Architecture 2030

I’ve been a fan of Green Architecture for awhile now- I mean who wouldn’t be? If you don’t know what I mean by “Green,” click here. And feast your eyes on one example below;

For those of you who think that Al Gore & his Academy Award Winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth are a farse, you should probably just stop reading. Or maybe, you should keep reading, because as countless studies have shown- including this Scientific Expert Group Report on Climate Change and Sustainable Development presented to the United Nations, our world is between a rock and a hard spot when it comes to rapidly accelerating climate change. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things we can do. And this group, Architecture 2030, is stepping up and leading the way.

“Rapidly accelerating climate change (global warming), which is caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is now fueling dangerous regional and global environmental events. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration illustrates that buildings are responsible for almost half (48%) of all GHG emissions annually. Seventy-six percent of all electricity generated by U.S. power plants goes to supply the ‘Building Sector’. Therefore, immediate action in the Building Sector is essential if we are to avoid hazardous climate change” (Archiecture2030.com).

I suggest you visit their website and check out all the interactive resources they have to offer, including webcasts on The 2030 Challenge, and The 2010 Imperative. Watch the Webcasts here.

The coolest part, by far, of the website is the Case Studies Page. If you’re more into Architecture than Environmentalism, and you only have time to follow one link, choose this one.

In the Language of Autism

I came across this video awhile back on YouTube.com and found myself captivated by this young woman. My mother is a special education teacher and from a very young age I was exposed (through her classroom) to children with “disabilities.” I have always thought of myself as being more educated than the average person on the issues of people living with disabilities, but I am once again humbled by my ignorance. I quote the word “disability” because this video has changed my perception of communication, and of those in which society views as being hindered in general. As Amanda Baggs shows us through In My Language, and also through her feature on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360/360blog, perhaps they aren’t actually dis-abilities, but rather different abilities. I think you’ll find this lesson in communication and the strength of the human spirit to be an invaluable lesson for us all. It’s time to Think Different. Cheers to one more person teaching us all to think outside the box.

1 in every 150 newborns are born with Autism. It’s the fastest growing developmental disability with 10-17% annual growth. If you’d like to learn more about Autism, visit the Autism Society of America for more information.

Light Criticism

This is another “old news” post, but again, it’s worthy. An Anti-Advertising Agency X Graffiti Research Lab collaboration that results in a strong message and at the very least a cool piece of moving artwork. They figured out how to break through the clutter, to make a statement about the clutter.

Graffitecture

As someone with a strong appreciation for art- in whatever form it may come, I have always felt this huge internal struggle when it comes to Graffiti. On one hand it’s such a strong communication tool- often combining art and politics in a powerful use of public space. But on the other hand, there are many instances where tasteless and disrespectful graffiti has not only become a public nuisance but has defaced some of the world’s most beautiful architectural and structural masterpieces.

Well the people behind Graffitecture came up with a unique and invaluable solution: allow 40 Chicaco area graffiti artists to draw directly on photographic prints of architectural spaces. I think this is amazingly cool because it not only allows the graffiti artists to exhibit what they would do given the opportunity to tag these often inaccessible spaces, but it also combines two forms of art that have often found themselves in competition with one another. Here’s a sampling of what you can find in Graffitecture;

L.A.S.E.R.

This was my favorite find of last week! Even though I’m posting it now, and it’s not as “cutting edge” as it was 7 days ago, I still think it’s worthy of some airtime/blogtime. You can read more about this new technology at the Graffiti Research Lab.

And just in case you’re thinking “Why doesn’t that L.A.S.E.R. burn that building?” let me ease your mind and tell you that it’s light that’s amplified and projected onto the building. 100% safe & temporary. Look for Advertisers to be using this technique faster than you can say dolla dolla bills y’all.

Music to your Ears & Eyes

I surely hope that all of you have seen the fabulous Honda Choir spot done by W+K awhile back. You can also watch the “Making of…” the commercial including a rehearsal here.

Because I asbolutely loved this commercial when it first came out, I was pleasantly surprised when the choir & their director were back and in full force performing live last night at the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Check out their performance of “Elements & Motion”

Finally…

I have a blog! All of you can start rejoicing now, because this means I’ll stop flooding your inboxes with random links and videos that I thought you might find interesting- but really I’m the only one that thinks they’re something special!

Good thoughts bear good fruit, so here’s some food for thought…