Architects and students of architecture stereotypically never stop making, and their creative talents continue to flow irrespective of the holiday season. Our annual challenge is an unashamed way to channel the inventiveness, originality and artistry of our readers from around the world into that most humble of gifts: the holiday card. Out of the 200 submissions, these are 43 of our favorites.
In Le Corbusier’s 5 points of architecture, he advocates the inclusion of flat roofs hosting roof gardens, providing valuable outdoor space for the inhabitants of the building in order to replace the ground lost to the construction of the building. But while this acknowledgement of outdoor space was important for people, Le Corbusier‘s sculptural concrete roof gardens were little consolation to the non-human flora and fauna that were displaced by his works.
Recent improvements in our understanding of ecosystems and the environment, as well as a better scientific understanding of the needs of plants, have changed this dramatically. In the past few decades, green roofs and living roofs have exploded in popularity, and now adorn every kind of building–from small private houses to the gigantic surface of Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.
We’ve collected together some excellent examples of these living roofs, including the structural detailing that makes them possible. Read on for 13 spectacular green roofs that achieve environmental benefits including reduced stormwater runoff, and reductions in energy use and the heat island effect.
The existing rooms on the northern facade of the bungalow were adjusted in order to form a functional strip, serving as entrance hall, bathroom, storage rooms and a private office space. The living spaces were aligned in an open space along the southern facade, benefiting from large windows that give acces to morning and afternoon terraces and the garden. Two furniture elements divide the open space: a fireplace and a kitchen cabinet.
Ground Floor Plan
In the existing garage two compact children’s bedrooms are fitted in, which open onto a playroom. On top of the bedrooms a volume is added with a master bedroom, a bathroom and a dressing. This crow’s nest is reached through an open staircase in the living room.
A newly constructed flat roof, with visible wooden beams, gives rhythm to the interior space. The span is reduced by introducing a new central bearing line, by means of a steel profile, resting on two tender steel columns.
Section
The bungalow is provided with an insulating shell, covered with a cladding of thermally modified timber. By preserving the existing isolated cavity wall, deep window bays are created, with windows reaching to the floor level. In the detailling of the cladding facade horizontal joints were introduced in a well-balanced composition.
Product Description. The thermowood cladding gives the facades a modern look, as the timber ages it becomes plain gray, which works very well in combination with the natural anodised aluminium profiles.
In Le Corbusier’s 5 points of architecture, he advocates the inclusion of flat roofs hosting roof gardens, providing valuable outdoor space for the inhabitants of the building in order to replace the ground lost to the construction of the building. But while this acknowledgement of outdoor space was important for people, Le Corbusier‘s sculptural concrete roof gardens were little consolation to the non-human flora and fauna that were displaced by his works.
Recent improvements in our understanding of ecosystems and the environment, as well as a better scientific understanding of the needs of plants, have changed this dramatically. In the past few decades, green roofs and living roofs have exploded in popularity, and now adorn every kind of building–from small private houses to the gigantic surface of Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.
We’ve collected together some excellent examples of these living roofs, including the structural detailing that makes them possible. Read on for 13 spectacular green roofs that achieve environmental benefits including reduced stormwater runoff, and reductions in energy use and the heat island effect.
Our experience of information is changing. We now consume more and more information digitally, with much of this being non-textual. Videos, photos and GIFs have become commonplace, with technology allowing these mediums to be as easily shareable as text. This gives way to another trend: the increase in the number and accessibility of online platforms. Not only is more information being digitized, but more dynamic ways of digitization are being developed; multimedia articles and online exhibitions, for example, hope to provide a more engaging way of sharing information.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
Architects are getting in on this online exhibitionism too, with Moscow-based architecture firm Meganom having their debut cyber “show” on Thngs. Each “show” is a curated collection of archived objects, with Meganom’s online exhibition featuring their architectural models from the past 18 years. Clicking on a model gives further information on its dimensions, weight and materials, with the entire group accompanied by a mini essay and timeline.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
But what exactly is Thngs, the host behind these online exhibitions? Seeking to be a Wikipedia of physical objects, Thngs is an online archive providing photos and information on hundreds of objects, from 40,000 BC through to today. They put forth the argument that “each thing is a source of objective information about our past, present, and even future.” Thus, the digital archive is a response to the fact that “the physical preservation of all things is not possible, but we can preserve information that things contain.” Their shows complement this larger archive, giving further insight to selected groups of related objects, like the Meganom models.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
Thngs differs from websites like Thingiverse or WikiHouse, as its catalog is purely a cultural exercise rather than a functional one. Rather than providing for the production of large numbers of new objects, it records those that have already come into existence. There is poetry in this, a respect for the many physical things that surround us and make up our world. The Thngs team appears conscious of this sentiment and the difference between recording and reproducing. Its shows are one such attempt to provide a function that differentiates them as a website that records instead of reproducing. This differentiation is further seen in the website as a whole, which is especially beautiful and crisp—making it feel like you’re really “visiting” somewhere special.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
However, until Thngs catalogs every single physical object that has come into existence (which is near impossible), there is unavoidably a conscious process by which someone chooses what to include in and exclude from the catalog. This is where Thngs begins to stray from its goal.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
A search for “chair” is a good example of this, with the results largely being upscale, Eurocentric designer furniture (though other categories, especially electronics, also include pop culture icons such as the original iPod or GameBoy). Commonplace chairs that are in other ways also iconic, like school chairs and bus seats for example, are currently left out. This implicit bias ultimately jars against Thng’s democratic aim of providing comprehensive, objective information. So perhaps what is needed is a method of selecting objects which is as fresh and innovative as their way of displaying objects, and a self-awareness of their role as curator. Otherwise, Thngs falls back into an old-fashioned approach to curation despite its contemporary platform.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
Fortunately for Thngs, other institutions have already begun to set a precedent in this regard. Of note is the V&A Museum’s “rapid response collecting,” where items are “collected in timely response to major moments in history”—meaning that it is society, rather than a curator, who dictates the importance of an object.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
When selection of an object is based upon its position as a topical, culturally charged artifact, the selection process is also vastly shortened. This is a huge breakthrough for a museum that has, for most of its history, rejected items less than fifty years old. There is also opportunity for open discussion over what items should be considered, via the hashtag #rapidresponsecollecting. Considering these elements make up the V&A’s approach to “the museum as a blog”, it would be fitting for Thngs—the blog as a museum—to take on a similar methodology.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
Furthermore, though Thngs mentions future hopes to “provide possibilities for the re-creation of things,” transforming the “digital form back into the physical” with accompanying files for 3D printing, the website currently lacks this feature and relies solely on photographs to represent the object. These three-dimensional models, as well as other modes of representation such as videos, would certainly give Thngs a more convincing presence, pushing it towards the realm of projects like the Million Image Database Project, which preserves at-threat artifacts through 3D documentation.
Courtesy of Thngs Co.
There are many innovative aspects to a project like Thngs, and what it has already achieved is undeniably a beautiful contribution to the growing world of digital archives. But if it’s to reach its full potential it is not a technological, but a human issue that is of central concern: how best to achieve an objective curation of objects.
Why is it so hard to say sorry? While we desperately want to hear others telling us sorry, many times we turn this simple job into a chicken and egg game or use it to put blame on others. Since we all make mistakes at one time or the other, it’s prudent to learn how to say sorry. Usually, the key to forgiveness is to put a smile on the other person’s face.
Here are 5 different ways to say sorry.
Accept the responsibility
If you are like many, your perception may be clouded with the feeling that your loved one has hurt you. It might also be difficult for you to accept and acknowledge your reaction.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where the right part of the brain that has passion, love, and creativity is always locked up in right and wrong. When we see with our hearts, we tend to apply meaning to every action thereby weakening our ability to accept responsibility.
Remember, it can be hard to apologize to some people since they may use the opportunity tell you how wrong you were. Thankfully, any sincere apology does not require any response.
Instead of just talking directly to the person, you can write for them a poem showing how you feel about them. Just keep it simple, give it to them, and say I am sorry.
You can also leave a note or a poem where they are sure to find or see it. Wait somewhere until you are sure that they have read it then come out and apologize to them.
The humorous side of the poem will remind them how funny and great you are hence they cannot stay angry at you forever. You can even send them love text messages.
If it’s your partner whom you want to apologize to, attack them in a playful way until they accept your forgiveness. For instance, you can kiss, hug, and even start tickling them. Who will remain angry at you if you are behaving this way? However, to avoid making the situation worse, do not go overboard. Instead, start small and move up gradually until they give in. Wait until your partner has cooled off from the thing that made him/her mad.
Use puppy eyes
This is the reason why dogs get away with so much when they are still young. When you shout at them, they give you those eyes that just melt your heart.
You can sit next to the person and apologize to them with puppy eyes. Just do these until they notice you and you will see them laugh. Say I am sorry but continue to look at them. If they do not accept immediately, continue giving the puppy eyes every time you meet them.
Donate to his or her favorite charity
This is also one of the best ways. Just make a donation to your partner’s favorite charity. Once you do this, they will know that you are genuinely sorry about what you did and that you value the relationship.
Well, these are some of the best ways to say sorry. However, none of these ways will work if you are not truly sorry about what you did. The worst thing to do is to pretend.
The Rosenberg Ricky & Golan is a residential project designed by SO Architecture in 2015. It is located in Yehiam, Israel. The Rosenberg Ricky & Golan by SO Architecture: “The Rosenberg Ricky & Golan home in Kibbutz Yehiam was designed in natural woodlands in a young residential neighborhood which is being built on the outskirts of town. The House was built on a sloping topography across the field. The formal..
The Pillars is a new monument in the heart of Copenhagen dedicated to informing the public through a combination of national data and artistic beauty. Inspired by other nationally recognized works such as the 10,000 Year Clock in Texas; Mount Rushmore in South Dakota; and the Fühlometer (Feel-o-Meter) in Lindau, Germany, The Pillars encourages both citizens and leaders to understand the facts of their national development.
Powered by data from established sources such as the UN, Statistics Denmark, and the CIA World Factbook, The Pillars are modeled after the birch trees common to Nordic forests, with lit holes in place of the markings on trees. These holes light up to visualize information about Denmark in the last decade; for example, an increase in life expectancy would be signified by lights turned on over more than half the height of the tree.
Courtesy of Søjlerne
Other trees represent unemployment, GDP, pollution, income equality, and mortality. The goal, according to the team of architects, policy makers, and international ambassadors responsible for the project, is to help the Denmark’s people understand their country’s development and continually strive for improvement.
Sig Nordal 