It’s impossible to live a non-branded life. Brands are all around us, whether you like it or not. Products and services that are offered to consumers are all branded in some ways. Even the most basic commodities are being labelled and promise unique values to consumers. It’s hard to find any flour, bread or milk on the shelves of supermarkets that doesn’t carry an individual personality or message. Water is not an exception in this sense. Today we present a striking example of sophisticated water packaging and conscious branding.
Casa del Agua in Mexico City is a place like no other. It’s an oasis for thirsty travelers and locals who look for some nostalgia. This artesian bottled water boutique and bar was conceived by Esrawe Studio. Casa del Agua is also the name of the water that is being sold here. This brand and its packaging talk about timeless beauty, simplicity and purity.
The interior design of the boutique is centered around water that is the sacred source of all life. Guests can realize once again this element is really the most essential part of our ecosystem that keep us alive. Water is also the main conductor of energy, and as scientists proved it its molecules react to human thoughts and intention. Casa del Agua is collected, filtered and purified on site, it’s truly a local water and minimum transportation is involved. The water that is being served and sold here is more than just a basic mineral or artisan water. It is stimulated by the values of the owners: love, gratitude, and respect, therefore it reaches its highest potential and healing powers.
Casa del Agua is a hidden oasis of purity and sacred wisdom in one of the most populated cities of the world. It’s a shining example of highly evolved business management, 100% design and branding…
Video games have been the delight of people for decades now. Since Atari’s inception in 1972 people have been mesmerized and entertained by the actions on the screen that they can control and participate with just by using a handheld device. As technology has developed, so have video games and their place in our pop culture. And if you have game fanatics in your house, a fun thing to do could be to save up and make a video game themed room for them.
Wall decals or murals are a fantastic way to show off your love for video games. You can paint or purchase murals like giant old school Nintendo Duck Hunt murals that cover an entire wall. Other popular decals include Pacman or even just game equipment murals like the controllers or play systems.
In addition to wall paintings and decals, adding 3-dimensional touches are good too to bring the game feel more to life. You can purchase colored blocks that light up which are designed to look like the Tetris blocks, or you can make your own with one dimensional panels or 3-D boxes that you paint and hang yourself. If you want to be real creative use clear plastic from craft stores like Jo-Ann’s or Michael’s along with special coloring paints, then place small white LED lights in the blocks to make them light up.
Finding some video game themed furniture can be fun too. For beds, you can cover it with a simple blanket that looks like a giant Game Boy. Or if you want to really step it up get a Space Invader couch or NES coffee table like they show on Game Tyrant. For smaller touches you can purchase perler beads Game Boy magnets, or coffee table coaster from Meat Boy, Asteroids, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Mincraft Creeper at sites like Etsy for less than $20.
If you can find ways to incorporate the games with the basic function of the room, that will add a lot of fun and authenticity. Make the most of your money and use cupboards or cabinets that could be like the secret passageways on the games, or that open up like the giant green tunnels on the Super Maria games. Nerd Handy shows how one gamer built bookshelves that resembled the levels in Donkey Kong. Digital Bus Stop showed how one kid has cubbies hanging from the wall that are designed like the question mark boxes that Mario jumps on for coins. This is a perfect way for dressers in bedrooms, or hidden fridges in family rooms to be disguised and incorporated at the same time.
There really are endless possibilities when designing a video game themed room. The budget may be something to think about and how extensive and expensive you want to go. It is up to you how involved you want to make your room. In the meantime, compare savings account rates and put some money aside while you do your thinking and research so you can be prepared for your video game transformation.
Over-population of urban areas is a theme that comes up more and more often in various international forums. Tackling this challenge is not an easy one and there are a number of different views and possible approaches. Some designers and creative companies decided to join this dialogue as well with the intention of offering a few uplifting and fresh ideas on the serious issue. Today we travel to China and present an interesting design concept and solution.
It’s known to everyone, that Chinese metropolises and their inhabitants are greatly challenged with the problems of the ever-increasing population. Most of the city people have to accept that they will never be able to own even a small piece of land. Urban society is forced to find unconventional ways if they want to have some more private space. The Tricycle House and Tricyle Garden is a brilliant solution for this, a creative answer to reconnect with nature and get the feeling of house and land ownership. The concept was developed by People’s Architecture Office (PAO) and People’s Industrial Design Office (PIDO) and was presented at the 2012 Get It Louder Exhibition.
The design collaboration’s experiment is based on flexible construction methods and plastic materials. Polypropylene is the main component of the house that has some big advantages: it’s resilient, easy to shape and fold without losing its strength. In addition, the house interior offers plenty of daylight thanks to the translucent plastic panels. No need to worry about electricity anymore, the Tricycle House relies on human power only. It is also equipped with the necessary facilities such as kitchem, sink, stove, bath tub and basic furnishing. Believe it or not, the kitchen sink, stove, and bathtub can fold into the main wall of the home. Living without any green area is not fun, therefore a mobile garden can be attached to the house. The Tricycle Garden is great for planting some fruit trees and grow vegetables. The best thing is that tricycle owners and eco-warriors can come together to create a temporary green space for everyone.
PAO and PIDO managed to come up with an affordable solution for those people who wish to own a little house. Independence, mobility, ownership and easy living are now within reach for all. At least in theory…
Photography by: People’s Architecture Office (PAO) + People’s Industrial Design Office (PIDO)
Every big city has a few once glorious streets. These streets normally played important roles in the golden ages but sadly they got neglected in the later stages of urban development. Over centuries their beauty and character faded away. Luckily, the number of urban-renewal projects are on the rise and historical streets get another chance to shine once again. Damrak is one of the oldest busiest and liveliest streets of Amsterdam that is going through a similar re-branding. Private and public groups are both motivated about this transformation.
Hotel The Exchange is a shining example of such private and public commitments and is part of ‘The Red Carpet,’ an urban rejuvenation project that wants to offer Damrak a more fashionable look. This hotel wonderland was developed by the Lloyd Hotel and the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). The project collaboration managed to come up with something really unusual that surprised even the trendy Dutch capital itself. Architecture and art merged into this exciting hotel concept. Students of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute were given total freedom in the creation and envisioning processes. Dozens of brilliant minds and fashion designers contributed to and shaped the final look of the hotel. Having such diverse approach doesn’t mean, however, that the hotel lacks design consistency or core theme. All the 61 rooms were treated like fashion supermodels which were given unique clothes, style and look. Some inspirations include jeans, flowers, buttons, ribbons, belts, unused cardboard boxes or wardrobes of celebrities. The owners decided to group the rooms into various comfort categories in order to attract guests of different budgets.
The icing on the cake is the in-house design concept store along with a chic restaurant. With all its special characteristics this place is more than a hotel: it’s an innovative and one-of-its kind fountain of creativity. The Exchange shouldn’t be missed by any fashionistas or design-lovers.
