You’ll Soon Be Able to Rent a 3D-Printed Dwelling Designed for Mars

“Sustainable architecture” – whether it be in its choice of materials, site, construction, energy use, or combination of all of these considerations – deigns to mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with building any structure on Earth. But what does sustainable architecture mean if your building wasn’t intended for Earth, but for the habitat of Mars? The TERA is a luxe Martian eco-home for Earth applying Martian tech to terra architecture.

The architectural progeny of the habitat prototype, MARSHA, the 2-story, hive shaped TERA-1 was developed by AI SpaceFactory with an exterior 3D printed shell covering a wooden structurally independent interior and intended to “land” on a remote and currently undeveloped plot along the Hudson River in Upstate New York. The intent is to build it and rent it out as a most unique eco-habitat.

The vertical TERA maximizes livable square footage while minimizing its physical footprint on the land. AI SpaceFactory intends to transport a 3D printing robot to the site to build TERA following a laser scan of the site’s topography, eliminating the need to level the ground/foundation. And when the structure begins to show the signs of breaking down, the biopolymer basalt composite housing can be easily recycled.

The ground floor of the Tera is equipped with a bathroom and shower, a kitchen counter, a living room with a seating area, and an outdoor seated terrace. The upper floor is entirely dedicated to a sleeping loft, but is designed to be easily rearranged according to need and activities.

TERA is built from a 3D-printed biopolymer basalt composite –a material developed from crops like corn and sugar cane – tested and validated by NASA to be (at minimum) 50% stronger and more durable than concrete.

An array of scale model 3D samples printed by AI SpaceFactory while investigating the largest number of window openings possible without compromising the structural integrity of the building.

TERA and MARSHA are from the same family; they just have been born on different planets.

– TERA Lead Designer and Architect, Sima Shahverdi

Founded in 2017 by architect David Malott, TERA’s developer AI SpaceFactory was conceived to investigate and design solutions intended for long-term missions to Mars with applications upon Earth. This project is currently crowdfunding to help fund the incorporation of off-grid features like solar power and grey water purification, promising discounted stays in their future eco-resort starting at $175/night before its official launch. More information about the project here.

via http://design-milk.com/

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Melanie Abrantes Releases New Collection Inspired by the California Coast

Displayed through a series of playful vignettes, designer and maker Melanie Abrantes shares her new Modern California collection of vases and everyday objects. The new line boasts an earthy color palette, natural materials, and sculptural forms that give nod to the California Coast. Each piece highlights the raw materials they’re made from, including cork, wood, and glass, proving that beautiful objects can be simple and thoughtful.

The collection, which is all handmade in Abrantes Oakland, California studio, includes Cork Bolo Canisters, Limited Edition ‘Marais’ Vases, Cork Baskets, Hardwood Candle Holders, Wine Coolers, and Maple Bud Vases. Just like her previous work, Modern California is made with local and sustainable materials.

If you’re heading to the London Design Fair this year, visit Design Milk’s Milk Stand pop-up shop where you’ll find Melanie Abrantes exhibiting and selling her work!

Art Direction: Melanie Abrantes
Stylist: Genevieve Bandrowski
Photographer: Melanie Riccardi

via http://design-milk.com/

from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/melanie-abrantes-releases-new-collection-inspired-by-the-california-coast/

Unfashion: Mimi Plange Takes on the Current State of Fashion

Ghanaian-born, New York City-based Mimi Plange has been a designer to watch since launching her own ready-to-wear clothing label in 2010. She has exquisite taste (check out her Friday Five here) and a fascinating life story (listen to her Clever podcast episode here) to go along with her outside-the-box creativity. Her latest project has her taking a deeper look at the current state of fashion and writing an open letter to the industry that seems to continually resist change. ‘Unfashion’ is a movement that rebels against the norm giving consumers, the fashion outsiders, the power.

The refurbished and recycled collection, which was inspired by “traditional Nuba body painting contrasted with vintage British punk,” is made mostly of leather, hand painted and embellished with references to traditional African body adornment, something Mimi has incorporated in previous work.

We push beyond the stereotypical ideas of African-inspired fashion and create a high-end collection that flirts with modern day luxury in a new and refreshing way.

Fashion: Mimi Plange
Art Director: Stacey Jones
Hair: Linh Nguyen
Makeup: Joanne Gair
Model: Jessica Millen
Art: Victor Ekpuk
Furniture: Ousmane M’Baye
Location: The Africa Center
Photographer: Note Peter George

via http://design-milk.com/

from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/unfashion-mimi-plange-takes-on-the-current-state-of-fashion/

The Environment Will Thank &New for the Jää Bench

The Jää Bench, designed by &New, was inspired by the nature of recycled plastic and its environmentally friendly nature. The off white references melting snow, and the black references the ground after a long winter. Through the design of Jää, which is a Finnish word for both “ice” and “please stay”, the two designers, Jo Wilton and Mirka Gröhn, wanted to show that recycled furniture can be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Using a mix of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) plastic with small steel parts, Jää is also itself fully recyclable. The PE and PP plastics are 100% recycled post consumer plastic, or rather pure waste that has been diverted from landfills.

Jää comes flat packed with plastic shapes, steel rods, spacers, and nuts. The flat pack nature of the bench means it is easy to transport and distribute around the world in simple cardboard packaging, which is very important to &New and is a big part of their overall business model. As soon as it’s assembled, Jää is ready to used indoors and outdoors as a table as well as a bench!

The Jää Bench will officially launch during the London Design Festival next month and will be on show at Mint.

via http://design-milk.com/

from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2019/08/30/the-environment-will-thank-new-for-the-jaa-bench/

Friday Five with Kathryn Duryea of Year & Day

San Francisco native Kathryn Duryea is Founder and CEO of Year & Day, a home brand launched in October 2017 and purveyor of that pale pink tableware that’s been on all of your favorite sites this year. After earning her MBA from Stanford and a Bachelor’s from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, but before starting her own company, Duryea spent over a decade working in e-commerce and brand marketing at Tiffany & Co. And when it was time to step out on her own, she spent a year delving into the tabletop industry, taking a glaze-making class and researching craftsmanship legacies to understand the hallmarks of luxury in ceramics, flatware, and glass before opening the proverbial doors to Year & Day. Kathryn also met with vendors around the world to find partners who employed responsible manufacturing practices as well as understood her vision for top quality products that were beautiful enough for special occasions, but durable enough for everyday use. Thanks to all of that upfront work, Year & Day can offer its customers an intentionally limited as the best products at the best value. Today Kathryn is sharing five of her favorites for Friday Five.

Photo by Rachel Schwartzmann

1. Morning Rituals
Starting my day with a set of grounding, nourishing, and uplifting rituals sets myself up for the daily excitements and challenges of running a business. I wake up before my husband and have quiet time to make breakfast and coffee or matcha while listening to the news, followed by a stretch and morning meditation. Since I’m often on the road, I bring these rituals with me, which helps to keep me focused.

Photo courtesy Gardner Museum

2. Gardiner Museum in Toronto
For the plate-obsessed, this museum is heaven. My husband is from Toronto, so whenever we visit his family, I head here. Its extraordinary collection covers the history of Ceramics from their origins in China and Japan to Europe and I love seeing how the tastes, styles, and materials have evolved over time.

Photo by Jenni Bick

3. Delfonics Rollbahn spiral notebook
No matter how digital my life becomes, I am a paper notebook loyalist. Grid paper is a must: great for writing, graphing, drawing, to-do lists. I’ve tried several brands, but this brand from Japan is my current favorite. I carry one with me at all times. The paper is sturdy, slightly tinted, and it has an elastic band to keep it closed or mark a special page. When I run out of pages I get to pick a new color cover. In addition to to-do lists, I use them to store new ideas for products, content, and ways to grow the business.

Photo by Susan Edel

4. Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur
The California Coastline is an endless source of inspiration to me, and Big Sur is my favorite place – I was married and engaged there. The Post Ranch Inn experience is extraordinary. You are confronted with the beauty and vastness of the Pacific, the California mountains, the grand Redwoods, and the cheerful wildflowers.

Photo by Lena Rewell Textile Studio

5. Lena Rewell Blanket
This handwoven mohair blanket from Finland is pure comfort. When I’m home I wrap myself in this and it feels like a fluffy, luxurious, endless hug. They come in a fantastic array.

via http://design-milk.com/

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