What could city planners and leaders learn from a bunch of hippies.
September 21, 2009
September 15, 2009
Recycling Architecture
Financial and safety concerns aside this is an applaudable example of local architects Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello putting the 3 R's into practice. They propose to repurpose the Bay Bridge's old infrastructure into sustainable low-cost urban housing. The Bay Line to be added to the eclectic list of SF neighborhoods.
Why I like their proposal
Overpopulation and the food crisis are two of the biggest challenges ahead. In both of those challenges LAND will play a preeminent role. The recycling of architecture provides with possibility—think of the tons cement awaiting demolition in the US today—and at the same time puts a break on the continuous invasion of the land and endangerment of animal and plant life. While we cannot undone the damage caused by decades of industrialization we can aim to maintain the balance of our ecosystems. We are recycling just about everything else these days and if we can figure out how to safely recycle infrastructure and reuse land we could be taking great steps to solve some of the challenges laying ahead of us.
A little bit Sci-Fi. A lot of cool. Personally I would still rather live on the firm land...
Read the BAY LINE project proposal here.
Why I like their proposal
Overpopulation and the food crisis are two of the biggest challenges ahead. In both of those challenges LAND will play a preeminent role. The recycling of architecture provides with possibility—think of the tons cement awaiting demolition in the US today—and at the same time puts a break on the continuous invasion of the land and endangerment of animal and plant life. While we cannot undone the damage caused by decades of industrialization we can aim to maintain the balance of our ecosystems. We are recycling just about everything else these days and if we can figure out how to safely recycle infrastructure and reuse land we could be taking great steps to solve some of the challenges laying ahead of us.
A little bit Sci-Fi. A lot of cool. Personally I would still rather live on the firm land...
Read the BAY LINE project proposal here.
September 10, 2009
Still Analog
Yesterday Steve Jobs unveiled the new iPods. The most expected announcement was was revolving the video cameras: the new Nano has it, the Touch doesn't. Get over it. To my delight another announcement was made regarding the NANO: the model now incorporates FM Radio. This will be the first radio ever on an iPod.
One mystery remains. Why would Apple put an FM tuner into an iPod, something it has refused for almost 10 years? The answer comes with iTunes-Tagging. In addition to live pausing of the radio stream (and rewinding up to 15 minutes through the buffer) you can tag tracks by hitting the center button. If a radio station supports it, the song info is saved and later you can see a list in iTunes alongside, you guessed it, the option to buy the song. Of course, the fact that the new Zune HD has an HD radio inside may also have influenced Apple’s decision. - WIRED
Economic and competitive reasons aside here is another example of consumers clinging on to tradition, and marketers combining digital with analog.
September 3, 2009
it's a billboard, it's an ad.... what is it?
Advertising is redefining itself. Advertising is not advertising anymore.
This Target Billboard in New York's Times Square is a piece of art produced by NY collage artists: Michael Anderson, Josh Goldstein, Laurie Rosenwald and Charles Wilkin. Free for collective enjoyment. But this piece of art will later be recycled to become Anna Sui bags, sold in Target stores.
This is a magnificent example of the mentality of our times—sustainability, responsibility, efficiency, collectiveness—and of what advertising can become. Bravo Target.
(I am very curious of the role, if any, of the ad agency in this process... anyone?)
the countertrend
I thought one good thing was coming out of this horrible recession: people seemed to be interested in doing good, in being efficient and, most importantly, responsible (perhaps to make up for years of our reckless industrial society).
However last night, I bumped into yet-another-reality-tv-show that was a setback to my original thought.
Set in Detroit, the auto capital of the world, "CRASH COURSE" consists of a series of driving challenges in which the participants use old clunkers to drive recklessly (there is no real driving ability required in their obstacles). Although I can certainly understand the momentary thrill it provides these stunt-men-and-women-wanna-be one can argue on the kind of example it is setting for younger drivers (ABC seems like an odd choice, I was thinking more SPIKE?) and in the middle of an energy crisis.
My question is... Could we possibly find more constructive and responsible ways to recycle our old cars? Perhaps in the area of energy? housing? education? and providing jobs for the unemployed? Something to ponder... Maybe we are not as good, efficient and responsible as we could/should be.
However last night, I bumped into yet-another-reality-tv-show that was a setback to my original thought.
Set in Detroit, the auto capital of the world, "CRASH COURSE" consists of a series of driving challenges in which the participants use old clunkers to drive recklessly (there is no real driving ability required in their obstacles). Although I can certainly understand the momentary thrill it provides these stunt-men-and-women-wanna-be one can argue on the kind of example it is setting for younger drivers (ABC seems like an odd choice, I was thinking more SPIKE?) and in the middle of an energy crisis.
My question is... Could we possibly find more constructive and responsible ways to recycle our old cars? Perhaps in the area of energy? housing? education? and providing jobs for the unemployed? Something to ponder... Maybe we are not as good, efficient and responsible as we could/should be.
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