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Perched on a cliff, the Hawk’s Nest is a stunning artist retreat in West Virginia

Mesmerized by the amazing views of West Virginia’s Potomac River Valley, a Paris-based sculptor commissioned Wiedemann Architects to create Hawk’s Nest, a home and work space in the midst of an abandoned limestone quarry. The quarry presented the perfect location for the sculptor, as it is set on top of a cliff that offers a beautiful, inspirational view. If the views aren’t awe-inspiring enough, the Hawk’s Nest offers plenty of inspiration with its modern design.

Primarily constructed from glass and steel, the Hawk’s Nest is appropriately perched between two massive concrete pedestal-styled towers. The pillars serve as the building’s foundation and were primarily used to lift the home off the ground, so it wouldn’t disturb the nature its built on.

Besides acting as the building’s foundation, the pillars have other functional uses. The smaller pillar contains a staircase that is the main entry point for the home. A metal workshop and studio space are in the larger pillar.

A wood walkway, which provides shelter and shade for the courtyard, connects the two pillars. The walkway also helps to frame out the linear nature of the Hawk’s Nest, as virtually the entire interior has floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding landscape.

With its intricate and thoughtful design, Hawk’s Nest effortlessly blends into the West Virginia landscape while at the same time remaining striking and visually stunning.

Ultraloq showcases the first-ever ultra-wideband smart lock at CES 2025
Bolt Mission UWB + NFC installed on a white door.

Ultraloq showed off two smart locks at CES 2025 -- one of which is the first smart lock to ever offer ultra-wideband (UWB) support. The Ultraloq Bolt Mission UWB + NFC uses UWB technology to unlock automatically as you approach your front door. Similar functionality already exists on other smart locks, but UWB should allow the Ultraloq Bolt Mission to be more accurate than the competition.

The Bolt Mission uses technology similar to digital car keys, and Ultraloq says it can track the keyholder’s phone location with “centimeter-level” accuracy. As your phone gets closer to the front door, the Bolt Mission can be programmed to automatically unlock, giving you a hands-free way to get inside. Better yet, because the smart lock can detect both your distance and direction from the front door, it should prevent you from accidentally unlocking the smart lock while inside your home.

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Ulticam shows off three AI-powered security cameras at CES 2025
The Ulticam IQ installed outside a home.

Ulticam, the new security camera brand of Xthings, revealed a lineup of three AI-powered cameras at CES 2025. The Ulticam IQ, Ulticam IQ Floodlight, and Ulticam Dot offer not just cool AI capabilities, but also free seven-day cloud storage -- which could make them a solid choice for value-minded shoppers leery about signing up for monthly storage plans.

The Ulticam IQ and IQ Floodlight are the main attractions, as they're packed with features that should pose solid competition for the best smart security cameras from Arlo, Nest, and Ring. The duo uses edge AI to quickly identify people, vehicles, and packages without needing to upload the video for server-side processing. This onboard processing should result in faster performance -- it’s also great for privacy and security, as your footage doesn’t have to leave your device.

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Home Depot expands Hubspace smart home lineup at CES 2025
The Home Depot Hubspace logo on a white background.

Hubspace, Home Depot’s smart home platform, has seen impressive growth over the past few years, and that growth continued at CES 2025. Three new gadgets were revealed at the event, including a wireless power switch to control Hubspace products, a portable air conditioner, and a window-mounted air conditioner. All three are unique additions to the catalog -- and since there’s not much like them on the market, they should quickly become popular options in their respective niches.

The Hubspace Remote Switch is arguably the most useful of the three gadgets. Designed to look like a light switch, but with a removable remote controller, it works with select Hubspace light bulbs, fixtures, plugs, power sockets, surge protectors, and more. You’ll get standard on and off functions, plus access to brightness controls. Its sleek looks and versatility should make it a great choice for shoppers seeking an entry-level smart switch.

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