[ Filed under Furniture or in the Chairs category ]

Titled ‘Burnt Out’ (Ausgebrannt), well, they are indeed – the char-encrusted voids are the result of searing each seat, carved a unique shape with heat and flame rather than a saw or chisel.

Kaspar Hamacher strips raw logs of their bark, then sets smaller blazing logs atop the chopped stumps – by criss-crossing and repeating, a pair of bisecting lines slices down into the underside of each seat (leaving four rough-edged legs behind).

The (de)construction work is done, appropriately enough, in a forest atelier setting where the wood can be safely set alight and allowed to burn freely.

Of course, the concept is cool, but in reality the furniture has some issues that need addressing – wastefulness and pollution being obvious, but sealing off the charred remnants might not be the easiest thing either.

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[ Filed under Portable or in the Architecture category ]

Oh no, not another concept design. Indeed, it isn’t – though the draft was computer-generated, Kevin Van Braak has also sliced and diced real-life trucks, buses and trailers, turning them into unique mobile urban gardens, portable faux lawns and surreal landscapes-to-go.

By cutting a 1970s-era Mercedes bus down the middle, two halves are able to fold down as platforms while the back and top form sides for an open-air but off-the-ground seating or ‘camping’ space of sorts. Retrofit elements, tightly attached, are simply a cosmetic extra step from there – and taking camper trailers down the same path is a logical progression along that road as well:

Artificial grass, silk trees and fake flowers are a practical measure to make this all work, of course, but also provide some commentary on the commodification of contemporary society and our need to ‘bring it all with us’ along the way.

“My caravan appears to be no different from any other caravan when it is pulled behind a car; when opened it manifests itself as an artificial garden, park or camping sight. Inside the caravan, there are stuffed animals, artificial grass silk flowers and trees, a sound installation with bird sounds and a BBQ.” So while it does not provide an authentic experience of nature, it sure is a wonderful little work of ingenuity and engineering.

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[ Filed under More or in the Installation Art category ]

The fantastical film ‘Up’ features an old man, tired of being tethered to the ground, flying away using hundreds of helium-filled balloons. In real life, the world-record-setting cluster required to accomplish this was (amazingly) even smaller than the movie’s makers imagined.

As part of a new National Geographic series titled “How Hard Can it Be?“, a real-life replica home was created in the flat deserts of California and released into the air – it went aloft eerily like the fictional version, and stayed up for over an hour.

Each eight-foot-diameter balloon required one whole tank of helium to inflate, while a team of volunteers took days constructing the simple A-frame-house replica that would take the test flight.

A team of hot air balloon pilots and engineers made sure it would work in theory, but no would could be certain how it would pan out in practice – the photos and videos, though, show an incredible success.

Unfortunately, there is still a bit of magic behind this trick – the structure sent skyward was full scale, but not a fully-loaded home packed with insulation, sheet rock and the rest of those pesky (heavy) finishing touches. There is, however, another real-world equivalent – the stodgy old Seattle ‘nail home’ whose occupant refused to leave their residence, no matter what, and fought being demolished to the bitter end.

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[ Filed under Conversions or in the Architecture category ]

Barns tend to be rich in history but mixed in terms of materiality, made for functional on-the-farm purposes with owners little realizing they might one day live where pigs and chickens used to lay (eggs or otherwise).

This structure is a lovely layered and deeply-textured exception – particularly following a fantastic renovation effort turning it into a downright dazzling contemporary house.

SHED architects worked some serious wonders in programming this old building with a workroom, kitchen, lofted living area, guest apartment and multiple bathrooms. All of this also had to be done with historic preservation in mind.

Skylights and bay windows opened up the interior to let in additional daylight, while a limited material and color palette kept any additions from drawing attention away from the existing elements. Meanwhile, recycled surface materials, plumbing pipes and more were utilized throughout.

Salvaged exterior siding became interior paneling – scrap floorboards turned into new stairs, trim and counter-top material.  All in all, there is a timeless look to the end product; a traditional farmstead structure has definitely been giving a great new lease on life.

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[ Filed under Travel Gear or in the More category ]

Flat-pack furniture rarely looks quite so contemporary (let alone: remotely comfortable), but this all-in-one messenger bag manages visual appeal while packing an incredible combination: a flip-out work station and fold-up seat.

Designed by a creative pair of brothers, NICK+BEAU, this hybrid laptop carrying case is as compact as any computer bag could hope to be, but its semi-rigid sleeve opens into a wood-grained work surface … and in turn is framed by a folding chair using simple tension straps to support it.

When the side panels are opened, they work as secondary space for setting a mouse (or, if you are careful, a snack and perhaps a drink). Meanwhile, the curved shape beneath is designed to fit right on your lap and stop the station from scooting around.

Best of all: each configuration is aesthetically convincing – though the core computer support is a tad clunky, it (overall) actually looks like a solid and attractive piece of portable, multi-functional, transforming furniture. Shows that two designs can work together, and two heads can indeed be better than one.

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[ Filed under Stairs & Cases or in the Interiors category ]

While it is far for the first time a family has indulged its children with such a whimsical addition, this may be one of the most well-integrated (and longest) at-home slides yet created.

The long slide down (designed, ironically, by Level Architects) completes a circuit that starts with a staircase running along two walls of the home – one could endlessly move in a circle, effectively, running up and sliding down (definitely a good way to tire the kids out before bedtime!).

While this core circulation wrapping the edges of the interior is certainly a great first step, there are many other child-oriented design strategies to be found throughout the house.

Other kid-friendly spaces include include ball-fillable playrooms, art spaces and copious shelves for kids books and coloring supplies.

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[ Filed under Storage & Shelves or in the Furniture category ]

Wall-suspended from a pair of screws or nails, installation is a snap – the rest of the hardware is built in. Then flip them up and out of the way, then fold them down when you need a bit more storage space – you can even take them easily off the wall entirely and stick them in a closet where their skinny profile puts them out of sight and mind.

Industrial designer Matthias Ries continues to expand his series of simple flat-pack shelf sheets made of perforated metal and finished with a matte coat of white, black or color. The remaining, yet-unused shapes set flush against the walls become somewhat iconic, too – a passive element of decor.

Minimalist as can be, each sliced void serves a functional purpose – either as a surface, side brace or underlying support for whatever you put on the shelves. Some models build vertically on the basic configuration, while others add elements like white-(or black-)boards to the mix.

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[ Filed under Kitchenware or in the Furnishings category ]

Suspend your disbelief for the purposes of this design, and assume for a moment it were within the realm of possibility – or might be someday soon. The idea, if nothing else, is a thing of beauty.

A simple, slightly-curved dish holds fresh fruits – a pillar in the middle ensures freshness by deploying a film of water around it in all directions, protecting what is inside. It locks in moisture and freshness but keeps out the flies and dust. Even if it could be produced as such, making it remotely energy efficient may be a big challenge.

And now for the real stretch: a sensor ‘sees’ your hand coming and parts the flow of water around it, letting you access an apple, orange or banana as needed, then closes around you as your limb retreats. Designer Yitu Wang does not yet have a method for manufacturing this (no surprise there) but who knows what may be possible with new technologies down the line.

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[ Filed under Living & Dining or in the Interiors category ]

Sitting on (or nearly on) the floor is a tradition that has gradually made its way around the world, and as this contemporary dining collection illustrates: the aesthetic has evolved as the idea has traveled.

In fact, if one were to add some legs to these chairs – or take the table outside of a dinner setting – it would be difficult to say these sets were anything but European, despite being made by modern Japanese furniture company Hara. Curved and simply-carved wood backs bring Prairie School and other forms of Early Modernism to mind, while optional armrests make conventional extensions.

Cloth backs and floor cushions ease a diner into the experience, while curved surface edges along the length of the table are also a bit more forgiving should one have trouble slipping down and under to begin with.

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[ Filed under Portable or in the Architecture category ]

The newly-graduated architect rarely has the luxury of living in an owned home, and may even find their starting salary insufficient to afford a decent apartment within walking (or riding) distance of the office. For a three-figure sum, this designer has solved both problems at once via a unique DIY dwelling project.

Dai Haifei needed to save money and spent so much time at work anyway, the solution was strange but simple: construct a livable abode that can be wheeled and parked in the empty space right outside of the workplace.

It isn’t much – just a bed, a lamp and a water tank inside – but it is sufficient for someone trying to save and scrape together a living. While not the warmest of residences, seed sacks on the outside are slowing adding some exterior weather and sound protection.

These burlap bags, layered over a waterproof membrane, provide essential rain protection – particularly as the root systems expand and help soak up and redirect water during more significant downfalls (while a small skylight-plus-solar-panel brings in light and power).

Between a somewhat-breathable skin and lofted floor, the interior is effectively kept mostly dry and, with some interlocking strips of weaved wood, is actually a rather comfortable-looking studio to retire to at the end of a long workday.

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