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Posts Tagged ‘Urban’

Darkened Cities: Urban Skylines Minus Light Pollution

18 Jan

[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

Darkened Cities 1

What would your city look like if it went completely dark? Words like majestic, awe-inspiring and magical come to mind – not as descriptions for the cities themselves, but how some of their most iconic architecture would look as black silhouettes against the bright starry skies of remote places. Artist Thierry Cohen gives us an idea of just who amazing these visuals would be in his series, ‘Darkened Cities.’

Darkened Cities 2

Cohen doesn’t just superimpose random images of the night sky behind each skyline – the imagery is actually what the sky would look like in each of those precise locations. Using methods pioneered by early 19th century photographers, Cohen first takes photos of each location, isolating and darkening the cities themselves, before adding in the sky.

Darkened Cities 3

Taking note of the exact latitude, longitude and angle of each city, the artist tracks the earth’s rotation to capture the sky in a place where light pollution doesn’t affect the clarity of the stars, like the Mohave desert.

Darkened Cities 4

Pictured here, in order of appearance, are Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, San Francisco, Paris, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and New York. See more at Thierry Cohen’s website.

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[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

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Rough Sleeper: Mobile Backpack Shelter for Urban Homeless

25 Dec

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

homeless-animated

Amid the various conceptual designs for addressing large-scale homelessness, this working prototype stands out as refreshingly realistic, practical and applicable to the everyday needs of those sleeping on the streets: mobility, storage and shelter.

homeless shelter backpack design

homeless portable micro shelter

Ragnhild Lübbert Terpling, who studied both design and journalism, created the pack both for homeless populations and ordinary campers, the latter purchasers subsidizing the former group that is in greater need.

homeless shelter backpack

On its functionality: “the hybrid backpack expands into a fully retractable tent-like structure, providing extensive shelter for both those in need or for encampment purposes. Once compressed, the bag supplies enough space for storing essential living supplies; blankets, shoes, and other toiletries.”

homeless backpack contents open

Additional items, like spare shoes or a sleeping roll, can be lashed to the exterior of the pack, while more essential and personal possessions are tucked into compartments that are less easily accessed or removed for additional security.

homeless backpack extras lashed

homeless shelter tent deployed

While it by no means ‘solves’ the problem of homelessness, this product adds a layer of comfort and durability absent from typical de facto shelters like cardboard covers or sleeping bags. In short: it is more short-term patch than long-term problem solver, but at least it is a place to start.

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Parasite Tent Pods: Vertical Urban Wall Homes for Homeless

22 Dec

[ By Delana in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

parasitic homeless tent community

In cities around the world, people are feeling the effects of a weak global economy and homeless populations continue to rise. Taking shelter in cardboard boxes or in isolated tents can be dangerous – not only due to inclement weather, but also for the fear of robbery or violence.

hanging tents for homeless population

The A-Kamp47 project from Malka Architecture gives the homeless a safe place to sleep. Using a blank vertical expanse of wall, they installed 23 small tent pods. The pods are “parasitic” structures, meaning that they rely on another structure to provide them a place to sit.

suspended camp for homeless people

Each tent provides a private space for the city’s homeless. The grouping of tents embodies the old adage “safety in numbers.” Residents can enter their tents via the scaffolding between the wall and the tend pods.

a-kamp 47 homeless tent colony

The project is not without controversy; the wall used by the architects exists in a grey area between private and public space. They hope, however, that their efforts will lead to increased awareness of the homeless problem and encourage people to get involved in the cause.

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[ By Delana in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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Urban Carousel: Merry-Go-Round Made of Shopping Cars

21 Dec

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Installation & Sound. ]

carousel shopping

Subverting the shopping cart, this urban installation is a play on consumer culture and its cyclical nature. Of course, it is also a lot of fun to play with, too.

carousel riders

carousel carts

Set in a public plaza of Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal, the piece aims to subconsciously attract people to playfully interact in the unlikely desert of a cobblestone square, all around a lone lamppost no less. Modular and assembled on-site, the installation could conceivably be deployed just about anywhere.

carousel steel

carousel dusk

“By counteracting the freedom of movement that normally characterizes these carts (ironically moving in circles) we are reminded that consumerism does not take us anywhere… or [at best back to our] starting point.” says Nuno Pimenta.

carousel push

carousel lamppost

carousel context

Whether or not the message is clear to the passerby, the function, at least, is self-explanatory. People readily realize they can push the carts, ride in them and go around in a circle just like a miniature park carousel or its classic carnival-ride equivalent.

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Urban Carousel: Merry-Go-Round Made of Shopping Cars

18 Dec

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Installation & Sound. ]

carousel shopping

Subverting the shopping cart, this urban installation is a play on consumer culture and its cyclical nature. Of course, it is also a lot of fun to play with, too.

carousel riders

carousel carts

Set in a public plaza of Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal, the piece aims to subconsciously attract people to playfully interact in the unlikely desert of a cobblestone square, all around a lone lamppost no less. Modular and assembled on-site, the installation could conceivably be deployed just about anywhere.

carousel steel

carousel dusk

“By counteracting the freedom of movement that normally characterizes these carts (ironically moving in circles) we are reminded that consumerism does not take us anywhere… or [at best back to our] starting point.” says Nuno Pimenta.

carousel push

carousel lamppost

carousel context

Whether or not the message is clear to the passerby, the function, at least, is self-explanatory. People readily realize they can push the carts, ride in them and go around in a circle just like a miniature park carousel or its classic carnival-ride equivalent.

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Parasite Tent Pods: Vertical Urban Wall Homes for Homeless

11 Dec

[ By Delana in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

parasitic homeless tent community

In cities around the world, people are feeling the effects of a weak global economy and homeless populations continue to rise. Taking shelter in cardboard boxes or in isolated tents can be dangerous – not only due to inclement weather, but also for the fear of robbery or violence.

hanging tents for homeless population

The A-Kamp47 project from Malka Architecture gives the homeless a safe place to sleep. Using a blank vertical expanse of wall, they installed 23 small tent pods. The pods are “parasitic” structures, meaning that they rely on another structure to provide them a place to sit.

suspended camp for homeless people

Each tent provides a private space for the city’s homeless. The grouping of tents embodies the old adage “safety in numbers.” Residents can enter their tents via the scaffolding between the wall and the tend pods.

a-kamp 47 homeless tent colony

The project is not without controversy; the wall used by the architects exists in a grey area between private and public space. They hope, however, that their efforts will lead to increased awareness of the homeless problem and encourage people to get involved in the cause.

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[ By Delana in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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Urban Wraps: Neighborhood Scarfs Make Videos Wearable

07 Dec

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

scarf

Cut. Print it. That’s a wrap. One section (or scene) at a time, these designers are turning areas of Brooklyn into fashionable products that abstract the motion and colors of a place, converting them into a physical scarf.

neighborhood scarf design dumbo

nice city urban scarf

First they film a given neighborhood; next they stretch out and process the results; finally they print it out along the length of the scarf. So far they have five to sell but hopefully more to come.

wearable city apparel design

The Brooklyn Block “are a passionate bunch with back ground in interaction, architecture and urban design” whose “goal is to create remarkably thoughtful and exploratory products.”

neighborhood printed scarf 1

neighbordhood printed scarf 2

neighborhood printed scarf 3

One could accuse them of being a bit gimmicky, but a few brief rebuttals for would-be critics: first, on the aesthetic side, the scarfs are quite attractive, and second, on the conceptual side, there is something to be said for the patterns and colors of a place, whether the memories they conjure are consciously or subconsciously recognized. Finally, “The Brooklyn Block offers products that tell stories” – if nothing else, these are neat conversation pieces for those curious about their origins.

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100 Cubic Meters: Split-Level Urban Micro-Condo in Madrid

06 Dec

[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Fixtures & Interiors. ]

small vertical apartment

Good home design is not just about a perfect product but about process and context, as illustrated in this case through diagrams, videos and photos of how to make a small space work on multiple levels in Madris, Spain (both physically and proverbially).

small condo kitchen entry

small unit dimension sections

MYCC (images by  Elena Almagro) managed to fit in a full bathroom, living room, kitchen, bedroom and office into this curiously-shaped urban shelter, narrow yet also relatively deep and tall (approximately: 2 meters wide, 10 meters long and 5 meters high).

small design axon drawing

A minimal combination of stairs and ladders connect the different platforms within the resulting studio, set out of the way and rendered partially transparent (staircase sans risers) or set off to the side (ladder along the wall) to help leave open lines of sight between various rooms.

small unit split level

small condo office bedroom

A large skylight directly illuminates the work space, and, indirectly, the rest of the unit as well. The lack of horizontal space limited opportunities for plan-level complexity, but opened up spatial options in section as the dimensional diagram outline shows below.

split micro condo levels

A quirky animated video takes viewers on a short tour of the conceptual design process, starting with the entry level then splitting off to show how the various floors, nooks and crannies took shape.

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Woodhouses: Photos Envision Tiny Urban Life in the Forest

15 Nov

[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

Woodhouses Miniature Urban Forest 1

What tiny universes might exist behind the bark of trees deep within the forest? You’re most likely envisioning the grubs, ants, beetles and other creatures that actually live out their (sometimes fascinating) life cycles there, but artist Daniel Barreto sees something else altogether. His digitally composed ‘woodhouses’ imagine tiny urban worlds that could be visible to the human eye if only we looked a little closer.

Woodhouses Miniature Urban Forest 2

Barreto photographed trees in a snowy landscape in New Hampshire, as well as doorways, windows and other urban architectural elements from Boston, combining the different sets for an ethereal result.

Woodhouses Tiny Urban Forest 3

Illuminated entrances with intricate ceilings beckon passersby to ascend into the higher branches of a birch tree from within the trunk. Stained glass windows glow, and restaurants offer refuge from the cold.

trees

The flickering lights of gif images from Barreto’s series make the illusion even more convincing, and might just make you want to take a walk around the woods to see what you can spot yourself.

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Urban Nest: New Round Amphitheater Section for High Line

15 Nov

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

high line new nest

New York’s elevated park is expanding in new directions both physically and proverbially, its new addition a stark circular shift from the overall linear nature of the existing spaces.

high line new york

high line green seating

Situated at the intersection of West 30th Street and 10th Avenue, the lush green Spur is at the heart of the new High Line section, providing a fresh kind of urban gathering, interaction and performance space.

high line current rail

high line vegetation trees

Converting more disused rail tracks into raised green space, the nest-like bowl of seating and vegetation provides both background sound relief from the surrounding city and views back out onto its streets below.

high line site plan

high line rail yards

high line bowl nest

Designed by James Corner Field Operations in collaboration with Diller Scofidio + Renfro, this pivotal turning point (quite literally a bend in the overall plan of the park) features woodland grasses, maples, perennials and ferns. The rest of the park bends up into the rail yards at this key point, wrapping back west across Manhattan toward the Hudson River.

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