The Fish Farm

Sustainable "aquaculture" in a shipping container

by Anton Crone Among a number of sustainability initiatives underway in the townships of Cape Town, one of the most innovative we’ve discovered is “The Fish Farm,” a patented micro-intensive farm in a 40-foot shipping container. Containers have become synonymous with third world development. They are converted into houses, schools, banks, restaurants, cell phone recharge depots, hair salons, clinics and all sorts of other things. …

Maison et Objet Fall 2012: Disappearing Acts

Extreme minimalism at the Parisian trade show

Pushing this year’s theme of “essential” to its most abstract limits, an exhibition at Maison et Objet plays with the idea of disappearance. Below, see the highlights we spotted—magical designs that seem to almost erase or reduce items until all that remained were delicate lines or dazzling reflections of light. Born in Tel Aviv, NYC-based artist Ron Gilad uses simple geometries to describe the transformation …

Test Drive: CLS Shooting Brake

Mercedes-Benz reimagines the wagon-coupé with five doors

On a recent trip to Florence with Mercedes-Benz I had a chance to drive their all-new CLS Shooting Brake. A five-door reinterpretation of the classic wagon-coupé, this eclectic design shows just how exciting a station wagon can be. The “SB” will begin shipping in Europe later this Fall and is available with a range of options, engine types and even an AMG version. With Jean …