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Dizajner Marija Fuentes, pločice za zid od recikliranih materijala, i kao što vidite, postoje dve vrste, sa i bez mini saksije za cveće

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nastavljamo dalje ka kuhinji, primer kako bi trebalo da izgleda superefikasna kuhinja.

Whirlpool & Elmar Debut Green Living Kitchen
by Bridgette Steffen

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The rules of kitchen design have just changed. Whirlpool and Elmar recently debuted the kitchen of the future at the Milan Furniture Fair, and it’s energy efficient, eco-friendly, and interconnected. Their Green Living kitchen brings together contemporary cabinetry, advanced appliances and systems that work together in a culinary-centered symbiotic relationship.

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The concept was originally created by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba for Whirlpool and Elmar to bring together technology and ecology. Elmar strives to create innovative design solutions that are functional, ergonomic and high-quality. They are well known for their work using high temperature treated wood in the kitchen, which makes it water-repellent and more durable. The appliances and technology are supplied by Whirlpool, whose 6th Sense Technology minimizes the use of water, energy and time.

All of these elements combine into an advanced kitchen where wasted water or heat from one appliance is reused in a second. For example, warm refrigerator coils are used to heat water for the dishwasher. Waste water is recycled to water wall of plants and spices. All in all, this integrated kitchen will divert 60% of the water and heat generated from appliances to fuel other appliances. It is expected that this kitchen would save 24% on a homeowner’s energy bill. Not only do we like the look of the kitchen, but we love the savings that it would create.

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Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/04/28/milan-2009-whirpool-elmar-green-living-kitchen/#more-26216
 
Moss Carpet Grows in the Heart of Your Home
by Elisabeth Buecher

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Among all the great green designs discovered at the 2009 Milan Furniture Fair, this beautiful biodegradable moss planter at the Tokyo Fiber Sensware exhibition definitely stood out. Japan-based flower artist Makoto Azuma collaborated with Unitika Ltd. to create an indoor glade, populating the planter with an assortment of mosses. The result is an exquisite organic carpet that runs through the exhibition, passing round the furniture and the poles and stunning visitors with its delightful presence.

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Terramac® is an eco-friendly 3D knitted and spun fabric which serves as a receptacle for the planter’s roots, protects the seeds, and holds the moss together. Made from plant-derived polylactic acid fiber, “this material is decomposed (biodegraded) by microorganisms in compost or in soil after 10 years. Eventually only carbon dioxide and water remain”. As the planter biodegrades, CO2 is captured by the plants through the process of photosynthesis. The name Terramac® means “sons of the mother earth”.

The real beauty of this technology lies in the pairing of a plant-derived plastic with a plant (here the moss) to create an improved sustainable environment. Generally found growing on the sloping sides of embankments, moss can now be integrated within the heart of our homes and cities. We love when industry meets design to offer practical solutions that embellish our lives in a more sustainable way!

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Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/04/moss-carpet-grows-in-the-heart-of-your-home/#more-26924
 
Form Meets Function With the Color Changing “One” Teapot
by Bridgette Steffen

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In the market for a new teapot or kettle? This new vessel may be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a functional tea kettle that looks pretty enough to serve from. Vessel Ideation is the creator of this fashionable concept tea kettle, which was designed with both boiling and serving in mind. We love the modern look, the advanced technology, but mostly the fact that it blooms beautiful blue patterns when the water is hot enough. It’s like hypercolor for tea.

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“One” is made from enamel-coated stainless steel with high temp silicon. You fill the kettle with filtered water from the center spout, place it on your stove and heat like normal. The super-efficient kettle lets you know when the water is hot because the lovely blue graphic will magically appear - no high-pitch whistle. The neck is cool to the touch and can be handled without a hot pad. To bring it to the table, you set it down onto its magnetic trivet, which includes Franklinite metal that has magnetic properties when heated. As the pot cools, the magnetic trivet will release from the pot.

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You can’t brew your tea in the pot, so if that’s important to you, this might not be your best option. Unfortunately this is only in concept phase, but it did win first place in the World Kitchen Tea-Off. The concept is elegant, simple and pretty. Now it may not match your tea set, but it will certainly save you from using an extra step to serve your guests, not to mention it is more efficient than pouring hot water into a cold tea pot. Bring on the innovation - we like it. Check out the video of how it works here.

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Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/13/form-meets-function-with-the-one-teapot/#more-23813
 
Levent & Romme’s Elegant Laser-Cut Paper Lamps
by Lea Bogdan

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These wonderful patterned paper lamps from Brooklyn–based Levent & Romme really caught our eye at this year’s BKLYN Designs show. Realized first as pen and ink illustrations, the patterns are then cut into a single sheet of thick watercolor paper. The paper is softly textured and opaque enough to make the designs pop, and the rigidity lends itself to the shades’ intricate cuts. Upping the coolness (and sustainability) quotient, the shade fits together using a tabbed design so that it forms a tube without any fasteners or adhesives.

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Anne Romme & Fiyel Levent met while studying at The Cooper Union School of Architecture and have been collaborating on furniture, installations, and interior designs for the past two years. Their design aesthetic is based around traditional materials and craftsmanship, but they add a twist by focusing on technology in their fabrication techniques.

The patterns used for the floor lamps originated as pen and ink drawings and were inspired by the work of Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa. The design duo says they were further inspired by other Japanese designs–Isama Noguchi’s paper lights, for instance.

The shades are available in four patterns, and the fixture accepts a compact fluorescent lamp. We love these Romme & Levent lamps so much, we named them Best Lighting Design in our Editors’ Choice Awards. Make sure to check out all of the award winners and our full BKLYN Designs Coverage.

Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/13/luminous-design-levent-romme-paper-lamps/#more-28765
 
EcoSpheres: Eco-Education in a Bottle
by Desmond Williams

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If you’re a green parent intent on teaching your child about the importance of caring for our environment, an EcoSphere is a great way to put the world in his or her hands. A “tiny working model of the Earth,” each EcoSphere “contains the same essential elements that are found on our planet: air, water, life and land.” Each beautiful, self-contained sphere contains algae and tiny shrimp that you can watch swimming around. Not only are EcoSpheres wonders of science, the design, which incorporates NASA technology, is aesthetically pleasing and fits into most any décor.

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“The Original EcoSphere® is the world’s first totally enclosed ecosystem - a complete, self-contained and self-sustaining miniature world encased in glass.” Each glass globe comes with two shrimp (the size of extra-large Sea Monkeys), algae, filtered sea water and a sprig of gorgonian (the non-living, branch like material) hermetically sealed inside. The shrimp eat whatever they can find in the EcoSphere… which turns out to be a lot. “If you watch them closely, you will see them feeding on the algae and picking bacteria off the walls of the sphere. They also eat their own shed exoskeletons. Nothing goes to waste!”

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The EcoSphere embodies the dream of every eco-conscious parent: It is the perfect ecological environment – only in a miniature size. It is a safe zone that is protected, free of harmful pollutants, and in which flora and fauna exist in perfect carbon balance. EcoSpheres can also be viewed as the perfect solution for parents fighting the pets-vs-no-pets battle. The ‘pets’ included are zero maintenance (no feeding, walking, shedding, neutering), and fit snugly into any living situation. There’s only one problem… on sight my young son wanted to shake the dickens out of the EcoSphere – he thought it was a snow globe.

Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/05/11/ecospheres-eco-education-in-a-bottle/
 
Greenworks Self-Watering Living Wall System
by Bridgette Steffen

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Green walls are not only spectacularly beautiful, but they also help enliven a space, humidify the air, and process toxins. We loved this simple and modular living wall by Greenworks, a design duo from Stockholm. The design we saw at this year’s ICFF consists of a lovely felted plant wall with a self-automated watering system and a sturdy base. Inserting more plants into a room through planting tiles, potted plants, or a living wall provides a healthier indoor air quality, as well as a more beautiful space.

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Greenworks’ Mobile Plantwall includes a self-automated watering and nutrition system for the growing plants, which makes it incredibly easy to maintain and take care of. The stand has front and back panels that can be unlocked and separated for maintenance or cleaning. These living walls are meant to provide a superior alternative to traditional potted plants in offices and homes. Plantwalls can be placed alone or grouped together to form walls or screens.

The Greenworks Mobile Plantwall concept was designed by Lisa Wacklin, a design strategist and gardener, and Per Berglund, a design manager. This is their first design together, and we would love to see more of their great ideas developed into real products.

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Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/21/greenworks-felted-living-wall-system/#more-30029

Ahh, džungla u dnevnoj sobi :D
 
Grass For Your Home or Office Desk
by Bridgette Steffen

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Is your desk drab or boring? Do you need a little extra feng-shui in your home or your office? Why not try a grass square to brighten up your desk and give it a little something extra. These grass squares were designed at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, Israel, by Uri Romano and Assaf Yogev of nine99 Design as a way to combine nature and architecture. By bringing some nature indoors like these moss mats, the designers hoped to provide a grounding piece of nature.

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The squares of grass were originally inspired by Frank Loyd Wright’s Fallingwater and how Wright continually strove to connect architecture and nature. All of the packaging for the squares is made completely from recycled materials. Openings on the corners of the package let the grass breathe and help give it a longer shelf life.

You can place these squares anywhere, or if you’re into feng-shui, place it in the right spot to balance your place of work or home. Grass is fairly easy to grow, just needs just a little water and sun. You might even find cutting the grass with scissors provides you a bit of therapy. For apartment dwellers, this may be a perfect way to get your outdoor fix and you don’t even need a lawnmower. Unfortunately, we don’t know if these are really for sale anywhere, but it would make for an easy DIY project.

Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/16/grass-for-your-home-or-office-desk/#more-24468

Imate li travu na radnom stolu? Ne? A zašto? :)
Jedna od stvari koje najbre mogu da opuste i oslobode stresa je kada provlačite prste kroz travu.
 
Wearable Solar-Powered Leaf Phone Charges on the Go
by Bridgette Meinhold

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The hot hand-held gadget of choice may not be the iPhone for much longer - if this wearable and solar powered wrist phone comes to market, everyone on the streets may soon be sporting it. Inspired by photosynthesis, the Leaf is a wearable phone concept created by Seungkyn Woo and Junyi Heo. The flexible device incorporates solar cells into the front and is capable of rolling up into the form of a wristwatch so that users can wear it and keep it charged while they’re on the move.

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The Leaf consists of layers of flexible material that can bend to wrap around your wrist, allowing it to soak up solar energy as you go about your day. Each end of the wristband is secured with magnets, and a simple cell phone with basic functions is incorporated into the design. You won’t be able to play games, download music, check your email, or read the New York Times online, but you can make phone calls and send and receive messages.

The solar cells are built into the phone itself and can charge as you wear it. Alternatively, there is a solar powered dock, which you can plug the phone into for a recharge. And if the sun ain’t shining, there is a traditional wall charger you can plug in. The designer’s main objective with the phone was to “remind people that they can contribute to energy efficiency.”

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Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/12/wearable-solar-powered-leaf-phone-charges-on-the-go/
 
Tap the Air With an Atmospheric Water Generator!
by Trey Farmer

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Atmospheric Water Systems of San Luis Obispo has released their Dewpointe® Atmospheric Generator, a device that taps humidity in the air to provide a steady source of clean drinking water. The unit is about the same size as a standard water cooler (44.5″ tall), has on-demand hot water, is CE and WQA certified, runs quietly, and is capable of producing enough drinking water for an entire household even in desert climates (maybe)!

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/20/tap-the-air-with-an-atmospheric-water-generator/





For about $1595.00 any home or office can have access to the 3.1 quadrillion gallons (a fair amount) of water in the atmosphere. The device first filters the air and then the water is filtered again before leaving the spigot and entering your cup. Because the source is the air, the many heavy metals, pesticides, toxics, pharmaceuticals and microorganisms that are rife in our reservoirs and even in bottled water are a suddenly a non-issue.

In optimum conditions (70º F and 50% humidity) the Dewpointe® will easily pump out the maximum 8.4 gallons a day. In other conditions production may drop off.

Hook one of these badboys up to some solar panels and viola, you’ve got an instant well. A lot of the products we review on Inhabitat are still in the testing or development phases, but they still get us excited. When something really innovative and special comes along and it is ready to buy, we get stoked! The units have hit the streets and are already hosting water cooler conversations in offices around the world.
 
Stunning ‘AquaIris’ Water Purifier by Talia Radford
by Daniel Flahiff

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In answer to the ever-intensifying global water crisis, industrial designer Talia Radford has created the AquaIris, an elegant, portable water purifier for developing countries with tropical climates that is simple to use and requires no electricity! How does it work? Contaminated water enters the AquaIris, passes over a removable/re-usable filter, then travels under a layer of ‘converter crystals’ where germicidal UVC rays purify the water molecules as they pass by.

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At Inhabitat we believe that great design can change the world for the better and Talia Radford’s AquaIris is a brilliant example of inspired design in the service of an important issue - 1 in 6 people do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. The AquaIris is portable and easy to use; the directions are even printed right on the lanyard. The form, which echos the hexagon — ‘the geometry that water molecules form travelling in pairs within the body’ — is simple, elegant and beautiful enough to be discovered at Cooper-Hewitt.

There is some debate about the science behind the AquaIris. Chatter on Radford’s blog has questioned the ‘converter crystals’ and the proposed effectiveness of UVC purification through/in plastics and/or glass, particularly on cloudy or overcast days.

Regardless, we love the AquaIris. Once the kinks are worked-out we hope to find it in production — and saving lives — soon. We are not alone in our admiration. Like the Contortionist folding bike we brought you earlier, the AquaIris has been shortlisted for a James Dyson Award, a well-deserved honor. Good luck!

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/05/stunning-aquairis-water-purifier-by-talia-radford/
 
Stackable Lego Fridges Thwart Thieving Roomates
by Yuka Yoneda

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Does it drive you crazy when people stand in front of the fridge with the door wide open, letting all the cold air escape while they decide whether they want soda, oj, purple stuff or Sunny D? If so, these neat and stackable Flatshare Fridges designed by Stefan Buchberger, a student at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna could provide you with some solace. Colorful and customizable in many configurations, each fridge brick is much smaller than a traditional fridge meaning that it takes less energy to cool and less cold air escapes each time you open the door. We love the lego-like look and there many other “cool” reasons that these funky appliances are smarter than the average icebox.

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Amongst roommates, the subject of edible property is often a touchy one. If you’re sick of arguing over who ate whose pad thai or why someone keeps leaving cartons of Silk with one droplet left in them in the fridge, why not save yourself the heartache by having a separate compartment for your personal grub? Great for college kids who are constantly moving around campus, fridge cubes are less likely to be discarded after student life is over since the option to expand is always available.

Like to keep your organic wines chilled but don’t mind if your veggies are less than icy? Saving energy by grouping your foods by how cold you need them to be and storing them in dedicated cubes is just another solution that Flatshare Fridges bring to mind.

In terms of configuration, the refrigerator consists of a base station can accommodate up to four stacked modules. Plus each module can be customized with a variety of skins and add-ons. Flatshare Fridges aren’t available to the public yet, but we sure hope they are in the works!

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/22/flatshare-fridge-stackable-refrigerator-a-la-legos/#more-44132
 
OLED Breakthrough Yields 75% More Efficient Lights
by Evelyn Lee

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Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) recently announced a breakthrough in OLED technology that shatters all prior efficiency standards, reducing the ultra-thin lights’ energy consumption by 75%! That’s no small number - the development stands to raise the bar for energy efficient lighting by leaps and bounds. Literally (and figuratively) a cool technology, we are already enamored by the skinny profile of organic light emitting diodes, and we can’t wait to see their further integration into our everyday appliances.

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For those of you who are interested in the science behind KAIST’s recent breakthrough, the team discovered a new type of surface plasmon enhanced organic light emitting diode. To create the ultra-efficient OLEDs they thermally deposited silver nano-particals on a cathode under a high vacuum, resulting in a strong oscillator decay channel that increases photoluminescence emission rates by 1.75 times and increases light intensity twofold.

Whether or not we can fully wrap our heads around the science, we can’t wait to see these enhanced OLEDs hit the shelves of our favorite technology stores. We’ve been waiting in anticipation for the moment when OLED technology finally hits the mainstream, and it may be just upon the horizon.

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/16/oled-breakthrough-yields-75-more-efficient-lights/#more-40259
 
NoonSolar Bags: Solar Power Your Electronics with Your Bag!
by Yuka Yoneda

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While replacing lazy summer afternoons with crisp autumn mornings doesn’t exactly make us want to jump for joy, at least we can do it with panache! Whether you’re trudging woefully back to campus or dragging your lifeless body into your cubicle, NoonSolar bags can enervate more than just your spirits. These slick messengers and purses collect the rays of the sun and churn them into fresh juice for your PDA, iPod or other must-be-charged gadget. And with everyone’s minds on energy, these smart bags may even give your class/office popularity index a boost when you supply those in need with power off of your “personal grid.” Read on to check out two of our favorite NoonSolar styles.

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Named for one of the longest and most bikeable streets in Chicago, the tailored Elston messenger bag will easily add class and polish to any ensemble. Made of buttery, chocolate brown leather, this bag is made to last and provides enough spark to power your cell phone or mp3 player.
NOONSOLAR ELSTON MESSENGER BAG - $447

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The elegant Cortland is an oldie but goodie that we’ve kept in our shop because it simply doesn’t go out of style. Roomy enough to fit all your books and folders, but petite enough to maintain its tidy look, this chic purse comes in black, midnight, chocolate or midnight/ivory leather which is chrome-free and naturally-tanned and dyed.
NOONSOLAR CORTLAND BAG - $418

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/23/noonsolar-bags-solar-power-your-electronics-with-your-bag/
 
Flow Kitchen Minimizes Waste, Maximizes Sustainability
by Danielle Rago

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Oregon-based Studio Gorm has created a complete kitchen in which energy is conserved and cooking waste is recycled and used to grow plants. Dubbed the flow kitchen, the design successfully integrates nature and technology into a system where drying dishes helps water plants and composting food waste helps to fertilize them.

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Efficiently utilizing energy, waste, water, and other natural resources, John Arndt and Wonhee Jeong’s flow kitchen incorporates all the functions of a typical kitchen so that processes flow into one another in a natural cycle. Drying dishes hanging from a vertical storage rack drip onto herbs and edible plants, which are grown in carefully positioned containers below. A double-walled terracotta container acts as a refrigerator, keeping the inside cool as water evaporates through the outer wall, while food scraps are broken down by worms in a composter and the resulting fertilizer is used in the herb boxes to grow more food.

The kitchen also features storage jars made from unglazed earthenware with beech wood lids, a dish and utensil drawer to store plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery, a bag rack to hold produce, and a gas stovetop. The living kitchen is currently on view as part of an exhibition titled Call + Response at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Oregon through October 31.

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/18/flow-kitchen-minimizes-waste-maximizes-sustainability/
 
Dual Flush Toilet Is a Sink and Greywater System in One
by Diane Pham

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Hopefully most of us already have low water flow toilets installed in our homes, but what about all-in-one greywater systems? The Caroma Profile Smart Dual Flush is a 2-in-1 sink and toilet system that implements graywater recycling in a neat compact design that reduces toilet water consumption by up to 74%!

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On average, almost a third of the water we use in our homes is used for toilet systems, with older units consuming water at an alarming rate of 3-5 gallons per flush. With an integrated sink sitting atop the tank, the Profile Smart is able to reduce this number to just 1.28 gallons. The clever system reclaims the fresh water that we use to wash our hands and immediately re-directs it into the tank below ready for the next flush. Not only is this toilet a great way to be more green in our everyday – ahem – habits, but also a way to free up some more space in our cramped bathrooms.

While at the moment Profile Smarts can only be found in Australia, they are anticipated to make their debut in US stores by the year’s end. As far as we can tell, these could be the next wave in water efficient toilets that we’ll be resting our environmentally conscious bottoms on.

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/08/04/dual-flush-toilet-is-a-sink-and-greywater-system-in-one/
 
LED Clip Light Transforms any Object Into a Lamp
by Lea Bogdan

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Wow those around you by transforming any old household object into a lamp with this “LED Pin” by Korean designer Sungho Lee. To create this subtle, yet awe-inspiring illuminating accent Lee stylized and whitewashed the form of a traditional clothespin. The refreshing take on a familiar design successfully turns the object’s dollar-store stigma into a museum store find, but it’s the techy twist that makes it even more notable.

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Lee integrates a battery-operated LED (light-emitting diode) into the area near the gripping points of the clothespin, letting the user become a do-it-yourself lighting designer. Bring new life to those boring desk objects by clipping it to an outdated lamp shade, securing it to a stack of papers, sealing up your lunch bag, or accenting your trusty a pencil holder. Or simply clip it to a folded sheet of white paper for an instant lampshade.

We can’t wait to see where others will imagine pinning this light. Repurposing your boring wares or sprucing up your school supplies was never so delightful!

Izvor: Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/09/08/led-clip-light-transforms-any-object-into-a-lamp/
 
Ancient Church Renovated into Modern Bookstore
by Diane Pham, 09/24/09

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Whether you’re religious or not, this old Dominican church will certainly bring you the enlightenment you’ve been seeking. After months of renovation this magnificent structure originally constructed in 1294 has opened its doors to the public as a “brand new” bookstore in the heart of Maastricht. A superb example of adaptive re-use, the Selexyz Dominicanen infuses rich and historic architecture with plentiful shelves ripe with information.

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Dating back to the 13th century, the structure was a Dominican church until Maastricht was invaded by Napoleon in 1794 and the group was forced out of the country. Since that point it has been briefly used as a parish, then a warehouse, then an archive, then a giant parking lot for bicycles (not such a terrible idea) and finally made over into a bookstore.

Led by architecture firm Merkx + Girod, the new installations are highlighted by a towering, three-storey black steel book stack stretching up to the stone vaults. The highest shelves are reachable by lift or by a set of stairs within the sleek, well-made stack. The views provided from the top shelf along the nave of the church are nothing short of uplifting.

At the back of the church customers and visitors can sit and admire the beautifully renovated 14th century ceiling frescoes, or chat over a cup of coffee in the café situated in the former choir. In a bit of humor the bookstore also installed a cross-shaped reading table where anyone can sit and flip through the magazines and newspapers kept in the slats of the table. So far the design has won the Lensvelt de Architect Interior Prize, and in 2008 The Guardian called it the
“best bookstore in the world”.

Selexyz Dominicanen belongs to the popular Selexyz chain and maintains a wide selection of books across all subjects, even boasting a sizeable collection of books in English. As more and more churches are being abandoned due to redundancy, maybe this is something for Barnes and Noble to think about…

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/09/24/gorgeous-church-renovated-into-modern-bookstore/#more-63158

hmm, knjižara Hram. Just a thought. For now.
 
Europe Approves Universal Cell Phone Charger
by Sarah Parsons, 10/29/09

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If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve got a pile of chargers left over from retired cell phones. You can’t use them with your new phone, but finding an innovative way of recycling the tangled up mass of wires can be difficult — quite the ecophile’s conundrum. Luckily, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) aims to revolutionize the cell phone industry. The UN group recently unveiled its Universal Charging Solution, a charger that can be used in all future cell phone makes and models — as long as cell phone companies comply.

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GSMA, a group that represents the worldwide mobile communications industry, helped design the universal charger, which features a micro USB connector. In addition to making things easier for consumers, the Universal Charging Solution could provide some serious environmental benefits. For one, it will dramatically decrease the number of chargers produced, shipped and discarded, preventing all that waste from winding up in landfills. The new solution is expected to eliminate about 51,000 redundant chargers. Plus, the chargers will reduce phones’ standby energy consumption by 50 percent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 13.6 million tons every year.

While the ITU won’t mandate that cell phone companies use the chargers, the GSMA has already seen significant interest from major players in the mobile phone market. Companies like LG, AT&T, DoCoMo, Samsung, Nokia and others have already partnered with GSMA, and Sony Ericsson announced it would launch phones compatible with the Universal Charging Solution during the first half of 2010.

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Bye, bye, messy mass of cell phone chargers!

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/10/29/europe-getting-universal-cell-phone-charger/#more-68800
 
Fala bogu!Oduvek sam se pitao zasto to ne urade :kk:
 
ANDREA Air Filter Uses House Plants to Purify Indoor Air
by Beth Shea, 11/05/09

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The design concept for the ANDREA air filter, previously dubbed the Bel-Air, was featured on Inhabitat two years ago in its prototype phase. We’re revisiting this savvy innovation since it recently came to fruition and became available for purchase this week. Invented by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur with Harvard professor David Edward, ANDREA transforms household plants into air cleaners which effectively rid indoor air of toxins and pollutants to purify baby’s nursery or any room in the house.

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0 times more efficient than HEPA or activated carbon filters, and requiring no filter changes, ANDREA “naturally purifies air by drawing it with a whisper-quiet fan to propel it through the leaves and root system of a plant, then out through water and soil filtration and back into the room environment.”

As opposed to collecting pollution on a filter surface, the plant’s natural metabolic activity performs a biochemical transformation of waste which eliminates pollution. Any house plant may be used in conjunction with the ANDREA Air Filter to absorb and metabolize noxious chemicals, but the best performing varieties include: Spath or peace lily, Red-edged dragon tree, Spider plant and Aloe Vera.

Izvor:Inhabitots
http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/11/05/andrea-air-filter-uses-house-plants-to-purify-indoor-air/
 
LED Sparks Create Energy Efficient Light Sculptures
by Diane Pham, 11/05/09

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What if you could design your own lighting fixture in the time that it takes to unscrew a light bulb? That’s the premise behind Daniel Becker’s Spark system, a series of energy-efficient LED bulbs that can be linked together to form beautiful light sculptures.

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Interior lighting accounts for up to 15% of a household’s total electricity use, although new lighting technologies have the potential to reduce this drain by 50% – 75%. The Spark lighting system consists of several energy efficient modules which can be extended and arranged in various configurations to form unique 3-D structures. The modules feature a simple screw-joint assembly that requires no technical expertise to install, which makes it easy for anyone to build a magnificent light sculpture. The system can be used both outdoors and indoors, and it was designed to bring lovely atmospheric light to any space.

Izvor:Inhabitat
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/05/energy-efficient-sparks-lighting/#more-69608
 
Koja glupost. Stavi biljku u saksiju i gotovo... Aloe vera arborescens.. keva za takve stvari.. još pušta izdanke... I kad se posečeš, uzmeš list, iscediš sok na ranu, i zaraste za 1 dan (provereno, radi i na ujedima komaraca). 100din sadnica na pijaci u martovsko vreme otprilike.
 
Vrh