Plastic Fantastic: Cracking Art Group Colors Our World
August 30, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steve in Art & Design & Geography & Travel & Uncategorized. ]
Cracking Art Group seeks to change art history by taking an ethically responsible approach to ambient art. Founded in 1983, the six artists that comprise CAG expertly evoke the strict relationship between natural life and artificial reality through the innovative use of outsized animal assemblages expressed in brilliantly colored recycled plastic.
Art Group on Crack?
(image via: Mosaic Art Source Blog)
Cracking Art Group was founded in 1993 and their first poke at the public eye took place later the same year at the Epocale exhibition in Milan, Italy. The group’s six members (William Sweetlove, Renzo Nucara, Marco Veronese, Alex Angi, Carlo Rizzetti, and Kicco) all hail from west-central Europe, specifically Italy, France and Belgium.
(images via: Amazing Data, Kicco Cracking and Corriere Della Sera)
What’s in a name? Much, if you’re Cracking Art Group. Take “Cracking,” for instance. By invoking the process of splitting, breaking, separating, and expanding “the gap of the contemporary man, struggling between the primary naturalness and a future more and more artificial.” Nice work if you can get it!
(images via: Kicco Cracking, Victor.Showoff and WST)
The word “cracking” has another meaning as well, in that it’s the name of the chemical refining process that breaks the long-chain hydrocarbons of crude oil into short ones which then become the building blocks of a wide range of petroleum-based plastics.
(images via: WeHeartIt and Profimedia)
According to Cracking Art Group, “Artists belonging to this movement believe that cracking is that kind of process which converts the natural into the artificial, the organic into the synthetic”. Where would our modern technological society be without such processes?
Living in the Plastic Age
(image via: Unconsumption)
Every silver lining has its cloud, however, and Cracking Art Group believes that the process of transmuting natural to artificial, if not controlled, splits our species from our evolutionary path and confronts us with new realities beyond our experience. We are not who we used to be, it would seem, and the hard-wired humanity inside us conflicts with the overly processed lives we’ve created to “better” ourselves.
(images via: MonPuteaux.com, The SOP and 500blog)
By selecting recycled plastic and adapting it to their own purpose, Cracking Art Group is attempting to wrench back control of the process and turn it towards fulfilling the movement’s social and environmental commitment to reinstating humanity as part of nature, not apart from it.
(images via: Whorange, Haute World and Praha Graffiti)
Can one separate Modern Man from his history and in doing so, change his future? Cracking Art Group thinks they can, and their modus operandi involves leveraging a unique, creative, conceptual formula that challenges the rules of contemporary art.
(images via: Kicco Cracking, Artbis.fr and Profimedia)
CAG’s challenge typically takes the form of an invasion: huge, colorful plastic animals interpose themselves into our modern public spaces: highways, supermarkets, office buildings and parks to name just a few. We may not notice discarded plastic water bottles in such spaces but their upcycled and boldly tinted reincarnations? Just try NOT noticing them.
(images via: Milano 2.0 and Journal Des Vitrines)
The key element in Cracking Art Group’s assault on passive modern art and the dual nature of our millenary civilization is their use of recycled plastic. Upcycling plastic is a subversive activity: the artists effectively subtract a vital link in a one-way chain of toxic destruction that cumulatively can devastate our environment.
(images via: Journal Des Vitrimes and Artnet.fr)
Though it might not look natural, “making plastic art works means communicating through an innovative and aesthetic language and expressing a particular sensibility to nature.” What’s more out of place, a flock of gigantic fuschia snails or a scattering of strewn plastic water bottles… are not both unacceptable?
The Dual Nature of Man’s Works
(images via: Galerie 208 and Kicco Cracking)
Active and frequent participants in art events and exhibitions over more than a decade, Cracking Art Group is perhaps best known for their outdoor installations. The larger than life size, scale and strangeness of these installations tends to catch the public eye whether the public wants their eyes caught or not: how can one disregard a commercial building covered by several dozen huge red plastic lizards? Business as unusual indeed.
(images via: Best Of All Worlds, Mrs Wagner’s Art Ideas, Nashville247 and Wired New York)
In some ways, Cracking Art Group’s works bear a strong resemblance to those of the artist Christo (above). Both create immense outdoor installations employing large expanses of brilliantly colored material that co-opt real-world infrastructure to punctuate their impact. As well, both artists are environmentally-minded and use their art as a method of expanding ecological awareness.
(images via: Amy Goodwin and Aliraqi)
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Twenty-five years after Ferris Bueller said it, life’s moving faster than ever and FB’s pithy observation is ever more accurate. Our hectic lives and lifestyles rarely afford us the chance to stop, let alone look around.
(images via: Artsfactory, Newer World and KraftyKim)
Cracking Art Group’s oversized, visually intense and eye-grabbing outrageousness works to shake even the most undistractable among us, jarring our routines out of the rat race if only for a moment and prompting serious thought. Is this where we really want to be as a society? Does the march of progress to the current supposed golden age and beyond have a dark side, and if so, should we be ignoring it?
(image via: Kicco Cracking / Panoramio)
The late George Carlin once humorously mocked our frantic concern with “some plastic bags”, positing that plastic was, ultimately, one of the Earth’s children and our planet would eventually incorporate it into a new paradigm: The Earth Plus Plastic. It may yet happen but Mankind will be long gone by then. For the time being, though, ask yourself: what will you do when the big bad wolf comes to blow your plastic house down?
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Island In the (Air)Stream: Floating Sculpture Goes Missing
August 10, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design & Nature & Ecosystems & News & Politics. ]
If you live in Europe and recently saw a lush green island floating by in the sky, don’t worry – you haven’t lost your mind. A team of U.K. artists and designers have lost something very important to them, though: this mesmerizing floating structure called Is Land.
(all images via: Is Land)
At the Secret Garden Party festival in Cambridgeshire in July, a group of vandals cut the support ropes tethering Is Land to the ground. The helium-filled floating island sailed away on the wind, carrying with it months of hard work on the part of artist Sarah Cockings, designer Laurence Symonds and a whole team of other contributors.
Is Land, a lushly vegetated artificial island in the sky, is a sculpture that reminds us all how close and how far away our perfect worlds are. It floats above the heads of onlookers, tantalizing them with glimpses of a lovely but ever-unreachable landscape.
Sadly, the few malicious festival-goers who decided to set Is Land aloft nearly deprived an American audience of this beautiful sculpture. It was due to make its first American appearance at Burning Man 2011 shortly after the Secret Garden Party. Thanks to the generosity of the Secret Garden Party fund, the Is Land creators have been able to start work on a new version of the piece that will be presented at Burning Man.
The team is still on the hunt for the original, however. Due to the time and money invested in Is Land, it would be a shame for this beautiful piece of art to disappear forever. According to wind patterns, the helium-filled sculpture should have touched down somewhere in the Czech Republic. Anyone who has seen Is Land or has information on its whereabouts can contact the designers through their website.
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13 More Modern, Mobile & Modular Tiny House Designs
July 22, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design. ]
Could you live in 200 square feet or less? For most people, the answer to that question is an emphatic no – but perhaps that’s because you’ve never seen some of the amazingly imaginative, well-designed tiny houses that are popping up around the world. Tiny houses can be mobile (including awesome converted house trucks) or stationary, plugged in or off-grid, pre-fabricated or built on-site. Some are ultramodern while others are decidedly rustic, and though a few are just part-time retreats, many shelter occupants year-round. These 14 tiny house designs show just how diverse compact dwellings can be, from three-story apartments in urban Tokyo to whimsical cottages in the American countryside.
Fab Lab House: Small and Modern
(images via: fablabhouse.com)
Far from a shed-like tiny house, this imaginative home that was designed to ‘act like a tree’ won the Solar Decathlon Europe people’s choice award for both looks and sustainability. Created by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, the Lab House in Madrid has a rounded shape and a roof covered in photovoltaic ‘leaves’ made from the world’s most flexible solar panels. The energy captured by these ‘leaves’ runs down to the ‘roots’ of the house where it’s stored for later use. The surprisingly roomy interior features a large open room that functions as a living room, dining room and extra bedroom. Additional sleeping space is located in a loft.
Tiny Green-Roofed Egg House in China
(images via: treehugger)
A Chinese student lives in a tiny egg-shaped house made of a bamboo frame and inspired by the grass-covered domes of Norway. Parked right across the street from where owner/builder Daihai Fei works, the Egg House was topped with a layer of stitched bags filled with sawdust and grass seeds, from which the green roof sprouts. This layer provides both protection from the rain and insulation. Inside, Fei has a bed, a small sink, a lamp powered by a solar panel and a bookcase.
Solar Powered Cube House
(images via: jetson green)
Incredibly simple and easy to build, the first prototype of the Cube Project – known as QB1 – is three meters square, or about 97 square feet. Designed to generate more energy than it uses over the course of a year thanks to a 1.48kW rooftop solar system, QB1 houses a lounge, table, two chairs, double bed, a full-sized shower, a kitchen, a washing machine and a composting toilet. All it needs is grid connection and cold water to operate.
Vodafone Mobile Solar Home
(images via: tiny house design)
While this home wasn’t built to actually live in – it’s actually just a mobile display to demonstrate Vodafone’s fixed phone and internet service – it’s an interesting example of a beautiful and modern tiny home. Measuring 19.7 feet long, 8.2 feet wide and 12.6 feet tall, this tiny house on wheels includes a staircase leading to a sleeping loft, a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room with a fold-out dining table. Slide-out side tables, built in bench seating and niches under the stairs provide lots of function and storage space for such a small area.
Wacky ‘Dome Lady’ House
(images via: tiny house design)
Bet you’ve never seen a tiny house quite like this before! While it’s more folksy than modern, the Dome Lady by Bev Magennis is certainly an imaginative take on the tiny house concept. Located in remote Apache Creek, New Mexico, the 18-foot-tall home, decorated on the outside with scrap ceramic mosaic tile, serves as a guest space on a 10-acre homestead. It was made using rebar-reinforced PVC pipe gathered at the top to create the dome shape and then lathed and plastered.
Traditional Javanese ‘Joglo’ Guest House
(images via: tiny house blog)
Incredible ornate and intricate, this Javanese guest house spotted at an antique store in Bali – with a price tag of $8,000 – is likely an antique. Traditional Joglo houses can be found all over Indonesia, many at least a century old, with carved details and elevated floors. They’re fitted together like puzzles, without using a single nail, so they can be easily dismantled and moved. These guest quarters often have second stories and can be as large as 1000 square feet.
Tokyo Micro Home Built from Grid of Boxes
(images via: inhabitat)
The Cell Brick home of Tokyo is a tiny two-story home smaller than most garages. Architect Yasuhiro Yamashita crafted it from a grid-like pattern of opaque and translucent boxes to give it a geometric look and let in lots of daylight. It includes a kitchen, living room and bedroom on the main floor, a lounge space and bathroom on the second floor, a basement for storage and even a roof deck. The boxes were bolted together to create an overall volume that is surprisingly sturdy, even for an earthquake-prone region.
Tiny Treehouse on Stilts
(images via: tiny house talk)
Hovering over a man-made pond, this incredible ‘treehouse’ on stilts by Baumraum is definitely tiny – there’s barely more than a bed inside, though the large porch does extend the living space to a considerable degree, which would help in temperate climates. But the Baumraum design makes for stunning and unique guest quarters, and could possibly be enlarged just slightly for year-round living.
Hyette Tiny House
(images via: tommie-wilhelmsen.no)
More of a relaxation spot than an actual livable house, the ‘Hyette Hardanger’ by architect Tommie Wilhelmsen is notable for its streamlined shape and its construction, which was achieved with layered wood. This style could easily carry over into tiny houses that are slightly expanded in size to include a kitchen and bathroom.
‘Dwelle’ Modern Timber Frame Tiny House
(images via: tiny house blog)
Offgrid micro-homes by UK company ‘Dwelle’, known as ‘dwelle-ings’, are entirely prefabricated and easy to erect in practically any landscape. Small enough for two people to assemble with no large machinery required, these homes feature compact layouts with sleeping lofts and are insulated with 100% recycled newspapers. The homes can be put on different kinds of foundations and the exterior siding is customizable to fit specific climates.
Whimsical House by Rustic Way
(images via: tiny house blog)
No, that’s not a quirky prop from the Harry Potter movie set. It’s an adorable custom-built house by Rustic Way, a Minnesota-based company that can produce these these structures in a variety of sizes from teeny-tiny sauna size (as pictured above) to guest houses that are 12
Positive Quote Wednesday - on Home
June 29, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action.
Mother TeresaThe ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.
Maya AngelouA house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.
Benjamin FranklinAt home I am a nice guy: but I don’t want the world to know. Humble people, I’ve found, don’t get very far.
Muhammad AliSay there’s a white kid who lives in a nice home, goes to an all-white school, and is pretty much having everything handed to him on a platter - for him to pick up a rap tape is incredible to me, because what that’s saying is that he’s living a fantasy life of rebellion.
EminemTen men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home, I’m tired.
Mae WestAn artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.
Friedrich NietzscheI believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can’t truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles.
Zig ZiglarIf my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness, not my miscarriages or my father leaving home, but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough.
Audrey HepburnHome is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.
Robert FrostAnalogies, it is true, decide nothing, but they can make one feel more at home.
Sigmund FreudIf you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie
I had a lot of dates but I decided to stay home and dye my eyebrows.
Andy Warhol
A girl phoned me the other day and said… ‘Come on over, there’s nobody home.’ I went over. Nobody was home.
Rodney Dangerfield
Beth
All Along the Watchtowers: 18 Tourist Lookouts of Europe
May 30, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design & Geography & Travel. ]
There’s nothing like leaning over a railing, hundreds of feet in the air, to feel the thrill of dizzying heights and gaze at a city from the viewpoint of a bird. Mostly modern (with a couple of classics thrown in), these 18 tourist lookouts and towers, from Norway to the Czech Republic, provide an incomparable way to experience cities and natural settings alike.
London Eye on the Thames, England
(images via: wikimedia commons)
Europe’s tallest ferris wheel is also one of the coolest ways to catch a view of London. The London Eye, located on the Thames River, is 443 feet tall and is described by the operators as “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel.” It features 32 air-conditioned passenger pods, and full revolution takes about thirty minutes.
Bahnorama Tower, Vienna, Austria
(images via: wombats-hostels.com, tixik)
The highest walkable wooden tower in Europe can be found in a lesser-traveled section of Vienna. The Bahnorama is a temporary exhibit allowing tourists to get a look at construction of a new train station, but that’s not all you can see – at nearly 219 feet in the air, you can get a fantastic panoramic view of the entire city. You don’t actually have to walk up; there are all-glass lifts that take you to the top in 40 seconds. There’s a cafe at ground level serving breakfast, lunch, beer and wine.
Observation Tower, River Mur, Austria
(images via: abitare.it)
Two polygonal helicoid stairs swirl around each other to a height of 90 feet in this stunning observation tower overlooking the River Mur in Austria. Designed by Terrain: Loenart & Mayr, the tower has a black steel cage and a number of cables and rods to keep it safe in winds or heavy usage.
Bostoren Tower, Putten, The Netherlands
(images via: eikongraphia)
The stunning Bostoren tower by SeARCH architects mimics the colors of the forest in brown, green and copper with a spiraling stair and several cantilevered decks. Just below the bowl-like observation deck that tops the tower is a small screened room with a net floor that lets you look down at the ground below. The tower overlooks the small town of Putten in The Netherlands.
Four Stunning ‘Uitkijktoren’ Towers, The Netherlands
(images via: klaas5)
These images were collected (with little additional information provided) by Utrecht architect Klaas Vermaas, depicting observation towers in The Netherlands and Germany. The towers are located in the following towns (clockwise from top left): Utrecht, The Netherlands; Breda, The Netherlands; Inden, Germany and the Fochteloerveen nature reserve in The Netherlands. Of the German tower Vermaas says: “The Indenmann is a 45m high observation tower overlooking a huge strip-mining operation. It’s in the German Ruhrgebiet near the town of Inden. It was designed by the Dutch Maurer Associated Architects. Not for people suffering from vertigo. It’s all open steel grate foors [sic] and cantilevers!”
TV Tower, Munich, Germany
(images via: ariaski, jasminejennyjen, emdees)
Among the tallest towers in the world, the TV Tower in Munich, known in German as the ‘Olympiaturm‘, is an amazing 954.72 feet tall. In addition to broadcasting analog FM and digital radio and television, the tower features a revolving restaurant that seats 230 people. A full revolution takes 53 minutes.
Korkeasaari Island Lookout Tower, Helsinki, Finland
(images via: coolboom)
Located on a cliff on Korkeasaari Island in Finland, this lookout tower made of wood battens has an organic form inspired by the natural setting, in between a birch grove and the sea. Bolted together with over 600 joints, the tower overlooks both its immediate natural environment and the bustling city of Helsinki.
Trollstigen Overlook, Norway
(images via: pixdaus, channelbeta)
Reiulf Ramstad Architects of Norway designed this overlook in Romsdalen, which provides a view of the Geiranger Fjord, as part of the Trollstigen National Tourist Route Project. Completely inaccessible in winter, the site is only open in summertime. With copper walls, a white platform and an all-glass cap to the cantilevered portion of the overlook, the structure was made to complement its natural surroundings.
Landscape Promontory, Switzerland
(images via: etienne deffinis, architonic)
Designed by Paolo Burgi, Landscape Promontory is a suspended metal platform that almost looks like an insanely oversized, modern version of a carnival ride – except that it (thankfully) doesn’t move. The viewing platform extends out from Cardada mountain in Switzerland and is marked with symbols and explanations that tell of local history and literature.
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
(images via: wikimedia commons)
Who could forget the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Though certainly not modern nor originally built as an overlook, the tower – which was closed for over a decade while engineers worked to strengthen it – is once again open to tourists. The tower is over 183 feet tall and was built starting in the year 1173. The recent restoration, which was completed in 2001, will allow it to remain standing for at least another two centuries.
Aurland Lookout, Norway
(images via: todd saunders)
From WebUrbanist: “You know that stomach-clutching, heart-in-your-throat sensation you get on roller coasters just as you’re coming up to the edge of a terrifyingly steep drop? That moment is drawn out indefinitely at the Aurland Lookout in Norway, a stunning wooden overlook that puts nothing but a sheet of plate glass between you and the countryside below. Designed by Todd Saunders & Tommie Wilhelmsen, the minimalist structure celebrates the region’s natural beauty and exemplifies its spare, modern design sense.”
Nebra Ark Observation Tower, Germany
(images via: dailytonic.com)
This observation Tower is located beside the Nebra Ark multimedia visitor center, which stands near the site where the Nebra Sky Disc was found. The bronze disc is the oldest known visual representation of the cosmos. The tower, which leans slightly to one side, was designed by Holzer Kobler Architekturen as the pointer of a giant sundial.
Petřín Lookout Tower, Prague, Czech Republic
(images via: dale harvey, mediafury)
If this tower looks familiar to you, that’s probably because it’s extremely similar in design to another very famous lookout tower located on the other side of Europe. The183-foot-tall Petřín stands atop a hill to provide an amazing view of the city of Prague. Built in 1891, the tower features two observation platforms that can be accessed by lift or stairs. Once used for radio and television transmission, it is now solely a lookout tower for tourists.
Science Park Observation Tower, Granada, Spain
(images via: picasaweb)
No, you’re not imagining it – those are giant ants on the side of that tower. This quirky structure stands on the grounds of Granada’s Science Museum which houses scientific experiments on meteorology, geography and astronomy. 164 feet high, the tower also provides a beautiful view of the city.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
(images via: wikimedia commons)
Perhaps the most iconic lookout tower in the world, let alone Europe, the Eiffel Tower is an unforgettable part of the Paris skyline as well as the best place to see the city in all its glory. Standing 1,063 feet tall on four latticed iron ‘legs’, the Eiffel Tower was not popular at first with city residents, who thought that its shape was intentionally provocative; however, its design was based on engineering concerns to stand up to strong winds. It’s painted three different colors so that it maintains a uniform appearance from the ground. Originally featuring a very narrow set of spiral stairs, the tower now has several large elevators. It is the single most visited paid monument in the world.
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14 Smart Silo Conversions from High-Rises to Hidden Homes
January 24, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
Once, they held grain, missiles or even sewage. But these 14 silos were transformed into incredibly creative adaptive reuse projects, transcending their utilitarian identities to present us with modern high-rise apartment buildings, eco-friendly homes, unusual restaurants and irresistible bed-and-breakfasts.
MVRDV Gemini Residence, Copenhagen
(images via: arcspace)
Leave it to architecture firm MVRDV to turn two eyesores on Copenhagen’s waterfront into stunning residential towers that are even cooler looking once you step inside. The two silos were left intact as ‘twin cores’, with the actual apartments basically acting as a facade. Inside each ‘core’ is staircases, elevators and common space for residents including terraces.
Silo Eco-Home, Greensburg, Kansas
(image via: natural home magazine)
Greensburg, Kansas is so named because it aims to become one of the first green towns in the United States. If it keeps building homes like this one, which has a reclaimed silo as its main component, the town will certainly be off to a great start. The roof of the Silo Eco-Home will be planted with vegetables and herbs, serving as “a model for small-scale sustainable food production.”
Gruene Homestead Inn, Texas
(images via: gruenhomesteadinn.com)
As the Gruene Homestead Inn demonstrates, all you need to do to make an old silo look like a cute place to vacation is add a front porch. Oh, sure, there’s more to it than that – things like drywall and plumbing – but in this application, the silo retains its charm and character. The interior has been artfully arranged to fit plenty of function inside including a kitchen, curving stairway, loft bedroom and a full-sized bathroom.
Monte Silo House, Woodland, Utah
(images via: archicentral)
On the more modern end of the spectrum is the Monte-Silo House in Woodland, Utah, a conversion project proving that silos can be stylish. The house is in fact made up of two corrugated steel silos, connected by a hallway, and the layout of the home takes full advantage of the round shape, even building capsule-like guest beds for kids into the walls. The smaller silo houses the bathroom.
Silo Student Dorms, Norway
(image via: marcus ramberg)
Once a grain silo in the middle of an industrial area, the Grünerløkka student housing complex is now an eye-catching structure with 226 residential units on 16 floors, sitting on national park land. The architects wanted to keep the original structure intact in both form and material as much as possible, contrasting the concrete of the silos with brightly colored glass.
Cold War Missile Silo Home, New York
(images via: silohome.com)
Nestled into the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York is ‘Silohome’, which the owners call “the finest retrofit of a missile site accomplished to date.” Perhaps they’re a bit biased, but the home is definitely a sight to behold with an ordinary-looking house topping two finished and furnished underground levels. Amazingly, while the home itself takes up 2,300 square feet, there’s still 20,000 square feet untouched, and it goes down… and down.. and down.
Wheat Silo Apartments, Bunbury, Australia
(image via: wikimedia commons)
Built in 1937 and used for decades to store wheat, the silos that were long an icon of Bunbury, Australia got a new life in 1994 as a luxury high-rise apartment complex packed with a swimming pool, heated spa and lounge area.
Coal Silo Restaurant, New York
(image via: moreofme24)
Silo Restaurant in Lewiston, New York is a converted coal silo perched on the edge of the Niagara River. The massive concrete silo gained this prime location – with a beautiful view that was once wasted – because the coal that it held was used to power the Great Gorge Railway. In the early 20th century, the Lewiston waterfront was bustling with tourists, but by the ’30s a superhighway diverted traffic and pollution in the river damaged tourism. The silo was rescued in 1997 and transformed into a restaurant where patrons can sit on the circular deck and gaze out at the water.
From a Silo to a High Rise in Denmark
(images via: inhabitat)
Most converted silo projects are obvious, considering the tell-tale cylindrical shape that is usually retained by the finished buildings. But for this rural ‘high-rise’ in Denmark, the origin of the structure is disguised within a blocky facade. The silo acts as a ‘service core’ for the apartments – it includes an elevator in the center, and supports a roof terrace.
Subterra Castle in Kansas
(images via: subterracastle.com)
Subterra Castle in Kansas was made from a silo of a different sort – a missile silo, to be exact. A small cabin marks the entrance to the underground home, and castle turrets sticking up out of the grass are actually escape hatches. Owner Ed Peden equates his home to the medieval castles of Europe, where much of the most-used spaces are beneath the surface.
Rustic DIY Eco Retreat, Missouri
(image via: dancing rabbit)
Interested in building your own DIY silo house? This ‘grain bin house’ at the Dancing Rabbit eco commune in Missouri was constructed with a lot of hard work but very little cash. The owners lined the inside of the bins with plastered straw bales for insulation and created a second floor, turning the silo into two one-room apartments.
Abbey Road Farm Bed and Breakfast, Oregon
(images via: abbeyroadfarm.com)
Three silos make up the bulk of one of the most unique sustainable structures in Oregon. The Abbey Road Farm Bed and Breakfast, located on an 82-acre working farm and winery, lets guests sleep in these ‘Silo Suites’, which look out onto the fields. “The most intriguing people end up here,” says owner John Stuart. “You’ve got to be a little courageous to want to sleep in a grain silo.”
Silo Converted to a Castle, Canada
(image via: panaramio)
Castles aren’t exactly a common sight in Canada, but even less common are castles made from old silos. Not much is known about this structure, found in the countryside of Ontario, but the image is intriguing, giving the impression of a centuries-old homestead.
NL Architects Silo Sports Complex Concept, Amsterdam
(images via: archicentral)
We’ve seen grain silos, missile silos and coal silos – but what about sewage treatment silos? Yes, those, too are being converted for new uses. Two such towers in the Zeeburg district of Amsterdam were the subject of a contest in 2009 to give the structures a new, more positive identity. NL Architects came up with this concept, turning the silos into a recreational complex for sports and culture.
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Armed To The Teeth: Africa’s Terrifying Goliath Tigerfish
November 2, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steve in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
The Goliath Tigerfish may be the most fearsome fish you’ll ever see – and you’d better hope it doesn’t see you first! Ferocious in temperament, armed to the gills with 32 razor-sharp teeth and accustomed to hunting in packs, the Terror Of The Congo makes piranhas seem like pussycats and The Incredible Mr. Limpet look, well, limp.
(images via: Thfire.com, Videos Gallery and NSF)
The Goliath Tigerfish is little-known to most people owing to its relative isolation in Africa’s Congo River system, and let’s be thankful for that fact at least!
(images via: Monzi73 and Only Good Movies)
The Congo is one of the world’s largest rivers; second only to the Amazon by flow, it ranks first in depth. At up to 750 feet (230 m) deep, Goliath Tigerfish have plenty to space in which to lurk for their prey – which comprises just about anything that moves.
Avowed angler L.J. McCormick acknowledged as early as 1949 that “I have stated heretofore in print and am still ready to maintain my pronouncement, that the Tigerfish of Africa is the fiercest fish that swims.”
Here’s a video clip from the National Geographic TV special that introduced many to the Tigerfish – and introduced the Tigerfish to their nightmares:
Raging Congo Creatures, via NationalGeographic
(images via: National Geographic and Unik/Konyol/Ajaib)
A total of 5 different species of Tigerfish form the genus Hydrocynus, which can roughly be translated from Greek to mean Water (hydro) and Dog (kyon). Considering the fish’s avidly wolfish grin it’s not hard to make sense of the naming but rest assured, Tigerfish are anything but Man’s Best Friend.
(image via: Crankbaits)
The 5 species of Tigerfish are Hydrocynus goliath, Hydrocynus vittatus, Hydrocynus brevis, Hydrocynus forskahlii, and Hydrocynus tanzaniae. All are noticeably toothy and feature one or more dark, lengthwise stripes: both these characteristics plus their infamous “pugnacity” contribute to the colloquial name of Tigerfish.
(images via: FPDCotterill, FlyForums UK and Kariba Bush Club)
While the Goliath Tigerfish is by far the largest of the 5 species (more of that later), the second-largest is the “common” tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus). The southernmost type of tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus can be found in the commonly found in the Zambezi River and the two largest lakes connnected to it: Lake Kariba (in Zambia and Zimbabwe) and Cabora Bassa (in Mozambique). Tigerfish have also been known to inhabit the reservoir of the Jozini Dam in South Africa.
(images via: Safari-Guide, Sikchunglam and Flacojohnson)
Tigerfish have been officially classified as a game fish by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and the species has garnered a reputation among sport fishermen as “one of the best freshwater fighters.” It’s said to be good eating as well, firm of flesh though tending to be slightly oily. Anglers interested in fishing for Tigerfish can register for The Kariba International Tiger Fish Tournament, first held in 1962. Buffet following, one presumes.
(images via: JJ Photo, Chikyumaru and CityPages Blogs)
Common Tigerfish are stocked by many aquarium supply dealers in Europe and North America and are typically sold to hobbyists when they are under 7″-8″ (about 18 cm) long. Some precautions are recommended to potential owners, mainly concerning the size of both the tank and the other denizens – the latter should be larger than the Tigerfish. As time goes by that could become problematic, however, as common Tigerfish can grow up to 30 inches (75 cm) in length and weigh up to 100 lbs (45 kg). One would hope (and pray, even) that frustrated owners take care NOT to release Tigerfish into domestic waterways.
(images via: The Real Nicaragua and Safari-Guide)
Oh, guess what? Anecdotal reports from Nicaragua in Central America indicate the Goliath Tigerfish has gained a foot, er, finhold in the Rio San Juan near El Castillo. Nicaraguan officials are said to be concerned about the possibility of Goliath Tigerfish getting into Lake Nicaragua and natives of Rio San Juan who customarily fish by wading in the river with nets may need to take new precautions – such as staying the heck out of the river!
(images via: Jerry Labella, Fishindex and Global Fly Fisher)
Speaking of size, let’s get back to the Goliath Tigerfish: these monsters (literally) have been measured (carefully) at up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long and up to 125 lbs (57 kg) in weight. As such, they rank with some of the world’s largest freshwater fish. Unlike Giant Catfish, however, Goliath Tigerfish are no slugs. Powerful muscles and a broad, tuna-like tail enable even the most massive members of the species to chase down most any type of prey. Once caught, those fearsome fangs come into play.
Goliath Tigerfish are ambush predators and their usual hunting technique evolved through countless generations living out their lives in the murky depths of the Congo River. Dissection of Tigerfish have revealed an internal air sac that reacts to vibrations much like a drum, alerting the fish to movement nearby. At this point the fish reflexively swings into attack mode, mouth first. The result is all too predictable.
(image via: Daily Mail UK)
Goliath Tigerfish, are you ready for your closeup? Ready or not, here it comes: British extreme angler Jeremy Wade documented his experience catching the Goliath Tigerfish for ITV’s River Monsters television program earlier this year – North Americans can find it on either Animal Planet or The Discovery Channel.
(images via: Daily Mail UK and Men’s Journal)
The 52-year-old Wade has seen a lot in his many years of exotic angling but the 5-ft (1.5 m) long, 100 lb (45 kg) Goliath Tigerfish he caught while filming an episode of River Monsters had to be one of the highlights. It took Wade 8 days to finally land this particular Goliath Tigerfish after first hooking it using a large catfish for bait. Said Wade, “It is, for all intents and purposes, a giant piranha. It is quite a beast.”
(image via: Metro UK)
Wade nervously posed with the still-living Goliath Tigerfish so that film crews could get their fill of the creature before Wade returned it to the river. Commented Wade afterward, “The teeth on it are incredibly sharp and are about the same length as a great white shark. It also has an extremely powerful bite and has been known to consume prey the same size as itself, attack people and take pieces out of crocodiles.” Nice. Next time you throw out the challenge “you want a piece of me??”, be sure there isn’t a Goliath Tigerfish in the vicinity.
(images via: Bloogle Incr!vel, PbNation and NYBass)
Here’s a teaser video from Animal Planet showing Jeremy Wade reeling in his exhausted (though still exceptionally dangerous) opponent. “Deadliest Catch”, you’ve got some not-yet-stiff competition:
River Monsters, via AnimalPlanetTV
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For the Birds: 15 Awesome Avian Home Designs
September 3, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
No garden is complete without a house or two for our feathered friends, but why stick to boring boxes when you could have sculptural works of art, modern flat-pack steel worthy of urban design enthusiasts, and even posh bird abodes complete with swimming pools? These 15 clever and creative bird house designs – many of which are recycled or even solar-powered – provide fashionable homes for birds year-round.
Heart for the Birds
(image via: mocoloco)
When the Toronto Botanical Garden called for entries in a birdhouse design competition, they received some incredible works of art – but none quite so unusual and sculptural as this piece by Josh Coulas. Entitled ‘Heart for the Birds’, the gallery-worthy design takes human love for our feathered friends to an almost gruesomely literal level.
Spontaneous Bird City
(image via: london field works)
Bird houses tend to be lonely little structures, located far from their neighbors. Why not build an entire bird metropolis? This ‘spontaneous city’ was created by London Fieldworks, a collaboration between artists Bruce Gilchrist and Jo Joelson.
CCTV Bird House
(image via: gizmodo)
That’s not a camera watching your every move – it’s the beady little eyes of a bird. But from far away, this clever and creative birdhouse design might just fool a criminal scoping out your neighborhood.
Posh Bird House with a Pool
(image via: posh living)
Who’s to say that birds don’t love a little luxury every now and then? The lucky birds that find this home first will get a rooftop swimming pool in addition to their modern, vaguely Scandinavian cabana.
Solar-Powered Illuminated Bird House
(image via: oooms.nl)
Given that the need for an illuminated bird house is questionable at best, a solar-powered bird house may seem less than eco. But aside from how cool it looks when lit up at night, the little perch on this birdhouse attracts bugs, giving birds an easy snack.
Giving Birds the Boot
(image via: great green goods)
Luxurious? Hardly – but green? Definitely. It may seem cruel to ask your friendly backyard birds to roost in somebody’s stanky old work boot, but these tough and dependable castoffs could actually be quite cozy for small species like wrens and chickadees, and they save shoes from the dump.
Folding Modern Bird House
(image via: grass roots modern)
On the other end of the spectrum, for urbanists who won’t accept anything less than chic modern design, there are bird houses like this: ultra-modern, super-simple, flat-pack and made of steel.
Modern Bird House with a Green Roof
(image via: workshopped)
Vertical gardening and green roofs aren’t just for people. Artist Donald Corey incorporated the best green design practices into this commission, keeping the most important needs of his ‘clients’ in mind. “Using a natural green roof to protect the ‘clients’ from heat and rain, they get the extra benefit of having a good place to look for food that is very close. The house’s walls are created from salvaged wood and the front and back are made of recyclable stainless steel.”
Airstream Bird House
(image via: chrome dome studio)
For nomads, vagabonds and people who just like the look, Airstreams are a sleek and lovably retro alternative to sticks and bricks. So doesn’t it follow that migrating birds who love to be on the move might want a portable home, as well? Maybe this awesome Airstream birdhouse can’t migrate with its avian inhabitants, but it certainly captures the spirit of travel.
Bird Turf Hanging Bird House
(image via: design sponge)
Pairs of shoes hanging listlessly from power lines are a common sight in urban areas, but why not use that same concept to take back the space for wildlife? This design, with twin black and white cylindrical wooden houses hanging by a cord, creates a habitat in a place where birds often congregate.
Ephemeral Paper Bird House
(image via: design boom)
The remains of old auction catalogs fold up nicely into a sort of origami-like modern birdhouse, albeit one that won’t last long in the wind and rain. But designer Michael Young admittedly didn’t create this as a functional place for birds to nest; it’s a work of art.
CD Case Bird House
(image via: craftster)
It makes for a somewhat geeky, very cool looking birdhouse – but this DIY recycled creation, made with CD jewel cases, does have its downsides. “Now, as long as the plastic cases don’t focus the sunlight like a magnifying glass and fry any potential occupants, we will be doing OK,” writes the artist on Craftster.
Coffee Can Bird House
(image via: ignacio pilotto)
Industrial designer Ignacio Pilotto came up with an awesome and surprisingly nice-looking way to reuse coffee cans: turning them into avian abodes with a couple hooks and a modified lid, fitted with a little perch and a round entrance.
Cinder Block Bird House
(image via: design related)
Who knew that cinder blocks could be such fashionable modular bird houses? Sure, they’re a bit heavy – strong chains would be a must – but this design by Mathew Zurlinden makes great use of a common waste material and can easily stack into apartment buildings for birds.
Flowerpot Bird House
(image via: digsdigs)
So you’ve got one good branch in your yard from which to hang something pretty, but you can’t decide between a hanging pot of colorful flowers and a birdhouse. This unusual concept called ‘O_Nest_O’ by De Castelli gives you the best of both worlds with a hollow area under the plant’s soil in which birds can make a home.
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Outtasight! The 10 Most Amazing Eyeless Animals
August 24, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steve in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
Seeing is believing? Not so fast there – these 10 amazing animals believe they’re doing mighty fine without seeing their surroundings, so much so that they don’t waste precious resources growing eyes. It’s a strategy that makes, er, sense when living in an environment where vision is impractical, unnecessary and even impossible.
Leptodirus Beetle
(images via: ICSB-2010, Wikipedia France and Petkovanja in Pondelkovanja)
So-called troglobites – not to be confused with troglodites, or cave men – are creatures that have adapted their physical forms to best suit the environment of caves, typically to the point where they cannot survive when removed from said caves. The first troglobite to be described in scientific literature was the Leptodirus beetle (Leptodirus hochenwartii), back in 1832.
(image via: Wikipedia)
Leptodirus beetles average about 4/10 of an inch (1cm) in length and are thought to survive by feeding on the carcasses of deceased cave creatures. Found only in several limestone caves in southeastern Europe’s Dinaric Alps, Leptodirus beetles are considered to be a vulnerable species as their ecological requirements span a very narrow range.
Kauai Cave Wolf Spider
(images via: Earlham College, Animalaqua, Bishop Museum and Dreamstime)
The Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa anops), discovered in 1971, can be found on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and inside five caves where only about two dozen in total are thought to live. The caves were formed between 3.6 and 5.6 million years ago so the spider has had several million years to evolve into its current eyeless state – “anops” means eyeless, by the way. The creature relies upon a finely tuned sense of touch and the ability to note minute vibrations when stalking prey within the volcanic caves’ pitch-black environs. That’s a normal Wolf Spider at above right, compared with A. Anops on the left.
(image via: Red Orbit)
Though biologists and environmentalists may bemoan the exceptional rarity of the Kauai Cave Wolf Spider, spelunkers and arachnophobics (or both) might feel the opposite: this intriguing eyeless spider is quite large, measuring over 3 inches (8cm) across. It’s considered to be harmless to humans, if that’s any help when you’re exploring the deepest depths of a Kauai cave and the battery in your flashlight dies.
Kentucky Cave Shrimp
(images via: USGS and Unusual Kentucky)
The Kentucky Cave Shrimp (Palaemonias ganteri) is one of a number of eyeless and/or sightless troglobite shrimps that have successfully exploited lightless cave environments the world over.
(image via: The Infinite Sphere)
Living mainly in Kentucky’s famed Mammoth Cave and other subterranean caves in the area, the Kentucky Cave Shrimp is considered to be endangered due to above-ground dams and canals that have affected the natural rate of water flow and sedimentation in the Mammoth Cave system. The shrimp, which are both eyeless and transparent, grow to a length of 1.25 inches (3.15cm) and are closely related to other cave-dwelling shrimp found in Texas, Alabama and Florida.
(image via: Ben’s Biz Blog)
The rarity of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp and the fact that its existence is threatened by groundwater pollution has made the shrimp somewhat of a poster-child for environmental activism and a local cause celeb in the area of Mammoth Cave. In 2009, the newly formed Bowling Green baseball club staged a Name The Team contest and although “Hot Rods” was the winning (or at least, chosen) entry, Cave Shrimp received at least some votes. Pity it didn’t win – just imagine the above awesome logo on players’ uniforms.
Blind Cave Crayfish
(images via: USGS, Dayo Scuba and ScienceRay)
Almost 40 different species of Cave Crayfish live in various cave ecosystems scattered across the United States alone. Common to most of these species is eyelessness, lack of pigmentation and very long lifespans – in some cases estimated at over 75 years! Cave Crayfish are among the largest troglobites, reaching lengths of almost 4 inches (10cm).
(image via: Dayo Scuba)
Cave Crayfish have evolved over millions of years to be totally in sync with their exceptionally demanding environment. As such, they can be looked at as “canaries in the coalmine” – environmental indicators as to the health of the pristine, naturally filtered groundwater in which they live.
Blind Cave Crab
(images via: Daily Mail UK, DBS/NUS and Biotagua)
Like many troglobites, Cave Crabs exist in dark, flooded cave environments around the globe. They share a number of common evolutionary adaptations, such as eyelessness and depigmentation that gives them a ghostly appearance – not that anyone (or anything) saw them before humans with lights and cameras invaded their space.
(image via: Biotagua)
Cave Crabs are often found around the inlets where freshwater enters caves, bringing with it food for the opportunistic crabs to eat. The Cave Crab in the topmost image above, Sesarmoides jacobsoni, was discovered in a cave located on the Indonesian island of Java.
Blind Cave Fish
(images via: FOX News, NPS and National Geographic)
The Blind Cave Fish, or Mexican Tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) has evolved from normal Tetra fish that can be found today in the Rio Grande river and other rivers and streams in Mexico and Texas. Growing to about 4 inches (10cm) in length, the Mexican Tetra displays extreme albinism, a semi-transparent skin and most shocking: complete eyelessness. Such traits are shared by the newly discovered blind cave fish Milyeringa veritas (above, lowest photo), a 2-inch (5cm) long eyeless fish found in Australian freshwater aquifers.
(image via: Wikipedia)
Mexican Tetras are one of the only cave-dwelling troglobitic creatures that are not endangered – they can even be bought and maintained as unique aquarium fish! Owners report that though completely blind, Mexican Tetras kept in aquariums use their highly developed non-visual sense organs to avoid bumping into aquarium objects and walls, and
Brazilian Blind Characid
(images via: BBC)
Stygichthys typhlops, a blind relative of the fearsome piranha, may be “the most threatened underground fish species in Brazil” according to ichthyologist Dr. Cristiano Moreira of the Federal University of Sao Paulo. The fish lives in a single, 15.5 mile (25km) long aquifier in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
(image via: Treehugger)
Villagers drawing water from wells in the town of Jaiba reported seeing strange pale fish swimming in the well. Maybe it’s just me but when you’ve got piranhas in the well it’s time to think about moving, amiright?
Texas Blind Salamander
(images via: Academic.ru, Silverfish Attack and Why Evolution Is True)
The Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) is an extreme example of eyelessness as an adaptation to low or zero light conditions in underground environments. Growing up to 5 inches (13cm) in length, this rare and unusual creature is found in just one location: the San Marcos Pool of the Edwards Aquifer in Hays, Texas.
(image via: CaliforniaHerps)
Texas Blind Salamanders are amphibians and they lay their eggs in water. They eat snails, amphipods and blind shrimp – a case of the blind eating the blind, pardon the pun.
Olm
(images via: Wikipedia and ScienceBlogs)
The Olm (Proteus anguinus) is the only member of its genus and the only troglobitic vertebrate on the European mainland. Like the Leptodirus beetle, it can be found in the freshwater caves of southeastern Europe’s Dinaric Alps. First described in 1768 but not recognized as a purely cave-dwelling animal, the Olm is known to people in Slovenia and Croatia as the “human fish” due to its pale, pinky coloration.
(images via: Arkive, Oracle ThinkQuest and Posing Facts)
The Olm’s snakelike body averages 8 to 12 inches (20–30 cm) in length with occasional examples reaching 16 inches (40cm). As one of the symbols of Slovenia, the Olm was featured on some of the country’s coins before they switched to the Euro.
(images via: Wired and Nature Manchester)
Though it may superficially resemble the Texas Blind Salamander and like it is completely eyeless, the Olm is a completely different animal. It is neotenic, remaining in the gill-breathing larval stage its entire life (which may be as long as 100 years!). Olms also have 3 toes on the forelimbs but only 2 on their hind limbs. Here’s a short video on the Olm from the acclaimed PBS television program Nature:
Land of the Falling Lakes – Alien Creatures, via PBS
Madagascar Blind Snake
(images via: IO9 and WebEcoist)
The Madagascar Blind Snake (Xenotyphlops mocquardi) is one of 15 different kinds of blind snakes that call Madagascar their home, though Xenotyphlops takes sightlessness to a whole new level. In fact, unless this 10-inch (25cm) long, pencil-thin burrowing reptile opens its mouth – or happens to be in motion – it’s tough to know which end is which. While not eyeless per se, the Madagascar Blind Snake is negatively phototaxic, meaning it avoids light and when brought to the surface immediately tries to burrow back underground. Xenotyphlops and its blind relatives are the only snakes that eat insects exclusively, homing in on ant and termite nests with a highly developed sense of smell.
(image via: MSNBC)
The Madagascar Blind Snake was actually discovered twice: once in 1905 and again one hundred years later after not being seen at all in the interim. It obviously has perfected the art of deception; the genus is believed to have split off from its ancestral line about 155 million years ago when Madagascar was part of the composite Gondwanaland continent.
(image via: Filmcritic)
Some like to think “the eyes have it” but these 10 amazing eyeless animals prove without a doubt there’s more than one way of having it; a way that doesn’t depend on seeing what’s wanted. It’s a vision thing… that doesn’t require actual vision. You see? They don’t, and that’s cool.
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World’s Trashiest Hotel: Rome Hotel Built of Beach Garbage
June 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Rome is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with unforgettable architecture and an atmosphere that can’t be found anywhere else. Lately, though, it’s become a real dump. German artist Ha Schult constructed a temporary hotel in the city to highlight the sad state of Europe’s beaches. The hotel, part of Corona’s Save the Beach campaign, is constructed of garbage collected from the shoreline.
The five-room hotel contains roughly 12 tons of garbage, including fishing nets, plastic bags, skateboards, clothing, old tires, and even a mannequin’s leg. The guest rooms are very simple and basic, with leaking roofs and torn sheets acting as curtains, but they do boast real furniture. The toilets are eco-friendly chemical commodes, and forget about washing off the day’s grime in this hotel: there are no showers.
The project is meant to show that, unless we make some major changes to the way we treat the world’s beaches, we will one day be surrounded by garbage wherever we go. In the words of Schult, “we create rubbish and we become rubbish. We must change the world before the world changes us.”
(image via: Daily Mail)
One of the first guests in the unusual hotel was supermodel-turned-environmental activist Helena Christensen. She is probably more used to spending her nights in luxurious surroundings, but decided to spend the night in the garbage hotel to raise awareness of the sad state of European beaches. She reportedly had a pleasant night conversing with the other guests…despite being surrounded by refuse.
The Corona Save the Beach hotel was displayed in Rome until June 7, and is expected to be recreated in various other cities throughout the summer. The campaign promises to clean up at least one European beach per year, with the winning beaches being chosen by internet votes.
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