Solar Impulse airplane


Aeronaut Bertrand "Jean Luc" Piccard (nickname ours) has already been around the world once. The first time he did it in a hot air balloon, called the Breitling Orbiter 3. Now he wants to do it again with the Solar Impulse, which looks like a pretty good candidate to win the title of first solar aircraft to circumnavigate the globe.
Before it does the long haul, though, it'll tackle a short one. The Solar Impulse is scheduled for a test run toward the end of this year, with those involved planning a continuous two-day-long trip, which includes the night. It will be powered entirely by solar energy.
As for the aircraft itself, it's made out of carbon fiber materials, has a wingspan of about 200 feet, and it's covered with over 12,000 solar cells that power four individual 10-horsepower motors. Check out more of the Solar Impulse in the gallery below.

 
  
  
  
  
via: dvice

Crescent Earth


The crescent Earth rises above the lunar horizon in this spectacular photograph taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft in lunar orbit during final lunar landing mission in the Apollo program.

via: NASA

Stylish Zoomla

zoomla folding bike

Zoomla is a concept bike designed to ensure better alternative for quick, portable and around-town transportation facility. The single-pivot design of this bike has given it quicker, easier and more intuitive fold than any other bike and the unique L-frame eliminates the usual steering tube. The handle is cleverly integrated on the handlebar to allow Zoomla to be rolled when its time to pack it away. The pedal deck uses a compact inner drive system rather than traditional crank and pedals. You can take this bike with you to class or a grocery store since it weights 5 kilos only and the compact shape will let you store it in an average size school locker. Moreover, you can attach a backpack just below the seat to carry your required things in a stylish manner.
zoomla folding bike

zoomla folding bike
zoomla folding bike
zoomla folding bike 

munajat

 
 


two Muslims seeking help and praying for allah lonely...

Glastonbury Festival 2009


A crew member from Boutique Camping erects a tipi in the tipi field on the Glastonbury Festival site on June 18 2009. The tipis, which were fully booked and cost 800GBP to hire, were occupied by festival attendees.
via: boston

human butterfly


A dancer from the English National Ballet performing 'Ballets Russes' at Sadler's Wells poses in her 'Dying Swan' costume designed by Karl Largerfeld on June 16, 2009 in London, England

Detect Your Plant Age

flower pot detects plant age


How many of you have ever thought about a flower pot that can show the exact age of a plant you are upbringing? This concept flower pot has been designed to count the age of your precious plant in an innovative way. This product is designed in two different colors with almost similar shape that includes a LED counting system. The display will show different ring shaped attribute for months, days and years through which the age of a plant can be counted. It comprises three conical shaped legs that allow the pot to stay stable on the ground.

flower pot detects plant age



flower pot detects plant age

flower pot detects plant age 

Stylish Zoomla Folding Bike

zoomla folding bike

 Zoomla is a concept bike designed to ensure better alternative for quick, portable and around-town transportation facility. The single-pivot design of this bike has given it quicker, easier and more intuitive fold than any other bike and the unique L-frame eliminates the usual steering tube. The handle is cleverly integrated on the handlebar to allow Zoomla to be rolled when its time to pack it away. The pedal deck uses a compact inner drive system rather than traditional crank and pedals. You can take this bike with you to class or a grocery store since it weights 5 kilos only and the compact shape will let you store it in an average size school locker. Moreover, you can attach a backpack just below the seat to carry your required things in a stylish manner.
zoomla folding bike

zoomla folding bike
zoomla folding bike
zoomla folding bike 

D. Dinis Secondary School by Bak Gordon

June 29th, 2009
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Architectural photographer Leonardo Finotti has sent us images of a school in Lisbon, Portugal, recently modernised by Portuguese studio Bak Gordon Arquitectos.
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The original buildings are typical of the schools built in Portugal during the 70’s, which lacked many basic necessities such as thermal and acoustic insulation.
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As well as modernising the existing buildings, Bak Gordon also created a new central building which connects the pavilions and houses social activities.
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Construction of the project had to be complete within six months, greatly influencing many of the design decisions made.
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Photographs are by Leonardo Finotti.
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See also our earlier story about House at Sobral da Lagoa by Bak Gordon.
Here’s info from architects Ricardo Bak Gordon:

D. DINIS SECONDARY SCHOOL
Project Description
The modernisation project of the D. Dinis Secondary School was particularly pioneering in the context of the reforms being carried out by Parque Escolar, and simultaneously corresponds to a typology that includes around 70% of the secondary schools in Portugal – the pavilion schools.
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The pavilion projects, which were mostly constructed in the seventies, were rudimentary projects from the programmatic and functional point of view and from the constructive point of view. The absence of thermal and acoustic insulation, of acclimatization and other infrastructure revealed all at once, the scarcity of the undertaking’s structure.
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This modernisation reform sat in first place of the planned improvements: adding and replacing functional spaces (for example the library, multi-use room, study areas for students and teachers, departmental spaces etc.) in an epicentre position facing the existing constructions and around which, all the school’s activity gravitates. On the other hand the reform aims to improve the architectural and structural conditions and respective infrastructure in the existing buildings. Lastly, the reform offers the school conditions that permit better management and use of their own resources.
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The new building, that distinguishes the D. Dinis Secondary School, is a type of central space, without beginning or end, where the vital functions of the new school are installed, and where all the existing pavilions are united. This new space was, in the first debates that preceded the modernisation Project, named the “learning street.”
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The constructive system of this new building wasn’t indifferent to the fact that all the construction had to been completed in only six months. Therefore the Project leant towards the typology of a clean project, metal structure and external walls in “sandwich” system, finished with corrugated iron both on the exterior and interior. The roof is also metal plate, on top of which the respective thermal and acoustic insulations are supported.
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In contrast to the colour of white on the peripheral wall, the continuous flooring is red. The flooring is an element that extends to the existing constructions and which therefore unifies the group of pavilions.
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It is hoped that the result of this work will be the catalyst for a better performing and happier school for all of its population and if possible will be redeemable in one’s memory in the future.
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Escola Secundária D. Dinis
Location: Chelas, Lisboa
Design phase: 2007
Construction phase: 2007 – 2008
Client: Parque Escolar EPE
Architect: Ricardo Bak Gordon
Collaborators: Luís Pedro Pinto, Pedro Serrazina, Sónia Silva, Vera Higino, Walter Perdigão
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Structural engineering: BETAR
Landscape design: PROAP
General contractor: MOTA-ENGIL
Site area: 25.730 m2
Built area: 1500.00m2
Cost per m2: 800.00 €
via: dezeen
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Royal College of Art graduate Min-Kyu Choi has designed a folding version of the standard UK electrical plug.
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The folded plug is more suitable for travelling than the bulky standard version.
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Choi has also designed a USB charger version and Multi Flat Plug (below), which allows three devices to share power from one plug that takes up more or less the same amount of space as a standard plug.
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Choi’s work is included in Royal College of Art show two, which runs until 5 July (closed 3 July).
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Here’s some info from Choi about the plugs followed by full details of the RCA show:

‘Mac book Air,’ Apple’s latest master-piece, is the world’s thinnest laptop ever. However, here in the U.K, we still use the world’s biggest three-pin plug.
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Most people carry laptops with adapters and plugs because laptop batteries have limitations on the time they can be used. When people carry laptops with U.K plugs in a bag, it always causes problems such as tearing paper, scratching laptop surfaces and, sometimes, it breaks other stuff. The main problem is the UK standard 3-pin plug is not considered in the process of designing for mobility.
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My all intention of the project was directed to make the plug as slim as possible and follow the British Standard regulation at the same time.
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‘Folding Plug’ changes the shape form the normal U.K plug into a 10mm thickness object, solving these damaging problems.
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The ‘Folding Plug’ is also advantageous when people have to travel aboard. People normally carry up to three electronic devices for their long-term journey, such as a mobile phone, a digital camera or an iPod, However, we usually carry only one universal plug. Whilst multi-plug adapters and USB chargers allow us to use one plug socket for many devices, they are still bulky objects.
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The flat properties of my folding plug have inspired the development of a multi-plug adapter that also performs in space-saving ways. By using the folding plug whilst it is folded, ‘Multi Flat Plug’ and ‘USB Charger’ allows for 3 devices to be plugged into the mains, but only inhabiting a little more space than a standard 3-pin UK plug.
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SHOW RCA TWO
Open 26 June – 5 July, 11am – 8pm (closed 3 July; exhibition will close at 5pm on 30 June, 1 July and 5 July). Please note that the TEXTILES section will close for an industry reception at 5.30pm on Monday June 29. Fashion Accessories will therefore also be inaccessible to the public during this event.
The final part of the graduate shows includes work by students from the following courses: Animation, Architecture, Communication Art & Design, Conservation, Critical and Historical Studies, Design Products, Design Interactions, Fashion Footwear and Accessories, History of Design, Industrial Design Engineering, Textiles and Vehicle Design.
Some work will be for sale or commission.
Free admission
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
Tube: High Street Kensington/South Kensington, Buses: 9, 10, 52, 452
via: dezeen