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BATHROOM
Monolith Toilet
Geberit

It is not often that you hear the words ‘elegant’ or ‘innovative’ applied to a toilet, but the Geberit Monolith is no ordinary commode. The company say that their cistern-free design, finished in brushed aluminium and glass, makes the toilet “a focal point in its own right” – so if you find your guests gathering around the bathroom door whispering to each other there is no longer cause to panic. The Monolith is also economical, offering a 3 and 4.5 liter dual flush option.

BOOK
Eco Structures: Forms of Sustainable Infrastructure
White Star Publishing

It’s the topic that everyone is talking about, not least in the Middle East, where architects are lining up to promote their green credentials. Eco Structures, published this month, is a portfolio of green architecture so far, showcasing a range of projects designed by architects from across the world. The book is focused on showing how advanced technology, local materials and the modernization of existing structures can push the envelope of green design in 2010.

GADGETS
Car Camera Camcorder
Gadget Brando

Ever pitched an idea with such oratory skill that you wish you could relive it again and again? Well if so, Gadget Bravo has the solution. For a mere US$60 you can have your very own racing-car camcorder, allowing you to record sound, video, and pictures through the car’s tiny pinhole lens.

The gadget also has practical use in that it is pocket-sized, so useful for taking photos or video when out and about.

APP
GOBIM
Buro Happold

The iPad may be getting a rough ride in the media of late, but the boffins at engineering consultancy Buro Happold are convinced that its big screen and portability will eventually make it an important asset to architects and engineers on the move. The company have jumped aboard the Apple application bandwagon with an app that enables Building Information Modeling (BIM) – three dimensional, real time, dynamic building modeling software – to be viewed on the iPad, and therefore accessed in remote locations including on site. “The majority of building designers still use two dimensional drawings to communicate design ideas and this can result in confusion and the waste of manpower and materials,” designer Ian Keough explained.

PODCAST
Architecture Knowledge Review
American Institute of Architects

Architecture Knowledge Review is a weekly podcast series for design professionals from the American Institute of Architects. The 15-minute podcasts feature interviews, discussions, and reviews of best practice by architects and other design professionals.

SOFA
BoConcept Dubai
Milos

In the tradition of the chesterfield, BoConcept has introduced a modern, casual looking sofa, Milos, which plays with the effect of check patterns and stitches. The Milos sofa is both soft and sleek-looking, but the coolest thing about it is that it is made up of 13 different modules, meaning you can take it apart and create other sofas and chairs in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The Milo sofa is available in a variety of leathers and fabrics.

BOOK
Engineers: A History of Engineering and Structural Design
By Matthew Wells
Routledge, ISBN: 978-0-415-32526-4

This new book, published in March, presents the vast historical sweep of engineering innovation to describe and illustrate design and what has brought it to its present state. Authored by architect and engineer Matthew Wells, the book is an excellent guide to design for students and practitioners alike.

SOFA
BoConcept Dubai
Milos

Milan’s 2010 furniture fair showcased all kinds of weird and wonderful chairs, tables and other assorted furniture this month, among them the Tonic collection from northern-Italian designers Rossin. The chairs, designed by Catharina Lorenz and Steffen Kaz, boast subtle pastel colors, and horizontal inclines formed from either wood or metal. Rossin’s new collection, which come in a variety of different colors, shapes and sizes, are a trendy and colorful way of brightening up an otherwise dull and plain interior.