For architecture two aspects are of higher concern: the first one is maintenance of security and precautions against extreme environmental conditions and climate changes. The second one – protection of natural environment from human activities. The Ark project makes an attempt to answer these challenges of our Time. The Ark project was designed on the basis of international experience received from the UIA Work Program “Architecture for Disasters Relief” and according to the concept of a bioclimatic house with independent life support sources. In such buildings provision is made for an independent life support system including elements ensuring a closed functioning cycle.
Cambia is a dining table that transforms from bench, to optional workstation, to dining table but is all one piece. We started because I was a frustrated consumer who wanted a dining table that ‘folded away’ and wouldn’t take up too much space in my Manhattan apartment. I found Matt Lee, a designer/contractor and Bret Sorkness (engineer) and we created this unique piece, and now have a patent pending.
Flaca is a stainless steel lamp focused on sustainability. Its stainless steel structure not only looks and feels light, it also has minimal waste of material. Furthermore, it is packed in a recycled cardboard box.
Digital clock: only figures, no case, only the necessary – only accurate time. Each figure has self-contained power supply and independent control, it can be fixed to any surface autonomously. A light sensor will switch the clock to an invert mode: the figures are white in the dark time of day and black at daytime.
Airline passengers in 2050 will be able to read their children a bedtime story at home or attend virtual business meetings at 35,000 feet thanks to the creation of an “intelligent cabin interior”.
Inception Chair, designed by Vivian Chiu, taking the chair archetype and placing within it chairs that are progressively smaller. Each chair has hand cut grooves on the inside edges of its seat frame as well as notches in the seat back. These grooves range from 1/2” wide to 1/8” wide. The mechanism works so that the pegs fit into the grooves of the chair one size bigger and slides into place so that the horizontal edge between the chair seat and back line up. The simple mechanism allows the chairs to be taken apart and put together with ease.
The sofa pillow with the distinctive difference—it’s also a remote control. Never again will you have to ask, “where’s the remote?” And you’ll never lose this remote in between the cushions. Because it IS a cushion— with a built-in 6-in-1 universal remote control!
Designers of GreenMarker were always aware and did not like the way how sticky notes crumple as they use them. When the image of accumulating sticky notes and growing tuft of grass overlapped, an idea came in mind. If it were grass-shaped, perhaps growing and crumpling would not bother people much. They started from searching shapes of grass. Short ones, long ones, bright-colored ones… They tried many variations. They actually placed them between pages to see how they will work.
Wallplates is a functional light switch system that already works with your standard light switches. Hook and Envelope are the first of these functional Wallplates, but eventually new product functions will be created as the product line expands. Hook and Envelope are simply light switch cover plates that add practical function to your space. Check out the Kickstarter project here to learn more.
Unlike of many other concepts electric bicycle concept HMK 561 from Ralf Kittmann took home an iF Design Award for some seriously forward thinking. Cyclists HMK 561 is made of conductive carbon fiber, which is not only an excellent conductor of electricity, but also acts as a capacitor that can store energy. This energy is obtained by converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy in each mobile connection of mechanism. The resulting energy fed to the engine and lights.
