IKEA

IKEA has been at it since 1950 and each year has created a catalogue. The IKEA museum has released a way to see every page of each years’ catalogue since they first started. I recommend you try and find the one of your birth year and see how far (or not) we’ve all come.

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Solarpunk

A friend recently taught me the term Solarpunk. It’s a genre of Speculative Fiction that focuses on a greener and more optimistic future. The “punk” is: that it’s actually going against the grain.

Here’s a rendering…

Here’s a rendering…

and here’s a project (in Singapore) which is considered Solarpunk.

and here’s a project (in Singapore) which is considered Solarpunk.

UK architects propose mobile vaccination containers

Waugh Thistleton Architects has proposed creating 6,500 mobile vaccination centers in shipping containers that could travel around the UK and immunize the entire population against coronavirus in 16 weeks.

The idea is - this would keep people from overloading hospitals/doctors offices, as well as, reach the more rural areas. Having a plan for the eventual vaccine is key.

See/read more here.

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Tips for Architects Working At Home During COVID-19

“We encourage all architects and designers to do what we do best: face the future with optimism and creativity, and adapt to your present circumstance so that when the coronavirus pandemic passes, which it will, we will emerge ready to design a better future.” - ArchDaily

I believe this statement above and wanted to share it as a reminder and here is the list of tips for most people that will be working from home.

Be good and be well.

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Brick

This is one of those projects that beautifully merges what computers can solve for mathematically to facilitate what humans can construct physically. See more here.

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Geodesic Domes

I found this project when looking for geodesic greenhouse examples. The most interesting part about this house is - it has no frame, which, not surprisingly is based on a design by Buckminster Fuller. Read more about this tiny insulated geodesic dome project here.

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Here’s a framed dome structure I found that seems like it would be fun to make with use of a CNC machine.

Here’s a framed dome structure I found that seems like it would be fun to make with use of a CNC machine.

AS-BUILT Measurements (dimensioning existing structures)

Utilizing existing technologies and for efficiency sake, these are 2 new tools we’ll be trying out this year. The TapMeasure Application, in theory, should record dimensions and sync with SketchUp (our preferred modeling software). The laser measurer appears to be highly accurate (+/- 1/8”) up to 65’ and will be used to verify dimensions. Keep an eye out for future posts once we’ve tried them on several projects.

TapMeasure APP

TapMeasure APP

Laser measuring device

Laser measuring device

Happy 2020!

A goal of ours at b i g f i s h d e s i g n, was to post one inspirational blog entry each day over 2019. It was typically design related, but also included impressive artists, musicians, technologies, scientific advances, etc.

Over 2020, our focus will be more around systems & processes – how we approach projects or maybe how we’d like to improve the ways in which we do things, or…what others are doing that just seems smart and worth sharing. We’ll plan to drop a new post each week (ideally Mondays). 

Here’s an example of a process I’d like to try in 2020. 

Have the color palette for a project derived from nature (e.g. butterfly wing, bird feather, etc.). I jotted this idea in a sketchbook 25+ years ago and haven’t tried it – this feels like the year.  

 Thanks for visiting and all the best in the new year/decade.

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