I recently read a post on Fastcompany.com winning proposal at the WPA 2.0 competition, to design a series of Algae Pontoon Parks in New York. The parks will connect Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Governors Island and employ algae to capture carbon emissions along urban arteries.
Below is a brief description from Port Architects and their plans to capture these emissions, through their project, Carbon T.A.P.
1. ) Algae is one of the most robust classifications of life on earth. Thriving on every continent, it is highly adaptive to any physical environment where it is able to derive energy from photosynthesis and the uptake of organic carbon, particularly in the form of CO2…
One Small Project is a movement initiated by Wes Jans, PhD, RA associate professor of architecture at Ball State University, through which he seeks to connect fellow architects, students, artists, and designers with “Squatters” and the world’s working and urban poor. By building small projects, Wes provides an opportunity for these two group to work alongside one another.
I had the honor of working with Wes during my time at Herron by helping him create a visualization of his One Small Project for an upcoming exhibition titled “small architecture BIG LANDSCAPES”. The exhibit – scheduled to open at the Sheldon Swope Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, in the spring of 2010 – will showcase the works of…
CAN SOUND BE EXPERIENCED WITHOUT HEARING?!?!?! I believe it can. I recently listened to a presentation on TED.com given by Julian Treasure over the four ways sound affects us.
The first way in which we experience sound is Physiological. Sounds are affecting our hormone secretions all the time; our breathing, our heart-rate, and our brainwaves.Examples of this can be waking up from our alarm clock in the mornings, a doorbell being rung, or a more pleasant sound such as waves crashing that can help us to get to sleep at night.
The second way in which sound affects us is Psychological. Music is the most powerful form of sound that affects our emotions. However, it is not the only form that affects our emotions. The…
Coca-Cola recently unveiled their all new state of the art, “world-changing” Freestyle Fountain soft-drink dispensers.
Just to preface the rest of the post, I’m a bit put off by the freewheeling tendencies that come with this machine. The hype, the calories, the promises – all seem empty to me. It all sort of bubbled to the surface when I read a recently posted BusinessWeek article that featured the new dispensers. The piece opened by saying “The inventor of life-saving medical devices (Dean Kamen) sees Coca-Cola’s new Freestyle fountain as a way to make progress on his plan to deliver potable water to kids worldwide.”
“Moving together: The new mobility culture considers not only transit but also health, education, housing, waste, and social needs. No transportation system is an island; it must coordinate all shared systems for maximum effect.” Bruce Mau, Massive Change
Building better cities has been an issue that society has faced since the dawn of time, and still exists today not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. The quality of life that a city provides is not only a priority but a right for its inhabitants. With ever-increasing population, crime, social injustice, poverty, and pollution rates, we need to re-focus our priorities and resources to re-design integrative sustainable systems to improve mobility and quality of life for everyone.
Over the past decade or so, it seems that many design firms have shifted their focus from a more traditional approach of working through design, to a more strategic approach. Both are still very active today, and I believe each approach will remain active as long as there is a need for 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and the newly appointed 4.0 design… I’ve illustrated my own interpretation of these approaches. NextD, Visual SenseMaking PDF
On the left-hand side is the traditional approach in which the designer/firm is presented with a framed issue, or an issue that is obvious and already known, which is then provided a solution. The projects requiring this approach are typically smaller and do not last…
Changing consumer attitudes in the mid-1960s opened the door for the commoditization of design. Before that time, buyer behavior had been based on fulfilling basic needs, but in the 1960s, consumers began buying products that may or may not have fulfilled a need, but rather fulfilled a want (e.g. Avant-Garde Interiors influenced by European modernism and a humanistic aesthetic style).
This changing attitude towards design, caused it to become a very crucial element in marketing and positioning. Design could be used to appeal to people seeking a certain type of lifestyle. One of the earlier companies that successfully grasped this new concept was Habitat, a European household furnishings retailer, who featured reasonably-priced furniture with compelling design. The style of their…
I recently listened to a lecture given by Architect Bjarke Ingels on TED.com, in which he talks about stories behind three projects that sought to act as physical and interactive environments.
I like his approach in storytelling, because it communicates that his work is more than just aesthetically compelling structures. In addition to being beautiful works of art, the buildings shown in his presentation are functionally conscious of space, resources, and culture. The last project he spoke of is, in my opinion, the most amazing. He and his team are focusing on the Island of Zira, using the seven neighboring mountain peaks of Azerbaijan as inspiration. They designed the land into an inhabitable urban eco-system, completely transforming…
Since its inception, the United States has welcomed and harbored immigrants upon its shore. This has yielded innumerable opportunities and the fulfillment of dreams- but it also has come with some challenges. Today, businesses still strive to understand and develop products and services that cater to the broad and varied audience of the United States.
I think it is important to understand the value of diversity and cross-cultural design not only in how we uncover, think and solve complex business and design issues, but also in the way we work, think and act.
Obama’s recent plan to “smarten up the youth of America” by rewarding teachers and lengthening the school year has left me feeling a little queasy. Seeing that I’m only 5 years out of high school, the reverberation of cheese wagons, SAT testing, and home rooms still permeate my senses every now and then. My experiences growing up in the public school system has left a sour taste in my mouth from careless teachers and outrageous “rules,” to standardization up the wazoo. Being a youth leader has also helped me keep up on what’s happening inside the school walls, as well as the inside the minds of the students. Since the time I graduated high school, it seems that schools have become…
