LIVING ROOF
August 8, 2011 By
A new ecological urban retreat by NAU | Future Design Series No. 4
The Living Roof offers the essence of the city. It condenses all daily life’s needs into a compact and self-sustaining capsule. Intended as an urban rooftop getaway, but ready to be airlifted into the savanna at short notice, its ultra-insulated shell and regenerative systems allow the Living Roof to exist largely off the grid. Its sensuous form feed wind into mini-turbines at each end, while funneling rainwater to collectors. Integrated photovoltaic cells also help to make the Living Roof one of the world’s greenest structures.
Used as an alternative to hotel rooms or as a temporary residence for multi-city dwellers, the Living Roof project exists as individual suites spread throughout the city. Inside, rather than dispersing activities horizontally, a functional ring vertically combines sleep, lounge and work areas. Guests can choose their desired mode and the ring rotates the appropriate module downwards. Luxury, style and ecology are effortlessly provided in the Living Roof. A new urban retreat, a refuge to recover, plan excursions into the city, or simply stare into the stars.
LEGEND
- Bed
- Seating element
- Writing desk element
- Infoscreen/Television
- Exterior skin with photovoltaic cells
- Motorized sun shade louvers
- Wind turbine
- Generator and battery packs
- Wardrobe
- Entry hatch
- Shower Area
- Water collection and filtration tanks
- Cooktop
- Sink
- Toilet compartment
How Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Rate Each Country’s Credit Rating
August 8, 2011 By
via chartsbin.com
This map shows Moody’s credit rating for each country. Moody’s Analytics and Moody’s Investors Service, is a credit rating agency which performs international financial research and analysis on commercial and government entities.
Hidden Handle: Kitchen Knife Grip Opens Secret Bread Box
August 7, 2011 By
It is a little like those fanciful secret rooms opened at the twist of a candlestick, tilt of a lamp or pull of a book. In this case, though, the ordinary object is a bread knife that tips a concealed mechanism and operates the top of a bread box.
When one sees knives stuck into wooden blocks in the kitchen, one assumes they simply sit waiting to be removed and used. Instead, this block acts as a shelf, cover and opening – and the knife does more than just cut.
Its design, by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay, utilizes parallel hinging strips like those found in vintage sewing boxes. These disappear in the wall-mounted system, making the purpose of the box less than obvious at first glance – it could simply be extra surface area and knife
Compact Dishwasher Fits into Kitchen Sink Slot
August 6, 2011 By
When I saw this, I thought of those with a small getaway cabin. Every apartment, condo or house needs a way to wash dishes, but within space for full-sized dishwashers, some of us have a tendency to pile tableware into sinks in an endless (non-rinse, non-dry) cycle.
Thus the FlashDry(R) from KitchenAid, since discontinued (perhaps due to its outrageous price), but a still a brilliant example of integrated design solutions for small-space living.
The lid doubles as a draining board, and the unit comes with a snap-on cutting board custom-fitted to the top to further enhance the usability of this surface area. It is well-organized inside with a larger-than-average silverware basket, capacity-expanding capabilities for larger and awkwardly-shaped pots or pans.
With room enough too accommodate up to five place settings at a time, this relatively tiny device also uses 50% less water than a typical washer for similarly-sized loads, can run a full cycle in 20 to 30 minutes, and the lid pops open at the end to release internal steam and pressure.
Should you buy a fixer upper [infographic]
August 6, 2011 By
Home prices may be down to where they were in 2002 and interest rates at their lowest in 2011, at an average 4.39% for a 30-year fixed mortgage. But for many who make the jump into home ownership for the first time, properties in triple-mint condition with pruned yards and top-of-the-line appliances are still too pricey.
So many first-time home buyers look to so-called fixer-uppers. A home that costs less than one in move-in condition and would require extensive renovations or repair to become livable. While shaving thousands of dollars off the cost of a property sounds appealing, though, a fixer-upper isn’t for just anybody. Many buyers underestimate the amount of time, money and labor that need to be put into transforming it into something fit for an HGTV dream home showcase.
There are many factors that go into determining whether or not a fixer-upper is right for you — and while the flowchart below may seem like a lighthearted way of tackling this serious question, it’s a good way to get started thinking about this important decision. Read on for the details.
click image for larger view
SOLO HOUSE | BY PEZO VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN ARCHITECTS
August 5, 2011 By
This house, designed by studio Pezo Von Ellrichshausens Architects, is part of of the Solo Houses project that gives young architects the opportunity to freely build (with the exception of the budget) whatever they want for a holiday home. This series is in the countryside of Matarraña in the province of Teruel, Spain. via designboom
The Tiny House – Save Big By Living Small
August 5, 2011 By
Everywhere you look, there are signs – people are re-evaluating their lifestyle choices and choosing to live more frugally. Our latest world-wide recession has transformed people who once lived at the edge of their budgets into born-again savvy savers. And the trend can be seen in housing as well…
Until recently, Americans have been in the habit of steadily increasing their square footage, year after year. The average single-family home grew from 1,780 square feet in 1978 to 2,479 square feet in 2007. But this upward climb came to an abrupt halt when the National Association of Home Builders announced in 2009 that the median size of new homes fell for the first time in 30 years, with new housing starts averaging 2,094 square feet.
And while new construction is still at lower levels than in years past, builders who specialize in smaller, greener homes have seen an uptick in business. Take, for instance, Jay Schafer, author of The Small House Book. Schafer has received attention from Oprah, CNN and the New York Times for the success of his Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, which specializes in small house plans, as well as ready-made tiny houses that can be delivered to your door.
Indeed, it appears that the small house trend is truly gaining momentum, and for good reason. Having a smaller living space can send ripples of savings throughout your lifestyle. Here are some ways a small house can equal big savings:
Building or purchase cost reductions
It’s a no-brainer that big houses have big price tags. The most obvious financial advantage of a small house is that it’s less expensive to build (or purchase, for existing homes). Less materials, less space to cover, less square footage – all result in a smaller mortgage payment.
Energy efficiency
Naturally, less space to heat and cool means smaller energy bills. And when you have a smaller abode, efficiency upgrades – like new insulation or windows – also costs less.
Less hoarding
When you have less storage space, you tend to collect less clutter. When we have big rooms, we feel the need to fill them with things we don’t really need. Having smaller areas encourages more thoughtful and purposeful purchases – equaling less frivolous spending.
Maintenance economy
All homes require ongoing maintenance – from painting to cleaning to re-roofing. When there’s less area to cover, there’s less expense involved in these inevitable tasks.
Simply put, scaling down your living space means spending less. And more people are discovering that small and charming is more desirable than grand and showy when it comes to saving money for other goals (like paying off debt or taking vacations).
But beyond pure economics, the movement to smaller living spaces also reflects a shift to a simpler lifestyle – one that encourages spending one’s personal energies on more than just material gain. Find out more about the movement to live large through living small by checking out the Small House Society, whose motto is, “Better living through simplicity.”