There’s heaps of information out there about roots and their functionality but what I’ve always been drawn to are the amazing forms and patterns roots can make….sprawling, weaving, splitting, curling. They can take on both a sense of strength and delicacy at the same time.

I’ve always thought it would be most interesting to have the ability to essentially exercise a type of x-ray vision and view living roots under the soil so when I came across this flower pot concept called “Flowerpot EYE” by industrial designer Olga Kalugina, I immediately wanted one. This is indeed quite cool. Also looks helpful for people like me who have the worst time remembering to water house plants.

Description from designer: “EYE is a flowerpot which allows seeing root system of plant. EYE itself defines humidity of soil, light level, soil conditions and an ambient temperature, and then deduces them on the display. It is possible to see all development of a plant and to estimate influence on it of various factors. EYE will teach us to understand a plant better. In EYE for reception of energy uses chemical reaction, between the substances, which roots allocate in soil and the reagents containing in the case of a pot.”

Or, a non-technical way of going about it would be to place some plants in clear glass containers so that you could clearly see the actual root structure of the plant. Artistic yet simple.

images via martin labar, troposphere, squamish, olga kalugina, michele aka zimza

In April of this year, a new bird observatory was constructed in the River Ebro Park in northeast Spain, an extremely popular place due for birding to the high number of breeding and migratory species within the delta. Designed by architect Manuel Fonseca Gallego, the structure is made completely of wood to blend with the natural landscape, amidst large existing trees.

A dramatic cantilever over the bank allows for minimal disturbance and creates a sense of being able to walk right out into the trees tops. The simple yet elegant design and placement of the wooden beams and planks enhances this feeling by allowing only filtered light to enter the interior like sun passing through leaves. The play of light and shadows within the interior is very nice.

images via Plataforma Arquitectura

image via Lisa Town

There’s no doubt about it, the human body is an infinite source of design inspiration and the spine is often at the core. By tipping, twisting and bending the spinal form, the designer can achieve interesting forms that can range from buildings to furnishings.

In the annual skyscraper design competition from eVolo, one submission found inspiration from the human body in a twisting spinal skyscraper with floors splaying outward from the core like platelettes.

image via eVolo

In the Casa Milá in Barcelona, Antoni Gaudí may have used a curving spine and ribs, like the photo I took above, to come up with his amazing series of differing archways that curve around through the attic.

image via Lisa Town

A wooden staircase designed by Patrick Jouin uses the spine to create a sleek spiral staircase with the steps flowing out from the spinal core. It uses a modular design that is then used to create a flowing, cantilevered sequence followed by curving rails that seem to float around the staircase.

images via doornob