Converted Castles: 13 Preserved Palaces & Fortresses
September 2, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Geography & Travel. ]
Most of the world’s castles, dating back as far as the dark ages, have crumbled into ruin. But there are still many of these daunting stone fortresses and palaces that live on in a new way – as homes, hotels, museums, universities and even bookstores. These 13 converted castles from the 10th to 19th centuries remain functional works of architecture, whether augmented by modern construction or historically preserved.
Messner Mountain Museum, South Tyrol, Italy
(image via: dezeen)
Leaving the historic exterior largely untouched, Italian architects EM2 converted a castle in the Alps into a mountaintop museum. Messner Mountain Museum houses a permanent exhibition about people who live in mountain communities around the world. EM2 added wooden stairways to many of the rooms, opened up the basement and constructed a few new spaces out of unfinished timber.
Grey Towers Castle at Arcadia University, Pennsylvania
(images via: road_less_trvled)
Grey Towers Castle was built starting in 1893 as the estate of William Welsh Harrison, and was acquired by Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania in 1929. The castle is rumored to have secret passages behind the fireplaces as well as a series of underground tunnels built to connect the main house to stables and outbuildings. It now contains various offices, including that of the President, as well as student residences.
Hay Castle Books, Wales
(images via: wikimedia commons, bobulate)
Hay-on-Wye, Wales is often described as “the town of books” thanks to its large collection of bookstores and libraries, and none are more magnificent than Honesty Bookshop, a 24-hour open-air bookshop on the grounds of Hay Castle. The books, which are kept in bookcases against the castle wall, are paid for through a small letterbox. Elsewhere on the castle grounds, a mansion built in the 1660s is used for second-hand book sales.
Ashford Castle, Ireland
(image via: ashford.ie)
On the shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland, a medieval castle built in 1228 now offers the royal experience to any paying guests. Ashford Castle was converted into a five-star luxury hotel in the 1940s, and its 26,000-acre grounds include a 17th-century French-style chateau.
Moritzburg Museum, Halle, Germany
(images via: dezeen)
A ruined castle in Halle, Germany has been given a new life thanks to modern extensions by Spanish studio Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos. The formerly roof-less castle is now protected by a second-floor extension of modern steel, glass and stark white plaster, contrasting beautifully with the 15th century stonework. The structure now houses a notable collection of modern art, mostly German Expressionism.
Castell d’Emporda, Spain
(images via: dezeen)
Among the many breathtaking castles that have been converted to hotels in Spain is the Castell d’Emporda, which was augmented in 2011 with rusted steel parasols that shelter a terraced outdoor restaurant. The 14th century Castell d’Emporda, located on the Costa Brava, was fully preserved when it was turned into a boutique hotel in 1999.
Wilton Castle Luxury Apartments, England
(images via: wikimedia commons, rightmove)
Want to live in an actual castle? Unless you’ve got a royally loaded bank account, Wilton Castle in Yorkshire may be among your only chances. Though it was built in the early 19th century – on the grounds of a medieval castle – it has retained a feel befitting its history. The castle has been converted into luxury residential apartments.
Carbisdale Castle Hostel, Scotland
(images via: syha.org.uk)
Few hostels can boast surroundings quite as atmospheric as those at Carbisdale Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Built in the early 1900s for Mary Caroline, Duchess of Sutherland, Carbisdale Castle is now a youth hostel boasting a large collection of art, 365 windows, a clock tower and even a secret door opened by rotating a nearby statue.
Parador-Castillo de Tortosa, Spain
(images via: parador.es)
The Moorish king Abderraman III built the majestic Parador de Tortosa as a fortress in the 10th century. Today, the castle is a hotel, nestled in the fertile Ebro valley of the Catalan region of Spain.
The Witchery, Scotland
(images via: thewitchery.com)
While there are any number of old castles converted to hotels in Great Britain, none have interiors quite as magical as those at the appropriately named ‘Witchery’ in Edinburgh. Popular with celebrities and wildly in demand, The Witchery by the Castle is as well known for its richly decorated, theatrically baroque suites as for its critically acclaimed restaurant. The hotel’s 8 guest suites feature ornate drapery, renaissance-style paintings, Victorian baths, fireplaces and even hidden rooms.
Scottish National War Memorial, Scotland
(images via: wikimedia commons)
Located on the historic grounds of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, the Scottish War Memorial occupies a converted barrack block on the north side of Crown Square. Though technically, this building is not a former castle, the bricks used to build it in the 1920s and ’30s are from the medieval St. Mary’s Church, which was built in 1366.
CN Castle, Portugal
(images via: archdaily)
How do you honor and preserve the remains of a historic castle, without attempting to rebuild it? Comoco Architects built modern viewing and exhibition spaces around the crumbling remains of Portugal’s Castelo Novo, allowing visitors to view the archaeological findings of the site without damaging them. A ‘steel box’ inside the castle’s main tower functions as multimedia room as well as an overlook.
University College, England
(images via: wikimedia commons)
Built in the 11th century, Durham Castle was a bishop’s palace for centuries before it was donated to the newly-formed University of Durham in 1837. Today, the castle houses over 100 students, and meals are eaten in the castle’s great hall. The castle, along with the adjacent Durham Cathedral, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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12 Green Megastructures for an Eco-Fantastic Future
March 25, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design & Science & Research & Technology & Gadgets. ]
To tackle big problems – like overpopulation, desertification, lack of clean water and a need for cleaner energy – sometimes, nothing but big solutions will do. And these 12 sustainable urban living concepts are not just big. They’re massive megastructures that provide healthy high-density housing, capture or desalinate water, produce renewable energy and sometimes even create their own microclimates.
Living Mountain Skyscraper
(images via: evolo.us)
Could ‘living mountains’ save us from global warming-induced desertification? This concept for the 2011 Evolo Skyscraper Competition creates a livable oasis in one of the world’s harshest environments, the desert of Taklamakan in northwest China, creating a microclimate inside the man-made mountain. This superstructure includes 2,000-sq-ft ‘living pods’, man-made lakes produced by extracting water from the region’s substrate and rainwater collection. Eventually, multiple mountains could be linked using cable cars.
Waste-Recycling Underwater Skyscrapers
(images via: evolo.us)
Imagine using massive underwater skyscrapers to filter all of the plastic and other debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean. The ‘Lady Landfill Skyscraper’ consists of three main functions: trash collectors at the bottom, a recycling plant in the center and housing and recreation above the surface of the sea. The waste would be heated in the recycling chamber and converted into a gas which could then be stored in huge battery-like structures and used as energy. The shape of the structure was actually inspired by an upside-down Eiffel Tower.
Skeletal Skyscraper Harvests Energy from Lightning
(images via: evolo.us)
It’s an odd catch-22: if only we could figure out a less energy-intensive way to produce it, hydrogen fuel could be a great source of renewable energy. But the answer could come shooting straight down from the sky in the form of lightning. The Hydra Tower concept aims to harness those bolts of lightning and use them to literally smash molecules of water into hydrogen and oxygen. The skeletal frame of the tower is made from super-tough graphene, which is 200 times stronger than steel, so that it can withstand that kind of force. These towers would be placed in the tropics, which see 70% of all lightning strikes.
Green Tech City for Hanoi, Vietnam
(images via: inhabitat)
This incredible vision for an entire sustainable city within the city of Hanoi, Vietnam is actually being actively developed. Green Tech City, by SOM Architects, integrates two pre-existing villages to create a new sustainable urban center for 20,000 residents and incorporates both cutting edge modern technology and low-tech passive design customized to the culture and climate of Vietnam. The city will include a green corridor along the Red River with pedestrian-friendly residential neighborhoods located in close proximity to a towering commercial district. Canal water cooling, tri-generation plants, waste recycling and rainwater harvesting will help this city become a model for sustainable urban living.
Everrich 2 Apartments: Self-Sustaining Tower
(images via: designboom)
Another megastructure coming to Vietnam in the near future is the Everrich 2 Apartment complex by DWP Architects, a huge rolling curving structure that resembles an amusement park more than urban housing. Currently under construction, the complex contains 3,100 apartment units along with two floors of mixed retail and public space. The architects designed the structure to maximize daylighting and natural ventilation, and will use precast concrete and local masonry.
Flat Tower: High-Density Honeycomb Structure
(images via: evolo.us)
How can cities be more densely populated, without either dominating the skyline or spreading out to take up too much valuable green space? The Flat Tower concept packs in living space above ground level in an unusual honeycomb pattern, forming a sort of artificial hill. The green space below is left untouched, large openings let in plenty of sun and the structure is able to harvest both rainwater and solar energy.
PoroCity: Rehabilitation for Mumbai
(images via: evolo.us)
The triangular footprint in Mumbai currently occupied by the Dharavi slum – one of the densest in the world – could be transformed into terraced housing with PoroCity, a concept by Khushalani Associates. PoroCity would reorganize the housing of the slum, maintaining the small living spaces and communal living feel but making them more modern with built-in transportation including elevators and funiculars and including space for business and industry, eliminating the need for cars.
Reflections Development in Singapore
(images via: designboom)
Celebrated architect Daniel Libeskind will make a big splash on Singapore’s shoreline with ‘Reflections’, a controversial collection of curved towers containing 1,129 residential units that will be completed this year at Keppel Harbor. The six skyscrapers, connected by sky bridges and towering above low-rise villas, were spaced to allow views to the horizon. The structure won Singapore’s Green Mark Gold Award for significant energy savings.
Seawater-Filtering Skyscrapers from Old Oil Platforms
(images via: inhabitat)
Hundreds of disused offshore oil platforms could be transformed into livable skyscrapers that could desalinate sea water, providing a source of fresh water for millions of people who currently don’t have access to a clean source of this precious resource. The existing oil drill pipes would be used to draw up sea water and the water movement against the tower could provide enough energy to power the site’s facilities. Little pods on the structures would house workers as well as research facilities.
Solar-Powered Paris Triangle
(images via: luxist)
Paris is notoriously resistant to tall modern structures that would dramatically alter the city’s famous skyline, but after a ban on high-rise buildings was voted down, the door was opened for this 50-story glass pyramid called Le Projet Triangle at Port de Versailles. Designed by Herzog and De Meuron, the tower – powered by solar and wind energy – will be the third-tallest building in Paris. Construction has already begun and it’s due for completion in 2012.
KEPCO Green Energy Headquarters Concept
(images via: bustler)
When the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced a competition to design its new headquarters in a city near Naju, South Korea, one proposal stood out both for its size and its sustainable factors: a ‘Green Energy Theme Park’ that would not only serve as KEPCO’s home base but also as a way to show off renewable energy technology. The design consists of a 29-story tower on a landscape podium with a series of sloped green roofs, sun shading devices and a north side fully covered in moss which would catch water and naturally insulate the building. Winning third place, this design also includes wind turbines, greywater recycling, geothermal systems and solar panels.
Urban Trees Green Housing Projects
(images via: evolo.us)
With trunk-like central columns and trees growing on rooftop gardens, the Urban Tree project by Geotectura certainly lives up to its name. Housing units of various sizes are contained within ‘floating’ cubes, some of which even have projecting ‘sky terraces’ for outdoor living high in the sky. The result is lots of greenery and plenty of natural air flow, giving occupants healthier living spaces that feel more tied to nature and require less energy to heat and cool.
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White Out: Global Warming Is Melting Japan’s Snow Monsters
March 1, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steve in Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
“Snow Monsters” – silent, twisted, mountain forests of stately conifers draped in frosty rime ice each Japanese winter – are under threat from global warming. This eerily silent, exquisitely beautiful, bizarre landscape results from a unique set of climactic conditions whose balance appears to be shifting, causing the majestic “monsters” to retreat farther up into the mountains as time goes by.
Rime With Reason
(image via: Pink Tentacle)
Rime is a type of ice that typically forms when tiny water droplets suspended in fog come into contact with objects on the ground whose temperatures are below the freezing point. These ice deposits can build up thick, layered coverings on mountain forests – the high elevation of the trees brings them into frequent contact with low clouds that hug the mountain slopes.
(images via: Jeab Isma and Trendhunter)
Meteorologists describe “hard rime” as occurring on the windward (wind-facing) side of tree branches or other solid objects, with ideal conditions being high wind velocities and air temperatures varying between −2 °C (28 °F) and −8 °C (18 °F).
(image via: LIFE)
“Soft rime”, on the other hand, forms when water droplets in mist or light freezing fog adhere to the outer surfaces of objects when the winds are mainly calm. The Snow Monsters of northern Japan display both types of rime, and lots of it!
Fog Thorns
(images via: Fungur and Pink Tentacle)
Northern Japan presents a perfect storm, as it were, of meteorological and geological conditions that act together to facilitate the formation of winter rime. Prevailing westerly winds drive moisture-laden air from the Sea of Okhotsk inland, where it’s forced upwards against heavily forested mountainsides. Moisture condenses out of the air as snow and as rime.
(images via: Xcitezone and Japan-Guide)
Rime accumulations on conifer trees can grow to astonishing thicknesses but usually the trees can support the weight. This is partly due to rime formation being a gradual process. In addition, the affected trees have been blanketed with rime since they first sprouted – their summer shapes owe much to “sculpting” by annual rime formations. One might say these trees are Mother Nature’s bonsai.
(image via: Xcitezone)
Though rime-encrusted Snow Monsters occur at a number of locations in northern Japan, some of the largest and best-known gatherings can be found in the Hakkōda Mountains of Aomori prefecture, along the slopes of Mount Moriyoshi in Akita prefecture, and at the Zao ski resort in Yamagata prefecture.
(images via: HyphyTek, Inside The Travel Lab, Chris Barthol and Pink Tentacle)
Skiing and hiking amidst the Snow Monsters is a surreal experience to say the least, especially when they’re illuminated at night with multicolored spotlights! Here’s a short video showing just the thing, though the Snow Monsters weren’t at their most monstrous level of snowiness that year:
(images via: Yokoso! Japan and Inside The Travel Lab)
Zao ski resort was the focus of an investigation by a team from Yamagata University, the results of which have disturbed and even alarmed scientists monitoring the ever-increasing signs of global warming.
Melting Monsters Of Mount Jizo
(images via: Mudwerks and ZME Science)
Investigators led by Yamagata University geochemistry professor Fumitaka Yanagisawa recently made observations and took measurements of the many ice-covered trees found around the Jizo-Sancho ropeway station 1,661 meters (5,450 ft) above sea level.
(images via: ZME Science, Pink Tentacle and Inside The Travel Lab)
The measurements were compared with those taken at the local meteorological observatory. The station was established in 1914 shortly after the mountain’s extensive ranks of Snow Monsters were first noted by outside observers visiting the Zao hot spring resort near 1,736 meter (5,695 ft) high Mount Jizo.
(images via: Inside The Travel Lab, Jegadish R and Snow Japan)
Snow Monsters on Mount Jizo occur today at altitudes higher than 1,550 meters, or 5,085 feet. An examination of the weather station’s records, however, revealed that nearly a century ago the frozen manifestations extended down to 1,400 meters or 4,595 feet above sea level. As the years progressed, the “starting line” for Snow Monster sightings has inexorably shifted higher up the mountain’s slopes.
(images via: Kost_Jap)
Temperature measurements on the mountain tell a similar story, as average January temperatures in the area have risen by 2.38 degrees Celsius over the past 80-odd years. To put things in perspective, the average January temperature from 1926 through 1930 was minus 2.16 degrees Celsius. Over the past four years (2008 through 2011), the average January temperature at the Mount Jizo weather station had risen to 0.22 degrees Celsius.
(image via: LIFE)
According to professor Yanagisawa, if temperatures in the region continue to rise at the current rate, “trees will only freeze at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,575 ft) or higher after three to four decades, in theory.” Yanagisawa points out. The problem is, trees don’t grow at altitudes over 1,700 meters on Mount Jizo. No trees, no Snow Monsters. In effect, the immovable abominable snowmen will have become extinct.
Snow Time Like The Present
(images via: Tsuiteru Happy Life, Mapple.net and Miyagi Theme)
Sadly, what happens on Mount Jizo doesn’t stay on Mount Jizo. Global warming skeptics shouldn’t be fooled by the fact that during the winter of 2010-11, Yamagata experienced the heaviest snowfalls in the past five years and January’s average temperature registered minus 1.6 degrees Celsius. Snow Monsters followed the chilly air down the mountainside and could once again found at altitudes as low as 1,500 meters (4,920 ft).
(images via: Japan-Guide)
Not so fast: “Temperatures fluctuate, but they are rising gradually,” warns professor Yanagisawa, who reminds us that long-term climate trends need to be respected and “the average temperature has risen over the past five years.”
(image via: Japan Times)
Based on the overall trends noted since 1914, experts are predicting that assuming temperatures continue to rise at current levels, conditions by 2050 will no longer support the growth of Snow Monsters on Mount Jizo – and likely elsewhere as well. A chilling forecast indeed.
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Social Entrepreneur Connie Duckworth: From Wall Street to the Hindu Kush
February 28, 2011 by · View Comments
www.nextracks.blogspot.com One of Goldman Sach’s first female traders, Connie Duckworth is now running a women’s rug-weaving cooperative in Afghanistan for women. The same business skills that helped her break through the glass ceiling in finance, are empowering women in Afghanistan to breakout of their cycle of poverty. www.facebook.com In the shadow of the mountain where the Taliban blew-up the towering Buddhas, former ABC News embed reporter, Mike Cerre, profiles Connie’s new career with Arzu: Studio of Hope. It’s a lesson on how to turn one’s idealism and urge to give back into a sustainable non-profit business. www.arzustudiohope.org Join the conversation below on boomers re-inventing themselves and send your Nextracks story suggestions to Info.nextracks@gmail.com
Climber survives after 1000 Foot Fall
February 15, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
Adam Potter, a Scottish climber, survived 1,000 feet (300m - the height of the Eiffel Tower!) fall with only minor injuries, said Herald Sun in a report.Potter, a 35-year-old from Glasgow, lost his step on Saturday and fell down the near-vertical and craggy eastern face of Sgurr Choinnich Mor, a 1094-metre-high mountain in the western Highlands.
He was found at more or less 790 metres, making his tumble nearly 300 metres from the summit. In an interview with Sky, Potter revealed his story: “We were about 3000ft (914m) t up, give or take a few. I couldn’t really see the bottom at that point because there was a lot of cloud coming and going.
“As I slipped, I gained speed very quickly. I tried to slow myself down as quickly as possible because I knew once I had got the speed it would be difficult to lose it.
“I couldn’t because I went over the cliff edge and gained lots of speed… I was trying to slow myself down with my feet, my hands, my walking pole.
“Then I’d go over another cliff and it went on and on this way.
“I spoke to the helicopter people this morning and they said three of those drops were over 100ft (30m) in height each so I was quite lucky.”
“It wasn’t until I was at the bottom… and looked up that I appreciated I’d come a long way,” he added.
The helicopter that rescued him was on a training exercise at the time and was at the scene within 30 minutes. When the crew saw him standing beneath three craggy outcrops they thought it was impossible that the person was Adam Potter.
“We honestly thought it couldn’t have been him, as he was on his feet, reading a map,” said Lieutenant Tim Barker, the crew’s observer.
“It seemed impossible. So we retraced our path back up the mountain and, sure enough, there were bits of his kit in a vertical line all the way up where he had obviously lost them during the fall.
“It was quite incredible. He must have literally glanced off the outcrops as he fell, almost flying.”
When a paramedic reached Mr Potter he was shaking from “extreme emotional shock and the sheer relief at being alive”.
Many part of his face skin were exfoliated. He was also suffering from sore shoulders that were wrenched by the rucksack on his back, suffered whiplash and chest pain and three minor breaks in his back, but was being treated as “walking wounded” yesterday.
“He is lucky to be alive,” Lieutenant Barker said.
“It’s hard to believe that someone could have fallen that distance on that terrain and been able to stand up at the end of it, let alone chat to us in the helicopter.”
But the accident didn’t put him off climbing. He planned to climb Mount Everest in the following weeks.
“I will be a little bit more cautious next time and perhaps a little bit safer,” he said. “But I could have slipped on the pavement going out the front door.
“The only difference is the consequences of slipping up there are greater because of the distance you can fall.”
Beth
Rustic Modern Retreats: 12 Earthy Hotels, Homes & Barns
January 31, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Geography & Travel, Home & Garden. ]
Modern design needn’t be relegated to urban areas, and likewise, rustic touches can bring the charm of nature into the most metropolitan of city penthouses. But when the two styles meet, it’s like design alchemy: all of the various elements fuse into a cohesive whole that is warm, contemporary, grounded in nature and steeped with a sense of history.
Vorstadt 14 Hotel, Switzerland
(images via: remodelista)
Contrasting shades of wood against bare concrete and white walls give the top-floor suite – one of just three in the whole hotel – a warm and rustic feel at Vorstadt 14, contained within a 15th-century building in Zug, Switzerland. The bottom two suites, called FACE and BRAIN, are minimalist while this penthouse – SOUL – has a decidedly natural feel. Thick, hefty, weathered wooden beams support the ceiling above a stack of old books and a midcentury modern sofa stands out against a wall of stacked firewood. Lots of daylight makes the suite feel bright and fresh.
Forested Home in Rural Utah
(images via: bcj architects)
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects bring modern design deep into woods and mountains for everything from tiny cabins to large luxurious getaways, including the Farrar Residence in Park City, Utah. Two rectangular wings intersect at a living room with stunning views of the alpine landscape, one wing containing a beautiful indoor pool that terminates in a glass wall and cantilevers over a natural creek.
Connecticut Rustic Modern Cabin on Stilts
(images via: bcj)
Made as a forest retreat for architect Peter Bohlin’s parents, this small summer home in shades of green is camouflaged within the evergreen forest that surrounds it. The home was placed on stilts to accommodate the boulders upon which it is sited. “There is great pleasure in modest means: the shimmering green tapestry of the forest seen through red industrial glazing; the poignancy of an operating sash with its subtle gray insect screen floating in the window wall; the rippling profile of an aluminum corrugated roof,” say the architects.
Tilty Hill Barn, Essex, UK
(images via: remodelista)
Once an 18th-century Dutch barn, this incredible modern home conversion still has all the rustic charm of its Essex farmland location but with all the clean, bright airiness of 21st century design. The original wooden beams provide an irresistible focal point in the wide open interior space, which is largely walled with glass so that occupants can look out the horses in the courtyard.
V-Houses, Mexico
(images via: archdaily)
The eco-friendly platform suites at the Verana Hotel near the fishing village of Yelapa, Mexico rise above the canopy of the surrounding jungle on metal poles extending from tiny concrete platforms. Connected by a wooden walkway and open to the breeze, these 3 steel and plywood V-Houses have a far more modern aesthetic than most jungle digs but maintain a strong connection to their natural surroundings.
Modular Underground Forest Home
(images via: dornob)
An attempt to disturb the ecosystem of the site as little as possible led to an astonishingly creative rural home that is partially underground, seeming to emerge from an adjacent hill. Architects FGMF created a structural grid, filling in some areas for interior spaces and leaving others either completely open or simple platforms for open-air lounging. This grid-based design will make it easy to add on additional rooms or structures in the future.
Harrison Architects Garage
(images via: remodelista)
A green roof, lots of translucent panels and a swinging alternative to a garage door make this workspace in Washington State stand out. Where most garages are purely utilitarian – and often either extremely rustic or industrial in looks – this one by Seattle-based Harrison Architects is almost pretty enough to be a residence. The clear panels let in lots of daylight, recycled newspaper insulation regulates the indoor temperature and the green roof keeps it cool. Inside, a workbench was made from wood reclaimed from an old bowling alley.
Barn-Like Vacation Home, Amagansett, New York
(images via: remodelista)
Salvaged timber infuses a wide-open New York vacation home with a sense of history, giving it a barn-like feel that is nevertheless elegant and modern. Clean, simple lines complement the rawness of the wood and playful contemporary touches like the hanging bed and glass bubble chandelier add interest.
Chicken Point Cabin, Northern Idaho
(images via: olsonkundingarchitects.com)
“The idea for the cabin is that of a lakeside shelter in the woods―a little box with a big window that opens to the surrounding landscape,” says architecture firm Olson Kundig Architects of Chicken Point Cabin in Northern Idaho. The cabin has a massive wall of windows measuring 30 by 20 feet that opens like a garage door, exposing the living space to the wilderness. The chosen materials, including plywood, concrete and steel, were left unfinished to age naturally “and acquire a patina that fits in with the natural setting.”
Minimalist Mountain Home by Studio Granda
(images via: studiogranda)
With an aged and rustic look but a clearly modern design, this home by Studio Granda keeps up with the times while still blending in well with its beautiful natural surroundings. The staggered height of the buildings mimics the undulating hills, while the green roof ties into the lush grass. The interior continues the rustic modern theme with silvery cedar and heavy wood beams contrasted against bare concrete and matte steel.
Dramatic Hilltop House by OSKA
(images via: oska)
Designing a home in an unspoiled setting, architecture firm OSKA wanted an end result that was pleasing to the eye, functional and reflective of the coastal hills in which it is located. Using concrete and steel that will take on a weathered patina over time, OSKA incorporated sweeping angles into this dramatic home that not only make the home more visually engaging, but help keep the house cool in a hot climate.
Lake House by Hutchinson & Maul
(images via: contemporist)
With a shape reminiscent of a beached boat house on stilts, this guest house and retreat on a lake in Washington State had to complement the main house located up the hill, but retain an identity of its own. The unusual shape provides a large deck, a sunny lounging room, a cool shady space and a covered alcove that leads to a changing room. The metal cladding on the exterior was allowed to rust, giving it an earthy feel.
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Man-Made Mountains: 12 Terrain-Inspired Buildings
October 22, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Geography & Travel. ]
It juts out of the landscape and into the clouds, covered in grass, butterflies flitting about – but it’s no naturally-occurring mountain. It’s a high-density housing development, or a massive mixed-use complex. These 12 buildings disguised as mountains or hills pay homage to the land in which they are nestled in harmonious bio-mimicry (or perhaps geo-mimicry) rather than stark artificiality.
MVRDV: China Hills – A Vision of Future Cities
(images via: mvrdv)
How can you accommodate millions of urban inhabitants in a way that blends in with the environment? Architecture firm MVRDV has an idea for China: sky-high towers that resemble exaggerated hills. Each residential ‘mountain’ could house up to 100,000 people in the terraced outer rings while offering retail, industry, leisure and technology in the core. The result once built looks not like a sprawling city, but like an artificial addition to the country’s mountain ranges.
Gwanggyo Power Center’s Towering Hills
(images via: mvrdv)
Vertical greenery makes this concept for Gwanggyo Power Center – again by MVRDV – look even more like a natural part of the landscape rather than harshly artificial towers of steel and glass. Designed for the as-yet-unbuilt ‘future city’ of Gwanggyo in South Korea, which is envisioned as an entirely self-sufficient home to 77,000 people.
La Maison-Vague: Wavy Green Hill House
(images via: patrick nadeau)
Vaguely hobbit-like yet thoroughly modern, this hill house by Patrick Nadeau has a wave-shaped green roof that extends all the way to the ground on either side – almost (the house is raised to create a bench around the perimeter). La Maison-Vague, currently under construction in Reims, France, has a facade made of double-skin polycarbonate glass and is planted with grasses, succulents and delicious-smelling herbs like thyme and lavender.
Rolling Green Stadium in Slovenia
(images via: sadar vuga architects)
From a distance, the new Sports Park Stozice in Slovenia may not look like an actual hill, but it does seem as if it has a green roof – an illusion, thanks to reflective finish that changes color according to the weather and the distance of the viewer. Set mostly underground, this football stadium, sports hall and shopping center with room for 12,000 spectators was designed to fit into an abandoned 40-foot-deep gravel pit.
Green-Roofed Skyscraper by Graft Architects
(images via: graftlab)
With its glassy facade, living roof and vertical greenery, the AO Project by Graft Architects could be an icy mountain rising above an urban landscape. In fact, it’s an apartment complex designed to meet strict space limitations for a Japanese client in an undisclosed location. Details are scarce, but the project is set to be completed in 2012.
Lace Hill: Giant Living Man-Made Mountain
(images via: inhabitat)
It’s a building. It’s a mountain. It’s a living man-made mountain, with a building inside it. The appropriately named Forrest Fulton Architects came up with this uber-creative concept for a mixed-use development in Armenia which bears a perforated living facade inspired by traditional Armenian lace needlework. Lace Hill fits right into the hilly landscape, sites the parking lot underground for maximum aesthetics and contains offices, apartments, a hotel, retail and restaurants.
Fake Hills: Multi-Use Complex in Beihai, China
(images via: mad architects)
Think of it as a compromise between the sky-high silhouettes of modern high-rise architecture and the more curvilinear landscapes that such buildings are often set against. ‘Fake Hills’ by MAD Architects is under construction in Beihai, China and will offer high-density urban housing along a narrow waterfront site. MAD says “This shape can maximize the views of residents, but can also easily appear to be a monolithic break between the waterfront and the land behind it. The solution is twofold: to cut into the slab, creating a sculpted form which references the shape of the hills that dominate the region’s landscape, and to cut openings through the structure, to further allow space, views and light to penetrate it.”
Taipei Pop Music Center’s Glassy Hills
(images via: design boom)
Hills and canyons aren’t exactly common features in urban spaces, but if Mario Bellini Architects has their way, Taipei will soon have both – artificially constructed, of course. Their vision for the Taipei Pop Music Center is “a single body wrapped in a plastic ‘mantle plant’” – and while it’s not clear exactly what that means and whether the greenery on the structure is live or not, it’s certainly a sight to behold, especially with those glass passageways connecting one ‘hill’ to another.
Magic Mountains: Green Business District for Chongqing, China
(images via: inhabitat)
Designed to fit into the natural skyline of Chongqing, China, ‘Magic Mountains’ by CEBO/Chongqing University features green-topped groupings of skyscrapers that are arranged in such a way that they form a hill-shape as a whole. Higher peaks indicate dense housing while lower, rolling hills represent outlying neighborhoods with lower populations.
That’s No Mountain – It’s a Luxury Resort
(images via: mvrdv)
It certainly cuts a dramatic profile, jutting out into the sky, and if it were a natural landscape feature it would be no less an attraction. But this isn’t just a lush green hill; it’s a luxury resort in Montenegro designed by MVRDV, an architecture firm with quite an oeuvre of hill- and mountain-inspired concepts. ‘Galije’ honors its previously untouched slice of coastal land by disturbing its beauty as little as possible, allowing native flora and fauna to take its rightful place right on the building’s surface.
California Academy of Sciences’ Natural Curves
(images via: calacademy.org)
Concepts are all fine and well, but isn’t it nice to see stunning projects like these made reality every now and then? The California Academy of Sciences is ahead of the curve with grassy curves of its own, sporting a hilly green roof that pays homage to the landscape of San Francisco. A rooftop observation deck allows visitors to get a close look at the green rooftop, which hosts a wide array of native wildlife including birds and butterflies.
The Berg: Man-Made Mountain in Germany
(images via: archdaily)
Sure, there’s Space Mountain in Tomorrowland and a few other artificial theme-park mountains that are only remarkable for the roller coasters they contain. But what about man-made mountains that are just as fun, on a much bigger scale? The Berg would be the biggest artificial mountain in the world, designed as an unprecedented tourist attraction in Berlin, Germany that would not only provide a haven for wildlife but also hold recreation space for the city’s inhabitants.
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Slip Slidin’ Away: 10 Fallen Natural Rock Formations
June 1, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steve in Geography & Travel, History & Trivia, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Ephemeral Arch, Nevada, USA
(images via: L A Times, Rattays.de and VFilby)
The most recent prominent natural rock formation to return to its roots, as it were, Ephemeral Arch lived up to its name on or around May 26th, 2010. The arch used to be a popular attraction for tourists visiting the Natural Arch Trail in Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park.
(image via: Zehrer-Online)
Though Ephemeral Arch itself was rather small (6 feet tall and 5 feet across), its location atop a 40 ft high rock formation provided onlookers with prime views silhouetted against clear desert skies. Ephemeral Arch was nicknamed “The Dragon”, as some noted a resemblance to a mother dragon feeding her offspring.
El Dedo de Dios (God’s Finger), Canary Islands, Spain
(images via: Funtor and Casa Turismo Rural)
El Dedo de Dios, or “God’s Finger” translated from Spanish, can be found on the coast of Grand Canaria near the town of Agaete… at least, most of it can still be found there. The formation, which resembled a hand reaching heavenward, took on its unique appearance over a period of 200,000 to 300,000 years.
(images via: 20Minutos and Ediciones Guallavito)
El Dedo de Dios and the surrounding rocks were formed from basaltic lava laid down approximately 14 million years ago. When Tropical Storm Delta hit the Canary Islands in November of 2005, gusting winds snapped off the upper portion of the formation, toppling it into the Atlantic Ocean. Spanish authorities briefly considered reconstructing the finger-shaped spire but decided reluctantly to let nature take its course.
Wall Arch, Utah, USA
(images via: Tim Panagos and Docteurseb.com)
Wall Arch, located in Utah’s Arches National Park, was formed over untold thousands of years by the action of, mainly, wind-blown desert sand. It seems somehow unfair that this magnificent arch was only documented in 1948: a mere 60 years later, on the night of October 4th, 2008, the central span of Wall Arch collapsed into rock shards and dust.
(image via: Lobsang Studio)
Arches National Park contains around 2,000 natural sandstone arches of all shapes and sizes, but Wall Arch was one of the grandest. The 71-ft wide opening beneath the arch and its 33.5-ft height ranked it 12th in size… so much for that, huh?
Old Man of the Mountain, New Hampshire, USA
(images via: ScienceRay, Throwing Things and New England Travel Planner)
Look at the reverse of New Hampshire’s 2000 State Quarter and you’ll see the Old Man of the Mountain, as much a part of New Hampshire’s iconography as the state motto, “Live Free or Die”.
(images via: Edge Ascension and Absolute Astronomy)
First noted in 1805 by surveyors working in the Franconia Notch region, this somewhat spooky face was immortalized by Daniel Webster, who wrote: “Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in the mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has hung out a sign to show that there He makes men.” Above is the Old Man in his prime; just below is a post-collapse closeup showing the steel cables and hooks that finally yielded to nature’s will.
(image via: Wikipedia)
This composite image shows the Old Man of the Mountain both before and after most of the distinctive granite ledge crashed to the valley floor below on May 3rd, 2003. The collapse is thought to be the inevitable result of innumerable freeze-thaw cycles occurring since the final retreat of Ice Age glaciers nearly 10,000 years ago. Man-made supports and annual maintenance done since cracks began to appear in the 1920s only forestalled the inevitable.
Troll Woman, Iceland
(image via: Not About Books)
Legends of trolls both male and female abound in Iceland, a country subject to immense natural forces far beyond the control of mankind. One such folk tale describes the fate of trolls and bewitched humans who are caught out in the open by the rays of the morning sun: they are turned to stone where they stand (or sit). The seaside rock shown above, according to a local folktale, was once a woman who waited in vain for her fisherman husband to return, eventually turning to stone. The “Troll Woman”, perhaps tired of her long and fruitless wait, finally tumbled into the sea sometime before May of 2006.
Jumpoff Joe, Newport, Oregon, USA
(images via: Thomas Robinson – Historic Photo Archive and USGS)
Jumpoff Joe was a famous sea stack that featured a keyhole arch, located at Nye Beach near Newport, Oregon. Composed of relatively soft concretionary sandstone, Jumpoff Joe has been extensively documented photographically for over 100 years as it evolved from a natural pier to a solitary sea stack to finally, isolated rock outcrops that barely rise above the ocean waves.
(image via: Postcard Paradise)
The above postcard illustration dates from around the turn of the 20th century. It may seem amazing how quickly such a large natural structure can be reduced to nearly nothing, but it just goes to show the unmatched power of nature and the Earth’s inexorable geologic forces at work.
London Bridge, Australia
(images via: Armchair Travelogue and Wikipedia)
“London Bridge is falling down…” and so it did, on January 15th, 1990, leaving a single-arched sea stack now known as London Arch. In either its twin-arched Bridge form or as a stand-alone sea stack Arch, this massive rock formation proves that when it comes to memorable landmarks one CAN have it both ways.
(image via: Pizzodisevo)
The above photo of London Bridge shows it in all its glory. The formation certainly looks both solid and ageless in this image, taken in December of 1959, but appearances can be deceptive. Located in Australia’s Port Campbell National Park in Victoria and easily accessible along the Great Ocean Road, it’s a wonder the inner arch’s collapse didn’t take several oblivious sightseers with it. It was a near thing, however: a couple of tourists left stranded on the suddenly isolated sea stack had to be rescued by helicopter.
The Twelve Apostles, Australia
(images via: Ofstruijk and Darren Stone)
Just down the Great Ocean Road from London Arch, you’ll find The Twelve Apostles; a spectacular grouping of nine (yes, nine) limestone sea stacks that began eroding away from their parent cliffs between 10 and 20 million years ago.
(image via: Wikipedia)
Bad enough that the original Twelve Apostles numbered only nine, on July 3rd, 2005 a 50 meter (164-ft) high sea stack suddenly collapsed like a house of cards, leaving only eight Apostles to stand guard against the relentless waves of the Southern Ocean. The images above show the grouping in dramatic “before & after” fashion, with the “after” photo taken several minutes following the collapse.
Chimney Rock, Nebraska, USA
(image via: Visit USA)
Chimney Rock National Historic Site, located near Bayard, Nebraska, is an example of a rock formation undergoing a slow-motion collapse… from OUR point of view, that is. The spire is topped with hard sandstone that has protected underlying layers of clay and volcanic ash to some degree.
(images via: How Stuff Works, State Symbols USA and Wallpaper.s)
The spire was noticeably taller in pre-photographic times, however, and among the weathering agents slowly but surely reducing its height are lightning strikes. Want to see Chimney Rock? Check your pockets… if you have a 2006 Nebraska State Quarter in your change, you’ll see Chimney Rock and a passing wagon train engraved on the reverse.
(image via: Sierra College)
The distinctive natural spire of Chimney Rock towers 325 feet above the rolling plains of the North Platte River Valley and it served as a true landmark for travelers trekking the California, Mormon and Oregon trails. It was said that once you spied Chimney Rock, your long journey across the Great Plains had ended and a shorter, more arduous one across the Rocky Mountains would soon begin. The drawing above, penned by Joseph Goldsborough Bruff back in the days of the 49-ers and the California Gold Rush, looks markedly taller than in recent photos.
The Eye of the Needle, Montana, USA
(images via: David Matherly and California Hick)
Not every natural rock formation meets a natural end, and that’s the case of The Eye of the Needle, a graceful 11-ft high white sandstone arch located near the upper headwaters of the Missouri River near Missoula, Montana.
(image via: California Hick)
The graceful arch had stood for many thousands of years and for all intents and purposes could have stood for several thousand more if not for the misguided antics of drunken vandals (NOT the people in the images above) who toppled the Eye of The Needle over the Memorial Day weekend in 1997. The perpetrators have never been found and suggestions that the arch be repaired have been dismissed, with many stating that would give out the wrong message: that unique natural monuments are easy to repair.
(images via: Hamburger Abendblatt and Touropia)
Though it’s unfortunate when familiar landmarks fall to bits, at times their passing brings about new monuments that themselves may persist for centuries or more. A prime example is Lange Anna in Helgoland, Germany. This once majestic arch collapsed back in 1868. What remains is a 47 meter (154 feet) tall sea stack that stands in solitary grandeur, looking out across the tempestuous North Sea that carries within it the seeds of its future demise.
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Kickin’ Ash: 10 Amazing Active Volcanoes
May 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series, Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Volcanoes are in the news and not in a good way, but Iceland’s tongue-twistingly named, travel-disrupting Eyjafjallajökull volcano is just doing what volcanoes do: erupt. It’s not alone, either. Around the world at any given moment, dozens of volcanoes are smoking, shaking and stirring up their neighborhoods. Here are 10 of the most active.
Kilauea, Hawaii, USA
(images via: Plan59, SlowTrav and WillGoTo)
Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawaii (the Big Island) is widely considered to be the most active volcano on Earth. Over the course of its most recent eruption which began in January of 1983, the volcano has expelled enough lava to pave a road around the planet three times over.
(image via: NaturalPhotos)
If not for its brilliant orange lava fountains and slow-flowing rivers of molten rock, Kilauea wouldn’t be much to look at: though the summit is 4,091 feet (1,247m) above sea level, the gently sloping shield volcano is dwarfed by neighboring 13,677 ft (4,169m) high Mauna Loa… for the present, at least.
(image via: Kilauea Adventure)
Kilauea’s name means “spewing” in the Hawaiian language; an indication that the volcano has been erupting long before England’s Captain Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands in the late 18th century. One relic of those days are the “1790 Footprints” preserved in hardened lava from an explosive eruption of Kilauea. The footprints are said to have been left by up to 80 warriors from a dissident Hawaiian faction who died in a pyroclastic flow from Kilauea.
Etna, Italy
(images via: TripAdvisor, Discovery and Wikimedia)
Mount Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, has been erupting more or less continuously for the past 2,000 years though its overall history stretches back approximately 300,000 years. Though somewhat less famous (or infamous) than neighboring Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna greatly outclasses the latter peak as it rises 2.5 times its height. In addition, most of Etna’s more spectacular eruptions and associated geological events occurred in prehistory. The volcano erupted in every year from 200 through 2008 and its recent eruption occurred in April of 2010.
(images via: Wohba)
Volcanoes occasionally belch giant smoke rings into the sky, a rare and curious phenomenon that can last up to 15 minutes and range in size up to 600 feet across! Mount Etna has blown volcanic smoke rings on a number of occasions; some of those that occurred during the 2000 eruption have been documented photographically.
Nyamuragira, Democratic Republic of Congo
(images via: VolcanoDiscovery, PHSchool, WorldPOI and FreeRepublic)
Mount Nyamuragira is an active volcano located in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although it has erupted more than 30 times since explorers of European origin began documenting the mountain in the 1880s, recent eruptions have caused ever greater concern as the surrounding area has become heavily populated. As well, the Virunga range is one of the last remaining sanctuaries for threatened great apes including majestic Mountain Gorillas.
(image via: My Joy Online)
Mount Nyamuragira brought in the new year with an eruption: On January 2, 2010, lava began to flow from the main crater eventually reaching a distance of 1,640 feet (500m) downslope to the south and southwest. Mount Nyamuragira often exudes a particularly thin and fast-moving type of lava that makes any necessary evacuations hurried and often disorganized affairs.
Sakurajima, Japan
(images via: Tags-Search, Geology-SDSU and The Land of Fire, Satsuma)
The Sakurajima volcano is located on what was formerly an island in southern Japan’s Kagoshima Bay. The island is now connected to the mainland via a low-lying peninsula created by lava flows during the mountain’s immense eruption of 1914. Sakurajima stands 3,665 feet (1,117m) above sea level and has been erupting more or less continuously since 1955.
(image via: Pink Tentacle)
Sakurajima is a successor volcano that exudes and erupts magma from the huge subterranean chamber beneath the Aira Caldera. This 12 mile (20 km) wide caldera was created approximately 22,000 years ago in a massive eruption that sent ash and tephra hundreds of miles in every direction. Should Sakurajima follow the same path to destruction, millions of people will find themselves at extreme risk.
Erebus, Antarctica
(images via: James Caird Society and Rutgers)
The world’s most southerly active volcano, Mount Erebus has been erupting since 1972 though the eruptions have varied greatly in intensity. The 12,448 ft (3,794m) snow-covered stratovolcano is covered with snow but harbors in its crater a red hot, long-lasting lava lake that can be seen from space.
(image via: Neatorama)
Mount Erebus regularly subjects its frigid environs to a blast of geothermal activity, resulting in ethereal ice caves and horn-like fumaroles carved out of its icy coat by scalding steam. Though considered to be in a state of eruption, Mount Erebus behaves rather calmly (as volcanoes go) and has been extensively studied by volcanologists based at nearby McMurdo Station (USA) and Scott Base (NZ).
Chaitén, Chile
(images via: UPI, Xinhuanet and FEWW)
The Chaitén volcano in southern Chile began erupting on May 2 of 2008, an event that caught scientists by surprise as the mountain’s last eruption was estimated to have occurred about 9,500 years ago. Though the mountain is still in an eruptive state, the initial stages were marked by the expulsion of voluminous ash clouds shot through by incandescent bolts of lightning.
(image via: Brisbane Times)
Within 24 hours of the eruption’s inception, a huge plume of ash had risen tens of thousands of feet into the sky, there to be blown to the southeast by upper level winds. The ash plume was photographed from orbiting satellites and can be seen above, stretching completely across the width of Argentina and far into the South Atlantic Ocean.
Anak Krakatau, Indonesia
(images via: Kaskus, Jorge Santos and Joe Meintjes Travel)
Anak Krakatau (“child of Krakatoa”) may not be especially large but note the name – it carries within it the seeds of future disaster. Though the famed 1883 explosive eruption of its parent peak (Krakatoa, east of Java) caused the deaths of roughly 36,000 people, a similar event today would be unfathomably worse due to exceptional population growth over the past century.
(image via: Mornby)
As Anak Krakatau grows larger – it’s been adding approximately 5 inches (13cm) per week to its height since 1955 – it also grows more dangerous. The volcano’s current eruptive phase began in April of 2008 and is ongoing.
(image via: Dennis Dimick)
Anak Krakatau first poked its summit above the surface of the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra in August of 1930 and by 2005 had reached a height of 985 feet (300m)… when Krakatoa exploded with the force of a 200 megaton atomic bomb in 1883 it was 2,667 ft (813m) high.
Tungurahua, Ecuador
(images via: ScienceBlogs and Essential Amazon Adventure)
Tungurahua is one of the world’s tallest volcanoes, soaring 16,480 ft (5,023 m) into the thin Andean air above the South American nation of Ecuador. Those figures will likely need to be revised… Tungurahua has been actively erupting since 1999 with major eruptions occurring in 2006 and 2008.
(image via: NASA)
As with most high volcanoes in the Andes, Tungurahua’s upper slopes are snow-covered and the summit is capped by a small glacier… well, they were until 1999 when the volcano’s eruption quickly melted them away. The greatest danger from such volcanoes is not so much the ash, lava and superheated pyroclastic flows, but flooding and mudslides sweeping into populated areas on the volcano’s lower slopes. The evacuation of 25,000 people from the hot springs resort town of Banos was mainly to safeguard them from that possibility.
Yasur, Vanuatu
(images via: RedBubble, VivaProject and TravelPod)
Mount Yasur, on Tanna Island in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, not only has been erupting for many centuries, but perks up several times per hour! Though just 1,184 feet (361m) in height, Mount Yasur is crowned by an almost perfectly circular summit crater over 1,300 feet (400m) wide.
(image via: Volcano Discovery)
Much like Hawaii’s Kilauea, Mount Yasur erupts in a very predictable manner and at a steady level of activity, allowing tourists to approach to very close distances. An example of this was seen during the broadcast of “Survivor: Vanuatu – Islands of Fire”, when players who won a reward challenge enjoyed a picnic of hotdogs and beer while Mount Yasur’s lava fountains provided a unique sound and light show.
Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
(images via: Stromboli Online)
Last but not least, the noisy newsmaker itself – Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano’s current eruptive phase may have only just begun: its previous eruption which began in December of 1821 lasted well into 1823. Volcanologists have determined that Eyjafjallajökull also erupted in the year 1612, and before that in 920.
(images via: Stromboli Online and The Great Beyond)
Ominously, each of the three previous eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull were followed by the eruption of Katla, a much larger subglacial volcano just 15 miles (25km) away. In a BBC interview broadcast on April 20, Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson described the current chaos caused by Eyjafjallajökull as “a small rehearsal”, and warned that “the time for Katla to erupt is coming close… we [Iceland] have prepared… it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption.” C’mon Ólafur, don’t sugarcoat it, give it to us straight, OK?
Just to show that Ólafur isn’t kidding, here’s a video showing what active Icelandic volcanoes like Eyjafjallajökull are all about:
Volcano Eyjafjallajoekull at Iceland, via Marcszeglat
(images via: PC WIN and Daily Mail UK)
Some wonder as to the reasons for the increasing appearances of volcanic eruptions in the news media (global warming? The End Times?), but in actuality it’s WE who are appearing more – in closer proximity to active volcanoes than ever before. Population pressure will do that and there’s nothing like an infusion of volcanic ash and minerals to boost the fertility of soil and attract opportunistic farmers. One might say, don’t blame science fiction, instead blame human friction.
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3, 2, 1 Fly! Extreme Thrills, Chills & Badass BASE Jumps
March 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Angie in Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems, Technology & Gadgets. ]
Some people are simply extreme. There is a special brand of thrillseekers who take in views of nature at deadly high speeds, becoming truly free. They share that sweet rush with us, filming as they fly, bringing us intense videos of enjoying nature and their controlled fall. We look at BASE jumping from breathtaking natural formations, wingsuit flying, speed flying, and ski-BASE jumping. These extreme sportsmen awaken their senses and live life to the fullest!
We’ve covered rugged hikes, caving, and rock climbing, so please keep an open mind for these extreme adventures. We’re not endorsing these sports, but if you “catch” it, too, and take it up, please have fun! Be safe. Thank you kindly.
3, 2, 1, Fly!
(image credits: ggpht,ggpht,ggpht,ggpht,ggpht)
B.A.S.E. stand for the categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: buildings, antennas, spans (bridges), and earth. We focus on earth, majestic cliffs and, later, gorgeous snowy mountaintops. The scenery is stunning. For the adrenaline junkies, it forever imprints memories of both the adventure and the amazing natural views. That first jump, sometimes more, is a real head game. Your rational mind will not want you to step off the safety of the ledge and into thin air. But it’s super addicting as well. Yes, BASE jumping is one of the world’s more dangerous recreational activities. It is also a sport where the participants leave nothing to chance, requiring skill, planning every detail with good margins, and executing the jump in the right conditions.
Kjerag Kickoff Weekend 2009 – Wingsuit BASE jumping
When a philosophical blogger stated, “To risk your life for the sake of pleasure is something I cannot understand,” BASE jumper extraordinaire Halvor Angvik wrote a reply. “Every person has to take calculated risks at some points in life to get or do something they really want, something that makes life worth living. It does not have to be physical consequences; it might be an economical compromise, related to someone you love or other things you really value in life. Some risks might be bigger than others, but once you’ve found out what you really want to do in life I bet you would think it’s worth taking some risks for. What’s left of life if you won’t risk doing what you really want to do? Are you truly living then? I would not be.”
The video is some of Halvor Angvik’s jumps from the season kickoff in Kjerag, Norway, including exits 4, 5, 8 and Smellveggen. (For a rush, it’s best viewed full screen, baby!)
Wingsuit BASE Jumping
Some BASE jumpers must have truly dreamed of flying since they were young, since they wear a wingsuit which enables the human body to fly through the air. There’s a fine line between the extreme sports of BASE jumping and wingsuit flying; BASE jumpers often later wear a wingsuit. Proximity flying in a wingsuit can carry the flier so he or she can trace the contour of the wall. Wingsuit-only landings are not possible, not yet.
In the video, Loic Jean Albert, a well known BASE jumper said: “At the beginning of wingsuit BASE jumping, we try to fly as far away from the wall as possible. Now it’s getting boring, so we play around.”
(image credits: anadaopegao,anadaopegao)
Again quoting Halvor Angvik, “The most dangerous thing you can do with a wingsuit is to fly close proximity OVER the terrain. That requires a lot more planning and skills. You need to know that the angle of the terrain is well within your glide ratio limits and you need to know which parts of the flight you are in the clear to break off or pull, and where you have dedicated yourself to a line you will have to finish.”
BASE Jumping is BIG & Legal in Many Places
Although many countries allow BASE jumping, some would just as gladly arrest you. Other places require permission from both the area where you intend to land as well as from where you intend to jump. It’s legal though at Kjerag Mountain in Lysefjord, Norway. BASE jumpers are actually welcome! If the extravagant beauty of the cliffs, canyons, waterfalls, and spectacular fjords don’t take your breath away, perhaps that first step into thin air will?
(image credits: wetasschronicles,Angel Falls B.A.S.E. 09,seekextreme,nrksport,thegoat.backcountry,lysegard,ggpht)
New Zealand and Switzerland are also highly recommended areas, but there are many great places to BASE jump. These jumpers are not insane, they love life! They take calculated risks, but their love for nature is as extreme as their adventures. Do you see the treasure to be had in these stunning natural surroundings?
(image credits: wayfaring,getwonder)
Although he is far from the only wonderfully talented BASE-jumping flier, Halvor Angvik stated all of this quite eloquently, “When it comes to jumping mountains, you get to travel and experience untouched nature and places you would never go to if it had not been for the jumping, and you meet a lot of people with the same interests on the way. The feeling of freedom I get from hiking and climbing around in the mountain, out of reach of cell coverage and civilization, knowing that I am going to fly off a mountain when I get to the top, gives me an inner peace unmatched by anything else.”
BASE jumping in Lauterbrunnen 2009
This is an excellent video, from Angvik’s youtube channel, showcasing 10 days of jumping in the area of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. From Angvik’s reply to Healing Philosophy, “These facts probably won’t change your mind about base jumping being a very high-risk activity, and it shouldn’t. It is a high-risk activity because any single mistake – whether it’s misjudgment of wind and weather, your skills for a specific object, or simply a mistake during flight or deployment, or equipment maintenance and packing – will most likely kill you. It might however help you to understand that I don’t do this for the risk itself, and the kick I get from handing my life over to faith and see how I manage. Every jump is planned to every last detail, and with good margins. I never doubt that my packing or rigging is good, because I will check it again until I am 110% sure it’s good, and I never fly off a mountain unless I am sure I can make the flight. It still doesn’t make it safe, but maybe it makes you see that it’s not that irresponsible either.”
Speed Flying & Speed Riding
(image credits: freerepublic,neatorama,,Daily Mail,skinet)
Speedflying evolved from speedriding, flying fast downhill on skis. It infuses off-piste skiing with paragliding, creating more niche extreme sports. If being out in nature helps you to find balance, and you can ski competently, then perhaps you would like to ski a little and basically glide or fly down the mountain? And if you run off the edge of the mountain? No problem, just fly down and land in the snow.
Speedriding, Speedflying and Wingsuit-Flying
If you have never really heard much about speedflying, then this video may help you. This combines speedriding, speedflying and wingsuit-flying in the area of Wengen, Switzerland. The person with the camera is Halvor Angvik with his co-pilot is Jokke Sommer. If you follow BASE jumping much at all, then you might recognize Jokke from when he was wearing and testing out his Vampire 3 wingsuit.
Shane McConkey – Ski & BASE Jump
Shane McConkey was a professional skier who, among many things, was famous for skiing into a double back-flip BASE jump off Eiger, a 13,025 foot mountain in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland. On March 26th, 2009, while ski-BASE jumping in Italy, one ski did not come off. This sent him into a spin at terminal velocity. The ski community suffered a great loss that day. (See tribute video)
Extreme BASE Jumping with Smoke
(image credits: NRKekstremsport)
Halvor Angvik stated, “Why do I jump? It is not because I’m fearless or braver than anyone else. I think I am as scared as any person and I certainly think a lot about the consequences of my actions. Neither is it for the adrenaline rush exclusively, though it is a good side effect. : )”
World BASE Race 2009
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