Hasta La Ideas

You can do a lot in your backyard! We shouldn’t underestimate our backyards, as they can be major spaces of fun, recreation, and relaxation. Spring is around the corner, and if you’re gearing up for spring season, then you’ve reached the right list. We’ve curated a collection of innovative and functional designs that are the right fit for the spring season. From a portable tiny home on wheels that you can set up in your yard, to a gardening kit that can help you get your hands muddy and green – these unique and functional designs are all you need for a great spring season.

1. Nestron Tiny Homes

Nestron has designed a range of sleek and futuristic tiny homes that feature a highly customizable, and aesthetically pleasing prefab design. The collection includes – Cube One (C1), Cube Two (C2), and Cube Two X (C2X), and they are priced between $42.2k to $126.6k. The homes make for excellent portable tiny home on wheels, that you can take along for your spring adventures, or set up in your backyard!

Why is it noteworthy?

The futuristic homes include solar electricity (or local electricity), heating, and a fully-equipped bathroom with a smart toilet. The interiors can be customized, and they’re quite stunning and ideal for sci-fi fans who want their own futuristic homes!

What we like

• The homes are built from recyclable materials
• Everything is handled by Nestron – from logistics and transport to unloading, so you don’t need to worry about anything

What we dislike

• The homes aren’t very spacious. The most expansion option, the Cube Two X, provides only 398 square feet of space

2. Garden Domes

These quaint little garden domes by Hypedome are designed to serve as office space, yoga dens, additional sleeping quarters, or even calm spaces to rest in. They are a great option if you like sleeping under the stars, of course without the fear of rain and snow. The geodesic domes are designed to make indoor-outdoor living accessible.

Why is it noteworthy?

The domes are designed to offer you an indoor-outdoor space that allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature without having to deal with its extreme side. It may look like the hemispherical garden domes are made from glass, but they are 200 times more durable weather-resistant, and UV-protected too.

What we like

• They can be used all year round since you can easily heat them during the winter

What we dislike

• The domed outer wall/ceiling makes the interiors seem smaller than they are.
• You can’t have furniture set against the curved wall, which wastes precious real estate

3. The Gardener’s Tool Seat

If you’re in the mood to get down and dirty and grow some stuff in your yard this spring, then you need to get this Gardener’s Tool Seat. It gives you everything you could need – a collapsible seat to sit on, gardening tools, and a bonus pocket for carrying a cool drink.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Tool Seat features a standard collapsible tool that is made from stainless-steel piping with a nylon fabric seat, and a smart detail at the base that lets you hang your gardening toolbag underneath it. The bag comes equipped with a gardening toolkit.

What we like

• It features a space on the inside to accommodate your gardening trimmings

What we dislike

• The seat doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long periods

4. Yuanye Foldable Outdoor Grill

Called the Yuanye, this portable outdoor barbecue grilling pan that you can carry with you on your outdoor adventures, or to cook up something delicious in your yard. It resembles a portable projector and can be used with a gas tank, fire source, and oil storage module. It is super useful with good-looking aesthetics.

Why is it noteworthy?

As you open up the grill, you’ll see two partitions that let you grill meats on one side, and vegetables on the other. It is a portable grill that is inspired by a suitcase, but instead of storing clothes, it stores the food you need to eat.

What we like

• Fashionable, good-looking, and portable appliance
• You can cook meats as well as veggies on it, preparing a well-balanced meal

What we dislike

• It’s a conceptual design so we don’t know how well it will translate into a tangible product

5. Smart Coop

This smart coop is meant to simplify every task related to chicken raising. The coop is equipped with an inbuilt IoT camera, that lets you keep a tab on your chicken’s health remotely, even if you’re on the other end of the world. The door can be scheduled to open and close as per your chickens’ habits.

Why is it noteworthy?

The coop can accommodate six chickens, which is enough to sustain a small family. The coop is also weather-resistant, and durable enough to handle the elements. The freshly laid eggs can be collected via a secure hatch without disturbing the chickens within.

What we like

• The aesthetics haven’t been ignored, the various elements feature contrasting coral hues

What we dislike

• You need a suitable backyard to accommodate the coop, cant be placed in all yards

6. Dufour

This wooden tiny home called Dufour transports you to a world of luxury, comfort, and elegance. It is built by German tiny house creator Berghaus, and the wooden cabin provides a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern luxury.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tiny home is packed with modern-day luxuries, and it is equipped with two loft bedrooms each with a staircase of its own from the main floor. It measures around 26 feet in length, which makes it much larger than most tiny homes.

What we like

• It can be used as a family home or a comfy vacation rental
• It is topped with solar panels

What we dislike

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

7. Bello! Bench

Fjetland designed the Bello! bench for the aluminum producer Hydro. And what was his muse for this piece? You got it right – pasta, or to be more precise penne rigate.

Why is it noteworthy?

Informed by the design and form of pasta, the Bello! bench is a versatile piece of furniture that can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s been created from nearly ninety percent recycled and one hundred percent recyclable aluminum.

What we like

• The bench is inspired by a piece of penne rigate, which is responsible for its ridged and textured surface
• It can be customized and modified to incorporate tables, lamps, or chargers since it does not have an internal support structure

What we dislike

• The shape of the bench is opposite to what we usually have, ergonomically speaking, which makes it difficult to sit comfortably and could lead to a slipping sensation.

8. The +Base Modular Grill

The +Base Modular Griller is ideal for your yard during the summertime. It can support almost any kind of cooking – from frying to smoking, stewing, grilling, or evening keeping some wine warm. This unique and innovative griller is an ideal fit for your yard. You can cook up some of the veggies you’ve grown in your garden!

Why is it noteworthy?

The All-In-One Grill is designed by a small family-owned Japanese factory, and it is carefully designed to maximize the limited amount of space available. The wooden base protects the table from the grill’s hot bottom, which also functions as a lid when the griller has to be stowed away.

What we like

• The modular griller lets you cook in seven different ways
• It simplifies outdoor cooking, allowing you to cook up meals in your yard

What we dislike

• Hardcore grillers may not like the design or prefer it

9. Panama Banana

Called the Panama Banana, this hammock is the perfect piece of furniture for your yard. It is inspired by tropical elements like the shape of a surfboard and is inspired by the curvature of a banana. It has a tranquil and chill vibe to it, which makes it an excellent addition to your garden or backyard.

Why is it noteworthy?

It’s as comfortable as a hammock or sun chair, but rocks to and fro like a rocking chair, giving you an experience that’s sure to steal your entire afternoon and some more.

What we like

• The hammock is coated with a water-resistant wax, and it is perfect for outdoor use or indoor use with an outdoor view

What we dislike

• There is no option or scope for personal customization

10. Böste Lounge Chair

The Böste Lounge Chair is designed by the Swedish furniture company Skargaarden, and it is a minimal and well-designed sturdy lounge chair for your yard. It is designed to weather over time, adding a wonderful patina to the chair, and giving it a different visual with time.

Why is it noteworthy?

The lounge chair is named after the designer’s hometown in Southern Sweden. It is inspired by the classic Westport Chair and is in fact, a Scandinavian version of it. The form of the chair is pretty unique, with the back and seat meeting at an interesting angle, which invites and welcomes users to sit in a gently reclined pose which is great for relaxing and socializing with family and friends.

What we like

• It is equipped with a separate footrest, that lets users lie down fully and comfortably
• It is made using sustainably sourced teak

What we dislike

• Aesthetically similar to other outdoor chairs on the market

The post The 10 Best Designs You Need In Your Yard Or Garden To Gear Up For Spring 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Totem Automobili, known for its impeccable craftsmanship and innovative automotive creations, has once again captured the essence of automotive history with the unveiling of its latest masterpiece: the GTAmodificata. This limited edition marvel pays homage to the legendary Alfa Romeo GTAm, blending classic aesthetics with cutting-edge technology to redefine the boundaries of automotive excellence.

Originally produced in limited quantities from 1965 to 1969, the Alfa Romeo GTA has always held a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts worldwide. Totem Automobili’s passion for reviving automotive icons shines through in their GTA-based restomods, and the GTAmodificata takes this dedication to the next level.

Designer: Totem Automobili

The GTAmodificata has a potent 3.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine for a heart, meticulously crafted by Italtecnica Engineering. Boasting an impressive 810 horsepower and 538 ft-lbs of torque, this powerhouse propels the car from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 2.6 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 186 mph. Yet, performance isn’t the only hallmark of this masterpiece. Weighing in at just 2,414 pounds, the GTAmodificata achieves a remarkable power-to-weight ratio, delivering exhilarating performance while retaining impeccable handling dynamics.

Crafted around a custom-built carbon-fiber monocoque, the GTAmodificata seamlessly blends lightweight construction with structural rigidity, resulting in a driving experience that’s as thrilling as it is refined. Custom-engineered billet aluminum double wishbone suspension units and R53 dampers ensure precise handling and stability, while bespoke carbon fiber bodywork, adorned with a metallic carbon finish, exudes timeless elegance.

The interior of the GTAmodificata features custom seats, instrumentation, and dash, trimmed in exquisite leather and Alcantara, enveloping occupants in comfort and style. Carbon fiber accents throughout the cabin underscore the car’s performance-focused ethos, while advanced LED lighting adds a modern flair.

Limited to just five units worldwide, the Totem Automobili GTAmodificata is easily one of the most exclusive cars we’ve featured on this website. Priced at €1,100,000 (~$1,203,000), this masterpiece represents a pinnacle of automotive engineering and design, surpassing its predecessors in both performance and prestige.

The post Only 5 of these Alfa Romeo GTA Custom Restomods will be made first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ken Pillonel takes consumer satisfaction a little too seriously. Famous for hacking previous versions of the AirPods to give them USB-C ports and make them more repairable, Pillonel has now turned his sights to the AirPods Max (which hasn’t received an update in over 3 years, as he points out). The regular AirPods and even the iPhone have both made a concerted shift to USB-C, but Apple surprisingly forgot to upgrade their flagship headphones, leaving it in the lightning era.

No stranger to hacking (ahem, upgrading) Apple’s accessories, Pillonel decided to build a USB-C AirPod Max before Apple did. The video above takes us through the journey, showing how Pillonel disassembled the existing AirPods Max, designed a new PCB with a USB-C port, and mounted it (with relative ease) in the headphones, giving them the upgrade they severely needed. The best part, Pillonel even sells his PCBs on his own website, encouraging other people to hack their AirPods Max too and upgrade them to USB-C.

Designer: Ken Pillonel

The AirPods Max debuted in December 2020, which means they’re one of the only mainstream Apple products to not have received a major upgrade in years (they were announced even before the AirTag). Realizing that now was a better time than ever, Pillonel decided to take his AirPods Max for a spin, cracking them open to see the assembly inside and whether it would be easy to upgrade it. Luckily, the lightning port was relatively easy to upgrade without any invasive procedures to the headphone’s body itself. Apple designed the port with a removable metal lip that allowed it to magically become wider (it’s almost as if Apple was preparing for this transition in advance), and knocking the lip out made the hole perfectly sized for a USB-C port.

Pillonel simply unplugged the lightning connector from the existing motherboard and designed a new one that housed the USB-C port. He shared the new PCB design on PCBWay, and had the circuit boards sent to him. An older iteration featured a single-piece PCB that worked, but was susceptible to wear and tear, so Ken redesigned the PCB with a flexible ribbon cable, allowing it to bend without applying pressure on certain parts. The new PCB is available in Pillonel’s shop for 39.9 CHF ($45.3 USD).

The older PCB was prone to wear and tear if used roughly

A flexible ribbon cable on the new PCB made it much more resistant to regular daily usage

The upgraded AirPods Max (Pillonel calls it the AirPods Max 2.0) only has the one design upgrade, although knowing Pillonel, he’ll soon make the entire thing repairable and probably even figure out how to replace batteries on them. You can visit his YouTube channel here, or read our coverage on his other interesting projects here.

The post Apple AirPods Max get a USB-C port thanks to this clever engineering hack first appeared on Yanko Design.

German car brand Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its first branded skyscraper in North America created in collaboration with ShoP Architects and informed by a philosophy of “sensual purity”.

Mercedes-Benz Places is a planned 67-storey, mixed-used skyscraper under construction in the Brickell neighbourhood of Miami.

Developed by JDS Development Group (JDS), the building was designed collaboratively between New York studio SHoP Architects and the Mercedes-Benz design team.

At 2.5 million square feet (232,257 square metres) it will be one of the largest projects currently under construction in Florida, according to the project team.

The development will also include a “reimagining” of Miami’s Southside Park by American landscape studio Field Operations, which sits nearby.

Renderings of the building show multiple rectangular volumes stacked in alternating, perpendicular directions. Curved-corner balconies line each floor of the building’s exterior, with larger terraces tucked between spaces created by the structure’s arrangement.

A residential portion will host 791 Merecedes-Benz-branded residences, ranging from studios to 3-bedroom condominiums.

The remaining square footage will have 200,000 square feet (18,580 square metres) of office space, health and fitness facilities, a hotel, retail space and 130,000 square feet (12,077 square metres) of amenities.

The shape of the tower was informed by the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of “sensual purity”, which it described as a “symbiosis of intelligence and emotion”.

“Our distinctive style is Sensual Purity,” said Mercedes-Benz chief design officer Gordan Wagener.

“This philosophy, based on the duality of emotion and intelligence, consists of a hot and a cool pole.”

He said that the influence of the technical work of German design group Bauhaus still resonates with the firm’s building design, informing the “cool” pole.

“The emotional side of Sensual Purity is characterised by free-flowing, elliptical lines and shapes inspired by nature,” added the team.

According to the team, the tower’s multiple balconies were designed to “capture the light in a wide variety of ways”.

A “technical silver” will be the building’s dominating colour, with black-and-white details informed by classic Mercedes-Benz colours. A large Merecedes-Benz logo will be affixed to the building’s entrance.

The development will include a refurbishment of Brickell’s Southside Park, which sits at the base of the tower.

“In addition to changing the residential landscape, Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami will transform the Brickell neighbourhood,” said the team.

“Key to this will be reimagining Southside Park as an urban oasis. With its canopy of trees and native vegetation, such as mango trees and shortleaf figs, the project aims to create a healthy living space.”

According to the team, foundation work has broken ground and occupancy is planned to start in 2027.

“As JDS Development Group and Mercedes-Benz work together, Mercedes-Benz Places in Miami will emerge as a symbol of excellence, innovation, and a timeless presence in Miami,” said the team. 

The project marks the fourth collaboration created by JDS and SHoP Architects, with others including the recently completed Brooklyn Tower and two “dancing” copper-clad towers in New York.

Merecedes-Benz recently unveiled its first branded skyscraper in Dubai, while car brand Bentley also shared its designs for oceanfront residences located in Miami, which will feature a car elevator that takes vehicles directly up to individual apartments.

The images are courtesy of the JDS Development Group by the Boundary. 

The post SHoP Architects designs Mercedes-Benz’ first US residential skyscraper appeared first on Dezeen.

How small can you make a portable shaver? Panasonic’s Palm Travel model is a 5-blade unit that doesn’t look much larger than an AirPods case; it looks a bit like you squashed a Braun SM 3.

Despite its diminutive size, the company says the powerful motor “cuts even dense hair cleanly at 39,000 cross cuts/minute.”

In images like the one below, the finish of the body appears to be felt, which would be a strange choice; in fact it’s just textured to resemble seashells and coral (for the white and black units, respectively). That’s because it’s made of Nagori, a plastic “made with mineral components extracted from seawater.” The resultant texture is reportedly ceramic-like.

Panasonic says the Palm Shaver will be out this year, but hasn’t yet announced prices.