UK company Concrete Canvas have been awarded Material of the Year 2009 by materials consultancy Material ConneXion for their cement-impregnated fabric. Called Concrete Cloth, the material consists of cement layered between fabric that can bond with water, backed with PVC.The product can be formed into the required shape then allowed to absorb water, causin
Scottish architecture firm Rural Design have completed a small timber house on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.Called Fiscavaig Project, the two-storey residence is raised slightly above the ground on short wooden columns.The building narrows towards the north facade, which is entirely glazed to provide views over the surrounding landscape.The entrance is reached by a small wooden bridge.Here’s some text from the architects:–This small holiday house, located in the township of Fiscavai
Construction has begun on a combined residential project and market hall in Rotterdam, designed by Dutch architects MVRDV.Called Rotterdam Market Hall, the building will comprise 228 apartments forming a tunnel over the market hall, glazed at each end.The market hall itself will house 100 market stalls, shops and restaurants.1,200 parking spaces and a supermarket will be located underground.Each apartment will feature a balcony on the exterior of the building and a window onto the market hall b
Pontoporia House by Ezequiel Rivarola Architect by Harry / November 17, 2009 Designed by Architect Ezequiel Rivarola in collaboration with Clorindo Testa, the Pontoporia House is located next to a cliff in a very peculiar spot on the Argentinean coast. "The starting point of the complete project, of which only the first stage has been constructed, is the relationship between two cubical solids proposed by Testa. The house opens progressively to the surrou
More from Alexa Lixfeld: the Hamburg designer has collaborated with Sri Lankan company Selyn to create a range of dolls adapted from drawings by children.The designer worked with children from the Royal International School in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, to produce a series of drawings that were translated into dolls at the same scale.The dolls are manufactured from hand-dyed and hand-woven cotton by local women.The project aimed to raise funds for the Selyn Socio-Economic Development Foundation, fo
Miscea by Matthis Heller by Jaime / November 12, 2009 Perfect for these times of energy-awareness and ever-spreading germs, Welldesign's sensor technology Miscea faucet acts as both tap and dispenser. Wash, moisturize or disinfect your hands by moving them over the appropriate section of the glass "daisy" and a light will indicate which product will be used. Likewise, wave your hand over the plus/minus signs to change water temperature.The refill pouches
Technology-startup Modu in collaboration with Lunar has designed an innovative mobile phone that touts a portable design with hi-tech functionality. Claimed to be the first modular mobile phone in the world, the “modu” is a tiny but sophisticated phone that slips into “jackets,” a growing family enclosures, which provide both style and functionality to the device. A device with global appeal, the module is compatible with “modu mates,” i.e. modu enabled consumer electronic devices, including P
Designed for a competition at the Canadian Auto Show, the External Frame Structure (E.F.S.) by Italian designer Andrea Spaggiari is vehicle concept that featuring an innovative frame structure seems to be the new Fiat Multipla. The vehicle is divided in two parts, the outer cage and the interior capsule, which can be interchanged to meet the needs of different users. Accommodating up to six passengers comfortably, the EFS runs on a hydrogen fuel cell that powers four in-wheel motors and allows
American architects Morphosis have completed a floating house for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans, in collaboration with graduates of the University of California, Los Angeles.The house was designed to be affordable and able to withstand flooding, floating as water levels rise.It is built on a prefabricated chassis, made of polystyrene foam coated in glass fibre-reinforced concrete.This acts as a raft and allows the house to rise up to 3.7 metres, secured in place by p
Sao Paulo practice CHN Arquitetos have won a competition to design a new science museum in Campinas, Brazil.Called Exploratory Science Museum, part of the State University of Campinas, their proposal beat over 100 other entries in the international public competition.Asked to incorporate the site’s existing buildings, the architects have conceived a large rectangular structure clad in perforated aluminium plates.The geometric holes are designed to diffuse light and control the internal climate.
With modern technology going wireless, we have a remote for almost all the gadgets, from kitchen to living space, in our homes, messing up life with the clutter of undue devices. Offering a way out, designer, John Brumbaugh has come up with a Universal remote control called “Peel” that employing the state of the art technology controls all your gadgets with mere 21 buttons. Claimed to be the world’s first Bluetooth integrated universal remote, the PEEL also touts an ergonomic design, together
Graphic artist Chris Labrooy has designed a series of type faces based on the work of famous architects and designers.The designs are inspired by the work of some of Labrooy’s design heroes: Frank Gehry (top), Ettore Sottsass (above) and Toyo Ito (below).Here’s some text from Labrooy:–ETTORE: Letter forms inspired by sottsass’s early 80’s furniture.This period in history w
