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strategy
How has the Russian speaking minority in Estonia changed?
Interview with Andrey Makarychev, Russian professor living in Estonia, who said that the number of applications for Estonian citizenship has risen since the start of the war among the Russian speakers. Our interview from Estonia where society changes significantly since the war started.
The Russian border is only about 55
The Russian ‘culture of death’ — interview with Andrey Makarychev
Russian society is fragmented and atomized, and does not believe in collective public action—said Andrey Makarychev, Professor at University of Tartu, who left Russia a decade ago. He explains how Russia lost huge parts of its population during the last century, and much more. Interview on Hype&Hyper.
You
strategy
China is not our ally–interview on Sino-Russian relations
China is pro-Chinese and not pro-Russian–says Dr. Mikhail Karpov highlighting that BRICS is a paradoxical unity. Insight to the Sino-Russian relations by an expert coming directly from Moscow.
How do you see China from the point of view of Russia? Is it an ally or maybe someone who is
strategy
Promises, disappointment, unity: how the Vilnius NATO summit ended
A NATO summit was held in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, from 11 to 12 July. War-torn Ukraine was the most discussed topic of the meeting, but Swedish accession was also an essential point on the agenda, as well as possible expansion in the Far East.
The main topic of this
strategy
Poland will investigate Russian influence, but not everyone is happy about it
Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed and then proposed to amend a law establishing a state commission of inquiry to investigate and uncover Russian influence in Poland between 2007 and 2022. The news of the commission has caused a stir: the Polish opposition says that this plan is only intended
global
If Russia wants to choose the West, first it must lose this war
Andrzej Nowak is one of Poland’s best-known and most prolific historians, with dozens of books published in Polish and other languages. He specializes primarily in the political and intellectual history of Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries but also has a strong interest in the history of
strategy
Everything to know about the Pentagon document leaks!
In the largest leaks scandal of the decade, countless secret Pentagon and NATO documents have come to light. The chaos is huge, but we summarized the most important points.
The world’s attention has been on the Pentagon leaks in April: Pages of highly classified US documents began circulating on
strategy
A constructive coexistence that needs to transform
Interview with Daniel Höltgen, representative of the Council of Europe, about human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in turbulent times of war, violation of law, and a shaking global order.
In 1949, the Council of Europe was created to defend and promote the rule of law, democracy, and
strategy
Who is Aleksandr Dugin, the self-proclaimed Russian prophet?
The man who is a bigger Putinist than Putin himself. Analysis by Brittany Pheiffer Noble, Ph.D.
The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war started more than a year ago, and while for the West, it is evident that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is wrong, it would be naive to think that
design
The most fascinating metro stations in Eastern Europe | TOP5
The invention of the subway has significantly accelerated people’s lives since the 19th century. It is essentially an underground railway that runs on a fixed track. The advantage is that there are no obstacles in the way, so you can get to your destination many times faster. But have
strategy
Reflections on the war’s first anniversary
The Russian invasion of Ukraine started a year ago. Thoughts, opportunities, and developments about Ukraine, Russia, international affairs, and the potential of Westlessness.
On Tuesday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the joint session of the lower and upper houses of Russia’s parliament to mark the
strategy
US withdraws Patriot missile defense system from Slovakia
The US Army withdraws a Patriot air defense missile system from the Malacky-Kuchyňa airbase in Slovakia. The decision also entails the departure of 100 American soldiers.
The Patriot missile defense system will be moved to Germany from Slovakia. According to Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad’, the Patriot system will be
business
Will we be cold next winter?
Although Europe has survived this winter, high energy prices, energy dependence on Russia, energy independence, and diversification of energy sources have all become the buzzwords of 2022. These problems affect everyone, and they need to be addressed somehow. What is the current state of the energy crisis, and what are
strategy
As a kid, I was unaware of what was a war—memories about the Russian aggression in Georgia
After the collapse of the USSR, Georgia was able to declare independence, but apparently was threatened by the Russian Federation to make Georgia again under its influence—Nino Kotolashvili, Georgian historian about the Russian-Georgian War, imperialistic influence and Caucasian perspectives. Interview.
Georgia's historical position in the Caucasus is unique: is
strategy
The evidence needs to be collected—interview on the genocide in Ukraine
You have to be able to really demonstrate genocide and in the war in Ukraine there's a lot of things we don't know—says Norman Naimark, American historian from Stanford University. Interview.
I'll cut straight to the chase: how do you see the war crimes committed in Ukraine? Do Bucha
business
We fight a hybrid war that will end in a hybrid peace
There will be no serious reconstruction of Ukraine unless we come up with a security umbrella for it—says Daniel Szeligowski, the Head of Eastern Europe Programme of Polish Institute of International Affairs. Interview.
One million dollar question: what is going to be the end of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict? If
strategy
The collective Putin
How do they see us from Moscow? The leaders of Russia's struggle against the “decadent” West still believe in victory, and the collective Putin that permeates all layers of Russian society is still functioning. Read our interview on nuclear weapons, the German and Russian soul, and victory with James Sherr,
strategy
The lack of Washington’s Ukraine strategy
What can the West expect after the invasion of Ukraine? What is the role of Central Europe in international organizations today? In what aspects is the current situation different from the Cold War? These questions were addressed in the „After Ukraine, where does the West stand?” panel discussion at the
strategy
There are facts against the propaganda
This year’s Sakharov Prize was awarded to the Ukrainian people on 14 December 2022 by the European Parliament. Since the Russian invasion began in February, the Ukrainian forces have relentlessly defended the country and the whole West. The Ukrainians, on the fronts, are protecting the democratic values alongside their
strategy
The newest weapon: Facebook
Modern warfare takes place on several fronts: land, sea, air, and, equally importantly, in the media. Who defines the narrative has a huge advantage: Russia limits the freedom of media outlets within its territory and wants the Kremlin’s voice to be heard in the West during the war.
Propaganda
business
Can Romanian natural gas make Europe less dependent on Russia?
The solution might lie at the bottom of the Black Sea.
The Russo-Ukrainian war has made Europe realize that its dependence on Russian energy is not beneficial and makes the continent highly vulnerable. Energy independence and diversification of resources are strongly desired, and some measures have already been implemented to
strategy
Let’s think realistically
John Mearsheimer’s lecture on international politics.
International relations sound intangible to many of us: Why do wars start? Why do we trade with certain countries? Are there real allies, or is every country actually against every country? John Mearsheimer, one of the most well-known scholars of the realist school
strategy
Georgia was, is and will always remain devoted to European aspirations and values
Interview with Nikoloz Khatiashvili on the Georgian foreign policy, Eastern Partnership and future of the country.
Within the Eastern Partnership, Georgia has started to orient itself towards the West. What opportunities did the Eastern Partnership offer, what opportunities did Georgia successfully exploit?
Eastern Partnership is one of the most important
business
Ukraine has to be careful – interview with Olga Pindyuk
The oligarch issue is important. Ukraine is notorious for its corruption and lack of transparency in the judicial system – says Olga Pindyuk, Ukrainian economist at Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies. Interview.
In Hungary, public opinion now revolves around the EU sanctions regarding their failure to work against Russia. What
business
Did China dress up as Russia for this year's Halloween?
As Europe kicks the Russian Bear out, a less aggressive panda appears in the background. Europe-China relations have existed before, but now it seems Beijing wants what Moscow had to leave here.
Marriage in silk
Europe and China did not find each other because of the decline of Russian commercial
strategy
NATO is a values-based organisation – interview with Baiba Braže
Strategic communication has never been as important a part of the toolbox of Western alliance systems as it is in today's information war. Our exclusive interview with Baiba Braže, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy at NATO.
The Soviet Union already had a strategic communications department in the 1960s, while
strategy
Turkey's Russian roulette - interview with Nikolett Pénzváltó
Turkey and Russia have a unique position in modern Western politics: the two authoritarian countries are at the edge of Europe with interests that the West cannot or is unwilling to consider. Turkey has always been a bridge between East and West; thus, it is crucial to understand its role.
strategy
Resilience instead of globalization
The unjust Iraq War blackened the West, but the obscenity must be washed away – a panelist said at The Riga Conference 2022. Hype&Hyper’s conference coverage from Latvia.
Realpolitik partially failed when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. We attended The Riga Conference 2022, where
design
Fresh zine selection from the post-Soviet region | TOP5
In the last few years, the zine culture has become widespread in Hungary, that is, the production of art magazines with photographs or illustrations, mainly based on visual content and mostly characterized by creative freedom. You could say that it can be anything: it often revolves around a constructed concept—
business
What does the future hold for our eating habits?—The present and future of a food crisis
The beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war put many topics into focus that common people didn’t have to think much about before. Besides energy policy and the changes on the energy market already influencing the prices of utilities, at the onset of the war, panic ensued when different media outlets
community
NATO must refocus from deterrence by punishment to deterrence by denial – interview with Margarita Šešelgytė
We have become the “voice” of pro-western Eastern European countries in Europe – Dr. Margarita Šešelgytė told Hype&Hyper on Lithuania. Interview about the Russian influence in Lithuania, the weaponized migration by Belarus, the Kaliningrad case, and Lithuania’s progressive China policy.
We can state that from an economic and geographical
business
Smart use of the „gas weapon” favors the Russian side - interview on the energy emergency
The figures show that the sanctions are negatively affecting both the Russian and the European sides – Máté Litkei, Director of the Climate Policy Institute, told Hype&Hyper. Interview with Máté Litkei and Géza Sebestyén on the energy emergency, sanctions, and the uncertain future.
For gas, Russia is much more dependent
business
The Russo-Ukrainian hamburger war
No more Big Mac in Moscow, but at least Ukrainians can enjoy the iconic burger again. A new restaurant chain is opening to replace McDonald’s in Russia, while old restaurants can finally reopen in Ukraine. Fast food was once one of the most powerful symbols of easing Cold War
business
Nothing of those cyber mayhem scenarios happened – Bernhards Blumbergs
Historical cyber-attack against Latvia, e-voting system in Estonia, cyber mayhem scenarios and everyday practice of cyber-security during our everyday’s life. Interview with Dr. Bernhards Blumbergs, leading security expert from the Baltics.
At the beginning of July, a historical cyber-attack occurred against Latvia by pro-Russian hackers. From an ordinary point
economy
A multipolar world comes without Russia - interview with Máté Vigóczki
Western sanctions with severe consequences, partially failed military operations, unrealistic superpower aspirations, and shrinking room for maneuver. We discussed these issues of the Russo-Ukrainian war, among other things, with Máté György Vigóczki, a Russia expert.
Six months have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. The Russians launched a
politics
Impossible to live on the bridge – Exclusive interview with Sigita Struberga
“I see that the only way how to speak with Russia is from the position of power” – told Sigita Struberga to Hypeandhyper, the Secretary-General of the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation. Interview on cyber-security, integration of Russian speaking minorities in Latvia, war and geopolitics and Russian disinformation in the Baltics.
At the
russia
Europe’s contribution to global deforestation
Trees cover 30% of our planet’s land area. Being in nature is good for our mental health, forests are home to many animals, not to mention that they capture carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. So, there is no doubt that we would have a much worse quality of life
russia
Will the Baltic Sea become a NATO sea?
It is no surprise that the Baltic states became even more worried about their eastern neighbor since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Their fears are absolutely understandable, although the three countries are NATO members. Thus, when Finland and Sweden announced their NATO bids, no wonder Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were
business
Belarus, who failed | The transition to democracy in our region – Part V.
More than thirty years have passed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which left an enormous economic and political void in Central and Eastern Europe. In this series of articles, we explore the responses of the countries of the region to the new circumstances: how they could adapt to
business
Prices are soaring – but not for everything
Drugs, gambling, and prostitution are not included in inflation. But what is? How is inflation calculated, and which products are getting more expensive? Analysis.
Inflation is in the news and regularly discussed on social media platforms now. Banks are raising interest rates, people are buying chicken breasts like there is
russia
Struggling Ukraine | The transition to democracy in our region – Part IV.
More than thirty years have passed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which left an enormous economic and political void in Central and Eastern Europe. In this series of articles, we explore the responses of the countries of the region to the new circumstances: how they could adapt to
business
Circuses without bread | Ukraine faces grain export difficulties
The Russo-Ukrainian war has entered its fourth month, but nobody can tell when and how the invasion will stop. Nevertheless, one thing is sure; the conflict has severe global political and economic effects. Today we will focus on food supply. Ukraine is a significant grain exporter, but many regional trade
business
Lithuania's escape from the clutches of Russian gas
Two countries can commercially attract each other just like two celestial bodies do because of the law of gravity. The larger the economies and the closer the geographical proximity, the more likely they will become trading partners. Thus, it is no surprise that Russia has been one of the most
budapest
Are we in a new Cold War? | Neighbourhood Dialogues x V4
The driving force of modern history is arguably the international relations between the great powers. It has never been as noticeable as in the bipolar world of the Cold War era. But who are the great powers in 2022, how do they relate to each other, and what is their
community
The Visegrád Group is neither a geopolitical nor a military entity | Neighbourhood Dialogues x V4
Hungarian experts discussed the war’s impact on the Visegrád Group, the refugee crisis, the oil and gas embargo, and Ukraine’s road to EU membership. Hype&Hyper’s conference coverage from Budapest.
It seems the Russo-Ukrainian war has undermined the unity of the Visegrád Group, and the alliance lost
tech
Strategic autonomy, fully integrated capacity | Interview on EU space industry
Why so many young people are choosing Europe over Silicon Valley? We asked Ugo Celestino Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space from European Commission about the space industry of the European Union, common successes and the deterioration of space relations not seen since the Cold War. Our interview.
The strategic
business
Ten thousand IT experts are missing from Slovakia | Innovation and startups in the CEE region - Part III.
The Russo-Ukrainian war has put Central and Eastern Europe in the international spotlight; our region has great potential, but many problems hold back innovation. Unfortunately, Slovak education’s quality is below par, and 10.000 IT experts are missing from the job market. But, regarding environmental protection, Slovakia might be
community
The Ukrainians may have a chance to win | Exclusive interview with Jan Malicki – Part II.
We discussed the Polish-Ukrainian relations, the „deputinisation” of Russia, the ongoing war, and the rapid changes in world politics and history with the Polish historian Jan Malicki. Strong statements, possible solutions, and bold conclusions in the exclusive interview he gave to Hype&Hyper. Part II.
Jan Malicki is a Polish
community
The Ukrainians may have a chance to win | Exclusive interview with Jan Malicki - Part I.
We discussed the Polish-Ukrainian relations, the „deputinisation” of Russia, the ongoing war, and the rapid changes in world politics and history with the Polish historian Jan Malicki. Strong statements, possible solutions, and bold conclusions in the exclusive interview he gave to Hype&Hyper. Part I.
Jan Malicki is a Polish
business
The cost of energy independence
„Moscow last year earned $50 billion from oil and gas supplies to the EU. And this year, due to the increased prices, the Russian revenues will reach $40 billion already in the coming days,” says energy expert Olivér Hortay. At what cost can Europe cut oil and gas imports from
business
Fear or flight? | The impact of war on tourism
European tourism is getting the short end of the stick again. After the Covid-19 pandemic, when it seemed that nothing could stand in travelers’ way, Russia attacked Ukraine. What are the implications of war in this context? Can the current situation lead to a similar backlash as in 2020? Or
community
We win, or we are wiped off the map | Interview with Mykola Riabchuk
We spoke with Professor Mykola Riabchuk, one of the most prominent experts on Ukrainian culture and public life, about changes in Ukrainian society, books, doomscrolling, historical chances, cursing, basic instincts, and of course, the war itself. The war interrupted his visiting lectureship in Paris, and he came to Warsaw for
tech
Silicon Valley in Wartime | Tech giants' response to the Russian-Ukrainian war
The world’s top high-tech companies are forced to respond to Russian aggression. Their main objective is to curb Russian propaganda, but some measures might go beyond and raise questions about the future of social media. Analysis from Hype&Hyper.
Apple got the ball rolling shortly after the outbreak of
design
Italians seized a Philippe Starck-designed Russian yacht
The Italian authorities seized a 145-meter yacht, designed by Starck for the Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko in 2017, as part of the sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
The £444 million Sailing Yacht is one of the largest superyachts in the world, which was designed by French designer Philippe
tech
Ukraine is resilient! | Cyber Security Experts to Hype&Hyper
Russian hackers constantly attack the most critical sectors, including government and finance. They are trying to gain access, install malware or steal data. It is not only Ukraine that is under attack; the websites of Czech ministries aimed to help Ukrainian refugees, including the Ministry of Interior, were down for
business
The necessity to focus on the opportunities arising from global transition | Expert on Western sanctions
“The attempts to isolate have not worked even with small countries such as Cuba or North Korea. Compared to them, Russia is an immeasurably larger player in the global economy, with a potentially self-sufficient territory and raw material base”–says György Ilyash, researcher of the Hungarian Institute for Foreign Affairs
architecture
What to do with the decommissioned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline? A German architecture studio has found the answer.
This time, German architecture studio Opposite Office, which is known for its provocative speculative architecture concepts, was wondering what to do with the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 between Germany and Russia, whose launch was suspended by Germany in February.
According to Oppsoite Office, the pipeline, named Nord Stream 3
business
Our region shows adjustability in changing circumstances | Economist about the effects of Russian-Ukrainian war
Rising inflationary pressures, stuck supply chains, Western sanctions, a collapsing Russian economy and the situation and opportunities for our region. We talked about these topics with Dr. Karsten Staehr, Professor of Macroeconomics from the Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia.
The impact of EU sanctions has already been felt radically in
tech
Elon Musk at the forefront of help | Tech giants' intervention in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
With the war between Russia and Ukraine, many were worried that the Russian invasion might include cutting off Ukraine’s internet access, either through cyber-attacks or by destroying infrastructure. Although there hasn’t been an internet blackout yet, apart from some temporary outages and attacks on government websites, Ukraine’s
digital
New walls will become a Digital Iron Curtain | Interview with Abishur Prakash
This conflict is being waged in the cyber and digital spheres, as much as on the ground–says Abishur Prakash geopolitical futurist to Hype&Hyper, who we spoke to about the changing geopolitical landscape, the war in the digital space and Europe’s new digital Iron Curtain in the context
business
Apple, Google, Netflix—these companies have already imposed sanctions against Russia
The world’s leading brands are taking sanctions against Russia to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Global brands and tech giants decide to partially or completely exit the Russian market. These include Apple, Airbus, Alphabet, which is responsible for Google and YouTube, Boeing, Disney, Exxon Mobil, Facebook, Ford, Harley-Davidson, Mastercard, Microsoft,
business
Carmakers close factories and freeze sales due to the war in Ukraine
Major car manufacturers Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Aston Martin, are also affected by the consequences of the war in Ukraine. The biggest car companies are closing factories and suspending sales in Russia.
The list of industrial consequences of the invasion of Ukraine already includes measures on Russia by ten major
business
Nanushka stops sales in Russia
The Hungarian fashion brand stops its sales in Russia, dedicating its human and financial resources to support Ukrainian refugees and creatives. Nanuska founder Szandra Sándor grew up in the socialist era, in the shadow of the 1956 Russian invasion of Hungary.
The Budapest-based brand is showing solidarity with the citizens
architecture
Russian architects condemn the invasion of Ukraine in an open letter
More than 6,500 Russian architects, designers and urban planners have signed an open letter condemning the invasion of Ukraine and demanding an immediate end to the violent war.
The letter states, among other things, that the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops is unacceptable and stresses that “war cannot
east
The Calvert Journal ceased publication until further notice
Over the weekend, The Calvert Journal, a regional content provider, ceased publication. According to their statement, the website will remain online, with their archive material still accessible.
“At a time when Russian acts of war are being committed in Ukraine, we cannot in good conscience continue our work covering culture
architecture
Rethought beauty salon
In the Russian port city of the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad, a new wave of “beauty district” is emerging: more and more wellness, beauty and yoga studios are opening here in the spirit of naturalness and green philosophy. And this attitude results in new types of interiors despite the usual atmosphere
east
Polar bears have moved into abandoned Russian houses
Unusual scenes have been captured by a Russian nature photographer, Dmitry Kokh. The abandoned meteorological station on the Kolyuchin Islands has new residents: polar bears have moved into the abandoned houses.
Even though the photographer expected to encounter polar bears during his 1200-mile expedition, the location and context was a
architecture
Renzo Piano turned the building of a Moscow power station into an art center
One of the best-known high-tech architects, Renzo Piano, converted a former power station into a contemporary art center called GES-2 House of Culture for the V-A-C Foundation.
The power station, designed by Vasili Bashkirov in 1907, originally powered the city’s tram system. The conversion of the building is the
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Clean slate
At the beginning of last year, the latest episode of our project series was published on the front page of Hype&Hyper with the title “Clean slate” and it proves to be apt again. Not because we are starting a new calendar year, but because we have reached a turning
business
Communication is the path to innovation in the region | Interview with Claudia Patricolo
We talked to Claudia Patricolo, Editor-in-chief of CEEenergynews — who left Paris and Rome to build her career in Budapest — about the energy market in Central Europe, as well as discussing the gas and energy crisis, and innovation. Interview.
First of all, I’d like to ask you about your career.
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Colors radiate all day long
Whether it’s a street poster, a short film or packaging, we see vibrant colors on many surfaces around us. To the layperson, color use might seem like the easiest story of the world, but it is actually a much more complex tool than you might first think. In our
architecture
The biggest extreme park on the continent
Europe’s largest extreme park has been built in Russia, with a huge plywood skateboard ocean inside. The 8,000-square-metre structure is an urban landmark that combines sports, education and social functions under one roof, with the powerful atmosphere and drive of modern street culture.
It is no coincidence that
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Is this really how children see the world?
“Grown-ups always know better,” sounds the criticism from children. But do we really know everything better? How does a designer know what the little ones need? This time, we are bringing you projects that help the adult world understand children’s language.
We adults often think we know what our
branding
HIGHLIGHTS | Colorful typography
It is no exaggeration to say that we are now witnessing a new renaissance of creative typography. As extravagant, experimental specimens and typefaces roll off the production lines of punchcutters, we are putting our written culture to the test over and over again. What is still recognizable and legible?
In
business
Winter is coming—The energy strategy of our region II.
Central European gas games, regional integration and freezing winter. Poland is becoming independent of Russian gas, building a north-south corridor and managing a complete energy transition. Hungary is signing a long-term contract with Gazprom, while also looking to other sources. Analysis of the region’s energy and gas strategy—Part
business
Winter is coming—The energy strategy of our region I.
Central European gas games, regional integration and freezing winter. Poland is becoming independent of Russian gas, building a north-south corridor and managing a complete energy transition. Hungary is signing a long-term contract with Gazprom, while also looking to other sources. Analysis of the region’s energy and gas strategy—Part
community
From the Volga to the Danube—to be Russian in Hungary
It is not surprising that countless Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian people have found their home in Budapest (and, of course) in Hungary in recent decades. What is perhaps more interesting is that although they did not form a unified, closed world like the Chinese in Chinatown (which I wrote about
design
HIGHLIGHTS | The milk cult
We might not even know why or where the milk-drinking habit originated, but by the time of automated milk processing, it had become a worldwide beverage. Although today a growing part of society is working to replace the drink, remarkable packaging is still being created. That’s why our current
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Small in size but big in power—the reason we love animation
Perhaps we can agree on that: most of us adore animated films. When a company takes the time and money to make such creations, it is not only focused on quality but also interested in reaching its target audience. These compact yet all the more meaningful short films that are
design
Panel house aesthetics evoked by Russian designers
The Moscow-based sxema3d collective collaborated with a local knitwear factory to create panel house pattern pieces based on generative design principles.
The designers selected nearly 10,000 photos of panel houses, from which artificial intelligence averaging was used to create the typical image of the panel. The collective believes that
design
HIGHLIGHTS | The everlasting act of handwriting
Since the Lascaux cave drawings, even in today’s digital world, it can be noticed day after day that we are sticking to our drawing tools. In this week’s project collection, we have selected works that focus on a handwritten text or motif. Let’s see them!
It is
architecture
Pop-up public space from a private yard in St Petersburg
One of St Petersburg’s historic market complexes had been abandoned for years when its owners decided to turn the former private courtyard into the city’s new center. The brand-new pop-up public space changes seasonally, with a sledding hill in winter and a green amphitheater in summer. We present
architecture
Blue kitchen, yellow bath–eclectic Russian interior
Contrasting colors, warm and cool textures, modern and vintage elements and practical space expanding solutions mix in this Russian interior designed by Unnamed studio.
The Russian-based creative studio’s choice of names is reminiscent of the neutral titles of abstract paintings of the 20th century: neither the name of the
architecture
Traditional and modern elements mix in the interior of a Moscow restaurant
The interior of Moscow’s Khachapuri & Wine restaurant, a collaboration between Yelena Lokastova and Pravda Bureau, is an exciting mix of Soviet mosaics, Georgian motifs and modern surfaces.
When designing the interior of the restaurant named after a traditional Georgian dish (hacsapuri), Jelena Lokasztova and the multidisciplinary design studio Pravda
architecture
The world’s second-tallest tower planned to be built in St Petersburg
Scottish architecture studio Kettle Collective has unveiled designs for their 703-meter high skyscraper, which would be the second tallest building in the world after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. The 105-story structure, called Lakhta Center II, is due to be located in the Russian port town of St Petersburg.
Lakhta Center
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Letter+color
The visual identity of a company or organization is now an unavoidable factor. This has been the case for a long time, but over the years it has become more and more important and urgent to develop a visual language that is best optimized for the hectic life and intuitions
architecture
Pop-up bar in an abandoned Russian castle | THIRD PLACE
The castle in the center of St. Petersburg is being reconstructed by the architectural studio Da Bureau. The young Russian designer team saw an opportunity in its pleasant inner courtyard, so they decided to open the space for the local community during the renovation process. This is how the one-of-a-kind
art
HIGHLIGHTS | Illustrations confined within four walls
Regular readers of our series may have noticed that there is a theme that comes up again and again in our articles: it’s nothing more than the world of murals that make our gray cities colored with gasoline vapor more colorful. You can also find a twist in our
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Clad in metal
Shiny, durable, protective: these and similar positive properties characterize metal, which has become the most practical material in the packaging industry by now. In this week’s selection, we show you metal-based packagings.
When we think of ancient wars or medieval tournaments, metal armors covering the bodies of courageous fighters
tech
HIGHLIGHTS | Apps that serve us
They are with us day by day, ensuring a smooth run of our everyday lives. In the last decade, their latest versions have been published by the thousands according to the newest trends, allowing their programming and design to become an independent line of business and profession by now. In
architecture
HIGHLIGHTS | Our built heritage
In the parts of the HIGHLIGHTS series, the focus is on household objects, their advantages and disadvantages again and again. The question may arise, which are the most fundamental, man-made objects of our lives, without which we could not live. The answer is simple: the buildings.
Whether we live in
art
HIGHLIGHTS | Colorful world
From a very young age, a mysterious, parallel world becomes part of our lives. We recreate this world over and over again, first through children’s drawings, and later, thanks to trained creatives, through professional illustrations appearing in our environment.
Everything in this world is colorful, beautiful and functional. In
east
Sinking into snow on the mysterious lands of the Russian Arctic
The Kola Peninsula is located at the northwesternmost point of Russia, bordered by the Barents Sea and the White Sea. The mysterious land of Murmansk is reigned by arctic weather conditions all through the year, and thus it is also known as Russian Lapland. French photographer Céline Clanet observed this
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Clean slate
New year, new beginnings. We leave the troubles and fights of the old year behind, we put down the burdens of 2020, take a big breath and set new tasks and goals for the new year—we hang a new and clean calendar on our walls.
At the beginning of
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Colorful cities
There are many ways to make a city more livable: in addition to an advanced infrastructure, citizens’ days can also be brightened by seeing lively and colorful walls instead of the grey and boring firewalls in certain points of the metropolis.
In addition to their positive impact on our well-being,
art
One of the world’s least livable cities on poetic photos
Even though he has been dabbling in photography since his teenage years, Paris-based photographer Christophe Jacrot started his career as a film director. He has won several awards with his short films, but feeling the financial constraints that the cinematographic industry can sometimes impose, Christophe Jacrot turned his attention to
design
HIGHLIGHTS | City of designers
What is the city? It would be hard to define with a single word, or even with a single sentence. “Buzz”, “noise”, “crowd”, “community” – many expressions cross our minds, especially if it is a metropolis that we are thinking about. It’s a play between all kinds of things and
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Guilt-free pleasures, packed
We like to reward ourselves, why deny it? After all, it is not a crime if, after a long and tiring day of work, we give in to the temptation and pamper ourselves with something truly delicious in order to regenerate our exhausted brains and limbs.
The sweets that we
art
HIGHLIGHTS | „This book is mine”
“Don’t lend your books.” Because if you do, you’ll never get them back – at least this is what experience shows. Sounds familiar, right? One can see many posts on social media of book-owners looking for their books they can’t find at home, hoping that the borrower will
east
From Lithuania to Russia on the Curonian Spit
On his poetic images, Vilnius-based photographer Tadas Kazakevičius shows the special bond shared by the Curonian Spit, Europe’s largest sand dune, and its inhabitants. The nearly 100 kilometers long peninsula lying on both Lithuanian and Russian territory separates the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea, and was also listed
art
Visual diary of a river captured by a nature photographer | Gora, Russia
Snow-covered, cloudy, gleaming and mysterious. A Russian photographer observed the Iskona river from May to December and explored all of its qualities during such time. Poetry on photos.
Ilya Batrakov first saw the Iskona River as a child. The Moscow-born boy felt at home in this land immediately – as a
art
HIGHLIGHTS | Illustrative world
In the same way animation movies are many times (mis)labelled as cartoons intended for children only, the genre of illustration is also not limited to the universe of storybooks. On the contrary – it’s enough to think of the popular comics intended for adults. This form of imaging is
architecture
Folk art meets contemporary design in this old Russian dacha
In the course of the renovation of the villa standing on the bank of the Kamenka River, the designers preserved the traditional elements of hundreds years of age, but implemented all additions in a contemporary style.
An ornately carved façade on one side, and clean, white walls on the other.
architecture
Atlantic ambience up north | Nordic Spa
The cabins of Nordic Spa are hidden amongst the sand dunes on the shore of the Baltic Sea, offering a spectacular view over the sea.
If we didn’t know the nearest town is Kaliningrad, we would say the houses of Nordic Spa are standing on the coast of the
architecture
Finnish living on the shore of Lake Ladoga | Rhizome cabins
Even though they are located in a typical northern area, the forest cabins of architect studio Rhizome very much draw on coastal landscapes and styles, too.
The forests standing on the shore of Lake Ladoga located in the Republic of Karelia, Russia near the Finnish border truly evoke the coastal
architecture
Zaha Hadid Architects to design Moscow’s new metro station
Out of all the proposals submitted, Zaha Hadid Architect’s futuristic design won
the international competition.
The new station will connect the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line with the
Biryulyovskaya Line to be completed in the future. As Moscow’s metro lines are
used by tens of thousands of people on a
architecture
Iconic Russian railway station restored
Avant-garde constructivism and Soviet modernism is combined in the building of
the railway station in Ivanovo, Russia, built in the 1930s, which has now been
complemented in a manner also catering to the needs of the 21st century.
Russia’s largest train station built in constructivist style is located in
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Animated illustrations
When we hear the word animation, we tend to think of something unserious or even
childish. Hearing the word makes us think of the world of fairy-tales, a sweet
and unrealistic story: many times (wrongly) we think of the motion picture
creations defined as animation movies as cartoons, and regard
architecture
„From chaos to orderliness” – Black hole in a second-hand store
An exciting symbol was placed right in the middle of a second-hand store in
Saint Petersburg: the ebony black cube appearing out of nowhere hides a message
matching the spirit of the store perfectly.
SVALKA.spb is a new designer and secondhand store in Saint Petersburg. The aim
of the
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Sacred design
sacred 1. dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity 2. worthy
of religious veneration 3. of or relating to religion : not secular or profane –
says Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. We could list countless items in the history
of mankind which we pay a different kind of
east
Dunes and pine trees on the Curonian Spit
The amazing lands of the Curonian Spit – possibly quite easily mistaken for the
shores of the Atlantic – are split between Lithuania and Russia.
The 98 kilometers long Curonian Spit reaching in the Baltic Sea is a less
popular travel destination, even though it also gives home to the largest sand
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Bottled up in minimal
“Drink me!” – reads Alice on the small bottle in Wonderland. The naive little
girl follows the command, and obeys: the flask runs empty, and so at times she
shrinks, and other times she transforms into a giant. This mode of action also
applies beyond Lewis Carrol’s fairy tale, as
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Food on four wheels
There are many ways to eat. Out of porcelain plates while sitting at the family
table on a Sunday, by taking our time whilst having fun with our friends, at a
delish brunch, or even with a cheap sandwich in our mouths bought in the subway,
while running after the
design
HIGHLIGHTS | To go
Today, to-go paper cups have a reputation almost as bad as that of plastic bags
used for shopping. A hundred years ago, disposable cups meant a major
technological innovation: in 1908, Boston-based lawyer Lawrence Luellen came up
with the idea of single-use paper cups to prevent the spreading of various
lifestyle
#PostSovietSelfies
Have you ever imagined what Russia would be like if we only knew it through the
world wide web? A land of giant concrete ruins and endless tower blocks, with
guys doing the Slav squat in an Adidas tracksuit on every corner? Driving in a
blazing car, with a bear
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Timeless beauty
What’s Coca-Cola in the universe of soft drinks, it is Nivea in the field of
skincare. The classic moisturizing creme produced since 1911 has been an
indispensable accessory of our bathrooms for ages. And although the containers
have now been replaced by plastic bottles, many of us think of
design
Aspect | the digital canvas of the future
This March, the team of Radugadesign won in the category of generative media art
at Pixels Fest [https://hypeandhyper.com/en/__trashed-3/], in Yekaterinburg.
The international festival [https://hypeandhyper.com/en/__trashed-3/] awards and
showcases the works of businesses and group of creators engaged in digital media
art for the
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Lunch packagings
Although we are very fond of the meals prepared at home, we still long for
having lunch together in the office, the falafel wraps consumed quickly between
two Excel sheets and the life-saving slices of pizza. Of course, today, food
packed into to-go boxes is not the synonym of fast
russia
#Staythefuckhome | An online bar opened in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg gives home to the first online-only bar giving isolated
extroverts the chance to drink a cold beer in company. Or simply to be with
others again.
A Russian creative agency, Shishki Collective [https://ru.shishki.co/] launched
Stay the Fuck Home bar [https://staythefuckhome.bar/] with the aim
design
HIGHLIGHTS | Apps reimagined
We can be absolutely sure in two things when it comes to applications: 1) there
is always at least one application that we downloaded once and never used it
since, 2) if an application is updated and the design is changed, we are truly
and utterly offended. With the transformation
design
HIGHLIGHTS | characters
In the visual noise surrounding us, sometimes we look for plain, minimalist
images, and other times we long for more exciting contents featuring more
drawings. Vague sketches, quick rough drafts, funny or even grotesque characters
take us to a fictional reality, in which we immerse with pleasure after the too
design
HIGHLIGHTS | beer+label
May it be full-bodied, creamy, velvety, silky, fruity, and may it be made of
hop, barley, wheat or malt. One thing is for sure: it is best if cold. Beers and
labels from Antwerp to New Zealand – with foam.
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Limited Winter Edition Beer Bėganti Kopa Label Design
[https://www.