Bridget Borgobello
French architectural firm St. André-Lang has designed and built a compact circular housing prototype that incorporates corn cobs within the walls. The 20 square meter (215 square foot) pavilion style home is located in the protected parklands of Muttersholtz, France and recently won the Archi<20 competition for low-cost, environmentally-friendly architecture. “The total cost of the project was €7,000 [US$8,705],” St. André-Lang architect and co-creator Bastien Saint-André told Gizmag. “But we had some partners (carpenter, woodworker) – the real cost would be around €10,000 [US$12,435].” Read More
Britain's Evanta Motor Co. has paid tribute to the iconic Aston Martin DBR1 with a unique replica of the 1959 Le Mans winning vehicle. This isn't your average replica though - the parts are laid out on a gigantic AirFix-style frame that measures 6.35 meters (20.8 ft) wide and 3.30 meters (10.8 ft) tall. Read More
Hypercubus is a modern prefabricated unit that is adaptable to various environments and offers simple accommodation for up to two guests. Designed by Austrian architectural studio WG3, the cubic module was created to provide holiday lodgings that can adapt easily to the fertile Austrian landscape. Read More
On July 15th, the world’s first SolarKiosk was officially opened near Lake Langano, Ethiopia. The portable solar shop was designed in Germany by Graft architects and provides an “autonomous business unit” that sells energy, products, tools and services. With approximately 1.5 billion people around the globe who remain without access to a stable source of light, the SolarKiosk is intended to provide a safe and affordable solution for inhabitants in off-the-grid areas. Read More
Serbian luxury yacht producer Art of Kinetik has recently launched its latest pleasure boat for the summer season. Named Antagonist, the vessel is a sleek wooden model that features clean elegant lines that are reminiscent of the 60s and 70s. With its deep wooden hull and a top speed of 42 knots, this speedboat is not only fit for a Sean Connery-era James Bond, but it’s impressively powerful. Read More
Palacio de Sal (meaning Salt Palace) is a hotel and spa in Bolivia where the walls and furniture are made entirely of salt. The hotel is located on the edge of the Great Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats, which spans across 10,582 sq. km (4,086 sq. miles). Guests are apparently politely asked to refrain from “licking the walls.” Read More
Here at Gizmag we love some of the micro homes we’ve seen, from the Tiny Leaf House on wheels to the Finnish micro house, and that’s not mentioning the London one room apartment turned into a two-story luxury home! It looks like we’re not the only ones, with New York’s mayor Michael Bloomberg catching the tiny home fever and announcing a competition for an innovative micro apartment model. Read More
While it might not be the world’s largest solar boat or the fastest, this modest home-built solar-powered boat does the job and comfortably accommodates six passengers. Dubbed “Firefly,” it was built by Canadian eco-enthusiast Dan Baker for an impressive CA$2,900 (US$2,845). Read More
Located in the Elqui Valley in Chile’s Norte Chico region, Elqui Domos is one of the few astronomical hotels in the world. The area is renowned for its sparkling clear skies and Elqui Domos takes advantage of this by offering lodgings in a series of geodesic domes with elevated loft beds and open rooftops as well as recently added wooden cabins designed with star-gazing in mind. Read More
Unplugged is an office work station of the future concept that envisions powering your electronic devices via energy collected off the human body. The prototype was created by Swedish designer Eddi Törnberg as part of his final year thesis at Beckmans College of Design, in Stockholm, and you will be pleased to know that it doesn’t mean you'd be required to pedal away while you work. In fact all you would have to do is move about your office as normal, sit in your chair and let the heat of your body do the rest. Read More
