Artist Adrian Tranquilli: Exposed Superhero Sculptures

Via: mymodernmet.com



In this series titled Heroes: The Route of Exposure, sculptor Adrian Tranquilli shows us the rarely seen, vulnerable side of our favorite superheroes. Tranquilli wanted to focus less on the heroes' superpowers and psychic abilities, and more on their human fragility. As a result, Batman is positioned on his knees looking for answers while Superman is coming out of the wall injured and bloody.

Tranquilli was born in Melbourne in 1966, and currently lives in Rome.





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Quadrangle Architects: Design a concept for Toronto's Expressways

Via: designboom.com



Visiting bus stops and railway stations swarming with vehicles and passengers, is an inescapable curse that city people have to undergo each day. Offering a green and lively solution to the problem is Quadrangle Architects who have come up with a renovation project called “Green Ribbon” for the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto. Stretching in the span of seven kilometers, from downtown Toronto to the western suburbs, the Green Ribbon will not just uplift the surroundings but also make the expressway a worthy visiting place, which of course will be a blessing in disguise for the travelers.

Standing tall on the concrete columns, anchoring the roof structure, the linear park also provides separate pathways for pedestrian and cyclists. The visitors can have the access of the park at major intersections through ramps and stairways. Moreover, the expressway will possibly integrate wind turbines and photovoltaic panels to fulfill its energy requirements.

WATT Electric bike navigates through packed streets

Via: thedesignblog



Devised by French designer Jerome Blanchard, the WATT is a city bike the featuring Shaft Drive Technology and a special hub allows better controls and a quick shift in speed on the city roads. Equipped with an electromagnetic shock absorber, the city bike not just runs smooth on bumpy roads but moves swiftly on stairs as well. The WATT features a special direction axis which effortlessly tilts the short wheels of the bike on sharp curves. Integrating a unique handle that controls the braking system with ABS (anti-locking breaking system), the bicycle ensures complete safety, as the fork stands up and the saddle comes down for a better transfer of the weight, during emergency breaking on the packed roads.

The hub and fork are equipped with an induction block and a small battery to harvest energy from pedaling and the bike’s movement. The energy generated by the bike is enough to feed some gadgets like the GPS, or charging a phone using a USB port. The cycle will communicate with the device interface, to provide information like speed, outstrips crossed, route and also allow geolocation to provide the best information to navigate city traffic. It offers good security and visibility even under trying conditions. All commands of the cycle are simplified and focused on the right hand as well as the axis of fork, on the other hand, the other side is released from all action to let you use your phone, MP3 or GPS while moving through the crowded streets.

Eco Homes: live off the grid entirely by using your own electricity

Via: ecofriend.org



This Home Design Project was designed to function off-the-grid, with photovoltaic cells and a small vertical axis wind turbine that would generate the required amount of electricity to power the home, the Homestead House by Michael Jantzen is an innovative design for alternative housing that explores the potential use of renewable energy generating systems and recyclable materials to reduce the carbon footprint of its owners.

The modular house is to be made from recyclable steel sheets, which are to be bolted together for easy dis assembly. Being easy to disassemble, the house can also be reconstructed at any preferred location without spending too much for the entire process. Once the steel arches are bolted together, they don’t require any additional material to hold the house together. Other than on-site energy generating systems, the Homestead House harvests rainwater through the roof arches and directs it to water storage tanks that can be placed underground. Passive solar techniques are used to heat and cool the interiors according to seasons and the requirements of the homeowners.

Muu Design Studio: "The Pitin" a bicycle stand that doubles as street furniture

Via: tokyomango.com



Displayed at the ZERO exhibition during Tokyo's Design Week, the “PITIN” from Muu Design Studio, a Tokyo based store, designs a bicycle stand that doubles as street furniture (table) - the cycle seat becomes the seating for the bikers. You can ride your bike straight into the stand, which locks the front wheel for stability and provides an instant table so you can have snacks while you rest awhile, or work on your laptop while having a view of the city street. Urban development designs like these offer smart multidimensional solutions to the growing problems of bike parking as well as outdoor furniture for public places. (This is why I LOVE JAPAN).

PC Studio: creates a digital environment in modern classrooms

Via: zukun.com



With the growing needs of modern education, technology has become an integral part of contemporary classrooms to complement conventional methods thatr will help students compete with the best in business. Blending modern style with traditional structure, the “PC Studio” from Zukun is common yet flexible in design. School desks that would mold conventional classrooms into hi-tech computer labs, allowing teachers to control the class pace and organize content to all of the workstations in the classroom. Supporting a digital course structure, the PC Studio lets students download all the assignments onto a small flash drive, which they can install on their home PCs.

Dubai: The Seawater Vertical Farm

The Dubai Towers design took my breath away...


Some of the most wonderful residential and infrastructure projects exist in the Arab Gulf region, but the latest rendering by Studiomobile will definitely change the course of life in the United Arab Emirates.

The newest project...


Located in Dubai, the Seawater Vertical Farm is an innovative concept that makes use of seawater to cool and humidify greenhouses. It produces adequate humidity, and converts it into fresh water, necessary for irrigation. Considering the fact that there is a dearth of fresh water in Arabian nations, the new endeavor by the Italian architectural firm will turn out to be a life-giving project in the deserted land. The Vertical Farm not just converts the seawater into fresh water, but it also looks like a sculpture or a work of art, enhancing the architectural landscape of the region.






Via: Treehugger

Fashion Review: Lamborghini Shoes - Vroooom!

When cars inspire fashion...


If a lady were to wear these Lamborghini Stilettos around me...she'd make me go Vrooooom!!! These are probably the fastest heels on earth, inspired by the Lamborghini Gallardo. A guy named Tim Cooper...created these "theoretically" ultra-light white and carbon fiber Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera high heels using a pair of his wife's heels and hundreds of Gallardo images from around the 'net. He modeled and rendered them in Modo and added the smoke and text in Photoshop for this mock advertisement. I'd urge you to not show your lady friends this image because at this point, the Lambo heels live strictly in Tim's 3-D world which would surely disappoint her enough to make you go out and buy her a new pair of shoes for your mistake.

Click to Enlarge...


Perhaps if they resembled a Benz or an Audi some women would be more inclined to place them on their feet. What do you think, could this animated portrayal of sports car fashion start a trend in women's heels? If I were to market these shoes for Tim Cooper I'd get pussy cat doll Nicole Scherzinger to be the first to be seen in them since she’s hanging out with race car driver Lewis Hamilton. If she were to model them, interest in the Lamborghini Gallardo stilettos would rocket sky high.

Get at me Tim...lol