"WOW" Saturday Shopping with 1st Dibs

Arik Levy-Black Brass Rock

France, 2009

Hedge

Rare Cocktail Table by Fontana Arte

Italy, 1956

Donzella

1958 Custom Restored Gilera Road Racing Motorcycle

Italian, 1958

Off the Wall Antiques

Karim Rashid Omni Sofa

USA, 21st Century

Red

Modernist Monel Sink

USA, 1930's

Wyeth

Silvered Bronze Hermes Kelly Bag

France, 20th Century

Mantiques Modern

"Butanta" Bench by Carlos Motta

Brazil, 2009

Espasso

Artisan made 'Harness' arm Chair

Argentina, Hand Made

vol.1 Antiques

Pair of Modernist Club Chairs by Augusto Bozzi for Saporti

Italy, 1955

Gallerie Van den Akker

5 Paul Evans Cityscape Hexagonal Chairs

USA, 1970's

BG

Pair of Adrian Pearsall Wing Back Arm Chairs

USA, 1960's

BG

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Recycled Plastic Self Suffecient Island the size of Hawaii

Netherlands based firm, Whim Architects are planning to turn existing plastic waste that is floating in our ocean and turn it into a Recycled Island the size of Hawaii.  This plan proposes to clean our oceans from plastic waste, create new land and set an example of how to create a new sustainable habitat.  A grant for the project was issued in January 2010 by the Netherlands Architectural Fund.  The location will be in the North Pacific Gyre, NE of Hawaii, where the largest concentration of plastic waste has been discovered.  Due to it's floating character, the position could eventually be altered.

Habitants will live in plastic homes and work on farms or grow seaweed.  The island will be completely self-sufficient, producing its own food and energy and managing waste.

"By recycling the plastic waste into a construction material for new islands, it will have new econimic value."  This will stimulate gathering plastic from the oceans and create new land, thus cleaning our oceans.

 

Energy will be powered by solar power and bio wave technology by Bio Power Systems.



Seaweed will be farmed right offshore to be used for food, fertilizer, biofuel, medicine and Co2 absorption.



I wish I'd thought of this.  Brilliant.



Post Author

Tamara Wallop for Globally Gorgeous

The Debut of Solar Impulse a Solar Powered Plane!

"In a world depending on fossil energies, the Solar Impulse project is a paradox, almost a provocation: it aims to have an airplane take off and fly autonomously, day and night, propelled uniquely by solar energy, right round the world without fuel or pollution. An unachievable goal without pushing back the current technological limits in all fields..." 

Everything went perfectly as the Solar Impulse made it debut in the clouds this morning after seven years of hard work and planning.  The solar-powered plane powered by 12,000 solar cells flew for 87 minutes at an altitude of over 4,000 feet. It performed test maneuvers, taking off and landing.  The Solar Impulse is made out of carbon fiber concentrate
and looks
like a glider with a wingspan of 60 meters and is the largest and lightest plane ever to take flight.  

Swiss psychiatrist, Bertrand Piccard (below) was the first
aeronaut to do a non
stop flight around the world in a balloon.  He will soon be attempting
the non stop flight around the world in a solar powered plane he helped
design with co-founder Andre Borschberg, fighter pilot, engineer and
graduate in management science.

“This first mission was the most risky phase of the entire project,” Piccard said.  “Eighty-seven minutes of intense emotion after seven years of research, testing and perseverance. Never has an airplane as large and light ever flown before!”

Here is what test pilot Marcus Scherdel had to say about
the test flight in an interview
with Martin Reichlin

Markus, you just completed the very first flight with the Solar Impulse. I suspect you feel like an Olympic champion now?

Well, I never was an Olympic champions yet. But I think the feeling is quite similar.



Could you enjoy this feeling already during the flight?

The first 20 minutes I had very little time for anything else than to do my job. After that I had gained enough altitude to have a look out of the window during my first turns and to enjoy the amazing panorama of the Alps.


Speaking of looking out the window: You were piloting something like an "aeronautic convertible" today as you had no shell around the cockpit. Wasn’t it pretty cold up there?

Not at all. I was wearing my special underwear and a windproof overall. In addition to that I got shoes and gloves with built-in heating. You see, we thought of everything.



But what about insects hitting your face as you had no windshield?

There were none. It’s still too cold for flies.


Probably the most critical part of the flight was the landing. Was it difficult for you?

Actually no. At that time I had already learned a lot about the plane and knew everything about its behavior I needed to know.



And how did it behave?

So far it was very well-tempered. But I have to say that today we were flying very slow – at one point the ground speed had dropped to 12 knots per hour (22 km/h) - and we never intended test the critical parameters of the plane. This will be one of the goals in the upcoming flights.

If you feel passionate about the program, join the challenge and experience it from the inside. Become an Angel Ambassador or Adviser.

See Also: The Cool Website for Solar Impuse

See Also: EAA website

Modern Art Promotes Sustainablity Through Underwater Experience

Jason de Caires Taylor is my latest find, a successful artist, underwater naturalist, certified diving instructor and award winning photographer. I am completely in awe of how he has unified his creative talents with his love of underwater life and commitment to sustainability all in one amazing visual destination. 

Born in 1974, growing up globetrotting the world and graduating from University of Arts London with a B.A. Honors in Sculpture and Ceramics, he is now the first creator of the world's first underwater park. He has gained international recognition for his unique work of sculptures that highlight ecological processes while exploring intricate relationships between modern art and the environment. Interventions of sculptures that form artificial reefs "promote hope and recovery, and underline our need to understand and protect the natural world." 

Oceans teem with microscopic organisms that are constantly drifting
down towards the seabed, attaching to and colonizing on the way any
hard secure surface, such as rock outcrops, and thereby creating the
basis of a natural reef. Coral reefs attract an array of marine life
(such as colorful fish, turtles, sea urchins, sponges, and sharks) and
also provide enclosed spaces for sea creatures to breed or take refuge.
Only about 10 – 15% of the seabed has a solid enough substratum to
allow reefs to form naturally. In order to increase the number of reefs
in these areas, artificial reefs have recently been created from
materials that are durable, secure and environmentally sensitive. These
reefs appear to have been successful in that they have attracted coral
growth, which, in turn, can support an entire marine ecosystem. One of
the greatest benefits of artificial reefs is that they have lifted the
pressure off natural reefs, which over the past few decades, have been
over-fished and over-visited. By diverting attention to artificial
reefs, natural reefs have now been given a greater chance to repair and regenerate.

The first 100 sculptures of the installation “The Silent Evolution” are now nearing completion. The life-size figurative casts taken from various members of the local community are planned to form a monumental artificial reef, aiming to draw both visitors and marine life to an uninhabited area of the national marine park. 

The experience of being underwater is vastly different from that of being on land. There are physical and optical considerations that must be taken into account, objects appear larger and colors alter as light is absorbed and reflected. Water is a malleable medium that enables the viewers to become active in their engagement.

Vicissitudes depicts a circle of figures, all linked through holding hands. These are life-size casts taken from a group of children of diverse ethnic background. Circular in structure and located five meters below the surface, the work both withstands currents and replicates one of the primary geometric shapes, evoking ideas of unity and continuum. 

"The sculpture proposes growth, chance and natural transformation.  it
shows how time and environment impact and shape the physical body. 
Children, by nature are adaptive to their surroundings.  Their use
within the work highlights the importance of creating a sustainable and
well-managed environment, a space for future generations."

The first installation of 200 sculptures is scheduled
for deployment in June 2010 with the remainder of the 400 by the end of
the year. Since November 09 the first 3 underwater pieces installed in
the; Museo Subaquatico de Cancun have been a great success, drawing
much interest from tourists and already showing exponential coral
growth in only 3 months.

Post Author for Globally Gorgeous

Tamara Wallop

Gorgeous and Green Airport Design

There are a few notable airports around the world who have incoorperated responsible sustainable or green measures in the building or remodeling of their airports.  Beijing installed skylights to reduce need for electricity and faces the southeast to let in the heat of the early morning sun.  Boston has 20 wind turbines that crank out 100,000 kilowatt hours per year meeting 2 percent of electricity needs.  It is the first LEED Certified airport terminal featuring a heat reflecting roof, waterless urinals and storm water filtration.  Toronto is home to 29 Raptors that scare away intruding flocks of birds the natural way.  They have hybrid handling vehicles and an on site composting program.  Vancouver uses 2 Border Collies with Managing officers to scour the 3200 acre grounds for unwanted critters and uses a solar powered heating system.

Visual elements are not spared in the process of incorporating consideration of the environment in most of these designs.  Madrid's airport, below, is a fine example of this.  As greenarki notes, Architects, Richard Rogers Partnership with Estudio Lamela took pains to make Madrid's new airports passenger and baggage terminals as environmentally friendly as possible, orienting them in a north-south direction and using passive design features to reduce the need for energy intensive heating and cooling as much as possible.  Note the dramatic use of eco friendly bamboo in the ceiling design.

We are proud to report that our hometown airport in Santa Barbara, CA is working on a remodel that will incorporate the general goals of LEED and will become one of the greenest airport designs in the US.

 SBA Eco Friendly concepts will include:

*Water efficient landscaping

*Innovative waste water technologies

*Water conserving fixtures that maximize water efficiency within the buildings

*Alternative transportation such as an additional bus line, secure bicycle racks, and preferred parking   for carpools, vanpools and a percentage of fuel efficient vehicles

*Energy efficient buildings

*A high ratio of open space to the development footprint to promote Biodiversity

*Photovoltaic systems and other strategies to increase levels of on-site renewable energy

*Building products that incorporate recycled content materials

*Wood based materials that are certified as coming from sustainably-managed forests

*Introduction of daylight and views through a combination of skylights and high windows

*Ventilation systems that enhance air quality performance

Possibly the most environmentally conscious airport in the world will be featured at Zurich.  Enroute profiles the plan to use geothermal energy, solar cells, utilizing rainwater for toilet flushing and an on-site compressed natural gas station..  Even more, awaiting passengers will be able to observe the airports adjoining "safe habitat for over 50 species of flora and fauna".  Imagine bike paths, bunnies and beaver colonies.  One kilometer swath of land nestled in between the two main runways.

Architects are Riken Yamamoto and Field Shop and work is slated to begin in 2012 and be completed by 2016.

Post Author for Globally Gorgeous:

Tamara Wallop

Super Green Super Yacht - Sustainable Luxury Yachting...Hmmm

This eco-vessel will harness the power of the sun and the wind thanks to a collaboration with the state-of-the-art technology firm, Solar Sailor Ltd. of Australia. Solar Sailor's proven technology, (which is currently used in commercial vessels) provides this stunning yacht the ability to be emission-free, running up to 8 knots on solar energy alone. This has numerous advantages, not least providing significantly reduced running costs.

Alastair Callender is an award-winning design graduate, who has taken the Superyacht world by storm with his aesthetically beautiful "Super-Green Superyacht" design, called Soliloquy. This man's passion for yacht design and for a sustainable planet has resulted in a new futuristic and innovative design for a superyacht.

      

Soliloquy's Designer of the progressive UK firm Callender Designs,  has announced that he has been invited to display his model and designs of Soliloquy, throughout the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show this week.

See Also: Solar Sailor , Abu Dhabi Yacht Show 2010, 

Green Globetrotting on the Rise

Globetrotters are paying more attention to where they spend tourism funds these days. People are choosing sustainable hotels, restaurants and transportation. According to Sustainable Travel International, 58.5 million Americans say they will pay more to use a travel company that strives to preserve and protect the environment.  LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainabilty) estimates that ecotourism, inluding eco travel networks and green tourism are estimated to be a $77 billion market.  

Photo:IMOCOM via Perifil

IMOCOM presented its latest project in
Argentina, a Hilton branded hotel in Bariloche (Patagonia) that was
introduced as "eco friendly". According to the company's CEO, Hugo
Canessa, the broad term refers to the hotel layout, which will blend
with the mountain it's located in to reduce visual impact, and the fact
that during the building process and later in its operational phase,
the hotel will have efficient use of energy and water and "proper
management of soil and drainage" and feature a green roof that will integrate with the mountains colors throught he seasons.

According to the Observer, architects in London are developing the worlds first "zero-carbon" five star resort.  Each of it's 35 villas will be totally self sufficient and use only the energy from sun and wind, producing little waste for carbon emmissions.  Its location, however, will be thousands of fuel- guzzeling miles away in Nungwi, Zanzibar.

So.. how green are the airlines?  According to Seat Guru, Virgin atlantic, Southwest, Jet Blue and Continental are amoung the most committed.  The most fuel efficient planes include the Airbus A319, Boeing 787 Dreamliner or the Bombarder CSeries.  The MD-80's and MD-82's last a very long time thus lending to less landfill but still lacking in efficiency.  Bio fuels have been tested but look to be a decade away from being a widely used alternative.

Meanwhile travelers are encouraged to take steps such like flying direct whenever possible, buying carbon credits when you fly, and doing research to pick the greenest airline you can find.  Flying still has the most impact on your carbon footprint so choosing wisely can make great impact. One should be skeptic when making ecological travel choices and find out if "green" is truely "green" and being "green" doesn't just mean resorts only wash towels and sheets every other day.

Post Author for Globally Gorgeous:

Tamara Wallop

Fantasy or Reality? Eco-Luxury Air/ Sea Cruising of future...

You may want to hold off if you are thinking of planning your next luxury cruise. Seymourpowell, leading design and innovation company brings us a visionary transportaion concept, Aircruise, or "Clipper in the Clouds" is a giant vertical airship powered by natural energy and designed to carry travelers in style and luxury.  The Aircruise started as a self-generated project, a vision inspired by Korean giant, Samsung C & T and their interest in new building materials.  The concept design is for a hotel in the sky with low passenger numbers and huge internal spaces offering room for living, dining and relaxing as well as "scope for dramatic and inspirational public spaces."

  

 

The initial design proposes a bar/lounge zone, four duplex apartments, a penthouse adn five smaller apartments. At 3 miles high, the giant airship features glass floors to feature breathtaking views from the sky.

Powered by hydrogen fuel cells and solar energy, this truly eco-conscious luxury airship will emit zero-emissions while cruising at up to 90 mph.  In other words, it will take you from New York to London in 37 hours...without poisoning the fish. Hopes are high for realizing this dreamboat by 2015. 

Hopes are high for realizing this dreamboat by 2015.




See also Ecofriend, Designblog and Telegraph

Eco Luxury, Eco Friendly Cars

The Leases are coming up on our vehicles so we are checking into whats the newest in eco friendly, eco luxury cars. Ranging in price from $44K - $60K This is what we have been looking at. Mercedes-Benz GL 350 BLUETEC, VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG TDI, BMW XDRIVE35D, and AUDI Q7 TDI.

What’s new in these cars is the use of a urea fluid, or nitrogenous compound, called AdBlue, which is squirted into the engine’s exhaust stream to scrub pollutants away. Hybrid cars, most famously the Toyota Prius (I am currently driving one), are the chief competitors for a green badge, and both diesels and hybrids get the same tax break for alternative fuel vehicles. But critics of hybrids complain about squishy regenerative brakes, transmissions that seem to shift aimlessly, poor acceleration, and reduced cargo space due to the cars’ huge nickel-metal-hydride batteries. And because hybrids are so new, little longevity data is available. 

MERCEDES-BENZ GL 350 BLUETEC

VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG TDI

BMW X5 XDRIVE35D

AUDI Q7 TDI

The Beech Called "Beach" - An Aviation Story

Being pilots and sometime aviation buffs, interesting facts
grab our attention from time to time. 
Being the proud papas of a Beechcraft Bonanza B36TC, anything
‘Beechcraft’ or Bonanza is of particular interest.  When we started looking for the ‘step up’ plane shortly
after we closed the deal on our first plane, a trusty Piper Archer, 11 years
ago…we identified the Bonanza as a real candidate for the next plane. Moving up
is all a part of the aviation lifestyle.

Long story short, we felt that the Beechcraft Bonanza, the longest most
successful production plane in aviation history, was the right one for us.  Its sleek design, high speed
performance, reliability, and payload all spoke to our needs for a flying
SUV.  How many times have we stuffed
lamps and furniture in the backseats, brought a whole dinner party of utensils
and food from one location to another….really utilitarian.

One interesting fact is that early in the production of this
airplane, that began in 1947, a test pilot refitted a Bonanza and flew it
non-stop from Honolulu to the West Coast of California.  Proving its long range characteristics
and sturdy construction.  Aptly
named ‘Waikiki
Beach’’   William Odom
flew the original V tail Bonanza in the first record setting light aircraft
flight from Hawaii to the mainland. 
With out penchant for period Hawaiian architecture and style (link to
homes), this is of particular interest. 

A second record setting flight from Honolulu to Teterboro,
New Jersey was flown by the ‘Waikiki
Beach’ two months after the first transpacific flight.  The ‘Waikiki
Beach’ now lives at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., a well
earned tribute to a remarkable aircraft and one that is near and dear to us
personally….

Dornier Seastar : Amphibious Flying "Boat"

The Flying Boat returns! Dornier's Seastar CD2 is a fully certified all composite twin engine amphibious Seaplane. It is the first new design for an amphibious plane in 50 years and developed by a company that has been the leader in the aero-marine industry since the early 20th century.

 The Seastar is an FAA- and EASA-certified amphibian capable of landing on runways or water. A true seaplane that easily handles fresh or salt-water swells up to two and a half feet, the Seastar and its all-composite construction is virtually impervious to corrosion. Its powered by two reliable Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engines that give it a high cruising speed of 180 ktas. The in-line design of the twin-engines provides an additional measure of safety during operation. Dornier's Image Gallery.  Image above from Airliners.net.