Author Archives: Luke Norris
A coastal New Zealand Portable Beach House
Coastal living has serious perks—views, waves, sandy beaches. And usually it’s all idyllic sandcastles and sunsets. That is, it’s like that until the hungry beast of coastal erosion starts eating up the beach. Then, next thing you know, your tranquil beach house is sliding down the sandy bank and out to sea. We’ve seen it happen over and over.
So while building your house upon the sand is not usually advised, Kiwi architects Crosson, Clarke and Carnachen are breaking centuries of convention, and they’re getting great results. Their multi-award winning Whangapoua Sled House rests on two massive wooden beams and is easily movable to avoid coastal erosion. Up-vote for modernity.
Built in the tradition of the Kiwi “bach” (short for bachelor pad, bach’s are beachside vacation homes that are an iconic part of NZ culture), this movable home rests on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula, and can fit a family of five.
Whangapoua sits on a footprint of only 40 square meters, and is totally sustainable. It features a worm tank waste system (for composting) and potable grey water tanks for storing roof runoff. The exterior is a rough macrocarpa-cladding that can be closed completely in the case of coastal torrents, or opened for a sunny open-concept living space.
The kids’ sleeping area maximize space with cabinetry toe spaces and secret cubbies, and the adult quarters are accessed by climbing a ladder through a closeable hatch. If you keep scaling the ladder, it’ll open up to a roof terrace with panoramic views.
The essence of the Whangapoua Sled House is summed up in three words: small, simple and functional. It’s also extremely smart and, at the end of the day, while rain can ruin some beach time, it’s nothing compared to your home running away into the ocean. So,CCCA advises you to be like the wise man, and build thy house upon the sand.
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Louis CK Joins Jerry Seinfeld
Season 3 of Jerry Seinfeld’s web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee kicks off with Louis CK riding shotgun. Gallivanting around town in a 1959 Fiat Jolly in coral orange, they ultimately head to CK’s boat where topics range from their shared history as standup comics, t0 facial hair, to the precarious makeup of the delicate car.
While embedding is disabled, watch the entire twenty-three minute episode here.
Ronnie Fieg x PUMA Disc Blaze Lite Coat of Arms Mint
Ronnie Fieg has teamed up again with PUMA to preview his Disc Blaze Lite “Coat of Arms” collaborative project in Mint. Due to drop January 16 via Kith Paris.
Michelangelo’s Grocery Shopping List
Michelangelo Buonarroti was too busy to buy food, so he used to send his illiterate servant with grocery shopping lists like the one above, illustrated in 1518.
Jon Olsson Shares a Look at His Audi RS6
Citing his 2014 winter ride as the “most impressive car [he has] ever driven,” winter sports sensation Jon Olsson has shared a look at his customized Audi RS6. Although the car is currently in line for upgrades at the hand of Stertman Motorsport, Olsson linked up with photographer Oskar Bakke to showcase the paint job and look of the car before it goes under the knife. Take a closer look at the Audi RS6 above and head to Olsson’s website for more.
Conference of Cool.
Car Maniacs: Life with Le Mans
Motorhead magazine teams up with Maiham-Media.com to give you a glimpse into the life of three young at heart car maniacs that own three extremely unique Le Mans’ cars, the Mazda 767B, a Jaguar XJ220LM and the already famous road going Porsche 962C. You may think these cars should be put in a garage or museum for safe keeping, but that is not the case here. Some of them still spend their lives racing around the circuit while others can be found hunting the streets for speed.
These are the “Car Maniacs”, and this is their “Life With Le Mans'”.
ルマン・マシンを公道で走らせる喜びを知る男たち、「カーマニアック」。ジャガーXJ
Director : Ko-Hey Takada | Motorhead.jp
Cinematographer / Editor : Luke Huxham | Maiham-Media.com
GFX / Animation : Edward Khoma | Carbonstudiosllc.com
Translation : Takashi Koga
White House Christmas Card for 2013
Chris Hankinson of Grand Rapids displays this year’s official White House Christmas card which he designed on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. The card took a total of three months to complete and was designed in Grand Rapids. Production of the card was done in Detroit before being hand folded in Clinton Township.
GoPro: Brendan Fairclough Launching Over A Canyon Gap
Brendan Fairclough’s final run at Red Bull Rampage 2013.
Shot 100% on the HD HERO3+® camera from http://GoPro.com.
Beautiful Concept Redesign of Facebook by Fred Nerby
About the project by Fred Nerby –
A conceptional and systematic design approach encouraging user behaviour and a greater control of data within a responsive grid.
The overall concept was created with a systematic design approach encouraging behaviour and a greater control of user data. Facebook is a natural part of peoples lives today and it’s well known that a part of the platform’s psychological success is caused by targeted and personalised information. This concept draws upon that theory by giving more control back to the user of what they want and don’t want to see, creating a greater and more personal environment when interacting with the UI.
I approached the platform from a user perspective and focused on targeted & personalised data while maintaining a visually appealing UI. Facebook has done a good job with this for a long time but we’re still not seeing the full extent of what’s possible within this platform.
I believe the future of digital production, design & development in general lies within personalised or targeted information. Every day we’re bombarded with advertising and other media who’s desperately trying to get our attention with more traditional (narrative) campaign strategies. I believe in focusing on the platform itself and adding value that’s personal and actually useful for the end user.
Conference of Cool.
Lapka: Breath Alcohol Monitor
This extremely minimal device is a pocket size breathalyzer that helps measure the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream from just a quick breathe. No mouthpiece, data tracking or anything like that. Just a easy and simple way to make sure your pacing yourself appropriately when you’re out on the town and that your well under the legal limit before you even think about getting behind the wheel of a car. The corresponding app is currently available for Android and it should be coming out for iOS shortly. Oh yeah–and the marketing video they made (featured at the bottom of this post) is one of the coolest product demos you’ll ever see. Get it here, priced at $199 + free shipping.
Italia Indepenent Full Camoulage Sunglasses
Italia Independent recently released a new pair of sunglasses with mirrored lenses in a camouflage print. The print is externally visible, but doesn’t get in the way of the wearer’s sight since it can’t be seen if you’re looking through the lenses. The Full Camouflage Capsule Collection of sunglasses by Italia Independent was at MAPS: Wall to Wall, an Art Basel lounge experience in Miami’s Wynwood District.
The God of Ramen (Ramen York Taisetsu Na Mono)
The God of Ramen (Ramen Yori Taisetsu na Mono) – Trailer HD
Legendary Kazuo Yamagishi is known as “The God of Ramen” in Higashi Ikebukuro, Tokyo. For more than 45 years, there was always two-hour wait line to partake his Ramen noodle, but he says “There is more important thing than just Ramen.”
Interiors Breaks Down the Design of Kanye West Yeezus Tour
Interiors (a film and architecture journal in which films are analyzed and diagrammed in terms of space) recently had the opportunity to attend two shows of Kanye West’s Yeezus tour. After gaining some insight, they’ve managed to publish one of the most thorough breakdowns of Kanye West’s modern-day performance.
“Kanye has said that the initial vision for The Yeezus Tour came from imagining the end of the world. The visuals of explosions, fire, mountains, masked beings, creatures and God all make their way into the experience of the show.”
“During his performance at the Barclay’s Center In Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 2013, Kanye West expressed that Alejandro Jodorowsky’s film The Holy Mountain (1973) was an important touchstone for the design of the tour. The Holy Mountain is about a Christ-like figure who wanders through bizarre scenarios filled with religious imagery. The man meets a guide, as well as seven influential people, and all nine embark on a journey seeking “The Holy Mountain.” There are various aspects of the show that are influenced from the film, including the stage, which includes a mountain, the choreographed installation of nude women, masks and inclusion of a holy figure. In the opening minutes of the film, a thief’s face is covered in black flies, a visual reference for one of Maison Martin Margiela’s masks, designed for the show.
The influence from The Holy Mountain, however, is more thematic than visual. The film, much like the show, is an experience and asserts its focus on a biblical redemption story; similarly, Kanye West’s show is focused on a similar journey, one of self-realization and self-discovery, as evidenced through the five chapters of the show: Fighting, Rising, Falling, Searching and Finding. These chapters are used to separate the set list and also as a slight break for wardrobe changes.”