Hettich, a German diversified company group operating chiefly in the furniture sector, recently launched “Kitchen Concept 2015″, forecasting what the kitchen of the not so distant future will be like. If you ask me, it looks good!

Their concept focuses on design, convenience, ergonomics, and multimedia networking. Their kitchen is designed to blend seamlessly in the home instead of being the center of attention. Various items such as the faucet, the fridge, the oven, all disappear when not is use.

In essence, using emerging computer technology, Hettich merged a sleek kitchen with computers, such as surface computing, and made it smarter. Below are examples of some of the features of this new kitchen.

The above cabinets can be lowered to any desired height and independently from one another.

The kitchen island features drawers that can be opened from either side. Even the dishwasher can be opened from both sides. How convenient is that!

Surface computing technology allows the user to check cooking time, temperature, see the inside the oven, and browse the internet on the surface of the cabinets. I wonder if you can also change the look of the surface of the cabinets as you would your computer desktop and change it, from example, from black to red or add a neat pattern for special occasions…

Surface computing is also installed on the island, where the user can perform the same tasks as on the surface of the cabinets, and control the size and temperature of the heating elements of the cooktop.

I can imagine a kitchen like this costs quite a bit of money right now, but it should be more affordable in 2015 :). Let’s hope so.

source : Hettich | Hettich America

ORIGINAL POST DATE : 2008-03-05

I remember as a kid, how fascinated I was with our revolving fiber optic lamp in the living room. My mom would light it up on special occasions and I would find my self gazing at it for long periods of times as it was changing colors on its own. Then I grew up and it sort of went out of fashion, but I guess “what’s old is new again” because fiber optic lights are back with a twist.

I was recently shown this new product from Lumigram, a company from France who specializes in marrying fiber optic technology with fabric. The result is interesting and looks best at night or in a dark room. They currently have some products that can be used to decorate various spaces, such as pillows, table cloths, chair covers and vases, but I’m sure as their popularity increases designers will come up with new and creative ways to use them.

2009-12-02 UPDATE : This product could be fun to use at a Christmas party on a table as shown or as curtain. It could look quite dramatic in the right setting.

bloomframe is a really neat window that transforms into a balcony with the touch of a button. I remember reading about it a couple years ago when it was a prototype. Now it’s ready for the market and is currently available in The Netherlands. Created by Hofman Dujardin Architects this innovative product will enable city dwellers to increase their living space. Michiel Hofman, co-founder of the company, says that “The Bloomframe® balcony is playing an essential role in the positive evolution of our cities, encouraging us to re-think and improve interior space options. Bloomframe® helps us live better.”

I can imagine designers and architects will have fun working with this. Its dimensions, colour and materials are all fully adaptable and can be custom-designed to complement the façade of new and existing buildings.

The climate is milder there compared to Canada, so I don’t know if it’s applicable here yet but I could definitely use one! These balconies could also be great for little restaurants and coffee shops. I imagine it’s only a matter of time before they become available in various countries. Bloomframe balconies completely change buildings and make them dynamic. Imagine an apartment or condo towers with several of these balconies all around it. They will never look the same. The buildings will constantly change shape. There’s something very artistic about this. For some reason it also reminds me of the shape shifting building from Dynamic Architecture. Could this be the future of architecture?

photos : notcot, Hofman Dujardin Architects

Inamo is a restaurant and bar unlike any other. Designed by Blacksheep interior architecture and design, it’s a fusion of design and technology…my favorite :) I also love the black ceiling.

Located in Soho, London, it features an interactive ordering system where you can order your food on a surface computing system right on your table. This computer/table enables you to see what you can eat, the chefs cooking your food, choose the look of your table, find out about the neighborhood and more. I don’t know if it’s already in the interactive system, but I would add the option of drawing things and sending messages to other tables.

Photo: Blacksheep & Inamo

via : Trend Land

source: Dynamic Architecture

I recently came across this incredible building by David Fisher of Dynamic Architecture who created a new way of designing buildings. Unlike traditional architecture, this building will move. As Fisher puts it, the building is “designed by time, shaped by life”. Each floor in this 80-story building will rotate independently. Its shape will constantly be changing, as each resident (one per floor) will be able able to rotate his or her entire floor as he or she sees fit. It’s almost as if the building becomes alive. I imagine the residents would also be able to create building a choreography. (so you think your building can dance)

source: Dynamic Architecture

There seems to be a lot of benefits in constructing such a building. For example, construction time is considerably reduced and since the building in prefabricated in a factory, there’s probably a better control of quality. This building is also eco-frienldly as it is self-powered by wind turbines cleverly fitted between each floor to fulfill all the electrical demands of this luxury tower.

source: Dynamic Architecture

Of course, only a selected number of very wealthy people will be able to live there. But eventually this technology will probably be used for other buildings and be more accessible to the general public, especially if there are important cost savings associated with it. And I bet the assembly of the building will eventually becomes robotized too! We shall see… In the mean time the first construction of this revolutionary building is expected for 2010 in Dubai.