Harmonographs: Visualizing nature´s aesthetics

I stumbled upon harmonographs when searching for wooden mechanics on Youtube. Have a look at these stunning machines:

Screenshot of harmonograph video on Youtube

Click here for watching the video.

What is.... Cradle to Cradle?

Source: epea.com

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is a strategy based on circular systems. Its founders Prof. Michael Braungart and William McDonough believe that all natural resources must be returned into the biological cycle. Unlike other concepts (e.g. carbon footprint), restriction is not part of C2C. Braungart often uses the image of a cherry tree to demonstrate nature´s abundance.

Source: http://www.valuewalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Cherry-Trees.jpg

It produces far too much cherries, but still, it works perfectly. The cherry tree therefore doesn´t work effectively. Effectivity is not the answer: Braungart also uses the phrase "be good, not less bad" and the phrase "if you want to travel to Munich, it doesn´t make any sense to travel to Hamburg effectively" which also shows the uselessness of so many other environmental programs and sustainability concepts.
Have a look at William McDonough´s speech at the TED conference in 2007:

You can get more information about C2C at the site of EPEA, Braungart´s research institute in Hamburg:
http://epea-hamburg.org/

Lore and science in ancient Pythagoreanism

Wish to give a brief insight into the various field of research on dodecahedrons, their meanings and history. Here are some passages that I´ve found in Lore and science in ancient Pythagoreanism (Walter Burkert, Harvard University Press, 1972)

Metastadt (Metacity) Wulfen

Metastadt Wulfen was a modular architectural complex developped in the 60s by Richard J. Dietrich and built in the 1970s. It had 102 flats that could inhabit 400 people, steel elements formed the basic structure. Sadly, it was demolished in 1987 due to constructional defects. After all, it is still an example for modular building in Germany.

From above (source)

Amphibious Houses in the Netherlands

The inevitable rise of the sea levels puts water as human living space into the focus of attention. Dutch architects have created so-called Amphibious Houses that adapt to changing sea levels in the Netherlands. They are attached to the ground, but lift autonomously when sea levels are rising as they are built on floating foundations. This is a realistic possibility of facing changing conditions, instead of ignoring the climatical changes in our times.
Building on water in this case also means a return to a nomadic lifestyle: "You can move them along the river, and go to a city which is close to the river, and park your home there in a special harbor which is constructed for this type of boat," Zevenbergen, one of the architects, says. "That we call a nomadic way of living, that you can change the area where you live depending on the season or whatever."

Amphibious house near Maasbommel, NL (source)

Green Roofs - a wise building technique

Green roofs are old, very old. They are being used thousands of years. In Scandinavia, according to what I`ve read until now, they exist especially in Norway (Sami people) and the Faroe Islands. The Vikings used to build houses with lawned roofs which causes a good interior climate. Also the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon tell about gardens upon houses.
In general, green roofs have many advantages. For example, they store water, so that water gets in contact with the roof much later, which can prevent damage on pipelines. The most obvious advantage is the prevention of extreme temperatures in the interior.

Sami house (source)

Earth lodge (source)

Faroe Islands (source)

Green Roof building by Zaha Hadid (source)

16th century coloured engraving of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (source)

Dymaxion by Buckminster Fuller

Dymaxion was the name Buckmister Fuller gave several of his inventions. These were: a very futuristic car (planned 1933, aerodynamic teardrop form, three-wheeled, foldable, could be disassembled and re-assembled), Dymaxion Car:



...then a world map projected on a modified icosahedron, the Dymaxion Map:

Source

....and, among more others, of course the Dymaxion House. "A house designed for industrial reproduction":