14/12/2006
28/11/2006
17/11/2006
LINKS...
COOLHUNTING - cool videos and stuff
M SS N G P ECES - they make the cool videos and stuff
MOCO LOCO - modern design stuff
KULTUREFLASH - London events and stuff
15/11/2006
FOCUS I
BTCV, Hounslow Heath
The BTCV, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, charity was set up in 1959 and has a successful history of environmental conservation volunteering throughout the UK and around the world.
We contacted the Richmond office and on a cloudy Tuesday morning met up on Hounslow Heath. Our mission for the day was to conserve an area of heathland at the south of the park. This meant removing vegetation, predominately Broom and Gorse. These plants grew taller the Heather and therefore 'shaded' it out, causing it to die. Traditionally the Heath had been common land and grazed by a variety of livestock. The gazing kept the Broom and Gorse in check, allowing Heather to thrive. Now the livestock has gone and it is up to volunteers to do their job.
The day was a useful hands on approach to habitat creation. It also made me wonder why livestock couldn't be reintroduced to the area. Maybe some sort of 'urban wild grazing animal sanctuary'. The idea of a heard of wild animals roaming the heath has a certain appeal to me.
The BBC has a useful summary of Heathland habitat information here.
Mile End Park, Tower Hamlets
Oh dear, time has not been kind this poor old park...
Completed in 2002 the park has been completely left to ruin.
Water features are stagnant pools of rubbish strewn filth, that is if any water remains.
Planting has been left to die or has disappeared.
All available surfaces are covered in graffiti.
It seems that the community that was so involved in shaping the park has turned its back on it.
CABE has information here.
Jubilee Park, Canary Wharf
Enclosed, Clean, Used, Maintained, Calm...
Stared down upon on all sides by mirror clad skyscrapers this park does an amazing job of making you forget, if just for an instant, that you are overlooked by these behemoths.
CABE has information here.
TATE Modern
SLIDES!!!!!!
Is this the future of urban transportation? What about escape routes for tower blocks?
RESFEST 10
Design, Animation, Film mash up!!!
RESFEST can be found here.
RES magazine online can be found here.
08/10/2006
01/09/2006
Burgers Zoo, Arnhem, Gelderland, NL, {51'N,05'E}
Burgers Zoo is a fantastic zoo. The main attraction, for me, were the biodomes. There are three environments, Rain forest, Desert and aquatic. The environments have been allowed to grow naturally making the whole experience more 'authentic'.
Information - http://burgerszoo.nl.colo2.netmasters06.netmasters.nl/index.cfm
Vlissingen, Zeeland, NL, {51'N,03'E}
360' panorama of Vlissingen waterfront. Old port/castle on the left and the modern on the right.
View into the old port/castle. The building in foreground was the arsenal. The structure to the right is a massive tower/viewing platform which is a massive eyesore and should be dumped.
View towards the modern port. Notice how snug structures are to the dyke.
Four Winds Square. Quiet, calm and quaint. Looked liked a relatively new square, the materials used here have been used in other Areas throughout the town.
Edge interaction of materials.
Massive mural on the side of a warehouse, why? Why not...
More Information on Vlissingen and its history here - http://www.vlissingen.nl/