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03
May
10
Nov
I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities. -Dr. Seuss
09
Nov
We had Tali Krakowsky of Apologue Studio come and present on interactive architecture, its possibilities, and of telling stories using space. Her presentation was richly visual, innovative, and inspiring! The work she does to transform ordinary spaces into something new and becoming is mind-blowing. I think she has a finger on the pulse of the future. Watch her- she’s seriously going to places.
08
Nov
Learned about Light Detectives through pure accident (and luck). Was travelling through mediterranean Europe in 2007 for the World Federation of the Deaf World Congress in Madrid. At the time, I was in Ljubljana, Slovenia (a truly jubilant city) and happened upon a Lighting Detectives exhibition. I was completely fascinated and have not forgotten it ever since. The concept, the purpose, and the activities - it all made complete sense. Study lights, especially in urban landscapes, and improve. Get rid of “light pollution” and replace with better and wiser light. It requires patience, time, and a critical eye. And a group of willing friends to make the change. Some extra batteries on hand. Duct tape helps too. Go to their website and check out the part on light ninjas. Then the duct tape part makes sense.
(Submitted by Melissa)
From their website:
»The Lighting Detectives« is a non-profit group dedicated to the study of lighting culture through practical methods, mainly by engaging in fieldwork. Cities throughout the world are filled with light. With rapidly developing economies after World War II, society became brighter and brighter, which made the night safe and provided a highly energy-efficient lighting environment. However, terms such as »light pollution« and »loud lights« are now used to describe the lit environment. Did such an increase in light actually provide us with more pleasant nights?
»The Lighting Detectives« was founded to review the present state of urban environmental lighting - to physically go out with our own feet and eyes to observe lighting in actual use instead of relying on theories, ideologies and preconceptions.
We should go to places where light is found and observe, detect, and gather many experiences to a deeper level. We should leave our books behind and go out into the world where many examples of lighting are found. Natural light teaches us many wondrous ideas/techniques and from street lighting, we learn the reality of the properties of light. With new discoveries, we continue to feel both excitement and anger. This feeling led to the emergence of a curious group called »The Lighting Detectives«.
07
Nov
Book description:
In Interactive Architecture, authors Michael Fox and Miles Kemp introduce us to a brave new world where design pioneers are busy creating environments that not only facilitate interaction between people, but also actively participate in their own right. These space—able to reconfigure themselves in response to human stimuli-will literally change our worlds by addressing our ever-evolving individual, social, and environmental needs. In other words, it’s time to stop asking what architecture is and start asking what it can do.
Interactive Architecture is a processes-oriented guide to creating dynamic spaces and objects capable of performing a range of pragmatic and humanistic functions. These complex physical interactions are made possible by the creative fusion of embedded computation (intelligence) with a physical, tangible counterpart (kinetics). A uniquely twenty-first century toolbox and skill set-virtual and physical modeling, sensor technology, CNC fabrication, prototyping, and robotics-necessitates collaboration across many diverse scientific and art-based communities. Interactive Architecture includes contributions from the worlds of architecture, industrial design, computer programming, engineering, and physical computing. These remarkable projects run the gamut in size and complexity. Full-scale built examples include a house in Colorado that programs itself by observing the lifestyle of the inhabitants, and then learns to anticipate and accommodate their needs. Interactive Architecture examines this vanguard movement from all sides, including its sociological and psychological implications as well as its potentially beneficial environmental impact.
Princeton Architectural Press (September 2009)
28
Oct
Time Lapse in London, October 2011, created by Andrew Bottoms
16
Oct
the lab team is excited to embark on this project, simply and aptly titled The Tower Clock Project. A significant monument to the campus, Tower Clock is a glory yet a gore of a story. Well, all of this remains to be explored in our little project that could…
featuring Ben Bahan in his classic ASL literature story: Bird of a Different Feather.
featuring poet Manny Hernandez from The Gallaudet Film (produced by Bauman, Commerson, and Betts in 2010).
06
Oct
featuring Ben Bahan from a Sign Media Inc. production.
