Hasta La Ideas

When we think of rulers, we think of thin, rectangular-shaped measuring instruments that are straight-laced and without any frills. After all, you just need it to tell you how short or long an object is so there doesn’t really need to be any sort of design innovation to it. But of course if you’re interested in seeing creative reinterpretations of regular, every day objects, there are a lot of designers out there who experiment and push the boundaries of what an object should look like. Yes, even the straightforward ruler can be experimented with and we get some interesting product results.

Designer: Rick Salafia

This line of rulers called Instruments plays around with what this measuring object can look like. The designer used various shapes to recreate a ruler, with some having concave or bowed edges, coils, and even fragmented parts. This resulted in some pretty interesting rulers that are more asymmetrical, which is somehow ironic for something that we use to tell us the exact measurement of an object. There are semi-circular objects, connected puzzle pieces, things that look like abstract fishes, shells, stars, a scythe, and other varied objects.

What these things have in common is that they’re all made of aluminum, just like a lot of regular rulers. And since they’re still going to be used to measure things, each item in the collection still has those individual inked lines with the numbers and we assume that they are the regular metric system measurements. There are some though that have the lines but don’t have the numbers so you may have to take the extra step of counting the lines if you really need to know how long something is.

The Instruments look interesting and a good addition to your desk especially if you’re into the aluminum aesthetic. What I’m not too sure though is the practicality of using such unusual shaped objects especially if you’re aiming for accuracy when measuring something. But if you’re looking for decorative instruments that can occasionally be used as rulers, then these are things that you can consider adding to your collection.

The post Irregular shaped aluminum rulers reinterpret measuring instruments first appeared on Yanko Design.

Gamepad design has changed with each generation bringing advancement in technology and improvements in function. It all started with the Atari 2600 in 1977, then Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, Sony PlayStation in 1994 and Xbox in 2001. Since then, Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox have had a three-way battle for supremacy.

Gaming controllers and gamepads have been in the mix of things all this time, and bringing gamers the most ergonomic and function-laden gamepad has been an unending quest. This adventure continues with these thoughtful gamepad concepts sparking my imagination wild.

Designer: Evolution Lab

Things start off with this dreamy AI-crafted gamepad collection in the form of a ceramic-coated controller with buttons comparable to that on a Formula-1 steering wheel. The gamepad gets a creamy colored texture and the Xbox-inspired analog sticks, D-pad and buttons. The concept gamepad has a fat character to it, and I imagine how it would feel ultra-secure while annihilating my opponents playing open-world titles.

Then comes the very cheesy furniture-inspired gamepad that feels like a Lincoln Continental’s interior dabbed onto a themed NES controller. The button layout has not been tampered with much, and hitting the trigger buttons during intense zombie-firing action will injure a nail or two… ouch! That wooden finished back panel on the controller is too close to comfort for slamming the trigger buttons and holding this one is going to give anyone sweaty palms… yuk!

Next up is a downsized gamepad ideal for carrying along for quick portable gaming skirmishes on a capable gaming device. Yes, I imagine this controller to be a holy grail accessory in a purist gamer’s bag. Nintendo SNES Controller influence is spilled all over here, as the AI picks the minimalistic elements of the classic controller in its logically evolved form.

This Xbox 360-inspired gamepad is a luxe version of the original, and I can’t walk away from staring, it’s that classy. The D-pad and the shoulder trigger buttons have the definitive chrome treatment, something that you would do on a Supra for aftermarket drifting modification. Just pondering over the thought of smoking up the rubber in a Dirt rally or a Car X drifting game gets me high enough, already…

A gamepad with overemphasized shoulder buttons is perfect for battle royale action as you hit the fire and aim buttons in tandem like a pro shooter. Again the Xbox 360 is the canvas on which this caped gamepad builds on, keeping things to basics and colors muted. A no-nonsense gamepad nobody will go wrong with.

Then comes the flashiest of them all. A Nintendo 64 controller getting the animated treatment it seems. Jumping right out of a Pixar animated title like The Incredibles, this concept gamepad will be so much fun to have. To hit those bubbly buttons and maneuver that warship-like analog button is going to be such a blissful feeling.

Last but not least, a gamepad that would ideally go with a modern portable gaming console. Built for a demanding and sophisticated gamer who likes to flaunt those collectible Nike Air Jordan sneakers, the gamepad is one of the most eye-candy iterations of the Nintendo Super NES you would ever see. Everything right from the D-pad to the buttons are so cleanly crafteded. This one I would choose for life out of them all!

The post Dreamy gamepad designs only purist gamers will appreciate under the sun first appeared on Yanko Design.

A spa with a spherical swimming pool and holiday homes with sloping plaster walls feature in our latest lookbook, which showcases eight cavernous Greek interiors.

Cave-like interior designs are becoming increasingly popular, as seen in the Gilder Center by Studio Gang – a recently completed museum extension in New York with a large grotto-like atrium.

In Greece, which is known for its caves, there is a wide variety of cave-like architecture either built from existing geological structures or designed to mimic these natural dugouts. Thick, curved walls are often chosen to protect interior spaces from the country’s Mediterranean climate.

As the weather becomes warmer in the northern hemisphere, here are eight cave-like interiors from Greece that are defined by their curved shapes.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with striking bookshelves, outdoor showers and offbeat bakeries.

Summer houses, Santorini, by Kapsimalis Architects

Local studio Kapsimalis Architects converted two underground caves at an old property in Santorini into summer houses with bright white facades.

Inside, the homes are characterised by smoothed-out interiors finished with earthy-hued plaster, while arched doorways and niches nod to the property’s history.

Find out more about these summer houses ›

Sterna Nisyros Residences, Nisyros, by Greg Haji Joannides

Designer Greg Haji Joannides renovated the interior of an earthquake-damaged house on the island of Nisyros using historic photographs as a guide.

On the ground floor, wide brick archways create an open-plan layout that allows the space to double as an exhibition site for artists in residence.

“The inspiration behind this design was to keep as much as possible of the original way the Nisyrians would build houses,” Joannides told Dezeen. “They would use the ground floor as a storage or working space.”

Find out more about this island house ›

Wooden Cave, Trikala Korinthias, by Tenon Architecture

Wooden Cave is a timber-clad suite that forms part of Hyades Mountain Resort – a hotel in the mountainous village of Trikala Korinthias.

Tenon Architecture split the suite into two sections that intend to mirror the appearance and experience of entering a cave. The front half features ashy black tiles arranged in a linear formation, while the rear half is made from almost 1,000 pieces of curved hand-cut spruce.

“This division intends to create a clear distinction between the hard, ‘protective’ shell and the curved, ‘inviting’ interior, reminiscent of the form of a cave,” explained the architecture studio.

Find out more about Wooden Cave ›

Saint Hotel, Santorini, by Kapsimalis Architects

Kapsimalis Architects converted a cluster of former homes, barns and cellars in Santorini into the Saint Hotel – the volumes of which are arranged in a stepped formation down a sea-facing cliffside.

Inside, smooth cavernous walls were finished in white plaster that creates a subtle backdrop for minimal fittings and amorphous furniture.

Find out more about Saint Hotel ›

Retreat in Tinos Island by Ioannis Exarchou

Retreat in Tinos Island is a 100-year-old stable that was transformed into a cosy holiday home for two by architect Ioannis Exarchou.

Exarchou set large stones and thick tree branches into the dwelling’s ceiling, clad the walls in smooth white plaster and covered the floors in coloured concrete.

“My main objective was to retain and preserve the cavernous unique feeling of the space,” the architect told Dezeen.

Find out more about Retreat in Tinos Island ›

Holiday home, Santorini, by Kapsimalis Architects

The cave-like subterranean spaces and vaulted rooms within this Santorini holiday home were renovated by Kapsimalis Architects to retain the building’s existing architecture.

The studio worked to simplify the complex interior layout, which features a labyrinthine arrangement of spaces that are brightened by all-white plaster walls.

Find out more about this holiday home ›

Euphoria Spa, Mystras, by DecaArchitecture

Carved into the base of a mountain in Mystras, Euphoria Spa is made up of differently scaled elliptical spaces that are connected by a web of catacomb-style passages.

One of these areas contains an indoor spherical pool that is characterised by a dark central structure that can be accessed via curved archways.

“Floating in the centre of this dark orb there is a sense of being suspended in the void of a platonic volume, but also a sense of womb-like calmness,” said DecaArchitecture.

Find out more about Euphoria Spa

Holiday apartments, Santorini, by Kapsimalis Architects

Arched niches and grey cement plaster floors create neutral living spaces within these four holiday apartments, which were built near Santorini’s highest point.

The complex’s terraces and retaining walls were formed from rocks excavated from the site to create a continuity between the architecture and the surrounding mountains.

Find out more about these apartments ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with striking bookshelves, outdoor showers and offbeat bakeries. 

The post Eight cave-like interiors that celebrate curved forms appeared first on Dezeen.

Air conditioners are great except for their most obvious limitation. They’re static. Whether it’s in your house, in your office, in a mall, or in your car, the AC stays right where it is. It doesn’t move with you from space to space, or room to room, and when you step outside, your body has to deal with a sudden blast of heat from the outdoors. Conventional ACs aren’t designed to be wearable… yet, but that hasn’t stopped companies like Dyson and Sony from experimenting with body-worn cooling devices. Leading that charge, with a US patent as well as a Red Dot Product Design Award and iF Design Award, is the Coolify 2S from Torras. Styled like a slim version of your travel neck pillow, the Coolify 2S is a horseshoe-shaped appliance that sits around your neck and uses a combination of cooling plates as well as targeted airflow to cool you down by 30°F in under a second. Going above and beyond those neck-worn fans that only generate a breeze, the Coolify 2S actually cools you down like an air conditioner… but in a lightweight, sleek, wearable form factor.

Designer: Deng Xiao Yong (Eddy)

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $299 ($100 off total with coupon code “YANKOCOOL”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

‘Iconic Cooling’, is what Torras calls the technology within its Coolify 2S device. While most neck-worn coolers just use a combination of a fan, water vapor, or cooling agents like peppermint essential oils (that’s what the blö device from 2018 uses). The Coolify 2S actually has a miniature refrigerator built into it. Relying on a set of cooling plates powered by a semiconductor and a HyperVortex air-flow system, the device actually cools you down like an air conditioner would.

You could wear the Coolify 2S in the heat, or while working out, trekking, or even on outdoor shoots. The Coolify 2S even works remarkably well indoors, letting you cool yourself without needing to sit right under the air conditioner, with a smartphone app that lets you control your neck-worn AC’s temperature. You can toggle its fan settings, as well as choose the intensity of the cooling plates (they apparently have a heating function too) right through the app, while the Coolify 2S device works on a sizeable 5000mAh battery to cool you for up to 11 hours when used on its highest setting.

The Coolify 2S also has another understated advantage over an actual air conditioner. Sure, it’s portable, and can be worn everywhere you go… but more importantly, it’s a personal cooler, rather than a space cooler. That effectively means you get to control your own personal settings without it having to affect anyone else. Instead of fighting for the AC remote because one person’s sweating and the other person’s freezing, the Coolify 2S takes an ‘each to their own’ approach, giving the wearer absolute autonomy, with three levels of cooling to choose from.

The technology’s impressive for sure, but you don’t land 2 major design awards unless your product looks as cool as it behaves. The Coolify 2S is made to look incredibly sleek and feel ergonomic and lightweight around your neck. The wearable sits fairly securely on your person, letting you do things like work, walk, or even exercise with it on, and lets you adjust its angle from anywhere between 0° to 160° for that extra bit of custom comfort. Each Coolify 2S also ships with a pretty remarkable-looking donut-shaped soft-shell case for carrying around, and an 18W charger that juices your wearable AC from 0 to 100 in under 2 hours.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $299 ($100 off total with coupon code “YANKOCOOL”). Hurry, deal ends in 48 hours!

The post Neck-worn air conditioners are gunning to be the next breakthrough piece of wearable tech first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainability has been running through everybody’s mind. Ever since the pandemic shook up our world, we’ve been trying to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our life, including our homes! With everyone aspiring toward’s eco-friendly and mindful ways of living, tiny homes have been taking over the architecture world, and they continue to grow popular by the day. And tiny homes on wheels, in particular, have really taken us by storm! What started off as a cute little trend is now turning into a serious option for home spaces that are portable and travel-friendly. You can now take your cozy and comfy home with you wherever you travel. These tiny homes on the move are simple and minimal alternatives to the imposing and materialistic homes that seem to have taken over. And we’ve curated a wide range of travel-friendly micro-home setups that will cater to everybody’s unique needs and preferences. There’s a tiny home out there for everyone.

1. The Dufour

Get ready to be transported to a world of comfort and elegance with this magnificent wooden tiny home dubbed the Dufour. Built by German tiny house creator Berghaus, known for keeping its designs eco-friendly and sustainable, this spacious wooden cabin offers the perfect blend of rustic charm and modern luxury.

Why is it noteworthy?

Dufour, named after the highest peak in Switzerland, now measures roughly 26 feet in length, which makes this model considerably larger than the previous Berghaus designs – thus the name, signifying dominance of size. Packed with modern-day luxuries, the length is not the only significance of the Dufour 780; it features two loft bedrooms each with a staircase of its own from the main floor.

What we like

• It can be used as a family home or, nestled in the heart of a forest, as a comfy vacation rental
• The tiny house is topped with solar panels and maintained for fresh and gray water tanks aboard

What we dislike

• It lacks a terrace (expandable or fixed) that can provide a viewing space when in transit

2. The Dodo Van

The Dodo Van has been designed for a young couple who wants to live in a smaller place. The 1993 Chevy van was actually purchased for work and travel. Inside the van, you can see a full-sized mattress and a kitchenette with a fold-up dining table, and more.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Dodo Van is a design exercise that challenges transformation, limitations, and spatiality. The designers considered the needs of the young pair working with local communities. They are also frequent travelers who love to explore new places. They only take with them their essentials, so a small mobile home is just right.

What we like

• For thermo-acoustic proper insulation, rock wool was actually used on the ceiling, walls, and the floor
• There is an independent battery connected to the vehicle’s alternator for electricity

What we dislike

• The Dodo Van is small but it can comfortably accommodate a group of people

3. Base Cabin x Matt Goodman Architecture Office’s Cabin

Tiny home builder Base Cabin collaborated with Matt Goodman Architecture Office to create this super minimalistic tiny home on wheels inspired by the simplicity of livestock sheds.

Why is it noteworthy?

The clean and simple home was designed to beautifully merge with farms, vineyards, or even the Australian bush. The aim was to ensure that the residents feel one with the surroundings and that there is no sense of separation between the home and the landscape.

What we like

• The home occupies a tiny footprint, but it is made to feel more spacious than it is, owing to the placement of operable windows, that provide lovely views, irrespective of where you are standing

What we dislike

• The home has been outfitted with a pull-down bed, it doesn’t have a real bed

4. Adraga

Called Adraga, the tiny home features an array of sustainability elements including solar panels, rainwater collection, and composting garden beds. As part of a larger series of tiny homes on wheels, Adraga is home to a retired couple who just want to disconnect from the busyness of the world.

Why is it noteworthy?

Looking at Adraga from the outside, its unstained pinewood facades invoke simplicity. Defined by a rectangular, flat-roofed silhouette, the team at Madeiguincho found movement through windows and doors. On one end of the tiny home, a single, farmhouse-style door welcomes residents into the home’s subdued bathroom. There, against the soothing backdrop of walnut wood panels, residents can enjoy a semi-outdoor shower atop wooden floor slats.

What we like

• The layout of Adraga is designed to optimize the available floor space
• Incorporated with various off-grid elements

What we dislike

• In the bathroom, a dry toilet operates without flush water and closes the waste loop – but not everyone may be comfortable with using it

5. Lola

Lola is a tiny home on wheels that’s part of designer Mariah Hoffman’s larger multi-disciplinary design studio and brand Micro Modula, one that explores “home, place, and the self.”

Why is it noteworthy?

Joining the movement, self-taught spatial designer and overall creative Mariah Hoffman planned and constructed her own tiny home on wheels called Lola. Over the span of five years, Hoffman gradually transformed an old utility trailer into a 156-square-foot mobile tiny home. Born out of a daydream to build her own home, Hoffman built Lola to “learn all the necessary skills for [her] personal and creative survival.”

What we like

• Built from construction materials that aesthetically met the bill and also provided some functional elements for the home to brace the seasons as well as the local critters
• The interior was planned in honor of the midcentury design

What we dislike

• The aesthetics may not appeal to everyone

6. IMAGO-iter

IMAGO-iter carries a 6.5m2 interior volume with 2.4 meters’ worth of headspace, providing just enough room for buyers to customize the space according to their needs. BESS took a customizable approach in designing every aspect of IMAGO-iter, so the mobile home is outfitted with only the bare essentials.

Why is it noteworthy?

Whether you use them as off-grid workspaces or campers on the go, mobile homes provide cozy getaways that we can bring wherever the wind takes us. BESS, a Japanese building firm that specializes in wooden houses, designed and constructed a mobile home called IMAGO-iter to join the party and move with our changing needs.

What we like

• You can choose between a traditional timber or a domed, wagon-like plastic membrane roof
• Suspension and electromagnetic brakes have also been worked into IMAGO-iter’s build to help ensure stable and safe driving

What we dislike

• Given its size, it can be outfitted with only the bare essentials

7. The Romotow

Created by New Zealand-based design and architecture firm W2, the Romotow seems a very innovative design for a trailer, with a fixed chassis that features a rotating closed living unit capable of swiveling around the full 90 degrees to create an extra outdoor living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

In transit, the 30.5ft Romotow remains closed and when it’s stationed for overnight camping, the main living unit with panoramic glass windows on both sides can swivel open: this form factor creates two sections, a large deck, and a sleeping/living cabin.

What we like

• The T8 is powered by a 200Ah lithium battery and also features a 395W solar panel on the roof

What we dislike

• The trailer needs to rotate a complete 90 degrees, and that free space may not always be available

8. The Living Vehicle 2024 HD

Freedom from everyday mundane life; freedom from the RV parks; and freedom to live in the outdoors for as long as you desire: The ability to provide this level of independence is the most critical feature that sets the Living Vehicle 2024 HD apart from the rest.

Why is it noteworthy?

Made as an ultimate off-grid travel trailer, the Living Vehicle’s HD line-up thrives on advanced energy storage capabilities that permit full-time off-the-grid living with backup fuel options and perpetual resource generation. This system ensures a self-sustaining and resilient living experience with its coveted solar power, which is more than most residential homes.

What we like

• The Living Vehicle HD is fully insulated with 100 percent rigid closed-cell foam, which ensures the interior is cool at 120°F and moderate in sub-zero, -4°F

What we dislike

• It’s not shipped out and available yet

9. The Cercle

Meet the Cercle, a transformable bicycle designed by Bernhard Sobotta, that is ready for all your road adventures with minimalism at the core. It’s like the cozy feeling of being home no matter wherever you pedal to on the face of this planet. The crazy idea struck Bernhard when in the summer of 2019, he was sitting in his shared kitchen and wondered how he could combine a hammock with a bike frame. He did so by combining a fold-out aluminum day bed frame and the bike frame, bringing Cercle to life!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Cercle’s frame is designed to perform everything from sitting, cooking, working, resting, or even sleeping. So, this two-wheeled paradise is all you need to be classified as a crazy 21st-century nomad who’s leaving virtually no carbon footprint during their solo exploration. If you notice closely, the circular frame of the bicycle holds the foldable day bed stands in the middle. The frame can be oriented for multiple functionalities – for example, for sleeping in the nighttime or as a chair for a comfortable working position, or a lounger in a picturesque location. Consequently, when it is time to hit the road, the lounge stand folds up to become a part of the bicycle frame for hassle-free pedaling.

What we like

• You can pitch a one-person tent around the bicycle frame for protection against the elements and nighttime cold weather
• You can mount all your essentials in small backpacks for an adventurous bike tour like none other

What we dislike

• Not the most comfortable or practical option for a longer journey

10. Airstream x Porsche Trailer

Airstream has been an innovative RV manufacturer, but this Porsche-designed next-gen Airstream trailer is far from what the former has managed through the years. A result of “what if” collaboration between the two design stalwarts, the concept may be starkly different but it deviates ever so little from Airstream’s signature riveted aluminum look.

Why is it noteworthy?

A first-of-its-type Airstream trailer with a lowered suspension, this Porsche design is more optimized for towing with electric vehicles. The design allows several things to be tucked into the 10-inch space below that trailer’s floor. So, you get water tanks, heating components, a spare wheel, and a Lithium-ion battery all tucked in there to save you space onboard.

What we like

• Provision to integrate rooftop solar panels
• The airstream features an aerodynamic shape with the front improved for airflow, while its flush underside design ensures reduced drag-creating projection

What we dislike

• Given that it’s a Porsche-inspired design, we wish to look at the manufactured design before reviewing it

The post Top 10 tiny homes on wheels to enjoy micro-living setups on the go first appeared on Yanko Design.