A storage unit that uses the natural gas emitted by apples to preserve potatoes that lie beneath. Common knowledge in the beginning of the 20th century but since we handed over the responsibility of taking care of our food to the technology, the refrigerator, we seem to be forgotten this kind of traditional knowledge.

Ryou Ji Hyun has designed a new food preservation system focusing on traditional food preservation techniques. Her design has both beauty and brains, re-introducing and re-evaluating traditional oral knowledge of food preservation, which is not only closer to nature but also saving on energy costs.

Knowing other ways of food preservation and willing to share this knowledge?
Just send a message to: savefoodfromthefridge

While capsule hotels are not new in Japan, 9 h (nainawasu) adds a new element to the Japanese approach to minimal hotels. The hotel is designed by Fumie Shibata of design studio s, and offers luxury in a minimum living space. It looks absolutely amazing and represents a revolution in the capsule concept.

The name of the hotel is a simple formula. Based on the philosophy of the owners, at its most basic level a hotel should provide: 1 hour to shower, 7 hours for sleep, and one hour for rest. In total, 9 hours.

9 Hours in Kyoto An experience interesting to try out.

Haruka Matsuo likes to play with traditional and habitual concepts. By moving or changing traditional “rules” she likes to arouse a certain feel of imbalance. In this state of imbalance it is possible that new meanings will arise.

Conversations with people about their lives and routines, exploring their habits and habitations, pictures and sketches all these impressions are being materialized into small pieces of work that, more and more, will set the boundaries of the original concept and slowly will develop into a world of their own; an installation originating in and consisting of a whole range of feelings, shared by many people.

For the ‘Provocative teapots’ the rare traditional technique  “Bankoyaki” (thin pressed clay wrapped around a puzzled wooden mold makes the shape of the teapot) is used to combine Japanese teapot ceramics with traditional Dutch embroidery techniques. The images used on the teapots are erotic images that contrast with both Japanese and Dutch conservative traditions.

website: www.haruka.nl

“I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences

And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses

And I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences

Don’t fence me in

Poppa, don’t you fence me in”

Looking at the soft and tender, yet strong and powerful fence from the Dutch design house “Demakersvan“ this Bing Crosby song almost immediately popped in my head. This fence looks so wonderful but make no mistake it’s still a fence, meant to lock you up, like a jealous lover.

Still it is great to see how something which was meant purely functional can also be beautiful. Rejecting the throwaway nature and sameness in modern production, trying to retrieve that uniqueness that once existed among our things. At the same time, also try to balance the practice with possible industrial manufacture, so as to make the products available to the public.

Website: www.demakersvan.com

Tea Time by Freaks United/ is a handmade porcelain high tea set based on characters. Build up to be a family each piece has it’s own identity. With their character-like look they seem to be living their lives on the table like soldiers in a little nation. But what is a high tea without a cake? And that can’t be an ordinary cake. No! we’re looking for a serious slice of camp so let me introduce you to De Taart van mijn Tante (cake from my Auntie). These cakes looks like something Dame Edna would run if in charge of Barbie’s bakery. This haute patisserie is art house kitsch all rolled into an amazing display of architectural wonders made out of icing and sponge cake.

It has been really nice weather for quite a while now but make no mistake; I live in a country where it actually rains a lot. Like most people here I hate rain! It seems some Dutch designers got inspired by that sentiment.

First Gerwin Hoogendoorn came up with the  SENZ, a truly revolutionary umbrella. Now, Frederik Molenschot & Susanne Happle introduced their Solid Poetry tiles in Milan, the design only shows itself when it rains. Then, the water exposes leaves and flowers in the material of the tile, changing the environment in a surprising way and leaving a wonderful pavement that literally grows under your feet.

Let it rain!

Website: www.frederikmolenschot.nl