Design and (un)implementation
Nothing inspires me more than design that serves the underserved. So an article on Archinect (and link to CTV) caught my attention: students design living spaces for the homeless.
Unfortunately, the homeless will never get the chance to utilize these spaces. This is an example of a great design exercise that is faulty in terms of realistic execution
While it is commendable that the design is informed by interviews with the homeless and certain agencies, did the students have the similar foresight to identify what policy makers would agree to implement? (which of course is an uphill battle full of bureaucracy – but their choice of this programme necessitates such a dialogue).
In addition to designing the physical imprint/aesthetic, the designers must have a feasible plan that addresses the challenges of execution and lifespan
ie: Have they realistically thought about whether communities would welcome clusters of these structures? Especially if these living spaces are “temporary” – thus accelerating their rate of decline? What agency/committee is willing to front the initial set-up and subsequent maintenance costs during this economic recession?
a return to my childhood love: making things out of garbage
when I was little, i had this fascination with turning garbage into (what i hoped) something beautiful or useful. Two decades later, I still feel the draw towards transforming trash into treasure
some online reading
filed under a folder labelled “blog entries” on my desktop are half finished drafts of what i’ve been up to since my return from Tanzania. part of the distraction that keeps me from finishing my edits (apart from trying to desperately catch up with school work), is all the great online reading/video watching i’ve been doing (partly as procrastination from the schoolwork i should be doing). In addition to being hooked on TED talks, NYtimes video, and worldchanging, i’ve also come across a great series of articles written by Mariane Pearl for Glamour Magazine. The magazine’s online interface is hokey, but don’t let that distract you. Each article features incredible women who, in the words of Ms. Pearl “by challenging their own fate, are shaping our world and helping to write the history of our generation.” A child of war, building peace, The AIDS orphan who’s healing her country, Can she save her country?, The sex slave tragedy are incredibly moving and inspiring. For all articles, click here
———————————————
image stolen fromhttp://www.sweetbeginningsllc.com
during my research on urban interventions, i found something very cool that’s been happening in chicago: a programme that hires ex-convicts to become beekeppers/upscale beauty and consumer product producers. situated on a site that has a history of riots, poverty,umemployement, drugs and crime; this programme is revitilizing the area, creating jobs for “unemployables”, and creating a positive impact on the environment. read http://www.nlen.org/documents/in_the_news_09_24_2006.pdf
