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5 Jail Hotels (Where You Pay to Be In Prison): From Comfortable Cells to Ni
2008-03-24 00:20:00 A prison is probably the last place on Earth most of us would want to spend the night, right? Well, for some of these converted prison hotels that still holds true: in Latvia, for example, ‘guests’ who pay to stay at a former KGB jail complex are subjected to humiliation and emotional torture. In other ... More About: Travel , Architecture , Hotels , Urban , Prison
5 Places You Probably Never Thought to Go Skiing: Far-Out Ski Destinations
2008-03-21 21:17:00 It’s that time of year when most ski resorts are wrapping up their winter ski season and avid urban vacationers are taking those last weekend runs. Ski buffs sometimes brag about skiing at Whistler, Big Sky or other more exclusive resorts, but how many can say they’ve skied in Bolivia or New Zealand? You can’t ... More About: Sports , Environment , Travel , Architecture , Bizarre
7 (More) Abandoned Wonders of America: From Deserted Breweries to Famous Au
2008-03-18 22:47:00 Much of America ’s little-remembered history can be found in largely unknown structures scattered across the United States, some of which are silently falling apart. Many of these have amazing claims to fame and set records in their time - the world’s first auto assembly line or the largest brewery in the US - while others ... More About: Architecture , Famous , Wonders , Deserted
3 Incredible Gatherings: The Largest, Strangest and Scariest Collective Act
2008-03-16 21:10:00 As humans we have a difficult time comprehending large numbers, and vast collections of people perhaps in particular. There is something simply surreal about a pilgrimage that attracts more people than the population of Texas or a festival that draws thirty thousand revelers deep into one of the harshest deserts on Earth. The following three ... More About: Religion , Travel , Architecture , Festivals , Urban
20 (More) Incredibly Unconventional Hotel Rooms: Artistic Interior Designs
2008-03-13 00:03:00 [above: Kids fortress bed with full mini-golf room from the Propeller Island Hotel ] Ever wonder what it would be like to be stuck in prison, live in a museum or stay in a hotel room in space? Art and concept hotels have begun addressing every fantasy you may have had … and some you probably haven’t. ... More About: Interior , Artistic , Designs , Hotel rooms
5 Floating Utopia and Ocean City Projects: From Seafaring Condos to Oceanic
2008-03-09 21:15:00 Who hasn’t imagined living on their very own floating paradise? For those aboard ResidenSea, a permanent ocean-going residence, this dream is at least a partial reality. Freedom Ship (upon its completion) will take floating cities to a new level and if the Living Universe Foundation has its way the oceans will just be a first ... More About: Environment , Projects , Architecture , Ocean , Utopia
16 Sweet (and Scary) Building Demolitions in Action
2008-03-05 19:57:00 [Above: Inverse building demolition in London via Neatorama] Nothing last forever and that includes the most grandiose skyscrapers, luxurious hotels and beloved sports stadiums. It seems amazing at times that so much money, energy and material is invested in structures that ultimately get torn down so quickly. Some of these demolitions are simply damned impressive while ... More About: Videos , Building , Architecture , Action , Urban
5 Incredible Works of Insane Architectural Genius: Wooden Skyscrapers to Re
2008-03-03 01:48:00 How many people does it take to envision, design and build a typical building? Architects, builders, carpenters, laborers are often just the beginning of a long list of co-creators. Well, these bizarre exceptions were each primarily the work of a single eccentric individual and in many cases took decades (or even lifetimes) to construct. Despite ... More About: Environment , Travel , Architecture , Insane , Works
7 Abandoned Wonders of the European Union: From Deserted Castles Retrofutur
2008-02-27 22:01:00 The Europe an Union may appear on the surface to be a unified body but underneath each member country retains a unique and complex history. The rich stories of individual European nations can be read in part through the amazing abandoned buildings found across the continent. It is truly remarkable how intact some of these structures ... More About: Travel , Architecture , European Union
10 (More) Pieces of Clever Transforming Furniture: From Tetris Tables to Ro
2008-02-24 23:13:00 Why is transforming furniture so alluring? Does it appeal to our sense that innovation is progress, the fact that fewer materials for more uses is sustainable or simply a return to the childhood love of things that we can actively change and shape as we wish? Whatever the reason, these designs range from humorous and ... More About: Tables , Furniture , Tetris , Clever , Pieces
Surprise: World?s Tallest Structure Isn?t a Skyscraper
2008-02-22 21:08:00 Believe it or not, there are a number of structures taller even than the infamous Burj Dubai. The tallest structure in the world, however, is an unusual candidate that reaches more than twice as far down into the ocean as said tallest skyscraper reaches into the sky. The Ursa tension-leg platform is an oil-production facility ... More About: Environment , Architecture , World , Skyscraper , Bizarre
17 Extreme Houseboats and Houseboat Designs: From Luxury Habitats to Humble
2008-02-20 19:00:00 Ever dream of sailing off into the sunset in your very own houseboat? Some of these are dreamy but completely out of reach while others you may be able to afford but wouldn’t want for the world. This collection spans the extremes of design and brute-force ingenuity: from the obscenely luxurious to the absurdly simple. Want ... More About: Environment , Travel , Architecture , Luxury , Extreme
7 (More) Unusually Geeky Approaches to Graffiti: From Remote-Control Robots
2008-02-18 03:38:00 What qualifies something as unusually geeky street graffiti? In some cases it is the content but in many instances it is the methods employed in its creation. Here are seven more geek graffiti projects that comment on and employ tools of the digital age to reinterpret traditional street art approaches or convey contemporary messages via ... More About: Architecture , Robots , Remote Control , Graffiti , Urban
A Visual Tour of the Dharma Initiative Stations: 7 Mysterious ?Abandonments
2008-02-14 00:51:00 [Lost Island rendering and map courtesy of LostMap] For some, ‘Lost’ is more than a mere television show - it is a hobby, fantasy or even obsession. One of the most entrancing aspects of the show is its semi-abandoned Dharma Initiative stations that dot the island and have been slowly revealed over time. Dedicated followers of ... More About: Video , Travel , Architecture , Visual , Tour
10 Amazing Tree Houses from Around the World: Sustainable, Unique and Creat
2008-02-11 01:44:00 As a young child (or perhaps even an adult) who hasn’t dreamed of living in a tree house? Some structures are built on trees or hung from trees, but some unusual tree houses are even grown from trees or built right into a tree. Some people live in trees as a luxury, some to help ... More About: Environment , Architecture , World , Houses , Around the world
Simple and Sustainable Clay-Fired Desert Architecture: Innovative Buildings
2008-02-08 12:50:00 Imagine a sustainable building system that requires only the skills of a potter to complete. A basic earthen structure is formed and finished by traditional clay-firing processes. This remarkable building process culminates in baking every room from the inside, for up to an entire day at up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The end product is ... More About: Environment , Architecture , Buildings , Simple , Fired
15 Ingenious Humanitarian Subvertisements: Creative Advertisements that Adv
2008-02-06 01:09:00 Save perhaps lawyers, what is more ubiquitous in modern society than advertising? We are used to ads that promote a product or service for product, but many organizations, individuals and guerilla artists have begun putting a unique spin on ads by advocating for important local and global issues. Here are just some of the growing ... More About: Creative , Urban , Advertisements , Humanitarian
The House that Shaped an Architectural Generation: Frank Gehry?s First ?Dec
2008-02-04 01:21:00 What happened to Frank Gehry? Some call it a midlife crises, others chalk it up to a moment of revelation. Whatever occurred, this rather conventional middle-aged architect changed virtually overnight into an avante garde designer and created what is arguably the most influential residence of the 20th Century. Deconstructivism now pervades the field of architecture ... More About: House , Architecture , Urbanism , The House
What if the Package Were Part of the Product? 5 Innovative Industrial Desig
2008-02-02 00:09:00 [above: The Design Pod mobile office concept by Andrew Maynard] What if you could simply reuse packaging as part of a product rather than sending away for disposal or recycling? Some industrial designers have taken up the challenge with varied results. Like creative flat-pack designs, the constraints of the projects become opportunities for self-expression and to ... More About: Product , Industrial , Part , Innovative , Package
3 (More) Extreme Approaches to Portable Living: From ‘Garbage Trucks’ t
2008-01-30 09:50:00 There’s nothing like the freedom to move and live where we want. Perhaps the greatest expression of postmodern mobility is when transportation devices are combined with living spaces. Creative portable living solutions can blend with urban surroundings, be adapted to different individuals or can be the epitome of over-the-top luxury. (more…) More About: Living , Portable , Extreme , Garbage
7 Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union: Deserted Cities, Buildings,
2008-01-28 01:42:00 There are amazing abandonments in America but the former Soviet Union has some of the most interesting, unique and strange abandoned buildings. The complex political, military and social history of the country has led to everything from almost-finished buildings abandoned before actual use and entire abandoned cities to chilling gulags in which tens of millions ... More About: Cities , Buildings , Wonders
More Unusual Art from Everyday Materials: 16 Post-It Note Pranks, Sculpture
2008-01-25 02:12:00 Never underestimate the power of simple office supplies. Post -It Note s come in many vibrant colors and provide everything from a building block for engaging sculptures to a collection of blank slates for interactive community art projects. Here are 16 projects that involve covering, cladding, sculpting and decorating with simply sticky pieces of paper. More About: Video , Pranks , Graffiti
16 of the Most Creative (and/or Sexy) Hotel Rooms in the World: From Upside
2008-01-22 02:17:00 [above: the upside-down room from the Propeller Island Hotel ] Ever wonder what it would be like to live upside-down, sleep like a vampire or break out of prison? More and more hotels are breaking out of the tradition of cookie-cutter rooms and are moving toward unique one-of-a-kind artist-driven room designs. Here are sixteen such rooms that ... More About: Creative , Travel , Architecture , World
The Tallest Masonry Building in the World: Philadelphia?s Beautiful Load-Be
2008-01-19 09:11:00 Did you know that brick or stone-clad buildings you see today almost invariably hide a steel support structure that does the actual work? Before steel was used to create rigid frames, buildings relied on the load-bearing capacity of incredibly thick solid materials. This amazing structure has walls at its base up to 22 feet thick ... More About: Building , Architecture , World , Philadelphia , Urban
Shop, Drop and ? What? 7 Creative and Surrealist Shopdropping Urban Art Pro
2008-01-16 13:16:00 [above: put this back in your next mass-mailed business reply envelope!] If the comments on this article are any indicator, Shop dropping is controversial to say the least. Still, whether they amuse, inspire or disturb you, it is hard to argue with the sheer gumption and creativity behind these strange, subversive and interactive urban art projects. More About: Creative , Urban , Guerilla , Subvertising
More Creative Furniture for Cramped Urban Living: 20 Pieces of Ingenious ?F
2008-01-13 22:50:00 [Above: flat pack book case design by Jeremy Grove] Flat pack furniture is exactly what it sounds like: furniture that starts out entirely as sheets of wood, metal or even cardboard. In addition to being clever and simply aesthetically awesome, flat pack furniture is also eco-friendly and highly creative. Without further ado, here are 20 ... More About: Creative , Living , Architecture , Furniture , Urban
7 Unusually Geeky Street Graffiti Projects: From Digitized Spray-Painting t
2008-01-10 04:01:00 (Above [Citation Needed] Wikipedia Graffiti from Flickr via Snarfd) What makes great graffiti into geek graffiti? It can be the approach, using nifty computer equipment to generate graffiti (for example). It can also be the content, as in the case of pixelated, projected or or even “physically hyperlinked” street art. The following examples span the spectrum ... More About: Video , Projects , Painting , Web 2
7 (More) Abandoned Wonders of America: From Military Islands to Mills and I
2008-01-07 01:28:00 Imagine entire islands and vast building complexes eerily abandoned virtually in your own back yard. This seemingly far-fetched scenario might be more real than you realize. Complexes of more than 150 buildings and even small islands are located near the heart of major cities such as Houston and Washington DC. You may know these 70 ... More About: America , Travel , Military , Architecture , Wonders
7 Surreal Urban Street Art Installation Projects: Brad Downey Brings Wonder
2008-01-04 00:31:00 “It would be so nice if something made sense for a change,” exclaimed Alice. While his work may seem as amazing and fantastical as something straight out of Alice’s Wonderland, Brad Downey’s creative street artwork does have a rhyme and reason beneath the madness. Downey is a New York street artist with a twist: his ... More About: Projects , Urban , Street , Surreal
Top 5 Unusually Green Vehicles of 2007: From Stackable Transport to Wirefra
More articles from this author:2008-01-02 03:19:00 As demand for environmental alternatives grows, some green-thinking automotive designers have gone above and beyond simple hybrid or energy-efficient cars to develop radically creative green vehicles in many senses of the word. Here are five of the most interesting, innovative, strange and downright bizarre green concept vehicles developed this past year. More About: Environment , Transport , Urban , Green , Vehicles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
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