A Social Experiment

I was looking at information on intentional villages and came across a village in North Yorkshire, England called Botton.  It is considered a social experiment of an environment where nearly half of the residents are adults with learning and mental disabilities.  The documentary I am posting a link to is about 45 minutes long but explains day to day life in the village and follows one man as he attempts to go back into society after living in Botton for 25 years or so.  It answered a lot of questions I had about watching our class video about the effect intentional communities for these types of individuals has on their long term well-being.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co6zuyLfVnc

One Last Halloween Post

I have always had a fascination with Halloween or All Hallows' Eve.  As a Christian I have recognized All Saints day as a day to honor the departed family and friends I trust to be in Heaven.  My family would always place fresh flowers on our loved ones graves and try to remember them fondly instead of mourning the fact they were no longer with us on earth.  

But the lore and legend attached to the Eve of All Saints day has held particular folly and interest.  I like the thought of dressing as someone else to trick the devil.  I like the story of Jack in Ireland and his tricking the devil and how he walks the earth for eternity with a lighted turnip, I could only hope to catch sight of him one dark and spooky night.  I also like the background attached to trick or treating.  It goes back to when families in England would prepare food for the souls returning to earth for one night and how the poor would beg for cakes baked for the festivities.  It became a custom and then it developed to the point where if you didn't treat the less fortunate to a handout they would play a trick on the household.  Modern day trick or treaters are far less concerned with the tricks and always receive ample treats.  

I come from a state where religion and pagan practices merge and I feel that has aided in my enthusiasm toward ghosts and goblins and super natural lore.  But without those stories, October 31st would simply be another day...and whats the fun in that?

Halloween factoids:

• Halloween is based on an ancient holiday 'All Hallows Eve'. It was the one day of the year where dead spirits were allowed to walk the earth.
• Bats fingers are actually parts of its wings and their "fingers" are bigger then their body
• Bats always turn left when exiting a cave
• "Phasmophobia" is a fear of ghosts.
• Of the 4000 species of mammals on the planet, there are 900 different species of bats.
• Worldwide, bats are the most important natural enemies of night-flying insects.
• 9% of Americans report having been in the presence of a ghost.
• During WWII, Americans tried to train bats to drop bombs. They failed.
• Wiccaphobia: Fear of witches and witchcraft.
• Samhainophobia: Fear of Halloween. 
• Samhain is what people who regard themselves as witches call Halloween
• Chocolate is the number 1 for of candy sought out by trick or treaters
• Cats are nocturnal and over the years have been linked to witchcraft and bad luck that comes in the night
• Some believe black cats are witches in disguise or witches reborn
• Halloween was mostly celebrated in the UK and brought over to the America's by English settlers, but has become celebrated throughout most of the world.

Designs for the Future seem to come from the Past

Today in seminar we watched a video called Inventing the Future but the most dynamic and inclusive ideas are more than 50 years old!  Early in the video they said that in the early part of the last century Architecture was driven by Industry and now we are striving to have it be driven by Nature and Ecology.  There needs to be an integration of Nature, Technology, and Humanity.  The most talked about individual in the video was Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller and in the late 1940's-through the 50's came up with many interesting and valid designs such as the now popular geodesic dome and the Dymaxion House and Car.  He was seen a a bit radical because as a society we are so short sighted, he was dreaming up ways to fix what we were breaking by consuming too much energy and resources.  Now that we have dug ourselves into a hole, his ideas, teachings, and creations aren't looking so wacky.
The video talked much more about eco-villages and living machines and all the ways we can reduce energy consumption and start giving back what we have been taking from the earth.  It was very touching for me to see how simple it all can be and it angers me to know society in general, myself included is not doing their part to change the way we consume at a fast enough rate.
I wanted to know more about specifically 2 places we talked about in class today: the Rocky Mountain Institute and Dancing Rabbit EcoVillage.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has something on their website that caught my eye "Reinventing Fire"
It's about how they have 30 years of research to support how we can live without dependence on Oil, Coal, or Nuclear Energy.
http://www.rmi.org/ReinventingFire

I just think it is mind blowing that we as a nation are not living from this example!

The other example is the Dancing Rabbit EcoVillage in Rutledge, Mo.  It is a steadily growing intentional community of people wanting to leave the earth better than they found it.  They are building their own homes, living a life that isn't dependent on the car, setting examples of green design by utilizing a LEED building, and spreading the word by giving tours and telling people how this can be done and proving it works.  

http://www.dancingrabbit.org/

These are actual success stories and living classrooms.  I have said it before but these examples are the key to change.  They let the public know what can be done and how to do it for themselves.  

Google Doodle

I hate to state the obvious, but Google Doodles Rock! They inform you of things you never knew you wanted to know, such as today, October 29th, would have been Bob Ross' 70th birthday! How amazing is that? Ok so it's a little over blown on my part, but honestly think of how something as common as a search engine can inform the masses of really useless info.  Imagine how that could impact really important issues such as reminding people to vote, or read a book (not a top 10 list).  It never fails to intrigue me enough to click on it and read about something, someone, or somewhere I didn't know about.  I love watching Bob Ross as a child at my grandmothers on one of 3 channels that she got...Him and good old Justin Wilson, the Cajun Cook in his red suspenders...And that random squirrel Bob Ross sometimes had.  He made art look so easy, there was a whole following of his who would sit in fron of the television and follow his movements, record his words and actions to an actual VHS tape and practice the technique after he was off the air.  How foreign is that concept to us now? We are in such an age of instant gratification where we can simply YouTube a how to or even the good old Bob Ross video itself.  I think we loose something that way.  I learned to read crochet patterns on YouTube...It could have benefited me much to to take the time to go to a knit shop and receive an actual lesson. Anyway, I guess that is quite the rant, but I will include a link to a video of the one and only Bob Ross, and a taste of Justin as well :)

Quiet Pond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX2AEfZpWT8&feature=related
Feeding Peapod the Squirrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVgQmPDkHOY&feature=related
Justin Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK4umRMJlrs

Artful Expression through Pumpkin Carving

In the spirit of Halloween I was looking at interesting pumpkin carving.  It is something I have only tried to  carve a pumpkin a hand full of times but last year I impressed myself a little with my Jack Skellington.

I have yet to try something terribly difficult this year, I have stopped at drawing on one with a sharpie this year.  But I am hoping to follow some of the stuff I found online.
http://inspirationfeed.com/photography/65-creative-pumpkin-carving-designs/
http://www.bhg.com/halloween/pumpkin-decorating/
http://www.vermont.org/pumpkin/

Land 8 Spotlight

I once upon a time joined the Land 8 Lounge and have since played little with it.  However today I got an email that said 2 of my favorite things (admittedly though I have far too many favorite things): Florida and rooftop garden.  so I couldn't help but open the email that I unfortunately usually send to the trash folder.  Turns out the email held much more interesting things that sent me into an hour long exploration of the University of Kentucky's arboretum, an "in-between garden" in the Netherlands, and an Art and Nature park in Indiana I can't believe I didn't know about before this last trip (not that I would have had the time to go for a run there).

instead of telling you all how fantastic these places seem I will give you the links and let you explore for yourself, but be warned, I'm not done exploring, so it will suck you in and take up too much of your time as well!

rooftop garden
http://land8.com/photo/grovenor-rooftop-garden-3?context=album&albumId=2025679%3AAlbum%3A555622

Kentucky Arboretum
http://land8.com/photo/hand-rendered-site-plan

In-between garden
http://land8.com/profiles/blogs/the-tussentuin-the-in-between-garden-brings-people-together

100 Acres Art + Nature Park
http://land8.com/profiles/blogs/in-place-100-acres-art-nature-park-the-power-of-the-path

Looking up

When thinking of ecological design I am reminded of how important the ground plane is and how water and earth are so drawn to each other.  Placing a building on top of the earth is like wrapping a scarf around your mouth.  It makes it hard to breath, eat and drink.  While working on the design charrette for an eco resort in St Croix the only option for the steep slopes and sustainability was to place the buildings on stilts.  Well for this imaginary Aiken village project it is not the only option but I think it is a very interesting option.  The site has potential to be something new and innovative for the people of Starkville to see how something as simple as not using a slab foundation can aid in restoring streams south of Starkville and fostering an environment of healthier choices leading to happier living.  I found a few interesting sites that featured tree houses and they inspired me to start thinking upward again, there are even whole resorts built above the ground, so why couldn't there be a dorm or apartment designed using the same principles?

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-best-treehouse-hotels

http://www.archdaily.com/43355/treehouse-rpa/

http://awesomespaces.tumblr.com/page/86

http://naturalhomes.org/hemloft.htm

What is Sustainable

When looking into sustainable design you come across a lot of talk of green, energy, and eco....What is sustainability? I found one quote on a website that i think says it well.

Sustainability is: "Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

http://www.keepbanderabeautiful.org/sustainability.html?gclid=CMTj25n8mbMCFQeDnQodnV8Aeg

I look into sustainable designs and I can clearly see the point is simple, make the world better than you found it by using renewable resources and reducing your carbon foot print.  Then why does it seem so hard? why are people so much less willing to sacrifice a few conveniences to insure a better future.  

I'm guilty. I live 24 miles away from school and work, yet I drive less than I did when I lived in town.  When I come to school and work, I am invested in being here, I have not once this semester driven to home and back because I have forgotten something, or just wanted to go to my house, I make it work and I feel a little better about myself.  Imagine how great I will feel when I don't have that commute!

It's the little things like taking the train on a long trip instead of driving, or going to the grocery one time a week instead of 3.  

There are some really good examples of people making lifestyle changes work.  Here is an example of a plan to make a zero energy use neighborhood.

http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/geos.html

http://www.ecolandscaping.org/

This last website is a great resource for information about ecological landscaping from compost to bioretention, pest management to rainwater harvesting.  just a couple of things to think about when trying to wrap your head around what builds a "sustainable" design. 

What is an Eco Village

In light of our upcoming project I wanted to do a little research into what exactly and Eco Village is.  I have my own preconceived notions about some aspects of community living and the odd interactions and rituals that seem to be a part of what I view as "Communes" that are really just a term with negative connotations about community living.  A community is a wonderful thing, and as it has recently been pointed out to me, a community is a gathering of people who share a commons belief.  That isn't to say all of the inhabitants don't have different points of view on topics or sit around chanting mantras and never challenging an idea. My very own thesis is on the idea that people in a neighborhood, town or community will come together to share the practice of gardening out of the joy they get from coming together to grow and learn from each other.

I found a site for an Eco village in Ithica New York that makes all of my ill thought out ideas of what an eco village is. Below are some links to all sorts of different looking eco villages and each has a slightly different program making each individual from the others.

http://gen.ecovillage.org/  this is a website for the clobal ecovillage network and they have a map of the world where you can find an Eco Village near you.

http://ecovillageithaca.org/evi/

http://www.theecovillage.com.au/ an Australian Eco Village of people who enjoy both beach and city living

http://www.thejunglelodge.com/staying-here/your-retreat/  a sustainably built resort in Panama

http://www.lokomuna.de/  I honestly can't tell you a thing about this place because the whole site was in German, but it appears it was built in an existing city which lead me to think it is higher density than other eco villages and a neat urban twist on the concept of sustainable living

My kind of town

Well it was a super short visit, but I already can't wait to go to Chicago again. I barely saw anything, though I ate lots! I had deep dish pizza and spaghetti and meatballs my first night, and only had to walk a block from my friends apartment to get it. We had drinks at the top of the Hancock building, I tried the dim sum experience for the first time in china town and rode a Ferris wheel at the navy pier in the city that housed the very first Ferris wheel. And had ice cream and popcorn on the pier of course. Unfortunately I didn't make millennium or Jackson parks but now I know how to get back. I only have a few pics, but I hope you enjoy. And the one that is dark and has shrubs up a hill, there are at least 3 live bunnies in it! Right smack dab in the middle of the north side's downtown, about 3 blocks from the navy pier.

All my Bags are Packed...

I am about to embark on a road trip up north to visit the great city of Chicago for the first time in my life! i am beyond excited and equipped with the itinerary from the departments case study trip.  I regret to inform you and myself that I will only be able to make it to a fraction of the locations recommended, but I will be sure to see the places I have read about and want to discover.

the first on my list is Jackson Park, I read Devil in the White City Twice and would love to see the place that inspired such a large and costly undertaking and how it looks today (I hear nothing like it did).

And right near where i am staying is a newer park, Mary Bartelme Park, which I have heard is a must.  I look forward to seeing the prairie within the city and will be posting my pictures upon my return with my opinions of the areas I was able to visit.

I will also be going to West Lafayette Indiana which is honestly a place I have had the luck of getting to visit 4 times now.  It is a beautiful campus at Purdue and I got to tour a Frank Lloyd Write house that is still owned and occupied by the man who commissioned it to be built.  I hope to explore something new this trip, but have done zero research as of now as to what that should be, so stay tuned!

here is a link to this great pictorial tour of the grand canal of the World Colombian Exposition.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brooklyn_museum/sets/72157606873382962/

Creepy

In the spirit of it being October and Halloween being just around the corner I have been doing some general research for how to decorate my own yard and entry way and have come across some interesting things having to do with landscapes.  This website is a collection of photos of places in the words that are just naturally creepy. Enjoy!
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/creepiest-landscapes/15802

inspired by halloween

When I was in Italy there was so much to be explored in such a relatively short period of time there was simply no way I could see it all, and unfortunately something I didn't even know I was missing until i had missed it was visiting the Brion Vega Cemetery designed by Carlo Scarpa.  Scarpa was more than just an architect, he was an artist.  He grew up in the region of Italy surrounding Venice and Vicenza. Most of his works are found in Italy but he had projects in Europe, North America and the Middle East.
I want to focus on this odd and intriguing cemetery that feels more like a sculpture park than an eternal resting place.  It has fountains, concrete staircases that lead to the heavens, viewing portals and glass.  It is a cold feeling playground.

the staircase pattern was used a lot

there is an island you can not reach in this pond
perhaps as a metaphor of the afterlife

famous portals out into the courtyard as a view from the main tomb

The boarder wall that you can see when looking through the portal and at the pond area isn't so tall that it stands out about the surrounding corn fields giving it a hidden feel within the landscape.

http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2008/09/18/carlo-scarpas-brion-vega-cemetery/

Eco-Tourism

For all I knew Eco-tourism was using lowimpact forms of travel like mules or bikes and camping.  What I found out at first upset me, that it is travel to places that are some of the rare pristine environments left on earth.  I know for a fact that when I have met people who discover a new, great. beautiful. untouched by developers place, they keep it to themselves, so it doesn't get ruined with cars and people and trash and buildings.  But After reading a little deeper, I found that it is really a way to showing such places do exist and raise awareness for their protection, the low impact form of getting there, camel maybe, is simply an added bonus.
There are "developed" places for eco-tourism that are low impact buildings with values that rely highly on recycling, environmental education, and affirmative action towards cleaning up the environment.  Other places are just well known beautiful sites that attract those who are willing to tough the hike and camp under a tent instead of a climate controlled resort to enjoy it.
A great website that I found through a very simple google search is ecotourism.org and I found it to be something of a members only set up..  I am guilty of traveling somewhere, taking pictures and buying souvenirs, but I have also been that person to go the extra mile to hopefully not be the last person to see an area before it is destroyed.  People who are active ecotourists live a lifestyle of bettering the environment around then and preserving it for future generations to appreciate.
So there you go, a simplified version of a hugely important movement.  Take a look at www.ecotourism.org and see how you can help preserve and visit some of the most fragile and precious gifts nature has left to give.

It's been said before, but I'll say it again...

The United States of America has some of the poorest health in the world.
I was doing a little research into ecotourism (a subject it's turns out I knew NOTHING about) and found a list of the top 10 healthiest countries in the world. That lead to a look into how they are ranked and there is no list that is exactly the same. Bloomberg does a list comprised of birth rates, disease and cancer, weight, and many more factors and get like 3 different lists so ill go with this general list I found on health friend magazine, because it was simple! But I will add still included all the same countries.
10. Australia (far down on the list because of skin cancer rates)
9. Austria
8. Denmark
7. Italy (I was there 7 weeks and never saw butter!)
6. France
5. Germany
4. Switzerland
3. Iceland
2. Sweden (even with those yummy meatballs!)
1. Japan (has some of the oldest people in the worlds diets high in fish and seaweed and government mandated exercise)

A number of years ago there was a Michael J Fox special called the adventures of the incurable optimist. He visited a Himalayan nation named Bhutan where there is government mandated joy, have you ever heard of such! People there take daily walks because it increased endorphins that make them happier people, amazing.
What do we do? We have chili cook offs to raise money for colon cancer... How did we get colon cancer to begin with? Red meats and spicy foods. Things need to change here, we could take a lot from a simple look into Eco tourism.
I may have ranted a bit, but I think through our influence as Landscape Architects, we can help get the people of our nation making better decisions. What is it we do exactly? No one really knows, but one definition of a landscape architect is to look out for the health, safety and welfare of people, I feel we barely touch our most simplified definition of our profession. I honestly had a revelation today, I hope my revelation is something that will guide me through my career.

Angola, a gated community

I can't take credit for the funny, or perhaps punny, title.  I recently visited Angola Stat Penitentiary on a trip home to Louisiana and they were selling t-shirts with the one liner on it.  But, it certainly got me thinking about the fact that it is a built environment and houses thousands of people so it honestly is a community.  It's an agrarian environment at that, they grow much of their own food, fish and raise enough cattle to export the beef.  It is known to some as the Alcatraz of the South, being sent to Angola is no laughing matter, the majority of the inmates housed there are in for life.  But as far a prisons go... It is quite lovely.  It sits on 18,000 acres and has a pastoral landscape and is surrounded by woodlands and beautifully dangerous swamps.  The inmates make all of the license plats for the state of Louisiana and Puerto Rico, they make brroms used in prisons all of the the country and mattresses for all of the jails in Louisiana. It is staffed by nearly 2,00 no nonsense guards and a very popular warden who gives the inmates a reason to wake up in the morning.  They all have a job to do and they make the prison run like a well oiled machine, or a successful town.  It was just an interesting thought, and I figured I would share it.  I hope you enjoyed!