A case for Urban Agriculture

Overpopulation, malnutrition, poverty; these are not just worldwide problems, but ones we face at home in the United States, and even in a metropolis such as Los Angeles. Though often exacerbated by the last one, population control and hunger are two social problems that are within our means to solve.

Green Walls: An Overview

By Ian Salamanca
Editor-in-Chief

This week i'm going to talk about a concept both myself, and the Sustainability Club of LATTC are fascinated by; Green Facades, Living Walls, and Vertical Gardens. We'll look at what those mean and how they differ, some substantial benefits of including them in your design, and some DIY methods in multiple scales.

Patrocínio House- Architectural Record "Record Houses 2013"

Meet our President: Isai German

Club President:
Isai German

Educational background

I've had my run at a few community colleges, and took my crack at art school, but my passion was in Architecture; and my heart with my community.  This school of thought is greatly emphasized at Los Angeles Trade Tech.  This is where I have attained the most growth in my adult life.

From NewVillage.net

Favorite Architect or Designer and why?

Sam Mockbee had the ability to take novel materials and interject an architecture vocabulary that caters to the rural backdrop of Alabama.   His involvement with under-served communities connects academia and the built environment.  His design studio correlates with Auburn Universities Architecture program and introduces students to finite sources and vests in socially engaged projects.  This opportunity would give students a tangible understanding of the practical applications verses theoretical process.

Curious Curation: Innovation Inspired by Nature

Innovation Inspired by Nature

 What does this mean exactly? Probably and most likely it would mean the process of studying and imitating natures best ideas to solve human problems. Biomimicry is the name given to this wonderfully innovative idea. The truth is, Nature has already solved many of the problems we deal with today as a human race. By “nature” meaning everything from plants to animals and even to the smallest specs of life. 

"We are learning how to harness energy like a leaf, build ceramics like an abalone, create color like a peacock, compute like a cell, run a business like a hickory forest..." -Janine Benyus

Modern Day Evolution: Atlantic Tomcod

So I wanted to give you a small post today but my planned post fell through. So i'm pulling this bit from the past, as I don't have the time to create at the moment, (even something so small) but will be updating a little later today as well!  As i'll explain later, i'm hoping to develop a bit better blogging system. So please enjoy this snippet about The Persistance of Life.

Gamification: Good for the Community?

Pam's attempt at the Gamification of chores

Gamification

is the use of game thinking and game mechanics in a non-game context in order to engage users and solve problems.

We begin with a narrative.

It's nearly midnight as Agent DJ Goddessa makes her fourth lap of the surrounding 6 square blocks.  It's a chilly night as she makes her way through the park, cell phone light dimly guiding the way.  Appearing to ramble aimlessly she meanders across various terrains.  Though to someone watching she would seem lost, she could never be more accurate in her location.  She reaches the spot she was looking for, and anxiously awaits the confirmation from her phone.  LEVEL UP! She gave a whispered hooray, just as her phone notified her of a low battery.  She looks up at the monument, basking in the moonlight, she never really realized how pretty this park was at night.

Places like this.

All of a sudden she hears a rustling behind her! Spinning around she peers into the darkness and can make out a figure across the street.  Who could it be?! The shadow approached, slowly at first. When it crossed the street she could see the person was also lit by their cell phone.  Agent DJ peered through to see if she recognized the person. Almost as if in response the person flashes their cell phone screen.  She knew it, he was the enemy!  Though not at all dangerous.  She didn't have enough battery to battle over the park tonight, so instead she flashed her own phone as a sign of the torch being passed, a shift being changed, and for a little while longer this park will be safe. Even if it isn't Enlightened.

Can Gamification really make our cities safer, cleaner, and more popular? Can it bring about positive change in our communities?

Building a Better Battlefield: A look at two tech titans' shift into Architecture

Image from: The Poly Post

It seems that more than ever we as a nation are divided by one thing or another, and unless you've been living off the grid this past decade, you're more than well aware of the tech rivalry that is Apple v Google. What started with music, moved to phones, and then to the courthouses-has now evolved to the built environment as both companies have BIG plans for the coming decade. Each with their own creative ideas of 'a perfect work environment.' Which is ultimately the reason for constructing such (digital age) cathedrals.  As they both move forward to define themselves as an institution, the focus certainly seems to be on Building innovation through employee satisfaction. 

Stock-photo employees are easy, real people require a bit more...
Photo from Peaksurveys.com

Today, we are going to look at both buildings from not only a business and an aesthetic view, but of course a sustainable view as well.

Some notes before I begin:

I'm going to start by saying that the majority of information i've acquired for this article were posted online (linked below each piece) and many of them quoted each other, so i'm going to give you the same facts as you may find anywhere else.  However most of those articles are focused on either the aesthetics or the Financials- practically nothing is written about the Architecture, nor the green practices. Which is why I'm choosing to rehash it.

Secondly, I, the writer of this post, am particularly fond of one of these institutions; so I will be doing my best to provide an accurate view of the projects, and avoid bias. I will NOT  be slamming either company for their practices, however I cannot pretend that there isn't a clear winner in my opinion. That conclusion comes from the analysis of all information provided-not from my personal life.

Lastly, I decided to break this up into multiple posts to ease the reading load.  So below you will find both buildings in a stand alone post, with links to each other and back here.  Please feel free to comment on any of them to let us know how you feel about the projects, or share them among your social platforms!

Google Complex- Bayview

Location: Mountainview, CA

Architects: NBBJ

Estimated Date of Completion: 2015

Current Estimated Cost: Not Disclosed

Parti: Angled Interactions

Continue Reading: "Bayview: Letting the Data Drive Design"

Apple Campus - Spaceship HQ

Location: Cupertino, CA

Architects: Foster + Partners

Estimated Date of Completion: 2014-16'

Current Estimated Cost: $5 Billion

Parti: Circular Unity

Continue Reading: "Spaceship HQ: No Thrown Phones in Glass Houses"