Hasta La Ideas

I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter yesterday. I was also surprised to hear that a total of nine people were killed in the ill-fated helicopter. While I’d heard that Bryant took a helicopter from his Orange County home to the Staples Center for games (a medical necessity, according to this GQ interview; a lifetime of injuries makes sitting in L.A. ground traffic unbearable for Bryant), I didn’t know what kind of ‘copter it was.

The cause of the crash was unclear at press time, but I did want to learn about Bryant’s helicopter. I’ve found it was a Sikorsky S-76B, which is the Mark II version of the S-76, a then-new type of helicopter designed in the ’70s, originally to ferry oil executives from shore to deep-sea drilling platform.

An S-76B in use by the Thai Navy

In the years since, the S-76 has been used for VIP/executive transport and has a connotation of corporate luxury.

An S-76 interior fitted out for VIP transport

President Trump personally owns an S-76B (although he has not been allowed to use it after winning the election; the Secret Service restricts him to Marine One for helicopter trips).

Trump’s personal S-76B, purchased for use when he was a civilian

Design-wise, the S-76 is similar to the U.S. military’s Blackhawk helicopter, having the same designer/manufacturer in Sikorsky. The twin engines on both craft are overhead; with the Blackhawk this provides a roomy interior in which to cram more troops, and on the S-76, passenger space. The spacious interior makes the S-76 attractive both for executive transport and adaptation as an air ambulance, as there’s ample room for a prone patient and first responders to administer aid in-flight.

An S-76B in rescue livery. Image by Phil Vabre, GFDL

What I can’t figure out is how Bryant’s specific helicopter was outfitted to carry eight passengers (I can’t find any photos of its most recent interior). Prior to his purchase of the aircraft, which was made in 1991, it was owned by someone else and the interior looked like this, with a five-passenger capacity:

Interior of the S-76B prior to Bryant’s purchase

Interior of the S-76B prior to Bryant’s purchase

Trump’s S-76B is also kitted out to carry five passengers, with the center armrest on the left folded up:

Interior of Trump’s S-76B

I can’t find any photos of the interior of Bryant’s helicopter after he purchased it, but he presumably modified it. He definitely modified the exterior; directly below is a photo of the helicopter under a previous owner, followed by the ‘copter painted with Bryant’s Black Mamba motif and with sponsor Nike’s swoosh:

The S-76B Bryant purchased, in its original livery

Repainted to Bryant’s specifications

This seller of a Sikorsky S76B lists occupancy as 2 crew, 6 passengers. The two captain’s chairs in the back can be replaced with the same three-person bench that’s on the other side of the cabin.

Two-bench interior variant (not Bryant’s actual helicopter)

Horrifically, two of the people that died in yesterday’s crash were children, so I suppose it’s possible that there were five adults alongside them in the passenger cabin, and an additional passenger in the co-pilot’s seat (there was only one pilot aboard).

It’s awful to think about.

R.I.P. Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.

Iphone lithium battery Photo by Tyler Lastovich

Last year, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to three men who have been attributed with the creation of the Lithium-ion battery. “Lithium-ion batteries are used globally to power the portable electronics that we use to communicate, work, study, listen to music and search for knowledge.” the Nobel committee said of the battery. The remark speaks to how the lithium-ion battery has, since its invention, altered the potential of design as we know it. The often small and unassuming batteries made it possible to carry more accessory energy in our pocket than ever before.

The Mars 2020 Rover powered by Lithium-ion batteries (Photo courtesy of NASA)

This behavior, also powered by Lithium-ion batteries (Photo by Jens Johnsson)

Unsurprisingly, the battery has thus created for designers, certain energy expectations. Smart phones, laptops, power drills, game consoles, wheelchairs, aircrafts, cars, scooters, tablets, vaporizers, Mars rovers, cameras, tablets, hedge-trimmers, bicycles, flashlights, drones, boats, and pretty much all electronic products now require a lithium-ion battery for basic functioning. As electric-car companies advertise the lithium-ion battery as the future of driving power, and as the necessity of the battery has become standard in the design of electronics, the true price of these little power packs comes into clearer focus.

Salar de Olaroz Lithium Mine in Argentina (source)

Lithium mine in the Ulyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia (source)

The practical benefits of the lithium-ion battery are without a doubt compelling. The batteries are lighter in weight than most rechargeable battery alternatives, they hold their charge well, they have no ‘memory effect’ meaning that energy output from the battery remains consistent, and they can handle hundreds of cycles of discharging/charging. These specifications have freed designers to make products increasingly nomadic.

Yet the costs of such energy liberties are dispensed across the Earth, as mining of the metals required for lithium-ion batteries become a major economic interest for many nations. Child labor is being used to mine the toxic cobalt, often by hand, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cobalt is almost exclusively plentiful. Graphite mines, another commonly used element of the battery, poisoned air and made barren the soil in Northern China. Fish and other wildlife have died en masse in Tibetan rivers from the toxic chemical runoff of local lithium mines. The lithium mining “boom” in Chile is contaminating the soil and sucking dry the water supply. To name a few of those costs.

Tesla “Gigafactory 1” in Reno, Nevada where lithium-Ion batteries are constructed

Tesla Model S lithium-ion battery

If those reasons don’t highlight the fact that lithium-ion batteries are hardly an ecological energy solution, consider also that production of batteries for electric vehicles requires a ton of energy and as of 2017, “[i]t takes nine years for an electric car to be greener than a diesel car,” according to a World Economic Forum report. “Most consumers will have bought a new car by then.” And obviously, if you charge your car from electricity derived from coal, that negates all our good intentions. (To which I say, designers should really reconsider the car as the future of transportation.)

Had we in the US a government that was more accommodating of a renewable energy economy, a lot of that could change as it is in other countries across the world. Alas we have the opposite. As well as being a political or economic issue, this is also a design issue. Mobile phones, cars, and most of those other battery-powered products mentioned above have become commonplace. As designers create products through which people interface with the world around us, it is not beyond us to be considerate of how much stored electric-energy is necessary to go about our day.

Reliance on fossil-fuel energy led to countless resource wars across the world and has resulted in the climate crisis we now face. If our behavior and the products we use are so similar in their energy expectations, should we expect kinder results from lithium-ion batteries, that derive from their own, unique devastation to both people and the planet? Even as scientists continue to find hopeful alternatives to the more nefariously-acquired heavy metals, the lithium-ion will never be the deus ex machina to all our growing energy demands. Not that we ever should’ve expected it to be.

Lithium-ion con: occasionally they burst into flames.

The infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (post-inferno)

There’s something just so clean, simple and refreshing about minimal designs, that you can’t help but feel a sense of thrill on being surrounded by them. They have the ability to make any living space seem spacious, decluttered and sophisticated. So, we’ve curated a collection of minimal designs that we know will fill you up with peace and joy!

Neil Aronowitz utilized and manipulated the material Concrete Canvas which is basically “concrete cloth on a roll” to create a furniture collection that seems more like artwork. The minimal collection consists of the Whorl Console and Table.

Geometric, organic and opaque, Erik Olovsson’s Indefinite Vases collection consists of sculptural vases that could definitely heighten up the style quotient of any place. These minimal containers are perfect for holding fresh flowers!

This built-in concrete bike rack by Fima Arredo is perfect for storing your bikes! Simply slide them in…and pray no one steals them! Though a wonderful outdoor concept, and pleasing to the eyes, we do wonder how practical it would be in reality.

Designer Pei-Ju Wu integrated a planter, side table, and a lamp, into this amazing piece of furniture that you can place in your living room. The Oasis features a planter at the base of the table, which keeps green thanks to the integrated LED lights, and stays hydrated via the clever funnel found at the center of the tabletop. Excess water simply drips down to the collection tray and evaporates back into the air.

The Arche Collection by Emre Yunus Uzun consists of a vase, a candle holder and a bowl. Each piece showcases a curved structure or an arch. Minimal, matte and subtle, these anodized aluminum pieces are what your living room needs!

The Vinyl Table by Stian Herdal is a mid-century inspired modern record player stand, cabinet, and storage unit, made from a combination of Oak and Valchromat. The minimal vintage piece allows you to display your turntable and all your vinyl records that may have been gathering dust in storage.

The Malibu Sideboard by Morelato Ebanisteria Italiana is a wooden minimal storage piece with intriguing handles. The handles merge the different drawers creating an interesting visual!

Ichiro Iwasaki designed this innovative lighting system, where a network of tubes was used to create a minimally intriguing lighting fixture. The various shades can be positioned as needed!

Living Modules by Photonic Studio is the perfect room for the minimalist in you! Wood and warm beige tones make up the majority of the room, with turquoise seating elements. A curved ladder mounted on the wall leads to a little bunk, placed right above the desk table, forming a cozy little corner for you!

The Bloomengine is a completely self-contained, self-sustaining planter. It can grow and monitor your plant while guiding you through the process, informing you of the plant’s progress and needs. The smart planter autonomously takes care of all the plant’s needs, without much involvement on your part.

The Lik Wall Lamp by Serge and Robert Cornelissen is a minimal aluminum lamp, with a built-in LED light. It can be dimmed according to your preference.

For more such soothing minimal designs, check out Part 1 and 2 of this series!

From bustling marketplaces to mezcalerias and tranquil hotels, our favorite places in this city of dichotomies

Mexico‘s southern state of Oaxaca encourages all who visit to indulge in its variety: within its borders thrives an array of climates and over a dozen indigenous cultures. This serendipitous formula produces some of the country’s most admired culinary assets and exports, mole and mezcal, as well as traditional craftsmanship revered the world over, including Tlahuitoltepec textiles and ancient barro negro ceramics. The region’s treasured commodities unite in its capital city of the same name, a swarming vortex of sights, sounds and, perhaps most rewarding of all, flavors that simultaneously compete for your attention—and welcomingly so. These are just a few of Oaxaca City’s most impressive sights, bites, and resting spots.

Central de Abastos

Locals’ ability to find their way through the maze that is the Central de Abastos Market proves astounding. For visitors, we suggest tapping “Oaxacking” Omar Alonso for his all-day gastronomy walking tour through towers of dried chiles, tubs of chocolate, and mounds of mole, and onward to several women-owned food stalls that serve Oaxaca’s most iconic dishes. Look forward to tlayuda, a charred corn mezzaluna stuffed with herbal hoja santa leaf, zucchini flowers and stringy quesillo; stewed goat barbacoa wrapped in warm tortillas; and pulque, a kombucha-like drink made from agave. Ceramics, baskets, and textiles can be purchased along the way.

Pitiona

Chef José Manuel Baños hails from Oaxaca, and has returned home after stints at notable, Michelin-starred kitchens to open Pitiona. An ode to rustic Oaxaqueño flavors, the elevated eatery is housed in a grand colonial mansion in the heart of downtown. Before diving into the food, prime your palate with a mezcal sipper on the rooftop terrace that overlooks the 16th-century Santo Domingo Cathedral. The restaurant, named after a local herb, highlights the state’s culinary diversity with Pacific-caught mariscos, complex countryside moles, and abundant fruit of the Central Valley. Order the tender boiled “12 leg” octopus, the catch of the day with Baños signature green mole, and of course, a round of bone marrow or pork terrine tacos.

Hotel El Callejón

Boutique hotel El Callejón might have only recently opened, but it’s a pleasant representation of old-meets-new in the calm Xochimilco neighborhood. Case in point: the subtle fusion between traditional adobe and wood architecture (some walls have mini-mosaics comprised of broken ceramic fragments) and modern materials like exposed brick and concrete. Its dozen rooms—including a two-bedroom family suite—are nicely appointed with sturdy, minimalist furnishings and artisanal handicrafts like fantastical alebrijes carvings. Each room’s privacy is ensured thanks to the shaded paths that wind through the central courtyard, where breakfast is served each morning.

La Calera

Built in 1952, this old lime-processing factory was eventually converted into La Calera, an impressive arts venue refurbished with the help of local painter Guillermo Olguin. The main complex boasts rusted cogwheels and roof-piercing smokestacks that nod to its industrial past, serving as a desirable setting for private events, performances, and rotating art exhibits. A dozen stylish lofts (available to book on Airbnb) are also scattered around the compound, united by dry-lush, industrial-themed common areas. It’s a quiet, tranquil location outside the bustling historic district, which can be reached within 10 minutes by taxi.

Boulenc

When you’re ready to take a pause from the onslaught of corn, get your hands on Boulenc‘s “masa madre,” the natural whole-grain sourdough breads made by hand at this European-style bakery. Enjoy them in the morning as breakfast molettes (melty toast with beans and menonita cheese), in the afternoon as a tres quesos sando, or take a pizza pivot in the evening with an eggplant and smoked cheese pie. The sweet pastries aren’t to be missed: expertly executed Scandinavian confections like cardamom rolls and seasonal fruit danishes make solid appearances.

Palenque de Montelobos

On a global scale, Montelobos is one of mezcal’s most recognizable brands. Its sprawling, certified organic palenque (or distillery) sits right in the shadow of the Cerro Montelobos—aka Mountain of Wolves. The operation is the vision of Iván Saldaña, whose PhD in biochemistry and physiology informs his commitment to sustainable mezcal production. (He’s arguably the world’s foremost authority on agave science.) Saldaña also masterminded transforming a liqueur recipe from the 1920s into Ancho Reyes, the chili-based secret ingredient in many spicy cocktails. The property is blanketed in rows of ultra-tall agave plants, and a tour through the palenque, where the agave plants head to after being cut down, reveals the preservation of an all-traditional production circuit, from the roasting pits for the agave chile to the stone grinding wheels pulled by horses and open-air wood fermentation vats. One can taste a noticeable difference.

Mezcalogia

Downtown Oaxaca is filled with mezcalerias, bottle shops and tasting bars that uniquely curate their own selections of mezcal. Many also produce their own brands, which are always worth a try. Mezcalogia is fun, compact and quirky. Its main bar—which is decorated with neon alebrijes dolls and other tchotchkes—is typically packed with groups whose mission it is to try every craft cocktail on the menu. It is also a ripe opportunity to sample Tierra Ahumada, a local craft Porter with pleasant notes of chocolate and caramel, and a subtle smokiness—a trio of characteristics shared by many of the region’s intricate mole recipes.

Hero image courtesy of Pitiona

Layer has developed a concept for an autonomous ride-sharing service based on airplane cabins, that avoids the guilt of booking single passenger journeys without compromising on privacy.

The vehicle consists of two rows of eight modular seats set in S-shaped pairs that face opposite directions to maximise each individual’s privacy.

Attached to the top of each seat is a curved component with “wings” that can be pushed away from the sitter to open up their field of vision, or back towards them to close their area off.

The Joyn concept was driven by skepticism around the safety and sustainability of ride-sharing services, which saw the recent loss of Uber’s license to operate in London.

Layer wanted to design a ride-sharing platform that would address issues of privacy and security in addition to offering the environmental benefits of multiple passengers sharing one vehicle.

“The world is in the midst of an environmental emergency,” said Layer founder Benjamin Hubert.

“This near-future concept addresses both the need for a more comfortable ride-share system that people actually want to use as an alternative to private commutes, and a growing need for environmental action and awareness,” he continued.

“Passengers using this platform could alleviate the ‘eco-guilt’ associated with car travel without sacrificing comfort or convenience, and also engage in a community with shared sustainable goals.”

The near-future Joyn concept takes its name from the “joining” together of the comfort of business-class and the convenience of road travel, as well as the idea of users being able to “join” onto the same service.

Based on the footprint of the Ford Galaxy people carrier, the eight-seater design aims to provide optimum comfort for short to mid-length journeys of around 30 minutes to an hour.

The exterior is designed to look like a smart glass “bubble”, granting passengers expansive views of their surrounding cityscape.

Information specific to each passenger, such as upcoming stops and remaining time to the destination, is displayed via a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED).

The inside cabin takes cues from residential interiors in a bid to offer “home comforts” in busy cities.

Layer incorporated details such as vegetable leather and plush textile upholstery and pillows to create a “soft” and “human-focused” space that would feel welcoming.

These finishes have also been chosen for their durability and practicality, as the leather is easy to clean and the fabric has a “noisy” pattern designed to disguise any wear-and-tear marks.

The flooring material also has a non-slip grip texture for added safety.

On the back of each seat is a stowable table with smart-tech features such as charging ports and folding tablet stands.

Users would be able to order a Joyn vehicle via the app from anywhere within the service area.

After inputting passenger numbers and the destination, they can select their desired car and seat from a map displaying the estimated journey times of nearby vehicles.

The AI-powered system determines what the best route is for the rider while causing as little disruption as possible to other passengers.

The car’s modular design also enables the vehicles to have different configurations based on their purpose. If a Joyn car was focused on airport transport, for example, it may have less seats and more room for luggage.

Riders will be rewarded for choosing Joyn, earning points each time they ride and extra points for rides that are more eco-friendly – such as journeys with more passengers or a more direct route.

These points can be exchanged for goods and services like coffee, or discounts at a particular restaurant. Alternatively, riders can donate their points to charity partners for their cash value.

Joyn users can also use the app as a platform to organise, promote or follow environmental events, and accumulate points by taking part in these events.

Layer is one of many agencies looking to make a mark in the growing ride-sharing industry.

Autonomous vehicle startup Cruise recently revealed its first self-driving, electric Origin car designed for shared ownership, which has done away with any unnecessary features to make room for a spacious cabin.

The car has a symmetrical and blocky exterior, similar to a van or shuttle bus, with seats positioned inwards to face each other.

The post Layer’s Joyn platform is a ride-sharing concept that “alleviates eco-guilt” appeared first on Dezeen.