Véloce

As I was browsing the 2008 Monaco Yacht Show Top 10 Concepts, I came across this striking project by BMT Nigel Gee called Véloce, a 130-meter pentamaran concept developed for high speed application and aimed at the large yacht market. Unlike the 40-m Signature Series by Norman Foster, the appeal of this concept to me is that it maintains its maritime characteristics albeit with an unconventional approach.

In an interview in Super Yacht World magazine, Foster said, "I wanted people to go WOW when they see this yacht, not just acknowledge it as something pretty." However, my reaction to the design was not a "wow", it may have been something more like a "hmmm". I mean it is unique but the design with its balconies, staircases, grills across the entire side walls, the arch form of the boat is very building-like, and perhaps it looks like it longs to be part of the land rather than the sea. The Véloce on the other hand simply look much more comfortable in the middle of the ocean than parked in the marina. Something that yacht enthusiasts, I imagine, would appreciate more.

More info here and here

More Container Architecture

Loop de Loop from anarchitecture on Vimeo.

Loop-d-Loop is a design concept by NL Architects for yet another innovative way for shipping container re-use.

[It] could serve as information booth, as exhibition space, as a ‘ride’, as ‘view generator’, as cafe, as site canteen... After sometime Loop-‘d’-Loop can be taken apart, transported elsewhere and be reassembled in a new way: a continuous process of destruction and renewal. It’s appearance always reminiscent of the building site, blending in in a twisted fashion.

Spite

Spite noun
1. a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.

Can such an ugly feeling generate beauty?

Well, legend has it that Ferruccio Lamborghini, provider of the agricultural machinery that drove Italy’s post war reconstruction, was the recipient of poor customer service from another more established Italian manufacturer. Lamborghini was insulted after complaining about a clutch problem, indicating that a “tractor manufacturer was not qualified to criticize such a highly acclaimed sports car”. Resolving never again to own a car with a prancing horse, the engineer set about creating a rival.

The result was not only in the logo of the car; a charging bull made up of the inverted colors of Ferrari’s prancing horse. Lambroghini became the main counterpart to Ferrari in the Italian sports car business. This began with the Miura in 1966. Named after a Spanish ranch whose bulls have a proverbial attack instinct, the car soon was beloved of film stars and tycoons.



Lamborghini continued producing amazing sports car that rivalled Ferrari, with a tradition of naming cars after famous Spanish fighting bulls. The latest addition was the Murciélago which means "bat" in Spanish. It comes from a bull that survived numerous sword strokes and fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor.



The latest, most powerful and expensive Lambo is the Reventón, which only 20 lucky people will own as reports indicate that no more than 20 examples will be manufactured. Reventón means "burst" in Spanish, and it is named after a bull who was best known for killing a famous bullfighter.

Fearless

The rise of property development along the coast of the Arabian Gulf dramatically increased the demand for luxurious yachts and boats. The creation of 1500 marinas in Dubai alone, along with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of other marinas in neighboring countries lured many people to become watercraft enthusiasts. The emphasis that we are witnessing on waterfront development, land reclamation and the crazy man-made islands that are quickly changing the face of the region are establishing the warm Middle Eastern seas as a tourist attraction that will soon rival the prestigious Mediterranean and Caribbean marinas.

Like everyone I always admired the beauty of expensive toys. But lately I find myself buying boat and yacht magazines. It is not because of all the luxurious waterfront development that is rising which requires complementary water toys. And no its not because I have the financial capability to invest in such assets. Its because of this particular jewel that I ran into by coincidence while reading a Porsche magazine. This jewel is the result of a joint effort between Porsche Design Studios and "high-end builder" Fearless. Its called Fearless 28 (as in 28 feet long) and has a V10 Dodge Viper engine with 550 horsepower. The seats, controls and upper deck design is inspired by the Porsche Carrera GT.

This beauty is the first of a range of yachts designed by Porsche Design Studios for Fearless. I always say that I don't want to be very rich with loads of money that I don't know what to do with, but now I definitely want to afford this toy which apparently cost only $300,000.

Peugeot kicks Ferrari's @$$??!!

The 2007 Peugeot Design Contest had an interesting theme; P.L.E.A.S.E. innovate. The P.L.E.A.S.E. stands for:

P leasurable
L ively
E fficient
A ccessible
S imple
E cological

The winner of the competition provided an incredible design that took my breath away... I just hope Peugeot can wait a couple of 10 years until I can afford such a beauty... Screw Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin and any other sports car.... this is definitely the car I'm buying in my mid-life crisis.

The second winner was kind of cool too although it looked very conceptual and not very practical to me... more of the contest entries can be found here, here and here.