Most of us are used to see the radiator as that hideous noisy thing under the windowsill we have no control over. New York based industrial designer Rochus Jacob decided to change all that and rethink the annoying item. His version of the radiator is smaller, more efficient and fun to look at. The campfire-like shape suggests placing the piece in the middle of the living space, allowing it to heat the room faster and save energy (and money).
Here is how Jacob describes the concept: ‘Rethinking the radiator is about helping people to reduce the average room temperature by 2° which could eventually save a ton CO2 a year and cut cost by 40%. Modern technology allows the use of lighter and more efficient materials in smaller forms. By moving the radiator deeper in to the living space the interaction becomes more present which enables the user to keep the heat consumption more often at a lower and constant level.’
The system works with hot water or steam just like regular radiators. And in the summer time, the piece can be easily stored away to allow more living space. Brilliant!
There is a lot to love about this smart and innovative storage from Way Basics – it is modular, easy to put together, and it’s made from 99% post consumer recycled paper. These storage cubes come in a variety of colors and finishes and can be put in an infinite number of configurations. But what impressed me the most is the assembly process. It is simplified to the point of a child’s play. If you are capable to close a strip envelope – you will be able to assemble this furniture! The principle is the same: peel the tape, attach one part to another part (watch the video and see for yourself). So, if your aspirations include living a more sustainable life, Way Basics made it much much easier…
http://vimeo.com/17786402
Just as I thought that it was enough Kickstarter goodness for one year, I saw this cool thing. Hidden Radio by industrial designers John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen from Australia and Vitor Santa Maria from Brazil is a neat and intuitive radio and bluetooth speaker in one. It is buttonless and slick. You turn it on and control the volume by simply lifting the cap. If you don’t have a bluetooth device, a 3.5mm audio input plug is available. Compact, stylish and urbanist-friendly piece of technology. Also a thoughtful gift for a gadgeteer on your list. Check out the Kickstarter page to see Hidden Radio in action and perhaps consider backing the project.
(HT Minimalissimo)
When real estate is scarce and precious, every inch counts. And why not use the underutilized space in the corners? Kulma frame shelf by Martina Carpelan is designed to be hanged either in a positive or a negative corner of a room. Good for books and small items, the piece has simple clean lines. Its role is to ‘highlight both the space within the shelf and the corner surrounding the shelf.’ Made from solid oak on request by the designer.
If you have piles of books growing on the floor around every seat – congratulations. You are a proud bookworm, and you will love this piece. Le Bouc was created by Mathieu Gabiot in collaboration with Speculoosbook, graphic design company specialised in editorial design. The piece is dedicated to books in all forms and sizes. It supports them, open or closed, keeps them available at all times, whether you are in your office, drawing room or garden. Small enough for a small room, Le Bouc is versatile and mobile. The piece can also be a very useful and attractive addition to a desk – something many of us chase for.
Some of you might remember me featuring the 450-square-foot Manhattan studio that unfolds into 4 different rooms. Well, wonderful people of Fair Companies went ahead and visited the place, giving us a comprehensive walk-through. Check out the video above to see how the owner Eric Schneider and architects Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects managed to fit living room, kitchen, bar area, home office, sofa bed, extra bed for guests, closet, and library into the tiniest of spaces. The ‘morphing cabinet’ they’ve created definitely deserves a second look. Enjoy!
Here is one way to beat the seasonal gloom – Bright Blind by Makoto Hirahara. This ingenious product simulates a window where none exists. Made of electroluminescent (EL) sheets, the piece can illuminate your home, creating an architectural detail (who wouldn’t want more light and more windows?). The function of this artificial blind is quite intuitive – turn the plastic stick and control the brightness! Available at Generate.
This beautiful modular storage system really did make me smile. Called Cheeky Boxes and designed by Lucie Koldová of Czech studio Process, the product features a series of stackable components that can be configured into a unit of any shape and size. Even though stackable storage is not a groundbreaking innovation, this particular one is notable for being adorable and fun. The shape of the segments allows you to create various patterns, making your item unique. It adds stability too. Cheeky Boxes come in a variety of subtle pastel colors.
This sliver of a desk is probably the smallest fully equipped bureau out there. Flatmate, by Michael Hilgers for the German design company Magazin, in only five inches deep. Yet it can hold your laptop, desktop items and writing paraphernalia, along with some filing in the clever cabinet that opens from the sides. Grooves in the backboard can accommodate three metal shelves (included), providing for even more storage. The desk features an integrated power outlet and fluorescent lighting fixture, elegantly hidden from the view.
The UMYD (Union Modular y Democratica) coffee table by CruxFlux+ is actually several lounge pieces in one. The item consists of diagonal panels that expand via simple pivoting motion and form various configurations. UMYD can be used as a footrest, series of side tables, storage unit… The variations are limitless. When collapsed into its most compact form – the piece turns into an elegant low-level table with storage. Truly multifunctional idea.
