This abandoned house in Kaua’i molders away just steps from a rusty old factory where the Hawaiian island’s bounteous sugar cane harvest once was processed.

Sucrose for Comfort

Sugar cane was traditionally grown by native Hawaiians, and the first commercially successful sugar cane plantation on Kaua’i was established in 1835. Some remnants of these early enterprises still stand, such as the ruined brick chimney of the Old Sugar Mill of Koloa, dating from 1840.

Cane Unable

Kaua’i is blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainfall, making it ideal for growing sugar cane. The industry dominated the island for over a century but in the post-war era, many of the old plantations either sold out to ranchers or simply shut down, leaving copious industrial and residential infrastructure in place.

Sugar Shack on Steroids

Flickr member Eli Duke scored a rare urbex double-header back in March of 2009 when his photo-documented visit to Kaua’i included both an abandoned sugar plantation house and – on the very same day – a nearby abandoned sugar cane processing factory.

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Home Sweet Abandoned Kauai Sugar Plantation House

Sweetwater playground at the former Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn, New York is a colorful children’s fun park that’s dandy as old-fashioned candy.

A park with good taste? It’s more likely than you think thanks to locally-based artist Mark Reigelman and what used to be the world’s largest sugar refinery. A Williamsburg waterfront icon for the better part of two centuries, the old Domino Sugar Refinery has been transformed into Domino Park boasting a site-specific play environment called Sweetwater: “the sweetest playground in New York City.”

How Sweet It Was

Reigelman set out to create more than just a playground, though the result is eminently playable on its own. Instead, the artist elected to pay homage to the former Domino Sugar Refinery and, by extension, the long history of sugar manufacturing in America’s vibrant northeast. In a glazed nutshell, the playground invites children to explore the sugar refining process without getting their hands sticky, no matter what the weather..

Sweet (American) Dreams

The Domino Sugar Refinery was built in 1856 and additional infrastructure made it the world’s largest sugar refinery by 1882. The location on the banks of the East River facilitated the import of raw sugar cane from around the world. The factory employed approximately 4,500 people at its height, giving countless numbers of immigrants a boost into the American workforce – melting pots made for sugar AND people (though not at the same time).

Let the Dominos Fall

The factory ceased sugar refining operations in 2004 and stood abandoned until 2017, when the James Corner Field Operations-designed waterfront space known as Domino Park was created. Opened to the public on June 10th of 2018, Domino Park invites visitors of all ages to enjoy the remnants of this historic site, the soaring Williamsburg bridge, and the iconic Manhattan skyline. The youngest among us might have the most fun, however, as they climb up and down ramps, worm their way through tubes, trundle across conveyor belts and zip down slides from one end of Sweetwater to the other.

Sucrose For Comfort

Reigelman designed Sweetwater in three distinct interconnected stages: Sugarcane Cabin, Sweetwater Silo, and Sugar Cube Centrifuge. Following the path of raw sugarcane as it arrived at the refinery in days of yore, kids will be chopped up and crushed inside a replica industrial cabin, strained and filtered into sweet water syrup, and finally emerge fully-processed into freshly refined raw sugar… figuratively, of course. Fear not, helicopter parents, your precious progeny will return as sweet (or sour) as they entered.

Fun Factory

Reigelman’s tribute to the old sugar factory relies much on the inclusion of preserved and replica industrial artifacts scavenged from the old refinery complex. Wood floor planks enjoy a second life on the walls of the elevated cabin while colorfully-painted valve wheels cast from the original factory artifacts allow park guests to get a “hands-on” feeling of what the factory was like. Reigelman also sought to disabuse any thoughts of grim Industrial Age workhouses by liberally employing the vibrant yellow, turquoise, green and brushed metal hues that made up the original factory color palette.

Sugar High

Kids might be having too much fun negotiating Sweetwater Park’s 3D twists and turns to notice there’s a method to the interactive “madness”. Reigelman’s master plan envisioned three primary structures: an elevated cabin, a towering silo, and an industrial container.

Refined Recreation Redefined

Stainless steel slides, ramps, ladders and catwalks evoke the atmosphere of the old Domino Sugar Refinery’s complex and complicated architecture and infrastructure. Think of those “Powerhouse” scenes from old Looney Toons shorts and you’ll get the picture. “Truthfully speaking, we might have to join the kids during their outdoor playdates,” according to TimeOut Magazine.

A Treat Grows In Brooklyn

“Domino Park Playground was inspired by the ingenuity of the industrial age, the sugar refining process and the incredible site of the former Domino factory,” to quote from a statement by Reigelman. “The playground is not a celebration of sugar, but a reflection of industrial infrastructure that promotes physical activity, social engagement and a reminder of the unique history of the Domino Waterfront.” One would hope disquieting aromas off the nearby East River don’t cramp the fun factor.

Park Your Pancreas

“With a sugary color palette, dynamic graphics and an industrial visual narrative, Domino Park Playground sets children and adults alike into a space that ignites the adventurous spirit,” adds Reigelman. Best of all, a visit to Sweetwater Park won’t prompt a round of tooth-brushing nor a painful trip to the dentist.

Obesity epidemic notwithstanding, the world boasts more abandoned sugar mills than you can shake a peppermint stick at.

The former Delta Sugar Company mill in Clarksburg, Yolo County, California was constructed between 1934 and 1936… it took two years because the mill was transported by railroad, piece by piece, from its original location in Utah. By the early 1990s the mill became uneconomical to operate and in 1993 it was closed.

After lying abandoned for over 7 years, the “Old Sugar Mill” began to show some signs of life when some sections were upcycled into a grape-crushing and wine-tasting facility for several local wineries. Kudos to Flickr user Mark Brooks (cal_gecko), who exquisitely photo-documented the complex in late July of 2010.

Falling Like A Domino

The iconic Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn, NYC’s Williamsburg neighborhood was built in 1882 on the site of an even earlier sugar mill that opened in 1856. At one point the plant employed over 4,000 workers and supplied half the sugar consumed in the United States. By the year 2000 when the factory closed, however, only 225 employees still worked there. The Domino Sugar Refinery was sold to developers in early 2014 and the wrecking ball began swinging in October.

Sugar Beaten

The Great Western Sugar Company mill in Longmont, Colorado closed in 1977 and – possibly due to the dearth of wineries in the region – has sat derelict and abandoned for well over thirty years.

The factory opened in 1903 and processed locally-grown sugar beets. Rumor has it the mill is haunted, perhaps by sweet-toothed ghosts. Flickr user Sheila Dee (sheiladeeisme) visited the decrepit factory in January of 2013.

American Paia

Paia, on the island of Maui, Hawaii may be “The World Capitol of Windsurfing” but the town of 2,668 (as of 2010) has another claim to fame: it’s where the once cutting-edge Haiku Sugar Mill processed sugar cane into brown sugar.

Opening in 1861 and powered by a steam engine, the mill only operated for 18 years and has sat abandoned for well over a century. These days its ruins are a popular wedding photography and reception venue. Flickr user Maria Caridad snapped some of the more obscure areas of the abandoned mill on June 28th of 2009.

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Taking Their Lumps 12 Bitter Sweet Abandoned Sugar Mills

A hot black cuppa bean-infused water was only the beginning, but beyond Espressos, Americanos, Cappuccinos, Latte art and creative coffee mugs lies a world of stimulating design ideas for the caffeine-dedicated aficionado. Some are a bit green yet and perhaps worth roasting a while longer, but others are already rich with promise.

Wall-Mounted Coffee Maker with Integrated Cup

Not enough space on your kitchen counter? No worries: Song Ah Lee is developing a wall-mounted coffee maker for one (custom cup included) that blends into the background but remains handy for refills.

Handspresso Portable Car-Ready Espresso Machine

No time to wait around while your morning roasts warms up? Consider brewing coffee right on your commute, instead, with Handspresso, sold as the world’s first car-worthy espresso machine – just stick to using it at stop signs and lights, please.

Coffee-Warming Stir Stick Keeps Beverages Hot

All of these are well and good for getting your caffeinated brew going in the morning, but what happens when the heat starts to dissipate? An obvious but elegant solution when you cannot refresh is to rewarm, with something like this mobile reheating stick by Hyewon Lee.

Lockable Coffee Cup to Keep Coworker Hands Off

Now you have made your coffee, kept it hot, and are at the office … where suddenly you cannot find your workday mug. Clearly you forgot to pick up the Lock Mug with a hole specially keyed so that only you can use it!

Dissolving Coffee Stick Makes Instant Even Easier

State fairs are known for putting just about anything on a stick, but coffee sounds a bit far-fetched … at first. Heo Jeong Im took up the challenge, though, and combined instant coffee packets with stir spoons to invent what he has dubbed the Cappuccino Coffee Stick. As you stir to mix your brew, the mass of coffee crystals dissolves, leaving only your stirrer behind.

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Brewed Fresh 10 Hot Coffee Centric Designs Prototypes

Who said a mug should do nothing more than hold your morning beverage of choice? Part one of this collection introduced some unique yet practical mugs, and this installment continues that discussion with 11 more. These innovative coffee and tea mugs help add some perk to your morning routine, and can prove as expressive and unique as you!

Brass Knuckles Mug

(source: thabto)

A strong cup of coffee needs an assertive cup to hold it! What better way to communicate to your boss and co-workers that you are in no mood for cheap conversation? The name “Mug” was inspired the word’s literal translation in Cockney slang, meaning, “fool.” Hit yourself hard each morning with the “Mug”.

Coffee Bean Mug

(source: rctaylorphotography)

This intriguing coffee mug makes a great project for any coffee enthusiast! Constructed by hand, a standard mug was carefully covered in coffee beans and glazed for appearance. This project can be recreated by anyone with some time and care. Simply choose a mug for a skeleton, a shade of coffee beans and begin carefully adhering them to the mug, attempting to remain true to the mug’s original shape. Before long, you’ll have a coffee mug that is sure to incite conversation wherever coffee is poured.

SmartMug Electronic Travel Mug

(soruce: amazon.com)

If you are tired of having to dump out half of your coffee because you simply can’t drink it all before it cools down, this mug could be the answer to your prayers. The SmartMug is an electronic travel mug that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and keeps your coffee hot at your specified temperature! Perfect for that long morning commute where traffic frequently causes your coffee (and you) to loose steam before you even get halfway to work. A digital screen displays the temperature and various other information. Lights on the mug alert you that your coffee is either heating or at the desired temperature. Its like taking your coffee maker’s hot plate on the go! Stay warmer, longer with the SmartMug.

Pantone Mugs

(Source: curlby)

Now here’s a collection of mugs to brighten up any morning! Those who work in the interior design field can now express their love for pantone colors with this collection of coffee mugs. Each mug is colored and coded with its corresponding pantone color specification. Use them as they relate to your current job or project. Bring the entire collection to your next job for inspiration and laughs.

Camera Lens Mug

(source: dvice)

Any fan of photography would be proud to pour themselves a tall cup of coffee into this amazing mug. Constructed from a real zoom lens, this mug is both intriguing and charming. At the moment, this mug is concept with few in actual existence, however we may soon see them on shelves, ready to be snatched up by photographers everywhere! What better way to assert one’s love for your hobby than to drink out of a mug made from the tools the trade?

A Mug With Security

(source: core77)

Had enough of your friends or co-workers using your coffee mug when you aren’t around? Worried about the health risks of sharing cups? Finally, a coffee mug with security! A hole at the bottom of the mug that can only be plugged by the mug’s key-holder serves to prevent anyone but it’s owner from using it. Try pouring coffee into it without the key to plug the hole and you’ll have quite a mess to clean up!

Gun Mug

(source: shopmodi)

Kill time with this innovative coffee mug! Sporting a trigger and lever that feels like that of a large revolver, it has never been easier to shoot the breeze at the breakfast table! You’ll have endless fun asking a coworker or friend if they “feel lucky, punk?” as you maintain a tight grip on the mugs firm and comfortable handle. This unique mug is sure to please any gun enthusiast or just help you feel a bit more like John Wayne in the morning! Sniper scopes sold separately!

Mustache Mug

(source: shanware)

As any man with a bushy mustache knows, the morning brew is often no cup of tea! Many have struggled to find a way to drink their coffee or tea without also wearing it. This question need no longer be asked, for the Mustache Mug takes saves your facial hair from contact with scorching hot beverage. Featuring a mustache shield at the drinking end of the mug, beverages can be easily consumed without the constant wiping that comes with standard mugs. Perfect for consuming coffee during a meeting or on the go where dabbing your upper lip with a napkin after every sip is simply impractical!

Undress Me Mugs

(source: cgets)

Some people need a little extra push to wake up in the morning. Available in both “His” and “Hers” versions, the more you drink the more of the naked woman/man you see! What more motivation to drink your coffee fast could you need? After drinking your coffee faster than ever, you’ll find yourself awake and ready to conquer whatever the day brings! “Undress Me” mugs are a great pick me up for those sluggish mid-week mornings and the ultimate cure for the slow-starter!

Mug With a Pocket

(source: Vat19)

Have you ever dreaded that long walk to the trash to throw away your spent tea bag once all its contents have been strained into your tea? Tired of leaving tea-bag stains on the table or desk because you don’t want to put the paper down and leave your breakfast to dispose of said tea bags? This mug is perfect for avid tea drinkers, sporting a handy pouch on it’s side made for holding spent tea bags for as long as needed! No more messes to clean or tea bags to be thrown out of your speeding car. This handy mug makes the morning wake-up a little more comfortable.

Inbuilt Plunger Mug

(source:nathanaelb)

A perfect tool for those busy professionals who are always on the go, a mug that makes your coffee and holds it all in one! Simply raise the plunger, add the coffee and hot water stir and then plunge it down. Add milk and sugar to your preference and you’ve got a steaming cup of Joe in minutes. No more waiting for the percolator to brew up a pot while you wait! Add an extra 15 minutes to your morning sleep with a plunger mug.