Archive for the ‘Interesting’ Category
Off Book
August 17, 2011Creative Industries Conference 2010
May 8, 2010I am sending my abstract for THIS. are you? It is a great opportunity for all students in the creative field.
NZiLA Annual Conference 2009
September 26, 2009Queenstown, NZ is a fabulously gorgeous town if it isn’t for the rows of non-descript, cookie-cutter motels puncturing the landscape. Nevertheless, the town pulls it off with its astonishingly beautiful-clear lake Wakatipu stretching the valley till the commanding and visually dynamic “Remarkables” that are snow-capped during the winter months. All year round water/land/air activities abound making it truly a tourist-heaven!
The NZILA 2009′s, The Big Picture Workshop April 2-4, 2009, was held in this very town. Shay and I teamed up for the adventure; both being students amongst all the professionals we felt thoroughly educated not just in learning, but networking as well by the end of the conference. I think we were the only two students… The field tours were fun and of great learning experiences. We drank biodynamically produced red wine on a Viticulture tour at 9AM, visited an architect/landscape architect’s home that had the most breathtaking views from his self-designed home in the Central Otago valley. Mingling, learning, discussing, and brainstorming with all the professional landscape architects, and finally to top it off, lovely farewell dinner in the awe-inspiring Jack’s Point was wonderful.
The tours were: (via NZILA):
Landscapes of recreation: This tour is to touch on issues such as the economic forces that make this sort of development viable, how these forces are changing/might change, energy consumption, the design of these landscapes – deliberately beautiful, the fact that these developments enable a great many people to appreciate these landscapes that would otherwise be the case, how do these developments display New Zealand/Otago particularity.
Landscapes of rural living: This tour touches on issues such as the economic sustainability of farming, the changing of economic conditions that sometimes mean it is no longer desirable, what people want when they choose to live in a rural landscape, tenure review of pastoral leases, how large stations can be sustainably managed into the future with existing/future economic conditions, etc
Landscapes of production: Issues touched on for this tour include the changing market forces through recent history that have led to changing productive use of the land and the resultant changing aesthetics, the part of nostalgia in landscape appreciation – should a landscape pattern be preserved because we grew up with it? The tour will illustrate how market forces determine productive land use and ultimately landscape appearance.
Landscapes of energy: Issues brought into this tour is the seemingly endless increase in energy demand and how this affects the appearance of landscapes, the consequences of flooding for hydro production – has produced amenities that were previously not there in some cases, do people perceive these lakes as natural? – often they seem to, does it matter whether they are natural or not?
Below are some “pictorial essay” where I was pictured more than once. Thank you NZILA!
world’s first sustainable city
August 29, 2009The winning design by the international practice Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) for the city centre for Masdar in the UAE – will be amazingly, the world’s first “zero carbon”, “zero waste” city powered entirely by renewable energy sources!
Masdar is a planned city located 17 kilometres from Abu Dhabi. a government initiative, and the city is being constructed over seven phases due to be completed by 2016, not that far ahead aye… I would love to visit!
So, yes, this city center will ofcourse include a Plaza, a Five-Star hotel, a long stay hotel, a Convention Centre and an Entertainment Complex as well as retail facilities! Ok, now I am really convinced to visit maybe by 2017…
all image courtesy of LAVA
frames, boundaries, fences, walls,
August 25, 2009To be aware of ourselves, our identity, to elevate ourselves, self-importance, ownership, national pride, all these human behaviours are such that we build walls and fences around us. From the very earlierst of times, frames around the landscape whether it is our current invisible borders between countries, or a simple wooden frames around our favorite picture, it tells of how we as humans, have had the need to distinguish us from them, self from others in the name of nationality, identity, nativity, indigenousness, etc.
Here are some evidences manifested in a town plannings of “walled cities” ::
Cassonne, France.
Below: Noerdlingen, Germany
Below – Heusden and Naarden, Netherlands::
Below – Utrecht, in the Netherlands::
(all images via – dark roasted blend)
Below – Villandry Gardens::
Below – Mona Lisa::
Amazing world of plants
August 11, 2009A carnivorous; meat-eating plant?!?!
“A new species of giant carnivorous plant has been discovered in the highlands of the central Philippines!
The pitcher plant is among the largest of all pitchers and is so big that it can catch rats as well as insects in its leafy trap.During the same expedition, botanists also came across strange pink ferns and blue mushrooms they could not identify. The botanists have named the pitcher plant after British natural history broadcaster David Attenborough…”
“….Pitcher plants are carnivorous. Carnivorous plants come in many forms, and are known to have independently evolved at least six separate times. While some have sticky surfaces that act like flypaper, others like the Venus fly trap are snap traps, closing their leaves around their prey. Pitchers create tube-like leaf structures into which insects and other small animals tumble and become trapped…”
Via BBC, Earth News. read more…
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This following plant has developed a mechanism to appear ill to its onlookers! This clever thing has been found growing in the rainforests of Ecuador. Oh, the wonderful world of plants!
“….The plants feigns sickness to stop it being attacked by insect pests known as mining moths, which would otherwise eat its healthy leaves. It is the first known example of a plant that mimics being ill, and could also explain a common pattern seen on plant leaves known as variegation…”
“…Variegation is familiar to gardeners and affects many species of plant. Variegated plants have different coloured patterns on the leaf surface, produced by a variety of causes. One of the most common is when cells in the leaf lose chlorophyll and their ability to photosynthesise, appearing white. In theory, plants with variegated leaves should be at a disadvantage, because of this restricted ability to photosynthesise…”
Biomimicry is the new design technique…
August 6, 2009“Janine Benyus has a message for inventors: When solving a design problem, look to nature first. There you’ll find inspired designs for making things waterproof, aerodynamic, solar-powered and more. Here she reveals dozens of new products that take their cue from nature with spectacular results.”
Re-imagining Paris à la monseiur Sarkozy
June 11, 2009President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to leave his legacy as others have done before him. For his “Le Grand Paris” project, he has invited 10 teams of architects to reimagine Paris as a city integrated with its suburbs and environmentally responsible. These are some interesting developments:
via NYtimes
introduction of new species
April 16, 2009A species is defined as introduced (also known as non-indigenous, alien or exotic) in a certain geographical area, if that area is outside the species’ native distributional range, and the species has arrived there by human activity. Introduced species sometimes are damaging to the ecosystem they are introduced into, others negatively affect agriculture and other human uses of natural resources or impact on the health of animals and humans.
There are many ways in which the introduction of non-native or exotic species negatively affects our environment and the diversity of life on our planet. But what would it mean on our moon or other planets? Sounds like the stuff science fictions are made of. Well, now the US Scientists are to grow brussel sprouts (my fav. by the way) on the moon!
According to telegraph.co.uk, the scientists (US scientists) are planning to grow hardy vegetables such as brussels sprouts on the Moon in an experiment to see if a future colony could produce its own food! Paragon Space Development Corporation in Arizona working with NASA unveiled plans to land mini-greenhouses on the moon. These little 1.5 ft tall greenhouses, capable of growing flowers and veges are designed to safely land a laboratory plant on the lunar surface, and protect it while it grows. They call the mini-greenhouse project, “Lunar Oasis”.
The miniature greenhouse is to be launched into space no earlier than 2012 by Odyssey Moon Ltd, a participant in the Google Lunar X Prize, which will reward any project which can launch, land and operate a rover on the lunar surface.
Read the whole article here.
Apparently, Paragon is very keen on developing other similar and very interesting projects that involve experiments of plants and plant-cycles elsewhere in the galaxy or right here on our earth. From their website;
Mars Greenhouse Experiment Module, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
A sealed plant growth chamber designed for deployment on Mars. They have designed the plant growth chamber, including the atmospheric control system and a molecular-level mass balance and flow model for hydrogen, carbon and oxygen throughout the plants’ life cycles.
Closed Ecological Experiment Facility, Tokyo Engineering
Gas Control and Analysis system design for the Closed Ecological Experiment Facility (CEEF) in Japan. CEEF is a human-rated regenerative life support system with controlled plant growth chambers and an animal/human habitat.
wind and solar energy-use with style
April 14, 2009Much opportunity abounds to be creative and harvest wind and solar energy. To be eco-friendly and stylish at the same time, how cool and sustainable is that? I spied some of the neatest designs that do just that:
All images courtesy of trendir. thanks.
Mariah Power’s Windspire is a plug-n-produce vertical axis wind turbine that stands 30 feet tall and 2 feet in radius, the Windspire stands out from the crowd due to is sleek propeller-free design. It operates quietly. With an affordable price tag this Mariah Power vertical wind turbine comes complete with a high-efficiency generator, integrated inverter, hinged monopole and wireless performance monitor. Ideal for rural and suburban homes. Using a rotor, generator and inverter, the 1.2kW turbine produces about 2,000 kilowatt hours a year in winds gusting 12 miles an hour. It even comes with an internal wireless modem – you can check your power production from your computer at any time. Available in a corrosion-resistant silver paint, you can repaint it in any color you choose. It’s also easy to install and comes complete with everything needed to set it up. Via trendir
Marlec Rutland 504 Windcharger is designed for the eco-friendly boater. You’ll never worry about flat batteries, or have to hassle with refitting them – the Rutland 504 is a small wind generator that charges your battery, giving you the peace-of-mind that you’ll have power whenever you need it. Ideal for boats less than 10m in length and with battery banks around 100Ah, this Marlec wind turbine charges the battery while your boat is docked, and when you’re on the water, will continually top it up. Lightweight and portable, this wind turbine charges in windspeeds as low as 5 knots and is equipped with a safety turbine that joins the six aerofoil blade tips with an outer ring. Its low friction 3 phase alternator runs silent, and offers 360-degree free rotation on its mounting pole. You can even take it off and bring it home with you to use to run a garden pump, fountain or to provide low voltage lighting to a shed or garage.
Ideal for farms and remote locations, the Magenn Power Air Rotor System (MARS) wind turbine floats in the air while tethered to the ground, and removes any obstacles related to placement. This lighter-than-air wind turbine rotates around a horizontal axis wherever the wind is blowing and generates electrical energy. This electrical energy passes down the tether to a transformer and then transferred to the electricity power grid. The MARS Air Rotor is sustained by helium, which transports it to an altitude where it will find the best wind, and its rotation produces a Magnus effect, giving it a extra boost, keeping it stabilized and placing it in a optimal position. Capable of operating in a wider range of wind speeds, the 10 to 25 kW MARS will be available in 2009/10, and is expected to cost between the $5 USD to $10 USD dollar per watt. via trendir
Multi Directional Wind Turbine Helix Wind S322. It is an inexpensive, reliable and simple turbine, ideal for urban environments with low draw and off-grid applications. Mounted up to 35 feet high, the S322 works well in low speeds and its savonius design features a long helical blade that collects wind from every direction, forcing it through the turbine. This Helix turbine uses the wind to spin the electric generator, which is plugged into your home. During the times of no wind, your home will draw its power from the energy grid like it usually does, and at times when it’s gusting, the multi directional S322 uses the excess energy to roll your meter backwards. You’ll also enjoy its silent operation and its 3D blade is built for easy assembly and toughness. via trendir.
Ikea’s cute and adorable LED lights. They use 70% less energy while lasting four times as long as regular blubs.
Made in the UK, the Inflatable Solar Collecter for Hot Water – SolarStore uses solar heat to warm domestic water – in fact, it can heat up to three full tanks of water, reaching temperatures close to 80°C! Selling for under £100 (about $150 US), the inflatable solar collector is not only cheaper than conventional solar hot water systems on the market (compare at $2,000-$3,000), but can also be used in developing countries as well as on camping trips. Using the process of heat transfer, sunlight passes through the SolarStore’s clear outer layer, and travels down to a black inner layer that holds the water. To keep water hot, it uses the surrounding air between the clear and black layers as insulation. The SolarStore is set to hit the market in the spring of 2009.
Renewable Devices’ Swift rooftop wind energy system is safe, efficient, and a silent building mountable turbine that cuts carbon emissions while reducing your electricity bill. Designed in the UK, this turbine uses aerodynamic technology to generate electricity only when you need it. Ideal for both residential homes and businesses, Swift features an overpower regulation mechanism that controls rotation speed, which comes in handy when you’re dealing with high winds. And you control how much energy is used, thanks to its sophisticated electronic control system. It can be mounted on a rooftop or wall, and works as a stand-alone as well as off grid.
