Blue Zones Project - Jacksonville’s Post

An insightful interview highlighting the importance of a simple approach in transforming public spaces. Art can cultivate a cultural identity and give sense of belonging to many. Through public participation, there is an even greater feeling of inclusion which is vital in the conservation of social integrity. #architecture #community #socialimpact #participatorydesign #placemaking  

Preserving the past is more than nostalgia - it's the key to crafting a captivating sense of place. In the past several months since I have been back to Chicago, I find joy in observing the subtle and significant changes made to the houses in my suburban neighborhood throughout the years. Each home tells a unique story of evolution, with architectural upgrades, new paint colors, a whole new upper floor, etc., all reflecting the diverse tastes, trends, and the economics of the residents. However, nostalgia is not enough to save architectural gems, I hope these buildings can find investors and adaptive usages to preserve their existence. https://lnkd.in/grVCx8nR

🏢 "How do we give new meaning to community spaces?" 🎨 From revitalizing common areas to breathing new life into rec centers, IOC Construction teams are dedicated to transforming multi-family spaces that foster connection and inspire positivity. Check out the full article to learn more about how design and paint are reshaping communities for the better: https://lnkd.in/g7DpfXsZ

To what extent can we return to a nature status? Returning to #natural_structures is often challenging and, in many cases, impossible, as seen in the Arnolds #creek project, implemented by Melbourne Water and designed by REALMstudios. There are several reasons for this difficulty, one of which is urban development near to the creek. The important concept here is "nature-inspired design". Instead of fully #restoring past conditions, this approach designs and intervenes in a way that allows the creek to find its own path and way of #recovery and #restoration. In this case, we let nature establish a new balance by itself, yet this would never be exactly the same as the original state. Thus, while many efforts are made to restore and return to nature, changes always remain, and the original natural structures cannot be fully reinstated. First image (left) illustrates the creek in pure natural statue, the second image (middle) shows the creek in channelized structure, and the third image (right) shows the de-channelized creek.

The best kept secret about the new Milliken Nature Center on Mackinac Island? They used Bird1st UV glass! If you're worried about how UV glass will look on your project, this should put your mind at ease. Etch, frit, and UV options behave differently as bird collision prevention materials, and deciding between them can involve everything from glare to thermal performance. UV's sweet-spot for projects is when aesthetics from the inside of a building looking out is the top priority. Additional perks? As a laminated product, it significantly reduces noise from outside and the PVB layer reduces UV damage to the interior of the building. Note: UV glass products can be complex to assess and each project should be evaluated individually to see if UV is a good fit! Bird1st UV uses vertically oriented UV reflective stripes on surface one (the outside surface of the glass), with a laminate layer (PVB) behind the first layer of glass to absorb UV, boosting the contrast with the reflective stripes. While birds do see the visible spectrum that humans see, many birds also see into the UV range as well - because bird deterrents need to compete with the rest of the reflections on glass, UV products should never be put on surface 2, surface 3, etc. #Bird1st #Guardian Glass North America #GuardianGlass #birdglass #birdsafeglass #birds #MackinacIsland #birdconservation #sustainabledesign #greenbuilding #birdsafedesign

Imagine walking down a street where every building tells a story, where architecture meets art in a symphony of colour and creativity. Why should every new building be a canvas for public art? Public art is more than decoration. It's a dialogue between the city and its inhabitants, a way to weave cultural narratives into our daily routes. It turns mundane walks into journeys of discovery, making art accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. Also it is not just about beautification. Art encourages people to slow down, appreciate their surroundings, and engage with their community. In a world where cities are often critiqued for being impersonal and generic, this is a way to inject personality and uniqueness back into our urban landscapes. Let's not just build spaces where people live and work. Let's create environments where imagination flourishes and community spirit thrives. Imagine the possibilities. Then ask yourself, why not? If you believe in the transformative power of art in public spaces, share your thoughts or tag someone who can make this vision a reality.

Great community design focus that encompasses multicultural heritage and sustainability.

Images of #Edinburgh. Scotland. Photos, sketches and video from the #globalurbanstudy of the Glasgow-Edinburgh-Highlands region. Spent a day studying and documenting urban spaces in the new town area of Edinburgh. There are numerous lessons to learn, from private gardens for residents (many, if not most, are closed to the public)to the siting of buildings to enclose and create urban space, from the design of individual dwellings to the importance of the street as the primary public realm. In my urban structure diagram sketch, I try to highlight the elements, spaces, and connections that stood out in my mind. These quick sketches help to understand the relationship between public spaces, buildings and important avenues, landmarks, and streets. Typically, I emphasize the outline of the built edges and streetfronts of a place, documenting acknowledged major streets or paths, and also identifying key focal points within an area. These diagrams are critical, for me, in creating a memory of a place that I’ve studied. #cities #citybuilding

Nice Article about the Lawn as a symbol of American identity, it is indeed an inspired symbol of suburban Housing around the world. I presume this evolved from the historic aspirations from Europe to America and now across the world. As an urban designer, we struggle to get rid of this image of ideal home as real-estate agents get better returns selling this image more than other more eco-friendly solutions!

Art has been very useful in a profound way of making mediocre/bad architecture palatable. This however is special. #LA #architecuture #art https://lnkd.in/gpdmWPVP