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The Best Boats: 22 Crazy Nautical Creations

16 Oct

[ By Marc in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

There is a definite appeal to life on the high sea, cruising into vast and dangerous unknowns, with just the wind at one’s back, and wood beneath the feet. For those who are not into this kind of adventure, there are other appeals to the ocean… boats! Humans have had a lot of time to experiment with boat-making, and have come up with some truly wild creations.

(Images via cafemom, boatdesign, inhabitat, ask, iliketowastemytime)

For the true landlubber with the heart of a sailor, why not bring the boat to land? The odd buildings at the top left look like they were designed just in case Noah makes a return visit, while the top right creation is only meant to look nautical (it would be difficult to float in that one). Old boats can be recycled to create beautiful barns like these retired fishing vessels on Holy Island in the United Kingdom. The Benson Ford is a retired vessel that still gazes out longingly at the sea, while another solidly land-based boat structure just takes on the appearance of an ocean-going ship.

(Images via yeahsnos, mongorocks, wherecoolthingshappen, coolest-gadgets, pastemagazine, redneckboats)

The Molokini is a clear kayak that is popular in Hawaii, as it allows the user to paddle around while still seeing the teeming sea life beneath them. The Baja Skimmer is a unique watercraft that looks like a mini, more agile version of an airboat and handles more like a jet ski. The HotTug is a mobile hot tub… it’s powered by a wood stove that heats the water inside to a comfortable temperature, while also providing energy to make it mobile. A barbeque dining boat might be the exact thing your dinner party needs. Take up to 10 adults out on the water with this waterborne food station! The Seabreecher X takes its inspiration from the most famous sea creature of them all: the shark. A video of it in action is embedded below. This last beauty is nothing but the cab of a truck on some pontoons. Whatever floats your boat, right?

(Images via brobible, dasolar, ecoble, volumatrix, hypemuch)

Concept boats can provide a great glimpse into the future of boating. Yacht Island Design’s concept is for a floating island paradise. Take the beach out on the ocean and always have a margarita in hand! On a more serious note, Solar Sailor created this concept for a ship powered by a solar sail, harnessing the sun’s energy rather than the wind’s. For a lazy sunday, consider this solar pedal boat, which is the perfect dock for sun-bathing and diving into the lake. Novague Studio came up with this solar powered boat, with a series of solar panels that can be rolled out for a recharge. The Why yacht is huge, and meant more as a sustainable living space than a typical boat for quick transport.

(Images via onemoregoodadventure)

Love love is more of a sculpture than an actual boat. Yes, it floats, and can move, but it’s main purpose is to intrigue and entertain. Created by Julien Berthier, it has been taken out several times, though it is likely approached by a lot of helpful citizens trying to save someone who is clearly in “trouble”.

(Images via senseslost, boats, anchmuni)

The Python is amphibious and incredibly powerful (video below), and most amazingly, manages to look more like a car than a boat, when most amphibious vehicles tend to be the other way around. The equally sporty looking Gibbs Aquada can transform from car to boat in a stunning 12 seconds. The Terra Wind is a motorhome that can be outfitted for water travel as well. It pushes the limits and is definitely more of a novelty than anything else.

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12 Historic Abandoned Boats, Ships and Docks

These abandoned and forgotten ships, boats and docks stand as proof of a bygone era where water transportation was used in every industry.
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Whatever Floats Your… House: 16 Amazing House Boats

With as many comforts as a modern home, house boat design has become something beautiful and breathtaking. It makes one wish their house could float.
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[ By Marc in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Boat to Go: Portable Flat-Pack Vessel Folds Up Like a Tent

16 Oct

[ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

This folding boat from design student Thibault Penven is a surprisingly effective way to keep a water conveyance with you at all times. It is surprising, of course, because one would not expect a boat to fold up and still be water-worthy – but this one does it spectacularly and without much trouble.

The project is called Ar Vag, and it quickly goes from a folded up, easily transportable waterproof skin to a one-person rowboat. The yellow waterproof skin is reinforced with rigid boards sewn inside. After unfolding, poles are inserted into pockets in the rim of the boat – kind of like tent poles – to hold the boat open.

Finally, a board holds the sides apart under tension and acts as a seat. The unfolded boat is surprisingly watertight and looks much like a normal boat – with one difference: when you’re done paddling around for the day, this one fits in the hatchback of a compact car.

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15 (More!) Flat-Pack Furniture Designs & Ideas

A pizza box that folds out into a desk? Flat-pack furniture is incredibly clever, saves space, cuts shipping waste and is fun to put together.
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Whatever Floats Your Boat: 29 Wild Watercraft

Boats are boring, right? Wrong. Here are 29 reasons why.
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[ By Delana in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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Corn Colonels: 13 Creepy Geeky Scarecrows

16 Oct

[ By Steve in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]

Not all scarecrows are outstanding in their fields (they just look that way) and not many scarecrows are creatively constructed – most farmers have other, more pressing concerns. Through design or by default, however, some scarecrows rise above their humble origins and scare a lot more than just crows. Hay, it’s in their jeans!

Gene-netically Modified?

(images via: Rocketnews24 and Himajin Sokuhou)

This demonic scarecrow used to rock & roll all night but now he just rocks… when the breeze is blowing. Better not let Gene Simmons know about this scarecrow or the Japanese farmer who installed it may receive a letter from a lawyer demanding payment of a licensing fee.

(image via: Himajin Sokuhou)

What do the local crows think of this KISS Army of one? They’re not saying, but every time one comes near the scarecrow breathes fire and spits blood.

Zombie Orc Scarecrow

(image via: Imgbit)

Ever wonder what an Orc from the Lord of the Rings film series would look like if it was struck by lightning in the middle of a meadow? Wonder no longer… and just be glad you’re meeting this epic scarecrow in broad daylight. Notice there are no crows on the scarecrow or anywhere else – they may be birds but they’re no birdbrains. Mmm, birrrrd brraaaainnns!!!!!

Dark Night of the Scarecrow

(images via: Film School Rejects, IMDB and Schlockmania)

The 1981 film Dark Night of the Scarecrow didn’t win any Oscars but it did succeed in erasing any residual cute factor engendered by Ray Bolger in The Wizard of Oz. It also gave new meaning to the phrase “going postal”. Interfere with delivery of the U.S. Mail? That’s a shootin’.

(image via: Schlockmania)

Dark Night of the Scarecrow’s plot, if we can call it that, roughly centered on a dim-witted local yokel who hides out from vengeful vigilantes inside a scarecrow. Not the ideal hideout but we did say he was dim-witted. If he only had a brain!

Minimal Material, Maximum Impact

(image via: Penn Museum)

If farming (and not that other thing) is the oldest profession, then scarecrows are older than culture itself. What did the first scarecrows look like, and how scary could they have possibly been? The minimalist scarecrow above, photographed in 1932 in rural Iran, gives us a good indication of both.

Too Ghoul for School

(images via: Toychan and Look Around Kawagoe)

Recycling old clothing is a very good thing. Recycling old Japanese sailor suit school uniforms to make the world’s creepiest scarecrows, not so much. One wonders what the former schoolgirls think when they come home to visit the folks and see their straw-stuffed doppelgangers standing silently in the back forty. That’s the signpost up ahead – your next stop, the Scarecrow Zone!

(image via: Licolita)

If it isn’t schoolgirl uniforms it’s maid outfits – sweet and adorable in real life, dark and disturbing when used to clothe scarecrows. At least the fields are kept clean and are well dusted.

The Grimm Reaper

(image via: Don33c)

Look who showed up at the peaceably-named Auburn Community Festival! Looking like the idiot lovechild of Freddy Krueger and The Thing from The Fantastic Four, this oversized guardian of all things agricultural wants you to know his favorite time of year is harvest time slash clobberin’ time… with emphasis on the slash.

Crowabunga!

(images via: Tokyo Times)

Seated deep within the verdant undergrowth threatening to take over a forlorn Japanese open-air greenhouse, it’s a wonder any crows could even see this serious-looking scarecrow let alone be afraid of him. Perhaps he’s just lulling them into a lowered state of alertness… for the LULZ, of course.

(image via: Tokyo Times)

Wasting old clothing is almost as bad as wasting chalk, and the melancholy mannequin above does double duty disseminating both messages. Yep, it’s the same serious-looking guy from the previous image though summer has flown away like a well-fed crow… DOH!

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20 More Cute, Creepy, & Geeky Urban Vinyl Collectibles

Continuing our collection, here’s a look at some incredibly cute, creepy, and even geeky urban vinyl collectibles.
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54 Creepy, Bizarre and Geeky Xmas Tree Ornaments

Divided into four sections, the following collection includes some of the creepiest, scariest, weirdest, most bizarre, and geeky Christmas ornaments for you to pick from.
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[ By Steve in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]

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Bike Campers: 12 Mini Mobile Homes for Nomadic Cyclists

16 Oct

[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

Choosing to ride a bike instead of driving a car doesn’t mean you have to forego the convenience of a camper trailer – if you’ve got the leg muscles to pull it off. From prototypes by a major German RV manufacturer to impressively innovative DIY creations, these 12 miniature mobile homes for bicycles pack lots of function into small (and not-so-small) trailers that don’t require gas or electricity to transport.

Mini Mobile Home for Bikes by Kevin Cyr

(images via: kevin cyr)

This amazing bike camper by Kevin Cyr looks exactly like a standard car camper, down to the smallest details like faux wood siding, reflectors and power inlets. For Cyr the camper is more sculptural art piece than functional recreational item, but he has definitely proven its viability by cruising it all over various cities.

Midget BushTrekka by Kamp-Rite

(images via: kamprite)

Available at Kamp-Rite, the Midget BUSHTREKKA is a lightweight bike trailer built for uneven terrain. It features three main storage compartments with over 41 gallons of storage space and fully adjustable leveling jacks. The trailer pairs with the ‘TentCot‘ to create the camper setup pictured.

Room Room Camper for Bikes & Burros</>

(images via: design boom)

The adaptable ‘Room Room’ by Encore Heureux + G Studio for ‘Crossing: Dialogues for Emergency Architecture’ Exhibition in China can be pulled by bicycle, motorcycle, donkey or on foot. Conceived as a mobile shelter for post-disaster recovery, the shelter can be picked up and hauled on its wheels, set back for sleeping or turned on its head and extended with a tent for longer-term use.

Burning Man Bike Camper

(images via: dvice)

Built for Burning Man, this camper weighs 100 pounds and is packed with a solar oven and a solar water heating system, and has a wind turbine and solar lights on the exterior.

DIY Bike Camper Inspired by Moon Rovers

(images via: bikeportland)

Spotted in Portland, this DIY bike camper was inspired by moon rovers and the moon landing vehicle.

Minimalist Wood Camper by Sakari Holma

(images via: saholm)

Finish designer Sakari Holma built this minimalist wood bike camper trailer, which is just wide enough to lay down in to ensure that the design is streamlined enough to pull without too much effort.

Little Tag Along by Kevin Cyr

(images via: kevin cyr)

The ‘Little Tag Along’ camper is another design by Kevin Cyr, with the look of a conventional camper shrunk down to bike-size. Pulled by a vintage 3-speed bicycle, Little Tag Along contains the minimum that you’d need to hunker down for the night on a regular basis – just a bed and a little bit of storage space.

Ultralight DIY Teardrop Bike Camper

(images via: tiny house design)

Michael Janzen of Tiny House Design envisions a lightweight teardrop trailer for bikes in this concept illustration, pointing out that a company called Human Powered Machines makes bike trailers that can carry up to 500 pounds. Of course, whether the person riding the bicycle can tow that much is another question.

The Caravan

(image via: eta.co.uk)

This tiny lightweight bike caravan is fancier inside than you’d expect: it fits a twin bed, a 19″ flat-screen television, an electric kettle for tea and a ‘drinks cabinet’. Optional extras include solar roof panels, a satellite dish, a gaming console, central heating and an external luggage rack.

Dethleffs Bike Camper Prototype

(image via: xhyperactive)

German RV maker Dethleffs experimented with a concept bike camper, producing a prototype that included a bed and a small kitchen.

Supertramp Fabric Bike Caravan

(image via: lehmanb)

Made largely of fabric, Lehman B’s ‘Supertramp’ is relatively roomy and even contains a wood stove. The designer took the bike around London in summer 2010, setting up near bars, restaurants, companies and galleries to inspire curiosity about living in tiny mobile spaces.

Custom Electric Bike Camper

(image via: jay nelson)

Of course, the addition of an electric motor to pull a bike camper makes this particular creation a whole different beast, but it’s still impressive. The Golden Gate by Jay Nelson has an unusual geometric exterior made of fiberglass, plywood, glass and epoxy and incorporates bicycle wheels and other bike parts. It’s got a bed,a miniature kitchen with sink, stove and cooler, a toilet and storage space, but it won’t go more than 20 miles per hour, and only gets about 10 miles per charge. Nelson uses it for trips to the beach.

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Futuristic Mobile Homes: Trailer Trash or Treasure?

With global warming threatening coastal cities and a new era of mass migration on the horizon, going mobile just might be today’s bright idea – and tomorrow’s way of life. Here are a dozen tech-packed trailers that are full of Win… without the Winnebago.
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Riding High: 30 Outrageous Bike Mods

One way to get more people to start traveling via pedal power is to add a little creativity to an otherwise mundane form of transport.
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[ By Steph in Technology & Vehicles & Mods. ]

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WebUrbanist Update: 5 Years & 50 Million Visitors Later

16 Oct

[ By WebUrbanist in Gaming & Computing & Technology. ]

Five years ago, who would have thought that what started as an offbeat visual culture weblog would turn into a full-fledged (but still and always free) cosmopolitan online magazine? After just half of a decade, WebUrbanist now has over five hundred thousand feed and email subscribers, not to mention over a million monthly visitors.

The constant curiosity of authors (including Delana, Marc, Stephanie and Steve,, with Kurt as executive editor) and ongoing diligence of developers (Jeff and Mike) has been crucial, of course. Still, at the end of the day, it would all come to nothing without you, the readers, RSS subscribers, Twitter followers, Facebook fans and Pinterest friends supporting these efforts. Your ongoing help sharing our stories with friends via email, blog posts, StumbleUpon and Reddit has been essential in building WebUrbanist’s audience and is much appreciated.

Much has happened over this long-yet-short period of time, including multiple major redesigns of the publication, from the underlying code to numerous iterations its layout and logo. We hope this ongoing evolution seems fitting, though, since the core topics we cover – architecture, art, design, travel and technology – all revolve around creative exploration, iteration and (re)invention.

For anyone new to the site – or at least its latest redesign – we recently re-categorized every single article in the archives. Each individual past post can now be found under exactly one of five main sections (per the paragraph above) as well as one of twenty-five subcategories , linked in various ways on every page, including via a new drop-down menu on the sidebar. We hope this helps make the ever-larger annals more accessible to new and existing readers alike. Thanks again for your patronage – now onto the next five years!

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WebUrbanist Turns One Year Old: From Past Favorites to Future Developments

Has it really been that long? It is hard to believe how much the site has changed and evolved in just one year.
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WebUrbanist Update: The Past, Present and Future of Your Favorite Urban Weblog

More extreme urban sports, skateboardable signage c/o Christof Damian
Regular readers know by now that there isn’t much self-conscious metablogging on WebUrbanist. The site is mostly about pro…
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[ By WebUrbanist in Gaming & Computing & Technology. ]

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Giant-Sized Stabbing Scenes: Street Art at Knife Point

26 Sep

[ By Steph in Drawing & Digital. ]

At first glance, these scenes are disturbing: a man and a woman lay immobile on sidewalks, streets and stairwells, pools of red gushing from their abdomens. But then you realize that the weapon that has ‘murdered’ them is absurdly large – and made of cardboard. German-based artists Maria Luján and Wolfgang Krug set out to make murder funny with their street art project ‘The Knife.’

The knife itself is as large as the victim, and no attempt has been made to make it look realistic in any way. The blood is simply paper.

Luján and Krug take turns strapping the knife to each other and laying down in conspicuous places throughout Berlin, where they’ll be seen by lots of passersby.

Whether these onlookers are disturbed, confused or amused, the artists have certainly livened up their day a little.

What’s the point of these cartoonish cardboard crime scenes? There’s no serious commentary on violence to be found here. According to Krug, the pair took on the project “Just for the fun of it.”

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The Big Picture: 5 NEW Giant-Sized Image Galleries

Showcasing amazing photography from creative photographers around the world in various sizes and styles, using unique techniques for famous subjects and large-scale work.
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Tiny, Magical Worlds Inside Toilet Paper Rolls

Artist Anastassia Elias creates captivating little worlds with the most mundane of materials: toilet paper rolls.
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[ By Steph in Drawing & Digital. ]

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Villa Savoye: Classic Corbu House Comes to Life in LEGO

04 Sep

One of the most iconic buildings of the 20th Century, the Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier outside of Paris, France has long been a symbol of the International Style in Modern Architecture – now one you can rebuild at home in LEGO form.

In fact, a model version is perhaps the best way to understand this structure, as its accomplishments are not all visible from ground-level photographs – particularly the compelling sectional progression and three-dimensionally-complex rooftop deck.

The structure embodies Corbu’s core Five Points regarding residential design, being (1) supported by structural columns and elevated to create space below, (2) topped by a garden, reclaiming additional outdoor space displaced by the building, (3) open floor plans, (4) horizontal fenestration and (5) freely-designed facades. Of the Architecture Landmark Series by LEGO, this may be the most instructive model to date for young aspiring architects (ages 12 and up, that is!).

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Real Large LEGO: Concrete Bridge Turned to Colorful Brick

Weathered concrete sides suddenly give way to crisp, clean, multi-colored LEGO blocks stretched across thin air, looking more like something from Minecraft (or Photoshop) than reality.
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Totally Tron: Real-Life Designs Based on a Retro Movie Classic

While we wait patiently for the release of Tron: Legacy, these designers are putting their energy to good use and creating all sorts of Tron-inspired goodness.
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Tiger Stripes to Cow Spots: 13 Playful Home Paint Jobs

25 Aug

What would your homeowners association say if you were to step way, way outside the bounds of normal home exteriors and do something way creative with your home’s appearance? These people did just that, and their homes have some of the wildest, weirdest paint jobs in the world.

(image via: artofthestate)

Stanley Donwood, the artist behind some of the most iconic artwork associated with the band Radiohead, has a signature style that is replicated on the side of this home in Ladbroke Grove in England.

(image via: FunkyDowntown)

Fans of the uber-cute Sanrio creation Hello Kitty know that the whiskered one can be found on literally every kind of merchandise. This incredible “castle” in Shanghai, China not only features the famous feline and an appropriately pink color scheme on the exterior; the interior is chock full of Hello Kitty accessories and furniture.

(image via: nodigio)

This polka dotted home would be perfect for a resident with a bubbly personality. Its fun multi-colored pattern no doubt draws plenty of stares and smiles as people pass by.

(image via: The Telegraph)

In Usk, South Wales, a homeowner who was extremely fond of the movie 101 Dalmatians decided to create an unusual tribute to the black and white dogs by painting this house white with black spots. They look more like cow spots to us, but we aren’t picky – it’s still an excellently playful paint scheme.

(image via: Apartment Therapy)

Believe it or not, there is a house hiding in this photo. The Austin, Texas home was painted in the style of the US Army’s Universal Camouflage Pattern, resulting in a home that actually manages to stand out from its surroundings despite its best attempts to blend in.

(images via: LA Weekly and Daily Mail)

Fans of fashion will immediately recognize these high-profile patterns. The first, a bungalow in Mexico, was painted to look like the logo of the famed French fashion house Louis Vuitton – and then appropriately hidden behind a tall security fence. The second is the home of artist Jans Werner, painted to look like the signature tartan pattern of UK fashion brand Burberry.

(image via: The Telegraph)

People who paint their own homes in crazy colors or patterns are one thing…but this tiger-striped home was painted by the owners’ friends while the owners were away on their honeymoon. Would you be able to forgive your friends for a “gift” like this?

(image via: Cat Rocketship)

Zebras have stripes in order to blend in with one another and deter predators from attacking what looks like one gigantic animal, but the same concept doesn’t quite work with this solitary house in Basset, Nebraska.

(image via: ChicagoGeek)

The zebra house might want to steer clear of Chicago, which is where this leopard-spotted house spends its days, lounging in the sun and waiting for an unsuspecting antelope house to wander by.

(image via: The Telegraph)

This house in Penrith, Cumbria, England is surrounded by otherwise normal-looking row houses. Its bizarre pink background filled with smiling yellow happy faces sure is weird, but it probably causes a lot of smiles, so it’s hard to find fault with it – unless you live next door, of course.

(image via: Dystopos)

This building in Birmingham, Alabama is technically a garage, not a house, but its beautiful rainbow exterior is so cheery that it warrants inclusion.

(image via: m.a.r.c.)

Looking like a gigantic lava lamp, this townhouse in Basel, Switzerland calls to mind the psychedelic 60s – or maybe the carefree days of blowing bubbles in the backyard and watching them float toward the clouds.

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Bridging Home: House Wedged in an Alleyway by Do Ho Suh

A tiny traditional Korean house is wedged between two more conventional buildings in Liverpool, England, in artist Do Ho Suh’s installation ‘Bridging Home.’
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Haunted House? The Abandoned Mansion of Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is known as the visionary head of Apple, but there were other facets to his life as well. This is the tale of his magnificent abandoned mansion.
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Transforming Decor Reveals Secrets via Spills, Wear & Tear

25 Aug

Kristine Bjaadal creates objects with hidden stories to tell – everyday objects with secret tales shown only under strange circumstances, such as tabletop spills or time-worn seating.

A small change making a big impact on the future is known as the butterfly effect. In this case, the accidental tipping of a glass reveals a flock of butterflies lying invisible but in wait right on your tablecloth, titled Underfull.

Or consider the inevitability of fabric wearing thin on your favorite upholstered chair – what if that almost-invariably negative process were turned into something positive, via, say, a pattern that emerges as the surface material layer gets slowly stripped away, named Underskog.

Along similar lines, but requiring less time (but perhaps some until you or your guest notices it), are these so-called Undertone dishes with out-of-sight rings of color below their raised edges. It is only when picked up – or better yet: spotted in reflection on the top of a table – that these tones become clearly visible.

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Wild Wallpaper: Interactive Decor You Can Rip & Color

Hanging wallpaper is made much more fun when you get to paint and peel it, revealing intricate geometric patterns that won’t be found on any other wall.
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10 (More) Pieces of Clever Transforming Furniture: From Tetris Tables to Rooms in a Box

Be sure to scroll all the way down: the best (pictured briefly above) has been saved for last!
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Striking Gravel-Covered Japanese House is a Study in Contrasts

25 Aug

Monolithic and dramatic, the two-story Ginan House by Keitaro Muto Architects is a wedge-shaped residence with a dark gravel-covered exterior that contrasts beautifully with a stark white interior. Located on the far end of a long and narrow plot, the house features a small swimming pool that extends into a glass-walled niche to create shimmering light effects inside.

The rough surface of the outside walls continue indoors, producing sharp transitions in color and texture from one wall to the next. Vast expanses of white elongate slanted interior walls, and voids throughout the home let streams of daylight in.

Another interesting feature of the inside is a metal bridge that extends across one of these voids to enable access to a walk-in closet and bathroom.

The client requested that the architect leave most of the home site as a garden space. In covering the home with the same gravel that makes up the surface of the garden outside, the architects made the residence seem as if it’s an extension of the garden – one massive sculptural object to contemplate from a quiet place.

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Cloud House Elevates Organic Architecture to New Heights

An unassuming Edwardian residence in Australia gets an incredibly unexpected cloud-shaped addition perched on the edge of a sky-blue pool.
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Open House(s): 10 Wonderful Open-Plan Home Designs

Open floor plans allow even the smallest cottage to seem spacious and luxurious. These 10 homes with open plans are the pinnacle of modern architectural design.
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