For the last two years, Andrey Rudenko has been 3D printing a concrete castle in in his yard, layer by layer. Now, his castle is finally finished. Andrey shared pictures of his process over the past two years to mixed reactions from the 3d printing community. While some may have thought he was headed off […]
This outdoor YouTube theater by Cranbrook Academy of Art student Aaron Jones was constructed with zip ties and fence piping: The structure itself is comprised of post processed chain link fence pipe selected for its inherent ability to form an interlocking system that erects in about a day. The physical manipulation of the material was […]
The Treehotel opened recently in Harads, Sweden. It currently consists of four structures: the Cabin, the Blue Cone, the Nest, and the Mirrorcube (see here). Two additional structures are scheduled to open in October: the UFO and A Room with a View. Treehotel
Have you built a straw tower as a student, or have you used the project as a teacher? How well does a project like this work in homeschooling? What techniques work well, and what resources are really helpful?
Around the world, people are preparing systems to deploy in emergencies like the earthquake in Haiti, the Asian Tsunami of a few years ago and other situations such as hurricanes, floods, fires and the aftermath of war. Medical personnel are crucial, but their stuff needs to be with them, and they need a place to work. Below are a number of shelters that can be delivered and set up in places of need around the world. The people developing these systems are working hard, often with little funding and driven by their passion to create better designs. The projects below are all in some phase of the Design Process, and each could have its place in a variety of challenging situations. Each community has its’ own traditions of architecture, and the materials available vary by region. The designers of long term structures need to remain sensitive to these local realities.
Concrete Canvas shelters look like an amazing way to deliver shelter to emergency situations. The building arrives in an airtight bag, is pulled out with a vehicle and inflated. The building can be deployed by just two people (and a bit of machinery) in 45 minutes. After squirting with water, the concrete impregnated fabric sets up and is ready for use in 24 hours. Covering it with an earthen berm helps keep it temperature controlled, and the interior can be kept as a sterile environment.
