Thursday, November 19, 2009

toothpaste tube-cap cum dispenser

here is a ingenious way to motivate small children to brush their teeth

Abraj Al Bait Towers


This skyscraper complex is being built in Mecca, the holiest place for Muslims. It is scheduled to be ready by 2010. Its existence is based on a foundation of developers' arrogance. Firstly, it was built after demolishing a 200+ years old fort. Secondly, this Manhattan-lookalike is being built bang opposite Masjid Al Haram, the mosque which dates from 7th century onwards. Thirdly, the height of the tallest building of this complex will be 595 m; the city till 1960s, had only low-lying medieval structures.


The complex will have a 4-storey shopping mall, a conference-center for business travellers and a seven-star hotel. A 7-star-hotel for pilgrims on the holiest journey of their lives, bang opposite a mosque site dating from medieval times !!! A shopping-mall and a conference-center opposite a site which is holiest to all Muslims !!! What a contrast of functions of a pair of neighbouring structures.

Saturday, November 14, 2009


a beautiful example of mix of primary and secondary functionalities

mike for bathroom singer


this can help you train your vocal chords

bottomless glass


this glass definitely has a sense of humour

figure control belt


given that a slim figure has been a problem for centuries, i wonder why someone had not thought of this before

ergonomic tray


a fusion of simplicity of design and successful functionality

ergonomic glass


a glass easy to hold. a design so obvious but not thought of, in hundreds of years of glass' existence.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

gaudy gold


it is the wash-basin installed in the private aircraft of sultan of brunei, hassanal bolkiah. the sultan is one of the richest men on earth, worth in 2009, as per wikipedia, US $ 20 billion (that is 13.5 billion euros or 1.8 trillion yen or 12 billion uk pounds or 135 billion chinese yuan or 21 billion austrailian $ or 94,000 crore indian rupees).

some say the sink is solid gold. some say the sink is gold-plated. in any case, it looks gaudy. it is sign of a disease called 'show-off' that affects many rich people. WEALTH IS NO GUARANTEE FOR GOOD TASTES.

Sunday, November 1, 2009


a beautiful example of synthesis of modernism and functionality

a human creation - clock - synthesised with a god's creation - butterflies.

old world meets modernism. dextrous handwork meets metal simplicity.

a beautiful example of space saving

a man-made object inspired by nature. a very good example of inspirational design.

a beautiful harmony of simplicity and function.

here is an innovative corner chair

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

i would appreciate if viewers of this blog will inform me about similar construction projects where the buildings / structures are in disharmony with their surroundings. pl email me at samras.vaastukaar@gmail.com

Thursday, October 22, 2009


a skyscraper (proposed) protuding out of a locality of low-rise buildings in shiraz, a city in iran. skyscraper.com's comment 'a design that wouldn't look out of place in Star Trek' is not inappropriate. as if the star trek ship Enterprise sank into earth and arose in shiraz.

supposedly re-development plans for mecca : the best example for a town-planner who wishes to convert his medieval city to manhattan. in this aerial view, the tall buildings look like a bunch of dominoes, waiting for a kid to be played with.

marine drive, bombay. a beautiful example of locality-development around an architectural style, art deco in this case.