New Orleans Prototype House Competition
by admin on October 23rd, 2006
As New Orleans struggles with a future of continued displacement, this competition, open to architecture students only, sought designs for houses that respond to the city’s new circumstances: ease of installment, flexible to rise above flood waters, and a respect for local climate and environment.
Originally
from architechnophilia
by
reBlogged
by Radoya
on Oct 20, 2006, 2:16PM
Walking Partner Robot helps old ladies cross the street
by admin on October 19th, 2006
Nomura Unison Co., Ltd. has developed a walking-assistance robot that perceives and responds to its environment. The machine, called Walking Partner Robot, was developed with the cooperation of researchers from Tohoku University. It will be unveiled to the general public at the 2006 Suwa Area Industrial Messe on October 19 in Suwa, Nagano prefecture.
The robot is equipped with a system of sensors that detect the presence of obstacles, stairs, etc. while monitoring the motion and behavior of the user. Three sensors monitor the status of the user while detecting and measuring the distance to potential obstacles, and two angle sensors measure the slope of the path in front of the machine. The robot responds to these measurements with voice warnings and by automatically applying brakes when necessary.
Walking Partner Robot is essentially a high-tech walker designed to support users as they walk upright, preventing them from falling over. The user grasps a set of handles while pushing the unmotorized 4-wheeled robot, which measures 110 (H) x 70 (W) x 80 (D) cm and weighs 70 kilograms (154 lbs).
[Source: Nagano Nippo]
Originally
from Pink Tentacle
by
reBlogged
by Radoya
on Oct 18, 2006, 6:43AM
Natalie Jeremijenko: Ooz, Inc. (…for the birds)
by admin on September 16th, 2006
For all you bird-loving city-dwellers, engineer/artist Natalie Jeremijenko has created a complete urban bird environment (part of her Ooz series) on the roof of Postmasters, with a water system, appropriate foliage, insects, and other bird necessities, including a mall and a concert hall. She has asked some of the freshest architects around to build the […]
Frank Harmon Architect
by admin on June 5th, 2006
The architects designed in Bahamas, a cube sheltered by a large, inverted-umbrella-style roof to celebrate the beauty of the environment,to shade & cool the interior on hot days and also as a rain-collecting dish.
Frank Harmon Architects is a small NC based architectural practice focused on sustainable design that is responsive to particular climates and […]
AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Buildings of 2006
by lloyd on April 25th, 2006
Its the Award Season and next up is the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and their Committee on the Environment, announcing their 2006 Top Ten Green Projects. Talk about going to the dogs- The Animal Foundation Dog Adoption Park shown above is designed to ” create a dignified way of presenting animals to the adopting public and to use green strategies, with the intention of achieving a LEED(r) Platinum certification”