Great little gem on the outskirts of Madrid. More here at Penelas’s website.
Khudi Bari - MTA (Marina Tabassum Architects) Bangladesh
These structures provide dwellings for landless dwellers. They are in response to the accelerated erosion along wet areas and mimic traditional homes of the Bengal delta. Khudi Bari translates to tiny house.
Greehouse by Joost (Melbourne, Australia)
Very impressive idea and implementation of a net zero house that is also a mini farm and education tool with all systems working together. Check out this 8min video highlighting many of the smart ideas.
Bee Bricks
Fun idea. I’d really like to design or see a whole structure made of these. Next…a way to access the honeycomb (maybe on the inside?). More here.
Outdoor Classroom by Al Borde Arquitectos (Ecuador)
The most interesting thing about this raised platform structure is the canvas canopy with a sprayed-on high-strength cementitious mortar that will help endure inclement weather and sun exposure. Through a lifecycle analysis, it was determined that the cementitious covering provides a 68% reduction in a roof's carbon footprint, compared to a concrete tile roof. Read more.
Peaches!
Piper picked this batch earlier from our dwarf peach tree (which is presenting more as a 3/4). Likely 7-10 more rounds of harvests this size - if we can stay ahead of the squirrels and birds.
Pedaling through California’s Redwoods - Rail Bikes
This seems like a fun way to re-use abandoned train lines, get a little exercise in a low impact way and absorb a little nature. Also feels a touch science-fictiony. Read more.
El Terreno Communal Garden - Vertebral Architects (MEXICO CITY)
Lots to love about this entirely recycled/re-used educational garden. It will be on my list when headed to Mexico City (hopefully in the near future). Read more.
Walter De Maria, The Lightning Field 1977 (New Mexico)
One of the more interesting site specific land art projects. Consisting of 400 stainless steel poles arranged in a rectangular 1 mile × 1 kilometer grid. I love how it celebrates the anticipation and power of the thunderstorm.
If...Sgt Peppers and the Yellow Submarine had a baby
Emily’s Spring experiment continues.
Bird houses
Spring is here tomorrow and perhaps I can hardly wait too. Great simple bird houses and graphic renderings by Husos Architects.
The new seedlings have begun
Emily has started yellow peppers, rosemary & lavender. The trick seems to be using a heat pad to fool the seeds into “thinking” the ground is warm enough to “hatch” and then a grow light to help the tiny plants “believe” the sun is out longer.
Andrew Goldsworthy
Seth and I had conversations (not infrequently over the years) about the power of ephemeral art. My initial thoughts about how to memorialize Seth, Adam and Andy is to make something Goldsworthy-esque (over the summer) in the area where he and his close friends died. Something that will require revisiting over time to either reassemble or make anew. Something that will surely be a group project. Something subtle. Something beautiful.
Step by step : Propagating Succulents
At the moment, I’m a bit obsessed with succulents - maybe it’s their elegant Fibonacci structures or could be their seemingly tough exteriors with gentle interiors. Whatever it is, I found this helpful post from Needles + Leaves for making more from cuttings and leaves.
Xenobots
Made from frog embryos, these new lifeforms are millimeter-wide “xenobots” that can move towards a target. They may also be able to pick up a payload, such as a medication, that can be delivered to a specific place inside a person. The xenobots can also heal themselves after being cut.
The future is here. Read more.
Inside Plantings
We started veg. and herb seedlings in our lg. south-facing window at the beginning of pandemic to get ready for summer plantings but have now decided to try it indoors for winter. I’ll update as the experiment continues.
Sneci, the teeny tiny Houseboat - Tamás Bene (architect)
This combines two of my favorite things. Check out more pictures and information here.
Immortal Jellyfish
About the size of an adult human fingernail, these organisms have a remarkable ability - they can reset from old age to new again, hence the immortal. Turns out, other jellyfish may have this unique Benjamin Button gift as well. More here.
This story was recommended by my daughter Piper.
Venus Fly Traps
Creepy but pretty cool. How do they remember they’ve caught an insect? Japanese scientists are working on it and here’s what they’ve learned.
The Ocean Cleanup
Boyan Slat was just 18 when he founded The Ocean Cleanup, an ambitious system for removing plastic waste out of the world's waterways. The aim is for plastics-free oceans by 2050.
