Many of us are drawn to the ocean in one way or another, and sometimes
a soft, sandy beach is not nearby. Wouldn’t it be great if local
council members of popular coastal areas could find an innovative means
of providing access to our rocky foreshores? One community has done
just that – wooden platforms constructed over rugged terrain allow
enhanced enjoyment of the seaside. By Andrew J Wiener
Another elaborately themed public flash mob event hits New York tomorrow.
Improveverwherecauses scenes of chaos and we love them for it. If you're in New York, all you have
to do is rock up to a designated train station, acting as if everything is normal, and catch the
train, without your pants on. There are strict rules (no
laughing, no nastiness, no g-bangers) but it is all in good fun. The
idea is to make other people laugh, stare and feel ever-so-slightly
awkward.
There are No Pants 2k8 happening in the following
cities: New York, Boston, Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco,
Chicago, Toronto, Baltimore, Salt Lake City. It's happening tomorrow - Sat 12 Jan.
See Also Bubble Battles, Pillow Fight Club, Water Gun Assinations
They’re everywhere you turn in nearly every corner across six
continents – McDonald’s iconic golden arches have led us to familiar
and welcoming surrounds for over half a century. But even at the
most recognizable burger chain on Earth, change is inevitable.
As we’ve become more health conscious McDonald’s responded with a
selection of salads and fruits. As we’ve become more
international, McDonald’s responded: Norway serves the grilled salmon
McLak, Japan serves green tea-flavored milkshakes, Israel serves
McShawarma, a pita filled sandwich. And now, as we’re becoming
more design-conscious, McDonald’s is responding once again.
Across the globe, McDonald’s is recreating its brand in practically
every way possible. Here at the Cool Hunter we’re obviously most
interested in the design. So now it’s your turn. Have you
come across a cool, fresh recreated McDonald’s out there in the
world? If so, let us know – send us your images to
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. By Andrew J Wiener.
Escaping the big city used to mean keeping warm beside a fireplace in a
quaint little wood cabin tucked away in the wilderness. But now
we all know impressive design can be found virtually anywhere, even in
the most remote areas. At 2200 square feet, the Steel House
in New York’s Hudson Valley provides an ideal weekend retreat.
From a distance the length of the narrow house looks like a metallic
screen rising out of the surrounding meadow. The house opens to
the landscape on the narrow east and west facades. One end
features a double-height entry with a stairway leading up to two
bedrooms on the second level. The bedrooms above overlook a
small, private lake by way of an enclosed balcony while below, the
living and dining area open out to a screened patio.
Striving to remain economical, high priority was giving to the
selection of materials and finished both inside and out. All
interior walls, floors and ceiling as well as custom furniture and
cabinetry were constructed of durable maple plywood. Special
consideration was also given to the use and placement of windows and
skylights that allow for natural ventilation.
Exterior floating stainless steel panels run the length of the
house. Besides obvious aesthetic considerations, these perforated
exterior screens protect the house from seasonal weather
variations. They provide much needed shade from the summer sun,
and buffer the home from strong winter winds.
At just under 100 miles from New York City, the Steel House is
hardly at the end of the earth, however, the siting and design of the
weekend retreat allows its guests a welcoming break from the urban
chaos. By Andrew J Wiener
I’m willing to bet that most of you have (or wish you had) more shoes
that you can possibly even remember. And more than likely the floor of
your closet resembles an absolute train wreck. Pinel
& Pinel,
a luxury goods manufacturer out of Paris, may have the answer for you.
The design team has created a series of trunks used primarily for
stereo and office storage inspired by the golden age of train and ocean
liner travel. The most recent addition to the collection, a sneaker
storage trunk on wheels, is designed especially for those of you who
have been waiting for the perfect means of organizing – and displaying
– your favorite shoes. By Andrew J Wiener
Our first in a series of cool hunter books to
be published by Harper Collins Publishers (US). First of the rank is "The World's
Coolest Hotel Rooms", which will be launched in April 2008, along with
our online hotel booking service. The book has been designed by Sydney based design studio, War Design, who also created the cool hunter logo and branding.
It isn't exactly comfy and it rattles like heck, but it’s YSL so
we’ll be duly agog. The Plexiglass vests for Yves Saint Laurent
Spring/Summer 2008 collection are the handiwork of Stefano Pilati, the
man never afraid to experiment and try something new.
The 40-plus head
designer of YSL used to be Tom Ford’s right-hand man at the YSL Rive
Gauche ready-to-wear collection. He has also designed for Giorgio
Armani and Miu Miu. We hope the plexiwear is just a Pilati thing but it
appears that — and we are not yet sure we’re going to like it — big
logos are back across brands. One more thing to endure in 2008. By Tuija Seipell
Ask a child what their favorite subject is at school, and chances are
they’ll say recess. It’s the one time during the day when they are
almost absolutely free to make decisions for themselves – from who to
play with, what to play, and where to play. And as children grow, the
social dynamics of who can play where shifts and an age-based pecking
order ensues.
The Netherlands-based design team at Carve integrate
architectural expression into their playground design thereby
generating unique play experiences for children of all ages. Don’t let
the kids know, however that the Carve team strives to encourage a
cognitive process – even during free time. This new equipment and play
structures stimulate decision-making, group and continuous play (use of
the same equipment in varying way) encouraging children to climb, hang,
swing, skate, slide, run, jump, vault, hide.
One of Crave’s creation in particular, the wall-holla, has received
special notoriety as it was nominated for the Dutch Design Awards in
2006. Thirty children at once can climb, crawl, roll and maneuver
through the large fence-like structure. Older children are able to
scale the climbing wall or just relax and look out over the domain
they’ve waited countless years to control. By Andrew J Weiner.
In the mid-nineteenth century, when Bavarian peddler Morris Levi
Strauss and Latvian tailor Jacob Youphes (Davis) started to create
tough work wear for California coal miners from “denim” cotton imported
from the Provençal city of Nimes, they had no idea how far and wide
denim’s popularity would reach.
Most certainly they could not have imagined the veritable Versailles
created late this fall solely for the purpose of displaying denim in
the magical city of Istanbul. Located in a traditional Ottoman
building, the denim showroom was designed by New Zealand architect
Christopher Hall.
The showroom’s best feature is the lighting created by Beirut, Lebanon-based, PSLAB. The
firm of 40 designers, architects, craftsmen and engineers focuses on
researching, designing and producing custom lighting for a demanding
clientele in Europe and the Middle East.
At the Istanbul denim showroom, PSLAB took its inspiration from the
constraints of the old space and created an exciting environment that
also works. Custom suspended fixtures, positioned on two parallel
lines, were given long adjusting arms for directing the light where
needed. The fixtures give ideal light and look cool yet they allow the
original ornamental ceiling draw well-deserved attention. By Tuija
Seipell
Urban Garden came to be when London-based Artwise commissioned Amsterdam-based TJEP
to design an iconic object to be used in a lounge area during events
around the world. The object is part of Tribe Art, a series of
international contemporary art commissions and projects developed in
partnership with the Lucky Strike B·A·R Honda Formula One racing team.
Artwise has worked with Tribe Art for several years.
TJEP’s solution to the lounge object dilemma was Urban Garden, a
Versailles–garden inspired inflatable mega floor ornament that inspires
users to sit, hang, jump and dance. TJEP is a partnership of Dutch
designers, Frank Tjepkema and Janneke Hooymans (and others). Tjepkema
is known for his work for well-known brands such as Philips, British
Airways, Droog Design and Heineken. Hooymans’ work includes the
interior of the Unox Soup Factory and contributions to the design of
the Glasgow Science center. By Tuija Seipell
If you want your hair neat and tidy and your head covered in sensible headwear, Soren Bachis
not your choice of a stylist. However, if you want to be
ahead-of-everyone-else fashion-forward for spring 2008 with wild
headgear and crazy colors then by all means get in touch with Soren
through the London-based Frank Agency.
With Soren by your side, expect to prance about in creations that will
make Cher’s wildest get-up look lame and that will draw envious glances
from even the most hat-happy Rastafarians. Tequila sunrise helmets and
ostrich feathers rule! By Tuija Seipel
Here at the Cool Hunter we’re not afraid to acknowledge when we need
help. Most of you who read our content regularly, know that we strive
to be a step ahead spotting and reporting on the most inspiring and
creative posts in design, fashion, travel, lifestyle and more.
As we all look forward to a new year, we’re fortunate to receive well
over 550,000 unique readers per month, and we just won the 2007 Webblog
Award for Best Culture Blog . We’re eager to see our efforts translated
into major global markets such as India, China, Japan, Italy and more.
We’ll also be adding new features including a hotel booking service, an
online store, a social network portal, global job lists, Cool Hunter TV, Cool Hunter magazine
and much more.
As we expand, we need your help in making this seamless transition
while we create an enhanced Cool Hunter user experience. We’re looking
for an innovative web development company
who has what it takes to bring new ideas to our growing audience
worldwide. If you or your company is up for the challenge, contact
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