Tag Archives: rock

These hanging lights suspend reminders of Nature’s raw power over your head

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Indoor lighting fixtures are often designed in a way that induces feelings of calm or serenity. They’re also often made with luxurious materials and often have very stylish forms. Some even look like designer or art pieces that serve as the visual center of a room. In contrast, this series of light “sculptures” are anything but luxurious but are definitely stylish and beautiful, providing an almost thought-provoking setup hanging above your heads. And it does so utilizing a material that you’d rarely consider as fine material or associate with images of peace, as volcanic rocks are the remnants and reminders of how powerful, destructive, and unpredictable Mother Nature can sometimes be.

Designer: David Pompa

Even among the different kinds of rock, volcanic rock is considered raw and rough, its surface is broken by pores of random sizes and shapes. At the same time, however, it is also one of the most unique byproducts of Nature’s fury, with each of those pores formed by random environmental factors, making each piece and each part of volcanic rock unique and one of a kind. If there was anything that symbolized Nature’s beauty and terror, it would be this kind of rock.

There is also nothing that sparks thinking and interest than contrasting elements arranged in a balanced and beautiful manner, which is exactly what the Meta Parallel Black collection embodies. The completely black fixture contrasts and, in a way, softens the yellow light that comes off the tubes. The volcanic rocks’ rough surface also contrasts and complements the matte aluminum bars that hold the tubes together. Thin black cables suspend the stone and metal assembly, another pair of contrasting and balancing elements.

There are several arrangements of the Meta Parallel black, each with a pair of pillars of volcanic rock light always positioned in parallel to each other. The metal bars that hold the two together, however, bend and fold at right angles, creating an almost abstract arrangement, especially when several Meta Parallel pieces are joined together, all while keeping a sense of symmetry and balance in their formation.

Light and shadow, rough and smooth, rock and metal, parallel and symmetrical, the Meta Parallel brings the balance of contrast to any room. Decorative yet also practical, this beautiful assembly showcases the best of Nature and man, of natural and industrial processes working together to provide not just a lighting fixture but also a very visible representation of the kind of beauty that you can find and make from almost anything, including a rock born out of one of Nature’s most destructive forces.

The post These hanging lights suspend reminders of Nature’s raw power over your head first appeared on Yanko Design.

This ASMR fidget toy will delight your senses to give you a bit of peace

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Volcanoes are one of the most unstoppable forces on the Earth, but they can also give birth to something that demonstrates the calming power of nature.

ASMR, the less daunting term for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response,” has become such a fad that it has been taken to ridiculous levels by people on social media, particularly YouTube. That’s not to say that the science behind it is as weird as the things people do, and there are definitely psychological benefits to the proper use of this physiological phenomenon. You don’t need to listen to or watch those videos, of course. All you need is the right object to induce a peaceful ASMR experience, like this rather unconventional ball that is born from one of the least peaceful manifestations of nature’s power.

Designer: ZENLET

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.10 $99 (10% off).

Volcanic eruptions are devastating, perhaps more than any other natural disaster. Its effects can even spread around the globe as a blanket of dark clouds and ash. But just like almost everything in nature, volcanoes can produce something beautiful as well in the form of volcanic rocks, sometimes called lava stones. It’s from this unique material that a new kind of fidget toy and meditation device is formed, embodying both sides of nature.

Comes in Moon Black or Mars Red.

Each ball is unique that it is one of nature’s masterpieces.

The Lava Ball is really only half made of volcanic rock, but it is the most prominent and the most important part of the sphere. The way volcanic rock is naturally formed results in random pores and holes that make each rock unique. Once polished and cleaned to remove dirt and bacteria, you have half a sphere that’s just as unique as you are. There will be nothing like it in terms of appearance.

Listening｜Embrace the rhythm of the Earth and relieve your stress.

Together with the matte aluminum alloy that forms the bottom half of the ball, this beautiful blend of earth and metal, natural and artificial, creates an almost complete ASMR experience. Run your thumb or finger over the rough surface of the lava rock to activate your sense of touch. Put a drop or two of your favorite essential oil and smell the familiar scent absorbed by the pores of the stone. Tip the ball on a flat surface and listen to it rock back and forth like a metronome. Spin the ball on its magnetic base and lose minutes gazing at the sphere.

Gazing｜Focus on the present state to get to the next level of meditation. Awaiting the moments of inspiration to come.

Smelling｜Perceive and immerse yourself with the familiar scent to wake up the pleasant memory.

Touching｜Experience the unique rock texture to ease the anxiety.

Thanks to the magnet holder, it will always stay on the desktop and come in handy just to inspire you.

Drop one of your favorite essential oil scents and gently turn the ball to spread scents to the air for immediate diffusion.

If you ever needed something to take your mind briefly off things, simply pick up the ball and run your finger over it like a fidget toy. If you really want to relax, drop those scents again and give the ball a twirl to spread the calming aroma farther. Whichever way you use it, each part of this simple yet beautiful ball is designed to lead your mind towards a more relaxed and meditative state without feeling awkward or silly for listening to ASMR clips.

The volcanic and metal halves of the ball are joined together by magnets, making it trivial to mix and match different colors, not to mention making it easier to repair and replace broken parts. The magnetic holder employs nano-suction technology to make it stick to flat non-porous surfaces without using adhesives. A stylish ornament that is probably a better fit on your desk, this palm-sized ball is a reminder that, just like volcanoes, there is always something beautiful that can come out of the most troubling circumstances.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.10 $99 (10% off).

The post This ASMR fidget toy will delight your senses to give you a bit of peace first appeared on Yanko Design.

Core Glow Stones Make Paths Glow in the Dark

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Do you have a path or driveway that gets really dark when the sun goes down? You could install traditional path lighting to help guide your way, or you could make the ground beneath your feet glow in the dark, which looks much, much cooler if you ask me.

Core Glow makes special stones that are made with photoluminescent microcrystals, enabling them to glow as darkness falls. Charged up under bright sunlight or a direct ultraviolet light source, the stones can glow for up to 12 hours at a time. Like other glow-in-the-dark materials they do fade out as the night goes on, so they’re brightest for the first couple of hours after they’re charged up.

The stones can be incorporated into both indoor and outdoor projects by setting them into concrete, or used loose like gravel. Using concrete means you can make permanent designs, and won’t have to worry about them getting kicked around. You can also toss them along the edges of a path to create a border effect.

Core Glow makes their glowing stones in blue, green, or aqua, and in different diameters which can create various effects based on their size and density. For the brightest glow, their quantum grade aggregate is the material of choice. Prices for the commercial grade start around $39 for a 1-pound bag, which should cover about 16 square feet, while the wuantum grade starts at $45. You can also get a commercial grade sample kit for $48, or a small sampler of quantum grade for $20 if you just want to test some out.

This Chinese amphitheater was designed to look like a balancing boulder

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Aimed at bringing tourism back to the Chinese valley, the Chapel of Sound sits in an open landscape to the north of Beijing in an area famous for hosting remnants of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Designed to look “as if a strange and prehistoric boulder had fallen there long ago”, the Chapel of Sound is a concert hall situated amidst beautifully idyllic surroundings. Created to boost tourism, the hall was made to act as a semi-open venue for a variety of events, while also being a tourist destination in its own right, with various looking points for visitors and tourists.

The semi-open hall styles itself almost like a carved-out boulder. Made entirely out of concrete mixed with an aggregate of crushed local mineral-rich rocks, the structure houses an amphitheater on the inside, shaped acoustically for music performances and other community gatherings. The large opening on the structure’s top, together with small openings of varied shapes cut into its walls, bring in stunning views of the sky and surrounding valley. During the day, the openings cause fractured sun-beams to find their way in, lighting up the space naturally. When there’s no event being held within the Chapel of Sound, it absorbs and reverberates natural sounds from its surroundings, from the rushing of rivulets to the chirping of birds and rustling of trees. Visitors can either sit inside the chapel, absorbing the sounds of nature while they share a moment of meditation, or look through various looking points to admire the valley. Tourists can even climb to the very top of the chapel’s plateau to view the stunning panorama of the valley and be greeted by the sight of the nearby Great Wall.

Designer: OPEN Architecture