Hidden Hillside Home in the Swiss Alps

By Michael van Vliet | May 16, 2012

Tagged:

Nestled into the hillside of the Swiss Alps, Villa Vals is the result of a collaborative effort between architects from CMA and SeARCH.  Touted as a cross between “Dutch Design” and “Swiss Quality”, the designers set out to build a home that would blend into the stoney hillside but still offer a panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Their solution was to build into the hill itself and give the structure circular concave facade. From the side, the building has almost zero profile and can only be seen when standing directly in front of it. Conversely, the residents living inside have a wide uninhibited view of the of the surrounding Alpine peaks.

The Villa is located in a small town of Vals, in southeast Switzerland. While it’s generally overlooked by most tourists, Vals is far from a sleepy rustic mountain village. Instead, it has emerged as an model of small scale sustainability and is home to structures that try to marry to the aesthetics of the mountains. Not a but a hefty stones throw away from the Villa Vals is the legendary Therme Vals.

The best part of the Villa Vals, is that it’s not a private residence, but available for rent. So there is a chance you could actually enjoy this tranquil mountain retreat. For more information visit their website at www.villavals.ch

[ Via iGNANT]

Cool Hunting Video: Icon 4×4 Bronco

By Michael van Vliet | May 15, 2012

Tagged:

Recently Cool Hunting posted a great video interview with our good-friend Jonathan Ward of Icon 4×4. Jon started Icon 4×4 with the desire to combine classic automotive design with modern technologies and components. He has been getting a lot of great press on his newly unveiled Ford Bronco series. In this video he walks through the process of building one, from concept to final product.

We can also personally attest that when he says he can tell an entire story behind each and every component on his truck he is not joking. Jon is an absolute master in his field and it is always a pleasure to hear him talk about his work.

[ Via Cool Hunting, Pictures via Icon 4x4]

PAL-V One | The Flying Car Has Arrived

By Michael van Vliet | May 14, 2012

Tagged: ,

It seems that it was only moments after the invention of the first automobile in 1886 that people immediately got bored and started clamoring for a flying car. For well over a century, the hopes and dreams of drivers everywhere have been hitched to the idea that one day soon mass-produced flying car will fill the skies and we’ll never have to sit in traffic again!  However today, after many, many, many, terrible attempts there is now a semi-somewhat-viable option: PAL-V ONE.

The PAL-V team has been working on their concept since 2001 and have just now released their first functional prototype. PAL-V ONE is less of a “flying car” and more of a “drivable gyrocopter”. Unlike a helicopter, gyrocopters use an unpowered rotor in auto-rotation to develop lift. So long as the gyrocopter is moving forwards the rotor spins and generates lift, which means even if the engine dies mid-air a gyrocopter can be safely navigated to the ground.

PAL-V has developed a patented DVC tilt-technology to allow the vehicle to keep its high-center of gravity while taking corners on the road like a sports bike. It can reach speeds of up to 180 km/h (112 mph) both on land and in the air. The transition from gyrocopter to high-speed street-legal go-kart takes less than 10 minutes and can be performed entirely by one person.

To drive the PAL-V ONE all you need is a driver’s license, but to pilot it as a gyrocopter you will need a recreational pilot’s license which can be obtained with about 20-40 hours of flight instruction. Since the gyrocopter flies below 4,000 ft, in airspace designated for uncontrolled Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic, there is no need to log a flight plan or get clearance for take-offs. You will be free to roam where ever you want.

Which brings us to this: Flying cars are a terrible terrible idea. Given the amount of raw carnage and havoc that motorists are currently responsible for, it would seem insane to let those same individuals loose in unrestricted airspace. You know that yahoo who cut you off on the highway this morning while talking on his cellphone? Well that’s going to be a lot more terrifying at 3,000 ft. So until Google figures out how fly these things then it is probably better if flying is left to professionals. Thankfully the exorbitant price tag of the PAL-V ONE will probably limit to people who are already rocking a G6.

[ Via Looks Feels Works Pictures via PAL-V]

AETHERstream at Space 15 Twenty

By Michael van Vliet | May 11, 2012

Tagged:

The AETHERstream has been revamped for Spring and we’re doing a secret test run at Hollywood’s Space 15 Twenty this weekend. We’ll be joining the ongoing Field Study pop up event and will have a chance to hang out with our friends at Farm Tactics, Outlier, Fjallraven, Snow Peak and many more. The event is being billed as a psychedelic high-end version of REI. For pictures check out the Space 15 Twenty flickr stream. Tents, rock climbing wall, and tons of great gear.  Come stop by and visit us today or tomorrow. Event ends Saturday night.

For more information check out the write up in Daily Candy.

Directions:
1520 North Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028


View Larger Map

Free Floating Ecolodge

By Michael van Vliet | May 10, 2012

Tagged:

This free floating ecolodge was designed by Dutch architect Marjin Beije to encourage a younger more city-focused group of people to enjoy the simple pleasures of nature. Similar to river rafting in Sweden, Beije’s ecolodge captures the same freedom and tranquility of life on the river but offers slightly more refined accommodations.

The duel-hull catamaran design consists of two main living quarters that are connected by a upper and lower deck. One side is used as a bedroom at night, but pushing the beds against the walls converts it into a sizable living space. The other side holds the kitchen, dining area, and bathroom. Attached to the mast on top is an observation deck. A roof mounted solar panel stores power during the day for the high-efficiency LED lights that run through out the lodge.

Originally designed as a thesis project for grad school, Beije has since partnered with sustainable housing veteran Ap Kremer from APHoutconstructies to put the EcoLodge into production. There has also been talk of using the Ecolodge design and layout as a raised tree house as well.

Beije’s ecolodge is great example of how an exceptional design can help foster a greater engagement with the outdoors and add to the existing beauty of the natural landscape.

[ Via Inhabitat & Gizmag]

Lamborghini Ankonian

By Michael van Vliet | May 9, 2012

Tagged: ,

With the release of the Dark Knight Rises trailer,  it’s only fitting we share with you the mad genius of Slavche Tanevski. For his fourth semester project at Munich’s University of Applied Sciences, Tranevski submitted his design for a new Lamborghini concept car called the Ankonian.

This fully jacked up, well vented, sharply angular beast is a projection of raw power. Even sitting still the thing looks, well, mean. In keeping with the Lamborghini tradition of naming cars after bulls, the Ankonian is the name of a particular type of black haired bull – hence the car’s charred black color.

Since the Ankonian doesn’t actually exist yet, there are no tech specs to go along with it. Although according to concept art it’s suppose to shoot flames out the exhaust, so that’s something.

[ Via Car Design.ru]

Gullesfjord Weigh Station, Norway

By Michael van Vliet | May 8, 2012

Tagged:

“What a beautiful house!” you might be thinking to yourself, “Wouldn’t it be lovely to live there!”  Nestled into the hills of Gullesfjord Norway, this modern structure is a spectacular architectural feat, but you’ll be surprised to learn it’s actually a weigh station for trucks.

That’s right, this is what passes for a weigh station in Norway. Here in the United States, weigh stations look like featureless cubes or on occasion, large featureless cubes and are usually staffed by the cast of the Kurt Russel thriller Breakdown. Not so in Norway! At the Gullesfjord Weight Station, the architectural firm Jarmund/Vigsnaes Arkitekter chose to build the structure into the side of a hill and use a grass roof to minimize the visual impact on the surrounding National Park. The new state of the art facility has been built with accommodation for 3-4 specialists.

Instead of contracting work out to the lowest bidder, Norway has a history of working with innovative architects and designers for public projects. This approach yields aesthetically unique structures that enhance the natural beauty of the country’s landscape and helps drive tourism. It’s a type of situational awareness we could use a little more of here in the states.

[via Design Boom]

Bike Furniture by Andy Gregg

By Michael van Vliet | May 7, 2012

Tagged:


S6 Bar Table and S2 Lounge Chairs

Much of Andy Gregg’s life has played out to the sound of shifting gears, whirling chains, and spinning spokes.  From his first gig as a mechanic in a local bike repair shop, to his current job designing for Bike Furniture, Gregg has spent a fair deal of time around bicycles. His extensive experience combined with a unique knack for innovative design, has allowed him to breathe life to old beat-up bikes.

Where most people see a pile of broken part, Andy sees pieces of larger, unrealized whole. Since 1990 he’s been making handcrafted furniture using wheels, tires, inner tubes, handles bars, and whatever else he can pull off a bike.  He started making furniture for personal use at first, but in the past few years has decided to approach it from more of a business angle. Not surprisingly, a lot of people in both the cycling and design community have really taken to the idea.

Gregg started with chairs, but expanded to loveseats, tables, and bar stools. Recently he’s collaborated with Harley to do a run of motorcycle inspired furniture. At the moment each model comes fully assembled, but Gregg has been experimenting with collapsible versions to cut down on shipping costs.

To check out the full line of Gregg’s work visit his website.
www.bikefurniture.com


Modulus Lounge


S2 Tables

S-6 Bar Table and S-2 Swivel Bar Stool with Pro Pad

BRD Electric Motorcycles

By Michael van Vliet | May 4, 2012

Tagged: ,

When thinking about electric motorcycles, words like eco-conscious, low emission, and “scooter” come to mind. However, the founders of BRD Motorcycles would like to introduce a new word to the lexicon: bad-ass.

The BRD team is a self-described group of “riders, racers, builders, and troublemakers”. Their idea of a perfect bike is one that’s gorgeous to look at, incredibly fun to ride, and, on occasion, scares the absolute crap out of you. With new innovations in batteries, the team decided it was time to built an electric motorcycle that lived up to their standards.

With instant throttle response and endless traction, going electric in many ways is a vast improvement over a combustion engines. Freed from the engine components that traditionally dictated motorcycle design, BRD was able to give their bikes a new futuristic, and somewhat skeletal look. Designed to take a pounding both on and off the road, these motorcycle are built to be bumped, dumped, and (in a safe and controlled circumstances) crashed. BRD wants their bikes to be ridden hard, not left languishing in a garage.

A telling glimpse into the company’s renegade mentality comes when they describe why they enjoy riding on a quieter motorcycle.

“We like the sound of a well-tuned, open-piped race bike too. But we ride to have fun, not to get noticed, and frankly we can get away with more, um, questionable behavior on a quiet bike. If revving your bike outside the local latte dispensary is your thing, this probably isn’t your bike. If 3am runs on empty city streets are your thing, you’ve come to the right place.”

These are our type of guys. To check out their site and sign up to pre-order one of their new RedShift models head over to www.faster-faster.com

[Via Werd]

 

Fragments of Iceland

By Michael van Vliet | May 3, 2012

Tagged:

Of all the well-produced travelogue videos we’ve seen, none has roused such a visceral sense of wanderlust in us as this cinematic exploration of Iceland.  The French filmmaking duo Lea Amiel and Nicolas Libersalle capture the diverse landscape of the volcanic island during the temperate summer months. They travel across lush grasslands, arid deserts, black sand beaches, and rugged sea cliffs.  The film’s masterful editing and inspirational music by the Cinematic Orchestra elevates the experience to a dream like status. This one is definitely worthy of a full-screen experience.

The duo are currently working on a feature documentary about the new generation of artist currently coming out of Iceland.

[ Via Danny MacAskill's facebook feed]

 
 
close

Sign up to receive a weekly
roundup from the Aether Journal