Architectural Consumerism

Francis sent me this piece about consumerist development, where housing has been built just to sit empty for years in the hope of profits, but just destroying habitats. link

Ruin Academy

'Finnish architect Marco Casagrande has successfully converted an abandoned apartment block into the Ruin Academy in Taipei, Taiwan. The Ruin Academy is operated in co-operation between Casagrande Laboratory / Finland and JUT Foundation for Arts & Architecture / Taiwan. It moves in-between architecture, sociology, environmental sciences (including urban design) and environmental art.' See Ruin Academy blog and Francis sent me the following link with more images and plans.

Biodiversity

Horizon on the impact of human society on the Biodiversity of the oceans.
Horizon on BBC iPlayer
The United Nations have declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity - for more information see The UN site and Natural History Musuem

We Live in Public

Josh found this film - We Live in Public - interview below which gives an interesting perspective on society and our relationship with the world. See the film on 4OD here

Unit B in Blueprint

Rodolfo's walking stick was selected as one of the Best Student Projects in Britain by Blueprint magazine.
'The memory of the place is captured by our first impression, precisely at the moment where one’s senses are stimulated, generating a connection between the individual and the city. Before using the walking device we are unable to recognize the beauty and atmosphere of the city. After using the walking device the senses are awakened and the individual is able to identify with the place. What a fantastic idea to have a cup of tea with the aroma and atmosphere of the city you are walking. The mechanism of the device is designed to its details. This will definitely create our better future and improvement in day to day life.' Mami Sayo

See the review of Rodolfo Rodriguez's year 2 work here Blueprint

Philip Beesley: Hylozoic Ground

Hylozoic Ground by architect and sculptor Philip Beesley will be in the Canada Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in Architecture. 'Hylozoic Ground is an immersive, interactive environment that moves and breathes around its viewers. This environment can ‘feel’ and ‘care’. Next-generation artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and interactive technology create an environment that is nearly alive. Tens of thousands of lightweight digitally-fabricated components are fitted with microprocessors and proximity sensors that react to human presence. This responsive environment functions like a giant lung that breathes in and out around its occupants. Arrays of touch sensors and shape-memory alloy actuators (a type of non-motorized kinetic mechanism) create waves of empathic motion, luring visitors into the eerie shimmering depths of a mythical landscape, a fragile forest of light.' "...the glass-like fragility of this artificial forest, built of an intricate lattice of small transparent acrylic tiles, is visually breathtaking. Its frond extremities arch uncannily towards those who venture into its midst, reaching out to stroke and be stroked like the feather or fur or hair of some mysterious animal. Beesley’s Hylozoic Soil stands as a magically moving contemporary symbol of our aptitude for empathy and the creative projection of living systems."- Fundacion Telefonica Jury, 1st prize, VIDA 11.0
Hylozoic Ground

Unit B 2009-10 exhibition

Congratulations to Charlotte, Francis, Will, Hannah and James on their first class degrees.

Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition

The RA Summer Exhibition is on from the 14 June—22 August 2010. The architecture room has been curated by David Chipperfield this year and looks well worth a visit. See the BD link for a review and photos and the RA site for opening times etc.