Surely if there’s a tree, there will be a bench, because we may simply convert a tree into a bench with an axe… Or we can choose another simpler way: tying a board with some binders onto the tree. Designed by Rogier Martens, the clever and practical urban furniture piece is especially made as a temporary sitting unit for a public park.

Designer: Rogier Martens

As the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games are soon to begin, the London government is now busying with many projects to make the city good enough to welcome guests from all over the world. One of those projects is the LCD smart recycling bins built in London’s streets and public spaces. Each recycling bin features a couple of LCD screens on either side, which will display the latest news from 6 am to the mid-night every day. The bins are fitted with Wi-Fi too, so that they can offer a better and wider connectivity. Since these bins are nearly the most high-tech recycling bins we’ve ever met, each of them will cost about £30,000 to build.

Why do we need a Rotating Soap? The reason is obvious: as the soap rotates, it not only allows for a more convenient usage, but also ensures a much quicker drying-out. Moreover, since the soap is hanged over a chromium-plated brass rod, it would seldom result in unnecessary waste as those usually covered by water do, and as a result the a 300 g soap can be used for more than 1,000 times of hands-washing.

Selling Price: 25Euro

Buy it here

I’ve already felt that I’m breathing in some fresh air once I see His Filter Sewer designed by InHo Lee. The new public drain system can segregate trash from wet waste, keeping the drains clog-free. It can be placed with odor, therefore always purifying the air.

Designer: InHo Lee

【Source】

Elegant and functional, the Tropism Well is an outdoor water-supply that can pour water into your cups automatically. Once it has seen you, the device then bows down and offers water, which seems like that a friend is just greeting you warmly.

Via

Sascha Pohfleep’s Blind Camera is an interesting design that features its unique function of sharing photos instead of taking photos. It has no lens, sensor or optics, but still has a button. When you push its button, the Blind Camera then shows you pictures taken by others at your location. If you’re not that good at taking photos, the Blind Camera is obviously your best choice.

Designer: Sascha Pohfleep

There’re many unconstrained imaginations, some bring us with disappointment while some bring happiness. Obviously this Comb-shaped bike stand is the latter. It features huge teeth, neatly holding bikes and keeping them in line. If there’s one such bike stand in my city, wow, I’d like to ride a bike everyday.

The way a vehicle moves will soon meet much more great changes in the future, especially after a Japanese research team led by Yusuke Sugahara has come up with this ground-effects vehicle that floats within inches above the road. Featuring a top speed of up to 124 miles per hour while eliminating rolling resistance more effectively, the Aero Train may begin its service in 2020. Let’s wait for it.

Designer: Yusuke Sugahara

On some of London’s streets there’re several derelict cars that have long been in the parking space while never seems annoying to anybody. Why? Because they’re actually Car-Shaped Bike Racks by Cyclehoop. Featuring a bright color, these racks not only offer a safe place to lock bikes, but also have an integrated bicycle pump! So nice a design.

Designer: Cyclehoop

How to quickly and conveniently find your car among the hundreds and even thousands ones? The camera-based ‘Find Your Car’ system installed in Santa Monica Place may help you quite much.

As you punch your license plate number into the kiosk touch screen, and then you’ll be guided to its location via a photo displayed on the screen. The technology seems really practical, even though there’re some privacy concerns that will be further discussed.

Via

An Israel-based designer wishes to add more fun to our daily life and brings about these interesting public seats that are built in a unique way: some look like spiral staircases, circling around the street light poles; some become part of walls, seemingly Suspending in the air. But no matter which of them you choose, you’ll have a different view of the city you live in. That sounds really appealing.

Rain water never bothers the users of the Inculta Bench, because they can easily make the bench dry and clean again with the squeegee on the other side. So simply pull the squeegee, wipe the water and you can enjoy a comfortable rest. Easy as that!

Designer: Zvezdan Nedeljkovic

Wow, the Rapunzel Box, though actually designed for a quick escape during fire, seems just like a new wear for superman and superwoman. I mean, that’s the coolest way to escape from fire.

The Rapunzel is usually equipped within a building, offering several boxes for people to use. Whenever a fire bursts, you’re suggested to put your hand into the Rapunzel box to grab the handle, let your wrist fixed by Rapunzel and then land onto the ground.

We see telephone booths everywhere but they do not all come with an interesting or creative appearance as these shown here do. Mixed up with various popular elements like Hello Kitty, Twitter and aquariums, each phone booth is now radiating new vitality and adding new beauty to the prosperous cities.

It’s always so nice to share some amazing news with you guys and recently we’re informed that the labor-intensive work of paving a road has been simplified by a Dutch machine called the Tiger-Stone.

Wherever the device goes, it will produce an instant road in the front and what you need to do is to fill the machine with enough bricks and lay the bricks in line. According to the manufactures, the Tiger-Stone can lay out about 400 square meters (6 meter width) everyday so your city would soon have a new look with several Tiger-Stone working at the same time. Cool!

More Information Here

Although we’ve used to looking for petrol stations for our cars along the roadside, we seldom imagined that we can find an air station especially designed for bicycles one day. But we should have thought of such a perfect idea! Built inside the pavements, the station provides an air pump for the cyclists to easily refill their tires so that they can always enjoy a nice travel.

Designer: Woon-kyeong & Kim Jong-buem

According to Swedish architecture studio Visiondivision, umbrellas can not only protect you from rainwater, but also offer you pure water for drinking if needed. And that’s the main idea of the ‘Storm Flipper’, a new drinking fountain prototype designed for a competition entry.

Designer: Visiondivision

One person needs merely one bench and two friends can share one bench, but what if there’re more than three people looking for a seat at the same time? They need the Sliding Bench. Designed for public places like parks or squares, the Sliding includes a set of chairs can move on the bars to meet the users’ different needs. As a result, you can still have a private space in the public place.

Designer: Mutlu Kılınçer

Apparently the road signs are designed to call your attention when you walk through the roads or driving along the streets. But the “Look!” created by Lin Ding Yuan, Yeh Lan Hsing and Shao Wei Jhe comes with another duty, that is, to act as speakers for street performers. So will you stop to watch the street performance when see the Look! Speakers in the front? Anyhow, both the designers and the performers will thank for your attention.

Designer: Lin Ding Yuan, Yeh Lan Hsing & Shao Wei Jhe

The future of furniture has arrived! Thanks to the two Dutch designers Carmela Bogman and Rogier Martens, we could still have a bench, a stage and a lounge area even in a small park. Let’s introduce “Pop-Up”, whose name might derive from the motion of pumping out during the periods of need. The furniture is made out of three retractable bollards, which can be fixed at various heights, forming a bench or a table to meet the users’ different needs. Several keys are distributed among the neighborhood for the local residents to get an access to the pumping system. The first pop-up installation can be found in the city of Utrect, Netherlands.

Designer: carmela bogman & rogier martens

Presented here is the solar-powered bus waiting booth, designed by Yang Mingjie for Ningbo South Business District, China. It features a modular design, promising a convenient adjustment while reducing the maintenance and service cost.

It includes three parts: two rising benches on sides for several people to lean on, as well as an advertisement billboard and a city information board in the center. By doing that, ampler space is created for more visitors to stand. Solar panels are also equipped, to harvest solar energy for the advertisement billboard, information center and lights.

We’ve no idea why the ‘Intersection Signalétique’ was primarily designed, acting as traffic lights, road decoration or billboards? But who would really care? I mean, the concept behind the project is quite fantastic! The system, as an experimental prototype, has already been installed on the intersection between two major streets in Montreal. Several projectors were placed on towers to project lights onto the roads, reminding the pedestrians to cross or stop in time. Though its functionality still remains to be proved, the system sounds especially practical to those passers who prefer to walk with their heads bent down. To help you pass the time easily while waiting for the green lights, some advertisements will also be shown on the street.

Designer: Quartier Des Spectacles

Since it’s hard to help people form a new habit, why don’t we simply make a full use of their established habits? Keeping that in mind, the designer Kang Kyeyoung has brought up the ‘AshPlate’, a manhole-esque ashtray for smokers who are used to stamping the cigarette under their feet. A box is built beneath the cover to collect the stubs. To provide the public areas with enough clean air, the design also features some ventilation poles around.

Designer: Kang Kyeyoung

More Information Here

The POSEIDON Patio Heater, a 6.5 feet tall device that is completely made from metal, is ideal for both domestic and commercial use. Its best part is the built-in media player that is intended for recreation. Apart from employing a latest carbon fiber heating technology to produce ‘far infrared heat’ for a pleasant using, the heater also allows the users to conveniently adjust its head from four different positions. Poseidon is eco-friendly, greatly reducing carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50% compared with gas patio heaters, as a result of the adoption of its patented carbon fiber heating tubes.

Though the company says it won’t hit the market until March, you can pre-order here.

Selling Price: €849

Can these shelves be used for any other purposes, apart from decorating the streets?

In fact, they’re a new series of bike stands. Compared with other bicycle systems we’ve ever introduced, these ones are much easier to be mistaken as abstract sculptures.

The ‘Marguerite Bike Parking’ designed by Yoann Henry Yvon Lopez may be the most poetic bike stand we’ve ever come across. It consists of several white movable parts that are described as “an array of petals swaying along with the breeze” when used to stabilize the bike. Moreover, the innovative form also means little space occupying and an elegant parking.

Designer: Yoann Henry Yvon Lopez

Related:

P+ Bicycle System

Conventional fire alarms work effectively to warn people of the danger by sounding an alarm. But that means nothing to hearing-impaired people as they could hear nothing. So what could wake up hearing-impaired people in time? The unusual fire alarm designed by Kobe-based fire extinguisher company- Air Water Safety Service and the Tokyo-based Bioventure Seems looks like a practical solution. It is based on hearing impaired people’s keen sense of smell and warns them by releasing wasabi stench. The new fire alarm also works effectively, for example, one 8 in x 3 in unit could alarm people within an area of up to 50 square feet in less than three minutes. The smelly fire alarm is bit of expensive at present, each costing about $560. But a reasonable price of $225 will be possible after further improvements.

You think shower drains are too ugly? You won’t think so after checking out these ones. Designed by California Faucets, these shower drains seem more like an art work with their stylish patterns. The four impressive shower drains each comes with an impressive name- Mission, Waves, Deco Line and Deco Swirl. Hopefully we could see them hit the market soon.

More Information Here

Created by Young-Min Kim, Hyeon-Jeong Woo and Kyung-Goo Lee, the P+ Bicycle System is a multi-purpose bike rack that not only ensures bike riders to keep their bikes in a safe and convenient way, but allows people to rest in the public area. It includes three parts, a signpost that shows information about the racks, several racks for locking bikes, as well as some benches for people to sit on.

See how the system works after the jump.

Designer: Young-Min Kim, Hyeon-Jeong Woo & Kyung-Goo Lee

A lamppost powered by trash? Well, I have to say that it’s really a considerable progress in developing natural energy-powered and environment-friendly lamps. Doubling as a trash bin, the lamppost then uses the methane, a byproduct of trash, as a fuel to power the lamps. Really ingenious idea!

Designer: Haneum Lee

Say, what is the biggest trouble you may face when you’re in the library with all your stuff spread out? Bingo, it’s the bathroom problem, because you could neither take all your stuff along nor bear to stay with them. Okay, thanks to Choi Minaa, and we could make sure that our stuff and laptops are safe by using a “Desk Guard” library desk system. It works with your RFID (Radio-frequency identification) card, therefore allowing nobody but only you to open and use the desk.

Christopher Fennell has recently made this bus shelter from a depleted school bus. From that point of view, it has shown us a practical way to reuse those salvaged school buses, making them serve us again rather than being discarded. Maybe we could also save resources by this means. You can check more in the Youtube video.

Designer: Christopher Fennell
More Information Here

Are you lost again? Turn to the nearest manhole for help then. I’m not kidding as we’re showing you an innovative design here, the ‘Eco Sign’. It is a digital manhole that provides information about location of public transportation. Simply put your left or right foot on it for 2 seconds, the manhole will then refer you to the nearest train station or bus stop. More amazingly, it is powered by rainwater.

Designer: Cheolyeon Jo & Youngsun Lee

Though everyone wants to contribute to the eco-business, most of us really couldn’t find the right way to it. So what should we do now? Probably the compost dustbin will answer you, because it ensures you to promote compost by just sorting garbage into different dustbins. Based on a biodegradable technology, bio-reactive substances in the dustbin will start working to degrade certain trash while leaving out the non-available dust. Isn’t it encouraging that you can recycle waste in such an easy way? Join us right away.

Designer: Julien Bergignat, Cecilia Jia & Johnny Chen

Named as “Butt to Butt Can”, the innovative article, apart from working as a public ashtray, mainly aims at keeping nonsmokers away from designated smoking sections with its lively cigarette design. Really fantastic idea!

Designer: Rocco Avallone

Made from metal brackets and covered with artificial grass, these lounge chairs are designed for public spaces such as their current owner, the Breda Park in Netherlands. Lie on the arc-shaped lawn chairs, we can stretch our exhausted bodies totally to enjoy a wonderful time closet to the nature. Mm, really comfortable!

Designer: Lisette Spee & Tim van den Burg

Displayed at the exhibition during “Tokyo Design Week”, the multifunctional bicycle stand drew much attention for its refresh design that integrates a street stand and rest area to save more space. You can lock your bike in the stand and work on the handy table, isn’t it utilitarian?

Public toilets are often damaged or illegally used, but now the situation can be changed. This toilet is made of transparent liquid walls, which allows people to see inside it. But when you press a button, the walls will then turn black to protect your privacy. With detectors in it, the toilet walls can turn transparent automatically under abnormal situations.

Parking is a problem for many fresh drivers, this device could help you park in a better position. What you should do is tapping the flexible fiberglass pole with the front end of your car and the LED lights will signal you that you’re in the proper parking position.

Price: $20

Buy it here

It looks like a tumbler, but you can sit on it to take a rest.