Bartosz Mucha's Collection of Beech Clothes Pin Objects

Clothes Pin Lamp.

Some amazing idea by Bartosz Mucha! A collection of beech objects based on the shaped of clothes spin.

Clothes Pin Pencil

Clothes Pin Cross.

Clothes Pin Hanger for a Handle.

Clothes Pin Butter Knife.

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Espresso Solo by Shmuel Linski

I love espresso machine and this 'Espresso Solo', a concrete espresso machine designed by Shenkar College of Engineering and Design student Shmuel Linski from Israel makes only espresso: short and long.

'The design process begun in choosing the material: I chose concrete. I had a vision: concrete in the kitchen, not only as a wall or decorative part, I wanted it to be a desirable consumer product.

The contrast between the roughness, massiveness and hardness of the concrete and the fine metal parts, which are dealing with the coffee preparation process, was very challenging and interesting for me.

The machine works with coffee beans: they are poured from the top part. The water is poured into “water drawer” in the back.'

-Shmuel Linski.

Check out 'Tea=time + Sugar=time by Erez Bar-am, another student from (graduate) the Shenkar College of Engineering & Design.

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The Colorful 'Puddle'- An Installation by Ryuji Nakamura

Photo by Ryuji Nakamura.

An installation for design & science meeting "Earth: materials for design", 'Puddle' was recently exhibit between 19 May- 7 June 2010 at Miraikan, Koto-ku, Tokyo.

material: cellophane
size:         1820x1820x150
qurator:  mao imaizumi, masanori onishi

Photo by Ryuji Nakamura.

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Bench Between Pillars by Ryuji Nakamura

photo by ryuji nakamura architects.

photo by ryuji nakamura architects.

Designed by Ryuki Nakamura Architects, the 'Bench Between Pillars' is a 7ft. rest place in Seibu Ikebukuro Flagship Store, Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo. Completed on 26 June 2010, these hammock-like rest place is made from vinyl sheet for floor with dimensions the of w8270 x d1273 x h2330 x sh450.

photo by ryuji nakamura architects.

photo by ryuji nakamura architects.

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Green Footwear

GRASS SNEAKER by Wendy Golden.
(Photo by Wendy Golden)

Could these be the current footwear trend? The 'Green' effect of materials used such as this 'Grass Sneaker' by Wendy Golden applied mixed grasses & linen thread on her work.

'Working predominately in natural fibres, my sneaker is crafted from the most common of materials – grass. The ‘logo’ or flash on the side of the sneaker of an arrow travelling backwards utilises an endemic fern. The increasing loss of such small plants in large housing developments is indicative of a backwards step. As sneakers replace Blundstones on the pavements, I ponder the increasing impacts of footprints on our fragile environment.'

INTRODUCING SPECIES Shoe by Beth Hatton.
(Photos by Ian Hobbs)

'Introducing Species' shoe by Beth Hatton is based on convict's shoe pattern.
"Convicts were the main source of labour for the early surveyors and settlers, and were given the really hard jobs such as working the surveyor's chains and clearing the bush. So I realised that convicts would have been the first to set foot in many parts of Lake George, and therefore one of their shoes could easily carry my ideas about the introduction of weeds to the early colony.
By good fortune I came across Peter Sinclair who makes and wears replicas of early convict shoes. Using his pattern pieces I set about making my shoe with a mixture of indigenous grasses and some of Lake George's most pervasive weeds. As friends have commented, it is a clodhopper of a shoe yet still has a jaunty feel about t. The early convicts themselves were a cheeky lot. Not at all daunted by lowly position, they talked back to their masters., stole from them, got drunk and ran away at every opportunity. I like to think that their larrikin spirit expressed itself somehow in the making of my shoe."

3 Sets of FIBRE SHOES by Therese Flynn-Clarke.

These 3 sets of Fibre Shoes by Therese Flynn-Clarke use materials such as Alexander palm sheath, rubber tree stipules, linen thread, ceramics, dodder, Date palm inflorescence, Nepalese raw silk & stitched seaweed.

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Villa Saitan by Eastern Design Office

 Photo by Koichi Torimura.

Villa Saitan in Nishioji-hachijo, Kyoto is sitting on a 16m x 19m lot size which has proved that the architects, Anna Nakamura and Taiyo Jinno from Eastern Design Office has provides an architecture answer on how to build a low collective housing in a quiet but dense place. The villa itself were inspired by the idea of an "immortal tree". This is because the villa land was once the site of shihachijo-palace, the residence for the hero of Japanese classical tragedy, Tale of Heike. The tale was at the stage of the rise and fall of a clan in the 12th century, because of that such old and sad memory is cherished and still told among the people of this neighborhood. Therefore, Eastern Design office think collective housing that is built on a place with such historical value should not be of any average apartment house and because of that too, they came out with this Villa Saitan, which does not take vaguely a shape of a tree, but rather an intense and massive form with a hint of movement.

"Tan" in Villa Saitan is

'the color of the shrine gates, vermilion. It is also the color of pale red granite stone, Vermilion will not be weathered. It is said that vermillion is a sacred color and it used to be applied on serving dishes and bows and arrows to make them holy. Sai means variety of beautiful colors that make something more attractive.'

- Eastern Design Office.

Villa Saitan which looks like one big house of its own consists of 11 units apartment. The architecture is covered with a concrete wall in which holes with shapes that resembles a trunk, leaves, a root and bulbs are cut which could also be seen as clouds floating over trees.

The concrete shapes resembles a hollow cave of light and sunbeams filtered through trees which were developed based on the following method:

1. lined up balconies of average collective housing are completely hidden for Villa Saitan.

2. there is no balcony for each room.

3. the ceiling height of one room is raised.

4. dwelling units are elevated 1m from the ground,

5. floor level of entrance and apartments is different.

6. center of the wall surface is curved.

7. the center of architecture facade is sculptured.

8. a curved winding slit is made on the curved wall surface.

9. the shape of the holes matches the winding slit.

10. the results is one shape of a plant growing roots undulating from it.

'Since curved holes are made on a carved wall surface, it is inevitable that the section of the holes is also twisted. This distortion resembles the shape of plants and the organic and free style of nature. The entrance to the house is from the root carved into the center of the front wall. An inner pathway peculiar to Kyoto can be found there. An inner pathway is a narrow corridor which runs from street to street and from lot to lot. In this project the inner path is connected to the garden of the town house of the client. He manages this collective housing by himself. It is his daily routine to do sweeping, arranging flowers at the entrance, and watering the path. Thus he enjoys his post-retirement years.'

- Eastern Design Office.

 Photos by Koichi Torimura.

Sketches by Eastern Design Office.

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