berlin-based studio j. mayer h. architectshas completed 2 of 20 'rest stops' in gori, georgia. the structures are for the new highway which will run throughthe country and connect the republic of azerbaijan with the republic of turkey. the buildings are located on selected scenic viewpoints andserve as activators for their area and neighboring cities. the sites include not only a gas station and supermarket,but also farmers markets and cultural spaces for local arts and crafts.
THE LUMINARIUM IS A MOTORIZED WORK LAMP THAT RUNS IN 12-HOUR CYCLES, MIMICKING DAWN TO SUNSET. Young Milanese designer Stefano Pertegato became fascinated with the effects of artificial light during his final year at Politecnico di Milano. “Natural daylight provides resetting cues,” he explains. “Constant, extended stimuli in the background, like the slow play of light and shadows during the day, bring restorative benefits from directed attention fatigue, reducing cognitive stress and improving concentration.” Pertegato wondered if a simple lamp could recreate the effect, recalibrating our bodies to produce serotonin at normal cycles. His thesis project, a kinetic lighting system called The Luminarium, attempts to do just that. via
italian kitchen manufacturervalcucineconstructs easy to use and ergonomic cooking and food preparation spaces for domestic applications, as demonstrated in their 'new logica system' with 80 cm depth and 'equipped back section', featuring removable over-sized drawers and wall units with ala and aerius lift-up doors. the newest addition to the kitchen system is an improved 'equipped back section' which is capable of containing and concealing all of the equipment within including: the dish-drainer, weighing scales, small appliances, removable cooking receptacles, bottle-racks, power sockets, a monitor, a kitchen roll holder, the tap, hooks for utensils, even a cooker hood. via
santa caterina-basedwestphal+kosciukhave recently completed 'casa dlw' located in the continental zone of florianópolis, brazil. situated on a steep terrain, the owners of the residence wanted to have a dwelling where the social and private zones were not isolated from one another. to assure sunlight, cross ventilation and views to the city and the sea, the solution was to lift the living block onto a white cantilever that floats above the driveway. the room is connected to a terrace that privileges the panoramic view. also on this level are the kitchen, the service area and a workshop with access to the backyard. upstairs, the master bedroom, guest bedroom and office are programmed. two lower sectors keep the entrance hall, garage, warehouse and an indoor play quarter separate from this space. the grey color of the base accentuates the independence between the two volumes. the entire structure is connected by a staircase and an elevator. via
These great mid-century pet furniture pieces by Modernist Cat can not only add style to any room in your home but also keep your pet happy. So don't compromise your home decor and give your loving cat or dog a place to enjoy! Via Design Don't Panic.
Mylampis a minimalist lighting fixture designed by Denmark-based designerMadeByWho. The designers wanted a fun design in which the user would be involved with the process of creating and assembling the product. Used as a desk or wall lamp, Mylamp is laser cut using 1mm recycled cardboard. via
Here is a sweet-looking sonourous music center from German designerValerie Hebel. It looks to have it all: a bay for your choice vinyl, a turntable, a CD player (if you still own any of those) and an iPod dock. The the wooden exterior is a nice contrast to all of the technology inside and the sliding cover for the record player is a perfect touch for keeping dust out of your grooves. See it in action below. (Stilsucht) via
Bergmeister Wolf, a northern Italian firm with offices in Austria and Italy, were hired by the small Tyrolean town of Margreid to build a new volunteer fire station back in 2010. The commission came with an unusual site: a 300-foot cliff of sheer rock. via
dutch practicekwint architectenhas recently completed 'a barn in the countryside', a residence integrated into an existing vernacular structure south of the city of eelde, the netherlands. maintaining the traditional gabled roof form of the drenthe barn, this dwelling maintains the aesthetic of the regional typology without preservation while adding contemporary spatial needs of inhabitants living outside of the city limits. reinterpreting the barn as a home, the exterior is sheathed with a layer of horizontal wooden blinds, allowing air to ventilate into a transitory covered space before entering the interior. via
tokyo and hiroshima-based practicenaf architect & designhave recently completed 'glass house for diver', an ocean-side residence in hiroshima, japan. the exterior is generated by stacking 1 x 1 x 1.5 meter blocks on top of one another, similar to the form of breakwaters to dissipate waves. manufactured from leftover concrete, the blocks are produced by accumulating the extra material at a cement factory in etajima city in hiroshima. the pace of the house's construction was directly dependent upon the formulation of the components, as construction waited for their phased arrival to the site. an unusual way to schedule a project's process, this example of 'slow architecture' is not perceived as a normal approach in modern day construction. via
as part of his studies at the internationaldesign school for advanced studies(IDAS), korean designeryuri endoexplored the properties of light and space for his final year thesis entitled 'luminous specimen'. the project began as developing a design for a bathroom lighting solution, however endo decided to convert the idea of illumination into art by concentrating his interpretation within the digital realm. he began this research with a number of basic experiments investigating optics, particularly focusing on the refraction of light rays through a prism and its ability to create intriguing illusions, based on the various angles they fall. via