Posts Tagged ‘design’
May 30, 2015
If you have a hankering to live off the grid in a self-contained pod, “the compact Ecocapsule fits all the home necessities within an egg-shaped space measuring 4.5 meters (14.6 feet) in length, 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) in width, and 2.5 meters in height (8.2 feet).”
The Ecocapsule is described as a portable, low-energy, green dwelling that will comfortable house two adults.
While portable, you have to transport the 1500 kilogram pod to your location. They are said to fit in a shipping container.
They do have the ability to generate power from the wind turbine and solar cells, and can collect and filter rainwater.
The pods are currently in the design phase, although delivery of actual capsules is anticipated in 2016.
I don’t know about long-term living, but they look like they are a huge step up from tent camping.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, design, ecocapsule, green living, Nice Architects, travel | Leave a Comment »
May 18, 2015
I like this floating, partially submerged, house, boat, houseboat developed by the Kleindienst Group and showcased at the recent Dubai International Boat Show.
CEO of Kleindienst Group, Josef Kleindienst comments,‘since launching the floating seahorse we have been inundated with local, regional and international inquiries. we are excited to not just offer people a once in a lifetime investment opportunity in Dubai but on a global scale. the floating seahorse is not restricted to Dubai waters and can be designed and fabricated in Dubai for other resorts and destinations worldwide.’
Moving up to the luxury boat’s sea level, the accommodation which includes a fully-fitted kitchen with a dining area and an open plan living area, has floor to ceiling windows, offering uninterrupted ocean scenes. furthermore, when the glass façade is open, the sun deck becomes an extension of the living space. on the upper deck, the floor is suitable for alfresco dining and relaxation, featuring an informal bed, mini bar, kitchenette and a glass-bottomed jacuzzi. the project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2016.
I am trying, however, to picture it on Lake Erie, hmmm, maybe not.
More at Design Boom
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged alternative housing, architecture, design, Dubai, Kleindienst Group, seahorse, travel | Leave a Comment »
April 21, 2015
Sunday was Daffodil Sunday at Lakeview Cemetery. This historic cemetery, founded in 1869, encompasses over 285 acres and is the final resting place of people such as John D. Rockefeller and President James Garfield.
Every spring over 100,000 bulbs on Daffodil Hill bloom in great profusion. Last Sunday was probably the peak of the blooming season.
People and cameras also were blooming on the hillside and it was difficult to take a photo without also capturing people enjoying the view.
Did you know there is a Daffodil Society?
Do you know the difference between daffodils and narcissus? There isn’t any according to the Flower Expert. Both are members of the genus Narcissus.
Did you know daffodils have their own poem, written by William Wordsworth?
They also lend themselves to lovely tattoos:
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, daffodil, design, history, Lakeview Cemetery, narcissus, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos, whimsey | 4 Comments »
March 26, 2015
In 1983, Kazuo Nomura created an incredibly detailed maze, which he then rolled up and stored in the attic. The maze had taken him 7 years to complete, working in the evenings after he came home from his job. He worked not as a graphic designer, but as a janitor.
Two years ago his daughter found the maze. She asked her father if he would consider drawing another one. His answer was a concise, “no.”
However, late in 2014, Mr. Nomura began creating a new maze – this is what it looks like.
To read more about this story, or to find out where to purchase a print of the maze, go to Spoon and Tomago.
There is an interesting article about mazes and labyrinths at Smithsonian.com, which was written to accompany their “BIG Maze” exhibit that was on display last summer at the National Building Museum.
photo credit: Kevin Allen
What do I find a-maze-ing.1 is here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, art, design, labyrinths, mazes | 2 Comments »
January 28, 2015
Another interesting company that participated in the kit house phenomenon was Aladdin Homes of Bay City, Michigan. Aladdin was one of the most successful “readi-cut” home builders. In its seventy-year history, the company sold over 75,000 homes and remained successful, solvent and family-owned from 1906 until its closing in 1981.
In a fold-out flyer sent with the 1925 catalog, the company listed by name and city more than 1000 builders of Aladdin homes as well as government and corporate customers including the State of Michigan, the president of Liberia, Dow Chemical Co., Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. and Standard Oil.
Advertised as “Readi-cut” and “Built in a Day,” Aladdin and other kit home manufacturers revolutionized home buying and building for the middle class. From tiny workingman’s cottages to the thrifty investor, Aladdin homes provided a solid value and easy construction.
More history of the company and the houses here.
See also:
Lustron Homes
Quonset Huts
Dymaxion House
Heinlein House
Sears Houses
Futuro Houses
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aladdin Homes, architecture, design, history, housing, kit houses | Leave a Comment »
January 27, 2015
This is a pair of socks I made using a double strand (Madelinetosh and Koigu yarns), 36 stitches on #4 needles. The cuff was knit on #2 needles. The furry part was knit on #4 needles. I had the furry yarn on hand. I cannot remember the manufacturer. I thought these socks would be nice and warm to wear around the house – or the office instead of wearing my boots all day!
I bought the sock yarn at Bo-Peep Fine Yarns in Ligonier, PA. This is a wonderful yarn shop!
Because it is Tuesday, here are some tattoos. You have heard of tattoo sleeves. It turns out there are tattoo socks, too. These designs, however, take the name literally.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged design, knitting, socks, style, tattoo Tuesday, tattoos, whimsey, yarn | Leave a Comment »
January 26, 2015
This cool, little video is described as follows:
These 3-D printed sculptures, called aniforms, are designed to animate when spun under a strobe light. The placement of the appendages is determined by the same method nature uses in pinecones and sunflowers. The rotation speed is synchronized to the strobe so that one flash occurs every time the sculpture turns 137.5º—the golden angle. If you count the number of spirals on any of these sculptures you will find that they are always Fibonacci numbers.
For this video, rather than using a strobe, the camera was set to a very short shutter speed (1/4000 sec) in order to freeze the spinning sculpture.
Read more and credits here.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 3-D printing, aniforms, art, design, fibonacci, sculpture, strobe light, whimsey, zoetrope | 2 Comments »
While portable, you have to transport the 1500 kilogram pod to your location. They are said to fit in a shipping container.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 