Monthly Archives: August 2015

Ecocapsule

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If you’ve just had it with taking the subway, or sitting in an office, or just generally being around other people, you may be in luck. Slovakian firm Nice Architects has built an egg-shaped “Ecocapsule” that runs entirely on solar and wind energy, allowing its dweller(s) to live both literally, and figuratively, off the grid.

The completely self-sustaining portable home contains a 9,744 watt-hour battery, a 750 watt wind turbine, and high-efficiency solar cells that can support you for about a year in pretty much any location in the world, provided there is some sunlight. (It probably wouldn’t work in a cave, for instance, should someone desire to live in one.)
 The capsule also includes a rainwater collection and filtration system. Inside, there’s a kitchenette with running water, a flushable toilet, a shower, a bed, and work space. Nice Architects says the capsule, which is about 4.5 meters (14.7 feet) long and 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) wide, can comfortably fit two people.

Credit: Ecocapsule

The egg-home can be “easily transported” by trailer, according to the company, and can even charge the electric car that’s towing it.  But beyond just nomadic living, the Ecocapsule has plenty of other potential applications, from providing shelter in disaster areas to doubling as scientific research stations.
Source (Adam Epstein, “Portable, solar-powered ecocapsules mean you can live rent- and electric-bill free, globally”, Quartz, 27.05.2015)

Bento Box

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Bento is quite an exceptional and forward thinking concept by René Woo-Ram Lee. It’s quite a plausible scenario that most of use/own a tablet, a PC, external hard drives and a smartphone. Now combine the power of these to have fully customizable Bento Laptop! The Box accommodates all the gear to work as one whole unit or individually; as you see fit.

Features

  • Laptop with 15″ OLED screen
  • 11″ tablet and 4″ phone sit in shallow depressions
  • Solar powered lithium-ion battery
  • 1TB SSD drive
bento1

Credit: René Woo-Ram Lee

Credit: René Woo-Ram Lee

Source (Radhika Seth, “Bento box kinda like Voltron”, Yanko Design, 06.05.2011)