New Atlas

Bicycles Audio available

A not-so-Normal approach to building wooden bikes

Ben Coxworth March 20, 2019

Although wooden-frame bikes may not be a common sight out on the street, they're plentiful at events such as the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. So, what makes one stand out THERE? Well, it helps if it's made in a non-traditional manner – which is the case with Normal Bicycles.

Jessica Vreeswijk Kudla and Chris Kudla, with their custom gravel bike at NAHBS

Bicycles

The classy Cooper Bicycle is made from old wine barrels

Ben Coxworth March 18, 2019

Although used-up wine barrels can be turned into items such as planters, wineries generally just throw the things out. Lance Rake isn't a fan of such wastefulness, so he's developed a new use for the barrels. He wants to turn them into cruiser bikes, one of which he's already built.

Lance Rake with the Cooper Bicycle at NAHBS 2019

Drones Audio available

DIY drone kit lets you build your own wooden quadcopter ... and controller

Ben Coxworth January 30, 2019

We've already seen wooden-bodied electronic devices such as computers, keyboards and video game systems, so why not a quadcopter drone? That's just what SirTeen's Aerowood is, and you put the thing together yourself.

The Aerowood drone is presently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign

Home Entertainment

Creepy Mr Typo talks nightmarish nonsense

Paul Ridden December 5, 2018

Love Hultén has an impressive eye for detail and all of his hand-crafted retro tributes are unquestionably gorgeous. His latest work, however, is the stuff of childhood nightmares. Mr Typo is a wall-mounted speech synthesizer that can be manipulated by poking his eye or punching his teeth.

Mr Typo's garbled output can be modulated by twisting his eyeballs or poking his teeth

Marine

The Speakeasy could have been Al Capone's paddle board

Ben Coxworth November 27, 2018

It was just last year that we heard about The Bootlegger, a retro mahogany stand-up paddle board made by Minneapolis-based artisan Kevin Fitzke. While it's a beauty to behold, it also costs US$3,299. Well, Fitzke is now back, with the less-pricey but still-classy Speakeasy.

The Speakeasy is presently on Kickstarter

Around The Home

da Vinci-inspired drawing machine brings Renaissance auto-sketching to life

Paul Ridden November 14, 2018

Paper engineer Robert Sabuda has teamed up with the Leonardo da Vinci Robot Society to create the Drawmaton drawing machine that's based on a rumor, that da Vinci's so-called Robot Knight coudl not only sit, stand and hug guests at parties, but could also draw.

The Drawmaton comes in kit form to assemble yourself, and is hand operated

Architecture

Undulating airport rides wave of timber construction

Adam Williams October 12, 2018

This recently-completed Philippine airport terminal is primarily constructed from wood. It features a striking design inspired by rolling ocean waves and a stunning interior that highlights the beauty of the material.

The Mactan Cebu International Terminal 2 project took three years to construct and cost US$327 million

Architecture

Off-grid Glass Cabin provides peace on the prairie

Adam Williams September 6, 2018

Atelier Risting recently completed this nice example of a rural cabin on a farm owned by the same family for over 150 years. Partly constructed with reclaimed materials, it's raised on stilts, runs off-the-grid, and serves as an idyllic vacation retreat to get away from it all.

The Glass Cabin's generous glazing can be secured with sliding barn door-style covers when being left ...

Architecture

Stunning wooden airport will feature an indoor forest

Adam Williams September 3, 2018

Duangrit Bunnag Architect Limited (DBALP) has unveiled an eye-catching design for a new airport terminal in Bangkok that features intricate wooden detailing and an indoor forest. The new building is reportedly expected to be operational in 2025.

Suvarnabhumi International Passenger Terminal II will include a large 16,132 sq m (173,643 sq ft) indoor ...

Architecture

Students design weird and wonderful prototype cabins in the woods

Adam Williams August 27, 2018

During a recent festival in rural Hungary, teams of students were tasked with building seven prototype cabins. The resulting dwellings range from a transportable cabin with wheels attached to its side, to a modular model that can be re-arranged into multiple layouts.

Project vertical cabin is one of the seven interesting cabin designs thought up by students at ...