If you’re selling everything in the home — why not sell the home itself?  Swedish furniture giant Ikea will be introducing its “BoKlok” line of prefabricated houses in the German state of Hesse, with the promise that unlike most of its home furnishings, there will be no assembly required.

Ikea has partnered with building firm Skanska and will develop several different models which will be constructed by German firm Bien-Zenker. The first set of nine row houses will be sold in the Wiesbaden suburb of Auringen on April 17th.

“No customer will have to put their home together themselves with an Allen key,” Bien-Zinker head Philipp Mühlbauer joked.

Later in April, another 30 Ikea row houses and apartments will go on the market in Offenbach, with owners able to move in before year’s end, according to Mühlbauer.  The energy-efficient prefab houses, which sell for between €180,000 and €250,000 (approx. $246K – $340k US), are expected to be allotted by drawing, due to high demand.

“We want to make the process as relaxed as possible for our customers,” Ikea spokesperson Sabine Nold said, adding that further locations include Nuremberg and Hofheim-Langenhain in the Taunus region near Frankfurt.

The BoKlok, or “build clever,” group operates independently, but uses IKEA stores for sales presentations. The company plans to buy plots of land and erect the homes with standard floor plans in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Great Britain.

Models include 84 or 102-square-metre living spaces, in addition to family homes with two, three, or four bedrooms.

source: thelocal.de

One dilemma European automakers face, is this: unlike the Japanese who are building vehicles for Americans on American soil, the Germans are ticking right along assembling their performance-driven cars across the pond.  And as the type of person who loves nothing more than slipping behind the wheel of a fast car, it’s a decision that weighs on me.  After all, I only buy local apples.  It only makes sense that I only buy local autos too, right?

Despite my internal conflict, I just can’t kick my admiration of German machinery when it comes to personal transport.  And this week, Mercedes-Benz has me drooling over a concept that’s part plug-in and part fuel cell.

Said to hint at styling of the upcoming CLS, the F800 Style concept is a five-passenger sedan that’s lines swoop smoothly from front to rear.  But like a book, you can’t judge by a quick glance at the cover.  This luxe ride boosts its environmental credibility with an all-new multi drive platform–just the kind we like to see in development–that offers a range of nearly 375 miles, as well as plug-in hybrid capabilities that allow for up to 18 miles of sole electrical power.  (more…)

Tired of mundane rectangular living?  Think outside the box and live in the round via a portable, prefab shelter dome from Pacific Domes.  They’ve been making these designer geodesic domes for years; the sturdy structures have proven to be impervious to high winds, heavy snows and even the occasional earthquake. Offered in a variety of sizes and customizations.

Culture vultures may take a bite out of MoMA tonight, and every first Thursday of each month through June.  For only twenty bucks — relax and bathe your mind in free Gallery Talks.

Cost:  $20
Hours:  5:30 – 8:45pm
view details @ moma.org

via:  newyork.going.com -
Stop by after hours to enjoy full access to the galleries and theaters, free Gallery Talks, a cash bar, a DJ, and a special prix fixe dinner in Cafe 2.

Cash Bar
5:30–8:00 p.m.
Visit the cash bar for a variety of beverages, including specialty cocktails.

Tonight – Music by:  DJ Vatican City
Born in Peru and raised in New York, Julio (DJ Vatican City) has become a fixture of New York City’s underground house-music scene. Renowned for the diverse range of artists and styles in his sets, Julio is continuously exploring a dialogue between his two strongest musical influences: world and electronic music.

Hate CFLs?  Sylvania has just intro’d a new hologen energy-saving competitor to compact fluorescents.  With incandescent bulbs soon to be phased out, consumers will be compelled to find energy-saving alternatives to light their homes.

Sylvania is marketing this new halogen bulb as a fully dimmable, instant-on bulb that provides better light than compact fluorescent bulbs without the mercury issues.

The SuperSaver bulbs are 33% more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, while CFLs are roughly 75% more efficient.  The new bulbs also come in traditional shapes – no squiggly pigtails – and in a wide variety of traditional sizes.

So if light quality trumps – energy and cost savings in your home – these new halogen bulbs provide a ready solution.  Available at Menard’s, selected BJ’s and online at Sylvania’s website.

source: prnewswire