living

All posts in “living”

Anekona House For Volcano Lovers

If you like to be within the vicinity of volcanoes, this Hawaiian retreat sounds like heaven on Earth. Meet the Anekona House, a shape-shifting structure near the town of Waimea. It looks out over a wild stream and the rugged, panoramic beauty of Hawaii Island.

The owners of this house consists of a multi-generation family of artists and professional chefs. They wanted a home where they could chill outdoors but one that used only the rawest form of materials and minimal construction methodologies.

The resulting home relied on site-cast concrete, prefabricated steel, and local lava rock. The home features two contrasting linear sections bisecting a central corridor. The first half serves as the public area and looks like a row of pavilion-like living and entertaining spaces underneath a steel roof. The second half, meanwhile, offers up a splendid contrast. You’ll see here a series of heavy concrete bunkers that offers more privacy than the first half of the home.

As mentioned, bisecting the Anekona House is a lengthy corridor separating the bunkers and concrete interior walls. Elsewhere, you’ll find barn doors that wrap around the exterior walls and between each pavilion area, which means the family can open up the private spaces if they wanted to. These doors create a level of functionality that doesn’t interrupt the main purpose of the design in the first place. A clever architectural decision.

Power comes from a solar array on the roof, which makes the Anekona House completely self-contained. It also has natural cooling and uses all LED power, which makes it a fine choice for those who aim to live off-grid.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Mauna Kea Realty

September 19, 2019 / Comments Off

383

The Philips Hue Filament Collection Mixes Vintage Looks With Modern Tech

As technology evolves, so does the stuff we love. We get to enjoy the creature comforts these upgrades deliver and also benefit from new functions. These include mobile devices, automobiles, wearables, and household appliances. Nevertheless, the old-school flavor never really goes out of style, which is we still yearn for the things from the past. Hence, this is exactly why companies are tapping into feelings of nostalgia to give us cool products. Philips is jumping on the bandwagon to give us Hue Filament bulbs.

Most of the time, LED lighting is great for a lot of applications. Moreover, the smart-enabled kind delivers a level of versatility that the older models cannot offer. However, Philips understands the existing demand for niche products that exude a retro vibe. This newest addition to the Hue lineup comes with modern technology and distinctly vintage design.

Most LEDs bulbs feature a frosted cover to diffuse the light to give off a softer glow. The Hue Filament collection, on the other hand, goes for clear glass. There are three variants available with different bulb shapes to suit your tastes. Similar to the regular hue catalog, these can be controlled via Bluetooth and compatible with Android or iOS smartphones.

For smart home integration, the Hue Filament series works with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant without a hitch. Meanwhile, those who plan to use it with Apple HomeKit or Microsoft Cortana need to have the Hue Bridge accessory. Philips is listing a maximum brightness of 530 lumens and a color temperature of 2,100K.

Check out the catalog: here

Images courtesy of Philips

September 18, 2019 / Comments Off

367

The Straume Weekend House Literally Came After The Storm

A storm brews. It lets out, causing havoc in its wake, leaving ruin after its trail. But from brokenness comes a chance to rebuild. Or make something even better. That’s exactly the origin story of the Straume Weekend House.

Here, you have a structure built after a storm washed away a deserted warehouse. The timber-clad home sits on a rocky outcropping on the coast of Norway’s Remøya. The new house shares the same footprint as the original. Built completely off-site, it boasts seven steel frames and looks like a futuristic but still quaint barnhouse.

When empty, the building takes on an almost monolithic aesthetic, with the wooden shutters covering the interior. These slide open when the space becomes occupied, unveiling glazed panels and inviting spectacular views of the nearby fjords inside. Indoors, you’ll find plenty of wood set in a mostly minimalist aesthetic. The austerity mixes will with the texture of the wood throughout the space, injecting a sense of homeliness in contrast with the stark plainness of the rest of the elements.

To make something beautiful out of a tragedy involves a great deal of imagination. And also a great deal of optimism. The storm that hit the old warehouse was tragic, but without it, the designers couldn’t have sewn beauty out of ruin. The best kind of architecture finds purpose, meaning, and wonder despite the circumstances. The Straume Weekend House stands as a refined example of that, gleaming as a beacon of hope after a terrible natural happenstance.

MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Knut Hjeltnes

September 17, 2019 / Comments Off

373

SNK Teases The NEOGEO Arcade Stick Pro With 20 Games On Board

Although it might seem that the retro gaming craze is starting to slow down, the upcoming lineup of products says otherwise. Konami is giving us the TurboGrafx-16 Mini, while SEGA is pushing the Genesis Mini out into the market. However, we did not expect SNK to have something in the works until now. The NEOGEO Mini was a versatile gadget with a built-in screen to let you play games anywhere. Now, the manufacturer is taking another crack at it with the NEOGEO Arcade Stick Pro.

While its predecessor resembles an arcade cabinet, this new device features a full-size joystick and buttons. Gamers know SNK as one of the leading publishers of fighting games. Therefore, the company is hoping to entice players to pick up the Arcade Stick Pro to play those type of games.

There were some brawlers included with NEOGEO Mini, it was difficult to play because of the cramped controller layout. Popular titles such as The King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown, Fatal Fury, and others require precise controller execution. So far, the company is hinting at 20 games that will be available to play the moment you plug it in.

Just like most retro game systems, the NEOGEO Arcade Stick Pro will feature an HDMI out port. Moreover, it will reportedly support PAD controllers and even the NEOGEO Mini. We’re still waiting for information regarding the release date and price right now. Meanwhile, Nintendo still gets the credit for jumpstarting this nostalgic trend. Nevertheless, we still think that FC-PVM from Love Hultén looks way more stylish than anything right now.

Check it out: here

September 15, 2019 / Comments Off

340

The LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer Is Exactly What Star Wars Fans Want

I guess we’re never outgrowing our love for the iconic plastic building blocks when LEGO keeps releasing awesome playsets. A couple of months ago, the company was clearly following a space theme. First, there was the NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander Creator set and then the Apollo 11 Astronaut. Actually the latter was a more of a showpiece than a retail product, but it’s awsome nonetheless. Now it’s time to enter hyperspace to a galaxy far far away with the Imperial Star Destroyer.

This scale model set ranks high up there on our list together with the Millennium Falcon and Death Star. Likewise, the Imperial Star Destroyer kit is another huge undertaking for any collection. You’re going to work with a whopping 4,784 pieces to craft this replica. It’s time for a little bit of trivia. Did you know, that the iconic Devastator that made its first on-screen appearance in Star Wars: A New Hope? Hence, hardcore fans wouldn’t want to miss out on a chance to build one for their collection.

We love the cool details such as the tilting radar dish, swivel guns, and the massive thrusters. Furthermore, the kit comes with a scale version of the Tantive IV starship. That’s right, it is the Rebel ship that the Imperial Star Destroyer was chasing at the start of the first Star Wars film. A LEGO set won’t be complete without minifigures. Therefore, an Imperial Crewmember and Imperial Officer are in the box. Finally, the display stand allows you to show off your new toy in all its glory.

Buy it now

Images courtesy of LEGO

September 10, 2019 / Comments Off

283

The Holmsland Dune House Reimagines What Contemporary Home Means

On the edge of the 7,000-kilometer coastline in Denmark, you’ll find a one-off contemporary house called the Holmsland Dune House. What’ll strike you immediately is its heavily cantilever structure, as if a giant cross levitating.

The design represents the owner’s rare condition. The client explained to architect Viktor Sørless that he has a form of mirror-touch synesthesia. Synesthesia, for the uninitiated, is a condition wherein a stimulus triggers a different response in a person. For example, the musician Lorde has a form of synesthesia enabling her to “see” sounds as colors. Only 2 percent of the population carry this condition.

The client’s kind of synesthesia allows him to literally feel what others are feeling. For instance, they feel as if their own body is being touched whenever they see someone being touched.

In the case of the Holmsland Dune House, the client feels the sensation of the wind in the dunes, giving him a calming experience. Which explains the curtains and ceiling windows in every window, meant to accentuate the movement of the wind.

Currently under construction in the small town of Hvide Sande, the Holmsland Dune House, once finished, will sit in the artificial canal connecting Ringkøbing Fjord to the North Sea, in the western part of Central Denmark Region.

The dwelling’s remote location gives unobstructed views of the nearby panorama. As a result, it gives the client front-row seats to the beautiful landscape enveloping his cantilever house. He enters the house via an elevator room, which also serves as a vestibule and gallery.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Studio Viktor Sørless

September 7, 2019 / Comments Off

378

The Zoma Sports Mattress Wants To Give You A Good Sleep

If you’re not the kind of person who values sleep above else, are you even human? Kidding aside, sleep is one of the most important elements of life. This activity, where you do nothing, dictates how well you’re going to do something. Which is all to say that your choice of mattress is probably the most crucial element in your life. Think about it: you’ll be spending most of your time on it. If that’s the case, why would you want a terrible one? Enter the Zoma Sports Mattress.

This mattress features a top-tier design carefully engineered to offer peak performance and ultimate comfort. It uses some of the finest materials out there to help you get a great night’s rest. The best part? It comes with a 100-night trial. So should you hate it, you can return it and get your money back.

The Zoma Sports Mattress will help you achieve faster muscle recovery, improved athletic performance, and deeper sleep so you can take on the world when the morning comes. Inside, you’ll find the company’s Triangulex material, which features hundreds of triangular segments that allow for creating cooling channels that thwart hear and moisture but also for strategic comfort zones. These in turn relieve pain-causing pressure points and help pave the way for neutral spine alignment.

At $550, the Zoma Sports Mattress is definitely not the cheapest option out there. However, this is an important investment, one that you shouldn’t phone in as it will literally affect how the rest of your nights are going to feel like. More information when you hit the link below.

CHECK IT OUT

September 2, 2019 / Comments Off

293

Over 900 Movie Props Are Heading To Auction Courtesy Of Prop Store

The month of August brought us amazing vehicles that went up on auction in time for the 2019 Monterey Car Week. Collectors from all over flock to these events for a chance to own rare rides. On the other end of the spectrum, pop culture fans will have their own big event to kick off September. Movie junkies like us will definitely want to tune in and check out the list of items that will be available. If this piques your interest, watch out for the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction 2019 from Prop Store.

Just like the actors and actresses on film, props play a big role to tell the story. Thus much like the autographs stars give out, there is a market for authentic stuff that shows up on the silver screen. Browsing through the list of the upcoming auction, there are certain items that will make collectors lose their minds if they miss out.

For example, those of you who love the Jurassic Park franchise will want to grab the Tyrannosaurus Rex Skull from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Another one is a Stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars: A New Hope.

Then there’s the Batman suit from the 1989 film by Tim Burton. Furthermore, records show that it is the costume worn by Michael Keaton. There’s also something for Stanley Kubrick fans as the ax from The Shining is likewise going to be up for bidding. Our personal picks of the bunch are the Ghost Trap from Ghostbusters and James Bond’s Walther PPK from Goldeneye. Prop Store will have around 900 items up for grabs during the auction.

Visit Prop Store for details

Images courtesy of Prop Store

August 29, 2019 / Comments Off

337

Love Hultén’s FC-PVM Is Pure Gaming Nostalgia With Style

Love Hultén is fueling our desire for classic gaming with the release of another retro console. Meanwhile, first-party videogame companies are releasing official platforms for old-school gaming. Konami and SEGA are the most recent ones to join the fray with the TurboGrafx-16 Mini and Genesis Mini respectively. However, all of these pale in comparison to the artistic touch of the Swedish artisan. His newest custom console is the Love Hultén FC-PVM that has nostalgia written all over it.

For western gamers, the theme might be unfamiliar at first glance. This is understandable because it is a tribute to the Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). In Japan, the console was called the Family Computer or Famicom for short.

First of all, let’s take a look at the rear of the FC-PVM to see the collection of ports for a classic interface. We’re guessing it’s for hooking it up to older television sets that use RF and RCA connectors. There’s also a bunch of other connectors, but information about those are not available at the moment. Finding an old TV that is compatible is a problem, but a built-in 9-inch Sony Trinitron PVM-9042QM display is available.

Instead of emulation, the Love Hultén FC-PVM uses genuine parts a Nintendo Famicom console. Meanwhile, the controllers are now wireless and conveniently slide and lock into special slots with a magnetic dust cover. Beneath the screen are two dials for volume and power, while the two buttons on each side of the cartridge slot are for power and reset. There’s even space on top to store up to 8 Famicom cartridges for portability. This is truly a gem of retro gaming we want to see in production.

Click here to see more

Images courtesy of Love Hultén

August 24, 2019 / Comments Off

299

Mountain Life At The Casa MM

Nothing says American like one hand on the wheel, with the other hand hanging lazily by the convertible’s door. This image, of hightailing to the spotless fields of America’s numerous anyplace dirt-lined sojourns, is one of endless drive. The impulse to go somewhere, to keep going. Which is why we don’t bother much with destinations. But if it’s the Casa MM you’re going to, where you end up is just as important as getting there.

Sitting at the foot of a mountain range, the Casa MM not only draws in tourists, but those daring at heart. The spirits seeking the adventure of a lifetime, or at least someplace they can let loose. The nearby trails illicit a sense of wonder and curiosity for travel.

The dwelling itself, too, is a portrait of calm and peace. To combat the high traffic area, it uses a wedge shape: the narrow end of the house is oriented toward the paths, while the roofline is inclines toward the peaks. Positioned this way, the house takes the focus off visiting hikers and places it on the surrounding scenery. The solution seems simple enough to overlook, but the designers of the Casa MM integrated it cleverly.

You’ll also see that it features a sloping profile that mimics the rolling terrain enveloping it. Meanwhile, the concrete and stone facade complements the rugged environment. Some external materials remain exposed on the interior and intersect with wood tones. The combination evinces a unique atmospheric calmness, as if two different properties found a way to get along and converge. The result? Sheer beauty.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Alarcia Ferrer

August 18, 2019 / Comments Off

440

Joshua Tree Desert Retreat Offers A Minimalist Getaway

Look at pictures of Joshua Tree and you’ll see an unmistakable gateway to paradise — the kind that coaxes you to explore and venture out, an interactive kind of vacation marked with the restorative powers of seeing nature unveil itself if you look more closely.

But if you want a more relaxed trip, read on. Smack dab in the Joshua Tree reserve is a minimalist space called the Joshua Tree Desert Retreat. The sophisticatedly subdued house reeks of modern but also scales it down to compliment its barren environs. If you want to get away from the spoils of modern urban life, this is the place to hightail to.

The Joshua Tree Desert Retreat sits on a sandy plot. Inside, you’ll find an office area that cantilevers over a natural slope, propped up thanks to a foundation of stilts. Glazed windows that span from the floor to the ceiling let light in, and also offer a spectacular panoramic view of the mountain landscape enveloping the house. The concrete facade offers protection from the harsh sun and wind.

The entire Joshua Tree Desert Retreat space operates off-grid, too, by the way, and depends on solar panels and a battery back-up system for power. Like the place on which it sits, the Joshua Tree Desert House serves as a reminder of the beauty in spite of precarious living. Yes, the creature comforts don’t come readily available. But that’s kind of the point. Real life, out here, doesn’t come easy and smooth and straightforward. You’ll have to make do with the limits of comfort with amenities taken out. And only then will you truly realize the meaning of getaway.

MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Northworks Architects + Planners

August 8, 2019 / Comments Off

361

Control All Your Devices Using The Sevenhugs Smart Remote U

For the longest time, Logitech is the brand of choice when it comes to universal remotes. The company’s aptly-named Harmony series is still everyone’s go-to option to control multiple devices with just one gadget. However, a fresh upstart is stealing some of its thunder with an innovative product of their own. The Sevenhugs Smart Remote U is the follow up to its original successful Kickstarter project. This new model costs $100 less than its predecessor but manages to pack all of our favorite features except for one.

This caveat is hardly a dealbreaker given that this smart remote is practically compatible with over 650,000 devices. Its seems that the only thing missing from the Smart Remote U is the Point Mode. This feature allows the gadget to recognize the device you are pointing at and switch the control buttons on the screen. This clever function uses motion sensors and an indoor positioning system to recognize what you’re pointing at. Other than this, you’re still holding one futuristic piece of technology.

For convenience and superior compatibility, this digital remote control is equipped with Bluetooth, infrared, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The maximum number of devices profiles one remote can store is 80, which is quite impressive. Users can customize everything through a companion app for both iOS and Android platforms. Instead of physical buttons, you will be using the dynamic 3.4-inch touchscreen to interface with your collection of devices. Meanwhile, the built-in 700 mAh battery is good for three days of use. Finally, the included charging base keeps your Sevenhugs Smart Remote U ready at all times.

Get it here

Images courtesy of Sevenhugs

August 6, 2019 / Comments Off

314

Forest Living In The MH House

Per Jacobsen, this São Paulo haven is a slice of creature comfort amidst the rich Atlantic forest. Pretty nice surroundings, we should say. The MH House interacts with the greenery enveloping it by evoking a free-flowing design.

But really, though, what does “free-flowing” men? Is it another mumbo-jumbo on minimalism? Well, partly, yes. Free-flowing could mean less things and less distractions. But at the heart of it, free-flowing takes away as many boundaries as possible to redefine the constrictions of space by opposing it. In effect, you get quarters that don’t feel removed from the total structure — an integrated living abode with its parts in peaceful harmony.

You’ll find here an abundance of glazed doors, sliding open to fetch you from the main living area toward a large outdoor terrace for open-air living. Open-air living might be too on the nose in describing a space that resides in the forest, but that’s a small blemish of semantics. And, really, how else might it be described? There’s lush vegetation everywhere. And it’s around you. Open-air living sounds just right.

This outdoor space offers an atmosphere that’s both cozy and calm. You can swim, longue, read a novel, or just stare at the just in idle. Elsewhere, you’ll see a modern aesthetic, but with natural materials thrown in for a healthy balance. You’ll see plenty of wood-lined surfaces, sawed granite floors, and timber cladding. The house invites the outside in. It’s such a cliche thing to say, of course. But cliches exist for a reason.

LEARN MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Jacobsen

July 27, 2019 / Comments Off

670

The Red Hill Farm House Is The Perfect Ranch Hideaway

Here comes a modern twist on the all-American classic. The Red Hill Farm House subverts conventional ranch house design by making heavy use of blackened timber facades. A design choice that mimics the essence of local farm houses while pushing it a notch further.

Sitting on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, the Carr and Jackson Clements Burrows Architects-designed retreat draws from a concept from the latter. The property features an area of farm land enveloped with open paddocks that sweep down toward the coastline.

The house’s design and materials draw from its surroundings. In other words, the region’s rural vibe inform the architecture, influencing elements including stables, fences, and the tasteful minimalism of its exterior. The architects explain:

“The volumes are utilitarian in their typology, where function is reduced to a minimum and openings are large and dramatic.”

You’ll notice the Red Hill Farm House boasts a lower profile than most other ranch retreats. To be clear, the decision is a deliberate one. The architects wanted to make the space subtle and keep it from standing out like a sore thumb. Moreover, modern twists here include a roofline that folds and creases to create a series of angular forms. As a result, you get a nice call back to the rugged ranges of the region’s landscape. The architects say:

“At first hidden from view, the roof line unfolds on approach, revealing itself fully on arrival in a playful origami of angles and immediately announcing the modernist approach taken.”

The result is a sublime, subdued take on the familiar farm house aesthetic. Check out more photos below.

MORE INFO HERE

Photos courtesy of Carr

July 25, 2019 / Comments Off

591

Pentahouse

Architect Karina Wiciak’s Pentahouse draws inspiration from the mountain range, quite literally. Employing pentagonal geometry in the design, Wiciak created a minimalist abode featuring sloped concrete walls, recalling cliff sides and mountain peaks.

The 6,243-square feet space, supposedly, should house a single family, though you really wouldn’t know by looking at it. Yes, there are sharp, jagged edges. Despite such delicate design choices, this remains a cozy and still humble living space. It’s got a handful of extruded pentagon, all different sizes, that dovetail into one another much like mountain ranges do.

Different pentagons serve different things. For example, the smallest one forms an entrance to the house, when then loosens into a larger pentagon that boasts two liveable floors. The entire concrete space comes covered with plenty of glass windows, which let in natural light aplenty.

The only sad thing about this design? It’s just a concept. Yet, what you see are just computer-generated renderings of Wiciak’s genius. The likelihood of this ever becoming real run low, sadly. However, if by some miracle it does become real, there’s no doubt a small family will come to appreciate its oddball delights.

Not all people will realize the structure’s deconstructivist touches, and not many will appreciate its minimalist flourishings. It might even throw some people off, given its aesthetic rigidness. Still, this stands as one of the most impressive concrete spaces we’ve ever encountered, real or otherwise. Hit the link below to get more information on this beautiful concept.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Wamhouse

July 23, 2019 / Comments Off

617

Tsai House

You’re looking at the only house in the United States legendary artists Ai Weiwei designed. And it’s yours if you have $5.25 million. The Tsai House, or Tsai Residence, sits in the town of Ancram in upstate New York, built there in 2006 as a weekend retreat of Christopher Tsai. Tsai is considered the foremost collector of Ai’s art.

Graham Klemm listed the house on June 2020. The current owners bought the home from Tsai in 2013 for $4.25 million, a million less than the current sticker price. Yes, real estate is a crazy industry. Of the owners, Klemm says:

“They are art lovers, and the house is livable art. It’s extremely finely detailed and extremely interesting.”

If you don’t know Ai Weiwei, shame on you. Just kidding. Seriously, though — he’s one of the most high-profile artists in existence, in large part because of his political activism. For the 2008 Summer Olympics, he collaborated with the architects Herzog & de Meuron on the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest.

Enough about Ai Weiwei and more about the house. It sits on a hill at a property that spans 37 acres. The house features three bedrooms and the same number of bathrooms. Four connected modules make up the residents, clad with corrugated metal on the exterior. Then you have soft gypsum wood panels on the interior. You’ll find an abundance of large glass windows, which come coupled with solid walls to bring the outside in as much as possible. The empty wall spaces also invite potential owners to hang their favorite art.

Klemm considers the design as very minimalist. He adds that agricultural sheds of farms flocking the area inspired the overall design.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Klemm

July 21, 2019 / Comments Off

676

LEGO Apollo 11 Astronuat

These days, man’s obsession with outer space and exploring the unknown remains as strong as ever. Perhaps what causes this attraction is the possibility of finding clues about other forms of life beyond our planet. Just look at the recent uproar about people signing up online to raid Area 51.

Meanwhile, there’s also NASA celebrating its finest achievement of putting people on the moon. It’s amazing to think that’s it has been 50 years since the memorable event. Even a toy company is paying its respects to this remarkable achievement with the LEGO Apollo 11 Astronaut.

This is apparently a life-size replica of one of the most renowned astronauts of our time. According to reports, this project is inspired by the famous photo taken by Neil Armstrong of Buzz Aldrin. It might just be crafted from plastic toy bricks, but LEGO is taking this endeavor seriously.

We can see the intricate details such as the iconic pose, the spacesuit, and the American flag patch. Moreover, they’re even going beyond expectations by recreating the reflection of the visor, which shows the lunar module and the legend himself taking the photograph.

For those of you who want to see it in person, the LEGO Apollo 11 Astronaut will be on display during NASA’s festival. Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty about this special tribute to mankind’s giant leap. The statue stands at a towering 6’3” and uses up to 30,000 bricks, which took roughly 300 hours to complete. To get into the spirit of things, you can grab the LEGO NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander creator set and build a smaller version to play with.

Explore LEGO here

July 20, 2019 / Comments Off

379

Werder Lake House

If you’re in Berlin or near, make it a point to visit the highest point of Werder Island. There, you’ll chance upon the Werder Lake House, or Haus am See. Sitting on a slope facing the river Havel, the house is nestled in between four other houses. It evokes the story of a found stone — a literal stone discovered, without style nor form, then formed into an abode.

The Werder Lake House, as you can imagine, is predominantly stone. In fact, it’s like a hollowed-out concrete body with openings cut to add windows. The effect is striking, at once Flinstones-level cartoonish and yet sublime.

In contrast to the solid block of concrete, the rest of the structures feature wood, including the free-standing partitions. These panels subdivide the interior, and there are also wooden window frames to protect inhabitants against the weather. A wooden pavilion sits on the roof. There’s also a terrace that offers a panoramic sweep of the passing Havel river. A wooden staircase, which doubles as a bookshelf, connects the two floors. You’ll find large sliding doors that provide access to the stone outdoor pool. And there’s a garden that slopes down to the river.

Despite its stone underpinnings, you’ll be surprised to know the Werder Lake House is pretty malleable in terms of how it adapts to the weather. In winter, for example, residents can stay at the garden floor. During the summer, you can retreat at the pavilion and terrace. A sturdy house that prides on transformation? Neat.

LEARN MORE HERE

Photos courtesy of Jurek Brueggen

July 19, 2019 / Comments Off

489

Moon Landing Knives By Cut Throat Knives And WRKMN

When it comes to space exploration NASA’s track record has seen it’s fair share of noteworthy milestones. However, its biggest project was the Apollo program that ultimately realized its goal of sending humans to the lunar surface. Celebrating 50 years of the historic moon landing, two companies are working together to forge a stunning commemorative piece. The Moon Landing Knives are a set of two blades that pay homage to the brave men and women behind it all.

Out of the 400,000 people working together at the peak of the program, only 12 were able to touch down on the moon. As such, Cut Throat Knives alongside WRKMN is limiting this collaboration to only 12 pairs. The duo consists of an 8-inch chef knife and a folder both of which come with a uniquely designed handle. The bigger blade uses 52100 high-carbon steel with special ceramic coat and harpoon tip. This gives it an exceptional finish and shape that will stand out from the rest of your kitchen tools.

Next comes the friction folder with its AEBL steel blade that dons a coating of stealthy black Cerakote. Look closely and you can spot a special engraving hidden beneath the handle. These are the names of the heroes who perished during the early missions of the Apollo program. Another eye-catching detail on the Moon Landing Knives is the moonscape handles. Taking an actual scan of the moon and covering it with resin, the resulting work is stylish and awesome. Cut Throat Knives and WRKMN have really outdone themselves with this project.

Get it here

Images courtesy of Cut Throat Knives

July 11, 2019 / Comments Off

629

Beck House

The Beck House is the Philip Johnson-designed space in Dallas, Texas. Suffice it to say this won’t stay on the market for too long given how sought-after Johnson’s masterstrokes are — and this is the only one in the city, further lowering your chances of snagging it up.

The six-bedroom modernist home was completed in 1964. Often considered a magnified version of the architect’s Pavilion in the Pond, the Beck House looks a bit different now. In 2008, Bodron + Fruit took charge and overhauled the house’s interiors. They installed a new kitchen, converted the staff quarters into an open-plan space. They also added a new pool house, a must-have cornerstone of any lavish Texas dwelling.

The most striking element of the Beck House, however, isn’t its kitchen. Not the open plan space, though that deserves its share of merits. Not even the pool. The main highlight are the columns, dramatic, sublime, eye-catching. Go beyond the entrance into the hallway and things get even more tantalizing. You’ll find twin staircases with bronze balustrades that curve up to mezzanine levels. The dining room is a vaulted ceiling’s fan heaven, albeit a modernist heaven.

Apart from six bedrooms, the Texas home also boasts seven full baths and four half-baths. Bookworms will stay cooped up in its library. Glass walls offer respite, especially for days when you feel a bit forlorn. The seven-acre house also features a media room, cabana, and a tennis court. Check out more photos below. And check the listing over at Sotheby’s for more details.

CHECK IT OUT

Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s

July 10, 2019 / Comments Off

611