By Ansley Whipple -- May 13, 2008 at 5:35 pm · Filed under Design
I really wish this could be a review of a product that i own, but it’s just not in the stars for me to have an Eglu (an amazingly designed chicken coop) at this point in time—the main reason being that I don’t have a back yard. I feel like my life would be a bit more complete if I could incorporate some tending to chickens into my daily routine.
The Eglu is made by a design firm, Omlet, which is a group of graduates from the Royal College of Art. They sell several products; a rabbit hutch, a guinea pig hutch, and a hen house. The one that I have my eye on is the Eglu for chickens. Great for first-time chicken owners!
As a country, we are beginning to realize that there is a lot more thought and awareness which needs to go into what we consume, both in products and in food. The Eglu covers both those areas. I imagine that by tending to a chicken and gathering its eggs, you become more in tune with the idea that everything you eat comes from somewhere, and it would make you think about the environments that the things you eat are raised/grown in. Also, the actual Eglu itself is made from 100% recyclable energy-efficient polymers.
It comes in a variety of colors (very reminiscent of the first iMacs) and you can have the hens delivered with your Eglu! For now, I’ll have to study up with the handy chicken guide and dream of the day that I can chase my own chickens around.
USA Website
By Nicholas Komor -- May 10, 2008 at 8:52 pm · Filed under Design, Travel
Hey guys I’m in Londres! Just to fill you all in, I’m a designer living in the South but I’ll be riding the rails throughout Europe this summer, spreading some of Hotlanta around, sleeping on couches, bathing in cologne to stay fresh, visiting the sites, meeting the designers, and letting you all know what these foreign countries are all about.
So it’s been a couple of gorgeous days here in London, and some of the first things that I did was check out the stores to let loose some pounds (by walking, not spending because I refuse to do the latter). So check it out, we’ve got some gourmet happening right under our noses. I went to Selfridges, one of the hottest department stores here to see some of the posh buys. First of all, you must know that a department store here is the whole shebang – it’s got designer attire, designer home goods, and a designer food court with the top foods including fresh cuts, cheeses, desserts, and candies galore. And proudly displayed at any of these posh department stores you’ll find not only the foods you could only dream of, but you’ll see the imported specialties like JIF peanut butter, Oreos, the Aunt Jemima, and those good ole Lucky Charms. That’s all for no less than 5 pounds a piece – that’s $10 for a jar of JIF
With the wallet aside, it’s interesting to mention that there’s a huge awareness for design here in London. With world renown designers such as Alexander McQueen, Ron Arad, and Marc Newsson just up and down the street, people are looking good and living well. ICON, a design magazine hosted it’s first ICON Day Experiment at this year’s consumer show which I managed to go to as soon as I got here. It was a day full of tradeshow booths, design debates, design exhibits, and interesting people to talk to. One of the cool pieces on display was Albin Karlsson’s Hot Glue piece. It’s a clock with a turning hot glue dispenser on the ceiling that releases drops of glue as the day moves on; so when you’re looking at it you might not see time moving fast, but once you leave it alone for an hour or two the changes will surprise you. Make sure to check this Swedish designer out at his website, www.albinkarlsson.com.
If it’s getting warm there like it has been here and you’re thinking ice cream, check out The Parlour if you’re in town. It’s worth a trip and the extra dime for some awesome cold treats like you’ve never had before. It’s in a 50’s style ice cream shop close to Piccadily Circus, London’s equivalent to Time’s Square. I recommend the Beekeeper Ice Cream Sundae. It’s served proper-like with ginger, honey, praline, and vanilla ice creams topped with honeycomb chunks. If that’s tickled your taste buds make sure to hit up The Parlour, even if you can’t make it to London for this Mother’s Day.
On that note, make sure to remember that Mother’s Day is tomorrow and that you’ve planned to take your momma out for a swanky day – don’t just get her that oops-I-forgot-gift-certificate deal! See you guys soon! NiK
