Belkin Rockstar 6 Port Audio Hub

At the 2008 International CES Belkin introduced this little gadget. It’s cute. And… yeah two thumbs up for the cuteness. But what happens when me and my friends to this – especially the part at 00:17? I like to move it move it too Belkin. I like to move it move it too. Now go stand in the corner and think about what you’ve done.

The Controversy of The Czech National Library by Jan Kaplicky

We’ve all seen the renderings and heard the story about how Jan Kaplicky wants to build this new library in Prague. The news’s been out for quite a while now yet the controversy continues. You can read the article written by The Guardian here. I understand the concern that ”averageness and banality [will] triumph again” if it doesn’t get built but I am not quite convinced by the bold design. I wouldn’t want to diss the whole idea of building something outstanding in Prague, but I hope they’re not doing this solely for the reason to have a crazy piece of architecture. The building won me over because of it’s eco features (by Treehugger, June3rd 07):

/more after the jump

Car Runs on Air

Good news for the environment – this car runs on air, it’ll cost you 1,5€ to fill the tank (weird car lungs?), you’ll be able to drive for 200km without refueling and go up to 110km/h. I don’t even care if it doesn’t look cool; now stop laughing you heartless person.

(via: TreeHugger)

Zachary House | Stephen Atkinson

Oh I’d live in there! It’s Zachary house in Zachary, Louisiana, US by Stephen Atkinson. I have to say it kind of reminds me of Glenn Murcutt’s homes, but the architect wanted to use elements of traditional agrarian architecture of the US South and he succeeded. Love it. Now all I have to do is wait for the climate in the Alps to change to the point where we won’t need walls anymore and I can design one of these sweeties myself. OK let’s pray to all gods that doesn’t happen.

(via: ApartmentTherapyNYC and Archidose)

Hokkaido Residential Care Unit | Sou Fujimoto Architects

I have to admit I’ve never heard of this project before but it’s absolutely beautiful. Designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2003, the dormitory is located on a hillside overlooking Hokkaido.

/more photos after the jump

(via: CoolBoom)

Wallpaper* Architects Directory

Wallpaper* announced 101 of the world’s most exciting new architects. Slovenia’s got two studios listed: Bevk-Perovič Arhitekti and Gregorc Vrhovec , and I’m really pleased with that. Sure some of you might disagree, but the mere fact that they’ve been recognized by an international design webpage tells you that these architects know what’s up. So quit your whining and go change a lightbulb.

Check out the directory by clicking the image above.

(via: wallpaper)

Zorrozaure Masterplan, Bilbao | Zaha Hadid Architects

And it’s out! I’ve been waiting for this one with anticipation. This was my urbanism project in 2005 and I think every single architecture student around Bilbao was working on it for one class or another. Sadly I have to inform you, that none of us won any awards because a certain Zaha Hadid came by swinging her magic stick. That’s ok Zaha, we’re cool.

The location is in Bilbao ona a peninsula in the Nervión river which used to be a port area of the city. Imagine a deserted, ugly, brown kind of grayish area with spooky industrial buildings hovering over a yellow river. That’s how it used to look like. The basic idea of the renewal is to inhabit the peninsula with citizens and patch it with green zones and at the same time connenct it with the rest of the city. I hope the city of Bilbao will go through with this plan, that town has a bright future. Now if only we could talk some sense in the heads of ETA extremists, that region could be down right cool.

/more renderings after the jump