Forest Temple / Marco Casagrande


© Lina Pilibaviciute

© Lina Pilibaviciute


© Juozas Masiulis


© Juozas Masiulis


© Lidija Kaleninikovaite


© Lina Pilibaviciute


© Juozas Masiulis

© Juozas Masiulis

Forest Temple is a result of the Constructive Shamanism workshop in Lithuania, 2016. A multi-disciplinary tribe of artists, artisans, architects, writers, photographers, yogis and children of forest gathered in the ancient lands of Vytautas V Landsbergis to perform architectural rituals connecting the modern man with nature. 


© Lidija Kaleninikovaite

© Lidija Kaleninikovaite

Sketch

Sketch

© Gabriele Stravinskaite

© Gabriele Stravinskaite

Living in tents and teepees and eating from the nature, the tribe started to do a circular meditative movement to connect a handful of pine trees with natural linen rope. The result is insect architecture, a man-made semi-transparent cocoon swinging together with the trees. Architecture is the art of reality. There is no other reality than nature. 


© Juozas Masiulis

© Juozas Masiulis

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How To Let Your Sun Come Out

You’re reading How To Let Your Sun Come Out, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

How To Let Your Sun Come Out

how to find your sun

You are the only one who can control how you look at life. Yes, you. Not your mom, sister, cousin, uncle, best friend, neighbor or neighbor’s cute little yapping Chihuahua. You. It is like the old glass half full/half empty debate. – you either see life as a miserable, death-welcoming experience or you see life as the most beautiful opportunity to do something brilliant and good. It’s different for everyone; a matter of opinion, so-to-speak. I know people who have had an easy road in life – loving, two parent homes, middle to upper class neighborhood, good education and they are put under surveillance for trying to end their lives. And then I have known people who have had the rough end of the deal – missing father, drug addicted mother, placed in foster care, bounced from home to home, living on generic bologna and white bread sandwiches – and they still smile and laugh as if everything was all hunky dory. Why is that? And how do they do it?

I assure you, it is all about perspective. See, we cannot change the life we are dealt. God decides where we are to go and it is up to us to do something with it. I remember as a kid getting upset when I wanted a toy and my mother didn’t want to get it for me. She would mock me in a moaning voice and say, “let’s all cry with Shelly, she didn’t get what she wanted.” This would only make me more upset. The sad thing is that these pity parties, as we called them, followed me into adulthood — If things didn’t work out the way that I wanted them to, I would get sad and, well, have a pity party. I would look at the situation with gloom and frustration, as if my life was just so awful.

Really? I know, I know.

But then I met someone who changed my outlook. Mickey was a homeless man who was always smiling. He didn’t have anything but what could fit in the small, dirty backpack that was always by his side. He didn’t take for granted all the things most of us do – hot showers (or any shower, for that matter), food, an ice-cold beverage, a dry, soft place to sleep at night. When he received any of those things, his heart was soaring. His smile could light up a room. When was the last time you jumped for joy when you turned the water on for a shower?

That’s my point, folks.

We so often take for granted the things that we are so fortunate to have. To give perspective: I slept in my king size bed last night with two pillows. I was nice a cool with my AC running and my fan going. I turned my electric alarm clock off this morning, opened my eyes to look around for a minute as I used my mind to gather my thoughts for the day ahead. I then found some freshly laundered clothes, took a hot shower, brushed my teeth. Once ready, I headed to work in my car, stopping for coffee and a bagel on the way. Mickey woke up cold and wet from the rain storm we had last night, his makeshift cardboard awning soaked and broken. He knew he must wake up before the sun because the police will be called on him for sleeping in a public area – business owners don’t like homeless people invading their space.

I am grumpy because I had to get up and go to work. Mickey is smiling because he has the chance to see another sunrise – and the sun will dry his belongings.

Perspective.

Life isn’t about comforts, material things, or keeping up with the Jones’s. Life is about loving unconditionally, having a heart brimming with happiness, being selfless, and taking chances. You have been given your life for a reason. Do something with it. Make a point to remember this every day.

____________

Michelle Blan is a freelance writer and avid blogger determined to motivate even those lost in their darkest moments. There is always a way out…I can show you. Check out my blog at www.shellblan.com or follow me on Twitter @ShellBlan

You’ve read How To Let Your Sun Come Out, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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Nearly Zero Energy Building of the Gui’an Innovation Park / SUP Atelier


© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi


© Xia Zhi


© Xia Zhi


© Xia Zhi


© Xia Zhi

  • Architects: SUP Atelier
  • Location: Gui’an, Guizhou Province, China
  • Architects In Charge: SONG Yehao, SUN Qingfen, CHEN Xiaojuan, LIN Zhenghao
  • Architecture Design : SUP Atelier, THUPDI
  • Area: 701.0 sqm
  • Project Year: 2015
  • Photographs: Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

From the architect. Project statement

THE-Studio is both a practical demonstration case which deeply integrates sustainable design strategies with ecological technologies, and an experimental platform for sustainable architecture based on the Moderate Zone in southwest China, aiming to examine whether the detailed design methods and building technologies can truly suit to the local conditions of climate, culture and even economy.


© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

Oriented to the specific project positioning, the design team has developed the multi-system integrated design strategy from the very early design phase to minimize the negative impacts to local ecological system while maximizing the indoor comfort and energy efficiency.


© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

Multi-system integration

The multi-system integration includes three levels: the paralleled construction systems, the integration of vernacular culture with sustainable technology and the BIM platform.


Diagram. Site Section

Diagram. Site Section

Four building systems are implemented in parallel to accelerate whole construction process thus reducing negative interference to the site. Timber frameworks are employed in the large-space exhibition hall, while the prefab light-steel modules are used to shape functional space at both sides. All these structural components and joints are produced off-site and swiftly assembled on site, leading to a significant saving of time and energy. Sustainable service systems (air through tunnel, biomass heating, PVT system, rainwater collecting, control and monitoring, etc.) are mostly plugged into the cavity of façades, which can save installation time, increase indoor flexibility and provide potential space for additional equipment in future experiments. The modular double-skin façade system is a unique integration of vernacular rattan-weaving craftsmanship with industrial prefabrication technology, highly expressing site-specific characteristics while promoting local traditional industry and economy. BIM is also adopted as integrating platform throughout building’s whole life span, especially for coordination of construction, operation and maintenance phases.


© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

Passive design methods

The passive design methods responding to local climatic factors of natural wind, solar radiation and daylight are further contrived by the design team.


Diagram

Diagram

Diagram. Double-glazed façade system

Diagram. Double-glazed façade system

Diagram

Diagram

Firstly, the large-space central exhibition hall with extra-raised ventilating skylights can truly act as a venting chimney to promote both wind and thermal pressure ventilations while providing adequate and colorful light for the interior.Secondly, the double-skin façades consisting of double-glazed façade at the first floor and the rattan-weaving double skin at the second floor are typical climate responsive design. The double-glazed façade can adapt to the seasonal and daily changes of the outdoor environment, through different operative modes of vents and windows to reach the expected thermal and ventilation performance. Four module patterns for the rattan-weaving double skin are also developed and arranged according to local solar radiation and wind pressure on each façade through software simulation, aiming to comprehensively integrate environmental performance, structural stability and material durability together.Thirdly, the building also adopts the underground air through tunnel as the passive air-conditioning system, which can largely reduce the energy consumption particularly in summer and winter. Its vertical venting ducts are further integrated in the air cavity of double-skin façade and distributed into the major working places, providing fresh air while creating indoor comfort. Fourthly, the building highly encourages usage of renewable materials such as timber, steel and wheat-straw board and promote the employment of vernacular materials and craftsmanship such as traditional rattan-weaving, blue-stone floor pavage and rubble wall masonry, which can both decrease the carbon footprint during whole life span and create a unique architectural self-expression.


© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

Detail

Detail

Diagram. Four patterns of rattan-weaving unit

Diagram. Four patterns of rattan-weaving unit

After the building was completed, a series of field measuring and monitoring for thermal, humid, ventilation and luminous environments are carried out and further analyzed. The outcomes verify that detailed design methods and building technologies of THE-Studio at the early design phases were both effective and appropriate during the construction and operation processes, which can be the references to the similar sustainable buildings in the Moderate Zone of southwest China.


© Xia Zhi

© Xia Zhi

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The Roles of Female Enterpreneurs in a Growing Society

The growing trend of female enterpreneurs is happening all over the globe. In the last decade, we have noted numerous faces who have created benchmarks for the rest of society.

Some famous names in women tech startups include:

1- Amy Baxter
2- Adi Tatarko
3- Kathryn Minshew, Alexandra Cavoulacos, and MelissaMcCreery
4- Clara Shih
5- Desiree Vargas Wrigley
6- Halle Tecco

And the list doesn’t seem to come to an end.

These women tech entrepreneurs not only paved new roads, but their startups have inspired and motivated many other aspiring women and people around them to pursue careers of their choice.

According to figures shared by Forbes, approximately ten and a half million women in America run their own business. The report further shared that they add around 3 trillion dollars to the economy, giving jobs to approximately twenty-three million people.

And it’s not just the economy benefitting from their hard work and subsequent achievements. Let us have a look at a few points which discuss the challenges female enterpreneurs face, and how they become silent motivators in the process.

1- Changemaker

A women as an entrepreneur brings a change in her family and the society. Her endeavors inspire others around her to take the initial step, breaking the taboo that dictates entrepreneurship as a masculine activity.

Also, a major portion of their earnings find their way back in the economy in the form of nutrition, health, and education. This is especially true for a woman who likes to spend a major portion of time into human resources.

2- Inspiration

When a female entrepreneur begins her journey, she has to experience many hurdles. These hurdles eventually prevent many to even try working in their expertise field.

However, those who succeed subsequently manage to overcome this masculine dominated business world (perception) and thus become a source of inspiration for many around. Additionally, the ability to balance work and family life brings women far ahead of male entrepreneurs.

3- Realizing expertise

Most of you might agree that a woman has been handling the domestic finance sector since a long time ago. This directly implies they are better in managing things in comparison to men; especially monetary ones. With someone taking the initiative, other women around realize their potential, thereby giving them life wings to fly.

See Also: 8 Reasons Why Women Are Better Than Men at Business

4- Crossing hurdles

A report shares that businesswomen begin their startup with only half the capital of male entrepreneurs. In addition, they only have a third of a probability of accessing equity financing through Venture capital or Angel investments.

Knowing this, we can regard successful women enterpreneurs with even more respect as they are able to breach these obstacles and achieve success regardless.

See Also: 5 Women Entrepreneurs Who Failed Before Becoming Millionaires

5- Lack of mentors

Irrespective of what you do and the stream you belong to, you always need someone to guide you or to bring out the best in you. However, it has been observed that women entrepreneurs face a distinct lack of mentorship.

female businesses

Because of this lack, female enterpreneurs find different avenues to learn. An extra mile to travel, they have to learn and execute numerous actions and steps on their own as they build their businesses. Mistakes, while very educational, are of course time-consuming and delays expected output.

6- Support Network

In one of its reports, INC shares that 48% of female entrepreneurs lack network availability to support. Despite a massive increase in women enterpreneurs recently, to an extent, the field is still ruled by the big boys.

coffee-shop

Sadly, there are also still people who perceive technology and enterpreneurship as a male province. The same group of people eventually creates a scarcity of support network for a women tech entrepreneur. This results in a tough time for women trying to learn, understand and complete the whole business process.

Conclusion:

When a woman reaches the peak of tech entrepreneurship, she has undoubtedly traveled through a long road with many hurdles and obstacles. However, once she reaches the mark, she not only succeeds in achieving her goals but has paved a way for many others to give their expertise a try. She not only creates a business, but she molds her society and her family.

The post The Roles of Female Enterpreneurs in a Growing Society appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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The Path of Fearlessness

By Leo Babauta

The more I work with people who are struggling with habits or life problems, the more I see how fears are holding us back.

Fears stop us from building healthy and productive habits. Fears cause us to procrastinate, keep us from finding work that is meaningful (or doing that work if we’ve found it). Fears keep us from finding friends or connecting with people on a deeper level. Fears keep us from being happy in each moment.

Underlying all of those fears are a few key fears:

  • Fear of failure or being unprepared
  • Fear of uncertainty
  • Fear of being inadequate or being rejected

The two key fears are the fears of uncertainty and not being good enough, and in my experience, they’re both the same thing. We’re afraid of the uncertain future (and uncertain situations) because we don’t think we’re good enough to handle whatever might come out of the chaos.

These two fears (uncertainty and inadequacy) affect our lives in so many ways, and yet we rarely face them. We don’t want to feel these fears, so we run. We distract ourselves. We keep busy instead of being still to feel them. We find comfort in food and smoking and alcohol and TV.

In the end, the running doesn’t work, but only makes things worse.

There’s an alternative: the Path of Fearlessness.

Three Keys to Developing Fearlessness

What would our lives be like if we didn’t have fear holding us back?

We might find the freedom and joy that comes in being present with each moment.

We might find the underlying goodness that’s always there in each of us.

We might be able to finally live the lives we’ve always wanted to live.

So how do we walk this Path of Fearlessness?

Three practices to work with:

  1. Facing the fear mindfully. The truth is, we rarely allow ourselves to feel our fears. We run from them, pretend they aren’t there, distract ourselves, lash out at others, trying to find control. But we don’t even admit we have these fears, most of the time, let alone actually allow ourselves to feel them. So the practice is to just sit there when you notice yourself feeling any fear, and see if you can stay with it for awhile. Don’t stay with the story about the fear in your head, but rather how it feels in your body. See that it is stressful or painful or uncomfortable. Notice the particular physical feeling of this fear, this time. See if it changes. See what you can learn about it. See if you can be compassionate with it.
  2. Seeing your underlying goodness. As we sit in meditation, we can see that this moment is actually pretty wonderful. And this moment includes ourselves. We are part of the unconditional goodness of every single moment, and if we sit still we can start to feel that. There is goodness in our hearts, all the time, if we allow ourselves to feel it. There is the ability to appreciate and wonder, to feel and to love, to be present and to be grateful. Start to appreciate this, and you’ll start to develop confidence that you’ll be OK, even in uncertainty, even if you’re being judged, even if you put yourself out there with vulnerability.
  3. Embracing the joy of groundlessness. Uncertainty is scary because we don’t like the feeling of not having stable ground under our feet. We want certainty, control, stability, permanence … but life is filled with uncertainty, impermanence, shakiness, chaos. This causes the fear. Instead, we can start to embrace this uncertainty, see the beauty in impermanence, see the positivity of groundlessness. This uncertainty means we don’t know what will happen, which means we can be surprised by every moment! We can be filled with curiosity about what will emerge. We can reinvent ourselves each moment, because nothing is set, nothing is determined. There is joy in this groundlessness, if we embrace it.

No, these are not easy practices. But you can practice with them right now, and set aside a few minutes each morning to practice. You’ll see your confidence emerge, your fears dissipate a bit, your ability to appreciate each moment and yourself grow.

The Path of Fearlessness is one of mindfulness, of daily practice, and of finding the courage to face and push past the fears into joy.

My New Course: The Path of Fearlessness

I highly encourage you to join me in my Sea Change Program for one of the most important courses I’ve ever offered: The Path of Fearlessness.

It’s a six-week video course that’s a part of my regular Sea Change Program (free for 7 days, $19/month after that), and consists of:

  1. 2 video lessons per week
  2. A Fearless Challenge: Do daily 5-10-minute Fearless sessions
  3. A live video webinar with me
  4. Daily challenges on the forum (optional but recommended)
  5. Questions about the course can be asked on the forum

Sign up here: Sea Change Program

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T House / IDIN Architects


© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio


© Spaceshift Studio


© Spaceshift Studio


© Spaceshift Studio


© Spaceshift Studio

  • Architects: IDIN Architects
  • Location: Soi Samran, Tambon Lak Hok, Amphoe Mueang Pathum Thani, Chang Wat Pathum Thani 12130, Thailand
  • Architects In Charge: Jeravej Hongsakul, Sethapong Phisitthawanich
  • Area: 260.0 sqm
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Spaceshift Studio
  • Interior Architect : Thuwanont Ruangkanoksilp
  • Structural Engineer: Pakanut Siriprasopsothorn
  • Managing Director: Jeravej Hongsakul

© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio

T House is the vacation house closed by Chao Samran beach. The house is to serve for the big family vacations. The owner has total four siblings and each has own family with two kids, they are altogether more than ten lives if they spend the time here together on their leisure. The main function of this house is for a party, dining and resting. The architects designed under the thinking of sharing space. While everyone is doing their own activity in any corner, each can be seen and talk to each other as if they are at the same space. 


© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio

Diagrams

Diagrams

© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio

The design begins with layout enclosed space of three master bedrooms, and happens to be the common area at the center which open view to the sea and to non-heat direction at the North. The bedrooms also act as shading that block sunlight from South and West to the main common area. One bedroom on ground floor serve the continuity of living space and also convenient for the elders not to hiking to upstairs. The wall of the three bedrooms are designed enable for fully opened in which the entire area of the house become a single space where the activity flows throughout the house both upper and lower. The materials applied for the bedrooms are wood which lying continuously from inside to outside. On the exterior view, the bedrooms are apparently standing out as three wooden boxes, and they are divided only by the glass which is to control the air flow. 


© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio

Sections

Sections

© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio

The interior considered on the owner’s functions and lifestyles. The dining table is adaptable for multiple uses. The bed rooms serve for many persons staying simultaneously. The rope net at the stairs is for the kids to play around. 


© Spaceshift Studio

© Spaceshift Studio

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Dabao Primary School and Community Cultural Centre / Project Mingde and PAN Foundation


© TM Studio

© TM Studio


© TM Studio


© TM Studio


© Clapper Production


© Clapper Production

  • Construction Management: Project Mingde, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong
  • Project Management: Nicolas Shu Yan Yeung, Peter Kai Kwong Lee, Dajiang Guo, Thomas Shiu Tong Ng, Cheuk Pong Wong, Chun Kuen Wong, Ivan Wai Cho Lau
  • Site Supervisor: Shing Chan
  • Coordinators From Dabao Village: Zhongfu Li, Youming Li, Zhengqin Li, Zhengkun Li, Zhengyuan Li, Qing Li
  • Mingde Construction Team: Xian jiajun,Li Xuewen, Hong Jiacheng, He Jinghui, Wang Baiyu,Peng Junnuo
  • Landscape Design: Dorothy Shun Wai Tang
  • Contractor: Guangxi Shenghe Construction Company Ltd., Zhuhai Newtop Decorate Engineering
  • Donation: Shenzhen Cipan Charity
  • Sponsor: Lee Hysan Foundation
  • Coordination Unit: Kelu Meng, Love Seedling Community Service Centre

© TM Studio

© TM Studio

From the architect. Dabao village is remotely situated within the mountain range of Guangxi province in China. The settlement provides home to around 110 families of an ethnic minority group called the ‘Yaos’. The group has its own distinctive dialect and culture. Yao people are often identified by their unique colourful traditional costumes.


© Clapper Production

© Clapper Production

The Dabao project aims at providing the Yaos with a new primary school and a cultural centre. Dabao villagers were invited to actively participate in the initial planning of the project, and involved in construction until project completion.


© Clapper Production

© Clapper Production

The school building is situated within the paddy fields on the mountains of Dabao. The project is designed to merge the building harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Maintaining a balance between the building and the surrounding environment is a prime consideration for the architectural design of this project.


Upper Ground Level Plan

Upper Ground Level Plan

The design concept is structured around the use of layers of walls in addressing the challenges originated from the steep topography of the site. A long bamboo façade along the southern site boundary not only acts as a protective barrier from the road outside, it also regulates the transmission of noise and daylight whilst ensuring privacy of occupants at the same time. The intelligent use of different diameters and lengths of bamboo tubes responds adequately to the different light requirements of the rooms for their respective functions.


© Clapper Production

© Clapper Production

The main level of the building includes two classrooms, each for 30 students, a library, a staff room, a kitchen, and a storage space. An outdoor playground area with a basketball court is located on the second level whereas the roof of the building is accessible for the children to play and for villagers to rest and enjoy the spectacular panoramic landscape. Besides functioning as a primary school, the center also serves as a cultural space for events, festivals and various celebrations of the Yaos.


© Clapper Production

© Clapper Production

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PATCH House / ESEcolectivo Arquitectos


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea


© Lorena Darquea


© Lorena Darquea


© Lorena Darquea


© Lorena Darquea

  • Architects: ESEcolectivo Arquitectos
  • Location: Guayllabamba, Quito, Ecuador
  • Architect In Charge: José de la Torre, Belén Argudo, Pablo Silva y Santiago Granda
  • Area: 230.0 sqm
  • Project Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Lorena Darquea
  • Contractor: ESEcolectivo Arquitectos, José de la Torre
  • Design And Construction Support: Autonomous school of social technology, AL BORDE
  • Client: Angie Padilla

© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

From the architect. Don’t throw anything away. That was the first request the client made for her new house in Guayllabamba, Ecuador. Patchwork and quilting are not only her work, but also her philosophy of life, so she tries to recycle everything she can. The second request was to find solutions for the house on one single level. This would allow comfortable access for her and her mother, who would also be her neighbor in an already existing house just a few steps away from hers. 


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

These two requests would become the basis of the design. All decisions were made with the intention of not throwing anything away and taking advantage of all the materials we had on hand.


Exploded Axonometric

Exploded Axonometric

To begin, a single-level floor plan involved clearing out a large amount of earth. This earth was then used to build the mud walls that became the main structure of the house. In addition, almost all the windows, doors, and cabinets were recycled from the client’s previous home. Everything was recycled as a patchwork design. Materials that would seemingly be considered useless or not worthy were made to work by means of different systems. The windows were joined together and adapted to the wooden columns and mud walls; restored doors were hung from the concrete beams; restored and rebuilt cabinets were adapted to fit in new spaces, and old gates and fences were used to enclose the new garden.


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

The three-meter tall mud walls are arranged in a “C” shape for structural rigidity, which is basic when constructing with rammed earth. The “C” walls shelter the private spaces of the house, which are then closed off with the recycled windows and doors. On one side of the house are the quilting studio, the main bedroom, and the laundry/pet room. These areas allow the owner to withdraw into her own private space even when the house is full of people. This entire side of the house opens out to a private garden through a collage of recycled windows. On the opposite side of the house, three guestrooms are laid out as small yet complete spaces in which to rest.


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

Ground Floor

Ground Floor

© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

The large open living space is located between the two private side wings, and constitutes the central and most important space in the house. This area draws one towards the outside view and recreational zone where family activities are closely related to nature. The inside walls of the house are painted white so that the patchwork wall hangings can stand out.


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

The roof consists of a system of wooden beams, tensioned trusses and a thin concrete slab. Several skylights provide proper lighting for the guestrooms and the corridor leading to the owner’s private quarters.


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

The outdoor area consists of a large avocado and custard apple orchard. The exterior finish of the house is minimal, where the mud walls retain their original aspect, flanked by the recycled windows.


© Lorena Darquea

© Lorena Darquea

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