By Steve in Architecture & Design , Technology & Futurism , Urban Images Blob Architecture – sometimes referred to as Blobitecture, Blobism or even Blobismus is a exceedingly organic type of architecture that exhibits profoundly soft, rounded and curved dimensions. Originating in inflatable buildings, pre-fab plastic structures and computer-assisted design exercises, Blob Architecture has given the world some of its most distinctive and memorable buildings . Water Pavilion, Neeltje Jans, The Netherlands (images via: V2 , MIMOA and H2olland ) Lars Spuybroek is credited by many with bringing Blob Architecture to the notice of not only the world of architecture, but the world as a whole. Spuybroek’s breakthrough design for his NOX architecture firm was the Water Pavilion, constructed in the mid-1990s for the Delta Expo on the Dutch island of Neeltje Jans. The Water Pavilion epitomizes one of the salient features of Bl...
By Steph in Architecture & Design , Furniture & Interiors , Urban & Street Art They might not get you from one floor of a building to another; in fact, you might not even be able to step on them without sliding off or getting vertigo. But these 15 spectacular floating spiral staircases and stairways to nowhere go beyond utilitarian architectural features that resemble modern art – they are art. From a transparent red staircase made of sheer fabric to massive sculptures twisted into knots, these stairs serve as symbol and metaphor, not to mention eye candy. Terrifying Stairway to Heaven (images via: langbaumann.com ) Would you have the strength of stomach to take on this totally terrifying stairway ? Dozens of feet above the ground and lacking any kind of handrail, these steps connecting two steel doors on a high-rise look like a building inspector’s nightmare. But they’re not for actual use – they’re a ...
By Marc in Gadgets & Geek Art , Games & Gaming , Technology & Futurism Virtual reality, much like the hovercar and living on the moon, is progressing slower than expected. Despite the fact that video game consoles don’t come with a full body suit yet, the technology has made some giant leaps in the past few years. Maybe it will just have to wait a few generations to catch up to our imagination. Here are 11 tools and ways that virtual reality is no longer virtual: (Images via reversedreality , gazette.unc , edibleapple , technabob , smallbizaffinity ) Augmented reality is the baby brother of virtual reality, as it takes a half step in the right direction by combining the virtual world with the real one. Typically, augmented reality involves wearing a head set or using a mobile device that registers one’s location via GPS and visually matches landmarks to provide information. You may look at the Roman coliseum and see facts appea...