Web UrbanistWeb UrbanistCollectively Reporting on Urban Cultures and Alternative Arts Around the World Articles
5 Modern Secret Room Dreams (and Nightmares): From Creative Hideouts to Dre
2008-05-12 01:16:00 Hidden passages have a long history of appearing in fictional novels and films but an even richer past in reality dating back to Egyptian tombs passages for Christians to worship in hiding from Romans. Over the years hidden passages have been used to arrest kings and evacuate popes, hide shogun warriors, facilitate guerrilla fighters, enable ...
12 Monuments Dedicated to Death and Destruction: From War Memorials to Mili
2008-05-08 21:45:00 War monuments are in many ways the most captivating structures mankind creates. Perhaps they catch our attention because they symbolize our most violent moments or the extremes of victory and defeat that transcend everyday reality. Some of these structures commemorate turning points in history, wins and losses that changed the courses of countries or even ... More About: Travel , Architecture , Arts , Geography , Monuments
5 Great Examples of Guerilla Marketing Gone Wrong: Olympic Belly-Flops to t
2008-05-07 00:26:00 Guerilla marketing is often a risky business, skirting the edge of ethical (or even legal) acceptability. Some guerilla marketers who have crossed the line have caused everything from Olympic belly-flops to city-wide bomb scares and have been punished with anything from modest jail time to millions of dollars in fines. All the same, some of ... More About: Marketing , Advertising , Graffiti , Urban , Bizarre
18 (More) Crazy, Creepy and Kinky Hotel Rooms: From Japanese Fantasy to Tim
2008-05-04 18:30:00 Ever want to sleep suspended in mid-air, stay in a barn loft or live out some other strange fantasy you’re afraid to tell anyone? If you can think of it, chances are someone has created it. From the artistically painted to elaborately decorated, here are eighteen more unusually artistic, crazy and kinky hotel rooms from ... More About: Hotel , Fantasy , Japanese , Crazy , Kinky
7 (More!) Underground Wonders of the World: From Seed Vaults to Amazing Mil
2008-05-01 03:28:00 Regular readers will remember the incredible abandoned mines and sunken cities as well as the catacombs and crypts of two previous collections of underground wonders. This set, however, focuses mainly on amazing underground wonders of the recent past - many of which are still in operation. From seed vault to military hideouts and diamond mines ... More About: Environment , Architecture , World , Graffiti , Amazing
20 Unusually Brilliant Bookcase and Bookshelf Designs: Creative, Modular an
2008-04-28 20:16:00 If you need something to store books anyway, why not choose something that makes a statement or serves two purposes like a bookcase that doubles as a secret door or even a bed? Some of these shelving systems are virtually invisible while others are virtual works of art in their own right. So, if you ... More About: Creative , Designs , Brilliant , Bookshelf
The Making of 5 Modern Marvels of Engineering: Construction Truths Behind C
2008-04-25 19:07:00 Even today modern wonders of engineering like the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge inspire awe (and songs and works of art). A quick look at their origins, however, can turn awe to amazement and astonishment. Each of the five projects listed here took their toll financially and were paid for in part with ... More About: Science , Environment , Architecture , Industry , Engineering
25 Seriously Twisted Trees: From Uncanny Overgrowth to Awesome Arbosculptur
2008-04-22 17:57:00 Trees and plants have a kind of flexibility that is both disturbing and inspiring. Left to their own devices they can wrap around objects and create strange works of unintentional art. Properly pruned and cultivated they can be made into curious, compelling and useful shapes of all sorts. From tree furniture designs to unchecked acts ... More About: Environment , Nature , Travel , Awesome , Arts
25 Seriously Twisted Trees: From Uncanny Urban Overgrowth to Awesome Arbosc
2008-04-22 17:57:00 Trees and plants have a kind of flexibility that is both disturbing and inspiring. Left to their own devices they can wrap around objects and create strange works of unintentional art. Properly pruned and cultivated they can be made into curious, compelling and useful shapes of all sorts. From tree furniture designs to unchecked acts of nature here are 25 examples of the amazing malleability of trees. Of course, there are many forms of strange green art and other subversive ways to garden. Given time trees can grow around just about anything. Historically, there are a number of legends, rumors and hoaxes regarding man-and-cow-eating trees. Trees that consume people, animals or other objects have also featured prominently in various works of literary fiction such as Little Shop of Horrors. Peter (Pook) Cook and Becky Northey of Pooktre dot Com are two Australian artists and tree shapers who started their love of tree-shaping with a single chair tree. They have since created, indi... More About: Awesome , Urban , Trees , Uncanny
Creatively Converted Sea Forts of Great Britain: Strange Adaptive Reuse of
2008-04-20 21:46:00 Ocean and sea forts are few and far between and with good reason: only in fairly extreme circumstances is their expense deemed justifiable. Since being decommissioned, many of these have gained strange second lives as everything from luxury resorts and private retreats to micronations and pirate radio stations. It sounds extreme, but be honest: wouldn’t ... More About: Travel , Military , Architecture , Britain , Great Britain
Creatively Converted Sea Forts of Great Britain: Strange Adaptive Reuse of
2008-04-20 21:46:00 Ocean and sea forts are few and far between and with good reason: only in fairly extreme circumstances is their expense deemed justifiable. Since being decommissioned, many of these have gained strange second lives as everything from luxury resorts and private retreats to micronations and pirate radio stations. It sounds extreme, but be honest: wouldn’t ... More About: Travel , Military , Architecture , Britain , Great Britain
10 Impressive Parkour and Free Running Videos: Urban Buildering and Buildin
2008-04-17 04:32:00 Parkour and free running have increasingly hit the big time, being featured in mainstream movies and prime-time commercial spots. Still, it’s important to remember that these amazing arts of urban building jumping, climbing and running originated in offbeat locations and abandoned buildings. These videos feature some of the more raw and original free runners ... More About: Videos , Running , Free , Urban , Free Running
10 Impressive Parkour and Free Running Videos: Urban Buildering and Buildin
2008-04-17 04:32:00 Parkour and free running have increasingly hit the big time, being featured in mainstream movies and prime-time commercial spots. Still, it’s important to remember that these amazing arts of urban building jumping, climbing and running originated in offbeat locations and abandoned buildings. These videos feature some of the more raw and original free runners ... More About: Videos , Running , Free , Urban , Free Running
7 (More) Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union: From Mining Towns to
2008-04-13 23:00:00 The former Soviet Union has a complicated history that is told in part through some of its deserted infrastructure. Many of these structures, cities and areas were abandoned suddenly and thus provide a kind of snapshot of Soviet life frozen in time. Others tell stories of economic and political upheaval and even nuclear events. From ... More About: Environment , Travel , Architecture , Mining
7 (More) Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union: From Mining Towns to
2008-04-13 23:00:00 The former Soviet Union has a complicated history that is told in part through some of its deserted infrastructure. Many of these structures, cities and areas were abandoned suddenly and thus provide a kind of snapshot of Soviet life frozen in time. Others tell stories of economic and political upheaval and even nuclear events. From oil rig cities and deserted industrial towns to dazzling island fortresses and once-luxurious estates of the Soviet elite here are seven more amazing Soviet abandonments. For more Soviet abandonments (from gruesome gulags to submarine bases) check out part one of this series. Abandoned Island Fortress: Fort Alexander sits abandoned on a man-made island off the shore of St. Petersburg. Constructed in the 1800s, the fort has over 100 cannon ports providing 360-degree defense. After the Crimean War it was initially used as a military storehouse before being converted by the Soviets into a dangerous plague research center due to its physical isolation from... More About: Mining , Wonders , Soviet Union
7 (More) Abandoned Wonders of the Former Soviet Union: From Island Fortress
2008-04-13 23:00:00 The former Soviet Union has a complicated history that is told in part through some of its deserted infrastructure. Many of these structures, cities and areas were abandoned suddenly and thus provide a kind of snapshot of Soviet life frozen in time. Others tell stories of economic and political upheaval and even nuclear events. From ... More About: Environment , Travel , Architecture
8 Remarkable Palace, Fort and Castle Hotels: Living it Up in (Ancient) Luxu
2008-04-10 23:35:00 Imagine curling up in front of an 800 year old fireplace where a king once rested (or was arrested!). Many castle hotels once belonged to (or were used to imprison) kings, queens and other royalty as far back as the 1300s. Regardless of your budget there is a cozy fortress or magnificent castle hotel to ... More About: Europe , Living , Travel , Architecture , World
8 Remarkable Palace, Fort and Castle Hotels: Living it Up in (Ancient) Luxu
2008-04-10 23:35:00 Imagine curling up in front of an 800 year old fireplace where a king once rested (or was arrested!). Many castle hotels once belonged to (or were used to imprison) kings, queens and other royalty as far back as the 1300s. Regardless of your budget there is a cozy fortress or magnificent castle hotel to ... More About: Europe , Living , Travel , Architecture , World
3 (More) Kinds of Unusual Art from Ordinary Objects: Toothpick Sculptures t
2008-04-06 22:45:00 A surprising number of artists use remarkably conventional materials as the basis for their offbeat masterpieces. Sometimes the results are inspiring and other times they seem to border on kitsch. Still, art from ordinary objects can provide an interesting reminder that the things around us we take for granted can be repurposed in ways most ... More About: Models , Sculpture , Objects , Sculptures , Ordinary
3 (More) Kinds of Unusual Art from Ordinary Objects: Toothpick Sculptures t
2008-04-06 22:45:00 A surprising number of artists use remarkably conventional materials as the basis for their offbeat masterpieces. Sometimes the results are inspiring and other times they seem to border on kitsch. Still, art from ordinary objects can provide an interesting reminder that the things around us we take for granted can be repurposed in ways most ... More About: Models , Sculpture , Objects , Sculptures , Ordinary
5 Infamous Abandonments Used in Famous Movies: Deserted Buildings from Cult
2008-04-03 23:14:00 Have you ever wondered what really happened to that mall in The Blues Brothers or where Tarkovsky filmed those jarring and surrealistic scenes in Stalker? While many urban abandonments are left alone or the occasional subject of urban exploration, some remarkable buildings and complexes have become famous (or infamous) after being used as film sets ... More About: Movies , Architecture , Cult , Famous , Buildings
5 Infamous Abandonments Used in Famous Movies: Deserted Buildings from Cult
2008-04-03 23:14:00 Have you ever wondered what really happened to that mall in The Blues Brothers or where Tarkovsky filmed those jarring and surrealistic scenes in Stalker? While many urban abandonments are left alone or the occasional subject of urban exploration, some remarkable buildings and complexes have become famous (or infamous) after being used as film sets ... More About: Movies , Architecture , Cult , Famous , Buildings
5 Urban Design Proposals for 3D City Farms: Sustainable, Ecological and Agr
2008-03-30 19:57:00 Imagine the world in 2050 with almost 80% of the planet’s population living in urban centers and our fruit, vegetables and even animals are grown in … skyscrapers? One man’s vision has sparked a series of designs leading closer and closer to what will be the first real-life vertical urban farm in Las Vegas, Nevada ... More About: Design , Environment , Architecture , Urban , City
5 Urban Design Proposals for 3D City Farms: Sustainable, Ecological and Agr
2008-03-30 19:57:00 Imagine the world in 2050 with almost 80% of the planet’s population living in urban centers and our fruit, vegetables and even animals are grown in … skyscrapers? One man’s vision has sparked a series of designs leading closer and closer to what will be the first real-life vertical urban farm in Las Vegas, Nevada ... More About: Design , Environment , Architecture , Urban , City
20 Eye-Catching Pieces of ?Recycled? Urban Furniture: Geeky and Green Adapt
2008-03-26 21:49:00 Do you ever get sick of people telling you to recycle? Well, these furniture designers prove recycling can be a lot more interesting than stuffing cans, bottles and cardboard into the proper containers. A ‘bathtub couch’ and ’shopping cart chair’ may not be your cup of tea but there is something for everyone in this ... More About: Furniture , Urban , Green , Geeky , Pieces
20 Eye-Catching Pieces of ?Recycled? Urban Furniture: Geeky and Green Adapt
2008-03-26 21:49:00 Do you ever get sick of people telling you to recycle? Well, these furniture designers prove recycling can be a lot more interesting than stuffing cans, bottles and cardboard into the proper containers. A ‘bathtub couch’ and ’shopping cart chair’ may not be your cup of tea but there is something for everyone in this ... More About: Furniture , Urban , Green , Geeky , Pieces
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 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
More articles from this author: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 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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