If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

A Modern Greek Villa Fit For The Gods By KLab Architects

The Wide Open Villa by KLab Architects

A stunning single family home in the suburb of Ekali in Athens, Greece. Begun in 2006 and completed in 2009, the monolithic volume gives the home an impression of having two fronts; a curved one along the street and a planar one towards the back yard, pool and private garden. From the outside, the building has an austere, almost intimidating character. Inside, plan and section work together to create a fluid space that undermines the initial monumental impression by inviting extended exterior views to enter.

What better eay to get bombed on sake than with the hand crafted ceramic microwaveable Sake Bomb, a modern sputnick looking vessel with four incoporated sake cups that can hold hot or cold sake.

The Sake Bomb is hand crafted in Los Angeles. It is available in a variety of vivid colors with a sealed matt ceramic finish. To ensure the complexity and geometric nature of the sake bomb remained true, the manufacturing process combines both high-tech modern technologies with traditional handcrafted techniques. The vessels were initially design in 3D CAD software and printed using a 3D FDM printer. From these objects plaster molds were taken and traditional slip-casting procedures are employed to create the ceramic versions for kiln firing.

This whimsical pouring vessel is a comical take on the western slang “Sake Bomb”. The inspiration is a juxtaposition of the Fugu Fish (Blowfish or Puffer Fish), the most opulent of sashimi cuts and a WW II sea mine. The small drinking cups perch neatly on the spines making it a compact entertaining tool.

above: the Fugu, also known as the Puffer Fish or Blowfish served as the design inspiration

The Sake Bomb was designed by Alexander Purcell founder of APRRO an interdisciplinary design studio based in Los Angeles.

Available in four colors:

Because the Sake Bomb is ceramic it keeps both your hot sake hot and your cold sake cold. To heat sake you may place Sake Bomb in microwave for a minute. Sake Bomb holds 8 FL OZ (235 ml)

$98.00 USD Buy it here.

$3.2 million iPhone 3GS Supreme. Officially The World's Most Expensive.

In the battle of the bling, Stuart Hughes presently holds the top honors with the introduction of his iPhone 3GS Supreme, officially the world's most expensive mobile phone at $3.2 million dollars ( or £1.92 million).

The ostentatious piece of technological hardware is encased in 271 grams of 22ct solid gold.

The front bezel houses 136 flawless diamonds of F color which total a massive 68 cts and the rear apple logo, set in solid gold has 53 flawless diamonds totaling 1 carat:

The major eye-popping feature is the front navigation button which is a single cut very rare diamond weighing a whopping 7.1 cts:

The chest which houses this unique handset is made from a single block of Kashmir Gold Granite, the inner lined with Nubuck top grain leather and which weighs is a massive 7kg.

Designed by Stuart Hughes of Liverpool, England, the phone was 10 months in the making and commissioned by an anonymous Australian businessman from the Gold mining industry.

Modern Teak Tubs & Sinks From Plavisdesign of Italy

Often thought of the most suitable hardwood for outdoor furnishings because of its hardiness when exposed to water, heat and humidity, teak makes for great bathroom tubs and sink basins as well.

Plavisdesign of Italy, who has a large selection of ceramic designs for the bath, has a special collection of modern teak wood tubs and wonderful sink vessels by Bulle Design, many of which were recently introduced in the trade shows.

The natural quality of the wood and the organic shapes combined with sink pedestals of glass and/ or stainless steel accents or fittings, make this collection suitable for many architectural styles or genres. Japanese miminalist, bauhaus, modernist or simply urban would all be appropriate environments for pieces from this collection.

Teak Tubs

Abby:

Day:

Nextstep:

Teak Sinks / Basins / Vessels

All:

Ant:

Dave:

Gene:

Luis:

Neil:

Stan:

And the Teak Middle, a wall mounted shower:

In addition to this collection, Plavisdesign has many beautiful ceramic sinks, vessels, basins and tubs, too.

And worth noting is their new stunning modern Ari tub made of Corian and glass: