World Heritage Corb: Le Corbusier‘s Dominican monastery in France is considered one of his most important works, and is next in our series revisiting the 17 buildings by the architect that have been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List (+ slideshow). (more…)
From the architect. The new school facility located in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago accommodates the day school, Moving Everest Charter School (ME), and the after-school provider, By The Hand Club For Kids (BTHC).
Grades K-5 make up the school’s enrollment with each grade totaling (90) students, which is further divided into (3) classrooms. ME utilizes a blended learning rotational model to enable a more personalized learning experience and lower the student / teacher ratio. Within each classroom a teacher and a teacher aide facilitate both direct instruction and collaborative activities at the same time while a percentage of students move out to breakout rooms and the computer lab for independent study. Breakout rooms and the computer lab are centrally located between the classrooms to facilitate an efficient rotation. The connecting slot between the break-out rooms and computer lab serves an additional impromptu learning space and is meant to disrupt the typical corridor arrangement with its diagonal colorful walls, carpet tile flooring, lowered ceiling, playful child height windows and reading nook.
With separate day / after-school providers, sharing the building and creating delineations between the two users was important. Classrooms are equipped with separate keyed closets, lockable sliding marker boards (to reveal and hide materials) and smart projectors to easily change curriculum. A large staff work room on the 2nd floor provides space for a seamless transition between the teachers and after-school staff. Technology further enhances the physical accommodations with a robust fiber internet service & wireless access points, chrome books (for instruction) and a video wall in the main lobby where both users are able to customize their own content and change the identity of the space. A branding hierarchy was established between both organizations and each ID colors, logos, imagery and donor acknowledgment were integrated into the architecture. The exterior composition maintains a strong emotional connection with the community while the bright colors and light filled interior spaces encourage a dynamic learning experience.
Global smartwatch sales have seen their first drop, caused by a significant fall in Apple Watch purchases compared to last year. (more…)
Sparkling Natural Mineral Water company San Pellegrino has announced an international competition between 4 top architecture firms for the redesign of its flagship factory and bottling plant, located at the source of the mineral water, San Pellegrino Terme, Italy.
“This exciting endeavor aims to celebrate the heritage, special source and terroir of S.Pellegrino, while also promoting new standards of efficiency, environmental sustainability and compliance. Further, this project will support the revitalization of the historic region, harkening back to the golden age of San Pellegrino Terme, at the height of the Belle Époque, when the town served as an exclusive destination for European aristocracy,” a spokesperson for San Pellegrino said in a press release.
The four firms competing for the Flagship Factory design are:
BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) (Copenhagen & New York)
MVRDV (Netherlands)
Snøhetta (Oslo)
aMDL (aMichele De Lucchi) (Milan)
The winning entry and timeline for construction will be announced in late September 2016. For more information on the project, visit San Pellegrino’s website, here.
News via San Pellegrino
Designer Ron Arad has created bespoke seating for his overhaul of the hotel in Washington DC made famous by the Watergate scandal. (more…)
From the architect. Paradiso is a coffee shop located in a converted bicycle workshop, in a former industrial area of Geneva.
The fully glazed storefront opens up on the facade of the Ethnography Museum of Geneva across the road. Diamond shapes and strict lines on the opposite museum wall contrast with the round figures of the bar and wall recess. The deliberate curved-out edges of the counter and floor empty spaces create fluid movements inside. Together, lines, arches and flow become elements of a complimentary geometrical language.
The high and lively space on the ground floor is extended by a staircase that leads to a more intimate mezzanine. A single, continuous material is used for the floor and steps ; a terrazzo composed of fragments of black and white Carrara and red Verona marble. The white Carrara marble counter is supported by black, slotted wooden boards that recall stone pillars. The handrail and wall light fixtures are made of brass. A vintage Italian chandelier, also made of brass, is a centrepiece providing subtle and retro lighting to the bar area.
This tailored composition of shapes and materials creates a unique atmosphere, reminiscent of a genuine Italian caffe.
I used to be a person who set goals like a boss. For (too many) years, I designed spreadsheets, tracking tools and creative reward systems that were really quite impressive.
But none of those things got me any closer to actually accomplishing my goals…until I figured out what was really getting in my way and made a change.
Most people decide to set a goal because they want to make something in their life better. They have good intentions. They are motivated. They have decided that they want change. With all of these things going for them, you would think that the next steps would come naturally.
7 Strategies to Shift from Goal-Setting to Manifesting
But for many of us, they don’t.
Here are the top five reasons why most people do not accomplish their goals:
Fear is a really helpful evolutionary tool. It kept your ancestors from being eaten by saber-toothed tigers, and it helps you cross the street during rush hour traffic.
But it also has a way of keeping us stuck when getting what we want involves change and uncertainty (which it almost always does). As a professional coach and consultant, a large part of my job is helping people become friendly with feelings of fear. The first thing I help people understand is that the opposite of fear is not courage. In fact, the most courageous people I know are often joined to fear at the hip.
Changing your relationship with feelings of fear in order to see that those feelings accompany every great success you’ll ever pursue is the most important step you can take when you are feeling stuck and scared. In reality, the opposite of fear is joy, and once you have accepted fear as a partner instead of a saboteur, you will look forward to your next encounter.
If you’re trying to achieve a goal that doesn’t sit with who you are, who you want to be, or what you believe…wait, why are you trying to achieve a goal like that? This is an often overlooked area that blocks a lot of progress plans.
On the flip side, some people find that they can accomplish their goals, but get little satisfaction from their achievements. The problem is the same. You will never feel fulfilled by succeeding at something that doesn’t align with what’s really important to you.
Most people think that they know what their values are, but when asked to define them, many start to stumble. If you can’t clearly articulate your values, it’s going to be really tough to make sure your goals (or your actions, in general, for that matter) are appropriately aligned with what’s important in your life.
If any part of your goal starts with “I know I should…”, or “People are supposed to…”, it is a good indicator that you are trying to achieve someone else’s version of what is ideal. This is the fast-track to feeling empty and bitter, not to mention creating vicious loops of negative self-talk that add nothing worthwhile to your life.
So, if your boyfriend is nagging you to lose 10 pounds, perhaps you should do him one better and lose all 150 pounds of his sorry self–because, really, you are destined for greatness and don’t need that kind of anchor weighing you down.
Goals that focus on perceived character deficiencies do not create lasting motivation. In fact, they drain your energy and lead to self-defeating cycles of negativity. Think about it–would you rather spend your time focused on plugging gaps in your personality, or utilizing your strengths? And notice that I called these perceived deficiencies–who decided that these so-called gaps even exist? Refer to point #4, above, and carry on with your badass self!
Now that you know how to set better goals, get out there and start creating the life of your dreams!
Your turn: Do any of these pitfalls sound familiar? What steps do you take to stay on track towards your goals?
The post The Top 5 Reasons Why You Aren’t Accomplishing Your Goals appeared first on Change your thoughts.
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto this May, Expedia Finland has created “The World According to Alvar,” an interactive visual portfolio containing some of his most notable buildings from around the world. The digital stereoscope allows you to browse through 15 seminal works including the Helsinki Hall of Culture and the Baker House Dormitory at MIT, with a graphic, photo and description for each project. The site will also link you to locations for each project, so you can start making plans for your own Aalto pilgrimage.
Continue after the break to give the portfolio a spin.
Additional information about The World According to Alvar and a full page portfolio can be found on the website, here.
Spotlight: Alvar Aalto
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10 Projects by Alvar Aalto Which Highlight the Breadth of His Built Work
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Six Essential Materials & The Architects That Love Them
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Sig Nordal 