Prada teamed up with another boundary-breaking Italian company, Pirelli, to design the Luna Rossa AC75, a black monohull sailboat that looks like it could take to the skies at any moment. The AC75 is actually the ninth Luna Rossa boat designed by the team to represent Italy at the America’s Cup World Series sailing competition. The 36th annual event will be held in Sardinia next April, and the Luna Rossa will be the first challenger of the Emirates Team New Zealand, who won the last race.

It took two years for a team of 90 people (including 37 designers) to build the boat, which is made of carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb with two innovative “foil arms” designed to support a maximum load of 27 metric tons (about 59,000 pounds).

Sailboats with arms are called “hydrofoil sailboats.” The wing-like foils mounted under the hull lift it up and out of the water while racing, allowing the entire boat to go twice as fast as the speed of the wind. They’re not unusual, but rarely do they look quite so high fashion as this.

“Another innovative feature of the AC75 is the ‘soft wing’ rig, with two sails hoisted in parallel and inbuilt systems to control the sail shape,” Prada states on its website. “This provides the efficiency of a hard wing combined with ease of use and handling akin to a traditional sail. 20,000 kilometers of carbon fiber thread was used to create the mainsail, in addition to 5,000 kilometers for each jib and 12,000 kilometers for each ‘code zero,” used to sail downwind in light breeze.”

Prada, which is also sponsoring the event, sent its design lead Miuccia Prada to christen the boat at its unveiling in Sardinia on October 2nd.

“This is our sixth America’s Cup challenge, but launch day is as exciting as ever — it is the magical moment that brings together many months of work and dedication and the anticipation of finally seeing on the water what was until now only a design,” says Patrizio Bertelli, President of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team and husband of Miuccia. “This time, the revolutionary and innovative way the entire monohull concept has been reinterpreted heightens expectations still further.”

You might think designing a futuristic-looking hydrofoil sailboat in a sophisticated black dress would be the natural starting point for a crossover between the Luna Rossa project and Prada’s fashion. Can’t you already imagine the sailing-inspired outfits such a project could produce? Alas, it’s not to be: when asked whether the sailboat might inspire a themed collection, Bertelli said there’s no such plan in the works.

The post Prada’s Futuristic New Sailboat Floats on Carbon Fiber Arms first appeared on Dornob.

While Thomas Edison might have created some of the first carbon fibers in history while experimenting with light bulb filaments in 1879, the modern form of the material dates back to the 1950s. Today, it’s an ideal medium for industrial robots, who are capable of weaving it into extremely complex shapes.

Offering a beautiful example of what that can look like is the BUGA Fibre Pavilion by the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Displayed at the Bundesgartenschau Heilbronn horticultural show, the pavilion is both computationally designed and robotically fabricated.

The researchers chose to display the pavilion in this public venue in the hope of making more people aware of what carbon fiber can do when paired with emerging robotic technologies, which could help push updates to building codes. But even to have them included in the show, the researchers had to go through a full building application approval procedure in Germany.

The pavilion features more than 150,000 meters of glass and carbon fibers woven around a central framework, which is then fully enclosed by a transparent ETFE membrane. Altogether, it’s about five times lighter than a more conventional steel structure of the same size.

The design team explains: “Embedded in the wavelike landscape of the Bundesgartenschau grounds, the BUGA Fibre Pavilion offers visitors an astounding architectural experience and a glimpse of future construction. It builds on many years of biomimetic research in architecture at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart.”

“This globally unique structure is not only highly effective and exceptionally lightweight, but it also provides a distinctive yet authentic architectural expression and an extraordinary spatial experience. The BUGA Fibre Pavilion aims to transfer the biological principle of load-adapted and thus highly differentiated fiber composite systems into architecture. Manmade composites, such as the glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics that were used for this building, are ideally suited for such an approach because they share their fundamental characteristics with natural composites.”

Shown alongside the BUGA Fibre Pavilion was the BUGA Wood Pavilion, which features biomimetic lightweight construction made of segmented wooden shells inspired by the plate skeletons of sea urchins. Because of the way that the pavilion’s 376 custom hollow wooden segments fit together into a massive three-dimensional puzzle, the creators were able to use a lighter and smaller amount of material than usual to produce a larger span.

Industrial robots prefabricated all of the pavilion’s segments within a single compact manufacturing unit, and the pavilion was assembled by just two craftspeople without requiring any scaffolding or formwork. All of the components were designed to be disassembled and reused at a different site.

“Drawing a line from traditional carpentry to high-tech robotic fabrication methods, the BUGA Wood Pavilion showcases the possibilities for efficient, economical, ecological, and expressive wood architecture that arises at the intersection of master craft, digital innovation, and scientific research.”

The post Future Gardens: High-Tech Horticultural Pavilions Made of Carbon Fiber first appeared on Dornob.

Most people who’ve shelled out that kind of money for a flashy car showcase it in a protective garage, where they obsessively clean and maintain it, perhaps taking it out for a spin on special occasions. It’s pretty surprising, then, (to say the least) to see a Zonda turned on its side, staked through the middle like an hors d’oeuvre on a toothpick, and used as a room divider in somebody’s apartment.

This highly unusual interior decor choice makes a little more sense when you learn that the Miami condo it’s in is owned by race car driver Pablo Pérez Companc, son of Argentina’s wealthiest individual. Companc purchased no fewer than two Paganis (a Zonda Revolution and a Huayra BC, each costing around $2 million) before approaching the automaker’s founder, Horacio Pagani, and asking if he could buy a performance engine to display as art in his new home.

Why stop at the engine, Pagani suggested, when you could use the entire car instead? But here’s the catch: it’s just a replica, albeit a full-sized one made of hand-woven carbon fiber. So maybe it can’t be taken off its pillar and raced around the streets of Miami, but Companc does already have a functional Zonda R for that, anyway.

“At first I thought it was a crazy idea, especially with the cost of buying such an expensive chassis,” Companc told The Drive. “Time passed by and (Pagani) called me again. He said, ‘Ok kid, that’s it, we’re going to make a replica of the R but you have to put it in your house.’ And that’s how it happened.”

“Obviously, it’s a completely bare chassis and it could never mate with an engine, as the carbon fiber wouldn’t have the density to withstand the torsion. So it’s strictly decoration.”

The highly unusual sculptural element was installed by contractors Finish My Condo alongside Artefacto Home Staging. It was no small effort hoisting the 800-pound car up from the bed of a truck with a crane and lifting it up over the racecar driver’s balcony and into his new home. Inside, it’s supported by a custom aluminum and carbon fiber stand.

Striking in its monochromatic, glossy shade of black, the sideways sports car separates Companc’s living room from his bedroom in the modern open-plan loft. The cost of the car alone is estimated to be around $1.5 million, while the entire apartment clocks in somewhere around the $19 million mark.

Spotted elsewhere in the apartment: a miniature Pagani model which, despite its diminutive proportions, costs about $10,000.

The post Racecar Driver’s Home Features a Full-Sized $1.5M Car as a Room Divider first appeared on Dornob.

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Practicality and elegance redefined — That’s how CRESTS premium-grade carbon fiber luggage is being advertised to its eager audiences. The highly anticipated product has made a breakthrough as the first of its kind to combine style, superior strength, and advanced technology in a single compact, mobile compartment.

Built from the same materials used in airplanes and super cars, the strength and lightness of the CRESTS luggage carrier are some of its biggest advantages. Just think of it as the Iron Man of suitcases. Unlike other commonly used suitcase materials like ABS and polycarbonate, CRESTS’ carbon fiber won’t crush or crumple unless it’s put up against the unlikely force of 330 pounds. This level of durability means that your belongings are in good, protective hands, significantly easing your post-trip stresses.

Conceived of by co-founders Marc Steeb and John Philips back in 2014, CRESTS is expected to go into production by March 2018.

What Features Does It Have?

The interior of the luggage has been designed specifically for work and short-term travel: breaks or weekend trips that would only require carry-on luggage. The rear sleeve can snugly house a standard laptop while a second sleeve takes care of your iPad/tablet, documents, and other electronic devices. Plus, the case’s frontmost section has some handy placement holders for all your go-to equipment such as your passport, business cards, wallet, pens, etc. — all of which can be reached without even having to lay the suitcase down.

Each CRESTS case also includes a fixed pull-along handle with a built-in self-weigh feature, telescopic handles (no mechanisms that could break), a TSA lock override, a black waterproof carbon fiber body, polyurethane wheels, a pressure equalizing valve, positionable hinges, and structural reinforcing ribs for extra support.

Now for the fun part: the smart features! The CRESTS’ built-in GPS tracking, alarms, lighting, and remote digital lock are sure to prove its unmatchable and revolutionary design to any skeptics out there. If all that isn’t enough for you, you’ll be happy to hear that CRESTS cases also boast Bluetooth capabilities, an LED display, a touch-sensitive controller, USB ports for charging, a G-force sensor, and a temperature gauge.

The G-force sensor can be read using an accompanying smart phone app, which incredibly tells you exactly the amount of damage caused to the luggage so you can be aware of any mistreatment or aggressive manhandling that might be going on at the airport!

The suitcase measures 22 inches tall, nine inches deep, and 14 inches wide. It can hold up to 32 liters in volume and weighs a mere seven-and-a-half pounds, making it the only carry-on you’ll ever need.

Where Can I Get My Hands on One?

CRESTS is currently offering early-bird specials on its Kickstarter page, and if you’re able to pledge $499 toward its production, you’ll receive a fully-fledged case at over 65 percent off its market price. These cases are estimated to ship sometime around June 2018.

Be prepared to not only get checked out by TSA at the airport, but also to be marveled at by some envious travelers!

The post CRESTS: Luxury Tech Carbon Fiber Luggage first appeared on Dornob.

Like many classic kitchen islands, this circular surface is designed to be a central element in an open-plan interior – but like a fancy food platter, it comes with something extra on top.

The upper portion of Sheer, composed of carbon fiber, serves as a vent hood when the cooking surfaces are being used below. A one-click system, it slides up via motor and slots back into place when the kitchen counter is no longer in use.

The bottom section provides a work surface with sinks, a small secondary refrigeration unit, multiple burners and a slide-out panel for serving or just adding surface area.

Two movable satellite units can be attached for additional drawer space and double as mobile bars if desired. A visually complimentary rectangular free-standing unit can store glasses, chairs, a microwave and main refrigerator as well.

In many ways typically Italian, the result is both minimal and refined in some respects, like overall shape and primary materials, and a bit complex and opulent at the same time.

Unsurprisingly, this kitchen design has been a hit on the internet, with outlets like Wired calling it “Darth Vader’s kitchen.” It definitely seems like it could be, doesn’t it? And yet, it really does have utility in the here and now. If designs like this fail to launch, it just goes to show that we have a difficult time moving beyond traditions that don’t serve us anymore to consider cool new ways of doing things.

From Gatto Kitchens Atlanta, here’s a description of this odd kitchen design:

“A circular unit made up of two half spheres which can be opened and closed. The sink, plate rack with cutlery storage, chopping board, and cooking area with ceramic glass hob and firestone are in the lower half. The upper half houses a ventilator hood and the lighting system. The control panel is placed on the outside of the lower sphere. Illumination is provided by halogen spotlights and by a LED lighting system.”

The post Modular Spherical Kitchen Island first appeared on Dornob.

What could be more relaxing than hanging from a hammock in the shade? Perhaps filling it with water, and luxuriating in a bath within that same relaxing shape from Splinter Works. Perhaps you’ve already seen Hamaca, the company’s best-known suspended hammock tubs made from carbon fiber. But Splinter Works also makes a very similar model called the Pagoda, which can either be hanging or floor-mounted, and a matching sink called the Altara.

A stainless steel tap rises up and hangs over one side to fill the carbon-fiber tub. The luxury bathtub is, in turn, drained through the floor.

“After the success of the Hamaca suspended tub, the Pagoda bath evolved as a stand-alone piece that doesn’t need walls.  Still offering the playful hammock bath form, but with more flexibility to position anywhere in the room you like. With the continuous curved surface, the spine is completely supported in a gentle curve, creating the optimum shape for kicking back and relaxing.”

Lest you wonder where all the heat goes while you soak, there is a foam core to the carbon fiber shell to provide insulation, keeping the water warm. This layer is somewhat hidden due to the tapering of the tub shell around its edges.

The matching Altara sink has the same playful silhouette. “This wash basin is an exact miniaturization of the hammock bath shape in carbon fibre. When placed in the same scheme, the natural synergy between the two pieces creates a wonderful pattern of echoed shapes in the room.”

Not into black? You can get these unique luxury bathroom fixtures in gold, chrome and other colors, too.

Splinter Works founder Miles Hartwell explains the design: “Struck by the synergy between the shapes of two compelling symbols of relaxation, a hammock and a bath tub, we were inspired to develop a piece that would provide the ultimate vehicle for total escapism.”

The post Pagoda and Altara Luxury Hammock Tubs by Splinterworks first appeared on Dornob.