(incli)NATION

Stunning 'Atmosphere' Lighting by Chiara Lampugnani

Just found this terrific lighting collection by designer Chiara Lampugnani. I'd include this in ANY project I was working on; contemporary or traditional. If you're in Paris for Maison et Objet, check these out for sure!

Homo Sapien Tool: Ahead of its Time

This is hilarious! Throw all those gadgets in the recycling heap and just get this big rock!

Marie Garnier designed these beautiful sandstone Homo Sapiens that can be used as a knife sharpener, crushing or grinding stone (pestle).

Purchase information: $39.00, Buy it here.

via Betterlivingthroughdesign

Incredible Red Hook Vendor's Booth Re-design Competition

Just heard about the winners of the first phase of the competition. Great work everyone and good luck with the next phase...

"Architecture for Humanity New York (AFHny) announces a month-long ideas competition in search of innovative concepts for a new market place for the Red Hook Food Vendors in Red Hook Park, Brooklyn."

Unbelievable Tokyo Underground: Sewer Labyrinth Dreamscape

And you thought Tokyo was fantastic on the surface! Just have a look at what's under your feet: miles of cathedral-like sewers. A neo-gothic labyrinth of engineering wonder! I just wonder if they ever fill all the way up!

I was absolutely wrong about these! This is Kasukabe and a storm drain at that. Still an awesome space though. Here is a press release:

SAITAMA (Kyodo) An underground tunnel built to take in river water overflow and release it into another river to mitigate flood damage was shown to the media Monday in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture.

The 6.3 km long conduit is 50 meters underground in Kasukabe and connects the Otoshifurutone and Edo rivers.

If the Otoshifurutone River or nearby Naka River flood, excess water can be channeled into the tunnel from five locations and temporarily stored in a gigantic reservoir before being pumped up and released into the Edo River.

The water chamber, dubbed the “underground palace,” features 59 columns, each 25 meters high, that can store 670,000 cu. meters of water, according to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry.

The government project began in 1993 with a budget of 240 billion yen, and part of the tunnel became ready for use in 2002. The system will begin full operation in June.

Historically, the eastern part of Saitama Prefecture has been prone to floods. The government says the flood-management system will significantly reduce the danger of floods in the area.

Una Noche en La Chiva

I can't look away! If you need any explanation, head over to: http://lachivany.com/site/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnBY-Yfm2Z4

Brilliant Aeroponic Growing System Improves Home Air Quality

Just ran across this ultra-mod orchid growing system and fell in love. Get one for the James Bond fan in your life. Not so sustainable, but having more plants in our lives is a good start...

"Breathe Easy is an aeroponic growing system designed to improve home air quality. It utilizes toxin absorbing plants that clean the air and add humidity. It also doesn’t hurt to bring some of nature’s green indoors too. The plants are held in place by magnetic seals in the top opening...As an added touch, a row of LED lights line the bottom for some nice ground effects."

 

 

+ Designer: Paul Thomas

via Yanko

IPSVM Skateboard Design by Loren Kulesus

Every so often a design comes across the desktop that just blows me away. IPSVM is one such design. Purely a prototype, the board nonetheless kills as an idea. Imagine shredding on this beauty! The fact is, I would never actually skate on this, it is just too beautiful.

Peter Benarcik's Great Green Designs

This over at Ligature we are featuring award-winning designer, fabricator and educator Peter Benarcik. Be sure to check his work out, it's awesome.

Peter Benarcik has worked with nationally recognized architecture and industrial design studios in addition to developing his own multi-disciplined design studios. Peter’s current endeavor- Five Ply Design based in Seattle, WA- continues to focus on both furniture and architectural projects.  As if that were not enough, Peter is also a Full-Time Tenure Track Faculty member at Bellevue Community College where he teaches various foundation and advanced design studios in the Interior Design Department.

read the rest on Ligature:  Ligature Online

To view more of Peter’s work visit:  http://www.fiveplydesign.com

Brad Pitt's Sustainable City Completes First Six Homes

Just heard that the first six, LEED Platinum certified homes in Brad Pitt's rehab project in New Orleans are now finished. The homes use sustainable materials and donated time and effort to come in under the symbolic $150,000 budget.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Art Newspaper TV launches

Just heard about this today, The Art Newspaper is launching a webTV channel. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of this on the net, but until then, good luck to Art Newspaper TV

From the press release:

The Art Newspaper is proud to announce the launch of a web TV channel for the art world. It features interviews with key collectors, curators, dealers, artists, and art world luminaries.

The Art Newspaper TV aims to further the success of The Art Newspaper and continue to provide breaking news, art market analysis and insight for the art world, online.

Magic Pen Writes in Helvetica from Plexifilm

Got this in my inbox today. The hilarious group over at Plexifilm [same guys who made 'Helvetica'] are giving away official Helvetica-writing pens with any purchase of 'Objectified' swag. Ha! I love this idea. If it had command-z as well, I'd buy a gross...

Magic pen writes in Helvetica

Ahhhh... technology. The geniuses at Plexifilm have spent the past two years developing a Sharpie pen that actually writes in Helvetica! This pen is so experimental that it's priceless... literally. You can't buy one, but you can get one free with any Helvetica-related purchase (DVD, T-shirt, etc.). Get your free pen while they last. It's a great gift for that person in your life with sloppy handwriting...

* Warning: if you are John Downer or Marian Bantjes then the pen will actually write in Helvetica. Otherwise, your results may vary. Do not swallow. Keep away from open flame and co-workers. May cause drowsiness.

30 Brilliant Typographic Solutions

We just got our issue of Typography 29 in the mail over here and so we've been deep in the typography of things lately. Here is an excellent collection put together by Noupe.

 

Ligature Volume 2: Barbara Kosoff Collages Out Now

Ligature Online is a micro-site produced by Big Fig Design Group. It will be by and about artists making unusual connections that just released Volume 2: Barbara Kosoff.

As regular readers already know, we are big fans of anything that puts two and two together and comes up with six. Barbara's work makes us smile. From the press release:

"Many artists who have worked in the commercial art world might very well be satisfied with the challenges and rewards that world provides; Barbara Kosoff is not one of those people. Drawing on her diverse experiences as a designer and art director, Barbara has turned to collage to express her unique voice."

Dynomighty Comic Book Wallets: Cool and Eco-friendly

I know you haven't heard from us in a while but things have been quite busy around here. Crazy actually. But I won't bore you with the details. Here's a great new design I got in my inbox this morning. These wallets are small [I can't stand a fat, Castanza wallet] is 100% recyclable and made from 25% post-consumer plastic. Get yours here...

Project H Math Toys: Vote Now!

Just as soon as you can, head over to Project H Design and vote for their latest project; designing educational math toys for developing and US retail markets, based on the Kutamba AIDS Orphans School in Uganda (an Architecture for Humanity building).