Design

The Hamilton Khaki X-Patrol does look very much like a cockpit instrument panel and its ability to convert distances in miles (nautical or statute) and kilometres, heights or altitudes in feet or metres, volumes in gallons and litres, as well as weights in pounds and kilograms simply by using a turning bezel should be enough to delight any ardent number cruncher.

Conversions are simple to make, through unscrewing the easy-to-grip crown at 9 o’clock and positioning an arrow for the first unit of measurement on the outer bezel scale. The appropriate equivalent is then visible on the inner scale. Once the reading is completed, the crown can be pushed back into place and re-screwed to secure it until required again. Three round chronograph discs, gravitating to the left-hand side of the dial keep track of hours, minutes and seconds, operated via push buttons at two o’clock and four o’clock — via Watchuseek

J MAYER H Architects, known for focusing on works that demonstrate the intersection of architecture, communication and new technology, shared with us their House of Justice project. Their building serves as a two storey civic centre for the people in the area, a village with a strong cultural heritage in the Caucasus Mountains — via ArchDaily

This is a grade II-listed Charles Evelyn Simmons-designed six-bedroom art deco house in Downage, London NW4 — and it’s up for sale now.

According to the agent’s details (which aren’t exactly in depth), the property was designed by Charles Evelyn Simmons and subsequently built over 1934 and 1935, the exterior still screaming the art deco era (you can see a better image of that exterior here). This is some house, that’s for sure.

That’s a lot of house, but sadly, for a lot of money. In this case, you’ll be looking at something around £1,300,000 if you want to own this place — via WowHaus

In a village on Teshima, an island lying in the Seto Inland Sea, a vacant house set among the old houses of the village, was converted by architect Koichi Futatsumata from CASE-REAL into a dormitory for seasonal restaurant workers.

Depopulation in the isolated village has left many houses vacant.

The idea was to make the most of a vacant house, as an example of a way to cope with depopulation, a problem for Japan, by making a dormitory for restaurant workers — via Home Design Find

The best retro throwbacks marry classic looks with modern performance, and this is a perfect example. It was built by Greg Hageman of Doc’s Chops, who also built one of the most popular machines we’ve ever featured—the 1982 Yamaha XV750 created for Cafe Racer TV — via Bike EXIF

The Timex T2M454 Perpetual Calendar is a very solid and understated watch. The stainless steel case measures in a 41mm in diameter, while remaining a relatively slender 11mm thick. The matched stainless bracelet measures in at 21mm, and looks to be proportionately correct with the rest of the watch — via Wrist Watch Review

Shiro Nakajima, the CEO of leading Japanese custom workshop Ritmo Sereno, is a keen vintage racer. He’s been campaigning his Moto Guzzi Ambassador for a couple of years now, and felt it was time for a refresh. In its original incarnation—which we revealed just over two years ago—the Guzzi looked more like a road machine than a racer. Nakajima has now stripped the last vestiges of excess from his bike, and it’s looking better than ever — via Bike EXIF

Aermacchi was a fabricator of aircraft for Italy’s war machine during the Second World War. After the defeat of the Axis powers, the company turned its efforts to the production of motorcycles and bikes. In collaboration with Harley-Davidson, many Aermacchi motorcycles found their way to America in the 1960s to meet the growing demand for two-wheeled transport. And this is one of them, a 350cc Sprint now owned by Philadelphia-based Bill Becker.

Rebuilding motorcycles is Bill Becker’s passion. After retiring from a successful 40 year career in architectural design and construction, Becker now turns his energy to what he calls performance based design — taking vintage motorcycles, fixing what worked well and improving what didn’t — via Bike EXIF

A new dive watch from Oris is the Tubbataha Regulator. Being a regulator, the emphasis is placed on the minutes — thus on this watch the large, central-set hand which indicates the minutes; the hours and minutes are clearly indicated on the sub dials. The model name refers to the Tubbataha Reefs National Park in the Philippines, home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, and a percentage of every Oris Tubbataha Limited Edition model sold is donated towards the conservation of the reef and its astonishing diversity of marine life — via Perpetuelle

This Kawasaki W650, owned by Jérôme Pierre who runs the French moto blog Un Pneu Dans La Tombe (A Tire In The Grave, is Jérôme’s attempt to personalise and improve his bike without breaking the bank or compromising reliability — via Bike EXIF

Real estate developer Larry Hall is converting Cold War missile silos in Kansas into condos for preppers who are getting ready for total and complete societal breakdown due to natural disaster, terrorism, economic collapse, pandemic, or a good ol’ fashioned apocalypse. Several buyers have already paid $7 million for their luxury shelters inside the shaft of the silo — via Boing Boing

Frank McGoldrick is one of those people who seem to have a talent for everything they turn their hand to. An accomplished welder and fabricator, he graduated to designing and building bars, shops and restaurants throughout the UK. After selling his business five years ago, Frank moved to the French Alps and was finally able to return to his childhood passion—motorcycles. Finally getting some time on his hands, he decided to build his own motorcycle, with a style and individuality that most major manufacturers seem to neglect, he says.

After scouring eBay Frank found a 1977 BMW R 100/7 in the UK. It was low mileage, but had been stored outside on a busy London street with no cover. It was a rusty dirt ball of a bike, he says. But with a new battery and a quick service it seemed to run ok. It was simply a case of getting it back to France, an 800-mile journey. Two days later the BMW was in Frank’s mountain workshop. As the first snow of the winter settled outside, he readied his grinder for some serious work — via Bike EXIF

This is the Aviator Classic 2612/1421639. The 2612 designates the movement in use, which is a mechanical (manual wind) movement with 18 jewels. The most intriguing bit of this movement is the alarm complication. You do have a separate crown to use for winding and setting the alarm time, so you don’t need to be concerned that using the alarm will shorten the life on the power reserve (which is a respectable 42 hours) — via Wrist Watch Review

Well that’s it. It is off the frame. I didn’t realise while I was working quite how big it is. When Cy described it as a Bad Rain: A Double-Page Bedspread he was quite right. The picture doesn’t show all of it because it more than covers our king size bed. Of course it wouldn’t actually be any good as a bedspread, it’s too fragile and too heavy, but size wise it looks the part — via Ferret Fabricates

The ultimate in traditional luxury living in a historical resort makes reference to a subtle and refined traditional architecture.

Bensley Architects created this exclusive sanctuary of complete serenity in a subtle compound featured in Architectural Digest in the rustic natural beauty of Chiang Mai, Thailand — via Home Design Find

Uri Cohen Architects designed the Beam House in Arbel, Israel — via CONTEMPORIST

In the southern Spanish city of Murcia, ancient buildings line the streets and add a particular type of character to the locale. One home in particular embraces the centuries-old charm on the street level but goes for the futuristic look up top.

Clavel Arquitectos were called in to rehab an existing attic and turn it into a stylish penthouse-style art gallery/living space addition. But what would a project like this be without some strict regulations or unusual challenges to get around? The building was under strict regulations that made it impossible to modify the positions of the attic’s exterior walls — via Dornob

The Zenith Pilot Big Date Special is very nicely proportioned with a 42mm steel case (note the polished and satin-brushed finishes), a matte black dial, and perfectly balanced chrono registers and big date window. The hands are treated with black ruthenium and Superluminova mark the hours and minutes in a decisively masculine and modern style. Behind the dial, the automatic mechanical El Primero 4010 calibre ticks away — actually it can be seen through the sapphire caseback. Available on mesh steel bracelet or top-stitched calfskin strap — via Perpetuelle.com Watch Blog

Tony Prust of Illinois-based Analog Motorcycles builds classy customs based on 1970s-vintage Japanese motorcycles: his Yamaha RD350 is one of the most popular machines we’ve featured this year. So here’s his latest build, commissioned by the owner of a design company based on Amelia Island, off the coast of Nassau County in Florida.

The bike is called Nomad, and the starting point was a 1974 Kawasaki KZ400—a simple four-stroke, air-cooled twin. In stock form, the KZ400 is a somewhat staid and functional machine, but Prust has customized almost everything apart from the engine — via Bike EXIF

When you think of the Dordogne, you probably think of something just a little more traditional than this 1960s architect-designed modernist house in Lanouaille, Dordogne, France — which happens to be on the market. And perhaps for less than you think.

Price? 216,000 Euros, which works out at around £180,000. That looks like value to us — via WowHaus