Category Archives: Design

Behold: the 1974 Volkswagen Thing –  originally developed for military use, just under 91,000 of these spartan convertibles were built between 1968 and 1983.

The civilian version – with its four removable doors, clip-off soft top and fold flat windscreen –  was the alfresco driving experience of its day. 

This survivor has had a complete overhaul of its 1,776cc flat-four engine and a host of necessary upgrades including disc brakes, racing seats, muffler, roll bar and electronic ignition.

Yous today for €14,500+ (but you’d want to be quick)

hiconsumption

Behold: the 1963 Porsche 356, or rather, a modified ‘outlaw’ version of same by California based artist and auto builder S Klub.

The car, which originally debuted at SEMA 2017, has a Type 4 VW engine, a bespoke one-of-a-kind leather interior and a custom Gloss Grey paint job.

Currently accepting bids on eBay and yours for around €126,000 (plus shipping, etc.)

hiconsumption

Behold: the Ducati X Lamborghini Diavel 1260 – a limited edition collaboration between two of Italy’s leading marques, to wit, an angular carbon fibre remake of the Diavel cruiser inspired by Lamborghini’s all-electric Sian FKP 37.

Only 630 will be made (a nod to 1963 – Lambo’s founding year) and, though the colour scheme is shared, the 157bhp 1260cc Diavel engine remains resolutely fossil-fuelled.

Yours next year for around €38,000.

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Behold: the T. Fotiadis Ultra2 – a 91 metre concept superyacht with two onboard swimming pools,  saloon,  jacuzzi, IMAX screening room, plenty of water-toy storage, and a hybrid powertrain. But that’s not all.

The Bond villain security conscious billionaire that eventually commissions this mega-barge will also have a safe room, a diplomatic-grade secure-meeting room, and a crew trained in military counter-intelligence protocols by UK-based risk management company Romeo Foxtrot.

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Behold: the Director House (aka, ‘The Director Will Be Here Shortly’) a design by Egyptian architect Mahmoud Sherif.

Looking like Tony Stark’s Scandi hideaway (or a gigantic PS5), this brutalist concrete abode perches on a cliff edge overlooking Reynisfjara beach (you’ll recall it from Game Of Thrones’) on the rugged southern coast of Iceland.

A sci-fi film location waiting to happen, if it ever gets built, which it really should.

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Like a series of Fallout 4 dioramas, the sculptures of Parisian artist Simon Laveuve are dilapidated last refuges covered with graffiti, empty, echoing with signs of recent habitation, overgrown with vegetation in the aftermath of some apocalyptic event. Sez he:

My pieces, for the most part, have this aspect of shelter… I like to work on the height and the inaccessible. Protection and surrender. Fallen icons and their symbolism. Resistance and insubordination.

Substitute your own metaphor(s).

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