Month: October 2016

MAD Unveils Dual Lucas Museum Proposals for Los Angeles and San Francisco

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Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

In the latest episode of what has become a dramatic narrative worthy of its own space opera, The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has revealed plans for their two newest hopes: prospective museum designs, one in Los Angeles and one in San Francisco, that could serve as the new home of filmmaker George Lucas’ eclectic personal collection of artworks, costumes and artifacts.

After their failed proposal for a mountain-shaped museum along the Chicago Waterfront, the museum has again tapped architect Ma Yansong and his firm, MAD Architects, to design both proposals for the California sites, the first along the water on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, and the second for a site in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, adjacent to the city’s Natural History Museum and the Coliseum.


San Francisco Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

San Francisco Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

The two proposals feature similar specs (between 265,000 and 275,000 net square feet and 90,000 – 100,000 square feet of gallery space), and a similar fluid architectural language. As opposed to the soaring tent-like museum envisioned for Chicago, both designs are relatively low-lying and compact. Yet each reacts to its context in appropriately unique ways.


San Francisco Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

San Francisco Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

On the Treasure Island site, the museum has been placed along the water within a larger master plan for the island designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. To combat the site’s blustery seawinds, MAD has chosen to move the majority of the public space inside, instead providing large, glazed surfaces that look out over the water and toward to San Francisco skyline.


Los Angeles Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Los Angeles Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the bulk of the museum would be lifted above ground level, preserving a large percentage of the ground area for a brand-new park. The vegetated outdoor areas would continue onto the building roof, adding 6 to 7 acres of green space to a site currently occupied by a surface parking lot. To accommodate for the lost parking, an 1800-vehicle garage would be constructed under the museum.


Los Angeles Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Los Angeles Proposal. Image Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

Both proposals have already gained the support of their respective city’s mayors, but their support doesn’t make the museum a shoe-in for public acceptance; in Chicago, despite vocal endorsement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, museum plans were still undone by the efforts of local activist groups.

The Lucas Museum is expected to decide upon a site by early 2018, after which they will continue to refine the design for realization.

News via Los Angeles Times, SFGate, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

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Feeling off? 5 ways to get back into alignment RIGHT NOW!

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Energy—it’s everywhere.  Our bodies are composed of it.  Our world is made of it.  No doubt, over the past ten years you’ve heard a lot about energy including the power of our thoughts, the law of attraction, manifestation and the like.  Energy thrives in alignment.  So when you’re having one of those amazing days where everything is going right, chances are, you’re in alignment.  When you’re feeling off, stuck, not so peppy, you got it—the exactly opposite is happening.  You’ve gone out of energetic alignment.

It’s ok to go out of alignment.  We all do.  We’re human and each and every day is a gift of exploration, experiences and ways of being.  In fact, being out of alignment can be an opportunity.  It can show us what or who contributed to us falling out of alignment and help us to evaluate if it was even warranted or if it was worth giving our power away temporarily.  Have you ever had one of those days where everything is moving along quite well, but then one thing frustrates you or annoys you and then you find yourself slipping?  Suddenly that good mood has drifted away?  During that occurrence, you’ve fallen out of energetic alignment.

desireThe natural state of energetic alignment is a feeling good place.  It doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to a person, place or thing.  In fact, it’s more powerful when this feeling good comes from the inside.  It’s always an inside job!  When we’re feeling good, that’s the energy we’re transmitting out to the world—just like an antenna broadcasts a certain frequency.  This transmission informs the energy in the field surrounding you to bounce back more situations and experiences that mirror the frequency of the energy you’re sending—whether good or bad.  It’s the snowball effect.  The energy compounds on top of each other.  So when you’re feeling good, you end up having one of those days when everything goes right.

But what about those times when you do feel off?  How do you get back on track?  It’s simpler than you think.  I’ve found that using all five of these tips works best, however if you are pressed for time try one or two.  The point is to ignite your own minute-by-minute transformation—from feeling off to feeling better.  These steps are the most sure fire way to get you back to that good feeling place.

Move it

Movement doesn’t have to be a full blown workout!  If you’re out there groaning about this one, stay with me.  This step can be as simple as taking a walk around the block on your lunch break or taking five to ten minutes to do some yoga sun salutations.  Exercise triggers movement not only of your body, but of the energy within, freeing up any stagnant or stuck energy.  Also, there are many neurological benefits such as the release of endorphins and serotonin to not only help you feel better, but help you sleep better too!

Breathe

This is one of the easiest steps of the five.  Pay attention to your breath.  Most of us participate in shallow breathing during the course of our day.  Shallow breathing keeps us in a fear-based response within our body.  Taking a moment or two or three to focus on our breath, specifically deep cleansing breaths, releases your body’s pent up tension.  Only three deep breaths can begin to shift your mood and your perspective.

Switch your thoughts.

As you well know, thoughts can shape your experience.  While we have upwards of 40 thoughts per minute, it’s impossible to monitor each and every one.  However, there are some that come up regularly that may be negative and may not even be true!  We are often our own worst enemy.  When one of those thoughts pops up, examine it carefully.  Is there any truth to it or is it a worry, someone else’s opinion, or is it something in the past that should be put to bed?  For those thoughts such as “I’m not good enough,” turn it around in that moment.  Although saying “I am enough,” may not initially move mountains for you, over time switching your negative thought to a positive one will eventually program that thought to the positive end of the energetic spectrum over time.

Smile!

You may think this one is silly, but it’s true.  When we smile, the muscles triggered in our faces release powerful neurotransmitters such as endorphins.  Yes, the same neurotransmitters released in exercise!  If you’re smiling at someone it makes them feel at ease and in some cases can make their day!  Smiling at yourself in the mirror, while seeming corny at first, can actually make you feel better too.  So smile big and shine those pearly whites!

Gratitude.

We’ve heard the benefits of gratitude time and time again.  Why is gratitude so powerful?  It boils down to love and appreciation.  Whenever we’re appreciating a person, place, thing or experience, our focus goes there and is aligned with the vibration of love—one of the highest energetic vibrations in the Universe.  When we feel gratitude, not only does that energy go out and bring back more experiences to be grateful for, it makes us feel better too.

Start practicing these five points daily and especially on days when you start out feeling off or not optimum.  You’ll see the process working for you as you move forward.  If you’re having a great day and you employ these five steps, your day will transform into something phenomenal!  Just know that as you keep working with these tips, your energy is spiraling upward and that increases your ability to feel good and attract in your heart’s desires.

The post Feeling off? 5 ways to get back into alignment RIGHT NOW! appeared first on Change your thoughts.

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This week’s Dezeen Mail features BIG’s Hyperloop plans and a smartphone by Kodak

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dezeenmail-kodak-ektra-smartphone-eastman-kodak-company-bullitt-group_dezeen_hero

Kodak’s new smartphone aimed at photographers features in this week’s issue of Dezeen Mail, along with BIG’s plans for a high-speed transportation system and a dinosaur egg museum in China. Subscribe to Dezeen Mail ›

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Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences / HPP + ASTOC

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© Christa Lachenmaier

© Christa Lachenmaier


© Christa Lachenmaier


© Christa Lachenmaier


© Christa Lachenmaier


© Christa Lachenmaier


© Christa Lachenmaier

© Christa Lachenmaier

From the architect. The Hochschule Ruhr West – University of Applied Sciences in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, in short the HRW, is part of a nationwide development of new universities. With a total of eight buildings and about 62,000 m² of GFA, the university has the dimensions of an autonomous district: four institute buildings, a canteen, a lecture hall and a library as well as a multi-storey car park have been built on the former railway site in the Broich district. The HRW functions not only as a new educational institution, but also as an important component of the urban development concept for the entire university surroundings. For this reason, the various campus buildings reflect the heights and volumes of the surrounding development and the campus itself deliberately opens up towards the quarter and to the adjacent buildings.


Site Plan

Site Plan

The residential area and the infrastructure along Duisburger Strasse will be enlivened and enriched by events and uses of the new university. At the same time a number of different public spaces have been created on the campus that invite one to stop and sit for a while and that are also available to residents for recreational activities.


© Christa Lachenmaier

© Christa Lachenmaier

HPP / ASTOC’s design for the new college campus on Duisburger Strasse was the winner of a Europe-wide, 2-stage competition with a total of 15 participants.


© Christa Lachenmaier

© Christa Lachenmaier

Due to the technical orientation of the courses at the Mülheim location (Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Science and Economics) special attention was paid to services and supply planning and the technology used thereby as well as the climatic impact of the overall development. The project was realised on the basis of a general planning contract; a total of 15 specialist engineering offices were involved.


© Christa Lachenmaier

© Christa Lachenmaier

The grand campus was opened with a speech from Hannelore Kraft, State Prime Minister of NRW and the Ruhr West University presented the work of its institutes and range of courses on offer.


© Christa Lachenmaier

© Christa Lachenmaier

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Happy birthday to President Theodore Roosevelt! As President,…

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Happy birthday to President Theodore Roosevelt! As President, Roosevelt established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks and 18 national monuments on over 230 million acres of public land. His words and actions were a massive contribution to the conservation movement and solidified his legacy as a champion of public lands.

Photo of Theodore Roosevelt at Yellowstone National Park courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Photo of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by Gary Anderson, National Park Service. Photo of President Roosevelt and John Muir at Yosemite National Park from Yosemite National Park’s archives.  

Herzog & de Meuron Win First Place in New Neue Galerie Building Competition

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© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

Three winning firms have been selected in the competition for the Museum of the 20th Century to be located in the heart of the Berlin Cultural Forum in Berlin, Germany. The 200 million euro building and site plan will serve as the new home of multiple internationally significant art collections, including the National Gallery’s Marx and Pietzsch collections, sections of the Marzona collection, and a collection of works from the Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings).

In 2015, the competition was launched, aimed at finding a design scheme that would encompass the site layout, architecture and landscaping around the museum.

Facing stiff competition from a list of 42 renowned finalists, Herzog & de Meuron together with Vogt Landscape Architects has emerged victorious for their brick, warehouse-inspired design. Runner up prizes were given to Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects with SCHØNHERR A / S, and Bruno Fioretti Marquez with Capatti Staubach Landscape Architects, while four jury recognitions were awarded to proposals from OMA, SANAA, Staab Architekten, and Aires Mateus e Associados.

First Prize

Herzog & de Meuron


© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

The winning design is conceived as an interaction of two inner roads, dividing the museum into four thematic quadrants. The interior “boulevards” invite visitors to linger to view art or socialize.

The building’s large gable allow diffuse light to penetrate deep into the building, which can be controlled at select locations for optimal art viewing conditions.


© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

“As in the city, the central intersection is the most well-trafficked place. At the center of the museum, you are able to view the whole of the building and its structure at a glance,” explain the architects.

“We see connecting and networking as the major goals of our project. The museum is the place where different paths cross, where different mentalities and worlds allow an encounter The museum has several entrances, as it is oriented in all directions one could say, the museum of the 20th century is the goal for the far outlying Piazzetta and draws attention to the local collection building for art. “


© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

© Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland Landscape architects Vogt AG, Zurich / Berlin

Second Prize

Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects


© Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark with SCHØNHERR A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark

© Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark with SCHØNHERR A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark

© Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark with SCHØNHERR A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark

© Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark with SCHØNHERR A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark

© Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark with SCHØNHERR A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark

© Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark with SCHØNHERR A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark

Third Prize

Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten


© Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten, Berlin, Germany with Capatti staubach Landscape Architects, Berlin, Germany / Winfried Mateyka

© Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten, Berlin, Germany with Capatti staubach Landscape Architects, Berlin, Germany / Winfried Mateyka

© Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten, Berlin, Germany with Capatti staubach Landscape Architects, Berlin, Germany / Winfried Mateyka

© Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten, Berlin, Germany with Capatti staubach Landscape Architects, Berlin, Germany / Winfried Mateyka

© Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten, Berlin, Germany with Capatti staubach Landscape Architects, Berlin, Germany / Winfried Mateyka

© Bruno Fioretti Marquez Architekten, Berlin, Germany with Capatti staubach Landscape Architects, Berlin, Germany / Winfried Mateyka

The finalists included:

All of the finalists designs will be on display as part of an exhibition on the competition from 18 November 2016 to January 8, 2017 in the Cultural Forum.

News via National Galerie 20.

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8 Fitness Hacks That Will Make Your Life Better

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To stay fit and motivated at the same time in a world full of wonderful distractions is simply not an easy task. Moreover, we all already know how tough it is to stay on track with fitness goals. There are simply those moments when one needs to literally struggle to find the strength to eat clean and hit the gym regularly.

We know how difficult it is so here are some genius health and fitness hacks to make your life better.

Begin The Day With Lemon Water

lemon-water

The only way to go right about all this is to start the day healthily. It will not only help you to stay motivated to eat clean but also to stay active all day long.

Therefore, make sure to develop a habit of having a glass of lukewarm water with a few drops of lemon first thing in the morning. This simple mixture is great for your digestive system and will also simultaneously boost your immune system.

Lemon water is known for its antifungal and detoxifying properties. It also aids in digestion and cleansing the system.

See Also: A List of Superfoods You Definitely Need in Your Diet 

Make A Playlist For Your Workout

Everyone already has a playlist of their favorite music to complement his or her workout nowadays. So, what’s so special about this hack?

The actual trick here is to make a playlist as long as each of your preferred workouts. This way, you can choose the playlist that corresponds with the length of time you intend to work out. You can automatically stop when the music stops and not have to look at your watch or make adjustments to your playlist repeatedly.

Try Different Workouts

A workout routine tends to get boring when one repeats the same routine day in and day out. This eventually leads to various repetitive injuries. Thus, by keeping your exercise regime more dynamic and varied, it will become more fun and encouraging enough to stay on track every day.

The best workout plans always include various types of exercises from stretching to cardio and even strength training exercises.

See Also: Top 5 Fitness Trends for 2016

Get Out Of The Gym

Working out in a gym is fun, but change is also necessary for growth. Therefore, do not just limit yourself to the gym. Take the opportunity to go out in the fresh air to workout whenever possible.

The fresh air, sunshine, and the picturesque views will help boost your motivation. If you are not sure about going alone, sign up for women classes or invite your best buddy along.

Ginger For The Times When You’re Overworked

If you find that you’ve pushed yourself way too hard, reach for some ginger. It can be added to stir-fries, smoothies, juices and even tea.

A study conducted by University of Georgia revealed that eating even just 2 grams of raw or cooked ginger daily reduces muscle soreness from exercising by as much as 25%. Since it contains anti-inflammatory compounds and oils called gingerol, it showed painkilling as well as sedative effects in animal studies.

Eat More To Lose That Fat

Ever heard of such an awesome hack? I suppose not. But, don’t start gulping everything down.

Listen to your body to provide it with enough fuel to stay fired up. Try the three meals and two snacks meal plan to start with. It will help you to improve the energy levels with time.

When In Doubt, Youtube It

Gym memberships are super expensive. Not everyone can afford them. The best way to cut back on those expensive gym membership costs is by trying to workout at home instead.

That’s right, ladies! Make use of the biggest free resource YouTube. Make it your ultimate personal trainer at your service 24 of 7.

Simply  search for free fitness tutorials. You’ll never have to cough out dough for a trainer again.

Drink Up In A Thoughtful Way

drinking-water-everyday

Do you really drink 8 glasses of water every day? To be very honest, everyone does struggle with that. If you are facing the same problem, we’ve got just the trick for you.

Pimp your water bottle with a marker. Draw lines for the water level and write down the time beside it so that you know when to drink. This will help you to achieve your target of 8 glasses per day.

Whatever obstacles you face, don’t give in and keep working hard. These little hacks will get you there.

 

The post 8 Fitness Hacks That Will Make Your Life Better appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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House Between Party Walls / Josep Ferrando

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© Adrià Goula

© Adrià Goula


© Adrià Goula


© Adrià Goula


© Adrià Goula


© Adrià Goula

  • Architects: Josep Ferrando
  • Location: Carrer de Bailèn, 232 bis, 08037 Barcelona, Spain
  • Area: 225 sqm
  • Project Year: 2014
  • Photographs: Adrià Goula
  • Client: Miriam y Eduard
  • Builder: ROOM S.L.
  • Technical Architect: Toledo-Villarreal
  • Structural Engineer: Josep Nel.lo
  • Collaborators: Marta Arias, Carol Castilla, Jordi Pérez, Félix Platero, Goun Park, TaeGweon Kim, Adrià Orriols, Clara Vidal, Borja Rodríguez
  • Budget: 300.000 €

© Adrià Goula

© Adrià Goula

From the architect. Located in the historic center of Sant Cugat del Valles, a house between party walls becomes a city project and a way of life.


Site Plan

Site Plan

A piece that fits complex urban conditions: Monastery surroundings, Cultural Heritage, the main facade and the roof to preserve, 5 meters width and topographical unevenness that leaves the plot in between two streets in different heights.

Inside the existing space, a concrete block house is inserted. It party walls increase their thickness to serve as a filter and server space, generating storage space  in one side and “promenade” space in the other.


Model

Model

Model

Model

Model

Model

These thicknesses creates interior facade walls in the longitudinal direction that increase the spatial feeling in the transverse direction of the house.


© Adrià Goula

© Adrià Goula

Inside the concrete house the wooden plans adapt to the topography and the gaps of the existing facades.


© Adrià Goula

© Adrià Goula

Section

Section

© Adrià Goula

© Adrià Goula

The offset is used to generate visual cross and flood with light all plants to the basement through the vacuum of the upper bounds.


Model

Model

The house program is fragmentated avoiding the continuity of the horizontal plane of the floor as Adolf Loos’s “Raumplan”.


© Adrià Goula

© Adrià Goula

The sequence of houses within the house goes from more urban materials to domestic materials, constructing an empty space that lets light in and configures visual spaces all together. The inner emptiness becomes the square or public space of the house. That space where all eyes are crossed and relationships are built through railings furniture-turn to it.

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Tatiana Blass’ “Penelope” Crosses Chapel Walls with Enigmatic Red Wool

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© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

Made from a combination of tangled and woven red wool, Brazilian artist Tatiana Blass’ installation, “Penelope,” flows inside and out of the Chapel of Morumbi in São Paulo, Brazil. 

The installation was inspired by the Greek myth of Penelope, who was Odysseus’ wife in Homer’s Odyssey. In the story, Penelope weaves and destroys a burial shroud for her husband, in a tribute to the power of love and to weaving. 


© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal


© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal


© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal


© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

At the altar of the church, a large pedal-loom is attached to a 45-foot red carpet that extends to the courtyard, representing power and nobility. From the other side of the loom, a matrix of tangled red wool burgeons outwards, and through the walls of the building, covering the gardens outside.


© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

Like with the myth of Penelope, it is unclear whether the carpet is being constructed or unraveled in the building, creating a merging “of the religious with the architectural and the enigmatic.”


© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

© Everton Ballardin. Via Colossal

Learn more about the project here. 

News via Trend Tablet, H/T Colossal.

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Edgley Design finishes London terrace with angular zinc-clad frontage

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Godson Street by Edgley Design

London studio Edgley Design has completed and moved into this zinc-clad development in Islington comprising basement offices, and a row of terraced houses with a saw-tooth profile. Read more

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