"Maths meets nature in a geodesic tree house": WIRED Magazine

I was impressed by these structures designed by the architect Buckminster Fuller. His structures are now appearing across Hollywood. These geodesic domes are created and suspended in trees which do not require drilling into the tree and so move with the tree. One structure totals at $20,000 and as the architect says "there's lots of creative people - with lots of money" so there has obviously been plenty of freedom within the design process.

This is simply a glorified tree house as was it's original purpose for wildlife spotting. However, this by no means loses any of its interest to me. Having access to a market this wealthy and interested could give you the freedom to really push the materials, structural complexity and scale. There could be more affordable adjustments and re purposing involved afterwards. I would hope to have this luxury someday in order to push the boundaries and then reign in according to key design and contextual issues.

Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK

Part of a selection of "green" examples of community living from 'New Scientist' include this interesting use of community space for growing vegetables and other organic produce. The community have used all possible areas including schools, the town centre and even the cemetery to provide a freely available public larder. The fact that this initiative is made free to all within the community is what strikes me most. What better way to encourage the support of healthy eating and local food consumption rather than support of the super markets etc.

I could see this as something to be nurtured within each home and even provide an identity and certain responsibility between each area of town. Since the plan for this town is to use every free bit of space within it suggests the movement will at least visually suggest community spirit. The power of context comes to mind from "The Tipping Point" in the relation between environment, identity and behavior.

There is something in a community spirit that I enjoy. The particularly individualistic encouragement we receive today always seems like a good idea but I strongly feel there is great power in community even as an individual within a community. So, the communal use of space all over town could be the beginnings of an infectious identity that brings smaller communities more together again.

I wonder what other forms of identity can be used to this effect?

Childhood memories and into the future: LEGO

I have been seeing a lot about Lego recently. I found a brilliant article in WUW (Whatever you Want magazine) using Lego bricks to point walls or fill in gaps in old masonry by Jan Vorman. He takes and ordinary and particularly bland wall surface and constructs a new and particularly striking area of familiar colour. I can remember creating spaces and objects with Lego as my medium if you like. I wonder why I "grew out of it"? I am considering purchasing some more soon. I would love to rekindle that basic creative spark I remember feeling with a homogonous mass before me at my disposal!

Not the most sophistocated of modeling materials but something about it makes me want to use it in some way. Could there be a practical use for its structural integrity or geometric asthetic. As shown by Vorman negative space can be highlighted very effectively.

The official Lego website has a new programme which allows you to create your own digital model and then have it assembled, priced and sent to you. Other than it being an entertaining application and marriage of virtual design it is a simple way to realise ideas in a particularly recognisable and attractive way.

http://www.designedmyme.lego.com/en-US.default.aspx

Assignment 3

Bechtel Robert B, 1997, Environmental and Behavior: An introduction, Thousand Oaks; London: Sage Productions

A cross-disciplinary look at environmental environmental psychology and points on addressing human-environment problems.

Brebner John, 1982, Environmental psychology in building design, Applies Science Publishers LTD

How the built environment affects human psychology and human interaction with each other and it's self.


Evans Peter, 2002, Livable Cities? Urban Struggles for livelihood and sustainability, University of California Press


Henry P J, 2009, A theory for understanding the role of status in cultures of honor, De Paul University, Chicago


Johnson Sarah, 2009, Improving the school environment to reduce school violence: A review of the literature.


Ross N A, 2009, Double burden of deprivation and high concentrations of ambient air pollution at the neighbourhood scale in Montreal

Effects on health due to socioeconomic and physical characteristics of neighbourhood environments


Walker D, 2009, Setting up and managing interactive learning centres for young children, Class Act, Australian Education Index


http://www.treehugger.com/


The Guardian
guardian.co.uk

New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/


Focus Magazine
http://www.bbcfocusmagazine.com/