The architects responsible for the Panorama House have made a staircase of epic proportions that acts as a functional centerpiece of the house. The staircase serves as a multifunctional hub, not only providing a way to get from downstairs A to upstairs B, but forming a central element of the house's library, cinema, and play area.Designed by Moon Hoon, the Panorama House is located in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, and while the whole building is magnificent, it's the staircase that really stands out. It is gargantuan, with the stairs themselves representing just a small part of the structure (as can be seen in the gallery). Those heading down to the lower floors can take the stairs or use the slide instead, with kids and adults alike invited to experience the latter.The individual steps provide storage space for books, while the space underneath the staircase itself is used as an office, with plenty of room for a desk and chair. Last but not least in this staircase's box of tricks are the seating areas which the family who reside in the house can use while watching films projected on the back wall.
Looking for a more effective solution to the all-too-common wobbly table dilemma than a folded up bit of cardboard or piece of rubber under the leg, University of Virginia physicist Lou Bloomfield created a new type of silicone rubber called Vistik – it's malleable enough to take on any shape when pressed, but is still resilient enough to offer support, as it gradually starts to return to its original shape as the pressure is released. The material could have many applications ... beyond just steadying up wobbly tables. Vistik is a viscoelastic material, meaning that it exhibits both viscous and elastic properties. As a result, when compared to something such as conventional silicone rubber, there’s a considerable time lag in its response to continuous pressure. “It seems elastic in response to sudden forces or impacts, denting in proportion to the sudden, brief stress and then returning almost instantly to its earlier shape when that stress is removed,” Prof. Bloomfield ex...
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