the digital cookbook

Finally, the perfect accessory for your modern kitchen. The Kitchen Sync plugs seamlessly into your home wireless ecosystem. And with a touch screen that’s also washable, it becomes the perfect durable peripheral for the kitchens’ harsh environment. It’s many functions include searching and downloading recipes, streaming music and videos, converting recipe’s into and printing grocery lists, and managing a family’s weekly meal schedule.

Designed by Portland native, Noah Balmer, the polycarbonate book shell connects magnetically to a dock and charges through induction. It’s the dock that also houses the motherboard, network adapter and wireless antenna. The entire system fits neatly onto a bookshelf and integrates easily into your existing collection.

+ Designer Noah Balmer

Other modern kitchen goodies:
+ Space Saving Kitchen Concept
+ Concept Kitchen
+ Modern Coffee Pot and Single Coffee Maker

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rural studio #6: park toilets

As architects we don’t get to do much more than picking out fixtures very often. Even when the client has tons of money to throw at the toilet room it is usually eaten up in materials rather than in form. I love these sets of projects from the rural studio because they demand a unique response and have so much potential for student creativity.

These student projects are set in Perry Lakes Park near the bridge and tower. Here there are “toilet experiences” connected by a raised pathway that leads to a pavilion. Each project is unique and will have you wishing for a better bathroom.

The tower toilet is 50 feet tall and I imagine using it could be pretty amazing.

This bathroom is composed of two cantilevering walls that frame a tree. The tree acts as a barrier that allows the ‘toiletee’ to view nature without being viewed by others. There were a few wooden boxes obstructing my shot of the toilet but I liked the wall that it is anchored to. The concrete slab met the wood nicely and the reveal to the right speaks to the language of the whole.

This is the Mound Toilet. It creates a panoramic view of the mound that it sets on and the nature behind it. I am pretty sure the angles work out so that the person on the toilet cannot be seen. I especially like that when the door is left open you can begin to experience the view from other parts of the site. As you approach the view becomes more in focus and direct.

+ flickr set
Related Posts:
Rural Studio #1
Rural Studio #2
Rural Studio #3
Rural Studio #4
Rural Studio #5

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camping tepee

Unlike the permanent Suburban Tipi, this tepee is designed to replace the more conventional camping tent. To give it a more traditional feel, the exterior is made from water-repellent, fire-resistant canvas. The poles are made from real pine. Brought to you by Design Within Reach.

weekend links

Have some extra time this weekend? Here are a few good reads and other links to help you out.

• The Evolution of Websites: How 10 Popular Websites Have (And Have Not) Changed via: Wake up Later
• Revenge of the Slow via: Metropolis
• How to survive in NY on 99cents via: NY Times
• Buy a Tree and Watch it Grow on Google Earth via: Ecogeek
• Bit Strips (make your on comic book strip)
• The 50th Anniversary of the Peace Symbol via: CBS News
• Nice Tower! Who’s your Architect? via: NY Times

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oxygen should be a drug

Here are some fabulous new paintings by artist Stanley Donwood. The series is called “Puffer” and is part of a solo exhibition titled “I Love the Modern World”. It’s on display at Tokyo Gallery April 2nd through April 29th. (Click to Enlarge)

Related Posts:
Paper Art

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edible tableware

Japanese designer, Nobuhiko Arikawa of Rice Design has created edible tableware for Orto Cafe in Japan. (note: the links are in Japanese)

These guys are actually made of a hard biscuit dough made from flour, salt, and water. The mixture is easy to dry pack and it stays edible for a long time as it was once used as a ration at sea. The plates remind me of Injera which is a bread used as a plate and side for Ethiopian food.

{via: dezeen}

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we tell stories (in a new medium)

This is story telling in a new medium – the internet. Penguin’s new digital writing project uses the interactivity of the internet to enhance the readers experience. For now 6 stories will be slowly released – and then there is a 7th hidden somewhere in the interwebs. Check it out.

Related Posts:
The Relative Scale of Everything
The Ones We Love

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Stich der Tarantel

This film by Burnt Friedman, Anders Weberg and Robert William is a beautiful piece which confronts the traditions and suggestions of Irpinia, a southern Italian mountain town. The film, an electronic media collection, interperets the folkloristic heritage of this mountain town.

There is a compilation dvd of all the video and sound artists that were selected to interpret Irpinia.  It features 18 artists and seven short films. The work is absolutely beautiful.

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germinated business card

I ran across CreativeBits cool business card post which I loved, so I just had to highlight my favorite. For a landscape architect:

What could be a better way to show your proficiency in landscape than to germinate a mundane site into a gardened oasis right on your contact info. Very cool!!

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paige russell designs

These two beauties are by Paige Russell, who was named one of the “Young designers to watch out for” in a 2001 Wallpaper design directory.

I love the way these votive candles look on a summer lawn (if only I had a yard of my own). But hey, these would look great as an indoor candle holder as well. They appear to be made of folded and cut paper, but are actually very thin porcelain.

The above lights are made of printed paper and can be flat packed for easy storage. Brilliant!

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