Origin of Cool: South Africa
Surfing and Sharks
This is a trailer for a South African documentary that will have its Official World Premiere at the Wavescape Film Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, December 15th 2011. Surfing and Sharks goes up close with Pro Surfers Lungani, Andrew and Avuyile, their family’s traditions and tribulations alongside a hand selected group of the best shark experts from the region. The film uncovers the real secrets and stories that surround the shark stigma that exists in South Africa. Watch the trailer! It looks great and book your tickets if you’re in the area!
Sent in by Cool Connoisseur Paul Frade from ‘Yeah, we surf with badass sharks’ South Africa.
City of Cape Town - World Design Capital 2014
Origin of Cool: South Africa
It has recently been announced that the City of Cape Town (South Africa) has been chosen as the World Design Capital® (WDC) 2014. Cape Town was awarded this honour for their commitment to use design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development. Today, design is a global movement and serves to acknowledge that it can, and does, impact the quality of human life.
Sent in by Cool Connoisseur Paul Frade from ‘World Design Capital 2014’ South Africa.
New Hub For Johannesburg’s Creative Community
Origin of Cool: South Africa
What happens when creativity in food and design meet under one roof? Well that’s when you get Market On Main. Based out of a unique blend of studio, commercial, residential and retail spaces, Arts On Main is a hub for Johannesburg’s creative community to develop and share. Features include a restaurant, event and exhibition spaces, a wonderful courtyard and a rooftop bar. Developed in a newly converted early 1900s bonded warehouse, Arts On Main aims to preserve the historical aspects of the building and contribute to the Johannesburg CBD’s urban regeneration.
Sent in by Cool Connoisseur Paul Frade from ‘yes we have hipsters here too’ South Africa.
Photos courtesy of Nathalie Boucry
10 Coolest Rooftop Attractions
1. Origin of Cool: Denmark - Rooftop Playground
Located on top of three penthouses, Danish firm JDS Architects has designed one incredibly cool rooftop playground in a densely populated area of Copenhagen. 
2. Origin of Cool: Singapore - Rooftop Swimming Pool
55 storeys up (650ft) on the top of the Marina Bay Sands development is an infinity pool that is the length of three Olympic swimming pools! It is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height. 
(Link)
3. Origin of Cool: South Africa - Rooftop Trailer Park
On the roof of Cape Town’s Grand Daddy Hotel is a trailer park like no other. The Airstream Penthouse Park is one of the most talked about, hip and happening places in South Africa. Seven imported vintage Airstream Trailers were handed over to local artists and designers for an imaginative makeover. The result is a collection of rooftop suites. Rooms in the hotel start at 945 rands ($90). 
(Link)
4. Origin of Cool: Dubai - Rooftop Tennis Court
In a previous post, we looked at the temporary tennis court atop the Burj Al Arab, 211 metres above the ground. 
5. Origin of Cool: Japan - Rooftop Rollercoaster
At ‘Don Quijote’ department store in downtown Tokyo lies this Half Pipe roller coaster. It was built on the rooftop of an eight-story outlet store in a busy city area but was never opened. Apparently the problem was with the structure of the building. While the building is capable of handling the weight of the roller coaster, the lateral forces presented an unexpected problem and is why the roller coaster never opened. 
(Link | Via)
6. Origin of Cool: Thailand - Rooftop Bar
The Skybar at Sirocco is suspended in the sky on the 63rd floor of The Dome at State Tower and is one of the world’s highest open air bar. With a panoramic view of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River, it is often featured in ‘coolest bars in the world’ lists. 
via Travel Spy
7. Origin of Cool: Australia - Rooftop Cinema
This might just be the coolest movie theatre in Australia. It is owned and operated by a team of artists and plays classic, current and art-house films in the open air on the top of a six-story building.
Also see a previous post we added on the Rooftop Film Club
8. Origin of Cool: Singapore - Rooftop Garden
The Sky Gardens appear at Pinnacle@Duxton, Singapore’s tallest public housing building at 50 stories. These distinctive gardens, located on the 26th and 50th floors, are said to be the longest continuous sky gardens in the world, linking seven residential tower blocks together. 
(Link | Via)
9. Origin of Cool: Austria - Rooftop Office
The Viennese architects Wolf Prix and Helmut Swiczinsky, aka Coop Himmelb(l)au, made their reputation on blind, gestural sketches that sometimes became buildings. Here are the designs for a rooftop addition to a law firm’s office. 
(Link)
10. Origin of Cool: USA - Rooftop Farm
In 2008, the folks at the Uncommon Ground restaurant, 1401 W. Devon, opened their 2,500-square foot organic rooftop farm. The lofty mission is to deliver organic produce for the downstairs restaurant and to use the garden to teach adult volunteers and children how to grow food organically in an urban, roof-top environment. Genius!
(Link)
Inspired by oddee.com
