DUNE - From sand to stone

Photo Magnus Larsson

Photo Magnus Larsson

Thank to a bacteria, sand is solidified into a habitable structure that protects from wind and sand. As the architect Magnus Larsson said: "in this way, we can start 'growing' controlled oases in the desert, and stop the sand from pushing people away from their homes and villages, which, in the worst-case scenario, may lead to huge migration floods, food shortages, wars, and other horrible situations". Starting upon a research carried out by professor Jason De Jong's team at the Soil Interactions Laboratory, UC Davis (http://www.sil.ucdavis.edu/people-jason.htm), as well as conversations with professor Stefano Ciurli at the University of Bologna, Larsson designs to flush a particular microorganism, Bacillus Pasteurii, through the dunescape to cause a biological reaction that turns the sand into solid sandstone.

Photo Magnus Larsson

In 2008, "DUNE – Arenaceous Anti-desertification Architecture" won first prize in the Holcim Awards 'Next Generation' category for Africa/Middle East (http://www.holcimfoundation.org/T865/A08AMng11.htm).

Photo Magnus Larsson

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Eco luxury in Scotland

Luxury, once a single segment at the top of the market, is now multi-layered, with different customers, marketing and prices. There’s a new luxury consumer with a ‘new slow’ or ‘deep living’ approach to life who wants sustainable, ethical and cultural-based luxury. 

Here below Eco Pod - Boutique Retreat a fantastic exemple of the emergent trend of eco luxury.

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The poetry of spaces

Spaces designed to accommodate large industrial machines are now the setting for artifacts of contemporary art. Those spaces that once were mass production's places for the industrial society, today are place of production of unique objects for the Information Society, focused on individual. The poetry of the spaces, created also by sizes that displace the visitor in an unusual dimension, suggests to redefine relationships between people and his environment. Tate Modern, London - UK

Poesia degli spazi

Spazi pensati per ospitare grandi macchinari industriali fanno oggi da cornice a manufatti d’arte contemporanea. Quegli spazi che un tempo erano luoghi di produzione di oggetti in serie per una società industriale oggi sono il luogo di produzione di oggetti unici per la società dell’informazione incentrata sull’individuo. La poesia degli spazi nasce da estensioni che spiazzano il visitatore proiettandolo in una dimensione inconsueta, che tende a ridefinire le relazioni interpersonali.  Tate Modern, Londra – GB

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The outside, inside

The permeability of spaces in architecture can be seen as a metaphor of a dialogue.
Listening, discussing, and at the end if it has been a constructive dialogue, both take within themselves something of the other, while still preserving their identities.
Vinçon Shop, Barcelona - Spain.

In architettura la permeabilità degli spazi può essere vista come una metafora del dialogo.
Si ascolta, si dibatte e alla fine nel dialogo costruttivo ognuno pur mantenendo la propria identità porta dentro di sè qualcosa dell’altro.
Negozio Vinçon, Barcellona - Spagna.

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Milan future-oriented

Milan is one of the 41 place to go in the 2011 according to Ingrid K. Williams of the New York Times. I hope that within the next few months the rising area of City Life could be well advanced. Even if not, this building site and its architecture represent a positive sign. We are going to live in a city more future-oriented and less fearful of making mistakes.

Secondo Ingrid K. Williams giornalista del New York Times, Milano è tra le 41 città da visitare nel 2011. Spero che nei prossimi mesi il progetto nascente di City Life possa essere già a buon punto. Anche se così non fosse, questo cantiere e la sua architettura rappresentano un segnale positivo. Stiamo incominciando a intravedere una Milano più orientata al futuro e con meno timore di commettere errori.

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Little architectures for kids

Keep the packaging boxes and use them to build the shapes of the buildings that you consider as the most representative of human evolution. Fasten two pieces of the box with staples on the back of the board as basis of the building. Bring then few children's favourites characters to play with. You have got a sustainable game, very low cost, that stimulates creativity and allows you to invent new stories and developing in children a sense about shapes, proportion and harmony.

Architetture in miniatura per bambini
Conservate gli imballi di cartone e utilizzateli per costruire le sagome degli edifici che considerate come i più rappresentativi dell'evoluzione dell'uomo. Sul retro fissate con delle graffette delle L di cartone che fungano da base dell'edificio. Avvicinate poi alcuni personaggi beniamini dei vostri bambini e incominciate a giocare con loro. Avrete ottenuto così un gioco sostenibile, a bassisimo costo che stimola la creatività e che vi permette di inventare storie nuove e sviluppare nei piccoli il senso delle forme, delle proporzioni e dell'armonia.

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