Cool Hunting
| 15 July 2008view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Lagombra Bicycle Rollercoaster
by Brian Fichtner
The Swedish artist and designer Anders Jakobsen, also known as Lagombra, has created a bicycle rollercoaster for the MU Art Foundation in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, to coincide with the designhuis exhibition "The Dutch Bicycle." Constructed of raw wood and scaffolding and fabricated with little more than a chainsaw, the installation resembles an undulating series of toppled dominoes.
With hairy bank turns and a highest peak of nearly two meters, the narrow installation is open to anyone willing to risk life and limb for a thrill ride. According to the MU's director, only one daredevil has been able to complete a circuit.
"The Dutch Bicycle" provides an overview of the bicycle as a means of transport, recreational activity and practicing sport. The exhibition aims to show how this ordinary, yet historically relevant, object remains a crucial subject of research, design, and creative expression.
via iconeye
The Dutch Bicycle
Through 5 October 2008
Designhuis
Stadhuisplein 3
5611 EM Eindhoven
The Netherlands
map
tel. + 31 0 40 232 97 20
Curated by Arkitip: Krink Incase MacBook Sleeve
by Josh Rubin
In a partnership with Incase, the limited run art magazine Arkitip just launched Curated by Arkitip, a line of artistically embellished Apple-based products. The inaugural product is a MacBook case designed by Craig Costello, better known as Krink or KR, the street artist whose handmade inks and markers are known for their distinctive dripping effect. For the case, it's rendered in an eye-catching metallic silver, making a welcome alternative to the more staid designs previously offered by Incase and Apple stores.
The limited-edition sleeve comes in versions for MacBook and the slightly larger MacBook Pro for $80 and is available from Incase. Get more info and news about upcoming releases on the Curated by Arkitip page. Also, take a look at Krink's personal blog at 12ozProphet.
Wolf Designs Watch Winder
by Evan Orensten
Both elegant display case and functional accessory, we're coveting this leather single watch winder by Wolf Designs for its quality and diminutive size. Powered by batteries or electricity (adapter included), a knob selects the rotation direction.
The upshot is an always-ready watch awaiting its moment to shine while safely housed in a storage case that won't take up too much real estate on your bureau or in your Tumi. At $300, it's also a lot less pricey than bigger models.
Available from Amazon.
Carver One: Three-Wheeled Automobile
by Tim Yu
The Carver One's hybrid car-motorcycle design has been well-reported, but what's it like to actually drive one? I recently had the chance to test out the tilting three-wheeler and initially thought they should add roller coaster to the list of vehicles it mimics. Needless to say, I was a bit cautious driving around rainy, unfamiliar Paris streets but not the least of the Carver's assets is smooth handling in the trickiest of situations.
Its compact design and fuel-efficiency makes the automobile great for a crowded, polluted urban driving environment without sacrificing comfort or control. Featuring a conventional steering wheel, accelerator pedal, brake and clutch (it has a five-speed manual transmission), everything in the cockpit-like setting is easily within reach and easily manipulated. The "Dynamic Vehicle Control" (DVC) system uses electronic and hydraulic systems to bank the vehicle through turns making it very maneuverable in tight quarters, although sometimes it seemed a bit preemptive.
At 11.2 feet long, 4.3 feet wide and 4.6 feet high, the Carver One has a slim, aggressive profile that can also be easily parked. And, with a top speed of 115 mph (0-60 in 8.2 seconds), it gets you to your destination quickly. Although I was quite comfortable sitting in the driver's seat, the back seat (optional) is predictably a bit cramped.
The Dutch ride is already for sale in Europe for around $44,000 but because of differences in rules and regulations its release has been delayed numerous times in the U.S. They're looking at availability there in late 2009 or early 2010.
BigDog: The Most Advanced Quadruped Robot on Earth
by Ami Kealoha
by Passa Chattra
Take a cursory look at BigDog and you might think you're watching an agile, newly-discovered species of deer. On closer inspection, you'll realize the animal is in fact a robot that mimics the movement of several animals both real and imaginary.
Designed by the engineers at Boston Dynamics and funded by DARPA, BigDog can carry loads up to 340 pounds over rough terrain anywhere on earth. It runs on gasoline and, with an internal control system that keeps it balanced and upright, can walk, run and climb the roughest terrain.
Watch the video and see a man even trying to kick it over, while BigDog manages to stay upright. (If you haven't seen it before, it's worth watching all the way through.) Also check out the rest of the family of robots Boston Dynamics has created. Rise climbs vertical; RHex devours rough terrain by remote control while also being able to swim and dive.
