Repair is Beautiful

December 31, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Repair, Reuse

Paulo-goldstein-repair-beautiful“Brazilian, London-based designer, artist and all-around maker Paulo Goldstein has lended his model-making talents to such films as The Fantastic Mr. Fox and Frankenweenie, but after receiving a Master’s Degree in Industrial Design from Central Saint Martins in London, it appears he is opening a whole new chapter. His graduate project, called Repair is Beautiful focuses on repairing broken objects from a craftsperson’s eye.”

Via REculture.

The repair process of all objects (a chair, an anglepoise, headphones, an iPod) is explained step by step with photographs.

The Fastest Sailboat in the World

December 13, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Random, Sailing ships, Travel, Wind Power

fastest sailboat in the world

The Sailrocket, a sailing boat that we have talked about before, is the fastest craft under sail, after breaking the 2010 record held by a kiteboarder.

During the last run in Namibia in November 2012, an improved version of this unconventional boat reached an average speed of 65.45 knots (121.21 km/h or 75.31 mph) over a distance of 500 meters. Earlier this year it set speed records of 59.23 and 59.37 knots.

Record sailing speeds have almost tripled since the beginning of the 1970s. Those who think that sailboats are a technology from the past, think again.

See and read more at YachtPals and Sailrocket.

DIY Trashion Furniture Kit

December 13, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: DIY

Add your own lighting“Ryan Frank is South African born designer who learned about re-using materials from a childhood in a country where recycling was par for the course. He has spent most of his life as a designer in London and Barcelona where people are less accustomed to making furniture out of trash. So he launched a collection to get consumers more involved in making their own upcycled lamps.”

“The A(dd)Y(our)O(wn) lighting range gives everyone the chance to be part designer, part manufacturer. Made from rebar and natural rubber, the lights are designed without lampshades to encourage the re-use and re-cycle of everyday objects from garden, house or street. For Roomservice Design Gallery Ryan fitted the lights with a series of iconic Spanish objects salvaged in the streets of Barcelona such as fruit crates, olive oil tins and pickle jars.” Check out the video and the product page.

Straw Bale Gardening

December 6, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Farming, Gardening, Random

straw bale gardening

“Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings.”

“Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes ‘conditioned’ compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. Getting the straw bales conditioned is an essential part of the process, and should be started two weeks prior to your target planting date wherever you are located.”

“This gardening technique works well anywhere in the country or the world for that matter.” Read more: here and here.

Light Your Organic Tobacco in a Sustainable Way

December 5, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Random, Solar

light your tobacco in a sustainable way

The Solar Spark Lighter is a pocket-size solar firestarter and lighter. It is a stainless steel parabolic mirror, like the one used to light the Olympic torch. It is designed to focus the sun’s radiant energy to a precise focal point that can reach hundreds of degrees. Just point it at the sun and it lights in seconds. Measures about 4.5″ diameter.

Designing for Velomobile Diversity

December 5, 2012 by kris de decker Filed Under: Pedal power, Quadricycles, Travel, Tricycles, Trikes

SoftShell-Velomobile-concept“Velomobiles currently appeal to niche, enthusiast markets through a range of both low scale production and D.I.Y processes.”

“This paper explores the current limitations in promoting velomobiles as a commuter alternative to the automobile in that it proposes velomobile diversity be approached through the application of dynamic, emotive styling, vehicular packaging variations and functional storage, together with the use of sustainable construction materials with techniques that reduce assembly and fabrication costs.”

“To this end, the paper discusses two conceptual case studies that explore applied industrial design processes, diverse construction and alternative manufacturing techniques. Both are positioned outside current fabrication processes, where one explores ‘natural’ production – specifically, the pre-harvest deformation of bamboo with shape tessellation to reduce parts complexity whilst allowing natural processes to fulfil pre-determined forms – and the other reuses post-consumer waste in an interminably variable tensegrity frame construction designed for continued open-source development.”

Designing for Velomobile Diversity: Alternative opportunities for sustainable personal mobility (PDF). Alexander Vittouris and Mark Richardson, 7th International Velomobile Seminar, september 2012. Picture: Softshell concept velomobile.

Previously: Electric velomobiles: as fast and comfortable as automobiles, but 80 times more efficient.