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MINI Space Design Competition "The Big 50" Jury Winners & More




In their 7th design competition, MINI Space, the urban initiative and creative networking site by MINI, asked people to create an image that said "The Big 50" to celebrate 50 years of the MINI Cooper.


above: one of the submissions in the contest

Here are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winning designs as selected by the Mini Space Design Jury:

First Prize (an Apple Macbook Pro) - "Ancient Rider" by Rasha zones:


Second Prize (a Canon Digital Camera) - "Direccion Obligada" by gas_77


Third Prize ( a 1 pair of SUPERFUTURE sunglasses) - "Road 50" by giampy535


And the winner of the "Popular" vote (an iTunes store credit equivalent to approximately 100 songs) - "50 years old british mosaic" by Pstrosz:



Like any design competition, the selection of the winners is very subjective. Here's a few other entries for you to enjoy:












To see more of the submissions like the ones below, go here.


Monopoly Goes Modern. A Good Look At The New Monopoly: Revolution Edition




above: no more paper money, Monopoly Revolution has electronic banking

The classic Hasbro board game Monopoly is issuing a new modern version with a round game board, sound effects, music clips, modern graphics, translucent houses and buildings, clear plastic stand up game pieces and electronic banking.

Monopoly: Revolution Edition

The most obvious difference is the new round board:


The newly designed game pieces are decidedly different from the original pewter 3D charms:


Got To Jail still has the whistle blowing cop, only now he's a modern graphic icon:


And the houses are translucent red:




The press release:


In 2010, the 75 year tradition of buying, selling and negotiating properties in the quest to own it all gets a modern makeover with the introduction of MONOPOLY: Revolution Edition. The new edition reinvents the traditional MONOPOLY game with a new look, featuring a round game board, standout packaging, electronic banking, music and sound effects.

“As MONOPOLY has truly become the world’s favorite family game brand, and is a part of pop culture, we are pleased to celebrate our anniversary by offering new MONOPOLY entertainment experiences for families around the world.”

“The new MONOPOLY: Revolution Edition continues Hasbro’s tradition of providing new and revolutionary entertainment options for families,” said Jane Ritson-Parsons, Global Brand Leader for MONOPOLY. “As MONOPOLY has truly become the world’s favorite family game brand, and is a part of pop culture, we are pleased to celebrate our anniversary by offering new MONOPOLY entertainment experiences for families around the world.”

In 1935, Parker Brothers began selling MONOPOLY, a property trading game, which would quickly become a cultural phenomenon. Seventy-five years later, more than 1 billion people in 108 countries have played the game designed by Charles Darrow and based on the streets of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

MONOPOLY: Revolution Edition features the traditional streets of Atlantic City, but with property values more reflective of today’s prices. For example, players collect $2 Million when passing “GO” instead of $200. Keeping track of the millions changing hands during game play is an electronic unit that serves as banker, die and music player.

MONOPOLY: Revolution features clips of hit songs from five decades, including “Umbrella,” “Bad Day” and “Drive My Car,” and sound effects throughout the game that bring a contemporary new spin on the classic family favorite.


Buy MONOPOLY Revolution here

Of course, there are tons of Monopoly versions now on the market from specifically branded ones like The Simpsons to Disney versions. Army, Navy... and Star Wars editions, too. But, if the idea of a modern version of the classic board game bothers you, there is an alternative. They have a beautiful wooden replica of their 1935 version:


buy the Monopoly 1935 Deluxe Wood Edition


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

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