Mind Boggling Architecture

A recent article in the Huffington Post unveiled what seems to be the future of architecture and of course it features a massive skyscraper in Dubai. Unlike other giant skyscrapers of a similar size, this one will have the ability for each individual floor to rotate 360 degrees. The 80 story skyscraper is envisioned by David Fisher of Dynamic Architecture. Each floor will complete a full rotation every 90 minutes or so. The building will also be “equipped with several giant wind turbines that generate electricity for tenants, and penthouse residents would be able to park their car at their apartments thanks to nifty lifts.”

Dubai seems to be the front runner for innovative architecture these days. Some of the biggest and most interesting buildings are located there including the worlds tallest in the Burj Khalifa. The skyscraper is 2,722 feet tall with 163 floors. The building isn’t just massive, but it looks like something you would see in a movie. Dubai is a hotbed for modern architecture. It is beautiful to see people come together to build such enormous buildings and in such grand fashion. Some other interesting buildings in the city include the Almas tower, Burj Al Arab, and the Princess Tower. Each building is over 1,000 feet tall and looks unlike any other structure in the world. Not only are they creating giant towers, they are also creating islands. The Jumeriah Palm is currently the largest man made island in the world.

The government in Dubai is looking to build a city that attracts more. They are trying to diversify their economy from the oil industry into a service and tourism oriented destination. This led to the property boom and in turn made Dubai one of the fastest growing cities in the world.

via Karen Jensen http://karenjensenpeoria.org/mind-boggling-architecture/

Engineering Students Design Bridge In Kenya, Africa

I found a great story in the U.S. News University Directory about a group of engineering students from the University of Buffalo who are in the process of building a bridge across a Kenyan ravine in Africa. The bridge will help locals in the area stay more connected with neighboring towns. During the rainy seasons, the ravine is usually flooded and not passable due to running water. With the help of these engineering students, a bridge will be constructed that runs across the ravine, making it easy and efficient for people to get from one side to the other. 24 students under the direction of their adjunct professor have designed a hanging bridge that is intended to “withstand the elements in Kenya.” The group partnered with a non profit called Bridging the Gap Africa, an organization that builds pedestrian bridges all around the continent. Over the past decade, ravines similar to the one that will have this newly constructed bridge, have accounted for more than 6,000 deaths due to flooding and running water. This bridge will not only be helpful for Kenyan people when traveling to other towns, but it will also keep them safe.

A quote from the adjunct professor at University of Buffalo put the whole story in perspective with this statement, ”I decided if the students were going to go through all the trouble to design something, it may as well be something that will actually be built and provide benefit to people.”

It is amazing to see students use their knowledge and thought process at such an early age. They are making a great and lasting impact on villages half way around the world. I give the professor at this University a lot of credit for choosing such a meaningful assignment for his students. It is always great to see students do nice things for others.

Via Kare Jensen http://karenjensenpeoria.net/engineering-students-design-bridge-in-kenya-africa/

Tornado-Proof Home

I came across a very interesting article recently on Business Insider that talks about the plans to build a tornado-proof home. The home will have the ability to move underground in order to avoid damage by the tornado. The architecture firm that is attempting to make this unique structure is Hong Kong based 10 Design. The design will be “small, expensive, and made of concrete, but that’s a small price to pay when compared to the cost of rebuilding after disasters or preventing loss of life.”

Tornadoes are most prevalent in the United States and account for nearly $1 billion dollars in damages each year. There are an average of 1,200 tornadoes that strike the United States each year. What if you had the ability to simply dodge the tornado by going underground? Although the homes that 10 Design are looking to build will be very expensive, they have the ability to avoid damage and loss of life.

The current prototype is a 900 square foot box that has two bedrooms. To put that in perspective, it will be the size of most New York City apartments. There will be four hydraulic lifts in each corner of the house that will lift up and down when appropriate. When weather is nice with no storm looming, the house sits on top of the earth like any normal house would. When necessary, it slides 10 feet down into the earth into a bunker like structure that provides 400 additional square feet for storage.

If a power outage were to occur, homeowners can “release the hydraulic fluid and the lifts will collapse. Underground backup generators will keep electricity flowing to the subterranean shelter even when power lines are down. The house will also have multiple emergency hatches so dwellers can escape should one of the lifts fail, or the roof is blocked by debris.”

The homes are envisioned to cost anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 dollars. It makes you wonder if something like this is worth it. For areas that are so prone to these devastating storms it might be viable option to consider.

via Karen Jensen http://karenjensenpeoria.net/tornado-proof-home/

The Bose Corporation Lost A Great Man

Bose audio systems can be found everywhere and the popularity of the company is astonishing. Some of the most revered speakers and headphones are made by Bose. I remember when the idea of a noise canceling headphone first hit the mainstream public. The idea that you could wear an over the ear headphone and not be distracted by outside noise because of the noise canceling technology was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The little portable speakers for you home that came out years ago were so ahead of their time. You would think the systems wouldn’t emit nearly enough noise for such a small device, but again Bose proved you wrong. They made a point to be the ahead of the curve when it came to audio technology and I feel that is a testament to Amar G. Bose and his vision that he had for his company since the beginning.

I recently read an article in the New York Times about Amar G. Bose, an acoustic engineer and inventor who was the genius behind the often sought after headphone and audio company Bose. It is with sadness to say that Amar G. Bose past away at the age of 83. Although gone, Amar will never be forgotten – he leaves behind a legacy that has changed the way people hear and consume music.

“As founder and chairman of the privately held company, Amar G. Bose focused relentlessly on acoustic engineering innovation. His speakers, though expensive, earned a reputation for bringing concert-hall-quality audio into the home.” Dr. Bose had a vision that he never faltered on. He chose to never take the company public because he wanted to, “pursue risky long-term research, such as noise-canceling headphones and an innovative suspension system for cars, without the pressures of quarterly earnings announcements.” He wanted to make the best company possible and he didn’t necessarily want to make money, he wanted to do things that hadn’t be done before. I find that very admirable.

via Karen Jensen http://karenjensenpeoria.org/the-bose-corporation-lost-a-great-man/