ToastingDesign Blog

Joshua Prince-Ramus makes a strong point about architects:

“architects are for decorative purposes only, and architects are cowards“

Ouch…but he makes some valid points that are very true about our industry that can be summed up by the warning label on a construction helment…check it out

Joshua’s video is two parts that are both fantastic.  The first part outlines the unfortunate state of much of the architecture industry at present while addressing some excellent ideas for moving forward.  The second outlines an innovative project that shows how these steps can create amazing built form!

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The December 2011 issue of Popular Science is their annual Best Innovations of the Year and included two in their Green Tech section that stood out to me. The first is Wysips, a flexible, transparent solar film.

Wysips, from Popular Science

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People often credit their ideas to individual “Eureka!” moments. But Steven Johnson shows how history tells a different story. His fascinating tour takes us from the “liquid networks” of London’s coffee houses to Charles Darwin’s long, slow hunch to today’s high-velocity web.

http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_johnson_where_good_ideas_come_from.html

Full Project Link: Khel Tower | Mumbai Vertical Athletic Sporting Community
The following project is an Advanced Architecture Studio project by Mark Swingler and Kent Hoffman in coordination with Professor Antony Wood, Executive Director of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The project was located in the C-Ward District of Mumbai, India and seeks to make a difference in aspiring athletes lives and communities, ultimately strengthening its legacy for generations to come. Due to the intense population density of Mumbai, it was necessary to move from the horizontal to vertical realm, creating an innovative athletic facility in the sky.

What do you do when you are restricted from building a skyscraper?  Duh, build an EARTHSCRAPER of course!  This is something you have to see to believe…

Talk about flipping architecture upside-down…and yeah, pun intended!

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