Jasper Morrison designs a USB charger to power multiple devices

Milan 2015: British industrial designer Jasper Morrison will debut a USB charger for Swiss electronics accessories brand Punkt during Milan design week next month.

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The UC 01 by Punkt aims to do away with the need for carrying around multiple chargers. Since so many devices are now powered by USB, the UC 01 offers three ports to enable the charging of multiple items simultaneously with a single product.

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According to the company, devices with multiple ports usually offer reduced charging speeds, but the UC 01 has a higher power capacity for quick and simultaneous charging.

“More and more devices are powered via USB, yet most computers and laptops only offer one or two ports,” said Jasper Morrison, who is also art director of the brand. “Punkt’s new USB multi-port charger provides easy access charging and is designed for one-handed operation.”

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The UC 01 is compatible with Apple and Android smartphones and tablets and works “with most” USB-powered devices.

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Available only in black, the UC 01 is weighted to keep it in place. According to Punkt, it is built from durable materials and made in Italy.



Two cords of 50 and 200 centimetres in length can be used to plug in the device to a main electricity source.

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The Swiss company has previously released an alarm clock and retro-style telephone designed by Morrison as well as an extension lead for tidying away plug cables created by Georges Moanack.

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Punkt will display the UC 01, its fourth product produced under the direction of Morrison, at a group exhibition titled A Matter of Perception: Products & Materials at the Palazzo Litta during Salone del Mobile 2015 this April.

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Turato Architects raises Gumno House above the forest canopy of a Croatian island

A swimming pool on a “massive concrete cone” sits in front of this summer house, which has been elevated above the tree canopy of a Croatian island to offer views out to sea (+ slideshow).

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Photograph by Igor Crnković

Croatian office Turato Architects designed the three-storey dwelling as a summer home for a couple and their two adult children on the forested island of Krk, which is situated in an inlet of the northern Adriatic Sea.

But once completed, the couple uprooted from their city home to take up permanent residence on the island, reserving their mainland home only for weekend breaks.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects

Named Gumno House, the property occupies the site of a disused gumno – an agricultural structure used for threshing grain that typically comprises a circular platform surrounded by a stone wall. The architects restored the gumno to create a garden folly that is used as an outdoor seating area.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects

“Gumnos were a place of labour, endeavour and care, and a framework for consistent and coherent social interaction,” explained Turato Architects.

“[They] served as spaces for celebrating a high crop yield, as well as a meeting place where the locals made decisions on important issues that affected their community.”

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects

“It was decided that gumno, together with the circular dry stone wall, should be restored, and that the cultivated garden, driveway, orchard, and olive grove should become a kind of a contemporary park, a reanimated place where the family would meet with their guests, friends, and the locals of Risika,” added the studio.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects

Project architects Idis Turato and Marko Liović decided to place the three-storey house at the back of the plot on highest part of the site – allowing it to be elevated above the gumno.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Photograph by Sandro Lendler

The cross-shaped plan of the upper storey creates four large boxy bay windows that survey the surrounding countryside and sea.

Three bedrooms and bathrooms occupy three branches of the cross, while a lounge is situated in the fourth arm that projects towards the sea.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Photograph by Sandro Lendler

A dormer window rises from the axis of the cross to light a stairwell at the core of the property. The steps descend to an open-plan living and dining area that occupies the entire middle floor, which is fronted by a large terrace.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects

The swimming pool occupies one corner of the elevated terrace, supported by the thick triangular column that the architects describe as a “massive concrete cone”. This hollow structure provides the depth for the pool, but also houses a staircase.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects

A driveway encircles the base of the faceted concrete podium, while the terrace platform provides a shelter for the main entrance and a car parking space. Inside, a large cellar is used to store wine and oil, but functions as an entertainment space.

Photography is by Ivan Dorotić, unless otherwise stated.

Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Exploded axonometric diagram – click for larger image
Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Ground floor plan – click for larger image
Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
First floor plan – click for larger image
Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Second floor plan – click for larger image
Gumno House in Croatia by Turato Architects
Section – click for larger image

The post Turato Architects raises Gumno House
above the forest canopy of a Croatian island
appeared first on Dezeen.

Lincoln Reveals the Continental Concept : Exploring the quiet, relaxed confidence of Lincoln's new classical and contemporary design language

Lincoln Reveals the Continental Concept

Unveiled today the Lincoln Continental Concept is an impressive work of automotive design that deftly balances heritage with bringing the brand into the future. This modern swagger is the kind of momentum we’ve been waiting to see from the brand……

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Trisha Travels: Around Berlin

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

Don’t you like reading city guides? For us, city guides are a joy to flip through because even if it were a guide to a city we have lived in, we love seeing it from a different perspective and seeing how other people, whether tourists or locals, see the city. Here we have Trisha Toh, who hails from Malaysia, sharing with us a few spots she visited while she traveled around Europe.

Along with the two other cities Trisha visited, Berlin was another must-visit. We’re sure this will whet your appetite for the city of Berlin. The next step is to book your tickets there but of course there is plenty of time for that after your go through the city guide. We are awestruck by the architecture, the cafes, the culture and of course much more that the city has to offer. 

Follow along with Trisha’s European journey in the Bloesem Gazette ” The Conversation Issue“. 

To read the other city guides in this series: London & Barcelona

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

More places you should visit while in Berlin after the cut..

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

Craving Caffeine  

Zeit fur Brot

There seems to be a revival of ordering sweet pastries when having coffee in Berlin and this place tops the chart for unbeatable cinnamon buns. Baked fresh daily, they come in different seasonal flavours such as almond-marzipan, cherry, walnut-maple, poppyseed, chocolate and white chocolate just to name a few. 

Alte Schönhauser Straße 4

The Barn Roastery 

Once made headlines for enforcing a ban on baby strollers, milk in coffee and sugar, The Barn is no ordinary café. With a strict passion for good coffee, this is one of Berlin’s best places to learn and taste amazing coffee.

Schönhauser Allee 8

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

Westberlin

Quietly situated right around the corner of Checkpoint Charlie, westberlin is a great place to run from tourists hogging up the streets of Friedrichstraße. Loved by locals for years, the café offers a beautiful setting for work and casual meet-ups over a good cup of coffee and independent magazines from around the world.

Friedrichstraße 215

Suicide Sue

In the northern part of Prenzlauer Berg lays a quaint little café with a moniker of a (fictional) fearsome Asian assassin who turned her hand to baking biscuits and making open-faced sandwiches, making Suicide Sue highly favourable during breakfast and lunch times. True story.

Dunckerstraße 2

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

Roamers

This timber and succulent-filled café draws customers from all over the city who come for comfort food basics lovingly prepared by truly attentive owners with a penchant for wholesome, balanced living. When it’s available, their homemade carrot cake is worth the calories.

Pannierstrasse 64

Bloesem living | City Guide: Berlin

 Arts & Culture 

Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum

The University Library of Humboldt-Universität was designed by Berlin-based Swiss architect, Max Dudler. Inside, visitors will encounter a big reading hall which is illuminated by natural roof light and contains green desks and lamps with stone covers for 250 people.

Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 3

Tempodrom

A cultural and visionary arena that was once a small circus tent is one of Berlin’s most remarkable constructions of recent years.

Möckernstraße 10

Berlin Tempelhof Airport

The former Tempelhof airport is now a public park, much to the delight of the people of Berlin. Today, the area is used for various activities by families and visitors.

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Shop Stops 

Silo Store

A concept store offering design products that are made by various designers in Spain.

Senefelderstraße 33

Paper & Tea

P & T is a specialty tea company founded in Berlin. It offers a multi-sensory experience in which customers can see, smell and taste dozens of varieties arranged in little bowls at the sleek and minimalistic gallery.

Alte Schönhauser Straße 50

Gestalten

Gestalten Space

Berlin’s leading design and architecture publisher has a flagship store offering the imprint’s own publications along with a well curated selection of book titles, toys and products by designer and artists around the world.

Sophienstraße 21

Tempelhof1

Festivals and Festivities

Fête de la Musique

Berliners celebrate the beginning of summer with an open air music festival originally founded in France. It is celebrated every year on the 21st of June.

Festival of Lights

Every year, Berlin’s world famous landmarks in the city centre become the canvas for spectacular light and video projections for a number of days. Art functions and events will also take place during the Festival.

Images courtesy of Trisha Toh.

.. Trisha Toh
.. Read the Bloesem Gazette ” The Conversation Issue

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Unveils Exo Zombies Infection in New Trailer ( Video )

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has released a video showing gameplay from Exo Zombies: Infection,..(Read…)

Menace II Middle Earth ( Video )

“Straight outta Hobbiton comes the story of H.W.A.Hobbits With Attitudes. “..(Read…)

2Day Languages Spanish School Interior

Le studio de design espagnol Marquespacio a imaginé toute la décoration d’intérieur de l’école 2Day Languages, située à Valence. Sur une surface de 183 mètres carré, ils ont pensé à mélanger des couleurs pastel avec des meubles en bois et des moulures pour rafraichir et moderniser le lieu.

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Marvel Gets Into the Newspaper Business

MarvelNewspaperFrontThe first edition of the New York Bulletin won’t be available in comic book stores until the end of the month. But thanks to the advantages of dealing with fantasy rather than fact, the front-page headline is already set.

Per the weekend announcement, if it’s happening in Battleworld, the Bulletin will have it covered. The Marvel Comics newspaper extra is designed to get fans excited for the company’s massive May-December rollout of dozens of titles, collectively dubbed “Secret Wars:”

From Greenland in the North to New Xandar below the Shield, our reporters have eyes and ears everywhere!

Who is the mysterious and “quiet” vigilante who leads the Inhuman rebellion? This tell-all expose will keep you up-to-date on Inhuman affairs! Homicide, mischief and mayhem! Scan the Police Blotter for a list of major crimes put to a halt by the Thors! Looking for a great vacation spot? Don’t miss the new, expanded Travel section!

Ha ha. And evidently, these superheroes have already figured out that it’s best to join the evil known as sponsored content rather than try to fight against it.
 
[H/T: io9.com]

Link About It: Earth's Soil is Becoming Endangered

Earth's Soil is Becoming Endangered


Though it may not seem like it, the Earth’s soil is a precious and magical material that we all depend on to sustain human life, yet we still treat it like, well, dirt. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the world has just 60……

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Interactive Light Using Physics Simulator

Pensée par le studio de création basé à Madrid Espadaysantacruz, Light Kinetics est une installation lumineuse interactive où le comportement de la lumière est contrôlé par un simulateur physique. Composée de 78 ampoules de tungstène, l’installation contient un capteur piézoélectrique situé dans la première ampoule. Ce capteur recueille la force du toucher générant une particule de lumière qui se déplace le long de la boucle.

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