ARTechnic's Stunning Shell House: Exterior And Interior

Japanese architecture firm ARTechnic has designed and completed this unusual- but beautiful and minimalist- concrete ovoid home in Karuizawa, Japan. Built in two sections, around a fir tree, it is nestled in a forest and is as amazing inside as it is on the outside.





You can see how the two ovals are constructed around the fir tree:






And now, the interior, complete with curved banquets, wood built-ins and round skylights:











above photos provided by Nacasa & Partners Inc

If you wish to learn more, Rose Etherington has gone into great detail about the home on Dezeen, including floorplans, how the initial plans changed over time and building details here.

ARTechnic
TEL: 03-5768-8718
FAX 03-5768-8738
e-mail:info@artechnic.jp
www.artechnic.jp

Nasty Teacups & Erotic Homewares From Outlandish Creations

Outlandish Creations of the UK create ceramic and porcelain pieces for the home that are a tongue in cheek twist on tradition and eroticism. All the pieces are original and hand crafted. Some can be found at various boutiques and others can be commissioned directly from the artist.

Here are some of her more popular pieces:

The 'Salt & Pepper Cockshakers' are a tongue in cheek poke at the discerning entertainer. Beautifully made in slip cast stoneware these pieces are practical as well as being beautiful to the touch.




Buy the cockshakers here.

Tea Cups:


The 'Tea Cup & Saucer' is an antithesis to the typical 'tea set'. The cups and saucers have been slip cast, and the pictures or rude lettering has been added on in decal transfer after the second firing.

Cock n' Balls tea cup:

Whore and Wanker cups:

Bitch and Wanker tea cup set:


Buy the 'bitch' and 'wanker' tea cup set here.

Porcelain Riding Crops:


Riding crops signify dominance and submission, a secretive glance at a masochistic world, which intrigues as much as it entices. Katie is bringing to the foreground an unabashedly flirty, delicate and entirely coquettish object. In its fragility, being made in porcelain, it is impractical to use. One strike will break the crop.






Katie of Outlandish Creations is a designer and maker of high quality porcelain and stoneware ceramic slip cast items including lighting and ‘kitchenalia’. Katie's work has been created from conception to production and are unique one-off pieces. Her work is produced in Troubadour Studios, Falmouth under the ‘Outlandish Creations’ registered brand name and can be found at such erotic homewares shops as Impure Art and Coco de Mer

Please contact Katie if you wish to discuss a commission. All items can be made to order specifically to your technical requirements.

Erotic homewares turn you on?



Then you probably want to check out Randy Woods erotic pillows and homewares here.

Product Pick Of The Week: The Sema Table by Nurus

The Sema Table by Nurus:





The Sema small table series was designed by Alper Boler & Omer Unal for Nurus of Turkey.


above: Designers ömer ünal, 35 and alper böler, 33 of ünal & böler Studio (now operating as separate studios)




"sema" is the name given to the dance of the whirling dervishes which symbolizes the harmony and balance. Sema is a coffee table with a turning top and rotating bars below it which can be utilized in storing books, magazines and newspapers. It comes in various heights and sizes.







Awards:

The SEMA was a recipient of IF Design Award 2009, where 2,808 products from 39 countries competed. This is the 4th IF award for Nurus, the most ever won by a brand from Turkey.

Nurus website
Price is available upon request from the manufacturer.

If Old MacDonald Had An iPod: The iPig & iPanda

If Old MacDonald had an iPod, he'd probably listen to it on the iPig or the new iPanda docking stations. Cute, but powerful, these spherical docking stations pump out 25 watts of power, are compatible with various mp3 and mp4 players, music devices, gaming consoles and all iPods. They have wireless remotes and are made of green grade "A" eco friendly materials.

Made by Speakal, the iPig received great acclaim and reviews at the 2007 at the consumer electronics show and now, iPanda has joined his swine friend.

The iPig:




The Features of both the iPig and iPanda:

• Highly Compatible: The iPig is compatible with most iPod’s, MP3, MP4, Portable Game consoles (PSP, Nintendo DS), Gaming Consoles (PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox360), Portable and non portable CD and DVD players, Televisions, Personal Computers (Desktop and Laptops), Mobile Phones with Audio playing capabilities.

• Humanized Touch Volume Control:

Gently touch the right ear of the iPig to raise the volume and touch the Left one to lower the volume. This patented technology will only react to the human touch and will not be affected by temprature or humidity.

• High Quality Sound:

The iPig has a total of 5 speakers including a 4 in. subwoofer, with a total output of over 25 Watts of Raw, Undistorted, Clear Music. It also has a super Hi-Fi Amplifier, an interior dynamic airflow optimizer, and an interior dynamic cooling exchange system with high sound stabilization to produce a clear and powerful sound.

• iPOD Docking Station: Compatible with most of iPods. Dock your iPod, charge it and listen to your music without interruption.

• RF Remote Control:

One remote control to browse through the different iPOD features and to control the speakers’ Volume, treble and bass.

• Smiley Lit Mouth:

The mouth tells you right away by its light if the iPig is on or off. It also tells you whenever it receives a command from the remote control.

• Adjustable Bass Control:

Control the level of Base output from the knob control in the back of the iPig

• Bass Reflex Technology: Don’t just listen to the music but FEEL it with the Bass Reflex Technology Feel the amplification and output

• 360 Degrees Sound Spreading: The shape and the placement of the speaker of the iPig allows a 360 degree sound spreading, you will get the same quality of sound from each corner of the room

• Standard Mini Jack: A 3.5 mm stereo audio-in connection to connect with other audio and gaming devices

• GREEN and RoHS Compliant: The iPig is made of the top grade and environment friendly manufacturing materials. It has no hazardous materials.

• Colors: Professional formula of High-Gloss fashionable and shiny three colors: White, Yellow and Pink

• Multi Cradles: Fit your iPod with the correct cradle.

• Small Footprint: Complement your room. The iPig blends in as a decorative item that will sneak up on you with its wonderful sound quality

• Warranty: 1 year manufacture warranty. Warranty terms and conditions apply.



You can buy the iPig or the iPanda here for $129.99 and includes a 90 full days manufacturer’s warranty.

About Speakal Company.
Speakal Company specializes in high performance audio solutions. As the sole distributor of Amethyst products in North America, Speakal will continue to provide innovative audio products for years to come. Founded in 2006, Speakal Company is a privately held company based in Culver City, CA. For more information, please visit www.speakal.com.