Tag Archives: micro

This tiny Micro SD card organizer is a blast from the 90s

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Before CDs and DVDs revolutionized physical media in the 1990s, people mostly used floppy disks — little square pucks containing less than 2.8 megabytes of storage. If you collected a lot of floppy disks, for instance, the original release of DOOM (which released across four 3.5 inch floppy disks), you needed a place to put them. Back then, that meant keeping your disk collection in a whole bunch of beige boxes with tinted plastic coverings, locked shut with a simple mechanism.

Apparently, that design — despite its relative clunkiness and odd fit for modern offices — is nostalgic to collectors of modern physical media devices like Micro SD cards and Nintendo Switch cartridges, and, as a result, independent artist Trevor Flowers has designed his own tributes to the classic floppy disk holder design. Calling it the “Smol Floppy Disk Organizer for Micro SD Cards” on his Gumroad page, this adorable replica of days gone by can fit on any desk surface thanks to its near-microscopic size.

Designer: Trevor Flowers

“Back when floppies were new we kept them safe in somewhat terrible plastic bins,” says Flowers in the description of his Micro SD card holder.

“Now that micro SD cards can hold thousands of times more data they’re what we use and what we lose! Because, smol. So, here’s a little throwback to the floppy organizer but sized for micro SD cards. I used double-sided tape to stick mine to the top of my PC monitor because I’d lose it on my messy desk.”

The Smol Floppy Disk Organizer for Micro SD Cards is available to purchase on Flowers’ official Gumroad page for $22, though it seems like supplies are limited as only 37 units remain. The same is true of his Smol Floppy Disk Organizer for Switch Cartridges, of which only 8 remain as I write this article. It’s unclear whether more will be constructed, though it’s worth noting the build is quite cute and may even have mass-market appeal for collectors.

Smol Floppy Disk Organizers aren’t the only unique retro design Flowers has come up with. On his page, you can find other bespoke (and somewhat larger) tributes to the TRS-80 Model III and the Osborne One.

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This disused grain silo that was converted into a micro-home is destined for the pages of Dr. Seuss

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Student designer Stella van Beers converted a disused grain silo into a two-story micro-home, fit for the pages of a Dr. Seuss adventure.

There are tiny homes, and then there are really tiny homes. We’re talking like Horton Hears a Who! type-tiny. Whimsical by their very nature, designing tiny homes can bring architects to the far reaches of their imaginations. In pursuit of her bachelor’s degree at Design Academy Eindhoven, student designer Stella van Beers looked to grain silos to find her whimsy.

Designer: Stella van Beers

Plotted all over the Netherlands’ countryside, grain silos are largely going out of use due to a country-wide reduction of livestock, leading to lower demand for grain. Converting the disused silos into a functional and quirky place of respite, Stella van Beers renovated the cylindrical unit into a micro home.

Using a university assignment as a jumping-off point, van Beers explains the project’s conception, “I thought, if I want to do something with a silo then I have to just buy one and see what’s possible.” With her eyes set on a seven-meter tall grain silo, which she found for sale online, the seller ended up giving van Beers the silo for free.

Considering their unique, tubular shape, turning one into a micro-home was a challenge, but a long-overdue dream of van Beers. “You always see them in rural areas,” van Beers explains, “I always really wanted to go inside one, so thought it could be a nice place for a temporary stay.”

Starting from the container’s exterior, van Beers constructed a set of double doors to create an entrance into her micro-home, which connects with a semi-wraparound deck and spiral staircase. Moving inside, van Beers lengthened the interior volume by installing two floors joined together by a short staircase and ladder.

A set of two convex windows peek into the silo’s first floor, where a dual living and workspace can be found. Ascending to the mezzanine, van Beers covered the top floor with a mattress to provide short-term sleeping accommodations. To top it all off, van Beers converted the spring-loaded top lid into a skylight.

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This minimal micro cabin is a serene shelter inspired by the A-frame chalets of the 1950s!

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Nestled within Canada’s Poisson Blanc Regional Park is a micro cabin named, ‘La Pointe’. Designed by Montreal-based L’Abri, La Pointe is a serene little cabin that provides shelter to the visitors of the park. The triangular-shaped structure is a rejuvenated reinterpretation of the typical A-frame chalets that became so popular in North America in the 1950s. The A-frame cottage-inspired cabin can house up to four individuals, while also helping them stay connected to the pure undiluted nature all around. “It was important for the designers to create a simple, almost sculptural structure that would provide functional and nature-oriented spaces,” said L’Abri. And, La Pointe is a true reflection of that.

A trail leads to the off-grid shelter. It’s a ten-minute walk on foot from the reception of the park. The interiors of the space are warm, minima, and subtle. Natural light adorns most of the cabin, creating an open space that is at once welcoming and homely.

The kitchenette, living area, and a table that transforms into an extra bed occupy the first floor. An inclined ladder leads to a bed above, that is supported by steel rods. The cathedral-like ceiling and the suspended bed create a peaceful sleeping loft.

A majestic bay window provides unparalleled views of the surrounding forest and reservoir. A suspended lounge chair beside the bay window serves as a cozy little nook to snuggle up in.

A covered terrace is situated outside the front door. “Leaning on the main volume, the covered terrace becomes the ideal place to continue to enjoy the outdoors when the temperature is less favorable,” said the architects.

The exterior is clad in natural cedar board, that is expected to silver over the years, and allow the home to effortlessly merge with the lush forest around it. La Pointe is a gorgeous little safe haven in a forested space where shelters are few and far in between. It perfectly merges functionality with warm aesthetics, creating a space that not only protects you but also allows you to enjoy the great outdoors.

Designer: L’Abri

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This modern homebuilding system relies on robotics and custom automation to build prefabricated dwellings!

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Automated Architecture Ltd. showcased its robotic assembly system for home building and prefabricated home dwellings during 2021’s Global Investment Summit (GIS).

On October 19, 2021, the Global Investment Summit (GIS) saw 12 of the UK’s leading “green innovators,” selected by the UK government to emphasize the importance of implementing green technology into our day-to-day. Just in time for the COP26 (UN Climate Change Conference UK), GIS shows how the UK can shape the future of green investment. Weaving green technology into architectural building methods, Bristol and London-based design and technology company Automated Architecture Ltd., (AUAR) showcased a new robotic assembly system for prefabricated dwellings.

AUAR comprises a modular timber building method that designs prefabricated, custom homes based on a given site’s conditions and landscape, and the buyer’s lifestyle and home preferences. Relying on robotics and custom automation methods from ABB Robotics, AUAR redefines what homebuilding can look like in the 21st century. Through AUAR, individual timber building blocks, chosen for the building materials renewability, are robotically prefabricated and stacked together to form tiny dwelling units.

In a similar fashion to the revolutionary 1950s assembly lines that created suburban housing developments like Levittown, AUAR forms its own production line, one that’s much smaller in size and personnel. The AUAR robot lines timber panels together to form building modules that are stacked together and assembled into tiny homes with the help of local craftspeople and builders. Following their use, the timber blocks can be disassembled and reused for other purposes, creating less construction waste and adhering to circular design principles.

Noting the lack of change in homebuilding methods, CEO and co-founder of AUAR, Mollie Claypool suggests,

“The demand for new homes is astronomical—two billion are needed in the next 80 years—yet the way we build them has not changed in hundreds of years. Traditional attempts to modernize housing construction result in extreme centralization and huge capital expenditure, further widening the divide between housing developers and local communities. Our approach offers a community-driven, climate-conscious alternative—a way to revolutionize the way we design and build homes and empower people and communities to live better and more sustainable lives.”

With help from local neighbors and assembly lines, AUAR works with small communities to build tiny dwellings. Opting out of big factory assemblage and globalized production chains, AUAR aims to cut down its carbon footprint by utilizing local resources and increasing community development.

Designer: Automated Architecture Ltd., (AUAR)

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IKEA Japan’s new Tiny Homes campaign rents out a furnished 10sqm micro-apartment for only $1 per month!

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IKEA Japan launched a Tiny Homes campaign that finds a 10sqm apartment in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district to make full use of its floor plan through space-saving furniture and a vertical layout.

All over the world, micro-living accommodations have made staying in even the busiest of cities possible. Tokyo, the most populous city in the world, has made strides in micro-living accommodations, from capsule hotels to shared living spaces.

Considering Tokyo’s populace of 14 million, it’s safe to say the city’s residents are familiar with tiny living solutions. As part of its Tiny Homes campaign, IKEA Japan has debuted a completely furnished 10sqm tiny apartment in the city’s Shinjuku district.

Known for its multifunctional furniture and convenient assembly, the IKEA brand’s living solutions come in all forms. Through its new Tiny Homes campaign, IKEA utilizes its collection of storage compartments and modular furniture to make the most out of tiny apartment spaces.

In the Shinjuku district, IKEA’s 10sqm apartment is organized vertically to make use of the floor plan’s lofty heights and furnished with an array of various space-saving furniture. Dividing the apartment into two levels, residents are greeted by the entryway, kitchenette, bathroom, and laundry machine.

Bringing residents to the apartment’s sleeping mezzanine area, a step ladder connects the first level to the second. Throughout the home, storage pieces like the IVAR storage system and SKÅDIS shelf unit outfit the apartment’s desk to make full use out of the home’s working area. Customizable by design, the IVAR storage system makes it easy for residents to transform the desk to fit their taste, by adding and removing storage modules as needed. Other pieces, like a sleeper sofa and furniture on wheels, morph the tiny apartment into a space for entertaining, sleeping, or working.

Designer: IKEA Japan

The post IKEA Japan’s new Tiny Homes campaign rents out a furnished 10sqm micro-apartment for only $1 per month! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Uni Micro Electric Folding Bike: Small, But Packed with Features

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Most electric bikes are lacking in features, except of course for the most obvious one, that being that it’s an electric bike. Well, have a look at the Uni Micro Electric Folding Bike. It has a retro vibe, but with some cleaner, modern lines. Unlike other folding bikes, this one has a single tubular frame rather than a frame that folds in half. Instead, only its handlebars fold down, which still mean it’s pretty compact.

It does pack in a lot of bells and whistles though. It has an integrated smartphone holder, USB port, LCD readout, front and rear LED lights in the frame, cargo rack with wheels for vertical parking, rear wheel lock with Bluetooth-enabled and GPS tracking and alarm, and a bottle holder to round it all out. Not bad for a bike this small.

It can be outfitted with a hand throttle, or pedal-assist functionality, and its top speed can be between 15 to 25 mph, with an estimated range of 31 to 43 miles from the 36V, 10.6 Ah lithium-ion battery in the frame. Not bad at all for a small mini bicycle.

This bike is expected to hit Indiegogo soon for $799 for early birds. You can get notified when it goes live.

[via Mike Shouts]

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