Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP Japanese agency signed the proposed individual home in Hiroshima. In the heart of the city, built right between high buildings, Optical Glass House would open on a street side garden protected from the everyday bustle on the street by a screen made of 6000 blocks of optical glass.

Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP give a little detail about the house:

Optical Glass Front:

A panel of some 6.000 pure-glass blocks (50mm x 235mm x 50mm) was employed. The pure-glass blocks, With Their wide mass-per-unit area, Effectively shut out sound and enable the establishment of an open, Clearly articulated That allowed on the garden city scenery. To Realize Such a facade, glass casting was employed to Produce glass of extremely high transparency from borosilicate raw material for the optical glass. The casting process was exceedingly difficulty, for it required slow cooling to remove Both residual stress from within the glass, and high dimensional accuracy. Even then, however, the glass micro-level Retained Surface asperities, we aim Actively Welcomed this effect, for it Would Produce unexpected optical illusions in the interior space.

Waterfall:

So wide was the 8.6mx 8.6m façade Could not stand it if indépendamment Constructed by laying rows of glass blocks a mere 50mm deep. We therefore punctured the glass blocks with holes and strung 'em on 75 stainless steel bolts suspended from the beam above the façade. Such a structure vulnerable to lateral Would Be stress, however, so along with the glass blocks, we aussi strung on stainless steel flat bars (40mm x 4mm) at 10 centimeter intervals. The flat bar is seated Within The 50mm-thick glass block to render it invisible, and Malthus has uniform sealing gasket entre le 6mm glass blocks was Achieved.  The result?  -a transparent facade When seen from the garden Either or the street. The façade Appears like a waterfall flowing downward, scattering light and filling the air with freshness.

You can find out more about this house on Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP website.



Photographs:  Nacasa & Partners

Source: Archidesignclub

How would you like to have a different way of securing your bike then carrying around multiple locks?  How about the concept design of this Saddle Lock.

Per the designers, "Saddle Lock provides a way to quickly lock the rear wheel without the need for additional locking accessories. The seat post swings down around the main frame when a button is pushed. The saddle features a cut-away shape that allows it to sit over the rear wheel. A combination lock allows the release of a special alloy rotating lock that extends from one end of the saddle to the other, securing its connection to the wheel."

Saddle Lock is a 2012 red dot award: design concept winner and was designed by Lee Sang Hwa, Kim Jin Ho & Yeo Min Gu.



Source: YankoDesign

So what is Plair you ask? PLAiR apps let you play photos & videos from your laptop, phone, and tablet on your big screen TV using the PLAiR device ($99). PLAiR works with all TVs that have a HDMI port and receives video over WiFi from custom apps for Android, iOS, OS X and Windows. It only takes three simple steps and you will be beaming shows from a multitude of different devices in no time.  The only downfall that I have noticed so far is that Hulu and Netflix's are not yet supported with this device but I'm sure it is only a matter of time before it becomes available.  Check out the video on there site to learn more

Urbanears has made this minimalistic and aesthetically unique new accessory, the Slussen. It is said to be the "most powerful after-party weapon know to man", the Slussen essentially brings the DJ experience to everyone even the wannabe's.  This $15 adapter plugs into one audio source and the other is for your headphones. Once you're ready to go, just load up the upcoming Slussen iOS APP (Feb 1st) which give you a simplified, streamlined DJ kit that lets you mix tracks, cross-fade, equalize tracks, and preview tracks through your headphones. It also come with the keychain holder so that you don't lose your little new buddy.  I'm wondering though if it can be used without the App and can be use with other Andriod and iOS and computer software?



Source: Acquiremag

This unique book was created by Daniel E. Kelm and Tauba Auerbach that showcases all possible colors that the human eye can see.  The "RGB Colorspace Atlas" has 3,632 pages filled with beautiful colors that we can see. The different colors are formed using a mixture of Red, Green and Blue.  Find out more about this book on there site

We can all say goodbye to Tangerine Tango of 2012 and say hello to Emerald 2013! According to Pantone Emerald is the new color or formally known  as Pantone 17-5641.  They are calling it “Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

Pantone also has a catalogue of Pantone 17-5641 products you can purchase and prominently display in your lively, radiant, and lush home or workplace. Drink radiant coffee with this 2013 Color of the Year mug, or promote balance and harmony in your apps with this Color of the Year iPhone case.



Source: MLive.com

Designer Reagan Appleton gives a different spin on the meaning to mounting a bike. The Scotland native's Bicycle Taxidermy business commemorates speedy metal steeds (bicycles) by mounting their parts on wooden plaques, bearing a striking resemblance to the trophy heads that hunters display on their walls. I find this to be a brilliant way of still having a connection to those parts that owners have a hard time scrapping after replacing their bike parts. Rather than leaving them lying around, taking up space, Bicycle Taxidermy offers a artistic alternative.

Appleton says, "A somewhat sentimental take on a mass produced object becoming defunct, the handlebars are given the care and craft of a preserved family pet(!) The bikes have now been re-appropriated as a family heirloom."

Check out more on there site to find out the different pricing to convert some of your parts into Bicycle Taxidermy



Source: mymodernmet.com

Welcome to Bikespiration Part 14.  In this installation I found a great bike made by Metrofiets that incorporates bikes, beer and pizza. Read more about it here.  In the meantime enjoy the bikes below and as always enjoy the inspiration of bikes.

If you find any bikes out there that you think would be great in Bikespiration series. Please send me an email at pdragon65[@]gmail.com.

Check out the other installments - Part 1, Part 2, Part3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13

Metrofiets has created some interesting custom bikes for different companies and now they want to make The Standard Cargo Bike ($3,599) for the public. It's stiffer, lighter and faster and comes with the following components:

• Hub-powered LED lighting - Bausch & Muller
• Fenders - Berthoud stainless steel
• Cargo box - Marine-grade wood
• Saddle - Cardiff leather
• Disc brakes - Avid BB7

Fork and tube sets are a mix of custom drawn 4130 steel made in the U.S. by True Temper and TIG welded at the Metrofiets workshop. Check out more on their website and see some of the custom built cargo bikes.



Source: bookofjoe