Modern Wood Outdoor Pavilion With Stainless Steel Shutters

Originally designed as a full-service tea-house, this private commission for an outdoor pavilion is like a super cool modern fort made of planed larch wood with window shutters of high-polished stainless steel.





The outdoor structure has unusual niches and angular walls that function as built in seats when seat cushions are added.




Over time the wood will age and weather as the high polish stainless steel shutters act like mirrors reflecting the surrounding landscape.



A ladder leads up to the rooftop which acts like a sundeck:


all images courtesy of Baumhauer Architecture

Materials: larch wood, OSB, High luster polished stainless steel
Designed by Philipp Baumhauer with Karoline Markus

a special thanks to Florence Deau of Reflexdeco for bringing this to my attention

Lean, Mean, Trims The Green & Every Lazy Homeowner's Dream. Husqvarna's Automatic Robotic Solar Lawnmower.

I know it's Mother's Day today (Happy Mother's Day!) and this would be way up there on my wish list. If I had kids. Or a lawn. Regardless, this is one of those luxuries I aspire to own.

It's as though an eco conscious RoboCop gave birth to a lawnmower. Husqvarna's top of the line automated robotic mower is as beautifully designed as a new sports car and it will mow your lawn without complaining. (Plus, I'd love to see it battle with a Roomba).



No emissions, low noise (see the people pleasantly sleeping in the hammock? lol), low energy consumption, weather-proof and can handle slopes up to 35%... oh, and did I mention? You don't have to mow your own lawn!

The Automower® Solar Hybrid is the world's first fully automatic lawn mower that is partly powered by the sun.





The product uses considerably less energy than any conventional mower. That's because in addition to a charging station, it comes with a large integrated solar panel. When there is daylight available, the solar cells enable the mower to extend its cutting periods before it needs recharging. That means a cut lawn in a shorter time, even lower power consumption and an extended battery life. Suitable for lawns up to 1/2 acre, depending on light conditions.

• With the lift and tilt sensors, if it runs into something it will redirect itself without causing damage:


•The Solar Panel is an additional energy source that gives Automower® extra power directly from the sun:


•With the settings panel the mower can be programmed to fit many different lawns and preferences:


• The cutting height adjustment is easily done from above by turning one large knob:


• When the Automower® needs more power, it finds its own way back to the charging station:


Battery type: NiMH
Typical charging time: 45 min
Typical mow time on one charge: 60 min

Like I said at the beginning of the post, this one is their top of the line and the price reflects that. With a suggested retail price of $3,000.00, you'd better have lots of lawn or lots of disposable income, preferably both.


To find where to purchase the Husqvarna Automated Solar Hybrid Mower, go here.

For The Giant Chess Fan. Or The Fan Of Giant Chess.

Some people put a tennis court in their backyard. Others, a pool. But for those who like to engage in a game of Chess, there's another option; Nomi Klein's oversized fiberglass chess pieces and boards.



For use indoors or outdoors, the large pieces are crafted of fiberglass and then hand painted by Nomi in various finishes. High gloss, matte or custom colors to work with special designs or environments are available.



Some of the finishes:


The pieces range in size from 43" tall for the King to 33" tall for the Pawn and each weighs approximately 12 lbs. The board guidelines for the chess sets measure 16' by 16'.

Gallery:







The Chess sets have even been highlighted in the Robb Report...



...and several exist in commercial spaces like hotels, spas, shopping malls and even MTV Real Life houses.

These do not come cheap. A full set of 32 chess pieces (not including the board) will cost you $11,250.00 USD. You also have the option to buy individual pieces for $500.00 each. Prices do not include shipping and handling.

Ah, the games rich people play. Literally.


Visit NomiKlein Design for more information

Haugen/ Zohar Create Outdoor Fireplace Inspired By Norwegian Turf Huts

OUTDOOR FIREPLACE (also called Fireplace For Children) by architects Haugen/Zohar
Skjærmveien Barnehage, Trondheim

In their own words:
Together with the standard playground facilities we wished to combine an enclosed space for fire, storytelling and playing.

Given a very limited budget, reusing leftover materials (from a nearby construction site) was a starting point that led the design to be based on short wooden pieces. Inspired by the Norwegian turf huts and old log construction, a 5.2 x 4.5 meters wooden construction was built and mounted on a lighted and brushed concrete base.





The structure is made of 80-layered circles. The circles have varied radiuses and relative centre point in relation to each other. Every circle is made out of 28 pieces of naturally impregnated core of pine that are placed with varied spaces to assure chimney effect and natural light.



Oak separators differentiate vertically between the pine pieces to assure airflow allowing easy drying of the pine pieces.



A double curved sliding door was designed for locking the structure.



An authentic turf covered hut in Hardangervidda, Norway (photo by Brian McMorrow):


Sketches, plans, models and CGI renderings for the project:








Completed 2009
Client: Trondheim Municipality
Contractour: Pan Landskap AS
Project Team: Haugen/Zohar
3d consultants: Scenario architecture
Photographers: Grethe Fredriksen & Jason Havneraas

- Fireplace for Children project is included in the top 25 entries for the AR emerging architecture awards 2009. The project is now featured at the special edition of the Architectural Review (December issue) and the Emerging Architecture Exhibition at the RIBA, London

all information and images courtesy of Haugen/Zohar