The Fincube By Studio Aisslinger. Modular, Sustainable & Damn Cool Looking.

The Fincube by Berlin's Studio Aisslinger

This new housing is modular, sustainable and transportable. The low energy house, named ‘Fincube’, is comprised of thin horizontal “ledges” of locally grown wood that wrap the slightly bulging form.



At the moment, there are three models of Fincubes: the ready-to-move-into Fincube without interior furnishings, the standard model, and the premium model. The two latter models are based on the same room layout. Interior furnishings can be adjusted to your individual requirements.


The Fincube is installed on four columns whose height is adjusted to the topographic conditions. The elevation of the plot underlines the cubic form of the construction. Access is made available via a staircase.

With the use of natural materials such as wood, stone, and glass, and with low-energy construction techniques and minimum soil sealing, Fincube meets sustainable construction methods.

According to the intended use, connections for cold water, rainwater, waste water, and electricity are required. Due to the installation of a photovoltaic system on the roof, the Fincube becomes an independent unit.



This second facade layer provides privacy for the inhabitants and fuses the man-made structure with its natural surroundings.




The home provides 47 sqm of living space with a minimal CO2 footprint, and can also be easily dismantled and rebuilt on a different site.



The supporting structure is made of local larch and the interior is a combination of larch and stone-pine.



In the snow:



The Interior:


Organized in a helical structure, the entrance area blends into a generous open kitchen, with an adjacent living space and a bedroom around the corner.



Interior furnishings bear the trademark of the designer Werner Aisslinger – accentuated formal purity marks bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Minimalism and the use of high quality materials form the framework of individual living.


Kitchen and Dining:



Living Space:



Bedroom:



Bathroom:


Fincube models

Ready-to-move-into Fincube without interior furnishings:
This model of Fincube will be handed over ready-to-move-into. According to intended use, the customer designs his own Fincube and furnishes it with the desired interior.

Fincube Standard:
The standard Fincube is a fully equipped living unit with kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. All furniture and fittings are made to order and meet the highest quality requirements. Everything is included – from high-quality installation devices to lighting, and even curtains are available.

Fincube Premium:
This Fincube model differs from the standard model by its unlimited quality, technique, and luxury. Special accessories and technical features make the Fincube Premium a high-end version.

Dimension outside: 8,5 m x 8,5 m (with facade)
Dimension outside: 7 m x 7 m (without facade)
Total space: 49 m²
Usable space: 47 m²
Room height: 3 m
Material of supporting structure: wood - larch
Material outside/slats: wood - larch
Material inside: wood - larch/stone pine
Glazing: triple glazing, U-value – 0.70 W/m²K
Soil sealing:
Project details:
Year: 2008 
- 2010
The Team: Studio Aisslinger

The Fincube team is made up of Werner, Joseph, Markus, Matthias, Elisa, Hannes and Philipp. They all working in different areas, and tare committed to the vision of a new concept of living.


•Werner Aisslinger (design)
•Josef Innerhofer (sales)
•Markus Lobis (production)
•Matthias Prast (production)
•Elisa Innerhofer (communication, marketing)
•Hannes Santer (legal consultancy service)
•Philipp Mitterer (business consultancy service, marketing)
•Tina Bunjaprasit (design)

Partners:
interior design: tina bunyaprasit, studio aisslinger

styling
: studio aisslinger
Berlin 
investor: 
josef innerhofer
Wood structure 
by markus lobis - Ritten/Italy
interior finish by 
matthias prast. Ritten/Italy.

photos courtesy of Florian Berger, Hannes Meraner, Werner Aisslinger 

Tel: +39 0471 359 012
Fax: +39 0471 359 335
Hauptstraße 69
I-39050 Unterinn / Ritten
info@fincube.eu

Aston Martin's Cygnet, The Luxed Up Toyota IQ

In my opinion, Aston Martin makes some of the world's sexiest luxury sports cars; The DBS Volante, The DB9, the V12 Vantage and The Rapide. And especially their new Carbon Black special editions. Long, sleek, aerodynamic, elegant cars whose profiles' make one drool with desire. Aesthetically graceful enough for women, strong enough looking for men.


clockwise from upper left: the V12 Vantage, The DBS Volante, The DB9 and the Rapide.
 
So, when I first caught a glimpse of the Cygnet, I was disappointed. It's built on the Toyota iQ (called the Scion IQ in the US) platform. A little quirky european looking commuter car.



It's true, I have a personal bias against cars that look like the need a wind-up key to run. The Mini, the Smart car, the Toyota iQ and even that old Le Car remind me of Barnum and Bailey clown cars. That said, the reason I'm blogging about the Cygnet is the interesting business strategy behind it.

First off, if you didn't know, to purchase one of the Aston Martin Cygnets, you must already own a full-sized Aston Martin. Since many of their customers (Aston Martin says approximately 30%) already own a mini car like a Toyota iQ, they are serving their client’s needs while lowering the fleet’s CO2 emissions. Thus, without damaging their brand, they've basically designed a $45,000+* accessory for their customers who own $285,000 cars.
*The actual MSRP price has not been released.



“Many of our customers have a need for a small car for urban and city use,” says Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, “The Cygnet Concept brings intelligence, innovation and artistry to the small car market. The Cygnet Concept represents the natural choice for those customers looking for a premium commuter car.”



“Our past, our future and our backbone will always remain sports cars, but the Cygnet Concept will support this by offering our customers a greater degree of freedom in the urban context.”



The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is a bold step towards a new form of transportation; the luxury commuter car, a form of personal transportation that sees the company's core values engage with a new environment.



The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is the result of a unique and intelligent collaboration, the coming together of two companies that are leaders in their respective fields. The project has required a close intellectual and engineering partnership, resulting in an inventive solution that unites volume and niche automotive engineering.





The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept is small. At just under three metres long (that's 9.8 feet), the car is a highly refined piece of packaging, designed to make fast progress within dense European cityscapes. With four seats and a highly intelligent interior, the car can be configured in a number of different ways, allowing for a 2+2 seating system, a 2+1 seating system or a 2-seater with large luggage area.



The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept has a 1.3 litre 4-cylinder engine, offering CO2 emissions of 110g/km and combined fuel economy figures of 58.9 mpg, with a power output of 98bhp. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept has a six-speed manual gearbox, with the MultidriveTM CVT system available as an option. The Aston Martin Cygnet Concept comes with an acclaimed technology package as standard, including a satellite navigation system, iPod integration and a powerful six-speaker radio/CD player.



The Cygnet Concept enhances the marque, pointing to a future of ongoing innovation, design and technology; allowing Aston Martin customers a greater degree of freedom without compromising the levels of design, quality and innovation that embody the brand.



An Aston Martin delivers the pleasure and exhilaration of driving combined with an appreciation of craftsmanship, design and technology. But Aston Martin is also about innovation, forging new links and associations; and bringing the brand's qualities to new sectors of the market.



The Cygnet Concept is a demonstration of Aston Martin's unrivalled skill at creating hand-crafted interiors. The rich blend of hand-stitched leather, Alcantara and aluminium is shared with Aston Martin's sports cars. The company's extensive experience of traditional processes and richly detailed craftsmanship gives each Aston Martin a unique feel, bringing together detailed design work, high technology and exquisitely tactile materials.



As a luxury commuter car that can slip easily and unobtrusively into the city, the Cygnet Concept is a highly intelligent solution to urban mobility. Using tried and tested technology, together with Aston Martin's acclaimed levels of personalisation and customisation, material quality, craft skill and tactile delight, the Cygnet Concept is innovative and forward-thinking, a genuine solution for future mobility and a natural partner for Aston Martin's line-up of acclaimed luxury sports cars.



You can register your interest in the Cygnet to receive the latest news and info here

official images and information of the Aston Martin Cygnet courtesy of Aston Martin and Top Speed.

I told you I love Aston Martin cars, so be sure to check out the world's most expensive and exclusive Aston Martin One-77 here.

Hugo Kobayashi's Nothing For Something. Paintings Of Crushed Lottery Tix

Los Angeles born, but San Fransisco based artist Hugo Kobayashi, whose painting studio is in Oakland, has a new show opening at the Hang Art gallery today.

In his third solo exhibition with HANG ART, Hugo Kobayashi continues to materialize his observations of societal obsessions through meticulous rendering. He carefully explores how drastically the perception of gambling or chance has changed over the years and how its pervasive nature now causes fun to overshadow risk. Shown together, the body begs one to wonder how the scratchers’ owners were affected. Rather than implying a specific story, shown together the body leaves the viewer to wonder how the scratchers came to be.

The show, called Nothing For Something, features hyper realistic oil paintings of crumpled lottery tickets and scratchers. Each painting measures by 16" x 32" and I love every single one of them.

Nothing For Something:

Easy Go:

Losing My Cool:

Spinout:

Uneasy:

Red Ink and Blue:

In The Red:


The show runs from May 1 through May 15th. The Opening Reception will take place Thursday at the gallery May 6, from 6-8pm.

HANG ART
567 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94102


Paintings can also be purchased online here.

About the artist:


 Hugo Kobayashi's vertical canvases are filmic, skillfully rendered, and often autobiographical. A native of Southern California, he spent four years as a comic strip writer for LA View, which gave him a strong grasp of the narrative potential of visual images. He draws inspiration from comics and films, and the tall, narrow format of his work invites the viewer to read his images from top to bottom like unreeling filmstrips.

Kobayashi's goal is to combine the graphic techniques of cartooning and design with a painterly brushstroke and representational approach, crafting powerful, unified paintings that can both tell personal stories and comment on the world at large.

Born in Los Angeles in 1962 and reared in Orange County, Kobayashi has been making images since he was five. He earned his bachelor's degree in studio art from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983 and his master's degree from Hunter College in New York in 1986. Hugo has participated in exhibitions at the Berkeley Art Center, the Keyson Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael.

See all of his work at his site.

Disney Signature & Cappellini Unveil 5 Limited Edition Chairs

above: Modern Mickey Mouse fabric on Cappellini's Rive Droite chair

Walt Disney Signature and Italian furniture brand Cappellini have collaborated to produce five limited edition chairs that were unveiled this month at the Milan Furniture Fair.

The chairs:

ECO FISH Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Satyendra Pakhalè 2010



An organic shape inspired by nature, the Fish Chair is the ideal way to showcase the latest advancement in fabrication - an opaque, multi-coloured plastic created from recycled materials, moulded using a rotational technique. The material is recycled to underline Cappellini's renewed focus on the theme of conserving raw materials for the future generations. The internal part of the seat is coloured white. Series of 99 numbered pieces. Armchair - cm. 55 x 87 x 40/72 h.

MICKEY'S RIBBON STOOL Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Nendo 2010

With its circular shape, open design and flowing lines, the Ribbon Stool lends itself perfectly to the famous silhouette that peeks over its seat. Merging flawlessly together, our two visions create a single, iconic representation of the seamless collaboration between Cappellini and Walt Disney Signature. This is a series of high and low stools with backrest, produced from laser cut and folded sheet metal. The low stool has a shiny red varnish, the high stool a shiny yellow varnish, whilst the feet are in transparent plastic. Series of 399 numbered pieces for the low stool. Series of 199 numbered pieces for the high stool. Low stool - cm. Ø 42 x 45/66 h. High stool - cm. Ø 42 x 78/99 h.

Y'S MICKEY Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Christophe Pillet 2010




With its rounded contours and unique design, the Y's De Lux Chair is the perfect canvas on which to embroider one of our signature icons: a subtle geometric pattern using Mickey's silhouette. Swivel armchair with integral polyurethane frame. Fixed cover in white leather with white yarn embroidery that reproduces the unmistakeable silhouette of the most famous cartoon character in the world. Base in die cast aluminium with matt white varnish, feet in black plastic. Series of 33 numbered pieces. Armchair - cm. 54.5 x 73 x 43/80 h.

MULTICOLOUR RIVE DROITE Walt Disney Signature limited edition from Cappellini - design: Patrick Norguet 2010


Making the connection between fashion and design, the Rive Droite chair seamlessly fuses a pure, modern shape, with the graphic pattern of Mickey's overlapping silhouette. The bold, daring palette illustrates both Walt Disney Signature and Cappellini's fearless approach to colour. Swivel armchair with wooden and moulded polyurethane frame. Fixed cover in fabric that presents a highly familiar silhouette in a daring pallette. Base in brushed stainless steel. Series of 99 numbered pieces. Armchair - cm. 93.5 x 73.5 x 38.5/71 h.

the press release:
Walt Disney Signature, Disney's first upscale, inspired, non-character, adult lifestyle brand and Cappellini, one of the most renowned design innovators worldwide, today unveiled five limited edition chairs at the Milan Furniture Fair in Italy. The combination of Cappellini's reputation for innovation and the magic and inspiration of Disney has produced a series of everyday products that resemble works of art.


above: The Disney and Cappellini Booth at The 2010 Milan Furniture fair

This introduction follows the success of Walt Disney Signature's dining installation in collaboration with Cappellini for last month's Dining By Design DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) event in New York City.


above: the Dining display at Diffa

A 3-dimensional sculpting of Mickey Mouse sitting on a giant chair, previously used for the DIFFA event display, was recreated at Fuori Salone, Milano Design Village to mark today's launch. The Mickey sculpture is made of polyurethane, measures more than three metres tall and weighs 40 kilos.



"Walt Disney and Cappellini both have a shared approach to design, creativity and collaboration that turns everyday products into functional works of art," commented Pamela Lifford, executive vice president, Home and Fashion, Disney Consumer Products. "Collaborating with a leading Italian design brand specialising in contemporary furnishings like Cappellini is another exciting step in continuing Walt Disney Signature's philosophy on design and innovation."

"This collaboration is the premise for a joint Cappellini and Walt Disney Signature stylistic commitment that promises to become a new, interesting and exciting chapter in the history of contemporary design, combining Cappellini's strong inclination for innovation with the magical creativity of Disney," added Giulio Cappellini, Art Director for Cappellini.

The Ribbon stool and the Fish Chair, Y's de Luxe and Rive Droite armchairs are embellished with patterns, each one with a different image and underlying theme. The Ribbon's new profile blends Cappellini design with the outline of Disney's most famous character, Mickey Mouse; Y's de Luxe and Rive Droite reflect and multiply the same image in striking processed fabrics; the Fish Chair's shape is inspired by Disney's It's A Small World and produced in recycled material.

Walt Disney Signature products from Cappellini are available at independent and specialty retailers across the globe. Your local Cappellini retailer will be able to take orders now.