The Lovefish Tank by Dean Zeus Coleman (and How It Was Made).

Artist Dean 'Zeus' Coleman likes to create unusual fish tanks* as well as compelling 3D Graffiti sculptures and other wonderful fine art. His latest is the Lovefish, a tank made of heated and curved glass pieces that literally spell out the word LOVE.

Crazy Counters: Caesarstone presents 'Islands' by Raw Edges

As part of their ongoing commitment to creating new platforms for design, Caesarstone has collaborated with London design studio Raw Edges to produce Islands. The brief was to re-examine the domestic environment and the use of surface. With their signature creativity, Raw-Edges transforms the surface into the structure itself. Available in a range of sizes and proportions, Islands is designed for different functions within the home.



Veering away from the common modular system, Islands reshapes the typical interior arrangement by positioning the working surface as the binding element of its design. A display of cabinetry, appliances or separate units is slotted into voids within the surface itself instead of being placed atop or around it. Islands offers a new take on a variety of domestic spaces: kitchens, bathrooms and spaces whose surfaces answer more emotional domestic needs such as a space to play and a space to display objects.



Raw-Edges investigates the interaction between different sizes, materials, colours and textures within the interior space. Inspiration is drawn from Caesarstone's Classico collection and in particular from its 2014 Supernatural designs, whose countertops star as the focal point of Islands. The surfaces' strength, durability, textures and natural looking designs complement the different materials from which the separate units are made, such as reclaimed wood, terracotta, glass and other materials found in a domestic environment. The design celebrates the daily function, origin and importance of the units which are commonly hidden away behind a unified façade.




Raw-Edges founders Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay describe Islands as: “a great opportunity to experiment with everyday areas like kitchens and bathrooms. We always strive towards the alternative, the humorous and always question the traditional approach to design.” They add: “If in a common kitchen the surface is only a top layer that covers the kitchen units, here we would like to propose the surface as the core of the kitchen which holds the different elements together in quite an unexpected way.”



Eli Feiglin, VP of marketing at Caesarstone remarks: "Caesarstone is continuously seeking new and creative ways in which to reaffirm its position as a global trendsetter and leader in the industry. We are proud to work with a designer who rethinks the domestic environment, explores the surfaces' unique properties and who may enhance them with a creative exploration of colours and materials."



The following video was created with miniature models:


Video credits:
Client: Caeserstone
Designers: Yael Mer & Shay Alkalay
Scale Models: Raw Edges Design Studio
Production: Seeing The Brick Motion Studio
Director: Maarten Vranken
DOP: Gunter Blokken & Maarten Vranken
Animators: Maarten Vranken & Jan Kegels
Music & SFX: Jeroen De Meyer
2014 © Seeing The Brick Motion Studio

Caesarstone will present a further exploration of Islands with an interactive installation focusing on food and dining within the domestic environment.



• Islands by Raw Edges for Casaerstone will be presented at Palazzo Criveli Via Clerici 5, Milan
• Opening times April 9-13, 10AM - 6PM,
• April 8- late night preview 10AM - 8PM

info and images courtesy of Caesarstone, and the Instagram photos used in this post are from from the preview at the Interior Design Show in Toronto and are courtesy of Caesarstone CA.


Caesarstone
Raw Edges

The Echappée Aquarium by Sébastien Cordoleani and Vincent Breed

This structure was designed by Sébastien Cordoleani and built by glass artist and craftsman Vincent Breed, to invite fish to “take a breather,” extending the limitations of the usual tank or aquarium.



above two photos © Erick Saillet

The Echappée (or Extension) was created for the show 15 Designers, 15 Artisans held in Saint-Etienne in December 2010. Each pair had about 2 months to meet up, think, design and make the pieces, with only a dimension constraint of 60 x 60 x 60 cm.

above: The aquarium at the

The purpose of this project, initiated by Emilie Colin Garros, Philippine Lemaire and David des Moutis in summer 2010, was to promote a mode of creation based on the proximity and to reflect the possibility of innovation and creation in a framework where the discussion and the transmission of technical and practical knowledge are possible. It has subsequently traveled including a 2011 exhibition at the French boutique Merci during Designer's Days.




above: The aquarium at the Merci Boutique exhibit.

It is made up of a basin from which a water pipe rises into space, beyond the usual physical limits of an aquarium. By overflowing it offers new horizons to the fish and those who contemplate them. The means to achieve this being simply the application of the physical phenomena of surface tension. The bubble is the central element, a technical challenge for the glass-blower who, by blowing out and sucking in air, will give it the appearance of flowing water.

Echappée (Extension) 2005-2010
Prototype
Dimensions : basin : L 60, W 40, H 11 cm / extension : L 40, W 30 x H 40 cm
Material : glass

images courtesy of Sébastien Cordoleani , Domus, and Design Parade – villa Noailles,

The Betta Bowl and Aqua U, Modern Tabletop Fish Tanks From Zero Edge Aquariums.

The Betta Bowl:



More fancy living for your betta fish. The ZeroEdge Betta Bowl is handcrafted out of cast acrylic material and is large enough to incorporate plants. It can be used as a planter instead of a fish tank, if you so desire.




Available in all clear or with a black acrylic back, the Betta Bowl measures
18.5" x 5" x 6.5" Length x Width x Height, 3/8” Front and back and has a 1/4” heat formed bottom.

$44.95, buy it here (and it's 10% off until Christmas).


The Aqua U:



The Zeroedge Aqua U is a fun and versatile 4.5 gallon desktop aquarium. The interesting shape not only looks stylish, it helps with the water flow in the aquarium. Water enters this little aquarium at a low level before it raises and goes through the surface skimmer.




dimensions: 14” x 11.75” x 14”,  Outer footprint, 11.75” x 8” x 12”
Includes:
Mounted hang on the back filter
Sicce pump
Filter Media
Polycarbonate lids

Available in black or white,
$290,  buy it here

The Aquafarm Is A Self-Cleaning Fish Tank And Herb Garden In One.

Aquafarm is an Aquaponics Garden from Back to the Roots, a company founded by Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora during their last semester at UC Berkeley in 2009.


above: Alejandro Velez and Nikhil Arora of Back To The Roots.


The second product offered from Back To The Roots (the first was a grow-your-own mushroom kit), Aquafarm was successfully funded via Kickstarter in December of 2012.

So, What Is It?
The tabletop eco-system uses the fish waste to naturally fertilize the plants above. In turn, the plants clean the water for your pet fish.





The Aquafarm includes natural aquatic supplies from Home Grown Ponics and organic seeds from Seeds of Change.

What's Happening Inside?



The fish, they poo and they pee, and all that waste-water gets broken down by beneficial bacteria into nutrients.



The waste-water from the fish is then pumped up & upcycled as an awesome organic fertilizer for the plants. The plants take up the nutrients and, at the same time, clean the water which then falls back down for the fish.



There is no soil - the plants are growing just on rocks - all the nutrients coming from the fish (no need for any artificial fertilizers - it's all organic)

There is no need to clean the water because of the plants - it's a self-cleaning fish tank!

What Can I Grow?


Choose from a variety of fresh produce, including spinach, baby greens, oregano, beans, basil, mint, parsley & thyme.

What Kind of Fish?

above: various types of Betta Fish.

You can pick from a ton of different types of fish that will work great in the system - including the Betta fish pictured in their system in this post.

On June 7th of this year, they finally shipped the first one. Below is a video of Alejandro and Nikhil giving us a peek into the production:



Aquafarm, The Self-Cleaning Fish Tank that Grows Food


• Self-cleaning fish tank that grows food.
• Fish waste feeds the plants. Plants clean the water.
• Includes everything you need to get started as well as organic seeds and a discount     coupon for a Betta fish.
• Sleek and attractive design with 3-gallon capacity.
• Perfect for your kitchen or classroom. Also makes a great gift.
• Designed and manufactured in California

Where Can I Get One?
The Aquafarm retails for $59.99 and can be purchased here

The Graffiti Fishtank by Artist Dean Zeus Coleman

London Artist Dean Zeus Coleman (aka Zeus) is known for redefining traditional Graffiti with his three dimensional sculptures, paintings and typography. One of his unusual projects I simply had to share with you, given my fondness for aquariums, is this fabulous three dimensional graffiti typography fish tank.


detail:

From the back side as seen in an exhibit:


Zeus is incredibly talented and works in several different mediums. Here's a look at just a few of his sculptures, paintings and installations I find compelling:







all images courtesy of the artist

There's much more to see over at his blog. Go check it out.



Dean Zeus Coleman