Boston Treepods - Decarbonize Beautifully

Because I (a) am a sucker for beautifully lit sculptural art and (b) love "green" technologies -- these decarbonizing trees designed for SHIFTboston really appeal to me.  The design challenge called for a tree-like product that would perform the same functions (carbon dioxide removal, oxygen release) as natural trees but be usable in locations unfriendly to real trees (lacking soil and water.) Designers Mario Caceres and Cristian Canonico grew Treepods in the collective imaginations to fill the need.

Not only do the Treepods decarbonize, they also generate solar energy and harvest kinetic energy from integrated see-saws.

Treepods - Boston 

Treepods - Boston 

Treepods - Boston

Found on Inhabitat.
More info here.

Rainbow Hill - James Hubbell, Architect

My interest in organic architecture springs from visual "wow" reaction to the work of James Hubbell, architect and sculptor, about 13 years ago when I lived in San Diego where James Hubbell is a local fixture and architecture celebrity.  I had no idea what I was looking at the time and who had created it, I was just so very drawn to the work.  I would run across pictures of his work in various places and never put the name to the work until one day I realized that these pieces were all the work of single artist - James Hubbell.

I'll be showcasing the work of Hubbell and Hubbell here on this blog regularly. Many of these are my own personal photos taken on the yearly Open House that James Hubbell and his wife host each year on Father's Day at their Julian, CA compound.

Today, I'm going to feature Rainbow Hill in Julian, California.  This structure was originally built out of friendship in 1991 and became a famous local Bed and Breakfast.  The house was sold to a private party in 2010 and is no longer available for rentals.  I was lucky enough to have stayed there in 2004 and it was an unforgettable experience.

Rainbow Hill - James Hubbell, Architect

Master Bathroom of Rainbow Hill - James Hubbell

Top of Water Feature at Rainbow Hill - James Hubbell

Hubbell and Hubbell Website.

Flylight - Lighting Art

My future home will not be complete without an interactive lighting display like this breathtaking sculpture in light designed by Studio Drift in Amsterdam. Flylight is composed of over 180 glass tubes that light up in what seem to be random patterns ...but are not at all random.  Flylight contains a computer simulation that reacts to a viewer drawing close, adapting flock behavior into spectacular patterns.

Video of a Flylight installation:

Images:

Flylight by Studio DRIFT

Flylight by Studio DRIFT

Studio DRIFT website.

Metropol Parasol - Jürgen Mayer H, Architects

For today's visual feast we showcase the Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain.  Beautifully designed by architects Jürgen Mayer H, this new urban center is the largest wood structure in the world. The undulating parasols house a unique and artistic urban center of an archaeological museum, restaurants, public space for conversation and contemplation, and a farmer's market. A viewing terrace on top of the parasols allows for scenic vistas of the city and the structure.

Metropol Parasol, Seville - Jürgen Mayer H Architect

Metropol Parasol, Seville - Jürgen Mayer H Architect

Metropol Parasol, Seville - Jürgen Mayer H Architect

Metropol Parasol, Seville - Jürgen Mayer H Architect

Architect Website.

Vertical Gardens Slideshow

In a futile attempt to avoid doing my own yard work, I present a wonderful slide show of vertical gardens put together by Garden Design Magazine.

Linky

Some images just because posts with no eye candy are meh.

Highway overpass vertical garden by Patrick Blanc

Natura Towers vertical garden by Michael Hellgren

Smog Shoppe vertical garden by Jamie Durie

The Shell House - Octavio Ocampo, Architect

What's one shell inspired house when you can look at two!  This fantasy architecture was designed and constructed by artist Octavio Ocampo in Mexico and is available as a vacation rental.  The house has two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and is constructed of concrete and over 4,000 seashells from the local beach decorate the house.

The Shell House - Octavio Ocampo, Architect

The Shell House - Octavio Ocampo, Architect

The Shell House - Octavio Ocampo, Architect

More images via Beautiful Life.

Booking for rental.

Nautilus House - Javier Senosiain, Architect

Today's we go off into the wonderful imagination of architect Javier Senosiain, mastermind of this shell shaped bit of organic confection in Mexico City. Built for a couple with young children, I can only imagine what a thrill it must be to grow up surrounded by this creativity.

Nautilus House - Javier Senosiain

Nautilus House - Javier Senosiain

Video slideshow with more images:

Via Beautiful Life.