RNT Design

Pretty good packaging

2007-03-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

"good design should be a part of everything we do"

Versadome

2006-05-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Versadome building system is uniquely designed for easy and affordable transportation, assembly and expansion. It’s a compact structural building system with modular components that creates different types of spaces on different types of terrain. http://www.versadome.com

Robotic Valet

2006-05-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen dealership in Wolfsburg, Germany has a fully automated garage that allows it to take up only 20% of the space of similarily sized dealerships.
When cars are ordered, they are robotically fetched down for delivery: "In a fully automated procedure, your new car is brought down to you from one of the 20-story Car Towers."

http://www.autostadt.de/info/cda/main/0,3606,2~172~0,00.html

Compact Kitchen

2006-05-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

The Circular Kitchen is a revolving cylinder containing a full complement of kitchen appliances, a sink, drawers, pantry, etc -- the idea is to create a super-compact unit that can serve as a stand-alone kitchen for small spaces. Link

Spray Concrete

2006-02-23T09:22:00.000-08:00

Spray Grancrete over a frame and in 20 minutes you have a waterproof, fire-resistant structure that has more than twice the strength of traditional concrete and can withstand extreme temperatures without cracking.

A liquefied concrete-like mixture of sand, ash, magnesium oxide and potassium phosphate, Grancrete descends from a product developed to encase radioactive waste. And since it takes hours instead of weeks to build a home, it’s poised to provide low-cost, high-quality shelter to the estimated one billion people who lack it. $20.50 to coat 15 square feet. http://www.grancrete.net

The Love Plane?

2006-02-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

Is this flying building an alternative to the Cruise Ship?

This Aeros-ML cruise ship is expected to begin service in 2010. It has a range of several thousand miles, and flying just 8000 above the ground, would not require a pressurized cabin. The large interior will accommodate such amenities as luxury staterooms, restaurants, and even a casino, while providing a pretty good view of the grand canyon. But will tourists go for it?

http://www.aerosml.com/aeroscraft.asp

The Mini Desk

2006-02-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

The Mini Desk, a car converted into a work table, is available from UK-based Mini Statements for £2500. http://www.uberreview.com/2006/01/mini-statements-mini-desk.htm

Intra Design

2006-02-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Many of you will be familiar with Intra, the interiors magazine for the working architect and designer, but we wanted more of you to have access to it, so we decided to launch it as a digital title. This means anyone, anywhere, can download a copy of the magazine for free.

The new digital version looks exactly the same as the print one, with great writing and photography, focusing on what makes an interior successful and how to win work in key sectors.

http://www.intra-design.com/

Samuel Mockbee house on Exhibit

2006-01-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

“The goal is not to have a warm, dry house, but to have a warm, dry house with a spirit to it.” —Samuel Mockbee http://www.nbm.org/Exhibits/current/Mockbee.html

The Fashion of Architecture

2006-01-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Architecture is making its presence felt in fashion as the pliable metals, membrane structures, lightweight glasses and flexible plastics used in building construction are creeping on to the catwalks. At the same time, architects and interior designers are borrowing the techniques of pleating and draping from traditional tailoring to design buildings that are interactive, inflatable, and even portable.

http://www.aiany.org/centerforarchitecture/exhibitions.php

Edible Architecture photoshopping contest

2006-01-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

Worth1000.com is featuring a contest for the best image of food as architecture, like this cauliflower version of Epcot's geodesic sphere.

http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=8633

AIA is 150 next year?

2006-01-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

The American Institute of Architects is a hundred and fifty years old... wow that's old.

Maybe European's have older organizations, but for America, 150 is an incredible accompishment.

http://www.aia.org/

Great Design

2006-01-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

Now this is a well designed email/web phone. Okay, so this is not Architectural design, but still a great product design.