grown homes

One way to maximise resources and provide shelter, these ones are in iceland, where cosy is essential.

rodchenko workers club 1925

Libraries are another location of non consumption. Quiet but social. Rodchenko's 1925 design for a Workers Club, a restroom for Workers,reconstructed at the Tate exhibition this year. 

mixed use streets

The recent conversion of New Road introduces the concept of mixed used streets to Brighton: cars, bikes and people are equally free to roam and it seems to work. A hundred yard bench provides opportunity to share a seat whilst at the same time maintaining personal space. A snap shot survey reveals that pedestrians and cyclists take over:

New Road 7/9/09 08:50 -09:50

cyclists: 55

cars: 7

trucks: 2

vans: 6

woman with bag:96

woman with rucksack:9

woman with nothing:4

man with bag:21

man with rucksack:22

man with nothing :43

child:27

pushchairs: 11

rollerblades : 1

man with one item( enveolope, light bulb, guitar, paper, folder, can): 6

woman with stick:1

man with stick:1

wheelchair user: 1

snug

this project by Luis Carjaval and Annie Davy  about victorian snugs is a reminder of a great idea that could be revived. Time out from the crowds, where you can make conversation. Apparently it had other uses..

a hole in the ground

When we were in Andra Pradesh in April we visited a home where a woman was grinding chilli like this: a hollow in a  slab of stone in the ground: looks like hard work. But interesting that you can make shapes in the fabric of the building for functional purposes

growing wall

found another one in kingston and discovered the name of the man: jean nouvel who did the one in paris at the cartier foundation 

feet and ground

Trainers are probably the most ubiquitous form of footwear. developed for sports, worn by anyone  comfort and convenience and pounding the pavements. They work - consequently multiple designs accomodate taste and fashion. 4 wheel drive versions of footwear. Could difficult terrain be reintroduced into urban environments: rocks, moorland, to make more challenging experiences? You can get portable climbing walls now. 

wind rain sun

Preoccupation with weather in britain is inevitable - what to wear to avoid being soaked, cold, burnt? Can these elements be used to create engaging and environments and functional objects in the urban environment? things that interact with weather things that make you wish it would rain?