Tagged: design
Sweeden and Coffee: Yes Please
As far as coffee sets go, this is one of the most interesting that I’ve seen in a long time. When Raúl Arribas designed the product, he had the two Swedish traditions of glass blowing and coffee in mind. He used the Spanish material, cork, to work with the tinted glass and produced a set that it visually very striking. Often, I dislike the use of brown glass – it reminds me of garish home décor from the eighties. Yet for some reason, the colour used in this product, alongside the cork, is very elegant. Add to the cafetiere and glasses the depth of the coffee which will swim within and the look will be grown up, original sophistication. There’s clearly a lot more to Swedish designers than Ikea lets on…
B-Iron 725: The Transparent Iron
This transparent iron has got creative ingenuity written all over it. The design uses tempered glass on the soleplate of the iron to allow you to clearly see the creases that you’re trying to remove. In terms of product design, designers Dong-Seok Lee and Ji-Hyung Jung are definitely making me enthusiastic about the future. Identifying problems with equipment that we use daily, and trying to find a way around them, is what makes modern design so appealing and lucrative. In a similar way to the Transparent Toaster, the designers have altered the material of the appliance to allow visibility where it is conventionally, and infuriatingly, opaque. What’s more, it is executed in a stylish, visually appealing way. No longer will irons be hiding in cupboards…
Via Design Buzz
Glass Sign: Solar Powered Pedestrian Crossing
This is one of those products that I can’t believe hasn’t been invented sooner. The Glass Sign is a solar powered pedestrian crossing, designed by Almasov Aibek. The sign is switched off when not in use, and is then activated when a pedestrian swipes the signal pole. Throughout the day, the sign is charged with solar energy and the ‘walk’ signal appears in black. After dark, the signal comes up in a vibrant red colour, so that it is visible against the depth of the night. The walking signals stay active for a period of time determined by the width of the road. It’s a very clever idea and looks good when being used. I’d love to see a picture of it in use at night, but haven’t found any yet…
Via Yanko Design
Urban Hanging Chandelier by Uncovet
With modern décor, classic chandeliers have a tendency to look out of place. It is difficult to compliment the ornate sophistication which they ooze against a minimal backdrop. This Urban Hanging Chandelier by Uncovet bridges this gap, warmly welcoming the chandelier into the 21st century. The fixture consists of multiple light bulbs which are hung from reclaimed plywood. The plywood itself is hung from the ceiling with thick metal chains. The result is an industrialised light fixture that would look great in an urban inspired room. The product is enhanced further with the light bulbs being an array of shapes and sizes. This makes the item visually more appealing and will also create wonderful effects with light. The ambitious task of tackling a classic has been pulled off perfectly with this modern take on the chandelier.
Hard Drinker: Concrete Tumblers
If you’re a dedicated follower of Glassed Blog, you’ll be more than aware of my penchant for minimal, industrial design. Simple and effective, these glasses from Uncrate are a beautiful example of that niche. The concrete section of the product works as an excellent base for a tumbler, providing a stability and weight that avoids spillage. The harshness of the concrete is counteracted by the simple delicacy of the glass top. The end product is a drinking glass that mixes masculinity and femininity in perfect proportions. A glass as elegant as this can be used for any kind of beverage.
It’s In The Trees! The Mirrorcube, Treehotel
When the yearning comes for getting away from the hectic reality of modern life, few places will satiate the desire better than the Tree Hotel in Sweeden. Designed by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter, the 4x4x4 metre ‘Mirrorcube’ consists of a lightweight aluminium frame hung from a tree trunk. The structure is dressed up with reflective glass, which mirrors the natural environment outdoors and camouflages the hotel room.
Within the cube, the room is decorated in rustic, understated plywood and caters for two people. We may be touching on Tardis territory when I tell you that within this seemingly petite cube, there is a double bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and a roof terrace (not technically within!). All of this is accessed via a 12 metre bridge.
The main selling point of this novel hotel room surely has to be the 360º panoramic view of the beautiful natural surroundings that the guests have. Elevated and secluded with sights of lakes and mountains, this hotel room is design at its best.
Cloche Lamp SS13
Portable lamps aren’t something that you see too many of. The ability to transfer your light source from place to place is not something which is deemed necessary in the world of lamp design. There is a rare gem though, in this portable lamp from Plumo. The lamp is designed to be moved around and has a lengthy cord which means you can hang the lamp around anything close by. I especially like this product because the actual lamp has been upcycled from pretty, retro jars. It’d be as great an addition to a car garage as it would to a modern, industrial flat. Attractive, handy and good for the environment – this lamp has it all.
Turning Water into Wine – Revolution Water Wine Glass S-2
These glasses from Fab are a great idea if you’re low on cupboard space, or if you just hate washing multiple glasses at the end of a night. The glass has been designed so that you can fill the smaller end with wine (or the larger end, depending on your alcohol dependency), then when you’ve finished, just flip the glass over and fill the deeper end with water. The design is theoretically great, and the design is quite attractive. Overcome problems with hygiene (where has the rim of the bottom glass been?) and the likelihood of dripping wine, and you’re on to a winner!
West Elm Greenhouse Terrarium
If you lack the garden space to have a greenhouse, or don’t have a garden at all, West Elm may have the answer for you. These clever terrarium greenhouses are a miniature version for indoor use. As well as being aesthetically quite cool, they are also excellent for keeping plants within as the increased moisture means that they don’t have to be watered as often.
The greenhouses don’t necessarily have to be used for plants either. I think that they look good empty, but ultimately you can put anything inside of them, like a bell jar.
Physics Pitcher by Dot & Bo
Last week I featured a post on Pipette Vinegar Bottles that were inspired by chemistry. This water pitcher by Dot & Bo is designed in a similar vein. It uses a function inspired by science experiments to pump water through a tube where it is dispensed into a glass at the other end. This simple mechanism produces a sleek water dispenser that will get people talking at the dinner table. Dot & Bo suggest that the dispenser can be used for alternative liquids too, such as mouthwash. It would have quite a cool ‘lab’ feel to it if neon green mouthwash was stored within.
Glassed Blog | Industrial & Architectural Design/ Home Decor Ideas 