A Thread for Fine Design

[dale]

Absolutely right Mike.
I hired a carpenter one time that turned out to be a trained Patternmaker. Before computers and cad/cam he would have been the guy who would bring something like this to life out of wood, so that molds could be made to create an instrument, gear, car part, well virtually anything cast or out of plastics. Of course his trade has gone the way of the Do-Do bird now, and things that may have taken him weeks can be crafted so quickly via computer.
You can't discount a tool with so much power and potential.
Anyway...
I'm posting a landscape architecture design By MKSK who created a series of therapeutic green spaces and respite areas at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Creating a space like this among all the sterility which is really a requirement in Health Services design is really quite commendable.

[Mike Lucey]

Yes, indeed. 'Nice' places in hospitals really lift the spirits. I've been visiting hospitals lately and can testify to the restfulness of 'nice' places to sit and relax or just view through a window.

[dale]

Hopefully your hospital visits are nothing serious Mike.
Maybe a bit more Design to buoy the spirits.
Fellow SketchUcation member, and a fine set designer in her own right, Kim Tolman, had posted a comment on the following on Facebook, and she kindly sent me the link. Now I can post it here.
This is the Set for the Metropolitan Opera's production of Puccini's Turandot, designed by Franco Zefferelli.
This is not just a drawing of the set. This is a photo. If you go to the link below, it will give you a full Pano view of the set, and the Opera House. It's fantastic.
https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10159689739965533/?type=3&theater

Stunning work! Just imagine how much fun this would have been to model in SketchUp.

Here's a screenshot from the Pano rotated so you can see the set and the Orchestra pit.

[dale]

Someone had to envision, storyboard, develop, model, animate, and render this.
A lot of talent.
https://vimeo.com/244240061

https://vimeo.com/244240061

[dale]

Lines of Light Hyla Architects
http://www.hyla.com.sg/projects/lines-light/#.WiFoRoW_c7A

---

[Mike Lucey]

The Uniti looks that it could well open up the electric car option for the masses. Starting at €14.5K for the basic model and running up to €20K for the flagship version.

I think the design is superb! It ticks all the boxes for today's driving requirements.

https://www.uniti.earth/invest/

[pbacot]

That's a nice one. Most of the small electrics are so ugly

[dale]

That is quite a vehicle Mike. Nice find, and worth checking out.

[dale]

An ad campaign from Wisconsin. Quite winsom, with that Art Deco charm.

---

---

[Mike Lucey]

There's something appealing about Art Deco

[dale]

Stairs could have a whole thread of their own.

---

[Mike Lucey]

Hi Guys,

I came across a very unique radiator called Solus. Its a Kickstarter campaign by a Swiss company that manufacturers in Lithuania.

What drew my attention was that I have been on the lookout for an alternative to electric storage heaters for an apartment that I'm refurbishing. While storage heaters work okay for offices they don't really meet the needs of apartments and dwellings because when you need the heat is not there i.e from 6pm to 12am.

Here are some images which show the very modern design which IMO will blend in nicely with trendy decoration and furnishings.

The company advises,

'SOLUS is the world’s most efficient radiator, straight out of the box. Built with our patent pending nanotech coating and graphene based heating element

SOLUS will save you approximately 80% off the cost of your heating (compared with conventional water based radiators) and over 95% off the cost of your heating (if you heat your home with other electric radiators). Built to simply plug and play, SOLUS can be integrated into any home in a matter of seconds'.

If they hit their targets they will also be producing a white glass finish Solus and a unit that will be able to heat 1 30Sq.M. area.

Another useful feature/option is that renters can unplug and bring their Solus heaters with them when the move. Also it will be useful to fit-out on a room by room basis as required.

You can check out details here, https://ba3cf75d.kckb.st

Mike

[Mike Amos]

A quick look around the internet provides examples for and against but the apparent efficiency seems to be a myth, no PROVEN data anywhere and it appears that just like any product being advertised, outlandish claims can be made without checks and balances.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/retired-couple-pay-8000-revolutionary-8506577

https://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/green-tech/conservation/graphene-heating-system-dramatically-reduces-home-energy-costs

[L i am]

Beutifull looking heater. I am skeptical though. 1500W in= 1500W out is the rule I would think would apply. Does it have a certified energy rating?

To me it sounds like the marketing speak of other similar flat panel heaters on TV infomercials I have seen. About 2 years ago in Australia, they were no longer allowed to make those claims of eficency for flat panel heaters.

[pbacot]

Yes but can get "Outlander" on it?

[Mike Amos]

Not in HD, sadly.

[Mike Lucey]

Thanks for the comment guys. I will bring these points up with the campaign folks and see what they have to say.

FURTHER!

Just back from the site and it seems Kickstarter has suspended the campaign. They were pledged €361,242, not a small amount! It looks like another scam campaign but this one looks to have been caught in time.

YOU GUYS WERE RIGHT, WELL DONE.

[Mike Lucey]

Still on the broad subject of energy, I came across this interesting design that claims to produce hydrogen at 15% efficiency using sunlight!

'Scientists at KU Leuven in Belgium have developed a device that combines incoming solar energy and water vapor from the surrounding air to produce a record-breaking daily average of 250 liters (66 gal) of hydrogen throughout the year. According to the researchers' estimations, an array of 20 such panels paired with an underground pressurized tank could provide the totality of a household's entire electricity and heating needs for a modest price.'

If this pans out it could be a very practical way to run small scale energy production, as small scale as running one's house and car!

The link for the full article is here, https://newatlas.com/hydrogen-panel-record-efficiency/58645/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-03-06%20093057%20Other%20Daily%20Basic%202019-03-06%20093529%20Record-breaking%20device%20uses%20sunlight%20to%20produce%20hydrogen%20at%2015%20efficiency&utm_content=2019-03-06%20093057%20Other%20Daily%20Basic%202019-03-06%20093529%20Record-breaking%20device%20uses%20sunlight%20to%20produce%20hydrogen%20at%2015%20efficiency+CID_19964860ab52ae9418685454c91e25e8&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=Read%20more

Mike

[L i am]

Hi, it may seem dodgy to post your own design, but am responding to the ecological tangent. Please check out this animatiion (2007) I had to design an ECO-toilet for remote locations and vandle proof and would capture, store and deliver rainwater for hygene. Got the price down to around 25k down from the existing cost similar facility of 220K. I did the story board and one of my lecturers did the rest. If you watch the it is bit, actually, quite slow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDJtShMzlUY

[Mike Amos]

It's a genuine move forwards so post away imho.

A humdrum topic but if we are going to be serious about caring for the planet, a vital one. Proper stining if we get it wrong too........