Awesome Design

We wouldn’t usually use the word “Epic” to describe a grand piano, but Robert Majkut’s Roland-powered digital grand piano, inspired by the beauty of the sea-faring mammals is truly deserving of the word.

It wasn’t enough for Duncan Jackson to plan on building a Fortress House. He actually converted an old British defense tower into a home. The views make up for the constant threat of French invaders.

Designed to prove that you can live in a space just 3x3x3m with a carbon-neutral footprint, The Cube is a complete home, with a living, dining, kitchen, sleeping quarters and a (yuck) composting toilet.

Michael Kritzer is the talent behind the Buell Cratetable, perfect for tinkerers; the bike crate that the motorcycle arrives in is pre-cut to be repurposed into a useable workbench.

An aluminum lounge chair that looks like it was made with bulldozer parts. Despite its utilitiarian appearance, the chair is supposedly comfortable, and its parts will be adjustable via the red knobs.

Designer Keita Ogawa created these icy LED lightbulbs that look like they’ve melted into a pool of water. Unfortunately, you can’t buy these, but at least you can look at them and wish you could.

Designer Aeron Tozier’s hyper-modern furniture collection is crafted from composite carbon fiber and resin-coated brass. Quilted leather cushions echo the geometry of those modern materials.

We loved these interlocking blocks the first time we saw them. Now win one of three 256-piece Blocklets kits, worth $50 each. (Contest Has Ended, Thanks for Your Entries!)

The University of Chicago’s Mansueto Library houses up to 3.5 million books and periodicals in its underground robotic shelving system delivering books to readers in a minimal reading room.

Designed by Jurgen Mayer H. and located in Seville, Spain, it’s the world’s largest wooden structure. Its sweeping forms are captured in these photos by Fernando Alda and David Franck.

While we’re still not huge fans of typing on touchscreens, you’ve got to hand it to Laura Lahti for her thoughtful dual-screen Keyless Lifebook with its fully customizable keyboard and trackpad.

Designers from Makhno Workshop really captured the essence of a twister with storm cloud chairs, raindrop light fixtures and splintered walls for this restaurant in Kiev. Maybe the food’s good too.

Taking design cues from a simple toaster, Michael Kritzer’s Day Maker concept would charge two iPhones, popping them up when the alarm goes off in the morning. Needs more toast wallpaper.

The planning that went into this projection mapping really makes it shine. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into a site-specific theater piece from the creative professionals at URBANSCREEN.

Peter Bristol’s clever Cut Chair has a metal plate (concealed by carpet) with a cantilevered seat and 3 well placed leg “stumps” to make the chair look like it has just been magically sliced apart.

Teacarina? Ok, sign us up for 10. From Legend of Zelda inspired to more inventive and artful options, look no further than the quality craftsmanship of St. Louis Ocarina for all your earthen-flute needs.

Jaryn Miller‘s concept uses the handlebars as one of the bicycle’s locks, so the rider will always have the lock with him, but most of all it renders the bike unusable if a thief breaks or saws off the lock.

At once both whimsical and practical, this concept gadget fires single shots of espresso into your cup thanks to a unique reusable coffee cartridge design. See il Tiro in action here.

Christian Schallert made the most of his 254sqft apartment through extensive use of shelves and drawers. It may not be as complex as what this man did, but it’s still very creative and practical.

Patkau Architects created this group of temporary skating shelters huddled together by a skating trail along a frozen river in Winnipeg, which include a timber frame, plywood floor and seating inside.

Created by professor Sheila Kennedy and a team of MIT students, these rockers capture solar and kinetic energy, passing it along to USB gadgets and a cool electroluminescent lighting system at night.

The breathtaking views of Norway’s natural scenery don’t need much enhancement. Still, kudos to the Public Roads Administration for authorizing these amazing National Tourist Routes.

We can’t seem to find the pin on this bar of soap, cast from an actual WWII steel grenade. We’d advise against traveling with this in your luggage, unless you want “special” treatment from the TSA.