Author Archives: Ida Torres

Radio concept brings the aural and tactile nostalgia of using actual radios

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One of my favorite parts of going on road trips when I was younger is listening to the radio in the car. You never know what you’re going to get when you switch through stations. And even at home, tuning in on to a physical radio is always a fun time, something that the new generation may never experience ever. But there are still some radios in the market and even more design concepts for those longing for the “good ole days”.

Designer: Gisung Han

This concept for a radio is an interesting one as it doesn’t just play on the nostalgia of tuning in to the radio. The Calming Noise Radio also harps on both the aural and tactile experience that we had when we operated a physical radio back when people still tuned into it. Since the only tactile feel we get know from listening to music is tapping on our devices, this concept harps on the dials as we go from one radio station to another.

The designer made the dials to be “unusually large” so that visually and tactile-wise it stands out. It actually looks like the wheel in The Price Is Right (for those who actually know what that show is) and is meant to be both familiar and unique. The radio is in a familiar rectangular shape with the felt-like grills giving an interesting contrast with the round wheel of the dials.

The Calming Noise Radio, if it gets turned into an actual radio, will also probably play around with the “subtle static noise” that we get from old radios with the analog frequency adjustment sound. This will of course be pretty strange and unfamiliar for those who grew up in the age of MP3s and music streaming but will bring a nostalgic feeling for those who still get goosebumps from the sound of LPs and cassette tapes.

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LEGO® Technic™ NASA model set brings the Lunar Rovel Module to your table

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While LEGO® sets were probably originally built for kids to enjoy, most of the people I know who play with these patented bricks and sets are grownups. Granted, these are adults who were somehow “deprived” of owning some of these pretty expensive sets, it’s just one of those toys that can be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. There are sets however that are especially built for grown-ups as they are pretty detailed and contain a lot of intricate and authentic parts.

Designer: Lego

This new LEGO® set they’re releasing in particular is meant for adults and will appeal to those who are into space travel. The LEGO® Technic™ NASA model set includes a displayable model version of the Lunar Rover Module that was aboard the historic Apollo 17 mission back in 1972. It also includes 3 attachable equipment sets that includes a lot of authentic details. Basically, this LEGO® set is for the big boys and girls who are very much interested in outer space and everything NASA.

If you are a frustrated (or aspiring) astronaut, you can test out some of the steering and suspension included in the set and play around with equipment like the model battery pack (with its heating and cooling elements), a TV camera with antennae, communications unit, and even a shovel and drill so you can pretend to find LEGO® Moon rock elements. There’s even a Traverse Gravimeter Experiment that was carried by the Apollo 17 during NASA’s very last Apollo mission.

Aside from the enjoyment of building this LEGO® set, you will also get a deeper insight in the Apollo missions (if you didn’t already know everything there is to know about it). The young ones may need adult assistance for this as there are a lot of detailed equipment with this and it’s a hefty 1,913-piece set.

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Vinyl player has built-in speaker and high-fidelity belt drive

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In this age of digital music, you still see some true-blue music lovers that collect vinyl records. To be able to fully appreciate the quality of this high-fidelity kind of music though, you also need to have a pretty good vinyl player. The quality though of what’s available in the market can be hit or miss, especially for those that have limited budget. So when we see something that’s relatively affordable but you know can bring you great music, we can’t wait to add to cart.

Designer: 1 By One

1 By One is one such brand that can give you quality vinyl players while not killing your wallet. Their High Fidelity Belt Drive Turntable has a lot of features that will make music lovers pretty happy. This includes built-in speakers so you don’t need to spend for external speakers if you don’t have them already. But it can also be connected to your system if you prefer something more powerful than what is already included in this turntable package. It is also a vibration-damping belt-drive turntable system so you’ll get stable sound.

It can spin both 33 and 45 RPM speeds and has magnet-type cartridge and adjustable counterweight which are necessary to give you “rich and warm audio” and also balances each channel. The Audio-Technica stylus cartridge included here is diamond-tipped and is able to track the vinyl record’s grooves so you get high-definition audio. The turntable uses wood and metal materials while the transparent cover gives it a more aesthetic look.

If you also want to play music from other sources rather than a vinyl record, you can do Bluetooth streaming from your phone, tablet, computer, or any mp3 player. There’s also an Aux-in port so you can connect music sources and other speakers manually. As I am on the lookout for a vinyl player I can afford, this can be an option (well, if it’s available where I live, that is).

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Skylight can brighten up your campsite with multi-directional lighting

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When you’re going camping or staying outdoors overnight, having a light source is one of the most important yet sometimes most difficult things. You can of course have lamps and torches but they are only able to light a small portion of your space, depending of course on how large the site is or how many you are bringing. There are a lot more options now as more brands are getting into creating outdoor products.

Designer: Goal Zero

Skylight is a Telescoping Area Light that can illuminate a large part of your outdoor space, up to 300 feet to be specific. The 6,000 lumens device can give you “dramatically more visibility” than the usual camping lights that are available in the market. It also gives off a warmer light and can be raised from 4 to 12 feet, depending on how large of a space you need to illuminate.

The Skylight also has an IPX4 water resistant rating so even if it drizzles, you can still use it even as you take shelter in your tents or umbrellas. The multi-directional lighting is also pretty useful as well as the 4 brightness settings that you can choose from. The design of the 6 articulating petals of the area light makes it look like a dragonfly or insect that can fly around at any second.

It also has an internal battery that can make it last for 8 hours at its lowest brightness setting but you can also connect it into a Yeti to power it for 250 hours or a larger power station for longer. This means it can be used for power outages as well. The Skylight has a hard plastic protective case so it will be easier to carry it around.

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Mono kitchen hood brings a minimalist but functional air purifier

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For those who spend a lot of time indoors in their homes or condo units, we are not always so conscious about the quality of the air that we breathe. We are now only becoming aware that air pollutants can be as harmful as outdoors, sometimes even more so. Cooking in the kitchen is also a major source of indoor pollutants so you need to have a good filtration system especially there.

Designer: Ciarko Design

The Mono kitchen hoods will not only keep your air clean from all the smoke, grease, and other indoor pollutants but it also gives you an aesthetic addition to your space. Unlike other hoods that look too bulky, this has a more minimalist look and can be compared more to air purifiers but has a pretty strong carbon filtration system inside. So you get a functional and pretty air filtration system in your kitchen.

What’s also great about this is that it has a Gesture Control system so you don’t need to touch it whether you want to turn it on or off or to change its operating mode or to adjust its lighting. You can also use the remote control if you prefer something more tactile. And if you want to touch the hood itself, it has an AntiFingerPrint coating. It also has LED lighting so you have an additional lighting when you’re cooking and it can be adjusted from warm to cool.

The Ciarko Design Moni is available in white, black, gold, rose gold, green, and ecru so you can choose which can fit in with your kitchen’s design. You can either mount it on the wall or you can hang it from the ceiling as well if the wall mount is not possible.

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Bamboo folding staircase adds a bit of functional “art” to your space

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Even though I am vertically challenged, I rarely use steppers or ladders because I am also naturally clumsy. The chances of me falling off anything stairs-related, especially those that are not that stable, is always pretty high. Folding staircases are a necessity for some homes but those are not always the safest and design-wise, they are just purely functional.

Designer: Bcompact

The Bcompact Bamboo Folding Staircase aims to stand out from those that are currently in the market by bringing something that is both a piece of furniture and also partly a piece of art, not to mention part “engineering masterclass”. It is meant to be installed and used in spaces that normally don’t have staircases. It can also be customized according to what you need and the specifications that your home or office requires with its multiple angles and height options.

When folded or not in use, it can also blend into your area with its aesthetic design. It uses sustainably sourced, natural blonde Bamboo for its body or you can also color stain it to match your space. It also uses brass, stainless stell and aluminum hardware for the other parts. Its retractable flat folding mechanism and its space-saving design are both patented already.

This folding staircase can actually replace any ladeer, attic steps, or staircase that you may already be using. It also has manual or automatic gates that you can add in case you need something safer. It can be used for your attic, mezzanine, loft, basement or any space where you need to have a staircase installed, with minimal infrastructure alteration.

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Fly repellent fan is the safest way to keep flies away from your food

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Eating outside, whether at an al fresco restaurant, the beach, backyard, or park, is one of the best ways to bond with loved ones. However, your greatest enemy there are the insects that fly and crawl around, particularly flies. You can shoo them away using fans but that is pretty inconvenient and tiring. Having a device to shoo them away would be the best thing to have.

Designer: Andrew Smith

The ShooAway is a fly repellent fan that has one job: to keep flies away from your food. The best thing is that it is 100% chemical free so you know your food is safe not just from insects but from other harmful elements. It can also work not just outdoors but indoors as well. You can place in on the table or even directly over a plate of food without worrying about anything.

The device is battery-powered and the fan blades themselves are safe since they are soft and will automatically stop if it happens to touch your hand. There are also dots on the blades which are their patented Holographamatic Repel Dots. They shoo away the flies because of the movement of the blades and also the refracting light which apparently they hate.

The on-guard fly swisher can work as long as it has battery so you don’t need to worry about it running out when you’re in the middle of a meal. So instead of your arms getting tired from shooing flies away, you can just get tired from eating all that delicious food.

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Concrete house lets you live in the middle of the forest

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Having lived in a city all my life, I’m used to waking up in the morning, looking out the window, and seeing nothing but buildings. So of course it’s my dream that one day, I’d be able to live in a place where I am surrounded by nature but still have the conveniences of “civilization”. We’re seeing a lot of house concepts right now where all you need to do is step out of your front door or sometimes even just look out your window and you’re one with nature.

Designer: Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados

One such house is Copas, a contemporary and minimalist concrete house located in the forests of Valle de Brava in Mexico so you get the best view of nature from your window and especially from the rooftop terrace, where you feel like you’re part of the forest. The colors of the house are similar to the tree trunks and rock formations that surround it. The overall design of the house gives you the impression like you’re climbing a mountain.

The private bedrooms on the lower level has glazing that frames the forest while the kitchen, dining room, and the lounge space also give a beautiful view of the surrounding woodlands. The terrace on the roof extends towards the trees while the swimming pool on the higher volume is the perfect way to cap off a relaxing day in your abode.

The two-volume house is integrated into the slope so there’s not much excavation that will disturb the surroundings. The house has also different finishes to complement the concrete look, including wood furniture, natural rugs and fabrics so you get an even cozier feeling. This is such an interesting house to live in especially if you’re sick and tired of the concrete jungle.

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Iconic Faema E61 espresso machine now has a consumer-grade model

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Even though I am a “certified” coffee addict (if certified means drinking it more than twice a day), I am not one of those that buys expensive equipment and whose kitchen looks better than most coffee shops. But for the true blue connoisseurs, there are brands that evoke a certain joy and Feima is one of those. However, not everyone can afford such a legendary machine since it’s really meant for establishments or rich coffee “professionals.”

Designer: Faema

Good news though for fans of the Faema E61 espresso machine as they are releasing a consumer-level and single-phase version that can adorn your coffee nook at home. The Faema E61 Cult is a version of the legendary machine but still can be described with the words “heritage, historic, and trendsetter”. While it’s meant for homes, it still is a professional machine so it needs to be installed by a specialized technician since it has to be connected to your water supply.

Having the Faema E61 Cult on your kitchen counter makes it look like you’re a serious coffee brewer since it carries the same expensive and premium vibe of the original. It has the chrome aesthetic down pat with wooden elements added to its levers and knobs. There is also a warming rack on top that has a transparent brown finish for its cup guard. The iconic panel is still there which has made the Faema brand “unmistakable since 1961”.

If you know your way around complicated but premium espresso machines, then this is probably something aspirational but useful for you. Now if you’re like me that just uses coffee makers or capsule machines, then this will be purely an aesthetic showpiece, albeit an expensive one.

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Stay in eco-friendly and sustainable luxury villas in the Red Sea

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As we start to feel all sorts of effects from climate change, we’ve become more conscious about our relationship with nature in all aspects of our lives. Well, that is, if you actually care about this planet’s future of course. Sustainable ecotourism has become a buzzword as we’re seeing all sorts of structures being built that want to have a harmonious relationship with its surroundings.

Designer: Kengo Kuma for Red Sea Global

However, we have to admit that a lot of these sustainable projects fall under the category of luxury tourism since it takes a considerable amount of money to design and construct things like these. The Ummahat AlShaykh Island project in the middle of the Red Sea is one such undertaking. The 22 islands are located in the west coast of Saudi Arabia and has several luxury tourist villas and othe structures that are designed to be eco-friendly and sustainable.

The “Land Villas” have curved roofs that are inspired by the contours of the dunes in the area and have a helical structure with a great view of the surrounding waters. To make sure that it minimizes disturbance in the environment, prefabrication is the key. They also used spruce timber and clay plaster with the roofs using natural cedar wood shingles to make it resilient against salt water and other extreme weather conditions.

The islands also have specialty restaurants located one over water and another on land, a spa, housekeeping villas, a guest jetty, and a community building for those that prefer to socialize rather than just stay in the privacy of their villas. I don’t even want to think about how much an overnight stay would cost but this is a great idea for those who can afford it and would want to have a more eco-friendly kind of vacation.

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