Tag vertical

Designed by Portuguese studio OODA, this stunning and impressive skyscraper is made up of 13 staggered cube volumes and is intended to be the design for the Hora Vertikale residential development in Tirana. It is supposed to be unveiled in spring 2024 and is designed to be a 140-meter-tall building that will house apartments placed over a park amped with multiple public amenities.

Designer: OODA

Nestled in the Albanian capital Tirana, OODA designed the Hora Vertikale to engage with the local community and describes the towering structure as “a unique vertical village set amidst a large green city”. 13 cubes have been designed and created in seven variations, and each cube measures 22.5 meters by 22.4 meters and is seven stories tall, which is typically the height of buildings in Tirana.

The foundation or base of the building comprises three rows of three cubes, with a couple of them set apart and rotated a bit to create a narrow gap. Two side-by-side cubes sit on the top, followed by two singular ones that in turn form an expansive building that is six cubes tall. The cube at the top will be equipped with angular balconies that are supported by columns punctuating the perimeter. “Each cube embodies a unique concept related to art and is also inspired by the local vernacular,” said OODA.

What makes the building even more impressive, is that it will be made from locally sourced materials from Albanian, which will reduce its carbon footprint, and also provide support to local businesses.

“The result is a building that leaves a lasting impact on both city visitors and those who live there,” said the studio. “From a distance, the building presents distinct elevations and perceptions from different views around the city. Up close, the concept’s playful interplay reveals its secrets, and the compositions step back from the main road towards the park at the rear, creating the most adequate transition in terms of scale.”

This stunning building is set to be the latest high-profile skyscraper to be constructed in Tirana with a rather unique design that instantly grabs eyeballs.

As someone who has not used a mouse since I switched to Mac years ago, the idea of mouse fatigue is foreign to me. But I do know a lot of people who spend more than half of their day in front of the screen and with a mouse to guide them most of the time and they testify that it can take a toll on your hand and fingers. There are several ergonomic options out there but this one from Protoarc seems to be unique and even more ergonomic than the usual ones out there.

Designer: Protoarc

The EM11 RGB Wireless Ergonomic Vertical Mouse lets you have a more relaxed position when using the device, especially if you’ll be using it for long periods. The ergonomics vertical grip gives you a more natural position for your hand and will also supposedly give you fatigue resistance because of the way you use it and the way it’s designed. It should be able to reduce the strain on your arm, wrist, and hand and also is more convenient with its back and forward thumb buttons.

If you’re using multiple devices, the mouse is able to switch connection mode through low bluetooth with up to 3 devices and with three different available DPI for high precision control. And if you prefer something a bit more stable, you can also connect it to your computer through a USB receiver. It also has four different RGB light modes to match your mood while working or playing: neon, monochromatic, streamer, breathing. The battery life is also pretty impressive as it can last up to 90 days on a single charge.

With a lot of people staying in front of screens more hours every day, whether for work or for play, it’s really important to have ergonomic devices like these so we lessen the fatigue on our body. If I was still using a mouse, I would probably use something like this as the design seems more natural than your usual mouse devices.