Blog During School

So, from now on, since im back at school with actual school work to do, the blog will change. It will change to basically only pictures, because i dont have time to write about it anymore. So this will turn into a Photoblog instead of Written blog.

Crazy Buildings

1. Sutyagiin House-Arkhangelsk, Russia (tallest wooden house)

2. Cubic Houses-Rotterdam, Netherlands

3. Church-Reykjavik, Iceland

4. Wonderworks-Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA

Stairs

1. From Longchamp store in New York. This ungulating stair is built from 1 and a quarter hot rolled steel that in all weighs 55 tons. It took six months to build

2. From Lello Bookshop in Portugal.

Garbage City

Where: Cairo, Egypt
An honest city of garbage. The city is populated by Zabbaleen, who are people that collect, sort, reuse, and resell this great about of waste. It is so sad and so gross. How did it become so that it is now called a CITY of garbage. Scary. But it is also semi-intriguing at the same time. It is just so amazing.

Olympics in Vancouver

Richmond Olympic Oval

Has wood waved roof. The wood used was affected by Mountain Pine Beetles, so they are using wood that could not otherwise be used. Used for speed skating.

World's Largest Solar Energy Office

Where: Dezhou in Shangdong Province, China

The office building that took shape from a sun dial is 75,000 square meters. It houses multiple exhibition centers, scientific research facilities, meeting and training facilities, and a hotel, which are all run by solar power from the many panels tha cover the roof of the office. One fun fact is that the external structure of the building used 1% of steel used for making the Bird's Nest for the lats olympic games.

Built To Wear

By: Ball-Nogues Studio
Where: Shenzen Hong Kong Biennale 2009
This instillation is made of 10,000 American Apparel pieces. American Apparel is the largest garment factory operator in the US. Throughout the course of Biennale the instillation is going to be dismantled and given piece by piece to visitors. It is meant to evoke thought about oversea manufacturing of American brands. I am glad that they want to bring this issue into light. Although, I am wondering who exactly is really sewing together the clothes even in America, and are they working in sweat shops, or in good conditions. They can boast that they don't ship their work overseas, but that might be because they are working so cheaply here by using poor facilities. Also, it is to remind us of sustainability and how buildings are impermanent.

Plup

By: PLUP Oy Ab Ltd.
Where: Finland
These are new water bottles that are made from PET, Which is a highly recyclable plastic. Right now, hardly any of the plastic of the plastic bottles can be recycled. The bottles will be sold in a regular grocery store with water from the Anttila well in Lestijärvi, Finland, so they will be treated and maybe replace the water bottles now. The bottle will hold 400 ml or 14 fl. oz. The company is dedicated to preserving our wildlife, therefore, 10 euro cents of each water bottle purchased will go towards the Baltic Sea Action Group, that keeps the Baltic Sea clean. The company encourages customers to reuse and refill these bottles. Also they are made of a more durable plastic, so it is a multi purpose container. Eventually, they plan to fill it with different drinks and have different colored bottles. I like the shape, it is more fun, but i wonder how it is to drink from?

Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair

By: Guise (Swedish)

Where: Stockholm

This is a fashion store in Stockholm, Sweden that uses the contrast of white walls with black graphic elements. The shelving is seemingly falling and unfolding from the ceiling, while garments are displayed on grids of thin black metal rods. Although completely white walls are a little played now, I do like this contrast. Usually there would be a color, a bright color, instead of black, but I really like the non-color contrast. Guise was awarded design firm of the year at the Great Indoor Awards last month. They must be doing something good.

Project Bottleshop

By: Aaron Scales
Where: Lexington, Kentucky

Aaron is from the UK College of Design. He created this bus stop for Art in Motion, which is a nonprofit volunteer organization. He used recycled glass Ale-8-One bottles that are illuminated by LED lights. How do these lights work with no electricity? Well the roof is actually solar panels that provide energy for the lights. So inventive. I love the color and the pattern it creates on the ground.