These exquisite solar watches use green energy from the sun to keep the timepiece running

In a world dominated by smartwatches with disposable lithium-ion batteries and planned obsolescence life cycles, the Matte Works solar watches are refreshing in more ways than one. Not only are they pretty remarkable wristwatches with an evergreen aesthetic, they also come with solar panels hiding discreetly under the watch dial. These panels pull energy from any light source, be it the sun or artificial interior light. This renewable energy powers the watch thousands of times before the battery on the inside needs to be replaced. Unlike a smartwatch that ends up becoming ‘old news’ after the company launches its next version a year later, the Matte Works solar watches stay classy and functional for years, while underscoring the importance of relying on renewable energy.

Designer: Matte Works Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $195 $285 (32% off). Hurry, only 47/60 left!

Inspired by the beauty of solar power plant, Solution-01 is powered by light and designed with interchangeable straps.

What’s wonderful about Matte Works’ Solution-01 solar-powered watch is that it doesn’t wear its unique ability on its sleeve. The watch comes with a classic aesthetic that conceals its powerful feature underneath a tinted dial in a way that’s understated and awe-inspiring. You’d never be able to tell that the wristwatch has a solar panel built into it, which is what makes the Solution-01 just so special.

Available in both white or black variants, the watch has a minimalist appeal that seems almost effortless, with a 316L Stainless Steel body, a scratch-resistant sapphire-coated crystal display, and a nylon fabric strap that’s easy to fasten even with one hand (points for accessibility there). The dial itself comes in either black or white, with a matte pattern that’s inspired by the way solar panels are laid out in linear patterns found on roofs or radial patterns in heliostat solar power plants. The watch face is simplistic, with a date window and crown located at the 3 o’clock position. Underneath all this, however, is the Solution-01’s USP, its sun-powered watch movement.

Featuring Interchangeable Straps – Pair Solution-01 with leather or nylon strap for your outfit of the day, without any additional tool.

Minimal, yet Architectural and Utilitarian Case Design – With a design language that emphasizes simplicity, Solution-01 is a contemporary vision while retaining an essential charm.

Solar Power Dial Design – Over the solar panel of the movement features a patterned translucent dial, which is inspired by the structure of the design of solar power plants.

The Matte Works Solution-01 run on a VS42A Japanese Solar Movement, which draws power from a solar panel that sits right under the translucent patterned dial. The wristwatch can run continuously for a staggering 180 days on a full charge (that’s even longer than your average quartz watch), and can even be submerged up to 5 ATM (50 meters) thanks to its water-resistant build. The Solution-01 even comes with an additional strap included in the box (you can opt for a nylon one or even a premium leather strap); an offer that’s limited to its Super Early Bird backers, starting at $195 USD.

Click Here to Buy Now: $195 $285 (32% off). Hurry, only 47/60 left!

The post These exquisite solar watches use green energy from the sun to keep the timepiece running first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 cabins designed to be the best weekend getaways

Cabins have been a relaxing and quintessential getaway option for everyone for ages galore. They’re the ultimate safe haven in the midst of nature, if you simply want to get away from your hectic city lives, and unwind. If you want a simple and minimal vacation, that lets you truly connect with nature, without any of the materialistic luxuries most of us have gotten accustomed to, then a cabin retreat is the answer for you! And, we’ve curated some beautiful and super comfortable cabins that’ll be the perfect travel destination for you. From a prefab energy-efficient cabin that promises to be your green dream home to a restored tiny cabin with midcentury charm and modern amenities – these mesmerizing and surreal cabins are the ultimate retreat, you’ve been searching for!

1. Atri

Designed by a company called Naturvillan, Atri is a newly built A-frame villa located on the shores of Lake Vänern. The self-sustaining and climate-smart home is like a sustainable greenhouse in the middle of the mountains! It provides stunning views of the lake, as well as of the surrounding majestic trees, and a natural plot with rock slabs.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is A-shaped with a stable base directly on the mountain and has a continuous axis so you can see through the whole house in one view. As you look up the house blends in among the trees, becoming part of the natural landscape.

What we like

  • Self-sustaining and sustainable
  • Climate-smart

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

2. CABN.CO

CABN.CO is on a mission to build energy-efficient and smart homes that can be placed in unique and diverse locations all over the world. These versatile cabins can be a home for you almost anywhere in the world – whether in the city or on a remote island in the Bahamas! These cabins focus heavily on solar shading and roof overhangs

Why is it noteworthy?

The homes are designed to be prefabricated, net-zero, solar powered, and biophilic.”CABN is considered a Net-positive Energy Building when applying thermal bridge free components airtight construction, electric systems with heat exchange ventilation, and on/site renewable energy generation within the building elements.” CABN.CO has also integrated the home with a biophilic design, which is further accentuated by the presence of cross-laminated timber.

What we like

  • Sustainable + biophilic design
  • Prefabricated structure

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

3. Rock Cabins

Nestled in the heart of Csóromfölde, Hungary is six stunning polygonal cabins called ‘Rock Cabins’. Designed and constructed by architectural firm Hello Wood in collaboration with TreeHouses, the brains, and brawn behind the immensely popular cabins in Noszvaj, the cabins have an almost mystical and mysterious appeal to them!

Why is it noteworthy?

Quite interestingly, the cabins are inspired by the shape of rocks. The intention behind these raw and real cabins was to create something that would harmoniously blend with nature, functioning as a natural extension of it. The cabin’s rock-like aesthetic helps it to effortlessly merge with the natural landscape surrounding it.

What we like

  • Creates job opportunities for the local people
  • Boosts the local economy

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

4. Cabin in Longbranch

Located on Puget Sound, cushioned amongst massive fir trees in an ancient forest is a cabin that Jim Olson has been working on since he was eighteen years old. What originally started off as a 14-foot-square bunkhouse for Olson’s family in Longbranch, has now transformed into a beautiful cabin that makes for the ultimate weekend getaway.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cabin features a subtle wooden exterior, which allows it to harmoniously integrate with its natural surrounding. It truly looks at one with the forest. In fact, three mature fir trees have been allowed to grow through the openings in the deck, and one of them even exits through an opening in the roof!

What we like

  • All the materials used to build the home were carefully selected to further encourage the natural connection
  • A beautiful skylight over the bed, allowing you to fall asleep while gazing at the stars

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

5. MiniMod

Nestled in the redwood forest of the popular and beautiful Sea Ranch community along the Sonoma, California coastline is a 684-square-foot weekend cabin that was originally designed by the acclaimed Bay Area architect Joseph Esherick. Called MiniMod, this cabin was lovingly restored and refurbished by Framestudio after it was purchased by its creative director Chad DeWitt, and his husband James Cook.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cabin was originally built to show how a comfortable and affordable home could be constructed while following the Sea Ranch building guidelines. The midcentury modern cabin has a stunning wooden exterior that allows it to effortlessly blend with the surrounding natural environment. The interiors feature three spacious levels which are connected via open wooden stairs that allow light to generously flow through the levels.

What we like

  • While restoring the home, the designers carefully maintained the history and heritage of the cabin, while managing to make some modern upgrades

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

6. Immerso

Located in the alpine village of Usseaux in Italy’s Piedmont region is the beautiful little ‘Immerso’ glamping cabin. Designed by Italian architects Fabio Vignolo and Francesca Turnaturi this mesmerizing cabin allows guests to leave behind the hectic city life, go off-grid, and unwind in the calmness of nature.

Why is it noteworthy?

The prefab shelter is easily moveable and takes only two hours to set up! Composed of birch plywood and plexiglass, the 65-square-foot modular cabin was designed with the goal of being ‘easy-to-assemble and flat-packed’. It can be built on-site without the use of any electrical equipment or much technical knowledge.

What we like

  • Super easy to assemble
  • Eco-friendly wooden build

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

7. The Slope House

The Slope House from the 3D visualizer Milad Eshtiyaghi is an untraditional A-frame cabin that employs biophilic design inside and out. 3D visualizer and international architect Milad Eshtiyaghi has long been drawn to escapist hideaways perched on rugged, seaside cliffs and isolated cabins envisioned beneath the Northern Lights. Today, he turns his gaze to tiny cabins. A bit more quaint than treacherous, Eshtiyaghi’s latest 3D visualization finds an angular, timber cabin nestled atop an idyllic hillside somewhere in the rainforests of Brazil.

Why is it noteworthy?

Dubbed the Slope House, the timber cabin maintains a signature triangular frame that’s a thoughtful twist on the conventional A-frame cabin. Defined by two modules, one internal volume hosts the cabin’s bedroom while the other keeps the home’s main living spaces, like the dining area, kitchen, and den. The tiny cabin from Eshtiyaghi is envisioned propped atop a truss system that was specifically chosen to minimize the home’s impact on the preexisting landscape.

What we like

  • A biophilic design style has been integrated into the cabin’s interior spaces
  • Natural plants have been added inside the house as a small garden

What we dislike

  • The theme and form of the home may be a bit too eccentric for some

8. Zero Cabin

Two sisters in Chile got the ZeroCabin crew to help create their dream retreat in a forest in the Lake District. The cabin faces the sea on the east and then on the west, you can see a 70-meter tall hill so you get a perfect view either way.

Why is it noteworthy?

They designed the north facade to have open windows and expanded the east facade to allow more sun to illuminate the house obliquely. And since the area has extreme humidity during the winter, they elevated the cabin 1.5 meters above the ground. The 1,184-square-foot cabin has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and living area on the ground floor, and a loft on the third floor.

What we like

  • This ZeroCabin Krul uses timber as a frame for the entire structure but with structural insulated panels with pulverized cardboard
  • The cabin is built to be green and so it uses a two-kilowatt solar system for its electrical needs and a five-cycle system that collects rainwater for its water needs

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

9. Buster

Buster is located in Matamata, just a couple of hours away from Auckland, New Zealand. You will be able to hear the sound of spring river water flowing around you as you’re surrounded by trees, stones, valleys, and basically the joys of nature. It’s located below the Kaimai Range “amongst ancient native bush and farmland”. It is a tiny home perfect for one person or a couple who wants to temporarily or even permanently live in such an area and to have something that is built sustainably and with the environment and your comfort in mind.

Why is it noteworthy?

Instead of being made from timber, it uses black corrugate as it will last longer and can survive all the different kinds of weather that the area experiences. They also used plywood to bring “a sense of warmth” to the house and is in fact what is also used in the traditional kiwi trampers huts, giving you even more of a local feel but with modern conveniences. It’s a pretty good combination, having a more natural lodging but using sustainable technology and devices to give you comfort and function.

What we like

  • Buster is powered by GridFree solar panels
  • The house is oriented to the north so that it will be able to maximize the light during the summer and even during the winter

What we dislike

  • The solar energy is only enough to power a small fridge, and lights, and to charge your smartphones

10. The Beach Cabin

Part cabin part conservatory, the Beach Cabin on the Baltic Sea by Peter Kuczia offers the most stunning panoramic views of the beach. This small gastronomy facility located in north Poland near Gdansk boasts of a simple form that fits naturally into the beach environment but stands out thanks to its bold design.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cabin comes in two parts – an enclosed space on the side, and a vast, open living/dining area that provides shelter along with an abundance of natural light. This dining area is further split into two, with one half made in the traditional style of a cabin, while the other half is constructed entirely out of glass. This glass facade gives onlookers an absolutely sublime view of the ocean, the shoreline, and even the sky above!

What we like

  • It literally floats above the sand
  • Offers the most beautiful panoramic view

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

The post Top 10 cabins designed to be the best weekend getaways first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Bandit9 is a sleek speed demon of a racecar with an aerodynamic design and the engine of a Tesla

The company famed for making some of the most organic, fluid-inspired motorcycles is now experimenting with the adrenaline rush of four-wheeled racing. Bandit9 originally set out to build a car that captures the joy of riding a motorcycle, but the team found them slipping down the racecar rabbit hole. The Monaco is a result of their growing obsession with racecars and captures everything the ‘religion of racing’ epitomizes – speed, aerodynamism, power, control, and the thrill of feeling the resistance as you push against the pedal and try to maneuver a hunk of metal hurtling across the asphalt.

Designer: Bandit9

The car’s ethos went through a major rehash when the company moved from designing a car that captures the joy of motorcycling to a car that embodies the joy of racing. The more Bandit9 learned about the science and religion of Racing, the more they felt compelled to honor those that came before by continuing their work; Colin Chapman’s relentless mission to reduce weight, Carroll Shelby’s principles on control over pure power, Enzo Ferrari’s philosophy on life, and more.

While modern sports cars come packed with features, the truth is they’ve made you dependent”, says the Bandit9 team. “With GPS, there’s no need to have a sense of direction; cruise control means you just need to steer, and now with autopilot: you’re barely driving; just call an Uber.” In that sense, the Monaco is both an attempt at capturing the old-school meaning of racing, albeit with new-age technology, thanks to Bandit9’s diverse team of aerospace, robotics, mechatronics, and chemical engineers working alongside their roster of international automotive designers.

The Monaco is an F1-worthy racecar powered by an electric heart. The car comes with a carbon fiber monocoque that sports Bandit9’s signature fluid-inspired bodywork on top. The company calls it a ‘platform’ rather than a complete automobile, stating that the monocoque is a “blank canvas designed to support add-ons to suit your racing style”.

A lithe, lean beast of a machine, the single-seater racer outputs more than an average muscle car. It uses the same electric engine and LFP batteries as a Tesla Model S, which helps the Monaco output over 536 horses and 445 lb-ft of torque, going from 0-60 in 2.7 secs and covering 250 miles on a single charge – that’s an entire F1 race without worrying about battery levels.

Designing a racecar is a challenge… designing an electric racecar is virtual martyrdom, however, the Monaco seems to have nailed that practically impossible brief. Like Formula 1 cars, the Monaco’s engine and batteries are positioned in the rear to transfer the immense power of the engine to the track. Their weight pushes the wheels into the ground providing more downforce and reducing the chances of wheel spin. And with the free space up front, that just gives the designer more freedom to create a gloriously aerodynamic nose that slices through the air like a lightsaber through cotton candy.

At its top speeds of 250km/h, the driver will experience up to 2 g’s when they accelerate and up to 4 g’s banking into corners or braking. The car’s cockpit, in that regard, feels more like sitting in the pilot’s seat of a fighter jet. “Like any athlete, you’ll have to train to maintain control”, the Bandit9 team says.

An ultrawide tactical camera outputs a panoramic rear view on the driver’s dashboard at 1080p with low latency, giving them a much clearer view of what’s behind them while they’re racing.

For people with deep pockets and a license to vroom, the Monaco starts at $150,000 USD and ships worldwide, with deliveries beginning in Q3 of 2023. Before that, the Bandit9 team is heading to the salt flats with a modified version of the Monaco to attempt a world record. Head to the Bandit9 website to know more about the car and its development… or even some of their drop-dead gorgeous motorcycles.

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Fuwa Fuwa collection re-imagines plastic bottles as organic forms

Bottles are something that we somehow take for granted. We’re more interested in consuming what’s inside of it of course and at times, we just callously throw them away, especially the plastic ones. Over the years we’ve learned to be more conscious about our consumption as plastic is one of the worst offenders against this planet. There are still a lot of plastic bottles out there but we’re finding ways to reuse them after they’ve already been used.

Designer: Yusuké Y. Offhause

This Franco-Japanese artist has come up with a series of organic pieces using plastic bottles called “Fuwa Fuwa”. But instead of using the transparent plastic we’re used to, he actually combined it with heterogenous material that looks like oxidized iron or something that you see at archeological digs or underwater remains. The idea is to reactivate objects apart from their original purpose and to highlight the idea of imperfection.

The plastic bottles we see have a typically rigid structure so he played around with this by replacing part of the bottle with glass and ceramic. So it still retains the original shape but the removed or missing parts are highlighted with these other elements. What you get is something that looks both futuristic and archaic in one go with its crystallization using glass or transparent resin. These organic pieces can then be used as sake bottles, fragrance diffusers, or just as decorations.

Some of us still dream of having a plastic bottle-free world but that’s still far from happening even as we’ve made some progress. So the next best thing would be to recycle these as they will not reach end of life anytime soon and projects like this can be a good alternative to just throwing them away.

The post Fuwa Fuwa collection re-imagines plastic bottles as organic forms first appeared on Yanko Design.

This face mask lampshade is a memorial to humanity’s most recent tragedy

There have been many points in recent history when the world was gripped in fear and doubt of survival. They say that the worst enemy is one that you can’t see, and viruses definitely fall under that category. Since December of 2019, the world has held its breath in dread of the future, and although some might feel like it was just a bad dream, there are still many that wear a reminder of the horror and panic of the past year and a half. Fortunately, there is light at the end of that tunnel, and we seem to have emerged victorious. Almost like a metaphor for that, this rather simplistic lamp acts both as a reminder of those grueling months and our civilization’s tenacity to do whatever it takes to survive.

Designer: Hoi Ng

The most important part of a lamp might not be its bulb, though it’s naturally critical for its function. Almost any bulb, however, would be able to serve the function of a light source, but what differentiates a lamp from, say, a spotlight or floodlight is the part that diffuses and softens the brightness of that light. In most cases, it’s a lampshade; sometimes, it’s a simple covering or wrapper made from a specific material. In both cases, however, that lampshade or covering is also the most visible part of a lamp, giving it its distinct identity.

In that light (pun intended), it might be puzzling or even bizarre to see a surgical mask performing that function. On the one hand, its material actually does the job well of letting just enough light through while softening its brightness. It can even give the light a little hue, considering how different colored masks have popped left and right in the past years. On the other hand, it is definitely not a use case you’d expect for such a piece of medical protective equipment.

There is almost something poetic about its use here, though. For the past two years and a half, this mask has become the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In many countries, its use is still enforced as the coronavirus continues to exert its presence. At the same time, however, it also represents humanity’s resilience during this crisis. Letting the light shine through is like sending a message of hope, especially in times of darkness.

The lamp’s design is plain and simple, with a mask draped over a bulb and kept in place by two arms extending from the sides of the base. It’s almost like a makeshift lamp that you can set up anywhere, though it’s not a good idea to put used masks here. Given the simplicity of its design, almost any kind of mask or bulb can be used. The most important thing is that the material is able to light shine through.

This Anonymlux concept is definitely not the most beautiful lamp you’ll see, but its design aims for impact more than aesthetics. With restrictions and regulations now slowly receding, there are dozens of unused face masks lying around, unnecessarily adding to waste. Some used ones even pollute waters and lands, ironically killing the planet after saving human lives. In that sense, the lamp also serves as a reminder not to waste the chance that we’ve been given by helping save the planet for generations to come.

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Hope Tala: Leave It On The Dancefloor

West London-based artist Hope Tala’s “Leave It On The Dancefloor” is a shimmery, synth-driven track. The buoyant tune—co-written with Mozella (aka Maureen Anne McDonald) and produced by Greg Kurstin—is an optimistic ode to the power of dancing your woes away. “I wrote this song imagining what I would want someone to tell me while I was going through a hard time. The chorus lyric encapsulates it all: ‘So come on leave it on the dancefloor, leave your worries all behind and let the night take the pain away,’” Tala shares in a statement. “Going out was something I missed intensely through the various COVID lockdowns, particularly when I was feeling down in the dumps. It was something I didn’t know how much I valued until it wasn’t possible or safe anymore. A lot of the music I’ve been writing since the pandemic started has been exploring the wonder and joy of that experience: the community that lives among the heat of happy bodies on the dancefloor—how precious that is.”

Balancing Face Oil

Epara (which means “to cocoon oneself” in the Nigerian dialect Ebira) crafts high-quality skincare products using natural ingredients ethically sourced from co-ops and small farms in Africa. Their Balancing Face Oil combines moringa, marula and ylang ylang III oils. Gentle yet potent, this formula helps to brighten and soften skin, while also reducing hyperpigmentation. Price is in Pounds.

Balancing Face Oil

Epara (which means “to cocoon oneself” in the Nigerian dialect Ebira) crafts high-quality skincare products using natural ingredients ethically sourced from co-ops and small farms in Africa. Their Balancing Face Oil combines moringa, marula and ylang ylang III oils. Gentle yet potent, this formula helps to brighten and soften skin, while also reducing hyperpigmentation. Price is in Pounds.

MelGeek Pixel lets you customize your keyboard using LEGO-like bricks and minifigs

There are dozens of keyboard designs available in the market targeting different audiences, from the suave professional to the chic influencer. Almost all of these keyboards come with a fixed design, and all but the most expensive mechanical keyboards for gamers let you customize their appearances. Even then, however, you’re still limited to the parts and designs that the manufacturer provides rather than having free reign on how you want your keyboard to look. When it comes to creative freedom, there is probably nothing that beats LEGO blocks, and this mechanical keyboard tries to bring that same system so that you can customize your own keyboard to match your style and mood without locking you into a single design.

Designer: MelGeek

The most customizable keyboards offer is the freedom to change keycaps. Many gaming keyboards have RGB lights that you can also personalize through software. Other than that, however, you’re mostly stuck with the color and design of the keyboard chassis, and you only get to choose from a selection of pre-made keycap designs anyway.

That’s what makes the MelGeek Pixel mechanical keyboard quite liberating. It uses a “LEGO-inspired” system that lets you customize almost every part of the keyboard. Both the front and the back of the keyboard are like blank slates, and you can create any blocky design you want. You can even set up mini-figures on top to give the keyboard a unique flair. Of course, you’ll have to make sure those don’t get in the way of your typing.

The customization options go beyond just the chassis, though. All the keys are studded, and you can remove them to customize the keys underneath. This way, you don’t have to settle for a single color and mix and match patterns to your heart’s content. MelGeek doesn’t mention which mechanical keycaps are used, only that it uses a gasket mount design. The keyboard’s LEGO theme continues even to its USB connectors, making sure that no piece looks out of place.

The Pixel Keyboard isn’t just all looks, of course. It has the standard features of a pro mechanical keyboard, including customizable RGB lights and both wireless and wired connections. Of course, its real appeal is its retro 8-bit aesthetic, thanks to its blocky design, which you can customize over and over again. If one day you decide you no longer like what you made, you can simply just start all over again. Your imagination and patience are the only limits.

The keyboard isn’t that expensive either, at least for a highly customizable mechanical keyboard, though it only has a pre-order price at the moment. The Pixel’s LEGO-like design will definitely not appeal to everyone, but it’s probably the next best thing to having a fully customizable keyboard you can change to suit your tastes and whims.

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Myele Manzanza feat. Wallace: Silencing the Sun

Drummer, composer, producer and beatmaker Myele Manzanza has announced his third album, Crisis & Opportunity Vol.3—Unfold, and from it comes “Silencing the Sun,” a brilliantly layered track that, like much of Manzanza’s work, pushes the genre of modern jazz. Throughout its nearly three minutes, the single titillates, shifting between New Zealand artist Wallace’s airy vocals, robust percussion, bold keys and plucky guitar licks.