Virginia Tech’s Prefab Lumenhaus Wins 2010 Solar Decathlon
This year’s winner of the 10-day competition was Virginia Tech’s Lumenhaus, an 800-square-foot solar-powered home inspired by architect Mies Van Der Rohe’s Farnsworth House.
The prefab homes of the future won’t just be relatively cheap and easy to build on the fly–they’ll also be ultra-sustainable. For evidence of what these homes will look like, we need only direct our attention toward this year’s European Solar Decathlon, which asks teams to “clearly demonstrate that solar houses can be built without sacrificing energy efficiency or comfort, and that they can be both attractive and affordable.”
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Volkswagen Builds “Fast Lane” Slide In A Subway
For those looking to move a little quicker, auto giant Volkswagen has created a “Fast Lane” slide at the Alexanderplatz subway station in Berlin. So the commuters have the choice to either take the staircase or have fun and save time by sliding down the Fast Lane.
An idea that I’ve seen discussed many times before but not put into practice, VW put a slide into an underground train station in Berlin, giving people a fast way down, as this video shows…
“OR2” by Orproject
Designed by London-based Orproject, the “OR2” is a sustainable installation that combines a shading device with a solar-powered chandelier to dazzle the Belgrave Square during the London Festival of Architecture. Working as a shelter that collects solar energy using photovoltaic cells during the day, the luminous pink tree-shaped mechanism becomes a scintillating chandelier at night, spreading the illumination all through the Square. Employing photo-reactive technology at an architectural scale, the OR2 remains in constant interaction with the elements to give it unique appearance at each moment of the day.
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Casa JE by Humberto Hermeto
The JE House designed by Brazilian architect Humberto Hermeto set on a hill overlooking a vast valley. The JE House boasts walls of floor-to-ceiling glass and integrates outdoor living spaces into its light.
Communication between the various levels of the residence is made by a central core that contains an elevator. It connects directly the first level of the gallery to the residence level. In an intermediate level, it connects the service and garage floor, the mezzanine of the gallery.
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3D Printed Sculptures Made out of Human Ashes by Wieki Somers
Dutch artist Wieki Somers is using the ashes of dead people to create common household objects using a 3D industrial printer. The actual sculptures are made out of human remains and show that even in post-life you could become a bird or a toaster.
Artist Wieki Somers said the project demonstrates the fragility of life and questions our attachment to inanimate objects.
The Goat Bridge
An awesome farmer in Ekton, Maryland created this twisted and towering goat bridge to give his goats access to two separate pens, and no doubt add some enjoyment to his day.
Via [Neatorma]
Car Motel Project by John Farrace
Los Angeles is a huge city that, because of its size and transportation infrastructure, allows for an unprecedented amount of diversity contained in a single city. The people of Los Angeles are connected through massive freeway systems that become extremely clogged and, as a result, the act of driving takes longer than it should. Because of this, driving becomes an introverted experience. We lose interest in the environment (specifically the built environment) around us because none of it engages us and/or pertains to us; we get preoccupied with the radio, our cell phone, shaving, reading the newspaper or whatever.
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“Tulip,” Wine Glass by James Nash
“Tulip” wine glass by James Nash is pretty simple, and therein lies the genius. The wine, currently M&S, Mark and Spenser stores, comes in a single-serving plastic wine glass with a removable top similar to what one would find on the top of a yoghurt container. It’s peeled off and the fresh wine is consumed.
Tulip looks like it’s available in red, white, and murky orange flavors. You can currently only get it in the UK and Europe, with promises of US distribution “in the near future.”
James Nash
Narrow House Bassam by El-Okeily
This curios house located in Bilzen, a small city in the north-east of Belgium is the first building designed by the Egypt born and Brussels based architect Bassam El-Okeily. Its wide glass front fills the building’s modest width of only 5,30 m and stages the cubistic interior – the dramatic colourful light concept does the rest.
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Qlocktwo
QLOCKTWO makes you pause and allows a different view of time. The typographic front combines the moment with the written word and makes it a statement. „It is half past eight.“ LED lighting technology keeps things readable, and an ambient light sensor keeps the thing from giving your house a neon-lit bar room vibe — which is about the last thing a laptop-priced clock should do. The front surface is made of polished acrylic glass. The lacquered wooden body supports it by means of eight magnets. That way the front surface can be replaced without visible attachments. There are satin stainless steel or five colours of polished synthetic glass to choose from, each generating contrasts or consistencies in interplay with their surroundings.
Qlocktwo
Via [Uncrate]
kitchens Smart by Malin Kalesse
“Nolte Küchen,” kitchens Smart created by Malin Kalesse has a smart and elegant look, it’s cozy space that becomes elaborate when necessary. A modular kitchen that suits the needs and space. It fits in all the modern amenities that a couple will require and goes from a comfy breakfast nook to a sophisticated entertainment hob whilst partying with friends, by simply rearranging the movable tables.
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“Sculpture Made by Bees” by Tomáš Gabzdil Libertiny
Dutch designer Tomáš Gabzdil Libertiny has made a this sculpture of Jesus that was completed by bees. He erected a sealed glass container with his mold inside.
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Beaver Street Reprise , San Francisco by Craig Steely Architecture
Craig Steely Architecture have designed this modern house in Bernal Heights, San Francisco. Beaver Street Reprise is said to be “a conceptually modern house that fits contextually into a Victorian neighborhood”.
The house is designed with a modern style decor, with plan due to the unconventional standards of the city of San Francisco. The dining room has been placed at the top of the house to enjoy a panoramic view of the city, while the middle floor includes bedrooms.This projects is daring and stands out due to its beautiful wooden exterior design and the dashing indoor arrangements. Bright colors, amazing furniture and decorations contribute to the distinctive personality that this residence obviously has. A few elements draw attention, such as the suspended fireplace or the unusual coffee table.
Front & Back Clock by the Wrong Objects
The Front & Back Clock created by the design firm The Wrong Objects is powered by two AA batteries, which can be seen from the front of the clock.
The Front & Back concept was recently spotted at the 2010 DMY International Design Festival in Berlin.
The Wrong Objects
Napa River House, California by Craig Steely Architecture
The Napa River House by Craig Steely Architecture is located on a site with mature oak trees and stone pathways winding down a gently sloping hill. To avoid disturbing the paths and root structure of the trees, a single footing and tube frame (inspired by a chairlift tower) will float the main living area in the oak canopy.
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Floating Sculptures by Claire Morgan
These highly-dynamic sculptures by visual artist Claire Morgan are captivating on so many different levels. Many of the animals in her artwork seem to evoke a potential for freedom and life’s poignant vulnerability. The relationship between movement and stillness is compelling in her installations, while the compositional patterns she creates form a beautiful rhythmic tone.
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Inflatable PVC Lightings by Puff-Buff Studio
Puff-Buff is a studio design created in Poland in 2003 by designer Anna Siedlecka and architect Radek Achramowicz. They are known for their transparent hi-gloss inflatable PVC lamps illuminated by LED. The lightings have a polished stainless steel construction, which adds up the beauty of the lamp making it a perfect part of any contemporary homes’ interior design.
“The company synthesizes the best of architecture with both industrial and interior design or, as Puff-Buff says: “working across various scales and materials, the studio has created objects and environmental projects with focus on flexibility, transparency and new technologies, but always connected with pleasure and delight”.
Technological Inventions from the Past
Our friends from Bored Panda have posted this great article about the technologies of the beginning of last century which, I’m sure have contributed a lot to the advancement of our today technology and design. Take an eye!
Bored Panda
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