Showing posts with label #urbandesign. Show all posts

This Architect Used Her Skills To Shed New Light On Small Living Spaces


There are tons of tiny apartments in big cities, and even more people who can’t really afford to live in anything larger. While these small living spaces are cozy and affordable, they can feel a bit claustrophobic.


That’s something that one Argentinian architect figured out in 2012 when she moved to Brooklyn. Because she’s such an accomplished designer, she never lingers in one place for too long, but living in a small space eventually inspired her to create something amazing.




She decided to design something that would add space to small apartments without actually taking up any space itself. Her solution? The MoreSky window niche.










Garcia noticed that similar designs didn’t hold up when it came to giving users an awesome view with the support they’d need to stay safe.






TheMoreSky niche, however, offers users plenty of support, and leaves them with gorgeous views from inside their small apartments.






After nailing down the initial design, Garcia came up with a few more options.




This one is more of a seat than a lounge. It all depends on what different users want!





Her mission was to provide people with “access to sunlight and fresh air in small apartments,” and to “respond to current needs in densely populated cities.”









(via Bored Panda)


Judging by these photos, Aldana Ferrer Garcia has accomplished her goal. Living in tiny spaces can be a great experience with a few simple tweaks, and designs like this are what offer apartment dwellers the luxury of a larger space without driving costs through the roof.


To see more of this amazing architect’s work, check out her website.



Manhole Covers Don't Always Have To Be Utilitarian, As These Examples Prove


There’s something to be said for paying attention to the little things in life. They can make your world so much more interesting. Take manholes, for example. These heavy, disk-shaped pieces of metal are definitely utilitarian, but they’re not exactly aesthetically pleasing.


That’s why you can’t blame these people for trying to make them look a little nicer.




Many cities use manhole covers as a way to express civic pride.



The manholes in Rome (which are square!) still say “S.P.Q.R.” on them to pay homage to Rome’s vast history. It stands for a Latin phrase meaning “The Senate and People of Rome,” and has been in use for over 2,000 years!





New Orleans’ design was so beloved that it had to be replaced with something plainer…because people kept stealing them.





Tampa nods to its nautical history.





Hot Springs, Arkansas, celebrates some of its wildlife.





This design from Notting Hill has a simple elegance that reflects the famous area’s glamorous charm.





East Jordan, Michigan, recognizes its iron workers.





Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic goes for a heraldic look.





Portland, on the other hand, goes for a rose in honor of the city’s annual Rose Festival..or perhaps as a little joke about the smell of sewers. Either one.





This manhole cover is inspired by Native American art.






These Japanese design features a local landmark…







…while others are just bright and decorative! This one features temari, which are brightly colored toys.





Some are just weird and cool for the sake of being weird and cool, like this happy fellow in Japan.






This optical illusion is a nice touch.






Sometimes, manhole covers are even personalized.



In this case, Google got their name on one. There’s something poetic about this when you consider the endless dark corridors that make up the Internet.




People sometimes take it upon themselves to add a little personality to their city’s utilities.



Brunch is big in NYC.





The cover itself seems to have a cool wavy pattern, but this artist decided to use the crack in the pavement as inspiration to make it even better.






And then there’s this.



It’s probably not functional, but we enjoy it anyway.




We appreciate any attempt at making life more interesting, so these manhole covers are right up our alley. Next time you’re out, take a peek and see if your city is doing anything interesting. You may have been missing out on little bits of art this whole time!




More unexpected awesomeness? You know we have it: