OSKA Herd !!!!

Whether you’re a hiker, mountain biker or cross-country skier, the Rolling Huts, located in Washington’s Methow Valley, are the perfect accommodation. Designed as a modern alternative to camping by Tom Kundig of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects in Seattle, the six huts are grouped as a herd, each with views of the mountains.

More info at: www.rollinghuts.com

Governors Island Envisioned as Incredible Eco-Park

New York’s Governor’s Island is set to receive an incredible set of renovations that will transform the 172-acre plot of decaying Coast Guard structures into a stunning eco-park. Designed by West 8, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Rogers Marvel Architects, the project is a hybrid of landscape and architecture based around a sinuous set of new paths, watercourses, restaurants, aquaria and even complimentary wooden bicycles. Slated for completion in 2012, the ambitious, new and improved Governors Island will incorporate a host of environmentally friendly features.

Sold to the city and state for $1 in 2003, Governor’s Island is set become the site of one of New York City’s greenest destinations. Diller Scofidio + Renfro say the plan “uses the man made topography of lower Manhattan as a starting point; the southern tip of the island is transformed into an artificial landscape with hills constructed of reclaimed materials from existing Governors Island buildings. As the new topography approaches the Western edge of the island, it transforms into EPDM-covered greenhouse structures, programmed as botanical and aquatic research centers.”
The proposal also features a Marine Exploration Center that consists of a set of off-shore “programmed structures” including a coastal plant greenhouse, marine life tank, vertical reef, and two restaurants. “Off-shore programmed structures emerge like bubbles from the water, moving with the tides…” say Diller Scofidio + Renfro, “The Oyster Restaurant floating directly across the harbor from the Statue of Liberty is an inflated sphere, 150′ in diameter, anchored by a man-made oyster reef. Rather than focusing its gaze on the world, it turns to the ecology of the local, allowing guests to eat the site by serving foods from the Hudson and the harbor.”

As visitors head to the southern tip of the island, they will encounter a “Vertical Landscape” of man-made mountains that will incorporate recreational, cultural, and educational functions. Though still in the development stage, features may include snack bars, exhibits, a funicular, and caves for spelunking. West 8 partner Jerry van Eyck says: “We wanted to give it the attitude of a national park, one with primal nature, robustness, where you don’t feel the hand of man.”

Recycalite: pendant lamp mobile

The Recycalite; a Pendant Lamp Mobile, manufactured by local artists Ames Munden and Lisa Tyrrell, is handmade in San Francisco, California and is created by using recycled lampshade materials, hand-stained fiberglass, and filament. The hand-stained discs (1", 2", and 3") are strung onto clear filament and hung from a circular ring.Size; 13" outside diameter x 8" inside diameter and hangs 21/2 feet long; $475 order through http://beelinemid-century.com/recyclobiles.html .

WTC MODEL

The American Architectural Foundation has donated the original model of the World Trade Center to the September 11th Museum. The Museum has another name but it is ridiculously long and focus-grouped and I refuse to use it. The 7-foot-plus model wonder of the world was constructed by Minoru Yamasaki Associates and has survived because of great care.
I saw this model in 2004 when it was displayed at the Skyscraper Museum and it's a powerful thing. That museum is close to Ground Zero but a bit off the beaten path in Battery Park City. Visiting during the day I had the model to myself. It was a powerful experience: the model was my new memorial. The model is huge, a technical achievement in its own right, not just in construction but in the extreme stewardship needed to keep it in good shape. And yes, it's significant and ironic that a paper and plastic model outlived a huge building complex. It's a powerful reminder of what was lost seven and a half years ago.

Luminescent Fiber Optic Wallpaper by Camilla Diedrich

What if we could light our homes with glowing wallpaper rather than having to rely on electric lights? Swedish designer Camilla Diedrich has asked this exact question, and in response, created a stunning line of luminescent wallpaper that is lit by fiber optics. Her Nature Ray Charles Wallpaper features a delicate assortment of floral motifs that shine through in lucid lines, adding a touch of energy-efficient ambiance to any room.

Available in 8 different colors, Nature Ray Charles Wallpaper is part of Ms. Diedrich’s ‘Walls‘ product line. Speaking about her working process Ms. Diedrich says, “I have been searching for light without light…I was drawing as usual and slipped on the keyboard the drawing went extremely light and I just stared and thought wow this must be how blind people see and I thought of Ray Charles, the musician. His name is Ray, doesn’t that mean light?”

Its not clear from Camilla’s website where the light source is set up, or how much light this wallpaper can give off, butthe images are spectacular. We’re envisioning an ambitious green project that involves hooking up this fiberoptic wallpaper to solar light collectors on the roof and then pumping natural daylight through the wallpaper into a space below. If it was possible to use these wall coverings as accent lighting, they might provide significant energy savings in addition to their innovative beauty. “My mission at first was to make the wallpaper with real light,” Ms. Diedrich says, “but then I didn’t want to build in too much technology, and when I by coincidence could make a sort of illusion of light I was happy. Now I am developing the first idea too, to build in real light for those who need and like that.” Not exactly sure what that all means, but an exciting innovation nonetheless.

+ Camilla Diedrich

Via Designboom and Architonic



read more....

Standing Grass Frames

Metaphys brings the garden indoors! Carrying on the Japanese obsession with greening the living space, these frames come with everything you need to grow your own lawn. The frame contains a tray in which you place the high-tech growing medium, made up of tiny sponge balls impregnated with nutrients. Sprinkle the prairie grass seed on top, water and wait. After about a week the grass will sprout and start to grow. READ MORE

Objectified Movie Trailer

Objectified trailer online now!

http://www.objectifiedfilm.com/objectified-trailer/



It's a new year, and here's something new to look at: the first trailer for Objectified. 100 seconds of images from the film (with portraits of most of the Objectified cast) and the voices of Jonathan Ive, Andrew Blauvelt, Marc Newson, and Karim Rashid. And the font used in the trailer is... Akzidenz Grotesk! We hope you enjoy it!

Helvetica on PBS tomorrow night
Helvetica will have its US television debut tomorrow, January 6th, nationwide on PBS as part of the awesome Independent Lens series. It's a shortened version of the film (54 minutes versus the original 80) but with all the juicy bits still intact. Check your local PBS listings for exact date and time in your area. As part of the build-up to tomorrow's broadcast, PBS has launched a fairly extensive mini-site with loads of info, clips, and other treats, including the What Font Are You? game!