The Information Architecture Institute
Stone Spray builds architecture from the ground up ... literally
The Stone Spray works much like a 3D printer, since it follows a 3D design from a computer and creates objects by layering material Image Gallery (9 images) As useful as 3D printers are becoming in industrial design, they still aren't exactly eco-friendly and are still mostly limited to small scale objects. You couldn't really use one to print a building just yet, but a group of architects may have taken a step in the right direction with a new machine called the Stone Spray. Using natural soil and sand, the Stone Spray can construct intricate solid structures at almost any location, even on vertical surfaces. View all The device was developed by architects Petr Novikov, Inder Shergill, and Anna Kulik as a research project to experiment with applying the concepts of digital manufacturing to construction work. Aside from the material it uses, the Stone Spray also stands out for its ability to create forms that most other 3D printers cannot. Source: Stone Spray About the Author
Blog : The Ongoing Stock Market Crash
The ongoing gyrations of the stock market over the past few months have spread panic not just throughout the markets, but into the rest of the economy and the political sphere. There are some who assert that this is due to the recent downgrade of the American credit rating by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), but an analysis with Mathematica suggests that other factors may be at play. Using the FinancialBond function for a zero-coupon continuously compounding bond price, we discover the inverse relation between bond prices and yields (y) given below. As the bond price increases, the yield y decreases. As bonds are bought, their prices go up and the corresponding yields drop. Looking at the U.S. yield curve using Wolfram|Alpha at the end of July and eight weeks later below, the yields on long-term 10-year treasury bonds have dropped from 2.82% to 1.84%, which is a historic 50-year low. However, what these charts do not reveal is the extent of the downturn.
Legalize Hempcrete: The Growing Eco-Movement to Build Homes Out of Hemp - Design
The notion of California dreamin' is poised to reach a whole new level with the state's first home made out of hemp. The owners of the ruins of Knapp's Castle in Santa Barbara plan to begin building a home out of a sustainable construction material called Hempcrete, a mixture of hemp, lime, and water. Hemp makes a good building material because it's extremely energy-efficient, non-toxic, and resistant to mold, insects, and fire. "We got started about 3 years ago and I was looking for sustainable building products. The one major hurdle standing between Madera and the dream of entire neighborhoods made of hemp? While Madera admits gaining approval from local officials has been far from easy, he's confident that the benefits of hemp building will win out in the end.
Freedomky prefab house designed for affordable off-grid living
Czech architect Marek Štěpán and his studio Atelier Štěpán has come up with a stylish take on the prefabricated home designed for affordable off-grid living. Though compact, the "Freedomky" nevertheless comes complete with laundry and cooking facilities as well as security and heating systems. View all Freedomkies (if that's the plural) come in two main versions: the 23 sq m (248 sq ft) 1PLUS Classic for up to two occupants, and the 38 sq m (409 sq ft) 2PLUS Classic for up to four. Multiple modules can be arranged around an indoor atrium for one of two larger configurations, known as Freedomky L and Freedomky U. A number of off-the-shelf home interior finishes are available, though one-off designs, named Solitaires, can also be requested. The house can be installed in four hours, apparently without need of skilled hands—unless utility connections are required, that is. Unfortunately, pricing info seems to have been removed from the website for now. Source: Freedomky, via Treehugger
HomeDecor
The principle is simple and seductively clever: solar lights that store energy during the day and release light at night. These can be purchased ready-made in a variety of colors (yellow, blue and red) but they can also be built at home. A simple, less-technical approach involves buying a conventional solar-powered yard lamp and then essentially harvesting it for key pieces to put in a jar. This is simply a way of taking an existing solar lamp design and appropriating its parts to make something more attractive for display around a house or home. A more electronically-savvy individual can take the more complex route and built a solar lamp from the ground up using small solar panels – though the aesthetic result may not be as impressive. Whatever route you choose to go, these are fun and sustainable gadgets that make it easy to go green, automate the process of turning on lights at night and can add some color to your porch, patio, garden or windowsill.
Intern 101
Frank Lloyd Wright
Wright Seen Anew as an Architect of Thoughts By Paul Goldberger The New York Times, February 7, 1988 In the 28 years since Frank Lloyd Wright's death, his associates, who have tried to keep the flame of his reputation burning, have often done more to damage his name than to enhance it. Under the rubric of Taliesin Associated Architects (named for the architect's famous houses in Spring Green, Wis., and Scottsdale, Ariz.) they have produced new buildings that are generally mediocre imitations of the great architect's late work. Through their Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, they have continued Wright's practice of inviting students to pay for the privilege of studying with the master, even though there is no longer a master. And they have sold off various original Wright drawings to keep their operation going. It has all too often felt like a cult more than a living enterprise.
No dig gardens
