Latest articles on Lifestyle by The Cool Hunter - for more checkout www.thecoolhunter.net http://www.thecoolhunter.net Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:22:35 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.thecoolhunter.net Latest articles on Lifestyle by The Cool Hunter - for more checkout www.thecoolhunter.net http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1330&Itemid=7 Not so long ago, you didn’t even know the sex of your baby until the day of birth. Today, we’ll know just about everything there is to know -- especially now that expectant mommies and daddies can gaze upon their progeny with the help of Echographic images 4-D. Apparently, these are the best medical images available. Echographic imagery is not new, but it has not been widely used for this purpose. For the old-fashioned among us, who feel that emailing even ultrasound images of your baby to everyone is intrusive and somewhat disturbing, this is bad idea. And one might wonder if we shouldn’t be concerned about interfering with the baby’s scarce months of peace and quiet before he/she must face our noisy, over-lit world. Add to this our impulsive need to share every single moment of our rather uninteresting lives with the rest of the universe, this could become rather tiresome. However, once the Genie is out of the lamp, there’s no stuffing him back. So, expect to see images and video of unborn babies all over your desktop soon. By Tuija Seipell. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:16:41 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1328&Itemid=7 From Berlin Germany, Metrofarm Studio (http://www.metrofarm.net/djdescs/?image=3) has produced a number of stunning, custom built DJ Desks. Having released a concrete DJ table a couple of years back, the new desks, in folded stainless steel and wood painted black and neon orange demand attention. But they're not just for finely tuned vinyl slingers looking for the perfect ergonomic ratios to heighten their musical flow. They're for anybody with a musical mind and an eye for detail, looking to add spark to a lounge room, club or gallery. It's art for the DJ's sake. By Nick Christi. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:05:28 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1249&Itemid=7 We don’t go to the movies to admire the theater, but would it kill theater owners to build even one with an edge? Time and time again, we are disappointed in the new, mega multiplexes that are boring beyond belief in their sameness and recycled ideas. So, we must admit that there is not much to celebrate but are seeing little glimmers of hope and ingenuity once in a while. One example is the AMC Pacific Place Cinema in Hong Kong refurbished by Hong Kong-based James Law (http://www.jameslawcybertecture.com). The entrance areas to the six auditoriums seating 600 in 1.2-meter wide leather seats plus the a VIP theatre for 39 offer some unusual eye candy, but we are still wanting more. If you know of a truly cool movie theater, please let us know via the contact page on the bottom of the site. By Tuija Seipell. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:34:15 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1242&Itemid=7 The little brand blurb that accompanies this new range of luxury motorcycle helmets from Ateliers Ruby (http://www.ateliersruby.com/) is “good looks…for everyday heroes and heroines”. Which is just too cute. So is the story behind them. Parisian designer Jerome Coste drew on Steve McQueen iconography, old-school racing cars and quite possibly the six separate head traumas he’s survived when he set about developing the Pavillion range of motorcycle accessories for Ruby. He also sold his own motorbike to finance the production of the full carbon fiber shells, the kind used in Formula One racing. The “inside garnish” (to quote Coste) is a soft lining of decadent burgundy nappa lambskin, chosen for its comfort and anti-bacterial properties. Henceforth providing a “reassuring cocoon”. Clearly a design pedant, Coste has given his helmets a unique signature quirk – a small crest that runs along the top, as inspired by the armoury worn by medieval knights. The Pavillion range is available in three colors Shibuya (peppermint, named after the Tokyo Shopping District), Concorde (black) and St Honore (white) and are accompanied by an equally sweet range of twill silk scarves in various retro racing car shades. Again to quote from the branding blurb: “Lady Ruby, your guardian angel wishes you a bon voyage”. Bless. By Sarah Wilson Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:10:59 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1218&Itemid=7 Cool Spas are popping up everywhere as if they had just been invented, but in the Bavaria region of Germany — as in many parts of the world with healing, thermal or mineral springs — baths are part of ancient history. Bad Aibling, (http://www.therme-bad-aibling.de/2007/pages/index.php) located some 35 miles southeast of Munich, has held the official title of a Bad (German for bath, spa, springs) since 1895 but the thermal spas have bubbled up there much, much longer. It is particularly refreshing to see one of the older facilities, Thermal Bad Aibling, receive a complete overhaul and emerge as a viable competitor in the world of spoiled and pampered spa goers. The most striking new feature at Bad Aibling are the large white domes, placed seemingly randomly in the hilly landscape, letting the alpine scenery dictate their placement. Each dome is dedicated to its own treatment, temperature, ambiance and experience. In addition to the fairly standard fare, such as a wide selection of massages, beauty treatments, saunas and different-temperature baths and pools, Thermal Bad Aibling offers a beautifully lit Turkish haman plus something no other spa has — so far. It is an immersive film experience by LivingGlobe where the guests can enjoy a special 360-degree film projection and light show produced specifically for Thermal Bad Aibling. The main outdoor swimming pool areas will open in May 2008, but hot pools are functional, creating the atmosphere of time-tested pleasure of soaking in hot water in cold air and enjoying the view. By Tuija Seipell Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:03:55 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1214&Itemid=7 At TCH, we have always been interested in learning about illuminated furniture, housewares, gadgets and other items. Lighted bicycle tires (gadgets/LIGHT-THE-WAY/), rugs (house/LIGHT-CARPET/), night clubs (bars/SEXY-OUTDOOR-BAR/CLUB-EXPERIENCES/) and dance floors (bars/L.E.D-DANCE-FLOOOR/) ... have all been presented at one time or another on our pages. A new entry - a lighted sajjadah or prayer rug - comes from a Turkish designer, Soner Özenç (http://www.sonerozenc.com/). The Britain-based designer uses light as an integral element in his imaginative creations. This modern piece that he calls Sajjadah 1426 (1426 is the year 2005 in the Islamic calendar), combines technology and the Muslim culture. Sajjadah 1426 is a piece of art and a great example of the electroluminescent phosphor printing technology. It is also quite practical. It assists the person who performs the divine service of prayers, called namaz, not just by creating an amazing atmosphere, but by actually finding the right direction to pray towards. With the help of an imbedded compass module, the lighted motifs of the rug turn brighter the closer the rug is turned toward the direction of Mecca. This modern sajjadah introduces a brand new experience in the daily performance of namaz. By Yagmur Uslu via The Cool Hunter Turkey Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:59:34 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1181&Itemid=7 We wish we could tell you the details about this thrill but we must remain mum (well, almost...). This dramatic, "dark ride"(as in not open-air) is an exhilarating waterslide illuminated with super-cool LED lighting. It is one of those experiences you hesitate to try but when you do, you cannot wait to do it again. As lightheaded and dizzy as you may feel, do not close your eyes or you'll miss the best part - the after-effect of the LED lights you just zoomed through. Wait for Coolhunter TV, launching later this year, to see it in action. By Tuija Seipell Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:34:56 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1126&Itemid=7 Recent collaboration between the industrious designer Michael Young (http://www.michael-young.com) and his wife, Icelandic graphic artist Katrin Olina Petursdottir (http://www.katrin-olina.com), resulted in SKIN. It is an exquisite Florentine cosmetic surgery clinic commissioned by Dr. Jorgos Foukis, guru to the rich and (determined-to-remain) beautiful. SKIN is befittingly located in central Florence in Borgo San Jacopo, an area known already in 1050 for a hospital for the pilgrims on their way to Rome. SKIN’s 250-square-metre space includes state-of-the-art operating theaters, meeting rooms, massage rooms, offices and a reception. In SKIN, the Hong-Kong-based Young and Olina have managed to fuse sterile medical with sexy boudoir. The overall feeling of lightness and illumination is achieved by applying a translucent laminate glazing DuPont (http://www.dupont.com/safetyglass/en/productServices/glasexpress/2701.html) on not only walls, windows and mirrors but on floors as well, allowing Olina’s beautiful, light-pastel imagery to glow through. By Tuija Seipell Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:53:09 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1119&Itemid=7 For the executive who has grown bored with his Blackberry, and sick of his stapler, comes this rather over the top stationary revolution. These elaborately detailed, all metal staplers from jac Zagoory Designs (http://www.jaczagoory.com//products.php?cPath=24 osCsid=6636404a2bde66b4ee3afd9e2bbeeb71) come in Gorilla, bear, dragon, Lion and more. These excessive must haves are brilliantly made, and have turned desk accessories into an art form. Makes you wonder what their sticky tape dispenser will look like? By Andy G Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:42:33 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=286&Itemid=7 Stack hats suck. Most kids would rather suffer a brain injury than endure the humiliation of wearing one. They are like wearing corduroy flares ..on your head. Thanks to Indigo Snow (http://www.indigosnow.de/ind_o_acc_framset_e.htm) the Hell is taken out of Helmet with their awesome new line of head protective gear. Inspired by retro cool Evil Knievel line designs, these helmets have the competitive edge with their injection of organic and reptilian face designs. The cobra and black belly snake skin designs would make The Fonz weep, whilst the wood grain finish say ' I'm earthy and up for the challenge". Full on flip down eye wear attached is so 'Magnum P.I' its in a cool class of its own. Extreme sports safety gear has been at a relatively uninspiring stage for some time now. It's great to see Indigosnow stepping up to the plate by taking designs to the next level. by Andy G Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:01:44 +0100