Egypt : Barque Solaire de Khéops.
Barque funéraire.
Enfouie depuis environ 4500 ans.
La barque, en bois de cèdre, munie de tout son outillage – rames, cordes et cabine – comprenait 1 224 pièces détachées. Elle mesure 43,5 m de long, 5.9 m de large, sa proue s’élève à 5 m et sa poupe à 7 m. Remontée, elle est actuellement exposée dans le musée situé exactement à l’endroit où elle a été trouvée.
The Khufu ship is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved vessels from antiquity. It measures 43.6 m (143 ft) long and 5.9 m (19.5 ft) wide.
It was thus identified as the world’s oldest intact ship and has been described as “a masterpiece of woodcraft” that could sail today if put into water, lake and river.
However, the vessel may not have been designed for sailing (no rigging) or paddling (no room).
The ship was one of two rediscovered in 1954 by Kamal el-Mallakh – undisturbed since it was sealed into a pit carved out of the Giza bedrock. It was built largely of Lebanon cedar planking in the “shell-first” construction technique, using unpegged tenons of Christ’s thorn. The ship was built with a flat bottom composed of several planks, but no actual keel, with the planks and frames lashed together with Halfah grass, and has been reconstructed from 1,224 pieces which had been laid in a logical, disassembled order in the pit beside the pyramid.
the Larung Valley is a town in Sêrtar County of Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Tibet, Kham (Xikang), China. The population of over 10,000 comprises primarily monks and nuns making it possibly the largest religious institute in the world, and is based around the Serthar Institute founded by Jigme Phuntsok.
Design group prescription., in conjunction with Arup, have developed a sophisticated sundial based off of solar path data that takes the form of a flowering fan. The geometry is optimized using the specific solar data from any world location, giving the sundial a completely unique form based on where it is constructed, and is materialized in a strong, flexible plastic through a 3D printing process.
As the design is 100% scalable, the designers foresee applications for the design in both park and festival pavilions and home installations. Watch the video below to see how the sundial’s geometry is generated, and how a small-scale prototype designed for Amsterdam proves the design concept.
From the architect. Set within the existing Bedford building of The City University of New York, the Medgar Evers College Library renovation transforms an existing 45,000 square foot traditional library into a modern information commons. A new addition, located adjacent to the library, adds a glassy 2,000 square foot welcome center that gives the library a civic presence on the street while providing a new front door to the College along Bedford Avenue.
The concept for the renovation is inspired by the brilliant and reflective pages of illuminated manuscripts and their modern counterpart, the computer screen. Treating each interior surface as a bright reflective page, the renovation transforms the former dark and shadowed space into a bright and airy learning environment that takes advantage of an existing north facing two story glass wall and space frame to admit light deep within the building. Natural light enters the three story space from north facing windows and an overhead skylight to illuminate the space frame, interior surfaces, sculptural stair, group study rooms and offices. A new three story opening along the north facade and new sculptural staircase physically and visually link all three levels. The opening increases the legibility of the space and hence the building’s clarity by allowing the visitor to see the various program functions of the library from the entry. The result is a light-filled inspiring information commons with adjacent study and classroom spaces.
In addition to the interior transformation of the space, the renovation completely transformed the program of the library. Built in the early 1980’s, just before the advent of the computer revolution in libraries, the Medgar Evers library was designed as a traditional collection and study space relying on the isolated individual scholarship model for learning. While individual study spaces and book collections are still available, the renovation transforms the functions of the library into a modern information commons that supports collaborative learning. Significant to this transformation is the reclamation of under-utilized storage space on the lower level for the less public functions such as, technical services, special collection storage and the traditional book collection. This approach freed up space on the main and second floors for more collaborative study areas and technology driven classroom spaces.
The renovated library provides for collaborative technology workstations adjacent to staff reference and nearby help desks. Supplementing the information commons on the main level are group study rooms, a media center and casual seating throughout. Previously the library provided ten computer workstations. The new space now provides 42 computer workstations on the main level, 15 computer workstations on the lower level and access to power and data at every seat. In addition to the information commons, 10 group study rooms, an emerging technology center, testing and advising classrooms, special collections archives and gallery are provided. These additions were possible within the existing structure by reducing and placing the most important collections in compact mobile storage, thus freeing up valuable floor area for program use.
The renovation incorporates a number of sustainable features in order to reduce energy consumption and improve interior environmental quality. The north facing glass wall permits diffused natural light to enter the library and photo optic dimming system monitor light levels and keeps artificial lights off for most of the daylight hours. All enclosed rooms have glass partitions oriented toward the information commons to borrow natural daylight throughout all spaces of the building. Reflective roofing reduces heat gain on the facility and a new high performance heating ventilation and air conditioning system vastly improves energy consumption. Recyclable backed carpet, bamboo wood flooring and paneling, low VOC paints and LED lighting are used throughout to improve the quality of the interior environment.
Sig Nordal 