this into that: jim rosenau: berkeley california

This Into That
Jim Rosenau was raised in a house with 5,000 books. He has been making and selling thematic bookshelves from vintage books since 2002. The idea occurred to him years earlier after reading an essay, "Books As Furniture," by Nicholson Baker. Given his background as the son and grandson of publishers, he assumed the reaction, should he make such a thing, would be furious. The work, once underway, proved him wrong. So wrong in fact books as shelves is now a popular DIY project.

tesla motors: new models for its electric cars

Tesla Motors has secured a low-interest $350 million loan under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program. The program, created as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and appropriated in the fall of 2008, is unrelated to the current stimulus or “bailout” package of some American automakers. The goal of the bipartisan ATVM is to accelerate the production of fuel-efficient vehicles for mainstream Americans and reduce the nation’s dependence on oil. The new loan from the DOE will enable Tesla to accelerate the production of fuel-efficient vehicles using their existing platform all electric power train of the S model by expanding upon it to create an all-electric family sized minivan, a crossover SUV, and a utility fleet van.

With the DOE loan, Tesla joins Ford and Nissan as the first recipients of federal loans designed to move America’s car companies toward more fuel-efficient technology. No funds have been dispensed yet, but Tesla has big plans for its taxpayer injection, most importantly the development of an assembly plant for the Model S sedan (the first actual mass-production car from the company) in Southern California and a powertrain manufacturing facility in Northern California, which combined should employ about 1,650 workers. Tesla unveiled the Model S sedan in March, but so far there's no word on when it will hit showrooms.

Tesla hopes their platform power train could be adopted or licensed in a sense by other manufacturers, saving them the time and cost of developing their own technology. This could help large entities like utilities or municipal governments save big money while drastically reducing carbon emissions.

With a range of 244 miles (on electricity only), the Tesla Roadster is six times as efficient as a gasoline car, and twice as efficient as a Prius. Now that the Roadster has proven Tesla’s powertrain works, if the company can flip that technology into mass-marketable vehicles.

Their power train manufacturing facility in Northern California, already sell EV components to Daimler, which will soon begin marketing an electric version of its popular and affordable Smart car.
via Treehugger

tree blocks: whimsy tree

The Whimsy Tree produces handmade wooden branch building blocks and nature themed memory games.

heritage boy: lee broom

These dandy's are British designer Lee Broom's Heritage Boy collection from London Design Festival. Drawing on traditional influences, his collection incorporated carpetry, parquetry and tiles.
MocoLoco

kim hayoon: repurposed lighting

Kim Hayoon lighting.

aimee mullins: super abled wearable sculpture

Aimee Mullins' TED Talk should not be missed! Her collaboration with different designers leads to unimaginable possibilities. She is truly SUPER-ABLE!!!

reclaimed furniture: krd

Killer Robot Design makes a resourceful suitcase coffee table and patchwork dining table.

recycled glass chandelier

Eric Sauve makes broken glass look gorgeous with his new chandeliers.

solar decathlon: 2009

For three weeks in October, the U.S. Department of Energy will again host the biennial Solar Decathlon at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Solar Decathlon is a competition of 20 teams of college and university students to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. There are 10 subjective and objective contests in these categories: architecture, market viability, engineering, lighting design, communications, comfort zone, hot water, appliances, home entertainment, and net metering.
The competition educates students and the public, promotes solar technologies, promotes innovatiove whole building design, and demonstrates the potential for net zero energy homes.
My favorite contenders so far are:
silo house cornell u

lumenhaus virginia tech

icon solar house u of minn

'albie' puppy light from salvage materials

The ‘Albie’ light is created out of reclaimed wood and recycles wheels from other toys by design duo James Plumb

The adorable light is two-thirds the size of his older brother ‘Samson’. Both are lights made out of recycled materials and parts.
This whimsical light created by designers James Plumb is only available in a limited edition of 25, and is showing along with many of their other products at Tent London.

JamesPlumb consists of two designers, James Russell and Hannah Plumb, who create environmentally friendly and unique pieces by recycling antiques and cast-offs such as old lampshades, pub sign lights, and ageing silk screens.

Price: £550 each
Tent London
via Architects Journal

agua: recycled cashmere for children

Trash-à-porter has a new Agua line for children that I love! The recycled cashmere line for babies is available at ABC Home, online at NY DesignRoom, at Smoochiebaby in Brooklyn & LMNOP Chicago.

haute gothic: recycled inner tube fashion

Zuss Design from the Netherlands offers an impressive array of recycled rubber gothic clothing. I especially appreciate the creative construction of the handbags.

mushroom catalysts for fuel cells

With my already heavy fascination with fungi, I am happy to find that yes, mushrooms may in fact save the world--after all, fungus was the first organism existing on this planet. A new enzyme extracted from a specific mushroom type could act as an essential catalyst in fuel cells reducing the use of polluting heavy metals in the future.

Scientists at Oxford University have uncovered a new variety of mushroom whose enzyme 'Laccase' could be used instead of heavy metals like platinum as a catalytic in fuel cells of the future. A prototype laccase fuel cell that is being designed will produce 400 milliamps for 2,500 hours-enough for your ipod.

Laccase (the mushroom enzyme) acts as a catalytic to speed up reactions on fuel cell electrodes. The Oxford chemists believe that current batteries could eventually be replaced by portable power sources from laccase-coated electrodes.

Batteries currently produce 200,000 tons of unrecycled waste each year— much of it consisting of heavy metals.


via Cleantechnica

we are familia: recycled keepsake boxes

Art collective We Are Familia is currently launching the sixth, seventh and eighth of a series of keepsake boxes made from recycled and surplus materials. The first pieces of the edition of 25 boxes were launched at Colette, each keepsake box contains about 40 pieces of original art work, including a diorama, a soundscape, a shirt, a set of coffee mugs and other multimedia pieces from this global family of artists. The new keepsake boxes by Jennifer Garcia, Fabian Bedolla, Randy Lott and Leah Ellis.

a collage a day: randal plowman

I love Randal Plowman's work on A Collage A Day, never ceases to amaze me all his variation on a theme of 6"X6" paper. His endeavor to create a collage a day for a year has exceeded all expectations.

concept: motion powered flashlight

Christian Moser an industrial designer, created this eco fabulous motion powered flashlight for the ski slopes. The PolarLight is a flashlight that is designed to harness the energy of motion for a recharge. The light can be worn on an arm and can be powered on easily when visibility is low.

via Eco Friend

libeskind to unveil home of the future

Daniel Liebskind's architecture always impresses from his Jewish museum in Berlin and San Francisco to his Modern Art Museum here in Denver, his style is angular and discernible.
On Sept. 29th Libeskind will unveil his new prototype Libeskind Villa, a german-made sculptural living space made ultra sustainable. A partnership with berlin based Proportion GMBH and the prototype was built on the premises of Rheinzink GMBH & Co., the developer of the villa’s zinc façade.

Libeskind’s first signature series home (although he has created apartment complexes prior to this), brings his signature modern asymmetrical spaces together with maximum insulation and durability, cutting-edge technologies stringent energy saving compliance (adheres to the tough German KFW40 code of less than 40 kwh/m²a).

The villa is largely constructed of wood creating a maximum thermal insulation, and efficient operation (heat transition coefficient of 0.11 w/m²k), the insulation of the villa’s exterior walls matches that of passive houses.

Additional onsite renewable energy sources for heating, electricity and water include a solar thermal system, invisibly integratedinto the zinc façade, as well as a geothermal system with a high-efficiency heat pump. Electric power may be generated from photovoltaic thin film, while rainwater can be harvested from the rooftop for use in the garden’s irrigation system.

It is encouraging to see Libeskind transition from larger civic works to bring his design skills to the people.

via Design Boom

eat your vegetables

The idea that freezing peas will get your children to eat them is more intriguing than say flavor of pea poscicle!

patrick ward: sculptural furniture

Assemblage benches by Patrick Ward. (wood and shoe soles)

sigg dilema: exchange program

It's very dangerous for a company like Sigg to have a "proprietary coating" and not disclose the material. They finally admitted that in fact, they are NOT BPA-free. In a letter from the CEO, Steve Wasik, dated Sept. 1st, the company verified that the rumors that bottles manufactured prior to August of 2008 do in fact have liners containing bisphenol A - a chemical that may adversely affect human health (a known hormone disruptor). You can now take back a bottle that you bought before August 08 to any major manufacturer and they should exchange it for a new one.
via Gorgeously Green

my haute dream home

This amazing home is made with prefab wood covered with fake grass or astro turf. I could move into this house tomorrow. It blends my love of minimalism, appreciation for surrealism/humor/metaphor/make believe with my adoration for the environment. by GRID Architekten, Styria Austria in the valley of Kirchbach. PA Located on

haute exhibit: slash-paper under the knife

Slash: Paper Under the Knife
Museum of Arts and Design, New York
October 7, 2009 - April 4, 2010

The museum of arts and design will begin a new exhibition next month dedicated to the phenomenon of
cut paper in contemporary art. the exhibition will feature numerous paper based works by 50 international
artists. This exhibt explores artwork that uses paper as a medium in itself. ‘Slash’ is the third exhibit in MAD’s materials and process series after previous shows on knitting and embroidery.
Mad Museum

haute vertical garden

Another stunning vertical masterpiece by Patrick Blanc!

via EcoFriend

brilliant paperclip

Agustin Otegui
Tens o Paper Clip