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Architects/bloggers/architecture & construction blog readers

Category: ⚐ EN+architecture+events+internet

Alvaro Carnicero is organising “ENCUENTRO 1“: a meeting for architects / bloggers / architecture & construction blog readers.

“A chance to share not only an interest or a profession, but also for joining forces, spreading ideas, cultivating friendships and even designing together what we can’t do on our own.”

Information:
Cordoba (Spain), Patio de la Mezquita-Córdoba catedral
Saturday 17th November 2007

For more information click here.

www.alvarocarnicero.com
www.plusarquitectura.info
www.ampliacordoba.net

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Alternative ideas competition for the Legazpi Market (Madrid)

Category: ⚐ EN+competitions+urbanism

The neighbours’ association Nudo Sur (southern Madrid) has complained about the “creative urbanism” project for the old fruit and vegetable market in Legazpi, Madrid. They claim the project seeks economic profit instead of caring for the real needs of the neighbourhoods around Nudo Sur. They are calling an alternative ideas competition open to neighbours, urbanists and social organisations, to try to find the best uses for the market.

The debate, currently ignored by the city council, will be published in the web (http://mercado.afectadosnudosur.com) and the outcome of the competition will be published in early 2008, simultaneously with the results of the city council competition.

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Blackle: “black google”

Category: ⚐ EN+internet+sustainability+technologies+the environment

Why a black google? Some studies say that having a black background instead of white helps saving energy. Based on these results, Heap Media Australia has created a black version of google they have named BLACKLE. For more info on this project, its characteristics, history, critics, you can check wikipedia (what else!). One of the advantages: there is no publicity. One of the disadvantages: it doesn’t have as many functions as google. Besides, there are different opinions about its efficiency: according to some research, for LCD screens the energy use could even be higher. Once again, energy efficiency is not all that simple. These are some of the tips that the official google site offers in respect of this matter.

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concrete canvas – humanitarian technology

Category: ⚐ EN+humanitarian architecture+technologies

i am very interested in construction technologies applied in humanitarian architecture and I want to use the blog for, on the one hand, telling you about some of the technologies currently being developed and, on the other hand, finding out what else is being done out there (send me an email – alejandra@ecosistemaurbano.com)

i want to start by presenting my friends’ project, CONCRETE CANVAS. these young British engineers have developed CONCRETE CLOTH, a concrete-based construction material. CC consists of a 3-dimensional fibre matrix containing a specially formulated dry concrete mix. a PVC backing on one surface of the cloth ensures the material is completely waterproof; while hydrophilic fibres on the opposite surface aid hydration by drawing the water into the cement. you shape the cloth, add water…. and it’s ready! the concrete hardens leaving a set structure.

this cloth has many useful applications (water tanks, flat roofs, building cladding…) but the idea originated from the construction of dome-shaped emergency shelters.

CONCRETE CANVAS SHELTERS can be deployed by 2 people without any training in under 40 mins and are ready to use in 12 hours – only water and air are needed. the shelters are distributed in a packed format, water is added, they self-inflate to adopt the optimum final shape and in a few hours the concrete sets. they are easily distributed, they are semi-permanent, can be covered with other materials or can be part buried to improve the thermal properties and make them more resistant against impact… they meet certain needs (especially where there is an armed conflict going on or in extreme climates) that a more traditional tent (despite them being great for other needs!) can’t meet.

here are some pictures and a pdf with more info for you to see the great job CONCRETE CANVAS are doing.

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Carlos Romo Melgar – eu:abierto

Category: ⚐ EN+eu:abierto

As we have said before, this blog is aimed to be a meeting point for creative people with a capacity for critical análisis. We like these people to have the chance to publish their ideas and thoughts, and obviously their work too. For this purpose we have created eu:abierto.
As part of this section, we want to introduce Carlos Romo Melgar. He has written a short introduction about himself which I am translating for you, and he is presenting some of his work, which you can download below. We want to remind you that everyone interested in doing the same should get in touch with Domenico – send an email to domenico@ecosistemaurbano.com

I am Carlos, an architecture student at the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM).
I was born in Salamanca but for now I live in the capital.

continue reading

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ecosistema urbano and lara almarcegui at fundación arquitectura – COAM

Category: ⚐ EN+city+events

Today at 19.00, ecosistema urbano will be giving a talk together with lara almarcegui at the fundación arquitectura of the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM). This is part of the urbanaccion event and we will present the latest urban actions we have carried out.

We invite you to visit the urbanaccion exhibition that is taking place in the gallery at COAM, where you will be able to see some of the most interesting groups working on interventions in the city.

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New Blog Paisaje Transversal (Transverse Landscape)

Category: ⚐ EN+architecture+eu:abierto+internet

We are a group of students from the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM) who have just created a blog about Landscape. The aim of this post is to publicise the blog and invite you to visit it and take part in it. You will find it at www.paisajetransversal.blogspot.com

The blog is aimed for promoting a workshop part of the program for Eurau 08 (www.eurau08.com) that will take place at ETSAM in January.

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OSSA WORKSHOP IN SILESIA (POLAND)

Category: ⚐ EN+architecture+ecosistema urbano+events

We attach a picture of the workshops that are taking place in Gliwice (Silesia), organised by the association of architecture students in Poland. ecosistema urbano is taking part as the tutor of one of the work groups.
Silesia is a region located in the southwest of Poland where a number of cities have sprung around the numerous coal mines, with a total population of approximately 2 million people. Currently, most of the mines and heavy industry associated with them have been dismantled and abandoned.
These workshops are an opportunity for thinking about the future of the region, the development possibilities given by the huge industrial heritage and the options for organising the urban centres in the area to function as a single regional megalopolis in Silesia.

If you took part in the workshops, we want to hear your comments!!

ossa workshop

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Expo2008 – Zaragoza – Galicia pavilion

Category: ⚐ EN+ecosistema urbano

ecosistema urbano has won, together with EXPOCIENCIA the competition for designing the pavilion for Galicia (a Spanish autonomy) at the Expo to take place in Zaragoza in 2008. The competition was called by Jubileo de Galicia (linked with Saint James of Compostele Pilgrim Way).
The idea of the project is the following: In Galicia there are many different forms of water – the sea, the ocean, rivers, springs, rain, dew… We don’t need to convince anyone about their quality nor their abundant presence. Water is present in all the elements that make the landscape of Galicia. Water is its sustenance and its wealth. It is its soul and its reason for being. The pavilion is a fair way for Galicia to pay homage to water.

To show this wealth and present the different waters in Galicia, we will bring them all to the pavilion, with their specifications, colours and qualities. There are 315 municipalities in Galicia, each one having a very close relation with the water that runs across its territory. These waters tell stories about families, villages, cultures, industries… We propose collecting 24 samples of water (see, river, tap, spring, fountain…) from each municipality. We will bottle them in air-tight recycled PET containers and label them to show where they come from and some information about their chemical composition. All the containers will make up a wall of bottled water. A full range of samples of the waters in Galicia. A bottled territory.

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webcams of the world

Category: ⚐ EN+findings+internet+technologies

I have come accross this website, www.fisgonia.com, from which you can look for webcams installed around the world. It is specially interesting because the webcams are “geo-referenced” (we know this term thanks to Domenico), that is, they are located in a world map in googlemaps.
Another site for looking for webcams throughout the world is www.earthcam.com. The design of this site is less attractive but the search engine is pretty efficient.