When thinking how the future will be, I don’t include kitchen designs or kitchen utensils in the big picture, but now that I see the Brandt Aion, I think I should have. A result of Antoine Lebrun’s work, the multi functional kitchen designed for Fagor Brandt is intended for small places and should go along with the lines and curves of our homes in just 10 years.

From what I see, the appliance is going to be a green space in your flat by using plants to improve the quality of life, filtering water and air. Lift the upper part and there’s a cooking surface and a sink. Close it down and the system will start the dish washing process, using vegetable soap (which also provided by the plants).

I think the concept is great, but would you buy one right now if it would be available? - via CoolDesignIdeas

This chair is rather a cool concept proposed by the Portuguese designer Alessandro Bêda, we presented another interesting concept made by him a week ago ( Two-piece Flower Vase in the Shape of a Whale ). He called this chair “Untitled Chair“, and it seems that he’s not very good at coming up with names for his designs. I would like to name this chair “Perfect Shape” because design features 100 gas shock absorbers that enable the chair to adjust to pressure and change its shape to accommodate the person or object placed on it. The measurements of the chair are exactly the same of the LC2 Petit Comfort by Le Corbusier. Until now this chair is just a concept, but designer Alessandro Bêda told on his website that he’ll start  working on a prototype soon, though he ponders if his concept is really doable. - Via

As I’ve said in Contemporary Kitchen in Bamboo post in these days the kitchen has long since become a place where the boundaries between food preparation and everyday life dissolve. The kitchen is continuing its evolution into a natural part of people’s living areas. Now by following this trend Designboom hold a contest entitled “Kitchen is the heart of the home“, where 2980 designers from 102 different countries participated. The winning entry at this contest is a design created by 3 designers from China ( Cheng He, Liu Quang Kui and Zhou Dong ) and is called “Round cupboard assembling that can be rotated and lifted”. The final design it’s futuristic, but still very realistic kitchen concept. Each element of the kitchen is designed to allow objects to come to the user, instead of having the user moving to reach them. In conclusion this concept can save a lot of time and space, because everything is very compact and handy …and finally improve your productivity.

Now here are a few words from the designers of the winning product :

1. Creating the new concept of happy kitchen: Sharing the joy with relatives and friends face-to-face.
2. Cupboard adopts double-deck rotator structure, can rotate 180°respectively, the three major work center of washing, mixing and cooking can rotate in the front of the operator, let “zero” distance in each workflow; And can lift in certain distance in order to be suitable for the different operator.
3. Flume has two kinds of outlets: The parallel water outlets of induction type lie on both sides of flume; The holding type faucets with metal hose lie in the middle of two flumes, that can be suitable for operating under various environments.
4.Abandon the board type, slide rail and hinge of the traditional cupboard completely. This cupboard regards the structure frame of aluminium alloy and the combination of stainless steel pipe as the integer structure. Adopt level bearing, hydraulic pressure system, shutting system to realize lifting of cupboard and wall cupboard.
5. Integrative structures with operational table-board, flume and kitchen, cupboard distribute icebox, disinfector and oven symmetrically, other borders are closets.
6. Lower cupboard is drawing structure, can pull out wholly while using, and make the operation simplify. Hang the kitchen ventilator under the top cupboard with function of illumination.

I’m used to see all kind of futuristic projects on the web, but this one is really something outrageous. This titanic project for a high-tech, artificial island capable of movement was thought up by architect Jean-Philippe Zopponi. I don’t expect to see this project to soon, but if the AZ Island eventually sees the light of day, it will measure 400 metres long by 300 metres wide and be able to welcome up to 10,000 passengers. The ovoid island’s shape and size - 29 floors high and a surface area equivalent to 4 football fields - will necessarily limit its speed (4 times slower than a cruise ship). Obviously, the island will be too large to berth. A boat or helicopter will therefore be needed to access its cabin; for this reason, a landing pad and marina have been planned. AZ Island should also be able to withstand 20-metre-high waves, as well as hurricanes. I don’t even want to imagine how something like this will be managed, is something just to much for my imagination. Via: Thebuilderblog.wordpress & mv.lycaeum.org

As global warming takes effect, and we have to think of more environmentally friendly ways to live our hectic lives, people are increasingly thinking of new ways to accomplish this effort. Check out this new concept home by Cradle 2 Cradle. It has a photosynthetic, phototropic spinach skin surface and a vegetated roof system that filters storm water in.

The residence incorporated many other sustainable features. It was designed with passive solar strategies in mind, using thermal mass and shading devices where appropriate. It has a landscaped roof garden designed to collect and filter stormwater . It recycles black and grey water to be used in garden, which in turn provide fruits and vegetables to the occupants. Soy-based wall panels and recycled concrete materials are used within the structure providing a sustainable alternative to standard construction materials. Not only does the building run a photosynthetic and phototropic skin made with spinach protein, but it also produces more energy than a single family’s needs, allowing the excess to be distributed to neighbors. This radical shift, from centralized energy systems today, fosters community interdependence as neighbors benefit from the resources of others. - Via - Io9 & Ecofriend