Transparent TV: Sleek & Clean See-Through Screen Design

Televisions have a strange mixed roll in the modern household. Some say they have replaced the traditional hearth, around which we used to gather for warmth. Others suggest that TV sets are distracting and detract from interaction. The latter group may just love this ‘invisible’ television design.

Michael Friebe has gone beyond a mere concept, however, with a vision for how it would work – technology combining LCD and TOLED displays, rendering the view surface effectively clear when not in use and fully colored once activated.

In a way, if it works, it is the inevitable next step for this ubiquitous invention – and perhaps for computers and other electronic devices as well. Already we have made them nearly as small as they can be, so blending them even more into our home environments simply makes sense. The catch, of course, is that making this another touch-screen device might put a splotchy damper on that beautiful glassy finish.

http://dornob.com/transparent-tv-sleek-clean-see-through-screen-design/

Double Bedroom: Sliding Bookcase Hides Small Home Office

Don’t be distracted by the glossy red surfaces, curves or angled accents – this idea is remarkably simple: a wrap-around bookcase on wheels slides to reveal (or conceal) the bed behind it, making for an elegant and multi-functional solution for a small bedroom.

Want to relax? Push the shelves to the right and the bedroom opens up. Need to work? Slide them back to the left and a small area with a desk and chair are exposed. But wait, there is a bit more than meets the eye …

Another nice touch: a porthole in the floor leads to the level below – no doors or space for stairs required. Gray carpet slots back into place, making the room feel complete and autonomous when the faux-doorway is closed.

This apartment by Paul Coudamy in Paris is but one example of is space-saving approach to design, but a more complex and built-in solution than his typically-mobile modular furniture pieces.

http://dornob.com/double-bedroom-sliding-bookcase-hides-small-home-office/

High 5 Stars: Checking Out The World’s 10 Tallest Hotels

By Steve


High cost of travel getting you down? Well, things are looking up… WAY up! Check in to any one of the world’s 10 tallest hotels and you’ll enjoy heavenly views not seen since Mary and Joseph were told there was no room at the inn.

Rose Tower, Dubai, UAE


(images via: Mideast Construction, HOLadd1 and 360 Travel Destinations)

How suite it is! The Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, commonly known as the Rose Tower, opened on December 23, 2009, and is the world’s tallest hotel. The 72-story building stands 333 meters (1,093 ft) high and overlooks several other sky-high hotels and commercial skyscrapers that make up Dubai’s spectacular skyline.


(image via: UpTake)

Construction on the Rose Tower began in 2004 and the hotel was deemed completed in 2007, however economic conditions resulting from the 2008-09 global financial crisis contributed to the long delay before opening. The Rose Tower offers guests a choice of 482 rooms, suites and penthouses but be advised: the hotel is officially alcohol-free.

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE


(images via: Marshu, KerryDean and MyTripolog)

There are hotels and there are hotels… and then there is the Burj Al Arab. This uniquely beautiful hotel stands 321 meters (1,053 ft) in height and stands on an artificial island situated 280 meters (920 ft) out from Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, UAE. Access to the mainland is via a private curving bridge. This beautiful hotel was designed to evoke the appearance of a traditional Persian Gulf dhow.


(image via: Marshu)

The Burj Al Arab opened in 1999 after nearly five years of construction – three of which were used to build and stabilize the artificial island it stands upon. The hotel is 60 stories tall and has emerged as a symbol of Dubai’s extravagant construction boom. One of the Burj Al Arab’s more distinctive features are its circular helipads, made famous in 2004 when Tiger Woods was paid a $1 million fee to drive golf balls of the helipad. No telling if he got a hole in one… or more of the cars parked far, far below.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, UAE


(images via: Gizmodiva, Holiday Watchdog, Active Hotels and Dubai Architecture)

The Jumeirah Emirates Towers is, no surprise, located in Dubai and stands 309 meters (1,014 ft) in height. The hotel, which opened in the year 2000, offers guests luxurious accommodation in its 56 floors of rooms, restaurants and penthouse suites. The luxury is concentrated: only 40 suites are available.


(image via: Travel/Aol.com)

As the name indicates, two distinct buildings make up the Jumeirah Emirates Towers: one with 56 stories and the other (the Emirates Office Tower) with 54. The buildings are connected by a dedicated retail boulevard and a total of 12 elevators serve the needs of guests and staff.

Baiyoke Tower II, Bangkok, Thailand


(images via: Captain Kimo, Xtreme Engineering, Skyscrapers of the World and Captain Kimo)

The Baiyoke Tower II in Bangkok, Thailand, is a 304 meter (997 ft) tall hotel that offers 673 guest rooms and an unparalleled view over downtown Bangkok. The 85-story hotel opened in 1997 and, nearly 15 years later, remains both the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia and the highest building in Thailand.


(image via: Captain Kimo)

The Baiyoke Tower II’s long reign as Thailand’s tallest building is about to come to an end, however. In 2012, the Ocean One Tower in Pattaya is expected to open with an announced height of 367 meters (1,204 feet).

The Cullinan I, Hong Kong


(images via: SMH, Wong Shing Yip, SHK Properties and Propgo Luxury)

The 270 meter (886 ft) tall Cullinan I hotel soars 68 stories into the sky over Hong Kong. Opened in 2008, the hotel is part of a massive, twin-tower complex that dominates the skyline seen from Victoria Harbour.


(image via: WA Today)

The hotel is just one part of what is billed as “a world landmark” and “the ultimate residence.” Indeed, an article in Time magazine speculated the Cullinan “could well qualify as the world’s most expensive apartments.” One would assume the room rates are sky-high as well.

Grand Lisboa, Macao


(images via: Paulooi, Macau Traveltips, Pokerow and UrbanToronto)

Opened in 2008, the Grand Lisboa Casino and Hotel complex in the former Portuguese enclave of Macau stands 261 meters (856 feet) tall and displays an especially flamboyant design rendered even more so when lit up at night.


(image via: Pokerstars Macau)

The 47-story Grand Lisboa contains 430 hotel rooms and suites, and is a gambler’s paradise offering 268 mass gaming tables and 786 slot machines. It also contains the 3-star Robuchon a Galera restaurant whose wine list offers an astounding 7,400-plus labels. What a way to celebrate your winnings… or drown your losses.

Lanko-Grand Hyatt Hotel, Chongqing, China


(images via: Bruce Chan and Urbanity)

The Lanko-Grand Hyatt Hotel opened in 2004 and currently ranks as the second-highest building in western China. The 60-floor, 258-meter (846 ft) tall building is located in the city of Chongqing, China.


(image via: Bruce Chan)

Chongqing is one of China’s so-called “five national central cities” and over 30 million people live in the city and surrounding metropolitan area. The Lanko-Grand Hyatt Hotel is a mixed-use building displaying a rather conservative, post-modern architectural design and muted colors on its outer facade.

Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel, Shanghai, China


(images via: TravelPL, Samfu II and Skyscraper City)

The Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel in Shanghai, China, stands 226 meters (742 feet) tall. Completed in 2007, the strikingly attractive building contains 454 hotel rooms and 239 serviced apartments.


(image via: Skyscraper City)

The 52-story Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel both adds to and complements the futuristic skyline of Shanghai, already a symbol of China’s surge to the top rank of the world’s economic powerhouses. The hotel itself rises above the Golden Magnolia Plaza, a 4 story, 322,800-square foot podium that encloses one of Shanghai’s largest shopping malls.

Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore


(images via: StreetDirectory and Jeremy Isaac Lee)

Swissôtel The Stamford is one of southeast Asia’s tallest hotels, reaching 226 meters (741 feet) into the sky above Singapore. Designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, the hotel’s cylindrical spire has been a Singapore landmark since it opened back in 1986.


(image via: Kabils)

The 73-story Swissôtel The Stamford offers guests a total of 1,261 rooms and suites. The complex includes 16 restaurants and bars, the Raffles City Convention Centre and one of Asia’s largest health spas.

JR Central Hotel Tower, Nagoya, Japan


(images via: Megacities 2000, Expo 2005, Super Hotel and KPF)

The JR Central Towers complex in the Japanese city of Nagoya consists of a 59-story Hotel Tower and a 55-story office tower. The 226 meter (741 ft) tall Hotel Tower opened in the year 2000 and is a preferred stop for travelers arriving/departing through Nagoya Station, the world’s largest rain station by floor area.


(image via: KoalaBujin)

As of 2005, over 1.4 million people passed through Nagoya Station each day. The Hotel Tower benefits from the constant flow of travelers who can also shop in the complex’s network of underground concourses.

Ryugyong Hotel Tower, Pyongyang, North Korea


(images via: RyugyongHotel.com and Skyscraper City)

Included only for dishonorable mention is the infamous Ryugyong Hotel Tower in Pyongyang, North Korea. The pyramidal, 105-floor structure stands 1,083 ft (330 m) tall, just 10 feet (3 m) shorter than Dubai’s world-leading Rose Tower. Originally expected to open in 1989 boasting 5 revolving restaurants, the hotel was mothballed in 1992 after costing the government approximately $750 million.


(image via: Skyscraper City)

Ground was broken for the Ryugyong Hotel Tower in 1987 and it’s been “under construction” since then – longer than every website ever to have claimed the same. Things are looking up, however… an Egyptian construction company has been contracted to jump-start work on the hotel. It’s estimated that completing and certifying the so-called “Hotel of Doom” (see artist’s rendering above) would cost about $2 billion – or around 10% of North Korea’s annual GDP. You could buy a small nuclear missile program for that price. Oh, wait.

http://weburbanist.com/2011/02/20/high-5-stars-checking-out-the-worlds-10-tallest-hotels/

27 Fan(tastic!) Home Made Movie Posters

By Marc

Fans with a ton of enthusiasm and even more photoshop skill have taken their favorite film posters to a new level. Fan made creations can be even more powerful than the real thing. Without strict marketing goals and restrictions, their passion for the film can shine through with even more creativity.

(Images via firstshowing, myextralife, uberhumor, liveforfilms)

The Batman franchise has been a fan favorite since the first film hit theaters in 1966. With several iterations and new films continuing to come out, there is plenty of room for speculation about the next great villains.

(Images via shockya, moviecultists, collider, fanrants)

Captain America, a Marvel mainstay, is making a comeback. With a new film coming out and a huge comic fan following, this movie has spawned a bunch of fan made posters that may even capture the character’s essence better than the real thing.

(Images via flipgeeks, moviesonline)

The Harry Potter franchise is a powerhouse. With a legion of eager fans leaping at any chance to explore the world of Harry Potter, fantastic fan made movie posters have been cropping up with the approach of every new film.

(Images via ojustme, abeautifuldownpour, unrealitymag)

Speculative posters are just as popular as re-imaginings of old favorites. Fan favorite series are often the subject matter, as they allow the artist to create a vision across a range of films.

(Images via thinkhero, comicbookmovie, geektyrant, themovieblog)

The new Avengers movie is part of a superhero upsurge that is hoping to launch superhuman comic book characters back into the popular imagination. With this revitalization, a fan movement has begun, with fans exercising their Photoshop skills to come up with awesome speculative movie posters.

(Images via comicbookmovie, liveforfilms)

The X Men series of films seems never ending, with new iterations cropping up every few years. For those fans who grew up with the animated series, a new set of films give them plenty of opportunity to flex their creative muscles and have some fun with their favorite characters.

(Images via fanpop, clevvertv, twilightguide, fanpop)

The Twilight series has taken over middle schools across the nation, and turned a new generation of female fans into Photoshop wizards. Even if one isn’t a fan, these posters are still impressive.

(Images via techeblog, 2modern, davereed, adhack)

Giving a modern movie a retro feel is an awesome way to practice art skills, with fantastic results. Recreating a movie poster as if it came out in a different era can help characterize that era by making the poster’s differences highlight cultural norms of the time. They also look really, really cool.

Elod Beregszaszi: Paper Master

Elod Beregszaszi is a master of paperwork, but not in the normal sense of the phrase. He cuts, folds, embosses and sculpts out of a material most people don’t think twice about. When the average American uses 750 pounds of year, it’s nice to see someone who puts a more lasting use to it.

(Images via limitedaddiction, triangulationblog, bingbangpouf)

Elod Beregszaszi’s designs are incredibly intricate and eye popping. Creating a realistic face out of paper is an unusual delight, but even his more common creations are distinct.

(Images via tbpdesign, keinton, illusion, ofpaperandthings, mrtopp)

While most artists working with such a specific medium typically become experts in one form of manipulating it, Elod Beregszaszi is incredibly versatile: creating sculptures, three dimensional pop ups, and expertly folded dispalys.

(Images via bingbangpouf, planet-mag)

The fragility of Elod’s work makes it that much more appealing. Like sculptures made out of sand, the perfect use of such a delicate material makes the perfect symmetry that much more wonderful to behold.

(Images via tbpdesign, fastcodesign, brinkworth-design, ofpaperandthings)

Elod Beregszaszi is able to create labyrinth-like tiers of folded paper that look almost like an imaginary city viewed from above. The level of detail he places into each piece is truly amazing.

(Images via angryunicorns, blogsdoze, artistaday, eclectica)

Elod Beregszaszi is no doubt one of the true master paper craftsmen of our time. With unique and innovative designs, he has elevated a simple, mundane medium to one that could be proudly displayed in exhibition.

http://weburbanist.com/2011/02/10/elod-beregszaszi-paper-master/