A Thread for Fine Design

[Mike Lucey]

QBEAK!

I'm really impressed with this new car concept. The guys at ECOMOVE have torn up the pieces of paper showing what a car should look like and started afresh, yet at the same time using common sense.

A couple of stats for the QBEAK,

Size: 3m x 1.75 x 1.63 (perfect size for urban environments and just big enough to highway driving)
Range: 300km (enough for longish runs)
Top Speed: 120Km (fast enough for motorways)
Entry: sliding doors and tailgate (sliding doors are ideal for urban parking)
Driver / passengers: 1-6 (can cater for a family)
Driving position: Central (no need for left / right hand versions ...... if its good enough the the Mc L F1!)

I could not pick up what the 1-100kph time is but imagine it is respectable considering that its electric and light!

As regards the shape, I like it ..... funky practical design!

All that remains is to get it on the pavement at a reasonable price. Check out the full details here, http://en.ecomove.dk/stories/126-advantages/canvases/717-design

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[dale]

Designer Smith Newman http://www.smithnewnamdesign.com/work/product/ripple-faucet/
Water Ball Ripples

The Ripple faucet creates a new, fun way to interact with water. Drawing inspiration from surface ripples, the faucet creates a strong visual relationship between the two. On top of the frosted ripple surface sits a metal ball. An array of electromagnetic sensors detects that ball’s position. Moving the ball in or out from the center controls water pressure. Moving it around controls temperature.

The surface glows red or blue to denote how hot or cold it is. The two separate channels combine the hot and cold water to get the perfect mix. Don’t worry about scalding yourself tho. The water in the hot water channel isn’t actually hot until it’s ready to be mixed via flash heating.
Read more at http://www.yankodesign.com/2008/02/27/water-ball-ripples/#uWFeyxCJr2OqhRKc.99

[Mike Lucey]

..... might encourage folks to wash their hands more No bad thing

[Mike Lucey]

Guys,

I came across the GiraDora human-powered washer this morning. On first viewing the design / look did not grab my eye BUT after further investigation I now believe this to be a 'fine design' in deed. It will change the lives of many people in 3rd World countries.

Deatils may be had here,

http://www.dellchallenge.org/projects/giradora-safe-agua#

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670355/how-a-foot-powered-washing-machine-could-change-millions-of-lives#5

http://www.gizmag.com/giradora-pedail-power-washer/23548/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8d5088113d-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

The though has alos crossed my mind that the $40 investment could be a good one for a lot of Westerners in these unsure times ....... power shortages etc

[dale]

Mike
What a great find!
Judy and I spent long stints as Rangers in a remote wilderness area here in BC called Kakwa Lake.
We would have really appreciated something like this, as we didn't have an extensive wardrobe, and there was lots of hard dirty work involved.
As you say for many, in third world situations, this would be quite welcomed.
I also think it would be great for washing freshly harvested carrots and potatoes etc

[dale]

I once had the pleasure of designing and assisting the fabricator in building a steel and wood stairway. This was hands on the grinder, assembled in situ stuff.
I was searching for a photo of them this morning, and as they were done many years ago, I came up empty. In fact the picture may have even been taken with film.(yeah that's right, I'm old enough to remember when you had to walk to the TV to change channels )
But Running through my files, I came upon some links I had around for inspiration. So I re-screenshot them for this.
I'm always impressed with how diverse metal can be.
The Last one is Victor Horta house. http://www.hortamuseum.be/
I had an interesting thought. I wondered if there was some subconscious link or inspiration that Art Nouveau has had on the curvy ("Nurbsy") works of the likes of Zaha Hadid
Hadid

Horta

[Mike Lucey]

Hi Guys,

I've been reading of late that Steve Jobs wanted to build an iCar before he died. From what I gather there was not much done design wise but I wonder what he would have come up with!

Here is a link where this came to light.

Would it have looked like this,

It also seems Apple were in talks with VW! So would it have looked more like the mini VW at $15,000? I don't think so.

I would like to think we would have been looking at something along the lines of the LIT C-1 or the Qbeak, both to be priced at around the $15,000 from what I gather. The C-1 will be relying on the iPhone for much of its driver information feedback and it would not surprise me if the Qbeak does not do likewise.

LIT C-1

Qbeak

[dale]

Mike
You've been following the progress of these for quite a while. Is the battery still the bottleneck in the electrics development?
The C1 website has some wonderful pic's of the Design process at work. Great to see the development from cardboard tubes to reality. It really exposes the process, and, positive outcome of strong collaborative design. I'll be paying more attention to these. Thanks.
http://litmotors.com/about/how/

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[Mike Lucey]

Good find there Dale. I have high hopes for the C-1, even went as far as paying my couple of hundred $$ booking deposit. I definitely would use the C-1 as my daily transport for Jock and myself!

[dale]

For the guitarist in you. This is really quite an innovation, and has received a Red Dot Design award.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/amps/thr_home/

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[dale]

I am really taken by this concept. It is really a different approach to a major problem.http://www.archdaily.com/182435/arctic-food-network-lateral-office/#more-182435

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[dale]

Another imaginative design for using the rainwater footprint. http://www.urbanlab.com/urban/ps1.html

[Mike Lucey]

Interesting finds there Dale.

And on the subject of water ..... gray water!

Advance could turn wastewater treatment into viable electricity producer

http://www.gizmag.com/wastewater-treatment-microbial-fuel-cell/23700/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=7f4ab4176d-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

[dale]

This is really interesting Mike. We are currently working on a community of 25 dwellings,with common systems, rainwater harvesting, geo exchange, off grid PV, and a biodigester which will convert the septic into bio-gas. We are in the engineering discussions right now. It is very fascinating.

[Mike Lucey]

.... anything eco friendly interests me as we need to get into gear pretty soon before we push things past the point of no return ...... we are close to that

[solo]

@mike lucey said:

.... anything eco friendly interests me as we need to get into gear pretty soon before we push things past the point of no return ...... we are close to that

Then you will love this, from one of my most admired (and alive) architects, Norman Foster:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masdar_City

[Mike Lucey]

Yeah, Foster gets stuff done

[dale]

Pete, Great find. I am amazed a project like this can fly under the radar.

http://www.masdarcity.ae/en/

"One of the most sustainable communities on the planet, Masdar City is an emerging cleantech cluster that offers a creative and entrepreneurial atmosphere where businesses can thrive and innovation can flourish, in part because the city itself serves as a model of what green urban development can be. This is especially the case because Masdar City is being designed and operated to provide the highest quality of life with the lowest environmental footprint – all in a manner that is commercially"

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[dale]

And while on the green theme.http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx

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[Mike Lucey]

Dale, you should have shown the picture of Bill G. staring at the substitute turd