I always wanted my bedroom (which happens to be my favorite place) to look like the one I saw in the fairytales. I always wondered if I would ever find a bed like the one on which Sleeping Beauty slumbered for years. Well, I’m happy I finally found one. Float, a cute green bed crafted from the sustainable, water-resistant Totara wood with base and canopy enclosed in acrylic fabric finished in Teflon fascinated me.

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Wondering where this stunning futuristic monument is situated? Well, this is just the design of one of the unalterable structures belonging to the triad of 1 Dubai, Park Gate and Park Avenue, of the Jumeira Gardens of Dubai. This picture shows the design of Park Gate, which encompasses three pairs of beautiful towers opposite each other connected by a covering of hanging gardens at the top which gives a cool atmosphere under it. Read the full story »

The basic principle behind ‘bubbletecture’ is the concept of ‘circulation.’ The place is found in Hyogo, Japan. The architectural piece is a showcase of the melding of function, design, and maximum use of available topography. The uneven land terrain was not altered. The limited flat land was utilized. The design keeps natural landform intact. The mission was not to let construction alter the natural environment. All this is the triumph of the Shuhei Endo Architect Institute that was established in 1988.

Japanese cypress thinning wood logs were used to regulate CO2 emission. Steel boards were utilized to minimize further rusting. A roof and a wall were greened with the application of water-retentive moss for moisture. The architectural materials used are natural and environmental, as well as bearing the characteristic of being maintenance-free.
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Plug-in electric vehicles are in the first phase of their road tests and are about to hit the roads by 2010. In this scenario, debates were on at the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Smart Garage Workshop on its first day on the subject whether it would be wiser to use the much advantageous and eco-friendly V2G PHEVs to power the grid. A wide range of opinions have been expressed on this. While the participants of the workshop support the suggestion, it sure looks like a possibility that is a decade away.

Mujeeb Ijaz, Director of Automotive Applications engineering at A123 Systems says that the V2G plug-in hybrids will attract customers because of their ability to store and discharge power and help them reduce their electricity bills, and the batteries wouldn’t reduce the performance on being used daily. Further, he agrees that the battery’s chemistry wouldn’t support it for fast charging and hence makes them unavailable for long distance travel.

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If you want your young kid to pick up the habit of recycling early or if you intend to add a touch of classy musical feel to your trash bin, then this is perfect for you. It is not very often that one gets to see a concept that looks good, sounds good and also does well for the planet. The Xylophone Bin is one such rare concept which we would like to have ourselves and enjoy some beautiful notes every time we put the waste back where it belongs.

“Xylophone Bin” is an amazing creation by Dominic Wilcox designed for Danish Company Vipp?s charity auction event held in New York. The bin has crafted wooden stairs around it that go from longer to shorter. When you open the lid, a metal ball is released on to the steps and goes bouncing down the steps to create a symphony of sound. It goes from the high note to the low note and probably this will encourage your young one (and even you) to put trash where it belongs more often. This truly is one eco gadget that is a delight to the senses.

Via: Dominicwilcox / Designboom

Milan based Italian designer, Ernesto Messineo, has launched an innovative model in the ground of ecofriendly widgets. He has devised an unsullied water faucet named Guru Tap which would promptly rule the intact world of eco designs. Within this uniquely designed tap water would gush in an extraordinary manner. We could even watch the circulating water stream in the interiors as a dyed but lucid substance is employed to fabricate the taps crown. Inside this spout the up movement of water subsequently followed by down is intended to make available water diminution attribute. This characteristic of guru tap will amass valued water for us but would bring in adequate amount of water for drawing on.

This fantastic design has been precisely alleged as Guru Tap since it would definitely turn into the master (Hindi meaning Guru) in its field within no time.

Via TrendHunter

Designboom., the Design Association Japan and TOBU department stores have launched an international environmental graphics with content. The two categories of competition are Earth, involving graphic works that esemplifichino mutually beneficial coexistence between man and environment, and Green, specifically for the Christmas period in which it asks to imagine a way of giving the world a more environmentally friendly Christmas. You can see the results of last edition Designboom.

In prize, as well as a few hundred thousand yen, there is a chance to expose their works at the Tokyo Designer’s Week 2008, from October 30 to November 3. You have until August 26 to send your works. Good work!

In designing the greenhouse folding you see in the picture and ’status Daniel Schipper, a Dutch designer in search of a company concerned to put its prototype production. The small size fits small Nordic balconies and roofs terraced Dutch, usually reachable by a ladder that leads to a porthole. Anything you want to carry on the roof must pass dall’oblò while holding in his hand standing on the scale, here’s a greenhouse light, flexible and folding useful.

The greenhouse effect and ‘composed entirely of recycled plastic, not’ governed by media, but thanks to claims made by applying the folds origami technique. Thanks to automatic (the two strips blacks of buttons you see in the picture) you can open even one section of the greenhouse, instead of bending a whole.

We are all overcome by architectural marvels designs that are designed for around world. Though, some designs are so cutting edge, that architect designs who creates them is questioned to be ‘nuts or geniuses.

Antoni Gaudi, feature here, was one of those question architects designs.� Similar to so several recognized artists, Gaudi was a total student.� Accordingly, the instructor who signed his diploma put him in the “nut or genius” class.

In my view, saying that Antoni Gaudi is a builder is similar to saying Picasso was a graffiti artist. Gaudi was an eccentric architect that had a wonderful influence on his hometown of Barcelona.

Gaudi was a risk taker for certain and each work he has completed evokes many emotions.
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In his heartfelt proclamation ‘Design is Dead’, famous designer Philippe Starck came to a realization that everything he’s ever designed is totally useless and so announced a retirement in coming days. But now the artist it seems is over with his mid-life crisis and is back with a very innovative product. This time it’s a wind turbine called “Democratic Ecology”.

The latter is a partially transparent plastic generator which the designer made alongwith manufacturer Pramac. With this product the designer has certainly used his talent to make a positive difference in the world. Atleast, one can say it’s a neat try! The turbine which was on display in a cube decorated with eco-talks (motivational messages), can generate between 20% and 60% of a typical home’s energy needs.

“Democratic Ecology” is targeted at those who are now thinking actively towards increasing sustainability and decreasing load on earth, by consuming lesser traditional energy sources. The price is however not so democratic with a single turbine costing about $630! The designer will have to come out with cheaper versions and also a way of incorporating these in households which refuse to give up on conventional methods in order to popularize his recently found eco-consciousness! However, let’s be optimistic that those who can afford “Democratic Ecology” would certainly go for it.

Via Gizmodo