There are some phenomena in nature that inspire tears of joy, some that spark a sense of awe, and then there are those that send chills up your spine. The Taylor Glacier in Antarctica, which was discovered in the McMurdo Dry Valley in 1911, appears to be bleeding. The bright red waterfall, dubbed “Blood Falls,” is nearly five stories high, and it seeps through a crack in the ice. Geologists first believed that the color of the water came from algae, but the hue is in fact caused by a small body of water containing a hidden lake of microbes.

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Joseph Mikrut, a graphic designer and one of the owners of Anamaya Yoga Resort in Montezuma, Costa Rica, has finished constructing what may very well be the world’s first treehouse shaped in the form of an icosahedron. The treehouse is suspended from cables strung between four melina trees, around 20 feet off the ground, and it moves slightly in the wind, making it feel similar to a being on a boat. And the treehouse is situated just high enough that it enhots spectacular views of the mountains to the north.

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Every once in a while an idea comes along that is so unlike anything before that it defies reference. Take Belatchew Lab Architecture’s Strawscraper, a skyscraper covered in hair that can harness the energy of the wind. The building looks as though it belongs at the bottom of the sea, with its long anemone-like hair, but its technology is planted firmly on the terra firma of the future.

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3D printers have long been the domain of engineers and artists, but as the machines become more available, chefs and foodies are also getting into the mix. Los Angeles-based Sugar Lab creates geometric 3d-printed treats made entirely from sugar that look more like works of art than confection.

 

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Get ready, LEGO addicts: Now you can rent LEGO sets with Pleygo‘s innovative mail-in service. Sign up for their exclusive LEGO club by registering for one of their low-cost plans, and you’ll have full access to their wide, ever-growing collection. From Duplo to Friends to Star Wars LEGO sets, there’s something for every one in your family. And even though sets’ age limits say 5-16, who’s really checking? LEGO doesn’t have age limits! Find out more about this awesome site here.

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Reclaim NYC kicked off their second charity event last night in the SoHo, opening their doors to a queued-up crowd eager to snatch up some of the exclusive designs featured in Reclaim's new Sandy Storm relief charity event, Reclaim x2: Design That’s More Than the Sum of Its Parts. Organized by writer Jennifer Krichels Gorsche and Designer Pages‘ Editor-in-chief Jean Lin, Reclaim x2 called for designers across NYC to pair up and create works inspired by the idea of collaboration. More than 50 designers joined forces and together they yielded beautiful and unique works that ranged from colorful, convertible tents to stunning handcrafted wood bowls to beautiful blown glass objects with an industrial bent. Check out some of the top designs from the show in the gallery below, and if you’re interested in purchasing something for yourself, several of the pieces featured here are still available at Lin Morris. Proceeds from sales go to local Hurricane Sandy relief through the Brooklyn Recovery Fund.

 

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Can a faucet be sensual? We had our doubts but were forced to eat them this morning (along with a tasty organic lunch) at the New York premiere of the Axor Starck Organic bathroom collection. World-renowned designer Philippe Starck joined Philippe Grohe, the head of Axor, to unveil the new line of curvaceous fixtures at the brand's Meatpacking District showroom. Both gentlemen had some fascinating things to say about the faucet's water-saving technology, advanced ergonomics and almost anatomical design, which Starck said was inspired by human, animal and vegetable life as well as "sexual energy". Read on to learn more.

 

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Today is National Bike to Work Day, and all across America, people are ditching their cars and trucks for a cleaner, healthier journey via bicycle. Our friends at Voltaic Systems joined in the fun to support NYC’s Bike to Work Day, and it’s no surprise that they added their own solar-powered flair to the day’s festivities. Company staffers decked out a commuter bicycle and with a custom-built bike trailer carrying 60+ Watts of portable solar panels, 180 Watt hours of charging capacity, and lots of connectors to charge up smartphones, tablets and even a MacBook, in an effort to show New Yorkers how much fun can be had when human and solar power are combined.

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Heads up San Francisco Bay Area architecture fans – AIA SF’s 2013 Marin Living:Home Tours is back again! For the past three years, the owners of some of Marin County’s most impressive homes have opened their doors, allowing the public to look at their private spaces. And once again, AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design are gearing up to host the Marin Living: Home Tours event, which will take place on TOMORROW (May 18th) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s program includes a houseboat in Sausalito, a LEED Gold-certified communal living facility in San Rafael, and Koji Tsutsui & Associates’ gorgeous Multicellular House in Mill Valley (pictured at top). Head over to the Home Tours website to preview all the homes and purchase tickets.

BUY MARIN LIVING:HOME TOUR TICKETS >

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The city of Miami, Florida is synonymous with sun, surf, and no small amount of flamboyant decadence. Tapping into the energy of the Sunshine State, architectural firm Visiondivision has entered their conceptualization of the Bayfront Park into a competition to create a landmark attraction for the area. Their plans for the Miami Sun building include a giant grid shell structure with a glass facade that is covered with solar panels. But most notably, during the day the shell will appear tinted to mimic the sun, and at night it will glow to appear like a milky white moon!

 

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In the developing world, mortality rates for expectant mothers total over 300,000 deaths each year. The WE CARE Solar Suitcase is a brilliant new device that aims to reduce this figure by providing hospitals in off-grid areas with access to a steady source of energy and light. Designed by Dr. Laura Stachel and her husband Hal Aronson, the system includes high-efficiency LED lights, a universal cellphone charger, 12V DC outlets, a set of 40 or 80 watt solar panels, and a 12 amp-hour sealed lead-acid battery.

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It’s Friday, which means many of us are just counting the minutes until happy hour. After enjoying a bottle of wine, it’s always a bit sad to dump the bottle in the recycling bin. Although there are plenty of upcycling options for wine bottles, many require a fairly large dose of creativity. Protea (PROH-tee-uh) is a new brand of wine that aims to unleash your inner upcycling genius while complementing your favorite dinner. Each Protea bottle is specifically made to be reused – for floral displays, to hold olive oil, or as a beverage container. The possibilities are practically endless!

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You don’t have to leave town in order to escape from the hustle and bustle of NYC life. There are plenty of fabulous picnic spots right in the 5 boroughs to bring a few sammiches and a bottle of wine to unwind for the day. Bring your checkered blanket to Prospect Park or hit the trails for an adventurous hike up Moses Mountain. Wherever you decide to park your picnic basket, click through our gallery to discover our favorite city park escapes.

 

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As news breaks that global carbon dioxide levels are at an all-time high, one scientist is developing “artificial trees“ to help cleanse the air and reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Columbia University’s Klaus Lackner has developed a carbon dioxide capturing material that acts as a powerful sponge – and it’s able to soak up CO2 faster than plants!

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What if installing a new window to brighten up a dark interior was as simple as flicking a switch? That's the concept behind Adam Frank's Reveal Light—a tiny projector that creates the illusion of a daylit window upon any darkened wall. The projector can be placed on a shelf or mounted directly to a wall or ceiling, and it can depict a variety of softly flowing foliage—from tree branches to palm fronds.

 

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