Steve Jobs dies at 56. We all know that our time will come but it always comes sooner than we expect. I remember the first time I saw Steve Jobs. I was in university at the time, working on a paper at the computing lab. Steve came down the hall with a colleague, pushing a very unusual looking black box on a rolling cart. He wore an ill-fitting dark suit, fruity tie and ...
urban design
Billykirk Bike Pouch
Bicycles seem to be on the brain lately, as we find ourselves posting about various unusual bike models and bike accessories. But we feel good about it, given that bike riding is not only a great way for the urban nomad to beat traffic but, also, a much more eco-friendly mode of transport. We have also showcased some of Billykirk's products here before. There's something ...
Roethlisberger Staccato Shelf
Most shelves are boring. And if you purchase them from IKEA - even frightening. Self-assembly is overrated. I would rather have someone come over and assemble it for me, than spend the afternoon chasing for screws that seem to be missing from the pack. But every once and awhile someone comes up with a design that renews my appreciation of shelving. Such as the 'Staccato' ...
TP Scoot Maximillian Folding Electric Scooter
Electric hybrid vehicles are no longer the future. They are now. Perhaps the best part of this trend is the exploration of crossover vehicles. For instance, the TP Scoot is an electric scooter that you ride like a bike but that you can go up onto sidewalks without alarming other pedestrians and sending them scattering for cover. And, because it's electric, you don't arrive ...
Cardboard Vacuum Cleaner – Vax ev
Cardboard is a fantastic, versatile material. Stiff, durable, light-weight, recyclable, mouldable... just not waterproof (not yet, anyway). There have been all sorts of great cardboard furniture over the years but few cardboard appliances - which is what makes the Vax such an innovative idea. Using cardboard for appliances is more than nifty, it could be a vital substitution ...
TuboHotel – Hotel, Hostel or Upscale Shanty Town?
It is a very innovative concept, I'll grant you that. The TuboHotel in Tepoztlan, Mexico, is exactly what it sounds like - a bunch of concrete tubes turned into bedrooms (no toilets, mind you). Each tube contains a Queen size bed and leaves storage space underneath for your suitcase. Designed by T3Arch, it's meant to allow reuseable materials to be assembled quickly into ...
Bicycle Wine Rack
There's something satisfying about purchasing hand-made goods from talented local craftsmen. Even more so, when made from recycled materials. Here's one that ticks both boxes - the bicycle wine rack. Made by Jesse Herbert of Montreal, Canada - it's being sold directly from him here for $30 CAD. It fits a 1" frame and here are the specs, according to the ...
Solar Recharger Rocking Chair – SoftRocker from MIT
I came across an article on ecowizer for this eco-friendly, USB recharging device: The Soft Rocker. While not very portable, it is very green. At first I thought it was a cross-section of a giant ovary but later learnt that it is a rocking chair that uses your weight to let itself be pivoted easily to face the sun. When there's plenty of light, it can recharge several ...
Tragically Hip T-Shirts from Villainous Visard
Nomadic Urbanites are often called away at a moments notice, so nothing complements the capsule wardrobe better than having a few tragically hip, cool urban street-wear t-shirts like the round-up from British based, Villainous Visard. Designs and patterns are inspired by Japanese street wear, comic book characters and strange slogans that suggest sinister conspiracies. Wear ...
Homework Desk by Nika Zupanc
Elegantly simple comes to mind. Also, there's something almost Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" about this highly-functional, yet ominous bellows with their undulating, accordion style. The filing system presents itself like a row of hungry mouths waiting to be fed. 3Rings Blog has a nice article about his "Self Discipline" installation at Design Week in Milan. They quote Zupanc ...