Sky-scrapers, shopping malls, traffic lights, automobiles, pollution- the current outdoors are slowly losing the nature’s beauty to development and modernization and people are digging out ways to bring this very beauty closer to their lives, into their homes. The Leaf Lamp is just one among those designs inspired by the Mother Nature’s gardens.

This floor lamp designed by Sofian Tallal of France seems like an exotic plant in the rain forests to the looks. Embracing the shape of a plant with green metallic and plastic stems and a pair of leaves, the lamp reflects white light with a medium frequency using LED bulbs and radiance filters providing a soothing effect to the interior. The hanging switch cords pose as shimmering dew drops can switch both the lamps on and off. The larger leaf on the top gives away an affectionate orangey glow, while the lower smaller one rotates about a 250 degrees angle and can be used as a study lamp.

Lamps are those room accessories which establish the ambiance of the place, and if the same lamp is giving you a nature’s treat in your own living room or study room, what more would you ask for?

Via Sofian Tallal

This is an era of simple yet modern broad-spectrum interiors which not just appeal to the tastes of the residents, but tend to their multiple needs within a room’s space. What we see here is designer Michal Mitek’s visualization of how the bathroom of the future would probably look like- a multi-purpose restroom that gives recreation with relaxation in a single space.

This futuristic restroom layout has an integrated recreation room and a free-standing shower space where water sprays from the roof when it is completely closed up. On unpacking the hidden fixtures, the floor transforms into an array of benches arranged around a sunken bathtub which sinks you in the feeling of a relaxing spa at your door-step. Additionally, a set of flat screens would give you an entertaining treat complementing your respite.

Still in a conceptual stage, the design looks very happening and promising and would rightly tend to the modern needs. This might really be the bathroom of the future because; this is what the future needs- an ultramodern, space-saving, low furnished bathroom which has an assortment of hidden pleasures within itself.

Via Dornob

Managing with its small amount of resources and increasing demand for fuels, Japan is one of those countries of the world that largely depends on renewable sources for energy consumption. No wonder this yearning led the country to launch an audacious multi-billion dollar eco-friendly concept, the Space Solar Power System (SSPS) that would take form by 2030.

Cashing in on the fact that power of the sun is five times stronger in space when compared to Earth; the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is looking forwards to launching an array of photovoltaic dishes measuring several square kilometers (square miles) beyond the Earth’s atmosphere into the geostationary orbit from where the energy collected would be zapped down through laser beams or microwaves. These would in turn be collected by the enormous parabolic antennae to be set up in restricted areas of the sea and dam reservoirs. This one gigawatt system that would be the size of an average atomic power plant is expected to generate electricity at eight yen (cents) per kilowatt-hour which happens to be six times cheaper than the current cost in the country.

The government is roping in several Japanese high-tech giants like Mitsubishi Electric, NEC, Fujitsu and Sharp as a part of this project. So, not very far in the future, we might spot an extraterrestrial solar power station while watching the sky through our telescopes!

Via Yahoo News

Someone once rightly said, “Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty” and to prove this fact time and again, architects at Maryann Thompson created this beautiful zero impact home that is not just down-to-earth, but would surely bring its residents the contentment of environmental conservation. Recipient of the LEED Silver certification under the USGBC’s new pilot program for housing, the North Easton, MA residence is an economical, eco-friendly, present-day sustainable dwelling incorporated into a 5.5-acre site.

The house comprises many low-maintenance eco-friendly features. The vast windows on the front compliment its south-facing orientation thereby eliminating the need for artificial light and also letting in the warmth of the winter sun. A couple of pellet stoves and a proficient radiant heating system functioning on solar power take care of rest of the heating necessities. Ample cross ventilation and uneven roof shields purge the need for air-conditioners during summers. In addition, the house also has a recycled-tire rubber roofing system, reclaimed hardwood cabinetry, casework and flooring materials, recycled glass tiles and thermal efficient windows.

What more would an environmentalist want, to prove his/ her love for nature and their taste for the beauty that lies in simplicity!

Via The Alternative Consumer

The present fast paced lifestyle demands multi-functional centers which provide a shared hybrid place to cater to the needs of people. In unison, we also need these places to be equally environment-friendly. Organized around the concept of sharing and synergy, Denmark’s House of Music designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au is one such solar passive design wonder that recognizes and allows interaction between the various institutions within a single complex.

The complex comprises a U-shaped educational facility that is raised up behind a 1,300 seat symphonic concert hall that offers its audience a perfect balance of acoustics and sight-lines. The exterior exhibits a beautiful display of geometric designs with south-facing facade covered with thin-film photovoltaics that not only minimize the energy consumption, but also give a beautiful view of Aalborg city. The curvilinear and organic interior stands in total contrast to the exterior.

The building’s operable low windows bring in fresh air and optimum ventilation. The concrete walls and slab floors control the temperatures inside and store heat inside the structure. The Hall of Music also has auditoriums and public courtyards thus combining public and performance space with cultural and education functionality adding up to Denmark’s cultural heritage.

Via ArchDaily

Wondering how to dispose-off your out-of-fashion Vespa scooter that is neither doing you nor the environment any good? Well, the Spanish design studio Bel & Bel shows you an inventive way to put this polluting, petroleum-powered scrap to good use in a corporate set up. The studio brought forth a chain of office furniture made out of recycled vintage Vespa scooters.

This collection of handmade chairs makes use of the front shield and spare parts of old Vespas coupled with aesthetically chosen leather hues would blend into any kind of office interiors. This unique style of recycling deserves appreciation and applauds because it’s not only saving wood that would otherwise be used to shape-up the office furnishings, but also getting rid of the metallic scooter parts that would otherwise lay in trash piles.

Though we have seen many kinds of recycled furniture in the past, we have to agree that the conversion of these unfashionable two-wheelers into everyday use furniture is definitely an art that only Bel & Bel could think of and have excelled in.

Via Autoblog Green

Photography is a hobby for some, an occupation for some others, a passion for some more, but for most of us, it’s the means to capture our fond memories and cherished moments. Be it nature or persona, they capture the magic around in a small frame. The arrival of Polaroid took the art of photography to a new dimension, and redefining it is the Korean designer Hwajin Jung’s flower vase.

This beautiful flower vase employs the renowned Polaroid photo ratio principle to bring a small planter with an iconic polaroid-sized frame into spotlight. Hung using a small cord wire and a clothespin, the wire holding it connects with the light illuminating the plant and bringing it to life. Isn’t it looking cute! Its design appeals to those nature-lovers who are keen on capturing the beauty of scenery in frames bringing their interiors to life.

Though not much information about this art piece has been provided by the designer, the vase would surely leave its mark on our senses because I believe most of us would want to have this lovely vase around at home. Isn’t it?

Via Jung Hwajin

The season is changing and the winter is once again approaching. All of us would soon cover ourselves with woolen wrap ups to brawl the frostiness. This reminded me of how daunting it is to operate all our current touchy electric gadgets in the customary bulky gloves. Furthermore, considering fingerless gloves for winters is useless in my opinion. Just then, here’s something I found…

Etre Touchy gloves might just give you an idea of how to tackle the fat-fingering gloves with touchy gadgets. These fingered/fingerless glove hybrids lack the thumb and index fingertips offering a fashionable and convenient solution to the winter gadget woes. Priced at about £20, or $33 a pair, they are compatible and useful with everything from high-tech touch-screen devices like iPods, iPhones, PSPs and e-Book readers to shoe laces.

The designers claim that Etre Touchy gloves are different and better compared to the conventional fingerless ones, but I doubt their competence in keeping your fingers warm and dry. Obviously, how would your exposed parts feel warm! Moreover, the design doesn’t seem anything new because we have already seen their likes before and probably used them too. Now, its up to you guys to decide whether you want them or you don’t.

Via Etre Touchy

I’m sure most of us wish we could know what the temperature outside is like or whether it would be pouring down or would the sun show his temper. It would be quite exciting to have our very own weather station, which not only tells us about the climate outside, but also gives us the readings of the room temperature and humidity as well. Oregon Scientific appears to have sensed this, if not why would it make +ECO Clima Control.

This handy and compatible weather station is the company’s first model to feature a solar panel. The device’s 600mAH rechargeable battery can absorb enough sunlight in just eight hours to keep running for 3 months. Its self-explanatory icons like sunny, partly cloudy, rainy, snowy etc indicate the weather conditions outside. Not just this, the device even displays temperature and humidity of three different remote locations at the same time.

This device priced $119.99 from the Oregon Scientific looks compact and practical with an eco-touch and is suitable for daily use.

Via Oh Gizmo!

“Good things come in small packages”, and Piero Esposito practically proved it with his brand new kitchen-in-a-box. Considering the ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle that most of us lead today, Esposito designed this aesthetic, compact kitchen that can be wrapped up and transported easily.

Being called ‘Opening’, this portable kitchen includes a portable counter, cabinets, stainless steel cooker and fixtures and everything else any kitchen would have. All these inclusions can be conveniently wrapped up into the two chocolate-brown wooden boxes and moved to any place you like. Unscrewing the four bolts of this box will open up a stylish and elegant instant cooking, storage and eating space.

‘Opening’ seems like a very potential and functional kitchen place appealing to the mobile lifestyles of the present world. What’s more? Maybe in the future, we’ll have each and every room of a house packed up in a box! That sounds quite promising…

Via Dornob