Modern Modular "Mobile" Home

Internationally famous designer Werner Aisslinger asked the question, "How could a temporary and simple accommodation, coping with the demands of a mobile society and its nomadic lifestyle, look like?"

In 2002, he answered his question by designing  Loftcube, a solid and mobile living unit guaranteeing high quality accommodation.

Exterior & Interior of  Loftcube

Aisslinger's idea of the Loftcube evolved into the Fincube, a multi-functional, energy efficient, sustainably designed, temporary Smart home.  Fincube is constructed of sustainable building products, uses innovative environmentally sound construction techniques, and has a low demand for energy. Fincube is designed as a temporary unit, ideal for both urban and rural areas, it can be dismantled and rebuilt on a new site.  It is so well thought out and designed, I would make it a permanent residence!

EXTERIOR DETAILS

The Fincube is built upon four height adjustable columns allowing it to adapt to any topographic condition.  The minimal foundation footprint keeps soil sealing and environmental impact on the project site to a minimum making it ideal for a temporary living unit. (Soil Sealing is the loss of soil resources due to the covering of land for housing, roads or other construction work.) Exterior building materials: European larch wood, Glass, steel foundation and mountings.

Only two square meters of space is required for the foundation.

The Fincube features a 360-degree glass facade.

Exterior wood slat cladding turns the Fincube into an architectural landmark, provides privacy and sun control.

ENERGY EFFICIENT AND SMART BUILDING SYSTEMS

The Fincube is heated with an energy efficient, high heat storage capacity from Austrian company Caladia. Caladia's innovative heating system is based on radiant heat which permeates the air and is nearly lossless; it generates heat only when hitting solid forms. The primary energy demand is under 130 kWh/m².

The Fincube is equipped with an intelligent bus system by Berker that connects all electrical devices via a control lead, allowing several devices can be controlled simultaneously.  The lighting, heating, motorized blinds and alarm systems can be operated with one control display. If you like, you can even call up the functions or status from your PC, iPhone or Palm. Moreover, you can teach your house to take care of itself in certain zones. By means of sensors it can detect good or bad weather, and can close the shutters all by itself if necessary. What this means is even when you are not at home you can be sure that your house is thinking like you- super smart!

Energy Efficient LED Lighting systems are used throughout. Fincube can also be upgraded by adding a green roof or a photovoltaic system to the flat roof. 

INTERIORS

Fincube is available in three interior packages.  Fincube without interior furnishings, Fincube with interior "standard", and Fincube with premium interiors. The furnished Fincube options feature interior furniture designed by Werner Aisslinger.  Interior material include Swiss stone pine wood furniture, ceramic tiling, Corian, and natural textiles.

 

This is not just a spec project, the Fincube is real! The Fincube show house is situated on Renon, South Tyrol and can be visited upon request personal guided tours through the Fincube.

The Fincube is currently available for purchase in Europe only (sad panda!).  Because of it's modular  wood construction, it can be ready for occupancy 70 days after production release.

Photo Credits

FINCUBE GmbH

Waltherplatz Nr. 8

I-39100 Bozen (BZ), Italy

VAT n.02696360219

Check out these other projects from Aisslinger and the Fincube team:

LoftCube

Pergola Residence

Polka Dot Interiors: Product Round Up

Whether you decide to go all out or just want an accent of the polka-dot trend that graced runways for Fall 2011, I've rounded up fun interior products, from floor to ceiling and everything in between, to get the polka dot party started. Polka Music optional (and strongly discouraged).

STYLING

Polka dots are a classic pattern that can work with any style; traditional, contemporary, or modern. Polka dots bring an interior to life by creating movement and adding a touch of whimsy. In subdued colors, polka dots can be soft. While contrasting colors pack a bold, graphic punch. Keep in mind dots on white backgrounds pop more than a dots on dark backgrounds.  And remember, polka dots aren't limited to pattern, it can also be a texture. When designing with polka dots, pay attention to scale and color. One false move and a sophisticated space becomes a child's room.

FLOORING

{L to R} Contemporary Woolen Rugs Design for Home Interior Decorative by Alessandra Design; Masland Contract Metal Mesh in Zinc; Mannington Commercial Create LVT (just used this on a project and can't wait to see it installed!); Masland Contract Translucent, also shown in Zinc.

TEXTILES

{L to R} Mokum Textiles Foundation; Maharam Plural; Knoll Textiles Wide Angle; Mokum Stop; Knoll Ondo Drapery; Mokum Circulate; Maharam Repeat Dot; Mokum Staples (Check out a zoomed image of Staple, the negative space is created by tiny "staples");  Maharam Layers Vineyard.

WALL COVERING

{L to R} Selina Rose Textile Surface Design Felt Acoustic Panel in Scale (take a look at Connect while you're on her site); Source One Wave Eclipse, Vives Porcelain Wall Tile in Senkel Negro; Knoll Pause, Flavor Paper Pleasure Dome, Hand Stenciled and Painted Wall.

RESINS & ARCHITECTURAL PANELS

{L to R} 3-Form Capiz resin panel; Modular Arts Interolocking Rock in Ohm; Bull Wall Panel by Skulpturfabriken; Interlam Sculpted Wall Panel POP005; 3-Form Groovy; 3-Form Mega Cirque.

FURNITURE & MILLWORK

{L to R} Pantone Hotel designed by Michel Penneman and Oliver Hannaert, Herman Miller Action Office Sliding Door Storage Unit with Debossed door; Bubbles mirror, Calligaris; Custom Polka Dot Credenza, Saarinen Tulip Stool, Knoll Studio; Martini Table, West Elm; Emmental hanging staircase by Biljana Jovanic.




CEILINGS & LIGHTING

{L to R} Lighting concept for ceiling by PSlab; Armstrong Soundscape shapes; Unknown

If you like Polka Dots, check out artist Yayoi Kusama's work!



Is this a trend you plan to embrace for your interior projects?  Share your thoughts & opinions!

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Boxetti Modular Furniture

Many people focus on the size or square footage of a space instead of focusing on function and smart planning. This especially true in the USA where urban sprawl and McMansions have gobbled up one of our most precious resources, land. In most of the world, space is a limited, precious commodity and most people live in very, very small homes and apartments. An average American home is a mansion in comparison (Seriously. Watch an episode of House Hunters International on HGTV. )

This is probably why the majority of modular, multi-functional furniture on the market originates for Europe. European designers understand a well thought out space that capitalizes on vertical surfaces, has cleverly designed storage space, and multi-functional furniture allows you to work and live within a smaller footprint. Multi-functional furniture that nests, folds, flips and transforms can be tucked away when not in use which providing more floor space for circulation. Ample storage allows you to organize and hide the clutter that makes a space seem smaller and chaotic.

When I read this post: Office in a Box: Wall Furniture Unit, Desk & Shelves System | Designs & Ideas on Dornob, I gasped out loud.  

I have one word to describe Boxetti, designed by Roland Landsberg: Smart.

Now that you've seen this, doesn't the idea of living in a studio apartment seem appealing?

$50 All Modern Giveaway!

'Tis the season to give. And All Modern , a CSN store, wants to kick of the holiday season by sponsoring a $50 shopping spree for Design Elixir readers!  Get something for yourself or give it as a gift.  All Modern is a great web store stocked with some of my favorite furniture and accessory lines: Alessi, Knoll, Vitra, Lois Poulsen, Dwell Studio and many, many more.   (This cute Alessi Christmas Cowboy is one of the seasonal items featured on All Modern.)

How to Enter:

1. Select one or two items you would like to win from All Modern, All Modern Baby, or All Modern Pet. 
2. Share the link to those items in a comment on this giveaway post. 
3. Remember to sign up as an Elixir Addict (a Follower) or include a contact email, so you can be notified if you are the winner.  

The nitty gritty:

Contest is only open to US readers due to shipping costs. Total cost of selected items is $50, including tax and shipping- please keep this in mind when selecting your giveaway booty.  Comments must be received before midnight on Saturday (12/12).  The winner will be contacted via email and the name of the randomly selected winner will be posted Monday (12/14).  Items will ship standard, therefore DesignElixir & AllModern can not guarantee Christmas delivery.

While we are in the Christmas spirit, here are 10 gift ideas, all $50 or less & from All Modern: 

For the young at heart.   Have you ever wondered what you would look like with an eye patch and a parrot on your shoulder?  Buy this playful Pirate Self Portrait Mirror by Areaware and wonder no more.  The Self Portrait Mirror collection also include Song Bird, Skull, Pearl Necklace, and Antlers.  $35.00

For the well read co-worker. This set of bookends by Kikkerland would look great on any bookworm's desk or shelf.  This quirky set is available in 4 different styles: Leaning Men, Leaning Ladies, Pushing Men, and Rosie. (You know, Rosie the Riveter, the "You can do it!" Army poster girl from WWII)  $37.50

For the chef.  Who doesn't like fresh squeezed orange juice?  Alessi's Mandarin Citrus Squeezer makes the tiresome task a colorful experience. Flip the hat over and it becomes a juicer. Take the hat off and you have a goblet.  This little gadget is cute enough to leave on the counter. $40.00

For the Eco-activist.    Areaware's Fauna Pico Zebra Pillow is not only great to look at, it's great for the environment.  Made with water based inks on 100% organic cotton and natural cotton filling. It's also a multi-tasker, one second it's a toy, the next it's a chic throw pillow.  $24.00

For the blogger.   A grouping of these glowing, shapely Menu Pernille Vea Standing Magma Stones would be a great accent to any outdoor patio. Anyone who writes a blog called Design Elixir would love to receive five of these.  (Just checking to see if your paying attention!) $29.90

For your boss.  An elegant way to brown nose.  I love the sculptural grace of this porcelain and glass vase.  The bud vase appears to be precariously balanced over a champagne flute.  Designfenzider's Vase Maker only looks like it cost a fortune. $33.90

For the man-child.  If your man-child is like mine, he has all sorts of childhood toys you wish he would box up and donate.  Indulge his extended childhood with this grown up version of a GI Joe.  Let the Kikkerland Toy Solider Candle Holder be the only "toy" he is allowed to display outside of his man cave.  $36.25

For the architect in training. I wish I had this 16 piece set when I was a kid instead of rinky dinky Leggos. Offi YooDoo Large Scale Construction Toy is made of ultra heavy weight cardboard and is 100% recyclable.  Inspire the next generation of architects and engineers! Buy a two sets at this price!  $19.00

For the ladies man.  We all know at least one.  He will proudly display Cake's Profile Votive Candle on the mantle over his fireplace.  Let this clever take on the notorious trucker flap girl serve as a reminder that somewhere there is a lady holding a torch for him. $25.00

For Fido.  Don't forget man's best friend this Christmas.  Get your pooch this adorable dog toy by design superstar Karim Rashid and do some good. A donation is made to animal welfare groups for each For The Dogs Dxg Bxone sold. Available in Blueberry, Lime and Pink.  $9.99

All images courtesy of All Modern.

Cant is my favorite word.

I have an unexplainable attraction to all things cantilevered: stairs, cabinetry, pools, bridges, buildings, decks, chairs, if you can cant it, I love it!  That explains the pitter patter in my heart when I saw these beds designed by Daniele Lago for Lago, an Italian furniture manufacturer.

Clockwise from Left to Right: Fluttua, Fluttua Round,  Letto Air. & Tavolo Air, All by Lago.

Unfortunately, not all of the text translates into English & I can't understand a lick of Italian. But the cute animations helped me navigate the site & frankly- the work speaks for itself.  The Fluttua beds are supported by a single leg in the center.  The Letto & Tavolo Air Beds are supported by a clear material.  I'd love to own one of these beds, but first I need to find a place to store all that stuff under my bed...