Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 10, 2012, 1:00 pm
Can we save a significant amount of ink simply by choosing one particular font over another? In an interesting experiment, artist Matt Robinson tested various typefaces to see how economical they are with ink, drawing them out with ballpoint pens. Using one pen for each typeface, Robinson wrote out...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 9, 2012, 1:00 pm
It’s a parent’s nightmare: a stark, modern living space so clean it practically sparkles that, after the intervention of 1,000 children, ends up looks like the world’s largest finger painting. This awesome installation by artist Yayoi Kusama at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane,...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 8, 2012, 1:00 pm
One of the marks of our modern culture is the proliferation of gadgets most of us carry around. From digital cameras to cell phones to tablet computers to laptops to MP3 players, we have our hands full just trying to keep track of all of them. This excellent concept could go a long way toward stream...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 7, 2012, 5:00 pm
One of the messiest parts of cooking, depending on the dish, can be the slicing and gathering of raw ingredients for making salads or adding selectively to a pan. While the curved sides of normal cutting boards are handy in many ways, they can make it a pain to move food from one surface to another...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 7, 2012, 1:00 pm
... them into a fun bit of street art. A little paint and ... on WebUrbanist: Junk Culture: 12 Terrific Trash Can and Garbage Bin Designs ... - Click Here to Read More »» Trash Hits: 11 Sc...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 7, 2012, 11:00 am
More like a living room than a home away from home, this Finnish cottage was designed to supplement and provide relief from the everyday living space of a family living a few miles away in Helsinki. The result is a little relaxing, sitting or sleeping, area with a bit of lofted storage for the inev...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 6, 2012, 5:00 pm
Want to eat alone? Well, too bad – this is not designed to let you do that. If there is a line in design between facilitating and forcing users, well, this certainly crosses it. Created by dutch design student Marleen Jansen, there is just no getting around dual dining – if someone stands up to...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 6, 2012, 1:00 pm
Luxurious and eco-friendly, Blue Forest‘s imaginative and playful tree houses, lodges and educational facilities seem to be designed to bring out every adult’s wide-eyed inner child. Blue Forest has designed many incredible structures that celebrate the warmth, coziness and sustainability of woo...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 6, 2012, 11:00 am
Floating homes have to strike a delicate balance between livability and maximization of limited square footage. Most defer to the latter and form naturally into cubes as a result, but some, like this one, bend to accommodate their occupants better as well. From steeltec37,  this modular design use...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 5, 2012, 5:00 pm
There are some things you reach for every day when getting dressed, so if you have some extra rack space, here is a hanger that accommodates items normally set on a table or dresser. The hanger shelf from Majo is a slim and lightweight way to add shelving on demand for keys, watches, wallets and th...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 5, 2012, 1:00 pm
Hiding in plain sight to provide energy and light! That’s not Toronto Hydro’s motto but it could be – for the better part of a century, the Canadian utility’s policy was to design hundreds of electrical substations so that they would “blend in” with their surrounding neighborhoods. Thoug...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 5, 2012, 11:00 am
While not the only see-through tub in town, this one makes a bold statement both in contrast to the surrounding tile and with a clean-edged simplicity that renders it almost impossible to see. Stern McCafferty is a Boston architectural firm that took a cue from its clients in this case, creating t...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 4, 2012, 11:00 am
As part of a series of abstract play spaces and other kid-centric scenes, these photos show a real-life intermingling of beds and the ultimate childhood bedtime activity: being read a storybook. Yusuke Suzuki is a photographer of the abstract, and this set is typical of her work: odds and ends li...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 3, 2012, 1:00 pm
From massive illuminated Chinese restaurants to cute little BBQ tables for ten, these 14 floating restaurants make smart use of available space and turn the dining experience into something of an adventure on the sea. Jumbo Floating Restaurant, Hong Kong One of Hong Kong’s biggest attractions, t...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 3, 2012, 11:00 am
Sick of unsightly dishes waiting to be washed in your kitchen basin? Rotate that to-do dishware out of the way, or, better yet, rinse right away and then switch to washing with ease. While still a concept, the solution is elegantly simple: “the Eco Automatic sink is donut shaped with one half ex...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 2, 2012, 7:00 pm
It doesn’t matter where you go in the world: it seems like litter is always an unwelcome part of the scenery. The Swiss city of Lucerne decided to do something about their litter problem by enticing residents and visitors to have fun while throwing their rubbish away. The initiative is called “L...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 2, 2012, 5:00 pm
Office storage is often lacking in style and hardly ever interesting, but the Strates System from Mathieu Lehanneur solves both of these problems while creating a scalable, modular, ultra-modern system of office furniture. Strates incorporates nesting modules that form slick desks + shelving in wha...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 2, 2012, 1:00 pm
... you saw human figures zooming through the sky – just flying on their ... art project. In fact, they’re human-shaped RC planes, and the stunt is a viral marketing ... superhero movie, ‘Chronicle.’ Marketing or not, the video is incredible, and it ... Way: 99 Diverse Men Walking in M...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 2, 2012, 11:00 am
Functional architecture can take any number of shapes and adopt endless forms. In the case of the Room Room house by Takeshi Hosaka, function takes the form of almost a hundred small windows scattered all over the walls, ceilings and floors of a tiny two-story home in Tokyo. The home is occupied by...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 1, 2012, 5:00 pm
The extra seating in a home – that is, those chairs that are hauled out only for large get-togethers or special occasions – is most often relegated to a dark corner when not in use. What would happen if it were lovely enough to leave out and on display at all times? Cóm-oda is a set of chairs ...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Feb 1, 2012, 1:00 pm
Everyone loves a great robot story. Whether the robots are cuddly, intimidating, smart, or scary, they never fail to capture our attention. These bots range from updates on older technology to totally new inventions to futuristic concepts that haven’t even been built yet. Step into the future as y...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Feb 1, 2012, 11:00 am
Think back to your first apartment or house. If you’re like most of us, it was a bit underwhelming in style, probably thrown together from hand-me-downs and thrift store finds. Not so for Ron Benshsoshan and his girlfriend who live in Tel Aviv, Israel. They recently purchased their first apartment...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 31, 2012, 5:00 pm
Made from the same transparent blown borosilicate glass found in mad-scientist labs (or regular ones, for that matter), these pair of water-and-wine-pouring devices may make you think twice before taking a drink. Liviana Osti points out with eerie calm that “In order to prevent cardiovascular an...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 31, 2012, 1:00 pm
Facebook changes can often cause a landslide of creativity, as all the artsy types and tech-inclined push the limits. The new Facebook Timeline, with its new cover image, is the perfect playground for those who want to impress their friends. Why not use the cover photo as a way to show off favorite...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 31, 2012, 11:00 am
Truth in architecture is a tricky thing – even fans of ‘architectural honesty’ can find themselves hard-pressed to identify what is ‘real’ versus ‘phony’ in the realm of contemporary (or historical) buildings. This adaptive reconstruction demonstrates a remarkable balance of approache...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 30, 2012, 1:00 pm
Despite the crowded sidewalks, the cacophony of traffic and the sky-high cost of living, there’s no denying the romanticism and sheer energy of big cities like New York, Paris, London and Tokyo. And within those cities, even in the most run-down back alleys, there’s a certain gritty beauty. See ...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 29, 2012, 1:00 pm
Computer viruses aren’t the only infections you have to worry about, especially if you’re a geek, gamer and/or gadgeteer who lives in the scary, paranoid land of germaphobia. These 10 neat gadgets target both germaphobic geeks and the evil nano-beasties that torment them. The Cole Cleaner (ima...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 28, 2012, 1:00 pm
Have you ever looked at a scratched, worn-down frying pan and thought, ‘hey, that looks like a planet’? Artist Christopher Jonassen did, and the photos that he has taken are surprisingly celestial. In a series called ‘Devour’, the Norway-based photographer gives these everyday domestic tool...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 27, 2012, 1:00 pm
Some billboards are just begging to be subverted, while others take us by surprise with their creativity and ingenuity. But whether you hate these humongous advertising platforms or think they’re an important part of modern society, billboards probably aren’t going away anytime soon. That’s wh...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 27, 2012, 11:00 am
Every kind of conceivable opening is built into this multifaceted rectangular table that swings, slides, pivots and bends open on all sides. Naoki Hirakoso put work, though, not only into the openings but in how they would look and work when closed – subtly abstract lines traced around the sides...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 26, 2012, 5:00 pm
When decorating or re-decorating a home, how many of us think of the truly overlooked interior elements: the light switches? Some homes may have decorative switch plates, but most still have the same plain up-and-down plastic switches. Elo switches, distributed by French company Realitem, are gorge...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 26, 2012, 1:00 pm
As a bodega in New York’s East Village closes and questions arise about the historical building’s fate, a photographer has captured a hidden gem located on the floor above the shop: an abandoned theater, which was in operation between 1926 and 1959. The photos, by Kevin Shea Adams, show what has...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 26, 2012, 11:00 am
The humble egg: it is delicious, useful, and apparently endlessly inspiring to architects and designers. Italian architect Paolo Maldotti took his cue from the venerable protein source to design a mobile room that can be outfitted whatever way the owner desires. The project is called NU-OVO in refe...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 25, 2012, 5:00 pm
There is probably not a single home out there that couldn’t use some extra seating once in a while. Or an extra flat surface for piling things on. This ingenious chair from designer Benoit Lienart is both – but never at the same time. The transforming Sweetch18 is a slick armchair that doubles ...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 25, 2012, 1:00 pm
The normal urban environment is hard, angular and not often playful. We go about our business with the type of calculated indifference cultivated through years of city dwelling. But when that cold, hard environment suddenly changes unexpectedly, we have no choice but to snap out of our collective re...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 25, 2012, 11:00 am
Where most architecture strives to be beautiful in some way, it has been argued that man-made structures can never hope to match the loveliness of nature. This house in a residential district in Tokyo was designed by Japanese architecture firm mamm-design to embrace the best of nature and manufactur...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 24, 2012, 5:00 pm
Keeping a bathroom clean can be difficult, to say the least. What if you had no edges to work with, though – and only curves, instead? That is the driving design idea behind this series of standing and wall-mounted toilets, sinks and other bathroom fixtures from Art-Tic. Each piece splays outwar...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 24, 2012, 1:00 pm
In carpentry they say to measure twice and cut once. In tattooing it’s “choose your tattoo artist carefully, and bring a dictionary.” These mistakes will haunt their owners, and everyone who has to look at them, for a lifetime. Portraits are difficult no matter what medium one is working with...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 24, 2012, 11:00 am
Desert conditions often call for unconventional solutions – this concept home certainly ventures off the beaten (sand) path in its attempt  to resolve the beauty of cracked-earth California with its harsh climate. Titled after a dish of seaweed-rolled fish, one can see the source of inspiration ...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 23, 2012, 5:00 pm
Adaptability is at the heart of this idea – one could, after all, put a larger mattress on this frame – but so is completeness: it is a finely-crafted and fine-looking piece of finished furniture with ample space for lamps, books and other bedside materials. Per the pair of architects from Mana...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 23, 2012, 1:00 pm
The edges of these pools seem to just drop off into space, threatening to whisk swimmers off a cliff, into the sea or over the edge of a skyscraper. Infinity pools, also known as zero-edge pools, use glass walls or waterfall-like overspill troughs to achieve this sometimes vertigo-inducing effect. T...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 23, 2012, 11:00 am
The best of both worlds in more ways than one, this castle-based house blends subterranean and loft living as well as modern and historic architecture. Redesigned by De Matos Ryan (with photos by Edmund Sumner), it is somewhat amazing that the tower portion was left to weather, age and even burn...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 22, 2012, 5:00 pm
The concept has been floating around for a while, but carrying a chunk of sod around on your feet is just a wee bit short of practical. KUSA Shoes has now come along, however, to render these a reality – or at least get close enough that your feet can’t feel the difference. And really, what a ...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 22, 2012, 1:00 pm
Now see here! The ayes may have it but now you can too, thanks to these amazing eyeglass and frame designs that cornea the market on out-of-this-world eyewear. It’s a pity, really, that you only have two eyes with which to make a spectacle of yourself but at least there are other options for livin...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 22, 2012, 11:00 am
Like little landscapes, thick pile produces valleys and hills that are intentionally soft underfoot. Deep colors match the implied depths and natural resembles – mountainous browns and cloud grays as well as rich icy blues and purples. From Stepevi, they are titled Terra and made from a combina...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 21, 2012, 1:00 pm
If trees could play music, what would it sound like? That may seem like a silly question, but artist Bartholomäus Traubeck has found a way to answer it. The appropriately titled ‘Years’ project translates the rings of tree slices into piano music using a vintage turntable, a Playstation Eye Cam...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 21, 2012, 11:00 am
If you have ever traveled and done laundry along the way, you may already know that the shower is your best bet for washing and the complimentary hair dryer a decent option for drying – stick your sock on the end and it is dry in no time. This leads to the question: elegantly designed as it may b...
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Kurt K. posted an article on WebUrbanist - Jan 20, 2012, 1:00 pm
Street art began with names, letters and symbols scrawled on public surfaces, and those markings have become more and more complex over time. Today, artists explore the beauty of lettering itself, bringing typography into the streets in fresh and unexpected ways, from complex calligraphy to words wr...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 20, 2012, 1:00 pm
You may remember these bold bookshelves by Olivier Dolle - taking the art of organic abstraction to the next level, here are a series of black tables with natural wood inclusions likewise shaped like trees. From a distance, they look continuous – up close, the grain reveals cuts between pieces, ...
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Kurt K. posted an article on dornob: architecture, interior and furniture design - Jan 19, 2012, 5:00 pm
How do you treat your garbage bin? When it gets full, do you push things down until the bag rips and the sides of the bin are bulging? Do you continue throwing trash in even if the bag loses grip and slips down? These and other rubbish indignities could be solved by designer Jon Liow‘s ingenious F...
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