The Creative Industries Federation has warned that the UK could face a creative skills shortage, after the latest GCSE results revealed a drop of almost 10 per cent in students studying Design and Technology. (more…)
From the architect. The setting for the Clea House could not be more suited for a Nakhshab Development and Design project as it includes aspects that have been the recipe for award winning and published projects. Set in a serene Mission Hills setting on a sloped site, this modern mid-century inspired single family home complements its surroundings and preserves the existing site terrain. A seamless cantilevering style is presented in a single level layout that allows a cozy minimal but luxurious lifestyle. The large rooftop deck allows residents to enjoy the beautiful San Diego climate and to take in the peaceful canyon setting. An elevator allows easy-access into the living area as the garage is built on the lower level, creating greater accessibility to future tenants.
In line with the NDD design philosophy, sustainable measures are used throughout the home to the standard of LEED Gold: Drought tolerant landscaping, nontoxic pest control, water efficient fixtures and fittings, high efficiency LED lighting, energy star appliances, solar PV, and environmentally preferable products. The Clea house is an NDD signature home with the minimal but luxurious, sustainable design that the NDD team has become known for.
We all have an inner Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion – you know that, right? Half way through My Year of TED, I realised that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the ultimate metaphor for life – and for any self-development process. For me, it aligned perfectly with my year-long project to implement the wisdom of TED Talks into my life.
Many activities in that project were designed to improve my ability to be more connected and compassionate to others. I realised that required me to finally acquire a capacity for self-compassion, or at least quieting my inner critic. I’m sure you know the pain of a nasty inner critic – so many of us have one.
Below are the key lessons about finding my heart and self-compassion – or engaging my inner tinman to stick with the metaphor:
If you are incapable of self-kindness, how do you think you can be kind to others. Learn to take control of the inner dialogue that chatters about how you aren’t enough – it will change your life if you can reduce that by even a small amount.
A lot is made about the importance of gratitude, and I think that daily gratitudes are powerful for achieving more joy in your life. But I think this can be extended more broadly to allowing time in your day for reflection. What went well? What did you achieve? What did you get wrong? How would you do that better in future? Reflection helps you remember the good, and take ownership of the learning experiences.
As well as regularly reflecting on your achievements and the good things in your life, it will help to keep some lists or placeholders. A list of your career achievements is a great tool for job applications, performance reviews and salary negotiations – as well as a way to remember all of the things you’ve done well, when your inner critic is trying to convince you otherwise.
During My Year of TED, I realised the main reason I left almost every job I’ve ever had was the organisation conflicted with my values. I’d never understood this, because I’d never consciously articulated my personal values. When they are in conflict it causes this inner disharmony that you can’t fully identify, but will destroy your contentment and fulfilment.
This is much like your values; when you know what success looks like for you, then you can make choices that align to where you truly want to be. It will reduce disharmony and dissatisfaction, which you might be finding it hard to identify. It also reduces that horrible habit we have of envying others, and judging ourselves against their achievements.
If I didn’t mention Brené Brown in here somewhere you’d know there was something wrong. Her two TED Talks were the basis for 30 days of Vulnerability in My Year of TED after all. Embrace your vulnerability and allow yourself to truly connect with other people. If you’re hiding that heart of yours inside your impenetrable exterior (like the Tinman), how you can expect to form real connections with others. I know it’s scary, but it’s so worthwhile.
You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned happy once in this piece. Not because I dislike happiness, but because that has little to do with your heart. I also think it’s something we shouldn’t strive for, but that’s a whole other blog post. As part of learning the skill of self-compassion, I discovered that it was important to embrace all of the emotions. Melancholy and sadness have a place in our lives, just don’t set up camp in those emotions permanently. Honestly, there is a great kindness in embracing these emotions – who doesn’t love a good cry every now and then?
I learned a lot about how to finally embrace self-compassion in my life. Possibly the greatest gift My Year of TED gave me was taming my inner critic. By having a greater awareness and appreciation of these parts of your life, you too will be able to have greater compassion and connection with those people around you.
By following some of these simple lessons, you can open up that Tinman chest and allow yourself to discover your own heart – then share it with others.
The post 7 Ways to Engage Your Inner Tinman appeared first on Change your thoughts.
Architect Renzo Piano has been called upon to lead reconstruction efforts in towns left devastated by the earthquake that struck central Italy last week, and to mitigate against future disasters. (more…)
Diller, Scofidio + Renfro has been selected as the winners of the international South Sea Pearl Eco-Island competition. The competition – hosted by Haikou Municipal People’s Government, organized by HNA Infrastructure, coordinated by HNA Design and CBC(China Building Centre) and lead by chief consultant Vicente Guallart, former Chief Architect of Barcelona – saw 10 leading international firms compete for the design of an 250 hectare eco-tourism hub on a newly constructed island in the Haikou Bay of Hainan, which will contain housing, hotels, tourist attractions and a port with capacity for two large cruise ships.
Beating out runner-up proposals from Foster + Partners and Morphosis, Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s winning proposal was selected after several rounds of voting by the jury, which comprised of leading architectural figures including Aaron Betsky (USA) and Benedetta Tagliabue (IT).
Continue reading to see the range of proposals and comments from the jury.
WINNER: Diller Scofidio + Renfro (US)
The jury found the strength of the project was that it was singular and clear in realizing the Ecoisland as a whole. It would create a beautiful, iconic form rising naturally out the landscape, recalling the volcanic caldera of the area, and shape the island into a continuous structure that would be an extremely efficient compaction of resort, retail, and housing. The project leaves the rest of the island as a place for aquaculture and agriculture, recreation, resort living and cultural facilities. This proposal is one for a truly a human-made island that celebrates all that makes such water-bound places so attractive and beautiful, while contributing to our understanding of deep, intrinsic ecology.
2nd Prize: Foster + Partners (UK)
The jury appreciated the central park the architects proposed, believing this would be a major contribution to the public and an attractor to visitors. They also lauded the attention paid to innovative technologies that would allow for intense agriculture and promised a development that could make extremely efficient use of resources. They were enchanted by the combination of learning, recreation, and living the architects showed.
3rd Prize: Morphosis (US)
The jury liked the shaping of the land to create an undulating park, the placement of the housing along the island’s edges, and the development of cruise terminal and inner harbor area.
Finalist: UNStudio (The Netherlands)
Finalist: IROJE Architects & Planners (South Korea)
Finalist: Office of Architecture in Barcelona Carlos Ferrater Partnership (Spain)
Additional Entry: Boston International Design Group, LLC (China)
Additional Entry: KuiperCompagnons (The Netherlands)
Additional Entry: CCDI (China)
Additional Entry: The Jerde Partnership Inc. (US)
Construction on the island is expected to begin in 2017, with a tentative completion date of 2027. Additional studies are currently underway to determine the design potential of other islands in the Haikou Bay. Hainan, an island in the South China with a population of 9 million people, was declared as an independent province in 1988 to become a tourism-oriented state and has seen many tourist-driven developments since.
News via Guallart Architects.
Renovation of the Secrétan Covered Market: renaissance of a local lifestyle
Almost emptied of its shops and walled up, the Secrétan covered market had become an increasingly foreign object in the district.
Over a century since its construction, this Baltard style covered market, listed in the French inventory of historic monuments, has now been restored and rehabilitated. It has once again found its former vocation and become the new heart of the 19th arrondissement.
On the outside, the building opens generously onto Rue de Meaux, with the masonry walls replaced by a completely glazed façade. The treatment of the surrounds as a wide pavement favourable for strolling around and the integration of shops allow the retail environment to stretch beyond the building.
The interior space has been reorganised and a basement excavated to install several fitness rooms. The central part of the ground floor level is occupied by a food store, thus returning the building to its initial function. On the mezzanine level, a municipal recreational centre has opened its doors to children and families.
The three level roof has been renovated and now integrates all the technical elements (insulation, smoke extraction, etc.). A second independent steel frame has been created to assure the stability of the original cast-iron structure. A number of façade features have been developed (curtain wall with steel frames, fixed glazing, sliding doors, etc.) and particular care taken in restoring the brick and support walls.
Brands have been scrapping their previously complicated logos in favour of flat designs that can be recognised in a heartbeat. We’ve rounded up seven of our favourite minimal redesigns from the last few years, including simplified lions, sans-serif icons and a “responsive W” (+ slideshow). (more…)
Sig Nordal 