Hasta La Ideas

Transportation start-up Kolelinia has created a vehicle that uses pedal power to transport riders around town while standing up, like a low-tech version of a Segway (+ movie).

The Halfbike by Kolelinia features pedals like a bicycle that the user balances on while holding on to a single waist-height handlebar in an upright stance.

The pedals are connected to a large front wheel by a chain that drives the Halfbike forward, while two smaller wheels at the back provide a stable base and a brake on the joystick-like handlebar is used to slow down.

The motion of pedalling results in an experience similar to low-impact running, while the upright riding position provides good visibility.

“Its combination of cycling and smooth assisted running provides a remarkably quick and fun way of urban travel,” said the designers. “Its innovative rider position, at the same time both upright and higher, gives you a new perspective on the city.”

The user steers the Halfbike by leaning to either side, which shifts the balance between the front wheel and the rear axle.

Kolelinia said the Halfbike was designed for commuting short distances and provides a compact alternative to a bicycle that is easy to carry or store.

“It is compact enough for an elevator, light enough to carry on stairs, and fits into spaces too small for a normal bicycle,” the designers explained.

A handlebar made from plywood is fixed to the laser-cut aluminium frame, which is currently white but will eventually be available in six additional colours.

“We see the Halfbike as an alternative for people tired of sitting in traffic jams, which at the same time improves their experience of travel,” the designers added.

Prices for the Halfbike start from $799. Kolelinia founders Martin Angelov and Mihail Klenov have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the first batch of production.

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stand up while pedalling appeared first on Dezeen.

These clothes hangers by German-Latvian creative agency Flow Design don’t feature hooks, instead attaching to the underside of any metal surface with magnets (+ movie).

The Cliq resembles a standard hanger in size and proportion, but doesn’t have the hook section that traditionally attaches the hanger to a rail. In its place sits a powerful magnet that can attach to any metal surface, be it flat or circular.

The strength of attraction can support garments weighing up to two kilograms. To use the Cliq, users simply move the hangers close to the metallic surface and the magnetic force will draw the two together, making a satisfying click when they meet.

Available in natural birch, black, or white, the hangers can be slid along the surface with a swipe of the hand.

By eliminating the hook, the design saves six centimetres of vertical space on average. Another property of the magnets means that two hangers will naturally repel each other, creating an even gap between each garment.

The magnets will degrade over time, but the designers say it won’t be noticeable and constitutes a loss in effectiveness of “less than 1% over a period of ten years.”

The hangers can be individually branded with engraving, labels or pad printing, and can be purchased from the agency’s website.

Photography courtesy of Janis Karklins.

The post Cliq coat hangers by Flow Design
replace hooks with magnets appeared first on Dezeen.

Barcelona designer Martin Azua has created a table that plays on the contrast in properties between wood and stone (+ slideshow).

The Trees and Rocks table features central discs of Venato Carrara marble set into a main frame of Spanish walnut, but future versions may feature different combinations of material.

“I wanted to make a table with two fine materials that are very attractive in themselves and don’t need any kind of ornamentation because their surface are always different and full of information,” said Azua. “The wood is warm and soft and the marble is cold and tough.”

The marble also serves a practical function, creating a heat- and scratch-resistant section on the surface of the table.

Azua’s latest creation is part of his Numbered collection, which features products created in collaboration with local craftsmen using local materials.

Each piece is designed to incorporate elements that can evolve and change naturally with time and use.

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table contrasts wood with marble appeared first on Dezeen.

Residents climb over an integrated desk, storage space and shelving to reach the suspended upper section of this staircase by Dutch design studio Mieke Meijer.

The Object élevé is an oak and black steel installation commissioned by designer Just Haasnoot for his home in Wassenaar, an affluent suburb in The Hague.

It combines storage and access to the upper floor via a series of open frame boxes.

Handmade in Mieke Meijer‘s Eindhoven workshop, the industrial nature of the piece sits in deliberate contrast to the pale blue walls and muted tones of the residence that was built in the 1930s.

“The construction, built from both standing and suspended parts, largely consists of open frames allowing the design’s transparent character to be maintained,” explained Meijer.

The staircase is based on the samba system of alternating steps to allow the staircase to rise at a steep angle, while still remaining comfortable to walk up and down.

The lower half of the steps features wide pieces of oak integrated into the shelving and storage unit. These also serve as spaces for plants and ornaments and form part of a desk.

Halfway up the steps however, the design and purpose of the stairs changes. The steps become smaller, and form part of a suspended structure.

It features a large flat piece of oak that acts as a shelf and display, and space for a makeshift bookcase.

Beside the desk sits a cupboard with three shelves slotted into the lower structure to complete the piece.

“We were inspired by the photographs of Bernd and Hilla Becher,” said Meijer. “The Bechers’ black and white photography is renowned for the systematic photo series of industrial buildings that closely resemble each other in function and design. We reconstructed these buildings into functional installations.”

The Dutch design studio also took inspiration from the German photographers’ work in one of their earlier pieces, the Winding Tower 01 table.

The post Suspended staircase combined with desk
and storage space by Mieke Meijer appeared first on Dezeen.

Le studio Makkink & Bey conçoit une collection de meubles pour un avenir nomade, dans le cadre d’une exposition sur les textiles. Un scénario futur dans lequel l’individu,qui se déplace au quotidien, reste confortable. Différentes œuvres à la fois pratiques et esthétiques sont à découvrir dans la suite de l’article.