Living

Aug 9, 2012 12:40 PM   Your typical set of building blocks can be used to create castles, forts, cabins, and an unlimited number of structures that require a healthy dose of imagination to identify. But ArchiBlox come in a wide array of shapes and sizes that let aspiring builders construct true architectural masterpieces that are instantly recognizable. Like with Lego, the ArchiBlox can be purchased in sets ($17) letting you build real-life landmarks like the Notre Dame cathedral, the Neuschwanstein castle, or the Chateau de Chambord. But afterwards they can be mixed and matched into custom creations, subtly pushing kids towards a future as an architect. (Or a demolitions expert.) The blocks are also magnetic—a brilliant innovation that gives them more structural integrity and lets them stick to an included base for easy display. [Pop Deluxe via BLTD] View the original article here This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear wh...

Jul 26, 2012 10:00 PM   Although I know there's probably no danger involved with this house—which has a bonafide, funnel-shaped opening in the middle of it—there is something ominous about this Nobuhiro Tsukada-designed Earth House, which is connected directly to the terrain below it. The inspiration for the concrete house design comes from the client, who, looking for privacy in his exurban Tokyo home, wanted all the rooms to open into a courtyard. But the courtyard would have been too small, so instead, they filled the tunnel-like space with earth and created the courtyard on the second-story, enclosing it on all sides with graceful, swooping walls. The generous use of skylights still allows for plenty of natural illumination, and more importantly, privacy from the outside world. But still, I'd probably have nightmares about that funnel sucking everything down into the Earth's core. [Architonic via Architizer] View the original article here This post was made using th...