Hovering via electromagnets, the key innovation is the laser-guided stabilization system that keeps it floating in one place rather than tilting one way, tipping another or flying off entirely … a definite upgrade from those childhood hovercraft toys that were always impossible to remote control correctly.

While not a direct duplicate of the movie classic version, the zig-zag pattern and use of pink and other atrociously 1980s-era colors clearly makes this a direct homage to the original – but perhaps the next version can look a little more timeless.

The post The Future is Back: Real-Life, High-Tech Hoverboard Design first appeared on Dornob.

Despite this, even the most up-to-date and sophisticated tech is sometimes unable to navigate the human anatomy in the most efficient way. After all, our bodies are a maze of tunnels and tight spots, and some intuitive tools are only as effective as the humans that operate them. But thanks to new innovations in robotics and nanotechnology, researchers are finally able to create diagnostic tools that are not only more maneuverable, but completely autonomous, too.

Enter the magnetic tentacle robot. Flexible and futuristic, this robot navigator has the potential to be a medical advancement that, despite its small size, could have epic implications for mapping the notoriously tight and maze-like bronchial tubes, making it easier to collect tissue samples and even potentially diagnose possible cancer treatments.

The technology was developed by a team of researchers at the University of Leeds, who recently completed a proof-of-concept robot that could more easily navigate a patient’s bronchial tree anatomy. A tentacle-like device (hence the name), the flexible catheter is more maneuverable than the current medical standard for navigating and exploring bronchial tubes, the bronchoscope. Somewhat limited in range, the current diagnostic tool would definitely benefit from a more sleek and autonomous upgrade —in this case, a “smarter” version controlled by magnets attached to robotic arms.

Using an autonomous system to lead the way by working with a map of the patient’s lungs, the magnetic tentacle robot would be able to go where no other scope has gone before, accessing those hard-to-reach areas of the bronchial tubes. It’s “an important clinical tool in the investigation and treatment of possible lung cancer and other lung diseases,” according to a recent statement made by Pietro Valdastri, who supervised the university’s research at its Science and Technologies of Robotics in Medicine Lab.

Currently in the early stages of development, the magnetic tentacle robot’s two millimeter magnetically-controlled maneuverability still needs to be tested on the lungs of a cadaver before it ever enters the body of a living patient, but initial tests using a 3D replica of the bronchial tree have been promising. According to the university, it could take years before the magnetic tentacle robot makes an appearance in an actual clinical setting, but it’s still an important step forward in the field of future diagnostics. And let’s be honest, the name is pretty cool.

The post This Magnetic Tentacle Robot is the Future of Medical Diagnostics first appeared on Dornob.

Now, a team of designers called Flyte plans to recreate this lost pyramidia in spectacular floating form, as the world’s largest magnetically levitating artwork.

Named Py, the sculpture will be at least 20 feet (six meters) tall and showcased both in person at an art gallery and online in early 2022. The designers have developed custom-built maglev technology capable of levitating up to 220 pounds, and have already built a smaller-scale working prototype measuring 13 feet high. While this prototype is just made of carbon fiber rods, the full-scale version will be solid. They’re currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter to fund the project, including its exhibition, and backers get a pretty awesome reward in the form of a mini levitating capstone of their own.

Aiming to help remind us all that “there’s still a place for mystery and magic in our everyday lives,” the mini Py features a built-in light that you can turn on and off by touching the base. It comes in black, white, gray, iridescent, gold, and premium or iridescent glass versions.

The designers explain that “Py is a combination of the words Pythagoras, the Greek Philosopher, and Phi or Golden Ratio. 1:1.1618. Both are present in the structure of the installation. The Great Pyramid of Giza has a base of 230.4 meters (755.9 feet) and an estimated original height of 146.5 meters (480.6 feet). This also creates a height-to-base ratio of 0.636, which indicates it is indeed a Golden Triangle, at least to within three significant decimal places of accuracy.”

“Throughout the centuries, the ancient pyramids have been a source of inspiration to artists, writers, mathematicians, and architects. Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla had an obsession with the Egyptian pyramids. Tesla believed they served a higher purpose and was investigating them throughout his life. He believed the pyramids contained a power to send energy wirelessly due to their shape and location, which provided the inspiration for his experimental Wardenclyffe Tower and his designs for generators that could theoretically use the Earth’s ionosphere as a source of energy. His triangle-shaped design became known as Tesla’s electromagnetic pyramid.”

Flyte, which specializes in home decor and lighting products, previously created the world’s first levitating light bulb, which was recognized as one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2016. Like Py, the Flyte bulb hovers in mid-air using magnetic levitation, powered wirelessly through the air.

The post Py: Colossal Levitating Pyramid Display Pays Tribute to Missing Ancient Capstones first appeared on Dornob.

Not too long ago it would have sounded like futuristic science fiction, but here it is – the world’s most expensive luxury bed that is not suspended but, instead, is tethered to the ground so it does not simply drift up and away.

Seven years of study went into the development process of the permanent, non-degrading magnetic support system for this seven-figure sleeping platform. The bed frame itself is a simple rectilinear board, painted black, that appears to hover on invisible legs.

As the old argument goes: if you are going to spend a third of your life lying on something, you might as well make it something nice. Since it can hold up over fifteen hundred pounds, well, weight will not pose a problem for most people.

To be fair, it is worth questioning the real value in such an expensive solution. How is this floating magnetic bed so fundamentally different from a normal bed – or a hanging, water or other specialty sleeper? And what is it about that experience that makes the design worth as much as a mansion? Perhaps it is just another plaything for the rich, for now at least, but who knows … as technology evolves maybe it will be a teenage fad ten years from now, too. What the military did for flight, architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars may just do for the sleep (or entire furniture) industry. Maybe.

“The Floating Bed was designed as a pointer towards gravity. An omnipresent force that dictates our lives here on earth. It was done by making the exception, a Floating Bed that seems to fall up instead of down.”

“Essential in the long process of testing, engineering and designing was to make a piece of furniture that, visualy, is not dictated by gravity. Four thin cables that are tethered to the floor communicate hanging upside down. The direct surroundings and custom made covers form an integral part of the product. It can be used as sofa or mere art piece.”

The post $1.6 Million Dollar Magnetic Hover Bed first appeared on Dornob.

Designed by a father who was sick of his couch always being in disarray, FORT comes in six shades of blue, gray, green, and purple, and you can always buy multiple kits and mix them up to make extra-big forts. Keeping in mind the target age range between three and six years old, the magnets are strong enough to hold kid-built structures together, but not too strong for little hands to manipulate (or strong enough to hurt anyone). A non-magnetic option is also available, if that’s your preference. Each piece is light enough that a toddler could pick it up and move it. The faux leather upholstery is also wipeable, unlike most couch cushions, which means the kit can even be used outside on the lawn.

The pieces are big enough for dramatic castles, but that also means they don’t exactly fold down to a compact size for storage. You can assemble them all into a tidy cube, but it will still have to hang out somewhere until you want to use it. That’s where you might as well get creative. You can assemble the pieces into a small kid-friendly couch or other semi-permanent piece of furniture and make it a multipurpose product. Accessories are also available for the FORT, including a strap for carrying the cube-bundle and a microfiber case to turn the whole thing into a giant ottoman.

A description on the pillow fort’s Kickstarter page reads: “Structural and supportive foam that is dense enough to build with but soft enough to knock down without boo-boos! Our foam is made of a flexible polyurethane foam that is compliant with CertiPUR-US product standards. This means it is made without ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP flame retardants, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, and is low VOC for healthy indoor air!”

“We take the safety of our children seriously. If I don’t want my kids playing with it, I don’t want yours. That’s why we’ve worked obsessively to make sure the magnets don’t fall out. The magnets are sewn in place with nylon thread in a special pocket, and our leather is super durable.”

This isn’t the first fort kit of its kind. “Squishy Forts” offered a similar project back in 2013, featuring modular components with built-in rare earth magnets. Just like FORT, they piled up into a neat little square when not in use. The difference is that “Squishy Forts” did away with pretensions of being for children and marketed straight to adults. They don’t appear to be available anymore, though, so FORT stepped in to meet the demand. Let’s not pretend you aren’t going to buy this “for the kids,” and then pull it out to play with when they’re asleep (with or without the involvement of tequila). But hey, it’s okay. Live your best fort-building life.

To get one of your own, pledge $219 or more for the non-magnetic version or $259 and up for the magnetic version on Kickstarter, with estimated delivery in September 2021.

The post You’re Going to Want to Steal This Magnetic Pillow Fort from Your Kids first appeared on Dornob.

Professor Georges Kachaamy, Director of the Center for Research, Innovation and Design at the American University in Dubai (AUD), has not only given the scenario a lot more thought than most people, he also has ideas on how to alleviate the problem. He’s been working on his Rising Oases project for over 10 years and shows no signs of stopping his quest to make floating architecture a reality.

First Inspiration

Kachaamy first imagined floating architecture while he was still a student in Japan, around 13 years ago. His vision started out small, but he’s steadily increased the size of his prototypes since the project’s inception.

He recalls, “When I started generating prototypes, it was in miniature dimensions almost 10 centimeters (3.94 inches) long. Now the current prototype is almost two meters (6.56 feet) long — so the next one will definitely be bigger.” Kachaamy also takes his vision seriously. “When you realize the possibilities, you truly believe it is not so far away,” he stated. “This is not science-fiction.”

How It Works

After testing a range of technologies and materials, Kachaamy concluded, at least for now, that magnetic levitation is the best option. Often called “maglev” in its use to power and control frictionless high-speed trains, the process involves elevating objects utilizing the power of two opposed magnets.

Since the power of the magnetic force is optimized by the lightness of the objects being manipulated, Kachaamy chose 3D-printed, super-light plastic material for the prototypes. He explains that “you have to find an equilibrium between the weight of architecture and the strength of technology. Then you can achieve greater heights and more impressive prototypes.”

The Bevy of Benefits

The benefits of floating architecture extend way beyond less freeway traffic and more room to cross a street. City planning and construction could also be executed on different levels, leaving real land open for forests and other eco-friendly options. It could also be used to shelter people from natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods.

Kachaamy envisions an endless list of positive possibilities for floating architecture. He sees the value of his project as “accomplishing the impossible,” reworking the perception of knowledge and pushing it past apparent boundaries. He adds: “This is not solely about whether [floating architecture] can be realized or not. It is also an opportunity to think of plausible future environments. There is no better way to create the future than to think, imagine, and design it.”

Looking Forward

Despite the opinions of magnetic levitation experts that Kachaamy’s technology is restrictively expensive and presents limited height with prototypes that float just a few inches higher than their magnetic bases, he remains undaunted. In fact, he assures us that he has a roadmap to building increasingly larger and higher prototypes, including a life-size model — a goal he hopes to attain in his lifetime. Before he can do that, however, he’ll need to create a full-size floating roof.

Floating Oases was one of the VIP attractions on display at this year’s Dubai Design Week, which ran from November 11th to 16th.

The post Georges Kachaamy’s “Rising Oases” Project Explores Floating Architecture first appeared on Dornob.

One of the most challenging aspects of brain surgery is navigating through the organ’s network of approximately 400 miles of tiny blood vessels — not to mention around 100 billion nerve cells. On top of that, strokes and other life-threatening conditions make brain surgery a procedure that must be performed quickly and flawlessly.

To clear clots in the brain, surgeons often use a fluoroscope, which takes X-ray images of the blood vessels and enables them to physically turn and direct a medical wire into the clotted one. A catheter is strung along this wire to transport the appropriate medicines to the area.

Unfortunately, many of these wires have cores made from metallic alloys. If one of them gets jammed en route and has to be prodded to continue on its path, there’s a high risk that the resistance would damage the delicate linings of the blood vessel.

Not only is this course of action risky for the patient, but it also puts surgeons and other medical personnel at risk, as the fluoroscope itself repeatedly exposes doctors to radiation.

MIT Ingenuity

Now, a team of MIT engineers has produced a thread-like robotic fiber that can move smoothly throughout the brain’s labyrinth of blood vessels without risk of damage to the fragile vessel walls. Not only could medications be more safely and easily transported by this method, but it could also eliminate the need for open brain surgery, because it would enable surgeons to operate not only outside of the operating room, but from practically any location. The double advantage of this would be no radiation exposure for these surgeons, and the ability to save patients in remote locations.

How It Works

The MIT team developed what was described in a paper published in Science Robotics as a “magnetically steerable, hydrogel-coated robotic thread.” The core of the thread is made from nickel-titanium alloy that’s both flexible and spongy, and is layered with a rubbery ink or adhesive which itself contains an abundance of magnetic elements. The exterior is then coated with a hydrogel, which makes the wire glide smoothly and without friction. And since it can also be easily manipulated by magnets, that also means no more dangerous exposure to radiation.

The Trials

Although the new procedure hasn’t been tested on humans quite yet, the MIT team is busy putting it through a slew of other trials to make sure it’s perfect. They first tested the thread’s suppleness by running it through an obstacle course of tiny rings (akin to threading a needle and using a large remote magnet to guide it). As expected, the newfound malleability allowed the wire to easily bend and twist without creating friction.

The team then built a full-scale model of a human brain to test the procedure. Again, the wire performed flawlessly, easily navigating every twist and turn presented in the slender blood vessels, supporting the theory that it could eventually be used to disintegrate blockages and carry life-saving drugs to every nook and cranny in the brain’s mass.

Hope for the Future

Xuanhe Zhao, Associate Professor of Mechanical, Civil, and Environmental Engineering at MIT, is optimistic about the future. He explains: “Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. If acute stroke can be treated within the first 90 minutes or so, patients’ survival rates could increase significantly. If we could design a device to reverse blood vessel blockage within this ‘golden hour,’ we could potentially avoid permanent brain damage. That’s our hope.”

The post MIT’s New Robotic Fiber Could Revolutionize Brain Surgery first appeared on Dornob.

Each component is made from 3D-printed materials and a core piece that the creators describe as “the world’s smallest contact and frictionless bicycle dynamo, which is integrated together with the electronic and lighting system in the brake shoe of a caliper brake.” It works using eddy-current induction, in which a magnetic wheel in a generator is set apart from the bicycle rim by a narrow air gap, creating temporary a magnetic field when the rim is in motion.

“Neither batteries nor external cables, further fittings or spoke-magnets are necessary. Solely the brake shoes are to be exchanged for microlight-brake shoes, so that the maintenance only involves the exchange of worn brake pads after thousands of kilometers. The included bake pads are compatible with other standard brake pads of other manufacturers as available in every cycle shop.”

Choose the set that best fits your needs: the front basic set with one dynamo light unit and a reflector for each side of the front brake shoe, the rear basic set with the same components for the back wheel, the basic set that includes both, the front or rear stand light set, the set that includes both stand lights, or the smart set. The latter includes all the components featured in the other packages plus a few cool smart features like brake lever-activated turn signals and smartphone-controlled navigation, which itself enables automatic signaling and Bluetooth-speed data transmission.

The front lights illuminate the road ahead while the rear lights function as brake lights and turn signals and help improve the rider’s visibility on the road. The fact that the turn signal feature works without a smartphone is pretty convenient, allowing you to simply double tap the brake lever to turn them on and off. Download the accompanying mobile app to connect your smartphone to the lights and program them to automatically activate as you turn. Meanwhile, your phone can stay safe and protected inside your bag or pocket.

There’s no complicated installation process required, and the Magnic Microlights can be placed on almost any bicycle. Though they’re designed with caliper brakes in mind, an extra adapter is included in each set to accommodate disc brakes, too. The Kickstarter campaign still has quite a way to go before it’s fully funded, but there are plenty of rewards available if you feeling like claiming a set of your own.

“Without lighting, cyclists risk their lives in the dark — but those on the road with battery lights will soon be left in the dark when the journey takes too long or the batteries are no longer full. For those who do not want to mount heavy dynamos or use batteries or lay cables, we’ve launched two Kickstarter projects with our non-contact Magnic Lights, which feel like battery lighting without having to exchange or change batteries. Magnic Microlights can’t be turned off at daylight, and we are convinced this makes sense from a safety point of view: with lights on your visibility increases significantly, which means a great deal of safety.”

The post Turn Your Ordinary Bike Into an Illuminated Smart Bike with “Magic” Microlights first appeared on Dornob.

Project Kino’s living jewelry is made possible by a function that’s been present in the robots since they were first developed: the ability to move across static clothing via the use of magnets. To transform them into jewelry, the robots’ designers simply covered them in a stylish fabric that could be shaped and changed out as desired, making them versatile enough to use with a number of different garments. The material over which the robots crawl is sandwiched between the two magnets and boasts an eye-catching sheath on its outer surface. The design team says that Project Kino, “explores a dynamic future in which the accessories we wear are no longer static, but are instead mobile, living objects on the body.” The jewelry is a tech-savvy approach to accessorizing and offers its wearer several innovative options in terms of both aesthetic and functionality.

Additionally, Project Kino has the potential to act as a kind of climate control. The wearable robots can be attached to the drawstrings of a jacket and pull the hood up as soon as rain starts to fall. In another example outlined by MIT, a microphone could be inserted into the jewelry, effectively turning it into a voice-activated recording device. For the purposes of adornment, multiple living jewels can be worn at once and reconfigured on the wearer to create different types of jewelry: arrange the bots in cluster patterns to create a feature brooch, or position them in a ring around your neck as a statement necklace. If you wear certain materials, such as velvet, the robot’s movements can even create patterns on the fabric itself, transforming the garment into a work of art-in-progress. If you cover the robots in an eye-catching, geometric material that matches the shirt you’re wearing, their path can create an optical illusion as the two patterns cross each other.

Although the robots are currently quite large, their designers hope that they’ll be slimmed down as their concept and materiality are refined. Once they’re small enough, the developers explain, “With the addition of kinetic capabilities, traditionally static jewelry and accessories will start displaying life-like qualities, learning, shifting, and reconfiguring to the needs and preferences of the wearer, also assisting in fluid presentation of self. With wearables that possess hybrid qualities of the living and the crafted, we explore a new on-body ecology for human-wearable symbiosis.” However, when new products like these hit the market, it can never really be predicted where they will end up and how they will be used. Nonetheless, the possibilities for Project Kino are definitely endless!

The post Project Kino: High-Tech Living Jewelry first appeared on Dornob.

A miniature tree hovers in the air over its pot, unsupported, in a scene that mixes an ancient Japanese art with sci-fi effects. In fact, the pot that comes with this particular bonsai plant kit isn’t even designed to hold soil. Instead, it contains a powerful magnet that keeps the moss-covered root ball of the plant suspended in the air an inch above its rim.

‘Air Bonsai’ is a simple DIY kit consisting of a ‘little star’ moss planting ball and an ‘energy base,’ both of which conduct magnetic energy. The porcelain ‘energy base’ is traditional Japanese Imari and comes in a variety of designs. An optional lightweight lava ball fits around the moss ‘star’ to hold in moisture and change up the look.

All you have to add is the bonsai plant itself, which can be procured locally. The creators envision customers from each country choosing plants that are specific to their own regions, producing endless variations of bonsai that are a fusion of the Japanese tradition and the natural beauty of other nations.

The blockbuster Kickstarter success still has 30 days left on its fundraising campaign, so there’s plenty of time to back the project and claim a Hoshinchu Air Bonsai Garden of your own.

The post Floating on Air: Magnetic Bonsai Tree Hovers Above Base first appeared on Dornob.

Changing up the wall adornments in a room can change the space’s whole feel and almost trick you into thinking you’ve done some major remodeling project. This type of change-up can result in some gnarly holes in your walls, though. The crazy Magnektik magnetic wall system is composed of super-strong magnets that let you decorate your walls however you like and change the look entirely in just minutes.

The system hinges on the large sheet metal plates that are attached to walls. They can be installed atop the existing wall and left unfinished for a unique decorative look, but the Magnektik wall system is particularly awesome when the metal plates are concealed.

The plates are easily concealed after being permanently adhered to walls; the joints are then spackled and the entire wall is primed and painted. The wall becomes a kind of canvas to support your every decorating whim. You can change the look of your room as simply as putting up a magnet or taking it down.

Even heavy objects like bikes or televisions can be hung up using the Magnektik system. Whatever you hang up stays put securely, but the modules are simple enough to remove and replace. This system could change the way rental properties are managed; by eliminating the need for nails and screws, renters can express their personalities and landlords can reduce the cost of making the property rentable for the next tenant.

“Our vision… is to revolutionize the aesthetics and functionality in homes and galleries allowing people to freely express themselves and design their spaces without the constraints of tools or holes. Just the same way that furniture can be easily moved to redesign a room and make it more functional and adjusted to our needs, we feel that walls should have the same privilege of ‘design by desire.'”

The post Magnetic Wall System Easily Hangs Anything + Everything first appeared on Dornob.

The electronic circuit in the table turns a low current into an electromagnetic field, creating an invisible field of energy that users can interact with by holding fluorescent bulbs above its surface. Of course, you don’t want to bring any electronics anywhere near it unless you want them to stop working.

The table appears to be a tribute to Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower, which attempted a similar feat on a much larger scale. Tesla hoped to use the same sort of electromagnetic field to transmit wireless electricity, but was never successful.

More from the designer

“EM (ElectroMagnetic) table is an experimental object able to produce a localized electromagnetic field when switched on. This field lights up fluorescent tubes within a short range without any physical contact. The EM table allows the user to interact with an energy that is otherwise invisible. An electronic circuit is embedded in the table and turns a low current into an electromagnetic field, acting directly on the gas within the fluorescent tube.
It is advised that electronic devices should be kept away when the table is switched on. This research aims at exploring less known aspect of energies, electromagnetic possibilities and new interactions.”

About Florian Dussopt

“Founder of FDDS, a London based experiential design studio creating engaging experiences for retail and brands. The studio specialises in bridging physical and digital to tell meaningful stories for many prestigious clients like Chivas Regal, Bombay Sapphire, Virgin Atlantic, Samsung, Roca, Nike… Also pushing personal research through commissioned and self-initiated artworks.”

The post Electromagnetic Magic: Table Turns On Unplugged Lights first appeared on Dornob.

Push on any side of this Rubik’s cube-like coffee table, and it will give in to the pressure like it’s on springs, and then snap back into place. Look closer, and you’ll see that the individual wooden blocks that make up the “magic levitating” table are barely tethered to each other, each one seeming to float in place. The ‘Float Table’ by RockPaperRobot is no ordinary piece of furniture.

The steel cables that hold the blocks into place aren’t supporting them. The walnut blocks are magnetic, so they sort of hover in place with respect to each other.

This kind of handcrafted conversation piece doesn’t come cheap – a table with 27 cubes goes for $10,000, while a 54-cube rectangular table is priced at twice that.

“The Float Table is a matrix of ‘magnetized’ wooden cubes that levitate with respect to one another. The repelling cubes are held in equilibrium by a system of tensile steel cables. Each handcrafted table is precisely tuned to seem rigid and stable, yet a touch reveals the secret to Float’s dynamic character. The Table elastically deforms and stabilizes when external force is applied. Rare earth magnets and stainless steel cables are at the core of the technology. Standard finishes include a variety of woods and colored lacquers, but anything is possible (e.g., metals, images, etc.). All hand-made pieces ship from our studio in Brooklyn, NY. The tables ship in custom crates with White Glove service facilitated by RPR.”

About the designers: ” RockPaperRobot (RPR) is an engineering and design company specializing in shape-shifting and connected furniture. Our products are designed by a team of master fabricators and engineers, headed up by founder and formally trained roboticist, Jessica Banks. Celebrating the wonder of physics, our invention ethos draws inspiration from nature to create pieces that are as much experiences as they are objects. We are material, aesthetic, and genre agnostics with insatiable curiosity. It’s an honor to share our expression of this attitude through pieces that enhance engagement with the physical and imaginative spaces we all occupy.”

The post Magic Levitating Coffee Table Uses Magnets to Mysteriously ‘Float’ first appeared on Dornob.

Aside from putting together those IKEA bookcases, when was the last time you were involved in the making of your home’s furnishings? The Playtime Collection from Zhang & Thonsgaard is a creative system which lets you make a small stool or side table that are reminiscent of the art of origami.

The pieces start out flat-packed and include integrated magnets and clips. You clip each piece together and twist or fold it into place, creating some very unique patterns and shapes before the final piece of furniture emerges.

“Using wood, laminate and bright blue and orange [colors], the self-[assembly] pieces evoke the visual imagery of classic childhood toys,” the designers say. “When unfolded, it is flat, lightweight and easy to transport.” 

The design duo also created some sets which are meant to be mounted on walls and one which is meant to be used as a rug. The designs of all of the Playtime Collection pieces reflect the designers’ respective heritages, featuring traditional Chinese and Scandinavian designs.

Via Archello:

“The idea behind the collection was to create a playful, easy-to-assemble interior and to make the process of assembling/putting together the pieces (folding, joining) an interesting and fun part of the design. It consists of following interior items: a floor design, a chair and a table design. You assemble the furniture by folding them, like origami and they are held together by small clips and magnets.”

“The floor boards can be ‘clicked’ together and create an entire floor and you can mix the pattern as you wish. The collection is inspired by asian (chinese) paper folding and scandinavian knitting patterns – ‘fusing’ two different, stilistic traditions and expressions. One of the main themes of the collection is ‘fabric’ – how to give solid, interior pieces a light and playful character, through the use of texture and pattern and a ‘fluid’ assembling method.”

The post Origami-Inspired Furniture Snaps Together With Magnets first appeared on Dornob.

Picture the process of thieves rummaging through your home. Would they find your stash of valuables taped to the bottom of a drawer or under a floorboard (film cliches), or would they be baffled by something in plain sight?

Few would think to examine such a slender element as a floating shelf, and, even if they did, it has no handles or apparent hidden panels. In fact, you need a magnet to unlock its secrets, which themselves look innocuous and could be kept either on your key chain or in another nearby drawer.

A simple and elegant product of Torafu, this secret hidden shelf is a great mix of subtle and accessible, putting your valuables wherever you want to set the shelf, including just inside your door … but at the same time protecting them from all but the most ingenious of would-be robbers.

From the designers:

“One open shelf protruding from the wall. With a thickness of 34 mm and a solid wood-like shelf, it is made up of delicate aluminum parts. By kneading the veneer into a thin structure, a space was created within the thickness of the shelf.”

“When you pull out the mouth with the key of the magnet, a secret drawer with an effective thickness of 23 mm appears, which is the minimum thickness for storing important things such as seals and passbooks. The hidden aluminum space emerges from the opening of the open shelves, changing the impression of the shelves.”

“* About inquiries:
Since this product was made as a plot type, it is not currently available as a product. However, we have received a lot of inquiries from both inside and outside Japan, and we are currently in the process of commercializing it. We will inform you on this page when it is finally commercialized.“

The post Secret Drawer Hidden in Bookshelf first appeared on Dornob.

Levitating lamps sound a bit light science fiction, but they have been around – in real-world settings – for many years. These hover lamps, made by a company called Crealev, contain LEDs and work with electromagnetic technology, making them not only a stunning addition to a home but also low energy consumers.

Crealev’s two new models blend the classic aesthetic of the table lamp with the high-tech functionality of a floating home object. The Silhouette is the more traditional of the new designs, recalling a sophisticated lamp with a decidedly futuristic top side.

The Eclipse (pictured top) is more modern in design, featuring a graceful glass base with a straight-sided shade and the company’s characteristic levitating, spinning top.

Crealev’s mission is to bring the fantastically interesting hover aesthetic into homes – and not just in lighting. Lest you think that these levitating tops are all an illusion, this video shows one of the lamps in action, its top floating like magic above the rest of the lamp.

“At the very birth of our company lies the inception of the first Silhouette floating lamp. In an attempt to create an object using her father’s technology, Angela Jansen initially produced the lamp as a design project. They both thought it would be good fun to present it during the 2007 Dutch Design Week. But they hadn’t anticipated the positive feedback and media interest it would generate. Slowly realizing the potential of their efforts, they decided to join forces and Crealev was born.”

“Our lamps have been a practical interpretation of our technology from the very beginning. Great conversational piece not only for your home but also fairs and trade-shows around the world.”

“The lamp consists out of a handcrafted wooden base with a high glossy black finish. Attached is a stylish black fabric covered power cable. The conical shaped lampshade is manufactured in matte black fabric with a pearl white inner side furnishing. The light flows through the openings of the mirror which covers the lower part of the lampshade.”

The post Levitating Lamps: Magic or Magnets? first appeared on Dornob.