Living on Exhbit

Architects Pieter and Silvia Mertens took a 8’ wide space between two buildings, erected a steel skeleton in it and installed four wooden floors, one each for work, dining, relaxing and sleeping, plus a bath tub on the roof. Two concepts arise from this Coolhunter Blog post: Voyerism and Sustainablity. First, this building puts all parts of their lives on public display. We are living in a world were the rules of privacy are constantly changing and adapting. Second, they have successfully maximized the use of a space not traditionally intended to be habitable.

I Want 2 C Your Body in the Dark

Similar to Emil Olsson’s Void Typeface blog post last week, Marc Kremers “I Want 2 C Your Body in the Dark” video plays with type using light and depth. His portfolio can be found on EclecticCow. The digital era, and new-media design is starting to merge with typography. Digital design software is allowing designing to create type with physical environments and dynamic elements.

We Will Migrate into the Sky

NY architects at Studio Lindfors offer a design solution to New York City should it be hit and destroyed by a hurricane. Cloud City provides “connected” inflatable blimp housing for urban cities after a disaster. What I love about the concept is the use of air as a design solution. I have been exploring for my thesis the overlooked resource of air as a vast, dynamic, and whimsical design solution. Read the article on BldgBlog.

The Revolution that Wasn't

This article from the Economist answers the question about DVR’s effect on advertising. Ever since I got a DVR, I’ve been curious about it’s effect on television advertising, and whether the fear of it destroying television funding was actually happening. Surprising, this article shows that DVRs may be helping the television industry. Apparently, people with DVRs skip about 50% of recorded ads. But the DVR also has America watching much more TV, supplementing skipped ads. I think I have 4 shows recording tonight!

Facebook Privacy Flop-Gen Yers Demand Control

This post is in response to a recent attack on my facebook account. My account was hacked and infected with a facebook virus this week. As a result, either the virus, or someone else took control of the account, and sent all of my friends a random message. I’m not the biggest fan of facebook, and it actually took some time to convince me to join the site. After this week’s infection, I’ve considered ending my account. But facebook has become so crucial to staying connected with my friends, this really wasn’t an option. Please read this article from BusinessWeek about Facebook Privacy.

Gesture Speak

Oblong Industries’ G-speak takes the interactive screen to the next level and scale. The G-speak is yet another example of our world merging with the cyberworld. Walls/architecture become giant interactive computer screens. The G-speak user become part machine when he/she wears the “cyber-gloves” with digital chips that work with the computer/motion software. This article was found on Pantopicon.

Howeler+Yoon's "Spatial Valve"

Howeler+Yoon’s are exploring a new concept of architecture “spatial valve architecture” Besides it being un-Rhino-able (the concept can only be explained the old-fashioned way through hand-built models), it presents architecture with the ability to fluctuate from extreme density to extreme porosity. In one form it acts as barrier, in the other, a passage.

Void Typeface

Besides the exciting technique of revealing and concealing, Emil Olsson’s Void Typeface video introduces the concept of a typeface merged with a dynamic light source. Depth is instantly created, and spatial qualities must be considered. Should the light source be dynamic? Should the type be dynamic? Should both? What kind of rules should be set in this relationship? Will typefaces in the future be video files with more dynamic qualities including light and sound characteristics? Will keyboards be used to type these new video typefaces with the same kerning, style changes, sizing flexibility as static typefaces?

The School Food Trust

Blending graphic design, branding, and interior design, The Applemore College Canteen (cafeteria) becomes a transformed dining experience with a small budget. Clean lines, geometric patterns, and a fresh industrial color pallete attracted me to this article. Graphic design and branding should be utilized more often and with more creative intentions in our physical environments rather than just on paper and screen.

The Hills Have Eyes

I’ve always loved the concept of using the surface of architecture as a canvas. Many of my architecture projects in undergrad involved buildings clad with large video billboards. Photographer JR turns an entire Rio favel community into a cubist-inspired canvas. This reminds me of my trip to La Boca, a poor neighborhood in Argentina painted with primary colors. It instantly functioned as a design technique to bring in tourists. With JR’s work, the question is whether the contrast of art and slum architecture becomes a spectacle.

Getting a Handle on Design

I’m excited to see Gary Hustwit’s documentary about industrial design “Objectified.” Gary’s film “Helvetica” was insightful and extremely interesting. Objectified seems similar to Helvetica, in that it makes people aware that everything around us has been designed and has a history of development. My dad said to me once “it’s strange how I forget that everything was designed by someone” It’s true though, we are surrounded by so much stuff, we often block it all out and take it for granted. Read the New York Times review by Stephen Holden.

Is Human Fat The Ultimate Bio-Diesel Fuel?

After reading this article, you will discover that human fat has been used as a source of energy to power the Earthrace bio-boat. Bruce Nussbaum uses the concept of human-fat fuel to talk about the problem of obesity. I see obesity as a good thing in this situation. While ethics may be an issue, fat harvested from humans after they die, can be used to power the globe… so the fatter the population, the more fuel we have! Then again, maybe Nussbaum was right. the fatter the population, more energy will be used to grow more food, which will be consumed at a faster rate. And more energy will also be exhausted to transport heavier loads.

Future Shock: The Movie(s)

Studying and researching ideas related to the concept of our physical world merging with the digital world has become my hobby. It has also made me more aware of technological progressions and their effects of societal trends. Check out these movies from the book Future Shock written by Alvin Toffler. Even though it was written 40 years ago, the themes may be more relevant today than ever before.

Turning 24 Clocks into One

Swedish design firm “humans since 1982” turn 24 clocks into one giant clock. The idea of multiplying a single object to become a form of itself again is very interesting. The clock also goes through a transformation of analog to digital when it multiplies. The piece becomes less about telling time, and more about telling a story of transformation. The clocks now dance and perform a choreographed piece, and the object’s initial function takes a backseat. Check out the review on Core77