Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner, founders of the non-profit research group-turned design practice, Urban-Think Tank, explain their approach to improving living conditions in the barrios (slums) of Caracas, including their vertical gym (shown above) and growing house projects and big plans for a music-education facility. Read the full profile on Architectural Record.
Talk about comprehensive design! This project, a traveling installation that is a collaboration between Droog and Marije Vogelzang of Proef Amsterdam, sloom.org and was part of the recent Pioneers of Change design festival in NY (put on by Droog), incorporates furniture, handmade items like tea bags and felt slippers, food from near and far, elderly people to serve it very slowly – atop reusable wooden serving boards with diagrams on them to show how far each food item traveled, with portions sized appropriately. I’ll leave the rest of the details to the articles at EAT ME DAILY and Good Magazine but I just want to say I LOVE the idea of encouraging people to slow down in life and when they eat, to think about where their food came from and how much of it they really need, to appreciate the time and beauty of a hand-crafted item, and on top of all that – including the most precious people on the planet who are so often overlooked when it comes to anything fun, the elderly. I never knew my grandparents but am really drawn to older people. I’ve actually just started (finally) to volunteer at a retirement center and I think about the elderly in relation to design all the time so this project really inspires and pleases me. It has my gears turning because Portland (where I live) is such a perfect candidate to be a “Slow City” and perhaps could start with its own senior-run Go Slow Cafe. hmm…
I just can’t get over these Vietnamese garments! This is a picture from The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn, a collection of early color photographs taken by the French philanthropist to record the people of the world in hopes of promoting cross-cultural peace and understanding. His life story is as fascinating as his contribution of some 72,000 autochromes, taken “of the peoples of the world, for the peoples of the world.” I found this at CreativeRoots, a blog about art and design in countries around the world.
A Huo, a Guangzhou-born designer and street artist, helped create a photography project called, “Guangzhou Supports You!” that has turned out to be a very contagious way for citizens to express unity and love for their town. It’s a great example of how technology makes artistic collaboration between strangers easy and it excites me to think about where a unified, creative and positive spirit can lead. See photos and read the interview by NeochaEDGE…
Dan Phillips taught himself how to build homes out of anything and everything discarded so that lower-income people in Huntsville, Texas could have interesting – and environmentally responsible – housing. But to own it they have to help build it. Great article and slideshow in the NY Times.
A very inspiring article about young German architect, Anna Heringer, and her fusion of humanitarian ideals, sustainable technology, and traditional “by-hand” building practices.
I put this up not because I give a damn about Audi or how they resorted to such excess to commemorate their hundredth year, but only to pay tribute to the artist for a great concept and a stunning sculpture. And it’s worth considering what corporate sculpture on this scale says about the current cultural environment and what that means to you. Â Dezeen has a great array of photographs from all angles…
…with specially designed “cuddle walls.” DeZeen covers Savannahuis by Dutch architects, LAM.
A fence with tree imagery built in and glasses made out of parts from a retro weight scale…I love the way Daniel Hulsbergen embraces pre-existing objects to derive an entirely new form. That’s a natural approach for any designer to take, but it’s worth stopping and recognizing because doing it well reveals a sensitivity to the meaning and beauty of the original object and also an appreciation for the human impact it already has and a desire to preserve that effect. To me, this is a respectful and positive way of thinking about design.
What to do with the empty big box stores left behind by fallen retail giants? Good question, and one which more and more communities find themselves forced to answer. Read this interview with professor, artist and author, Julia Christensen, for some unusual yet uplifting true stories from her new book on the matter.
I was immediately drawn to this weird pillow-cushion thing that looks like a plant AND is hand-made by South African women who were trained by awesome textile designer (and new hero of mine) Ronel Jordaan. The rad company that carries it is called BE SWEET and is changing women’s lives in South Africa. How inspiring! it’s so great to find a beautiful product on the web and know that the production of it isn’t hurting the environment and IS making a difference in desperate regions of the world because the workers aren’t being exploited but are, in fact, treated well and paid fairly. This is community development that will benefit everyone! Please think about this the next time you want to go shop at Target or IKEA or WAL-MART. Is a factory worker’s misery worth a few extra dollars in your pocket and a cheaper, uglier product in your house? Those gargantuan stores are supposedly “convenient” but they keep money in the hands of the few and everyone else poor.
I will never outgrow my love for Chucks and I actually think this new design is pretty rad to look at. But more importantly, these shoes are part of an initiative to bring artists from around the world together to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Read the designer, Jeff Hamada’s description of the pattern’s meaning, get the scoop on the upcoming release/charity event in Canada, and inform yourself about the awesome business model behind it all…
The LifeStraw, a water filtration system worn conveniently around the neck, is just one of many products made and sold by a private Swedish company whose business is saving lives in the poorest regions of the world. I was intrigued, impressed and inspired by this profile in yesterday’s New York Times.
Wow. Hand-crafted from woven bamboo and soon to be on display at the musee de quai branly in Paris…
In most African countries, 95% of the population is living off-grid with no access to electricity. To address this energy and lighting crisis, the World Bank held a competition and chose 16 winners. Read about the fascinating work of one of them, Lebone Solutions, here…
5000 kids, 15 million discarded icecream sticks and a dream:
“The Children kept repeating what I had been teaching them, things like.. “Hey Rob Don’t Give Up or Give in..†“Anything is Possible.†It was just enough.”
I’m straying from my humanitarian design theme a little here because I love when art and nature come together in such a thoughtful and beautiful way. Michel de Broin is the brilliant artist who produced this work called “Superficial.”
I was blown away by this idea for a living, breathing house that is a direct contributor to the ecosystem. In this era of non-stop and irresponsible development, it’s comforting to know someone is working out every detail of how to make this happen. Pics and explanations here. Story via ecofriend.org.
Incredible story. An inventor is trying to harness the intelligence of crows and use it for good: “Don’t hate the crows… Just let them save you.”
Read the npr story…
Get more in-depth information about this project or donate here.
