February 1

Yearbook Magazine on Architizer

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Better late than never, we finally subscribed to Architizer, the social network for architects, firms, and architectural projects. The site was officially launched a few months ago with partners such as Cool Hunting, Storefront for Art and Architecture, and Abitare.

As you can see, the design is simple and slick. The tabs are few and well located, which makes surfing the site easy and clean, and intuitive search is a major usability factor. A notable feature are the filtering handles, to narrow down search ranges in terms of budget, year of completion, and other parameters. The map showing project previews by location in the homepage is definitely a nice web3.0 twist, and there is also a Facebook-style Archifeed to follow the people and firms you want. Users can also submit competition and job offers, which makes using the site even more practical and useful. Read more

October 13

Plurima•Palermo, an urban publishing project

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[Read the Italian version of this post]

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Today we’re pleased to introduce you Plurima•Palermo, a good european example of practice born out of the research of italian architects able to look beyond the parochialism afflicting our country. Starting from specific experiences on the territory or reached by local identities, it offers case studies with such an expressive strenght and glocal meaning that they cross the boundaries of their departure and suggest a shared architecture and communication pattern. Read more

April 27

Reflexe der Moderne

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Here’s something all of you guys in Turin should check out (and the others might also consider visiting, depending on their reach). The travelling exhibition Reflexe der Moderne – Thoughts and positions of Contemporary Architecture in Germany is opening today. The show will be hosted by the exhibition area of the Faculty of Architecture at the Politecnico di Torino (Castello del Valentino) in the Valentino’s Castle (“Sala delle Colonne”) until May 8.

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April 21

FMGxtreme_Lab – (re)inventing natural stone

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April 8

Biomimicry#3
Architecture’s look on Wildlife/Fauna

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After the appreciation following the second one, we’re proud to show you the third of our monthly essays about biomimicry, written by the talented Los Angeles-based researcher Ilaria Mazzoleni.

Biomimicry: 5 Designs Inspired by 5 Animals – part 3

(text and drawings © Ilaria Mazzoleni, 2008)
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“Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Archilochus Colubris”, I.Mazzoleni w/ J.Chavez, biologist, 2008.05
HABITAT: Neotropical migrant bird most commonly found in the Eastern U.S. and Southern Canada during the summer breeding season. Can be found wintering in Central America. Spring migrational paths: These birds move north roughly following the 1.7°C isotherm (avg nightly temp.), following the flowering-blooming and reproduction season, since this is just above freezing they are pushing the limit as far as being able to find insects and flowering plants that don’t thrive at below-freezing temperatures. Autumn migrational routes: many gather in the Southern U.S. in mid-September before flying across the Gulf; some take an overland route through Mexico.
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March 19

La Capital by Dellekamp Arquitectos, Mexico City

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(Drawings © Dellekamp Arquitectos, photos © Iwan Baan)

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Among the protagonists of Living in here, the Mexican Pavillion at the 2008 Venice Biennale, which proposed a collective study by 10 contemporary mexican architects on a big social housing project in the Colonia Obrera neighborhood of Mexico City, Dellekamp Arquitectos is now releasing La Capital. Read more

March 16

Biomimicry#2
Architecture’s look on Wildlife/Fauna

Filed Under design, ideas | 3 Comments

Here’s the second of our monthly essays about biomimicry, written by the talented Los Angeles-based researcher Ilaria Mazzoleni.

Biomimicry: 5 Designs Inspired by 5 Animals – part 2

(text and drawings © Ilaria Mazzoleni, 2008)

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“Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat: Dipodomys spectabilis”, I.Mazzoleni w/ S.Proudian, 2008
HABITAT: Found in parts of the Western U.S, Southwestern U.S., Northern and Central Mexico, specifi cally desert areas where the outside desert temperature during the day does not exceed 49°C, and the night temperature drops to a minimum of -7°C. During the day, these rats stay underground where the air is consistantly more humid. They only come out for a few hours at night to search for food. This allows them to avoid contact with, the dry hot climate, and many predators.
FOOD MANAGEMENT: Storage and management of seed caches by rodents can directly affect spore germination and mold growths. Seeds at the greatest depths are relatively dry and mold free. Caches nearest the surface are moist and mycologically very active. It has been found that kangaroo rats move seeds to different depths and humidities based on their levels of moldiness.
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March 3

Cherubino Gambardella
Neorealismo Magico
Atlante di Architettura 2005-2009

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On march 11th at 5p.m, at Madre, Donnaregina Contemporary Art Museum of Naples, architect Cherubino Gambardella presents an installation and his most recent monographical catalogue titled Neorealismo Magico. Atlante di architettura 2005-2009 (Magic Neo-realism. Atlas of architecture 2005-2009) published by Electa. In this book the author drives the reader through his latest architecture projects and researches with a democratic beauty. Read more

February 16

Beniamino Servino – Obus Incertum

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(Text by Luca Molinari)

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Commenting on chinese artist Ding Yi’s work, critic Cao Weijun writes: “Since 1988, Din Yi repeats this work every day, an extreme challenge for body and mind, without interruption, without ever changing his liguistic style. He believes painting to be necessary in facing the contraddictions of the real world. Since it’s impossible to obtain the truth, the only thing you can do, and you must do, is trying with every possible mean to get close to the truth.”
When I read this short text Beniamino Servino’s work came to my mind. He focused his obstinate, obsessive, resisting research on few recurring elements throughout the years. Read more

February 5

Biomimicry#1
Architecture’s look on Wildlife/Fauna

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We’re proud to announce that once a month, starting with today’s post, we’ll be publishing a series of amazing essays about biomimicry by the talented Los Angeles-based researcher Ilaria Mazzoleni.

Biomimicry: 5 Designs Inspired by 5 Animals

(text and images © Ilaria Mazzoleni, 2008)

The term biomimetics, in all its facetted variations (bionics, biomimicry, bioinspiration) has been in use since the 1950s when Otto Schmitt defined it as “biology + technology” and applied it mainly within the field of engineering.  In the field of architecture, however, this term has been adopted only within the last five to ten years and too often erroneously refers to studies limited to the formal and morphological aspects of the biological world. In the concepts that follow, we expand the term biomimetics by investigating the animal kingdom as a source of lessons and inspirations, and by considering it our teacher, such as naturalist J. Benyus states in her book Biomimicry:  “…[to] use Nature as Model, Measure and Mentor.”  We concentrate on aspects of architectural innovation inspired by “structural” natural elements. We interpret “structural” as meaning all inspiration that “informs the form,” and  provides functionality to the designed elements. Studying animals provides inspiration at many levels.  It is fascinating how they relate and adapt to diverse environmental and climatic conditions, finding strategies to survive that are at times physiological and at times behavioral. This work began with specific studies about thermo-regulation strategies that are developed and used by animals in the most diverse habitats and developed into the study of other aspects of animal physiology, such as energy optimization, water management, and animal architecture—the use of indigenous materials and inventive techniques to produce not only functional but beautiful shelters.  Following, we introduce five projects in a spectrum of possibilities connected to the topics of energy, water management, the wise use of local, natural renewable resources, and the adaptation to climate—all of which are inspired by animals.

“Polar bear”, Ursus Maritimus. I. Mazzoleni w/ A. Colli, 2008.08

CASE #1. HABITAT.

Polar bears are found in the Nordic region of the planet, throughout the Arctic Circle: from Siberia as far south as Alaska. The air temperature there in summer  is -0°C and in the winter is -34°C. The average ocean temperature in this region during the summer is -1.5°C and in the winter -2°C. Even in the most southern region of this area, winter is long and dark, with a maximum sun angle of 4° while summer has long days with a sun angle that reaches 52°.

The guard hair is long, transparent and hollow. The shaft of each hair directs light to the darkly pigmented skin, where the heat is then absorbed. The density of the hair traps and prevents heat loss.
To survive extremely cold temperatures polar bears have adapted; by accumulating fat, hibernating in winter and having thick skin. Pregnant females hibernate and give birth to the cubs in december. they remain in the den until the cubs are three months old.

Polar Bear Inspired Design: Keep it warm. I. Mazzoleni w/ A. Colli, H. Portillo, 2008.07

This project mimics the polar bears physiological adaptation developed in order to survive to some of the planet’s harshest weather conditions. The living units are partially embedded in the earth, not dissimilarly from the bear’s hibernation den. The units are also oriented south-west to optimize heat gain from the sun.
The sun’s energy – heat and light – is harvested by the active skin composed by hollow re-orientable fur-like glass tubes. The energy is conducted through the tube to the insulating strata where is stored, conserved and slowly released. Moreover, embedded in the phase changing material, phosphorescent cells allow the accumulation of light which then gets slowly released at night.

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