Yerce Architecture together with ZAAS have designed a unique built-in handrail that runs alongside some floating stairs.
The handrail, which has been built directly into the wall and is the same length as the stairs, provides a guide for people using the stairs without taking up space as a normal handrail would.
The built-in handrail also has a curved edge for comfort, and hidden lighting that creates a striking line on the otherwise empty white wall.
Taller David Dana Arquitectura (TDDA) has remodeled a two level restaurant in Mexico City, that showcases an updated facade with wood-lined arched windows.
Inside, there’s a combination of materials, like wood, natural stone, and greenery, that provide a neutral and welcoming interior with modern finishes.
The wood arches create a space deep enough to include plants next to the windows.
A wood bench that matches the wood-lined windows runs the length of the restaurant and provides built-in seating for the patrons.
The large arches also add an abundance of natural light to the interior of the restaurant, keeping it bright and welcoming.
Sub Sea Systems have created Clear Lounge, the world’s first underwater oxygen bar, located in Cozumel, Mexico.
“We’re excited to introduce such an innovative underwater attraction,” said Jim Mayfield, Sub Sea Systems’ President. “We see experiences as one of the hottest trends in entertainment. Clear Lounge is truly a unique social novelty. It’s incredibly fun, memorable, and an activity guests are excited to share and talk about.”
About the experience
Clear Lounge immerses guests in the experience of breathing enriched oxygen while playing games in a 13,000 gallon, high-tech, freestanding aquarium. Using a specialized clear diving helmet designed for non-swimmers, guests receive an airflow of invigorating oxygen mixed with an aromatherapy scent of their choice.
A bartender entertains participants during the 20-minute underwater experience with activities including jenga, write-on message boards, and target practice with high-powered bubble guns. The Clear Lounge aquarium also includes an underwater photo booth, another world’s first. Guests can choose a selection of props as they pose in front of a floor to surface, customizable digital display wall.
Colorful LED lights and bubble curtains set the ambiance as guests play games, take photos, interact with spectators on the outside, and walk around in this near-zero gravity environment, day or night.
You can watch a video about the Clear Lounge below:
In the northeastern Italy, at an altitude of 6742 feet (or 2,055 meters), lies a single cabin on skis that you can stay the night in.
The Starlight Room has a front row view of the Dolomite mountain range.
Located near Cortina, Italy, the Starlight Room offers guests a chance to sleep in the mountains in a room that has glass surrounding the bed.
The little cabin, that sits on skis, was made by local artisans with local materials: wood, metal and glass.
Inside, there’s an adjustable bed, so you can sit up and enjoy the view before lying down and enjoying the stars at night. There’s also a flatscreen television that can play time-lapse images of the Dolomites. If it gets cold, there is a heater as well.
The Starlight Room can be reached by snowmobile or snowshoe, and it has a price of 300 Euro per night for two people (dinner and breakfast included). You can find out more about the room – here.
Instead of flying or driving themselves, people travelling between San Francisco and Los Angeles are choosing to make the trip on this custom designed bus.
Named the SleepBus, it travels overnight from San Francisco to Los Angeles, as you sleep comfortably on a bed.
The inside of the truck has been fitted out with private bunk style pods, that have a privacy screen, personal power outlets, a reading light, WiFi, and fresh sheets.
There’s also a SleepBus attendant on each trip to answer any questions and to take care of you during the ride. As well as coffee and tea facilities, seating areas, and a restroom.
The bus departure time is 11pm in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the trip generally arrives at the destination around 5-6am, but they let you keep sleeping until 9am.
Apparently it’s been very popular since launching because they’re currently sold out, but they aim to have 10 new buses on the road in August 2016.
Let’s face it, camping isn’t for everyone. From bugs to the lack of plumbing to sleeping on the hard ground, it isn’t exactly a luxury experience. Or at least it didn’t use to be, but glamorous camping, also known as “glamping” is becoming a huge trend in the travel world.
Here are 10 “glamp sites” from around the world that let guests get closer to nature without actually having to scrape the dirt from their nails when they get home.
This “camp site” sits on top of Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, and offers guests things like a complimentary gourmet breakfast boxes and complimentary cocktails during Cocktail Hour.
Each tent is also set up with either a king or queen sized bed, air conditioning, a fully loaded tablet, and a cooler stocked with complimentary beer, cider, and water. More information here.
These wood spheres are suspended in the middle of a tranquil rainforest on the west coast of Canada.
There are three spheres available for overnight bookings, and are open year-round. Each sphere comes with proper beds, linens, electricity, speakers, and wifi. More information here.
Stay in the high plains desert in Texas and sleep in one of the 120 sqft wall tents, that each have wood floors and double canvas walls and doors.
Each of the tents come equipped with queen beds, a chair, simple lighting and an electrical outlet for charging devices. And if it gets cold in the winter, you can still be cozy as the beds are heated with electric mattress warmers. More information here.
Located within the campgrounds of Millersylvania State Park, and not far from Olympia, these glamorous tents make sure you’re pampered.
Complete with a memory foam king size matress, flat screen TVs, mini fridges, and electric heaters. In these tents you can have all the comforts of home and then some! More information here.
Located at the foot of the Dents-du-Midi mountain range in Switzerland, these geodesic-dome shaped pods are available year round and offer incredible views of the alps right from the king size bed.
The domes have all of the modern amenities you would find in other hotel rooms, like a television, fireplace, desk and sitting area. They also have family pods, for getaways with kids. More information here.
These tenthouse suites sit right on the water along the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, in Halfmoon Bay. Each tenthouse has amazing views of the Pacific Ocean from your private verandah. heated slate flooring, a hydro-therapy tub and a fireplace. More information here.
These canvas lodges in Portugal mix modern with nature by using the colors and shapes in the surrounding landscape to inspire the interiors.
The tents, which are furnished for 4 people, have kitchenettes, their own terraces with views of the surrounding valley, and an outdoor bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. More information here.
Located close to the famed River Kwai, this glamping destination is definitely closer to a hotel room than a regular tent. It has facilities like a private bathroom with hot running water, air-conditioning and hairdryers. More information here.
Located close to an alpine lake, these cute little wooden huts with shingles, can be booked all year round.
While the huts don’t provide wifi, TV, or a massage pool, it’s still a huge step up from your average tent. Insulated, heated, and with an outdoor hot tub and comfortable outdoor furniture, these huts offer a much more comfortable version of camping. More information here.
Surround yourself with Australian bushland by staying in one of these yurts right near the Murray River, just a one minute walk away.
The yurts have plenty of space, with a compact kitchenette, coffee machine and BBQ facilities, as well as the all important bathroom. More information here.
Hanging out at high elevations is not what humans were made for. We like to have our feet planted firmly on the ground with little risk of falling to our doom. However, for the risk takers and thrill seekers among us, here are 17 activities guaranteed to provide an adrenaline rush.
At 12600 feet above ground, the glass box hanging in the French Alps will give you unparalleled views of the surrounding landscape and a thrill you’ll rarely find elsewhere. For more information on Stepping into the Void, check out their site here.
Take a walk around the glass-floored bridge installed 4000 feet above the riverbed of the Grand Canyon to experience the natural wonder in an exhilerating way. More information can be found here.
When you step into glass boxes attached to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, you get views of the four surrounding states and a feeling of weightlessness as you float above the city below. Find more information on the Skydeck here.
Although you’re attached to the side of the building by harnesses, you’ll still get a major adrenaline rush as you walk hands-free around the CN Tower, 1168 feet above the ground. You can find more information here.
Hop into a SkyCab, a glass bottomed gondola, to get an incredible view of the forest and mountains right beneath your feet. More information on the area and activities you can do at the top can be found here.
From the top of Sky Tower you can either take a walk 630 feet above the ground and see 80 kilometers in every direction, or base jump and hurl yourself off the side of the building plummeting down 630 feet at 85 km an hour. For more information on both attractions, click here.
After a challenging hike up the mountain, take a seat on this cliff that sits 2300 feet above the lake below, and appreciate the stunning views offered by the horizontal rock that juts out above the Skjeggedal valley in Odda. For more photos and information about the area, click here.
There are a number of vertigo-inducing activities to do at the top of the Dachstein Glacier but the Stairway to Nothingness is probably the most exhilarating. Standing on a glass plate with nothing below you and clouds and thin air surrounding you, you’ll have a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll remember forever. For more information on the the Dachstein glacier click here.
One of the tallest towers in the world is sure to give even the most daring adventurer a flutter of butterflies in their stomach as they look down 2080 feet below. More information and photos can be found on their website here.
If you happen to be Singapore and find yourself feeling brave, jump into the world’s largest infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. At 57 levels above the ground and positioned right on the side of roof, you’re sure to get a little rush when you look over the edge. Find more information on the hotel and their rooftop swimming pool here.
Walk across the famous suspension bridge for a thrill then head over to the cliff walk to keep that adrenaline pumping while you walk through some of the rain-forest vegetation growing on the sides of the cliff face. More information on the activities can be found here.
Those of you who don’t like rides or heights should probably avoid this one. The ride sits 900 feet above the Vegas strip and spins you around so you can’t tell if it’s the height or the ride making you dizzy. For more information check out the website here.
The last part of the cliff edge walkway in Jasper is the Glacier Skywalk. When you climb out onto on this cliff edge walkway, glass is the only thing separating you from a 918 foot drop to the bottom of the valley below. For more information on the walk, head to their website here.
This glass cube attached to the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower sits 984 feet above the city of Melbourne providing a unique view of the city and fueling your adrenaline. See more photos and find more information about the Skydeck here.
For awe-inspiring views of the Swiss Alps, take a gondola up to this suspension bridge that sits 328 feet above a melting glacier. Before you head off, though, be sure to check to make sure that the trail is open as parts of it close during the year when weather conditions are bad. Find out more about the bridge and the weather conditions here.
A dining experience like no other, this suspended table straps you in and gives you incredible views while you enjoy a meal prepared by a fabulous chef. Most of their events take place throughout Europe but they have held dinners in other parts of the world. For more information and to see where they’re headed next, check out their website here.
Take a quick ride down this slide made from 1.25 in thick glass on the 70th floor of the US Bank Tower in LA. Incredible views of the city and an adrenaline rush are guaranteed as you seem to fly through the sky from one floor to the next. For more information click here.
Australia-based architect Anna O’Gorman has designed the conversion of a garage into a home office space at the rear of a house near Moreton Bay in Queensland.
Here’s a glimpse of the old garage before and during the construction period.
The garage sits within a residential property, so future adaptability was a primary consideration when designing the space.
With minimal intervention, Anna created a contemporary space to accommodate four to five team members, which also has the potential to adapt into a secondary suite (granny flat) in the future.
The space was enclosed with louvers and translucent sheeting to maintain garden views and year-round light. Other work done to the space included waterproofing the concrete slab, replacing and extending the roof to accommodate a kitchen, and installing insulation.
The block walls were painted white to brighten the space, and the existing timberwork bench was repurposed into a coffee/tea bench to preserve the character of the space. A bathroom was also installed, with a high opening to provide a view of the sky and magnolia tree from inside the bathroom.
White desks with wood edges line the walls and leave an open area for meetings and collaboration.
The studio also has a double-hinged glass door that opens onto the patio and backyard for access and circulation of breezes.
The kitchen opens out to the garden, adding an outdoor entertaining amenity to the residence.
Being able to use the kitchen as a bar and outdoor barbecue area solves the problem of limited entertaining space within the primary residence.
Here’s a look at the floor plan that shows the location and layout of the converted carport.
