The post Shake Washer: Mini Hand-Powered Travel Washing Machine first appeared on Dornob.

One of the biggest concerns about traveling to a foreign country is not being able to understand the language. For those desiring to explore the world but nervous about trying to get directions or order food on their trip, digital translation company Timekettle has just the gadget for you. The company’s handheld Fluentalk T1 can instantly convert spoken words from one language into another, potentially eliminating the main barrier to international trips.

Over 40 Languages

The Fluentalk T1 can translate over 40 languages and 93 different accents with up to 95 percent accuracy. In places where you can’t connect to the internet, the device can still translate 13 language pairs in offline mode.

Ask for Directions Without a Guidebook

There is a specific mode on the Fluentalk T1 for asking for directions, one of the most common needs as a tourist. Users simply have to double click the power button to start a conversation with someone on the street.

Chat Translation

For longer exchanges, users can turn on chat mode and place the Fluentalk T1 in between them to have their dialogue translated in real time via advanced streaming automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology and a global internet connection. A built-in microphone array uses noise reduction algorithms to distinguish between human voices and ambient sounds, providing a clear audio experience for every member of the conversation.

Listen Mode

The Fluentalk T1 also features a listen mode that can continuously translate the speech around the user into their own language. This could be helpful while sitting in a meeting or dinner to be able to understand all the surrounding chatter.

Image/Photo Translation

Not only can it translate spoken words, but Timekettle’s handy machine can also decipher street signage and menus. With its 8-megapixel camera and optical character recognition (OCR) offline translation engine, the Fluentalk T1 can instantly translate images in 36 languages.

Voice Memos

The Fluentalk T1 also comes with a voice memo mode for making travel or business notes. You can even make a quick audio file for later translation if you’re in a hurry.

Cellular Data

For the first two years, the company offers free mobile data around the world. After that users can either purchase more data from Timekettle or insert their own mobile phone SIM card. They can also use a local Wi-Fi connection if available.

World Clock and Currency Exchange Rates

These two bonus features make it easier to keep track of local time and current money exchange rates in whatever country you’re visiting.

Pocket-Sized Portability

Smaller than the typical smartphone, the Fluentalk T1 is designed to be extremely portable. About the size of a credit card and weighing only a quarter of a pound, it can easily be slipped into a pocket or purse.

For those interested in a more comprehendible travel experience, the Fluentalk T1 is available for $299.99 on the company website.

The post Pocket-Sized Fluentalk T1 Translates Over 40 Languages in Real Time for Easier Travel first appeared on Dornob.

The Skynest pods feature two sets of three bunk beds stacked in an outward-facing V formation, with curtains you can close for privacy. Measuring 80 inches by 23 inches, they’re long enough for most people to lie completely flat. They come with bedding, including pillows, sheets, and blankets, and each pod includes its own USBV outlet, reading light, and storage pocket. They’ll be installed at the very front of the rear economy cabin in Air New Zealand’s new Boeing 787-9s, which will service the airline’s long-haul routes to cities like New York and Chicago.

Because they can’t be occupied during takeoff and landing, the bunks can’t be booked for the entire flight. Instead, they’re available in four-hour windows, with the bedding changed in between each passenger. Passengers traveling on economy, premium economy, or economy stretch (seats with extra legroom) tickets can add their nap break onto their total much like they would extra baggage. The airline hasn’t yet revealed how much this feature will cost.

“New Zealand’s location puts us in a unique position to lead on the ultra-longhaul travel experience,” says Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. “We have zeroed in on sleep, comfort, and wellness because we know how important it is for our customers to arrive well-rested. Whether they are heading straight into a meeting, or to their first holiday hotspot — they want to hit the ground running. It’s a proud moment to finally unveil five years of hard mahi, in what truly is a cabin of possibility. One that will provide customers with options to get some shut eye wherever they’re sitting.”

The Skynest isn’t Air New Zealand’s only economy-class innovation. The Economy Skycouch is a row of seats you can change into a couch after takeoff, either by booking three seats in a row just for yourself, sharing with a partner, or cuddling your kids. The seats are the same as the rest in Economy, except you have a special footrest on each seat that you can lift halfway up to lounge or all the way up to create one big couch. It’s private,t oo, so you won’t end up sharing your Skycouch with a stranger.

Will big American airline companies like Delta, American Airlines, or United follow suit? It seems unlikely, but so did the prospect of this Skynest pod design ever actually becoming real. It was first unveiled in 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic started and seemed destined to remain a concept, especially as travel slowed to a crawl. Perhaps other airlines will find a way to make the numbers work in order to include similar features.

The post Air New Zealand Will Offer “Skynest” Sleep Pods to Economy Class Passengers first appeared on Dornob.

Air France

The Paris-based airline recently renovated its La Première lounge at the Charles de Gaulle Airport to give first-class passengers their own separate check-in area. On board, a policy update now gives single guests the freedom to book all four suites in the La Première section for maximum privacy and room. The first-class showers have also been updated, and the in-flight meals on routes departing from CDG are getting the celebrity treatment from now until October, with three-time Michelin star chef Arnaud Donckele preparing them all. Air France aircraft with La Première sections are currently flying from Paris to Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

British Airways

The company, headquartered in London, recently installed more socially distanced pods in the first-class area of its Boeing 777-300ER jets. Each roomy seat now features a sliding door that can provide greater privacy and germ-protection. The upgraded seats also got updated infotainment screens and longer padded cushions and beds.

Emirates

For those missing the flying experience but still squeamish about sharing germs in an enclosed space, Dubai-based Emirates is offering a virtual reality tour of its first-class section. Using the Oculus VR app, grounded flyers can “walk” around the spacious seats and head down to the Onboard Lounge. Future versions are expected to allow customers to explore destinations, select a cabin, and even book their flight within the VR app.

For those who are ready to take to the skies, the Emirates A380 planes still offer a true extravagance at 35,000 feet, complete with two “shower spas” (a full shower/powder room with heated floors) in each first-class area.

Qatar Airways

Qatar recently announced that it will be bringing its double-decker Airbus 380 back as of November 2021 in anticipation of pent-up demand for holiday travel. The mammoth aircraft is the only jet in the company’s fleet that offers both first and business-class seating. It also features a walk-up bar for premium customers.

Singapore Airlines

After having restored the Los Angeles to Tokyo route earlier this year, Singapore Airlines just announced the addition of its New York to Frankfurt flight path, welcome news to those looking to enjoy transatlantic travel in their own mini-hotel room. The company’s posh first-class suites include ultra-long 6-foot 10-inch beds, with two flatscreens and a small chair and desk on the side. The suite can be full enclosed when the door slides shut.

Virgin Atlantic

The first-class unit on Virgin’s soon-to-be-released “leisure fleet” of Airbus 350-1000 planes will include a new social space called “The Booth,” an intimate lounge-style seating for two with a small single leaf table in the middle. The London-based company’s traditional A350 airliners already include a larger lounge facility named “The Loft,” which itself boasts several booths and a large screen for entertainment.

Now that so many first-class routes are back in action, the only question for those ready to fly in style is “where to?”

The post As International Air Travel Resumes, the First-Class Experience Gets an Update first appeared on Dornob.

Le Corbusier’s Paris Apartment, France

Step inside the private home of one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Le Corbusier’s apartment in his own 1930s Paris apartment building, where he lived for over 30 years, opened to the public in 2019 after the building itself (Immeuble Molitor) was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Occupying the seventh and eight floors, the unit has been faithfully restored to its original condition so visitors can see what it would have looked like during his lifetime.

Saarinen House, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Considered Finnish-American architect Eliel Saarinen’s Art Deco masterwork, Saarinen House is now open to the public as part of the Cranbrook Art museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It served as Saarinen’s home and studio from 1930 to 1950 and features beautifully restored interiors featuring the architect’s original furnishings, designed in collaboration with his wife, Loja Saarinen (the Cranbrook Academy of Art’s first head of the Weaving Department).

The Beekman Hotel, New York City

If you want to add a traditional space to your list, New York City is full of them, though few are quite as thrilling as The Beekman Hotel. Its spectacular full-height atrium is ringed by balconies with ornate railings and complex tiled floors, and everywhere you look, there are Gilded era wonders to behold. Considered very tall when it was built in 1883, the former Temple Court Building was full of offices leased by lawyers and publishers. In 2016, GKV Architects transformed it into a contemporary 287-room hotel, preserving its historical features and creating cheerful, airy guest rooms. This is one hotel where you’re going to want to spend a lot of time in the lobby.

Casa Luis Barragán, Mexico City

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Louis Barragán made an outsized impression on Mexican architecture and design, and few places are as exemplary of his signature vivid style as his own former Mexico City residence, known as Casa Luis Barragán. Now a museum, the home illustrates Barragán’s masterful combination of modernism and vernacular elements, all hidden behind a humble facade in a working-class neighborhood.

Louis Armstrong House Museum, Queens, New York

The Louis Armstrong House Museum provides not just a window into the life of a jazz legend, but also a time capsule of his particular period of music history. Located on 107th street in Queens, New York, where Armstrong and his wife Lucille lived for the last 28 years of his life, the museum is packed with the musician’s personal take on midcentury modern interior design.

Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore

An airport as a destination? Yes. Really. Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport is an architectural wonder with dazzling interiors designed to draw crowds, whether they’re actually getting on a plane or not. At its center is a 131-foot waterfall within “Forest Valley,” itself a temperate indoor jungle beneath a massive glass dome planted in a series of tiers to resemble a hilly landscape.

Tianjin Binhai Library, Tianjin, China

If you’re a book lover and interior design enthusiast who also loves to travel, some of the world’s most incredible libraries should be on your radar. You could create a lengthy dream itinerary revolving around both modern and traditional library interiors open to the public — and there are plenty of them, including recently completed wonders like Oslo’s Deichman Bjørvika and historic treasures like the Royal Portuguese Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the most striking contemporary library interiors can be found in Tianjin, China. Designed by MVRDV, the Tianjin Binhai Library features a topographical, organic series of tiered bookshelves circling around a massive glowing sphere.

The post 7 Spectacular Interiors to See in Person Post-COVID first appeared on Dornob.

That fact is evidenced by the popularity of various flight-themed adventures offered in 2020. Back in July, the Taipei Songshan Airport furnished passengers with “a flight to nowhere,” complete with check-in, security, and boarding procedures for a seat on a grounded plane. With only 60 seats available, more than 7,000 people applied. Companies like EVA Air followed suit with sky-view sight-seeing treks that typically sold out in minutes.

When Australian airline Quantas started selling its excess business class pajamas, nostalgic flyers snapped up all 10,000 pieces within hours.

And of course there was the viral TikTok video of a dad who missed flying so much that he purchased a pair of First Class Delta plane seats and installed them in his living room. He’d also buckle his seat belt, pull out the safety information card, and listen to sounds of turbulence to fully recreate the flying vibes.

The latest air travel-simulating contribution is a view that can turn your workspace into a jet cabin. The Sky Scape digital airplane window looks just like the real thing with a plastic frame and faux shade handle, while the 22-inch high-resolution display provides a circulating view of takeoff, in-flight clouds views, and landing scenes. The atmospheric light in the ultra-realistic picture also cycles between sunrise and sunset, providing both brilliant blues skies and deep purple vistas.

A joint effort from Japanese companies Joled Inc., an OLED screen maker, and LandSkip Inc., a digital display and installation firm, the Sky Scape window was actually under development long before the coronavirus struck. The timing of its release turned out to be serendipitous. Originally designed to be another relaxation tool in the LandSkip arsenal of digital landscape offerings, it now offers a way to soothe socially-distanced employees in their cubicles or home offices.

“I’ve found that it really helps with concentration,” says LandSkip Chief Executive Officer Kazuki Shimomura. “Time passes in a very productive way.”

Joled, a company formed in 2015 when Sony and Panasonic merged their organic light-emitting diode technology (OLED) divisions, saw this project as a way to make their tech more accessible to individuals.

“We wanted to get our panels into the hands of many users while enhancing their value,” says Masayuki Ono, Joled’s Director of Business Development.

For those interested in looking down on the clouds during the workday, the Sky Scape will be available to rent on a subscription-style basis and will be less than the $290 charged for the LandSkip’s larger displays typically installed in hotels and hospitals.

And for those who still find air trips stress-inducing, the companies have also produced the more earthy Terra Bonsai, a digital display of the traditional manicured Japanese tree. A symbol of being in harmony with nature, the tree moves through the stages of the seasons: budding spring pink blossoms, lush summer foliage, falling auburn leaves, and snow-covered branches. The dark background surrounding the ethereal floating Bonsai morphs serenely from fluttering butterflies to a peaceful koi pond.

The post Travel-Deprived Frequent Flyers Can Get Their Fix with Digital Airplane Window Screens first appeared on Dornob.

If sensitivity to noise makes it hard for you to sleep, you’ve probably tried all kinds of things: ear plugs, noise-canceling ear buds, and even huge heavy-duty headphones that make it impossible to sleep on your side. None of these options are particularly comfortable to wear all night long, and it’s unclear how healthy it really is to have electronic devices playing near your brain 24/7.

Enter “SleepMuffs,” a sound-blocking neck pillow that solves most of these problems with absolutely zero electronic parts. Made in Australia, these cushiony ear muffs are more complex than they look on the surface. They don’t just cover your ears and cradle your neck. They also feature multiple sound-blocking layers to cut off as much distracting noise as possible.

On the inside, next to your skin, the muffs feature a silk-like thermo-regulating bamboo fabric cover that helps you stay cool and comfortable all night long. On the outside, a smooth, soft but more durable stain-resistant fabric made of recycled single-use bottles stands up to friction against your pillow and other surfaces. In between are a high-quality sound wave absorbing homogenous foam, an acoustic shell made of recycled ABS to ensure a proper seal with your ear, another layer of sound reducing lightweight acoustic foam, and a final ear seal.

A high-quality pair of active noise-canceling headphones, like those sold by Bose and Sony, blocks out about 35 decibels using microphones inside and outside the ear cups to monitor external sounds and instantly produce an opposite signal to cancel them out. It works remarkably well, but it doesn’t come cheap, and it’s much better suited for daytime wear than sleep.

The SleepMuffs product is rated almost as high at 33 decibels, and all without any electronic parts, charging cables, or bulky plastic. Earplugs, in comparison, typically block about 23 decibels. If you like to wear earbuds to listen to music, ambient noise, or meditation tracks while falling asleep, you can still do that with the SleepMuffs on, and they’re compatible with eye masks, too.

Blocking out sound isn’t all the SleepMuffs can do. The ergonomic design relieves neck tension by cradling your neck to keep your head from falling from side to side when you sleep on your back, and the muffs offer extra cushion if you’re a side sleeper, filling the gap between the pillow and your head to let your neck sit at a comfortable height.

The ear muffs made with travel in mind, so they pack up small in an included water-resistant travel pouch, making them ultra-convenient to take on planes, trains, buses, and road trips. The covers come in two colors: light gray or dark gray, with black inside. They’re removable and machine-washable.

The SleepMuffs are currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, and backers can get a set as a reward for a pledge of AU $119 or more (about $88 USD). Estimated delivery is in June 2021, when hopefully a lot of us will be coronavirus-vaccinated and back on the road. When the Kickstarter campaign is over, they’ll be available to the public at a retail price of AU $149 (about $110 USD).

The post SleepMuffs: Sound-Blocking Neck Pillow Lets You Nap in Noisy Environments first appeared on Dornob.

The Castle Cottage — Lake George, New York

If having a whole castle to yourself (or at least, your family or pod of quarantine buddies) sounds more up your alley, The Castle Cottage is your fairytale waiting to happen. Set on a mountaintop in the Adirondacks overlooking Lake George, this gorgeous stone keep sleeps up to six people.

Alpaca Treehouse — Atlanta, Georgia

Sometimes you need a place to get away without leaving the city. In Atlanta, this treehouse set within a bamboo forest comes complete with wandering llamas. Seriously. One of the most wishlisted Airbnbs in the world (and recently featured on the Netflix reality show Love is Blind, Delta’s inflight commercials, Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters, and VH1’s Love & Hip Hop), this space sleeps four guests. Unsurprisingly, this spot is also super in-demand for small weddings, photo shoots, and music videos.

Silo Studio Cottage — Tyringham, Massachusetts

A romantic getaway ideal for a couple, the Silo Studio Cottage is an adorable two-story round house on the Santarella Estate in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Formerly the summer studio of sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson, it features a 35-foot-high conical ceiling with a canopied bed and views of a nearby lily pond and babbling brook.

Earthship Studio — Taos, New Mexico

Staying overnight in an awesome recycled Earthship is a must-do in New Mexico. This one in Taos includes all the cool features you’d expect in an Earthship, including glass bottle walls, polished earthen floors, and a passive solar sunroom, plus modern amenities like Wi-Fi, Netflix, and a luxurious deep tub.

River House — New Orleans, Louisiana

This one bedroom, one bath guest home tucked away in the historic neighborhood of Faubourg Marigny is well away from the crowds of downtown, but it still packs in all the New Orleans charm you can handle. Located on the second floor of a mansion, it features its own private 500-square-foot balcony with original cast iron railings and city views, as well as access to a swimming pool and lush gardens.

Desert Yacht — Terlingua, Texas

Looking for a highly unique place where you can be wild and free? This Airbnb getaway is literally a yacht in the desert near Big Bend in West Texas, and officially listed as “clothing optional.” It features one bedroom, a kitchen, an upper deck for all the stargazing you can handle, and best of all, loads of privacy. The property itself is a good 20 miles outside civilization, but Wi-Fi access and an indoor shower are just a quick drive away.

Desert Sage House — Yucca Valley, California

Dreaming of a place where you can safely gather with your friends or extended family? This complex of cabins, yurts, and trailers is spread out on five acres of land in California’s Yucca Valley, and set up so you can hang out together outdoors or retreat to your own private spaces. You’ll have the whole property to yourselves (but no parties or weddings are allowed). It’s capable of hosting up to 12 guests in five bedrooms, with eight beds total.

Chelan Hobbit Haven — Orondo, Washington

A global pandemic is enough to make anyone wish they could hide away in a hobbit hole. Lucky for you, you actually can! “Underground Hygge” is an earth house nestled into the Columbia River Gorge mountainside in Orondo, Washington featuring an iconic round front door, gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside, six acres to explore, and one bedroom ideal for one or two people.

The Silos at Prairie Vale — Green Ridge, Missouri

You’ve heard of tiny houses, but what about tiny silo houses? Experience one for yourself on a family-owned farm in Green Ridge, Missouri. You’ll get a taste of farm life complete with Nigerian Dwarf goats, miniature donkeys, chickens, and other animals while staying in a silo apartment with its own full kitchen, bathroom, and loft.

The Ark Tiny House — Virgin, Utah

Location, location, location! Utah’s Zion National Park is unlike anywhere else in the United States, and The Ark is a great way to experience it. Sure, it’s a tiny house, but it’s actually capable of sleeping up to six people between its bedroom and common spaces. It also boasts a loft, bathtub, office desk, TV with Netflix, Wi-Fi, a hot tub and fire pit, and a breathtaking bay window overlooking a 75-acre property with a stream.

Find more unique places to stay near you on Airbnb’s website.

The post The 10 Most Amazing Airbnbs for Your Quarantine Vacation first appeared on Dornob.

The complex was designed by Vector Architects in collaboration with interior designer Ju Bin from Horizontal Space Design, consisting of two existing elements — the mill buildings and an industrial steel truss — and a number of new buildings that have been conceived of in a manner that clearly sets them apart from their surroundings. Rather than trying to emulate the existing architecture, the architects decided to create additions that were complementary to it yet distinct in the way of their material palette. The building materials used have similar textures and treatments to those of the bricks used in the original mill buildings, but they are clearly contemporary in nature and serve to add another layer to the site’s already rich history.

The form and massing of the new buildings are similar to those of the existing ones, making heavy use of deep-pitched roofs and almost solid gable walls. However, the new additions mainly house guest rooms, and as such, their walls have been built from a perforated curtain of concrete blocks, allowing light in and out and giving them all a luminous look when they’re lit up at night.

Weaving in and around the mill buildings and guest accommodations is a network of gardens, which visitors can wander through and use to view the hotel complex (and its stunning backdrop) from a number of different perspectives. This external circulation system is mirrored by an internal one, which itself is made up of corridors and leads guests through a series of surprising spaces that the architects refer to as “caves.” These areas afford visitors impressive framed views of the surrounding mountains and help form a connection between them and the entire landscape.

Perhaps one of the most ingenious changes that’s been made to the former mill is the addition of a swimming pool, which has been set in a raw concrete platform bound by a series of industrial trusses, making it a stark but captivating place to relax and one that juxtaposes the might of Chinese industry with the awesome forces of nature that pervade this inspiring setting. The success of the project lies in how the architects have managed to combine old and new to create something both familiar and unexpected. At the mill, this is experienced in carefully thought-out moments of beauty that contextualize both the architecture and its history (past and present) within a gorgeous landscape.

The post Chinese Sugar Mill Converted Into Hotel first appeared on Dornob.

Virgin Galactic has partnered with Under Armour to create a functional futuristic flight suit for every one of their space tourists. This bundle includes a spacesuit, training suit, footwear, underwear, and a limited edition jacket.

To make an outfit that was practical, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing, Under Armour used feedback from many varying but related experts, including stylists, pilots, and doctors. Every suit will be individually customized for each passenger, including a name badge and national flag. All passengers will be able to take the suit and space gear home with them as well, which is good news considering the fact that we have no idea what kind of souvenirs will be available at the edge of space.

In an interview about his partnership with Under Armour, Virgin head Sir Richard Branson describes his intention with the design as “[wanting] it to be comfortable, flexible, strong, dealing with slightly colder weather and hotter weather, and we also wanted it to be sexy and look good.” Wearing the suit himself during the interview, Branson joked, “If I was a younger model, you’d understand that it is sexy and does look good!”

The flight suit is made from an assortment of materials that have been tested to do well in space-like environments. For example, the suit is lined with cold gear retractor lining to keep passengers warm and comfortable despite unexpected changes in temperature. On top of that, one of the most important materials in the suit is Under Armour’s Celliant yarn called “Rush.” Rush uses infrared heat to helps your muscles recover and grow at a quicker pace. The flight suits were recently debuted for media outlets and investors at an indoor skydiving facility in New York City. There, they were worn by dancers who proved the flexibility and durability of the suits with impressive acrobatics.

Virgin Galactic is a part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin group and aims to be the first commercial space line. Their site explains it best, noting that they “are developing and operating a new generation of space vehicles to open space for everyone.” That is, everyone who can afford a ticket, of course. While the cost may seem out of this world to the majority of us, 3,000 people have already expressed interest in the trip.

Even if you can’t quite afford the ticket, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank still assures us we can get in on the fashion trend. A limited edition UA x Virgin Galactic shirt is now available on their site for a much more reasonable cost of $35.

The post Virgin Galactic and Under Armour Design Futuristic Outfits for 2020 Space Tourism first appeared on Dornob.

Photographer John Margolies (1940-2016), was known for capturing images of the quirky, unique, and offbeat architecture along America’s roads. His Roadside America Photograph Archive contains thousands of images, cataloging the changing landscape of America over four transformative decades. Following his death, the Library of Congress purchased his collection for posterity, and they recently released it to the public domain without restrictions.

The collection of 11,710 pictures is far more than a trove of random images. It’s one of the most comprehensive chronicles of vernacular architecture, quirky businesses, and weird sculptures ever assembled.

Many of the slides were published in books with personal annotations from Margolies. Now, for the first time, everyone can access every image in the collection on the Library of Congress site.

Compiled over countless back road journeys from 1969 to 2008, this treasure trove delivers a time capsule in each frame. Margolies chronicled the changes happening to his country with loving precision and a playful eye.

In the early days of automotive travel, roadside architecture started popping up everywhere as a draw for tourists. Gas stations were no longer simply a pump—to attract expanding business, entrepreneurial owners started incorporating whimsical eye-catchers like pagodas, bomber planes, teepees, or giant cowboy gear into their designs.

In the era of Sunday drives and road trip vacations, car journeys often included pit stops at one-of-a-kind attractions like the world’s largest buffalo, pecan, or bureau.

Margolies spent most of his shutter time in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas. About half the photos in this collection were taken in one of those areas, but all 48 contiguous American states make an appearance.

Margolies saw these roadside treats for what they were—part of a passing trend that would one day vanish from cultural memory unless lovingly preserved. With his trusty Canons, he chronicled the development and eventual demise of the early routes and roads that spread across the country, bringing industry and opportunity to post-WWII America.

With the continued advancement of the automobile, infrastructure evolved, creating highways to cater to the increasing number of cars. Along with that development came a faster pace of travel, and the decline of roadside extravagance.

People began zipping between cities rather than tootling the back roads, largely abandoning the curios of Roadside America. Many of the kooky attractions at gas stations, concept restaurants, and wacky businesses signs that Margolies photographed live on solely through his visionary work.

Each of the 11,710 original 33 mm slides have been digitized in high definition, and the originals are kept in cold storage for preservation. The title, date, and subject attached were provided by Margolies, but the subject and geographical headings were added by staff at the Library of Congress.

This treasured collection tells the story of a country transforming in pace, scope, and social focus. It’s also the story of a man with a rambling, adventurous spirit, a healthy respect for whimsy and kitsch, and a historian’s impulse to chronicle a rapidly changing world.

The post Library of Congress Releases John Margolies’ “Roadside America Series” first appeared on Dornob.

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Anyone who’s visited Patagonia before is likely to appreciate the natural beauty and epic wonder the area has to offer. It’s essentially a protected outdoor playground for climbers, hikers, bikers, and other nature enthusiasts who want to explore one of the world’s most environmentally diverse regions. So it’s no surprise visitors respect lodging options that respect the land through sustainable design and function, like the Patagonia EcoCamp.

Located in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia, the EcoCamp is a low-impact option for travelers and adventurers alike. Its geodesic dome lodgings offer immersion into nature without foregoing any of the comforts of home. In sharp contrast to the resource-consumptive practices of a typical hotel, the Patagonia EcoCamp also runs on solar and hydraulic power for a low carbon footprint, taking steps to conserve resources and control waste at every turn.

Founded by engineers and expedition specialists Yerko Ivelic and Javier Lopez in 2001, the camp has earned praise from both visitors and major publications. That’s because it’s not only a sustainable accommodation, but a remote engagement that draws off the experience of the land’s native Kaweskar people, who have inhabited and valued the area for at least 6000 years.

As stewards of the land, the owners of Patagonia EcoCamp feel an obligation to provide environmentally-responsible travel options that allow visitors to enjoy the nature without endangering it. With this in mind, the EcoCamp has received certifications for their green initiatives. They aim to eventually incorporate more than just solar and hydro energy, but to maintain a circle of sustainable actions that set an example for other ecolodges around the world. This includes supporting the local community, culture, conservation, and commerce. They accomplish this by hiring local help, relying on local farmers to provide produce, and supplementing the bar and restaurant with food collected from the area throughout the year. The EcoCamp also invests in the education of local children by inviting classrooms to visit and learn more about sustainable practices.

To save even more energy, the Patagonia EcoCamp has fitted its domes with large windows to promote the use of natural light over artificial ones. Hair dryers are also not allowed at camp — a rule imposed as yet another lesson in unnecessary energy consumption. One unique lack-of-feature in the ecolodges is the absence of Wi-Fi. There are a number of reasons for this, but mostly the goal is to encourage visitors to interact with each other and nature rather than their smartphones.

The domes themselves are built above-ground with no concrete so they can be dismantled and removed with no impact to the land. All 35 of them are connected through a web of elevated wooden walkways that do not impact land erosion. To avoid water pollution, the compound is equipped with composting toilets. Any additional water used is filtered before being sent back to the surrounding landscape.

Visitors to the Patagonia EcoCamp get more than a bed, they get an ecotourism experience to match their interests. Multi-sport tours are available with a variety of options to meet any interest. From a stay in the peaceful and serene yoga dome to an adventurous nine-day trek through the Torres del Paine National Park, Cascada Expediciones offers a selection of adventures sure to appease the sustainable traveler. Trips include opportunities to hike, bike, kayak, ride horses, fly fish, and even head out on safari.

The post Patagonia EcoCamp Sets Sustainability Standards for Ecolodges Around the World first appeared on Dornob.

If you’re ever torn between purchasing a boat or an RV and you’ve got roughly $1.2 million dollars in the bank, here’s a solution that gives you the best of both worlds: a luxury RV that can be driven straight into water. The Terra Wind Amphibious Motorcoach looks like an ordinary recreational vehicle to the point that passersby often panic when they watch the owners prepare to plunge it into a river or lake. What they don’t know is that this thing doesn’t just float, it cruises effortlessly along at up to 7 knots.

The 42.5-foot RV-yacht combo features an aluminum hull, a porch that doubles as a swim deck, a padded leather dashboard resembling an aircraft cockpit, an onboard computer docking system with internet access, GPS, moving maps and navigational charts.

The interior of this amphibious vehicle is fully customizable in terms of floor plan, floor coverings, cabinetry, electronics, entertainment systems and built-in furniture, and includes a fully-loaded kitchen and home theater. You can even have a mirrored ceiling, if so desired.

All of the vehicle’s heaviest components, including the diesel engine and fuel tanks, were installed in the lowest part of the hull to prevent it from capsizing, and the three-section hull is specially designed to make it stable in the water. You might imagine that all of that extra weight would make this thing crawl on highways, but it can reach speeds of up to 80 mph. The most basic model starts at $850,000.

Despite all reassurances, you’d probably have to put a lot of trust into the manufacturer that this thing isn’t going to tip over or sink in the water, given how rare vehicles like this are. Plus, you can really only enjoy the water from one narrow doorway on the back end, unless you climb up onto the roof. One also has to wonder just how poor the gas mileage is on a vehicle this cumbersome. But obviously, there are some folks out there that want  to purchase the Terra Wind Amphibious RV and vehicles like it. Would you?

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It says something about a design (particularly for a fast-paced mobile house) when someone can look at it three decades later and still marvel at the simple, efficient and effective use of materials and space.

Created by Dutch designer  Eduard Bohtlingk, the name of this classic award-winner means ‘The Awning’ – a fitting description of the fold-down mechanism at the heart of its ingenuity.

On the road, it folds up to look like any other camper, but once on site, it deploys to have a footprint three times the size of the main volume, simply by having the walls turn into floors on either side.

Add a few pieces of furniture to these auxiliary spaces and they become functional overflow for living and sleeping, while the core functions remain housed in the central area. When stored up for the season, it’s incredibly compact – especially compared to standard trailers and recreational vehicles.

From Campanda:

“The magic happens when the trailer’s side walls are opened and the accordion-like awnings come down to create two new living compartments. In seconds, you can effectively triple the living space into 290 square feet — enough room for up to six campers.”

“While the bedroom awning shields light and provides privacy, the other awning is made of a transparent but weatherproof plastic. In nice weather, the awnings can be retracted like the ceiling of a convertible — making it possible to sleep under the stars or spend a breezy morning under a summer sky without ever leaving your couch.”

“Only a few prototypes of the De Markies trailer were ever produced. But with the growing “tiny house movement” there has been a revival of interest in Böhtlingk’s design. It may only be a matter of time before this visionary concept becomes a viable reality and De Markies trailers start appearing in your local RV park.”

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