Caracool by Joel Escalona

Children are always curious to discover the world, to learn from everything that surrounds them, and one of the most common ways they accomplish that, is by playing and interacting with other children. Caracool get lost in the garden, it seem amusing to the children who undoubtedly have fun gliding and playing in the slide.

A Green Environmental Tower - Dubai

The Dynamic Architecture building, which will be constantly in motion changing its shape, will be able to generate electric energy for itself as well as for other buildings. Forty-eight wind turbines fitted between each rotating floors as well as the solar panels positioned on the roof of the building will produce energy from wind and the sunlight, with no risk of pollution. The total energy produced by this inbuilt ‘powerhouse’ every year will be worth approximately seven million dollars.

Each turbine can produce 0.3 megawatt of electricity, compared to 1-1.5 megawatt generated by a normal vertical turbine (windmill). Considering that Dubai gets 4,000 wind hours annually, the turbines incorporated into the building can generate 1,200,000 kilowatt-hour of energy.

As average annual power consumption of a family is estimated to be 24,000 kilowatt-hour, each turbine can supply energy for about 50 families. The Dynamic Architecture tower in Dubai will be having 200 apartments and hence four turbines can take care of their energy needs. The surplus clean energy produced by the remaining 44 turbines can light up the neighborhood of the building.

However, taking into consideration that the average wind speed in Dubai is of only 16 km/h the architects may need to double the number of turbines to light up the building to eight. Still there will be 40 free turbines, good enough to supply power for five skyscrapers of the same size.

The horizontal turbines of the Dynamic Architecture building are simply inserted between the floors, practically invisible. They neither need a pole nor a concrete foundation. In addition, they are at zero distance from the consumer, which makes maintenance easier.

The modern design of the building and the carbon fiber special shape of the wings take care of the acoustics issues. Producing that much electric energy without any implication on the aesthetic aspect of the building is a revolutionary step in tapping alternative energy sources. Furthermore, this energy will have a positive impact on the environment and economy.

8 EXORBITANT LUXURY YACHTS

Some people have it all. Loads of money, beautiful partners, fast supercars, extreme houses, exorbitant yachts. Over a hundred million Dollars for a yacht is no exception. But we have pictures, and those are free…

1. The Amevi ($300.000.000)

2. The Octopus ($200.000.000)

3. The Lauren L. ($112.000.000)

4. The Boadicea ($120.000.000)

5. The Maltese Falcon ($100.000.000)

6. The Pelorus ($179.000.000)

7. Dubai ($230.000.000)

8. Salem ($19.750.000)

The American company UniModal Transport Solutions developed a concept for a very high-capacity and high-speed Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) network. Pictures and informations of this sky transportation vehicle are showed below.

This SkyTran system operates with individual, two-passenger vehicles, which are propelled and suspended by a maglev system from overhead guideways. These are laid out in a one mile by one mile networked grid throughout the city. A large number of small departure and exit portals are placed underneath the guideways at approximately every 400 metres or at every city block.

SkyTran has no fixed routes or timetables. Users can simply enter any departure portal, get into the first empty vehicle in the queue and select their destination. The vehicle then speeds up on the acceleration lane and enters the high-speed overhead guideway.

At the selected exit portal, the vehicle enters a deceleration lane where the speed is reduced until it stops at the arrival portal. Individual vehicles are capable of speeds up to 160 kilometres per hour within city limits or 240 kilometres per hour between cities. A very short braking distance allows a distance between traveling vehicles of a mere 25 metres.

Korean Heerim Architects has tried to reinvent the skyscraper with their two projects in central Asian republic of Azerbaijan.

The two skyscrapers will be built in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan with a view on the Caspian sea . One building is called Full Moon Bay the other is Crescent and Caspian Plus. The two are going to be built on both side of the bay, acting as gateway markers. So far the pictures look fantastic and I really like the gateway markers idea.

PTW + CCDI + ARUP
Watercube
National Aquatics Center
Beijing, China

The Watercube associates water as a structural and conceptual “leitmotiv” with the square, the primal shape of the house in Chinese tradition and mythology.

Architect Chris Bosse has sent us a series of photos of the National Aquatics Centre in Beijing - better known as Watercube - which officially opened on Monday 28th January 2008.

The centre, which will host the swimming and diving competitions at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in August, hosted its first event, the Good Luck Beijing 2008 Swimming China Open, on February 4th.

The structure of the WATERCUBE is based on a unique lightweight construction, developed by China State Construction Design International (CCDI), PTW Architects, and ARUP, and derived from the structure of water bubbles in the state of aggregation found in foam.

Behind the totally random appearance hides a strict geometry that can be found in natural systems like crystals, cells and molecular structures - the most efficient subdivision of three-dimensional space with equally sized cells.
The transparency and apparent randomness is equally transposed into the inner and outer building-skins, made of inflated ETFE cushions.

The reason for different coulours is The reflection of light changes the color; outside it reflects the sky and the outer layer is slightly tinted in blue, Inside the white prevails, the sun coming through highlights the ETFE and the structure.

Unlike traditional stadium structures with gigantic columns & beams, cables & spans, to which a facade system is applied, the architectural space, structure and facade of the Watercube are one and the same element. 90% of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within the highly efficient structural zone and is used to heat the pools and the interior area.
Rainwater from the roof is reused, recycled and redistributed alongside efficient pool filtration and backwash systems.

The design uses state-of-the-art technology and materials to create a visually striking, energy-efficient, and ecologically friendly building. Conceptually the square box and the interior spaces are carved out of an unconfined cluster of foam bubbles, symbolizing a condition of nature that is transformed into a condition of culture.

Together with the main stadium by Herzog & de Meuron, a duality between fire and water, Yin and Yang, is being created with all its associated tensions and attractions.
The Project was recently recognized at the Venice Architecture Biennale for “demonstrating in a stunning way, how the deliberate morphing of molecular science, architecture and phenomenology can create an airy and misty atmosphere for a personal experience of water leisure.”

All the super rich geeks, watch out for this decked out 24 karat gold MacBook Air with a decorated version of the classic rainbow Apple. Folks at Computerchoppers are ready to entice their filthy rich clients with the shiny gold and colored sapphire. Maybe you find it a little flashy at first but you will definitely start loving it. There is no obvious change in the weight expect for few ounces here and there. Air is a standard 1.6ghz/2gb/80GB, with a 24-karat gold plating, polished exterior, and flat/crystallite interior.The price: $5000 USD. However you will have to chip in another 3000$ for the rainbow which is 14-karat gold with 3.8ctw sapphires.

Dubai is set to spend $817-million on building the world’s largest arch bride, at 617-feet tall and 1-mile in length. Expect it to be in service by 2012.

Dubai is the Tetsuo of cities, expanding so fast it’s on the verge of creating of its own universe. And architecture that looks like it’s from the 22nd century only adds to the sheer grandeur of its growth—this bridge, envisioned by NY architecture firm Fxfowle, will be the largest and tallest arch bridge in the world, at one mile long and 670 feet tall.

Construction starts next month and is due to wrap up in 2012 after running some $817 million dollars. World’s first vacuum tube mass transit system will launch in Dubai shortly thereafter.

At the first glance, it seems that your wall has been tear down and the light is shot from the outside of your house. Although it is very beautiful to give an atmosphere like this, I guess you do not want to hurt your house.

However, you will get the secret by checking out the last picture after the jump.

Designer: Billy May