeks.

Here are the impressions of people who bought it

And the impressions of people who haven’t yet

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People Are Sharing Their Hilariously Bad Travel Pics (30 Pics)

One of the most important things when traveling is to take loads of pictures so you can show your friends and family all the cool places you visited and all the fancy food you ate. After all, can you even say you went on vacation if you haven’t uploaded hundreds of photos to your social media pages? But what if the pictures you took just happen to turn out a little… disappointing?

It turns out you can’t always take the perfect pictures you might have seen on the internet before and these people found it out the hard way. Check out all the times people went on vacation and returned with hilariously bad travel pics in the gallery below!

#1 My Moms First Time Visiting Paris

Image source: OstidTabarnak

#2 Woke Up At 2.30am To Make A 2 Hour Drive Up 10000 Feet To See The Sunrise Atop Haleakala. Have You Ever Seen Such Beauty?

Image source: bradp36

#3 My First Time Visiting The Grand Canyon And This Happened

Image source: Mr-Xela-48

#4 120 Mile Solo Hike. Asked An Elderly Passerby To Take A Photo For Me

Image source: non-return-valve

I checked it right away but he struggled enough with the touch screen that I didn’t ask him to take another. I think I was walking toward him to help him with the camera and CLICK. Too late. He was such a nice old man as well. He put so much effort in to trying to work that touch screen. Bless.

#5 The Day I Visited The Great Wall Of China

Image source: Never_Hard

#6 A Friend Of Mine Traveled To Italy And Managed To Take A Picture Of The Leaning Tower Of Pisa That Doesn’t Show It Leaning

Image source: blakemon1

#7 Went To See The Taj Mahal This Morning

Image source: SnowWonder

#8 This Photo My Dad Took Of Me At Machu Picchu

Image source: Mr_Tom_Yabo

#9 Go To The Golden Gate Bridge They Said. Get There Early They Said

Image source: Just_A_Pterodactyl

#10 Hard-To-Obtain Permits For A 10 Mile Hike To See Havasupai Falls

Image source: TitillatingTofu

#11 To The Guys Who Finally Got To See The Golden Gate Bridge & The Grand Canyon: This Is My View Of Mount Fuji, Japan

Image source: kdrumz

#12 Wife And I Visited The Eiffel Tower For Our Honeymoon

Image source: theadum

#13 My Friend Is On Vacation In Hawaii, And She Asked This Man To Take A Picture Of Her. He Told Her, “I Got A Close Up.” Bless This Man

Image source: tybalt-tisk

#14 Rented A Car And Took A 2-Hour Drive Outside Of Berlin To See Die Rakotzbrücke

Image source: topsecretvcr

Just to discover the water was drained and the whole area is under construction.

#15 Went To The Grand Canyon Today

Image source: emalberti

#16 I Was In New York For The First Time In My Life

Image source: prestoff

My wife and I spent almost 10 hours on a plane, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and flew 7,500 kilometres. We climbed the top of the rock to enjoy a view of Central Park. We had only one day in New York and this view will always be with us.

#17 I Finally Got To See Big Ben

Image source: chadillac86

#18 Went On Vacation And Paid Extra For A Room With A View Of The Mountains. The Snow Plow Ran Right Outside Our Window

Image source: -avoidingwork-

#19 Saw The Grand Canyon Today! 10/10 Would Come Again (So I Can Actually See It)

Image source: jelliedmonster2

#20 Visited St. Louis For The First Time And Was Told I Had To See The Famous Gateway Arch

Image source: drtythrtybass

#21 The View From My 65th Floor “Grand Times Square View” Hotel Room

Image source: simfire

#22 Hiked One Of Norway’s Most Beautiful Trails For 3.5 Hours Through The Rain To Be Rewarded With This Stunning View

Image source: notOdin

#23 I Got To See The “Scenic” Grand Canyon In All Its Fog Glory. At Least I Have An Excuse To Come Back

Image source: vinceggordon

#24 Traveled 4000 Miles From The USA To Ireland To See The Cliffs Of Moher

Image source: Invertednipple

#25 10 Years Ago I Climbed The Volcano Of Bali “Mount Agung” 4 Am In The Morning To See The Beautiful Sunrise

Image source: Hollhut

It was the very end of a 9 months backpacking trip, and I skipped an important and beautiful scuba diving lesson to do it. I had to get up at 3 am for the drive to reach the base of the volcano. My best friend and only travel companion at the time was too lazy to join me, leaving me alone with a Balinese guide that knew not a word of English.

We reached the end of the road at around halfway up the volcano with ~1½ hours left of steep hiking on wet rugged rocks.

In silence, the monolingual guide and I accented, and the higher we went, the more I realised how grossly I had underestimated the freezing temperatures at the top of the volcano – Not wearing any jacket at all.

We finally reached the top 15 minutes before the sunrise, inside a dense and moist cloud, giving us with a visibility of 5-10 meters (16-32 feet) and our cloth and skin utterly soaked.

#26 Travelled 2,000+ Miles To Mt. Rushmore. It Is What It Is, I Guess

Image source: Ambrodextrous

#27 After Several Hours Of Walking, I Was Awarded With This Magnificent View From The Pulpit Rock, Norway

Image source: PatteLoffen

#28 My View Of The Mountain I Trecked About 15 Hours To See

Image source: Winnie-the-Broo

#29 Visited Mount Fuji For The First Time. The View Was Magnificent

Image source: a_typical_guy-14

#30 4 Years Ago. Grand Canyon Fog

Image source: marissa_ricci

The post People Are Sharing Their Hilariously Bad Travel Pics (30 Pics) appeared first on DeMilked.

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