Creativity « 360Photography

RSS

Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category

Ultimate DIY RV: High-Tech Caravan Made for a 4-Year-Old

30 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

kirivan all terrain vehicle

Named after its creator’s progeny, the Kirivan may be the most impressive mobile home ever made, using cutting-edge technologies to blend the best elements of a luxury motorhome, zombie apocalypse vehicle and high-tech hideout.

kirivan design diagram sketch

2204_FF_ALLTERRAIN_DH_bf_08-cab-ext_0219.tif

Inspired by the birth of his daughter, innovator and inventor Bran Ferren began this incredible multi-year project in anticipation of future travel. The resulting adventure vehicle is designed to drive for up to 2,000 miles without stopping for supplies and features a pop-up penthouse for use as Kira’s personal retreat.

kivivan apocalypse proof ride

2204_FF_ALLTERRAIN_DH_bf_03-trailer-family_0071.tif

As Wired reports, the vision involved “a mix of high-powered machinery, bomb-shelter self-sufficiency, and luxe-life accoutrements. It would be a mobile, malleable five-star fortress. It could form the centerpiece of his and Kira’s exploration of the world and be her ride into the future.” (infographic diagram below by Bryan Christie Design)

kirivan descriptive diagram view

So how does one man find the time, skills and money for such an ambitious undertaking? Ferren is the former head of research and development for Disney’s Imagineering department, for starters, and currently heads Applied Minds, a design and technology company that has done work for everyone from General Motors to the US Air Force. All of this shows in the design, which reflects a hybrid of engineering strategies appropriated from the design of land, air and even space vehicles.

2204_FF_ALLTERRAIN_DH_bf_02-trailer-controls_0032.tif

kirivan front unit view

A futuristic marvel with endless technological surprises, this all-terrain vehicle is designed to climb 45-degree slopes, use thermal imaging for road analysis, deploy advance drones to scout out obstacles ahead and so much more. On the flip side of its amazing array of safety features are a range of luxury ones as well, including comfortable seats, a full kitchen and bathroom and other amenities that provide for far more than mere survival. Of course, it is also a work in progress – there no doubt this creative dad will evolve ever more functionality as his child grows older as well.

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Composite Crime Scenes: NYC Past Patched onto Present

29 Apr

[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

NYC Crime Scene Collage 1

Murdered gangsters, car crashes and four-alarm fires are nearly forgotten in the peaceful present day, but this photo series reminds us that the past is not so far away. Photographer Marc A. Hermann, a historian with the New York Press Photographers Association, lays old New York City crime scene photos on top of their present-day locations for dramatic juxtapositions of time period and mood.

NYC Crime Scene Collage 2

Warning: these are real crime scene photos, and aren’t for the faint of heart. The very recently deceased are seen cradled in the arms of their loved ones, or sprawled out on the floor. The top photo depicts a distraught woman who climbed onto the ledge of her building; the second shows the Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary aflame.

NYC Crime Scenes 6

NYC Crime Scene Collage 4

The demise of gangsters Salvatore ‘Sammy’ Santoro and Frankie Yale can be seen after a shooting and a car crash, respectively. A woman hides her face in mourning of her sister in front of the ruins of a car. Firefighters battle a blaze at the Elkins Paper & Twine Co. that claimed the lives of six people.

NYC Crime Scene Collage 5

NYC Crime Scene Collage 3

In each photograph, the black-and-white historical image contrasts sharply with the modernized full-color setting. Tourists stroll past the scenes of some of the city’s most tragic disasters, completely unaware. The message seems to be that life goes on, but the ghostly imprints of those incidents remain. See the full series at New York Daily News.

[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Small Space Hacks: 24 Tricks for Living in Tiny Apartments

29 Apr

[ By Steph in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

Small Apartment Hacks Main

Making the most of a tiny apartment is all about smart use of space, organization and multi-purpose furniture. Here are 24 examples of clever small-space hacks that pack in a ton of function while avoiding clutter, like lofted platforms, hidden jewelry storage, fold-down tables and DIY slide-out pantries.

Space-Saving Bedroom Sets

Small Apartment Hacks Bed 1

Small Apartment Hacks Bed 2

Small Apartment Hacks Bed 3

Compact bedroom sets can fit everything you need and more into a tiny room without even taking up the full space. The Matroshka All-in-One furniture set measures just 13 square feet when it’s all packed up, but pulls out into a double bed, bookshelves, a corner couch, a desk, a wardrobe, a dining table, four stools and additional storage. Another option is a couch that cleverly flips up into a bunk bed in one swift motion. Lofted bedroom sets (most often made for kids and teens) are available in a wide variety of colors and styles and often include desks and even extra beds for guests.

Elevated Platforms for Sleeping and Working

Space Saving Hacks Platform 1

Space Saving Hacks Platform 3

Small Apartment Hacks Wooden Platform bed

When faced with minimal square footage, we tend to focus on floor space and ignore all of the usable real estate on the walls. If you’ve got ceiling height, take advantage of it with lofted designs that lift beds, storage or work spaces, freeing up room on the floor. These designs can be built-in or portable like furniture. A Portland couple with a 704-square-foot home used vertical space to pack in a closet and other storage areas under a lounge and workspace. A bed tucked under the stairs could be a creative way to use what’s often wasted space, and a simple handmade free-standing wooden platform elevates a bed over a dining area.

Magnetic & Mason Jar Storage for the Bathroom

Space Saving Hacks bathroom

Keeping bathrooms clutter-free is a challenge when you’re dealing with tons of small items like cosmetics, toiletries, tweezers and bobby pins. Use an IKEA magnetic knife strip to corral metal items, or create a mason jar organizer for cotton balls, makeup brushes and more. An easy way to alter your medicine cabinet to fit more stuff involves simply placing a sheet of precut galvanized steel along its back wall and adding magnetic hooks and containers.

Maximizing Cabinet and Wall Space in the Kitchen

Small Apartment Hacks Kitchen Storage

Small Apartment Hacks Canned Food Organizer

A simple towel bar keeps pot lids out of the way, whether you mount it on the wall or inside a cabinet. Update Julia Child’s classic kitchen pegboard by painting it a custom color and use it for pots, pans, lids, tools and spices. That empty space next to your refrigerator is practically begging to be put to use; a simple DIY pantry on casters hides away a surprising amount of food. And if you’re not up to breaking out the hammer and nails, check out custom cabinet organizers like the Rev-a-Shelf swing-out pantry system.

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Small Space Hacks 24 Tricks For Living In Tiny Apartments

[ By Steph in Design & Furniture & Decor. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Glow-in-the-Dark Highways: Free Lighting Hits the Streets

28 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

smart highway now reality

Proposed just two years ago, this alternative solar-powered passive streetlight system is now already a reality, deployed along motorways across the Netherlands. As one reporter put it after riding along the newly-transformed highways: “It looks like you are driving through a fairytale.”

sustainable_highway_2

smart highway changing lights

This is just the beginning of a Smart Highway approach designed to adapt surfaces to the needs of drivers. Constituent ideas include the display of relevant contextual information directly on roadways (including traffic and weather conditions) as well as direct wireless car charging.

smart highway side lights

smart highway road system

Other new ideas from Studio Roosegaarde include the possibility of turning street materials into smog attractors, reducing the spread of pollutants by pulling harmful particulates right out of the air. Despite the compelling design component, their creator describes these innovations as reforms rather than designs – ways of improving everyday life and personal safety.

[ By WebUrbanist in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Photo Finished: 9 Snappy Camera-Shaped Buildings

28 Apr

[ By Steve in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

Yo dawg, these 9 camera-shaped buildings allow you to take selfies with your camera in front of buildings built to look like cameras. Now say “cheesy”!

The Big Camera – Perth, Australia

The Big Camera Meckering Australia (images via: Sascha Grant, About Australia, Philip Gostelow and Crosby Family)

The Big Camera, located about 130km (80-odd miles) east of Perth in Meckering, claims to be “the only museum, totally dedicated to photography, open to the public anywhere in Western Australia.” Well, mostly open. A note to trivia fans: Meckering’s original name was Beebering, and Baby are we glad they changed it!

The Big Camera Meckering Australia (image via: Our Naked Australia)

In addition to displaying unique items of photographic memorabilia dating back to before the invention of photography itself, The Big Camera exhibits information relating to the 6.9 magnitude Meckering Earthquake of 1968 that destroyed most of the town’s buildings. We’re not sure if The Big Camera itself was built before the terrible tembor but if so, it must be shockproof.

Picture Perfect Nail Salon – Marion, NC, USA

Picture Perfect Nail Salon Marion NC camera (images via: Topix)

Step 1: Design your camera store in Marion, North Carolina to look like a big ‘ol camera. Step 2: Spend too much money on construction and end up selling your nifty camera-shaped store before it even opens. Step 3: Profit? Well, two out of three ain’t bad. Hopefully the “Picture Perfect Nail Salon”, which moved into the nearly completed building just after the images above were taken, is looking after Step 3 by raking in dough hand over fist.

The Darkroom – Hollywood & More

The Darkroom Los Angeles camera store (image via: Sheridan ATV Film Festival)

The Darkroom, located at 5370 Wilshire Boulevard on Los Angeles, California’s Miracle Mile, opened in the mid-to-late 1930s. The store featured a nine foot tall black glass facade and window that aped the look of a period Argus 35mm camera.

The Darkroom camera store Disney (images via: Yesterland, Topazladygem and AllEars.net)

After the store shut (or shuttered) its doors for good, the location re-opened as a Mexican restaurant whose cosmetic exterior refinements couldn’t hide The Darkroom’s original humungous camera lens. Fans of programmatic architecture shouldn’t shed too many tears, however. The Disney company has perpetuated The Darkroom’s unique look by incorporating extensive elements of the design into its wholly-owned camera & photography supply stores located in Disney theme parks around the world.

Diego Castillo Roa’s Art Decal

Diego Castillo Roa camera decal window (image via: PetaPixel)

Ever wonder what would happen if you turned a camera-shaped building inside out? Us neither but Chilean artist Diego Castillo Roa has done the next best thing: turned a circular window into a jumbo camera lens that, in the words of the Boomtown Rats, is “always looking atcha ah-ah-ah-ah!” Roa’s purely decorative concept saves tons’o’bucks by not requiring your home to actually look like a camera, though at least one big round window is one firm requirement. Not being perturbed by living in a fishbowl is another.

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Photo Finished 9 Snappy Camera Shaped Buildings

[ By Steve in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Indestructable Cabin: Steel-Clad Apocalypse Home on Stilts

26 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

raised cabin stairs entry

Steel shutters and sliding doors turn this award-winning lofted cabin into an ultra-secure shelter on demand, while stilts raise it up and help protect it from periodic floods.

raised olson kundig architects

raised cabin award winning

At the heart of the design is a giant steel panel that slides into place to close off the building then slides aside, suspended along a dramatic cantilevered steel beam.

raised cabin sliding wall

raised cabin closed context

As an outstanding response both to site conditions and client wishes, the Sol Duc Cabin by Olson Kundig Architects (photographs by Benjamin Benschneider), received one this year’s American Institute of Architects Housing Awards.

raised cabin forest section

raised cabin diagram 3d

raised forest cabin steel

A steampunk-worthy system of cranks, levers, gears and wheels allows the occupants to slide the main and subsidiary window-covering panels open and closed manually, engaging with the architecture.

raised cabin windows deck raised cabin kitchen loft

“The cabin’s rugged patina and raw materiality respond to the surrounding wilderness while its verticality provides a safe haven during occasional floods from the nearby river.” Rusticated metal siding blends with the surrounding environment while clean wood surfaces provide for visual contrast and a modern interior.

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Eavesdropping Lamp Records & Tweets Conversations

26 Apr

[ By Steph in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

Conversnitch 1

In ordinary circumstances, it would be fair to say that your paranoia levels are off the charts if you really think a nearby lamp is spying on you. But that might not be an accurate assessment anymore now that surveillance devices can be placed virtually anywhere – especially with the arrival of the Conversnitch. This cheap device looks like an ordinary light bulb, but it records the conversations of oblivious strangers and posts them on Twitter.

Conversnitch 2

Artists Kyle McDonald and Brian House built the device for a mere $ 100 using Raspberry Pi and a microphone to record audio. It works anywhere with access to wifi. The text translation isn’t instantaneous, however; rather than using a talk-to-text translator, the artists pay to have the audio transcribed through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform. McDonalds, libraries, public parks, cafes – no place is safe.

Conversnitch 3

Most of the overheard conversations are predictably banal. Snippets from the Conversnitch Twitter account include things like “I had the best dream this morning! It was about Eddie Vedder and we were swimming in a pool and in love.” “Did you eat any of my tater tots while I was gone? It sure looks like you did ’cause I couldn’t have eaten that many.”

Conversnitch 4

The creators acknowledge that a device like this could be used for illegal purposes, and infringe upon privacy rights and expectations. They aim to stimulate conversation about how surveillance devices can disrupt what we believe should be private moments. But given that they provide full instructions to build your own cheap surveillance lamp, they’re making it disturbingly easy to disseminate devices that do just that.

[ By Steph in Gadgets & Geekery & Technology. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Cracked-Earth Desert Canopy Shelters Underground Oasis

25 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

underground park abu dhabi

Splitting at the seams like sections of sun-baked desert, this expansive park opens to the sky between a network of gaps and provides shade for people and plant life below. A sunken oasis designed by Thomas Heatherwick Studios, this massive Al Fayah Park will span over 1.3 million square feet and feature play and picnic areas, performance spaces and festival venues, vegetable gardens and native flowers amid rivers and other water features.

cracked desert underground retreat

Anyone familiar with places like Black Rock City, Nevada will recognize the shape driving the design concept, but these are more than just an architect’s affectation. Beyond its naturalistic source of visual inspiration, the landscaping strategy speaks to climactic conditions in the United Arab Emirates – the sheltering dome of leaf-like decks keeps things cool below, but also helps prevent moisture loss.

subterrean people plants water

From the designers: “By creating partial shade for plants, the canopy reduces the amount of water lost to evaporation, improving the park’s energy efficiency and sustainability. Whilst providing shade in the daytime, the elevated plates also become a network of unique meeting places in the cooler evening hours.”

underground park panoramic viw

underground park water features

‘This sunken oasis becomes a landscape of plants, mature trees and a cluster of public recreational spaces. The 20-metre-high shaded garden is conceived as a place for families to gather and picnic, as well as a place for learning and festivals.”

desert sand subterranean space

For those potential critics who still see the structure as somewhat too literal, it is worth noting the wide-ranging appeal of something so iconic to potential international tourists. Whether the shapes seem striking or trite to a given person’s tastes, part of the purpose of the design is to be recognizable and ultimately draw in visitors from around the world. One question still worth raising, though, might be its fit in the site context – will it blend into the surrounding ground or stand out in the city?

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Shattered Sunsets: Broken Mirror Photos of Evening Skies

25 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Photography & Video. ]

broken mirror sky clouds

Spanning multiple feet in each direction, these giant-sized photo prints transform the light and color of ordinary sunset scenes, reflecting them through a chaotic lens of unpredictable distortions.

broken mirror evening sky

Bing Wright, a New York photographer, exhibited this series of abstract stained-glass-like landscapes of water, trees, clouds and sky earlier this year at the Paula Cooper Gallery.

broken mirror sunset photo

broken mirror orangered

Titled Broken Mirror /Evening Sky, the set represents a break from his black-and-white work of the past decade, dealing with issues of “depth of field, scale, surface and materiality” and of course: color.

broken mirror reds oranges

broken mirror blues purples

The result is a disjointed set of overlapping refractions and out-of-focus subjects that our mind then works to piece back together, and which compels us to consider the color before completely comprehending the composition.

broken reflection photo series

broken mirror whites blues

About the artist: “Bing Wright was born in Seattle in 1958 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Columbia University, New York. His work been shown in exhibitions at the New Museum, New York; White Columns, New York; the Queens Museum of Art, New York; and the Tang Museum and Art Gallery, Saratoga Springs, among others.”

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Photography & Video. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

WebUrbanist

Comments Off

Posted in Creativity

Jenga-Like Hotel Made of Stacked Shipping Containers

24 Apr

[ By Steph in Architecture & Offices & Commercial. ]

Hive Inn Shipping Container Hotel 1

Shipping containers plastered in stark graphic branding are stacked in a Jenga-like configuration within a steel frame at the Hive-Inn, a concept hotel by OVA Studio. Individual units can easily be moved in and out for a constantly-changing design, with one-of-a-kind hotel suites traveling from one place to another.

Hive Inn Shipping Container Hotel 2

Hive Inn Shipping Container Hotel 3

Each container gets a unique interior design created by a brand, whether a luxury fashion house like Louis Vuitton, a tech company like Samsung or a celebrity like Lady Gaga. The advertiser’s branding is also painted on the exterior, creating an experience that immerses the occupants in the sponsor’s chosen visuals.

Hive Inn Shipping Container Hotel 4

Hive Inn Shipping Container Hotel 6

While some people aren’t crazy about feeling like ads are being force-fed to them, it’s not hard to imagine die-hard fans of companies like, say, Ferrari, jumping at the chance to stay in one of these rooms.

Hive Inn Shipping Container Hotel 5

OVA envisions the containers being leased to individuals or companies who need temporary space, used not just as hotel rooms but also offices or retail stores. The containers plug into a grid system with a service core and slots for small terraces.

360Photography

Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category

Ultimate DIY RV: High-Tech Caravan Made for a 4-Year-Old

Composite Crime Scenes: NYC Past Patched onto Present

Small Space Hacks: 24 Tricks for Living in Tiny Apartments

Space-Saving Bedroom Sets

Elevated Platforms for Sleeping and Working

Magnetic & Mason Jar Storage for the Bathroom

Maximizing Cabinet and Wall Space in the Kitchen

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Small Space Hacks 24 Tricks For Living In Tiny Apartments

Glow-in-the-Dark Highways: Free Lighting Hits the Streets

Photo Finished: 9 Snappy Camera-Shaped Buildings

The Big Camera – Perth, Australia

Picture Perfect Nail Salon – Marion, NC, USA

The Darkroom – Hollywood & More

Diego Castillo Roa’s Art Decal

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Photo Finished 9 Snappy Camera Shaped Buildings

Indestructable Cabin: Steel-Clad Apocalypse Home on Stilts

Eavesdropping Lamp Records & Tweets Conversations

Cracked-Earth Desert Canopy Shelters Underground Oasis

Shattered Sunsets: Broken Mirror Photos of Evening Skies

Jenga-Like Hotel Made of Stacked Shipping Containers

Pages

Archives

Categories

Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Intelligent Interstates: 5 High-Tech ‘Smart Highway’ Systems

High Tech to High Fashion: Upscale 3D-Printed Designs

Drive & Live Off Grid: Convertible Mobile Caravan Concept

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

San Francisco Past & Present: Blended Images from 1906 and 2012

Back to the Future: Timeless Photography of Past and Present

Year 1 Update: The Past, Present and Future of WebUrbanist

Space-Saving Bedroom Sets

Elevated Platforms for Sleeping and Working

Magnetic & Mason Jar Storage for the Bathroom

Maximizing Cabinet and Wall Space in the Kitchen

Next Page – Click Below to Read More: Small Space Hacks 24 Tricks For Living In Tiny Apartments

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Fresh Spin: Rounded Space-Saving Clothes Drying Rack

Prototype to Reality: Super Space-Saving Bedroom Set

15 Off-the-Wall Furnishings to Transform Your Living Space

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Natural Lighting: Grow Your Own Glow-in-the-Dark Plants

Glow in the Dark World: 12 Smart Illuminated Inventions

Glow-in-the-Dark Home Furniture Lights Up Nights

The Big Camera – Perth, Australia

Picture Perfect Nail Salon – Marion, NC, USA

The Darkroom – Hollywood & More

Diego Castillo Roa’s Art Decal

Next Page – Click Below to Read More: Photo Finished 9 Snappy Camera Shaped Buildings

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Camera-Shaped Cafe Offers Picture-Perfect Cups of Coffee

Calling Home: 9 Towering Smartphone-Shaped Buildings

Aren’t We Nautical: 10 Swell Ship-Shaped Buildings

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Norway Mountain Cabin Roof Doubles as a Ski Slope

Crazy Cargo: 30 Steel Shipping Container Home Designs

Bunyan’s Pride: 19 Log Cabins That Stack Above The Rest

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Invisible Cities: Tweets and Photos as Terrain on a Map

Mixed Message: Cork Lamp Doubles as Memo Post

Brilliant: 15 Innovative Lamp, Lighting & Light Bulb Designs

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Desert Designs: Amazing Homes & Oasis-Oriented Architecture

Urban Reuse Goes Underground: Subterranean Community Park

Deserted Parisian Metro Stops as Underground Pools & More

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Gallery: 24 Beautiful HDR Photos of Abandoned Places

Perfect Pitch: Impossibly Starry City Skies in Blackest Night

Czech Photographer’s Controversial & Subversive Art Photos

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Stacked on Silos: Shipping Containers Reclaimed as Dorms

Sleeping Around: Pop-Up Hotel in a Shipping Container

Alley Stack: Brooklyn Home Made of 5 Shipping Containers

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Small Space Hacks 24 Tricks For Living In Tiny Apartments

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Photo Finished 9 Snappy Camera Shaped Buildings