I’ve recently been working on this project in Berkeley where we’ve abstracted the archetypal house in a modern way. You can see our design for this cottage here shrouded by the palm trees.

Herzog and DeMeuron take this archetypal house to the extreme by extruding the form out like house “logs’ and stacking the logs up five stories as if it were a children’s toy. Simply amazing.

VitraHaus / Herzog & de Meuron | ArchDaily.

Christmas is just around the corner, and it recently occurred to me that a wonderful gift you might consider giving to your lady-friend is a device that can produce ecstasy. I must admit to you, I have not tried any of these stimulating devices myself. In fact, I’ve only chosen them based upon their innovative design promises or upon their beautiful craftsmanship. So, I cannot guarantee that any of the following clitoral stimulators, vibrators, dildos, and massagers will bring you an orgasm. Of course, if they don’t at least they look really, really good on your shelf or hidden underneath your bed.

The prices of the sex toys Design Crack presenting range from under $100 to several hundred. The materials range from the standard rubber to stainless steel to 24 karat gold to fine delft porcelain. And although I can’t give you, dear reader, a play by play stimulatory (is that a word) rating of each sex toy, I’ve provided links to each vibrator that give you more than enough information to give you an informed purchasing decision. Quite frankly, you may consider buying more than one of these devices and consider many items in your arsenal.

The We Vibe clitoral and G-spot vibrator

This was the least pretty and least expensive of the devices I’ve added to the collection, but the shape of the design makes me wonder if it wouldn’t be the most affective. If the We Vibe lives up to its promise, it will create quite a buzz.

The OhMiBod Music activated vibrator

When discussing vibrator innovation, you have to mention at least one iPod activated device. I’ve included two. One is an app, and one, the OhMiBod, is a vibrator that pulses with the music bringing a new edge to your favorite hip hop or house music. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, try some heavy metal to stir your juices.

iVibration: Bring your iPhone to the next plane of usefulness

Philips Warm Sensual Massager

This is the most corporate looking vibe. It almost seems as if you should shave with this device rather than rubbing your hoo with it. But, I can only assume it works wonders simply because Philips has worked decades to make their intimate products incredibly fun to use.

Eleven Steel Dildo by Njoy

Steel seems a little cold, it sure looks good.

Olga gold plated vibrator by Lelo

The Olga is beautifully designed to find all the right spots. This vibrator is probably the one that I could see James Bond giving to his lover as a memento for conquering an international crime syndicate. Maybe this one could be renamed “Goldfinger” because it will make you sing like Ethel Merman.

Bone vibrator by Tom Dixon for Myla of London

Tom Dixon designed this. I don’t care how well it works. Tom Dixon designed this. Buy it.

Minx vibrator by Shiri Zinn

I spent quite a bit of time exploring Shiri Zinn’s website, and although this particular vibrator might look a little hokey, her zeal for experimentation and user experience leads me to believe her little machines are moan inducing explosions waiting to happen. I urge you to check out Miss Zinn’s site and look for the strapons which are pure artwork. I would love to mount these on the wall if my wife would let me.

Fuck Design Vibrator by Citizen Citizen for Jimmy Jane

Jimmy Jane has went out of its way to brand itself as the high design of sexual pleasure. They’ve hire Citizen Citizen to create the “Fuck Design” limited edition model of their popular bullet vibe, and I can’t stop looking at it. JJ guarantees all parts (I think), and has made quite a brand promise… which comes with a steep price. This is the vibe for the woman or man who needs it all.

Delft Ceramic Dildo

I like this dildo the best. It does not vibrate, but it does look like something you’d pull out of the china cabinet and put on your dinner table as a centerpiece at thanksgiving (which might add for a spicy evening). The dildo is corked at the bottom which leads me to wonder if the dildo is meant to carry warm water adding to the glow of sensations you might feel. Or, it could be a really hot stash box. What do you put in yours?

I saw this at Yatzer, and I really appreciated the above piece for where it brought my imagination.  The piece by metal garden furniture DeCastelli is not meant to be a dining table, I don’t think. I think it’s meant as pure vision of landscape on a miniature scale. But it occurred to me that this design could make a perfect dining experience. The mountains and the forest represented in this work could bring new rituals and new sensations to a dining experience. For instance, the plant could be a fragrant herb used to complement the food’s flavors. The mountains could be perfect vessels to cook Indian breads or simply to remind the eater where their food comes from. Maybe new forms of dining tables could arise based on the way their structures interact with the cuisine presented to them.

The small gardens of DeCastelli | yatzer | Design Architecture Art Fashion +more.

Most people’s wine cellars have been relegated to the garage, but if you have the cash I would suggest you go for the super sexy trap door wine cellar. Why do this? because you can.

Cool Hidden Spiral Wine Cellars.

Emma

Emma Caselton has created one of the most brilliant inventions i’ve seen in a long time. The beauty is in its simplicity mixed with its usefulness. What is it? it’s a linear timer that tell you exactly when to do what with your recipe. Simply insert the specially designed recipe in the timer’s slot, set the timer, and start cooking. Besides making a perfectly cooked meal, the device really helps budget time when making multiple dishes. With 3 of these, and a lttle forethought, you could quickly cook a multicourse meal. brilliant.

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Bintoy is one of dozens of objects that this designer has created that makes new uses of everyday objects. many of the experiments are brilliant, like the bintoy. Many concepts fall flat. But the key here is experiment, prototype, and release to the world.

Lesauskas.lt | Projects.

“Weltevree is a Dutch product label. Weltevree develops and produces authentic products for the living environment. Appliances that satisfy our primary desires: distinctive, original and of excellent quality. Weltevree was born out of the need to make these products accessible to all.”

That’s their hook. My hook is yet another masterful design studio with a strong grasp of the mashup. Included are two mashups: one a wheelbarrow with a bench, one axe handles with a side chair. Both products are expertly made, but my affinity is for the wheelbarrow bench simply for its ease of use. I sometimes have outdoor parties where furniture is always being moved. This piece, of course will save my back… elegantly.

I’ve also included an image of a modular stair system that is so simple that I want to install one in my own house even though I don’t have a second floor. The beauty of this design is its flexible system. You can get a stair to work for any space, and you don’t have to woory about a perfect fit because the adjustable legs will always get the fit perfect. I will say that in the U.S. don’t let building inspectors see you install this thing. Otherwise, go for it.

Weltevree | Home.

I don’t know if I should be pissed off or in love after reading this post at Wallpaper*. Why should I care? For one, the fashions from Maison Margiela pushes the limits of what I should wear into a mysterious abstract art. Although I feel they rule the edge of excitement in fashion, why is it that fashion houses feel so inclined to enter new territories such as interior and furniture design? Although this concept can work, I feel that often times fashion brands feel the pressure of making more and more money by expanding their brands to any object they can get a hold of rather than sticking with their core skills. The result is a future that holds Maison Margiela branded tube socks and coffee cups. Of course, if these objects actually existed I would be buying. I ain’t gonna lie.

Maison Margiela launches an interior collection – Fashion – Wallpaper.com – International Design Interiors Fashion Travel.

With the arrival of our son and pressing work obligations, I have gone from a roving design hog to a once per month poster on my blog Design Crack. Still, I can quickly point you to some interesting things via other people’s digging.

One place I go for the Milan experience is Wallpaper*. They have put together a decent editor’s pics section (although a bit thin on the text). My favorite editor’s picks come from Nick Vinson who has chosen as one of his picks the Fendi Craft Punk event which puts craftspeople on stage to create. I find this particularly exciting because there is so much to be learned from watching how people’s hands work at the point of conception from idea to physical object. So often, I look back at an object with no context as to how it was crafted. This event helps me solidify the importance of human endeavors and gives me reason.

Salone 2009: Editors’ Picks – Interiors – Wallpaper.com – International Design Interiors Fashion Travel.

The Puma Store is an inspiration to all architects out there with lots of time and energy and access to a supply of old shipping containers. I consider this store to be a sort of dialogue with some of the past stores Ive seen where the designers have stacked 6 units high by one wide. This one answers the gravity challenge by creating a massive cantilever with no visible support. How’d they do that? Look back at some of Rem Koolhaas’ earlier works to remind yourself ho.

This Just In-box: new Puma VS new Nike VS new Adidas – Core77.