The Silhouette floating lamp design is based on the iconic table lamp, it contrasts ultramodern technology with an almost antique appearance. This unique lamp was designed by Angela Jensen and engineer Ger Jansen, what makes it stand out is the floating top part. The floating effect is possible due to it´s electromagnetic components and a sophisticated control system.
Seems like the latest tech developments are affecting furniture design. The Flatmate Secretary was conceived by Michael Hilgers for Magazin, it is only 5″ deep, but when the top is folded out it has a workspace of 28″ wide by 16.5″ deep. With many using their phones or tablets as computers, this looks like a more than adequate work desk for a small studio or office.
The Deglon Meeting Knife Set is practical, durable and a work of art. Designed by Mia Schmallenbach, the set of sculptural, nested knives won first prize in the 5th European Cutlery Design Awards. The set is made of high quality stainless steel and seemingly appears to be created from a single block of stainless steel. To remove each knife, simply press down near the tip of the blade and lift knife away by the handle. The set includes 4 knifes, a paring knife, a utility knife, a chef knife and a slicer.
In Modern times the new concept of live/work space is starting to become very popular. . The Mod Box featured here is a higher-end version, it has very low energy consumption and is fitted with state-of-the-art appliances and fixtures.
The Micropod is a garden studio measuring only 2.5 by 2.0m. Everyday, with modern times and the use of new technologies, more people are working from home, this is the ideal solution for homeworkers. The Micropod has a compact design making it fit unobtrusively into most gardens. You can customize your pod with options including additional windows, under floor heating, fitted desks, shelving and decking.
Moody Aquarium Sink by Italbrass is unusual, for sure, but adds a eccentric touch for those who appreciate a unique design. The Aquarium Sink has a removable top, which facilitates cleaning and two circular entries for fish feeding. It features a large sink light and an engine is included for filtration, water circulation and oxygenation.
This breathtaking work of architecture was named the House and Garden building, it is in Tokyo and was designed by visionary Japanese architect Ryue Nishizawa. The building is an unusual sight in Tokyo and believe it or not, it is a private residence! The house has no facade and no interior walls, instead, there are floor-to-ceiling windows, curtains and an array of plants that define boundaries between spaces. The four-story house is only 26ft x 13ft and is wedged between two taller buildings. The unique home also features a spiral steel staircase running up the whole building and connecting each level. The Architect says: “You really get the fell of living in a hanging garden”.
Eight architecture students from the University of Colorado have designed and built a cabin in the Utah desert for a Navajo woman
Under the guidance of tutor Rick Sommerfeld, the students teamed up with charity DesignBuildBLUFF, who regularly work with students to provide housing for some of the 2.4 million Native Americans that live in dilapidated or overcrowded housing on tribal land.
The team were tasked with replacing the home of Lorraine Nakai, an avid collector of books, ornaments and other memorabilia. “When we met her, she had her collections piled and dispersed within her old house. She expressed a strong desire to be able to showcase her eclectic collections in her new home – they were truly a part of who she was,” explains the team.
Above: photograph is by David Hevesi
The students planned a long and narrow residence with one room spanning its entire length. To accommodate all of Nakai’s possessions, they tucked all bedroom and bathroom facilities behind a 15-metre long storage and display wall. “It transforms the interior of the house into a diverse exhibit,” say the designers.
Instead of a conventional bedroom, Nakai’s sleeping area is little more than a bed-shaped shelf in the wall, although a doorway and ladder lead up to a guest bedroom in the loft.
Kitchen surfaces are also incorporated into the wall, but a wood-burning stove is suspended from the ceiling in the centre of the room. “The fireplace, which is an integral part of the Navajo culture, stands proud as a singular object in this space,” says the team.
The exterior of the house is clad with timber and the students also added panels of recycled glass to protect the walls from the harsh desert sun and open winds.
Large windows along the east-facing elevation and a large doorway to the south allow for cross-ventilation during warmer seasons. Meanwhile, a projecting window on the north side of the building provides an indoor seating area with a view out across the landscape.
The houses’s position beside three other small buildings and a tree frames the outline of a courtyard, providing further protection from the wind.
The building was constructed in just 80 days for a budget of $25,000, the equivalent of just over £15,000.
Photography is by James Anderson, apart from where otherwise stated.
Here’s a short description from the team:
DesignbuildBLUFF is a non-profit organization located in southeast Utah. The organization works with college students to help Navajos on the Indian reservation. Collaborating with DesignBuildBLUFF, during the summer of 2011 eight students from the University of Colorado at Denver designed the house, and during the fall semester moved to Utah for the build.
The house was built for an impoverished Navajo woman. With little-to-no construction experience, the team completed the house in 80 days with a budget of $25,000. The team’s final design is a true response to the client’s aspirations, existing site conditions, and extreme desert climate.
More importantly, the successful completion of this project hopes to inspire young architects and show them that with determination, persistence and the will to improve people’s living conditions, modern and thoughtful designs can be achieved even with little funding.
Students: James Anderson, David Hevesi, Zia Hooker, Courtney Hughes, Milen Milev, Cam Minor, Michelle Pollock and Josh Young.
Senior Instructor: Rick Sommerfeld
Above: site axonometric plan
Above: floor plan – click above for larger image
Above: long section
Above: north and east elevations
Craig Steely
Craig Steely is a San Francisco and Hawaii based architect. He received his architecture degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While there, he was awarded a scholarship for international study and spent his thesis year in Florence, Italy studying with Cristiano Toraldo di Francia formerly of SUPERSTUDIO. After returning to California, he opened his architecture studio in 1995. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley and at Cal Poly and at many conferences including the Monterey Design Conference. His work has been awarded recognition by the American Institute of Architects and published widely in books and periodicals, among them Dwell, Sunset, Architectural Record, California Home and Design, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times. In 2009 he was selected as an “Emerging Talent” by the AIA California Council.
Craig Steely Architecture
8 Beaver Street
San Francisco, California 94114 USA
tel. 415.864.7013
How brilliant is this? Cutlery and chopsticks in one! Surprise your guests with your oriental cuisine, and don´t worry, this is a cookware perfect for beginners who have not yet learned to master their chopsticks. The Lekue Twin One Knife and Fork/Chopsticks are a great gift idea, they bring together the oriental and occidental traditions in a fun way!
This is clever, VENTO is a versatile, compact corner group sofa with a sleep option. With a smooth transfiguration mechanism it´s instantly transformed from a spacious corner suite sofa to a comfortable double bed.
The 326 sound activated drum light is made from a customised chrome plated steel drum stand and snare. Inside the snare is a one tap sound activated internal LED lighting strip. Utilising the classic lines of drum stand and snare this light looks great in any location and is fully height adjustable. One tap of the drum activates a set of LED lights within the snare and one further tap turns them off.
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