Giulio Asso has come up with an architectural plan for Europe that will help people explore areas which have till date mostly remained untouched. Christened as the Valle Moceniga-Wetland Park, the project area is bound to attract a lot of tourists from all across the globe because of the biodiversity of the flora and fauna in the region.

Valle Moceniga - Wetland Park

Delta Park is one of the most important wetland areas in Europe and is quite rich when it comes to different species of plant and animal life. It is also visited by many migratory birds because of the richness it offers. The Valle Moceniga-Wetland Park will specifically attract people who love nature and are aware of what all it offers. The territory will be developed in a sustainable way that will not disturb the delicate balance between the natural and anthropic work of the area. Surprisingly, the territory to be reevaluated is almost untouched and is not very famous amongst the Italians as well. While constructing, the accessibility of the Valle Moceniga-Wetland Park was of prime concern. The designer made sure that it remained accessible to campers for quite a few months all through the years, which will help pull various kinds of tourists from all over the world that too with a lot of energy independence.

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Valle Moceniga - Wetland Park

Valle Moceniga - Wetland Park by Giulio Asso

The area is surrounded by a lot of water, which makes it an extreme territory. It is very humid because of the presence of water and also quite far away from energy supplies. This made it a little tricky when it came to picking the right construction material, keeping in mind the conditions prevalent there. Wood was a natural choice as it can be flexibly used for various purposes, has a good life-cycle and ranks low on the maintenance graph as compared to other materials. But, the most important reason for narrowing down on wood was its strong connection with the conventional construction practices of Casoni. The tourist zone of the area was divided from the museum with the presence of the main lake that also comprised of the traditional fishing ground. The museum, library and research center along with a few rooms for workshops and summer schools have been constructed on the lake bank, which also is the site of an ancient church of Moceniga. The accommodation area comprises of a widespread hotel, product shops, agricamp and electric cars and bicycles that can be rented.

The bungalows comprise of one central part, two side and three modules, which have been neatly divided by a sliding wall. These have been fashioned out of prefabricated cross laminated panels, which keep them cool during summers and warm during winters. This is possible because of the photovoltaic, passive solar house and solar thermal system. The best part being, these modules can be closed when the outside temperature dips, which will bring down maintenance and also keep a check on damage. The freshwater habitats are well connected with the help of pumps and pipes. This water is filtered by reeds and is then available for use in the territory.

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Things can always be done in a better way, what we need is to find that “better way.” The architects at Rotterdam-based architectural firm 2012 Architecten have proved this by presenting an astounding way of recycling wind turbine parts to renovate a derelict playground. This program to renovate “Wikado” playground was undertaken for “Kinderparadijs Meidoorn,” a children’s artistic center.

Recycled Wind Turbine Blades

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Recycled Wind Turbine Blade

Recycled Wind Turbine Blades Make This Dutch Playground Fun

The 1,200 sq meter ground has been refurbished with sequence of four towers, a maze-like pattern and mid courtyard crafted using five discarded turbine rotor blade. According to the designers the center’s existing playing field was in tatters and their focus was to change it into a usable play area using recycled materials.

The playground boasts slide tower, a watch tower and other similar stuff all crafted using recycled rotor blades in one way or the other. These blades are cut up and erected in various styles to exhibit unique characteristics. A climbing net hung up between four towers stops ball from being entering neighboring areas.

This colorful garden adds historical value to the Dutch identity, a place well renowned for contemporary wind turbines and traditional windmills. A noteworthy merit here is that wasted old scrap has been put to excellent use. In a way, it’s a very thoughtful tribute to instruments of renewable energy. It’s even more significant here that the blades have been employed in a playground which leaves a very healthy message to future generations of caring for Mother Earth.

Via: Treehugger

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“Come on boy, go get it” is what you say to your pooch when you want him to flex his mental and physical sinews. Generally this “it” is a bone or a ball or something of a kind. Well this time around, the object triggering your pet’s fancy is an “Apple.” Now you would be thinking that mutts don’t relish apples, yeah, but this one does. The robot dog utilizes Apple’s iPhone for its brain. So now you sophisticated pocket entertainment device brings to life a robotic companion you’d love.

Robot dog

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Robot dog

Bandai announces Smartpet, a robot dog with an iPhone for a face

Bandai’s new “SmartPet” will make you accomplish your desire to have a puppy without facing hassles of taking him for a walk, cleaning his poop, taking his care and even feeding him. To own this electronic dog you just need to have an iPhone, which will act as the brain of the SmartPet. Its moves will respond to your touchscreen gestures and it will be managed via a free application. Fully efficient in responding to around 100 facial expressions, you will be able to make your electronic pet make tricks by just moving in front of the Facetime camera or by voice commands.

The most interesting fact about the pet that will make you fall in love with it is that as it gets more emotionally attached to you it will learn more responses and would even dance and sing with other dogs making use of Bluetooth. Other than being present as a companion for fun and games, the SmartPet will also work as a handsfree phone as well as an alarm clock.

The company is all set to release these virtual pets by the end of April with the initial price tag of $78. You will get an option of choosing your pet either in white or in black. However, the app for iPhone, which may perhaps be used without the robot attachment, will be released on 31st march.

Via: Theverge

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A worker from the most populous city in Central China uncovered substantial market for underwater vessels and decided to open his own submarine building factory. He started this factory with around $400 thousand start-up and has got ten employees. Building each DIY submarine costs around $31,621 and has everything needed to make it survive underwater ranging from emergency oxygen reserves to underwater monitoring video camera.

DIY Submarines

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DIY Submarines

Chinese Laid-off man Builds DIY Submarines For Sale

The mini submarine can accommodate two people easily taking them as deep as 30 meters at the speed of 20 km/hr for about 10 hours. This makes it really useful for cleaning riverbeds for garbage and for fishing. In the beginning few of his prototypes even sank but now he has mastered the art and has already received three orders for the year.

The very first customer of the mini submarine, a sea cucumber fisherman claims that though the submarine was not as flexible as car for obvious reasons but it was fully functional and worked pretty well. The submarine genius is presently working on this second submarine that will have wrought iron walls and air-tight windows.

The DIY mastermind says that building submarine has become more than fun and interest for him as he can see golden business opportunity in this profession. He is working hard to raise funds as for now only one submarine could be completed in a month. Once on track, this DIY submarine building can prove a real boon for China’s domestic market.

Via: Micgadget

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Water management is considered to be the most important function of the Amsterdam canal. To get clean water for the city at least thrice a week, water is pumped from the lake Ijsselmeer. The water locks are closed and the pressure that is created pushes dirty water out from the other side of the city, helping proper sanitation. Taking all this into consideration Margot Krasojevic has created a water purifying bridge, which not only ensures a steady supply of potable water but also creates a current of water that keeps the canals clean.

Water-Purifying Footbridge

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Water-Purifying Footbridge

Water Purifying Footbridge for Amsterdam

Inspired by the requirements, the structure of this planned bridge follows a process in which water flow current generated pushes dirty water out using the steel pipes. This water is then allowed to pass through a sieve and the flow thus created helps regulate impurities because the process is repeated every alternate day. Acting as a conventional water pump, the bridge has been designed to throw dirty water out to the other side of Amsterdam, where some cleaning boats can be employed to remove the dirt. Apart from its water purifying capabilities, the bridge can also act as a safe place for water birds such as herons, ducks, gulls and coots, which are mostly attracted towards the clean water.

This bridge also features a coffee shop in an orange water channel which has an inner shatterproof fixed glass panels that imitate and give the feel of being underwater. The whole plot is a piece of domestic land which like an urban beach, allows the people to sunbathe, recreate and relax. The coffee shop and the steel ridged edge that envelop the bridge reveal the constant movement in the city. Thus apart from efficiently managing clean water in the city, this bridge also gives an exciting feel to the visitors at the coffee shop of being underwater for some time.

Via: Inhabitat

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The concept:

MotoACTV has designed an activity tracking watch especially for golfers, which has been christened MotoACTV Golf Edition. The tasteful watch by Motorola will be released on April 1 and will come stashed with a price tag of $299.99. The smartly designed watch will keep a track of all the activities of a golfer as well as precise location on a good 20,000 golf courses. It will also comprise of distance readings all complete with readings of the front, back and center of the golf course as well. The sweat proof creation comes packed with a smart MP3 player, which will let you enjoy the game as you listen to your favorite tracks.

MOTOACTV Golf Edition

The inspiration:

The biggest inspiration behind the design of the watch was of course golf enthusiasts. Motorola joined hands with Bubba Watson to come up with the stunning Motorola MOTOACTV Golf Edition, which will help golf lovers improve their game. The best part being, this watch will act as a virtual caddy as well as an online clubhouse, thanks to its avant-garde GPS tracker that makes it all the more tempting.

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MOTOACTV Golf Edition

MOTOACTV fitness tracker doubles as a sweat proof MP3 player

The design:

The amazingly designed golf edition watch by Motorola is bound to draw attention with so many helpful features, like an embedded GPS. Keeping a close check on scores, clubs and statistics is the very useful caddy function. The presence of a calories tracker, distance meter and pedometer will make exercising coated with fun. View the golf course from the computer, which has been made possible because of a satellite view. The watch can be easily synced with the computer to transfer all data.

The fabulous:

MOTOACTV Golf Edition watch will help keep a check on scores and stats, which will in turn help a player, narrow down on right decisions when on the golf course. One can easily synch their record, which help compare the performance in the near future. Just like other products by the brand, even the golf edition comes complete with fitness tracking features that will help in its own way.

The target:

The design is directly targeted at golf loving people. It will let enthusiasts keep a keen eye on all the games that too over 20,000 courses all around the world. It will also let them keep a record of their scores and weigh them against those of professionals.

Related trends:

1. VEA Sportive: A Smart Mobile Watch for fitness freaks

VEA Sportive

If you want a built in MP3 player, a watch, and a fitness meter, then the VEA Sportive watch by French Company VEA is everyone’s delight. It incorporates a variety of features within its bosom, the best of the lot being the MP3 player allowing you to store up to 8GB of songs. Further, you can tie it like a normal watch, and it will keep track of all the calories burnt, your pulse rate etc. In other words, you can carry your little fitness meter right when you’re working out.

2. Mobile Fitness Watch combines cellphone with a fitness tracker

Mobile Fitness Watch

The Sony Ericsson Mobile Fitness Watch will prove to be a boon for modern day athletes. It will come injected with awe-inspiring features that will solve a multitude of purposes. The fitness watch comes embedded with music player, GPS and a heart rate monitor. The most amazing feature is that the watch will double as a cell phone and can be used to make as well as receive calls like any other phone. It will sync to your laptop, computer, tablet, smartphone through Wi-Fi when the Mobile Fitness Watch is perched on top of the docking station.

3. The Garmin Forerunner 305

Forerunner 305

If you like to keep a track on your running distance, training capacity and workout speed, then the Garmin Forerunner 305 will blend perfectly with your personality. It comes complete with a heart rate monitor and a calories counter. Measure distance and speed, while you go out for a jog or cycle around with the useful gadget placed nicely around your wrist. It will prove to be a great assistance when it comes to accomplishing your fitness goals. The multi sport capacity of the watch makes it a great creation, which can be used while biking, sailing, running and during many other fitness activities.

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Riding in the cities in pollution free way is going to get a new name in the form of Kruz. Designed by Wenning Cheng, the bicycle design will double as skates. It will bow down to all the modern day needs that arise in an urban environment when it comes to moving from one place to the other. The three wheeled ride has been designed in an aesthetically pleasing way and can be stored easily without consuming much space.

Kruz - Bicycle

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Kruz - Bicycle

Kruz - Bicycle by Wenning Cheng

Kruz has been fitted with a leather seat, which can be adjusted according to the comfort of the rider. The rails in the design are movable and the paddles can be folded when using it as skates. The skates, which are present at the back of the design, can either be separated or attached depending on the type of ride one wants to enjoy. It can work as a speedy ride when the skates are used. This will prove to be if utmost help when the streets are packed with traffic.

While skating, Kruz moves by following the principle of angular momentum. Simply move your body from side to side and experience an enjoyable ride. If you want to enjoy a relaxed ride, then switch to the bicycle mode and savor the surroundings as your ride towards your destination. The attached skates act as a standing step, which will prove to be useful in case someone wants to accompany you. Kruz Bicycle will be available in a variety of colors, giving buyers a flexibility to choose as per their taste and personality.

Via: Ningw

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This simple design is more efficient and so much more powerful than its previous counterparts. It is a rescue device to save victims of a natural calamity like earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and tornadoes. In the event of such a disaster, many victims get caught in rubble or debris created by the wreckage ensuing on a massive scale. Although many devices are used to rescue victims, this one has been improvised considerably.

Rescue Wizard

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Rescue Wizard

A heavy duty design for portable power

The gadget essentially contains a two stroke chainsaw and holds a 12 strand ultra high molecular weight polyethylene cable. The new version has been modified and thus operates more proficiently. Firstly, it moves more speedily and can withstand a greater amount of force. Additionally, it allows operations to be ceased while the rescue is going on, which is really helpful when an extremely heavy load is being pulled. Another huge plus with the inbuilt cable is that it does not conduct electricity or store kinetic energy while it is in operation. This increases safety of the whole process as additional accidents during the rescue operations can be avoided.

Carrying out the rescue operation will also be easier with this cable. Though it weighs less than 100 pounds, one person will be able to lug a heavy load single handedly with the pulley. A load equivalent to the weight of two SUVs can be easily hauled using this machine. Hence, due to the immense power even a single person can easily rescue many people at a time, which is quite a boon. This very useful device will easily find other applications apart from rescue operations. It will come handy in the adventure sports industry too.

Source: Robrady

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Armchair without Prejudice is the latest project by Valencian design studio Sanserif Creatius and looks to raise awareness about sustainable production processes and the quality of cardboard used in such endeavors. The campaign is devoted to promoting green furniture designs for the future for which a commitment to recycling is needed along with general awareness about the importance of sustainable growth of resources used in household furniture.

Armchair Without Prejudice

The Armchair without Prejudice is an innovative set of furniture that features a seat with a hidden coffee table and footrest inside. Through the design, its creators hope to raise awareness about the potential of cardboard as the staple material used in the production of household furniture for future homes.

The set of seats can be used together or independently with the complementary units being used as a coffee table, a footrest or even a small low stool to sit on. Manufactured through a sustainable production process, the unit is crafted in a 100 percent recycled cardboard and allows users to set them in versatile seating configurations. The pleasing contours of the seating set are complemented by the natural beauty of the unblemished recycled cardboard that provides the seating with a soft yet sturdy texture that is gentle to the touch.

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Armchair Without Prejudice

AN ARMCHAIR WITHOUT PREJUDICE THAT HIDES A FOOTREST AND A COFFEE TABLE

Though cardboard furniture is more prone to staining and can be damaged easily, it is much easier to move which makes it the perfect bit of furniture for people who like to try out new layouts for their homes or those who shift homes frequently. The Prejudice line of seating was created by Sanserif Creatius in collaboration with Apai Foundation, a Special Employment Center that promotes marginalized socio-labor groups, and the Association of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (AFCO).

The limited edition furniture collection is created to serve multiple purposes around the house and can be evolved and adapted to various household purposes as well. The set can thus be adapted to serve as a standalone library, an end table, a night stand as well as a support table accenting other furniture in a room.

The Prejudice was also so named to try and focus attention on the fact that paper and cardboard based furniture are stigmatized as low quality, non-durable and “disposable.” However, this particular project looks to destigmatize paper and cardboard furniture and looks to promote it as an environmentally friendly and low-impact furniture option that is produced with a relatively clean production process in comparison to furniture made of wood, metal or plastics.

[Thanks Jose]

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The Four is an innovative touch screen device that can be connected to the internet to serve a lot of functions via an intuitive and easy to use interface. Created by Belgrade, Serbia-based designer Marko Vuckovic, the device is inspired by the four basic seasons and serves four basic functions of handheld portable gadgets. The Wi-Fi enabled device can be used to set up a digital thermostat display in the house where one can check in the local weather conditions and forecast for the day via the wall mounted display.

The Four

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The Four

The Four by Marko Vuckovic

The Four can also be used as a wall-mounted music player that can be preset to play ambient sounds and music in keeping with the weather conditions prevalent at a given time or one that suits the user’s mood. The Four can also be used as a digital photo frame with its multitouch AMOLED screen 145 x 235 mm providing a high gloss photo viewing experience.

A single touch of the screen provides additional info about the photographer. The device can also be used to play relaxing sounds of nature via integrated speakers. The device can also be used to make bookings for shows, flights, restaurants and hotels and the device can even save your credit card info and protect it with a password to ensure optimum security.

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