Chicago's Crystal Palace

This is an amazing example of a building that is designed around the use of natural light. It is The Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago, designed by Krueck + Sexton Architects. It just jumped out at me, and I love how it enhances the exterior light quality of the street as well as the interior atmosphere. The multifaceted facade brings the sky down in its reflections. i think this was the draw for me. When I travelled for that long time I realized one thing that I love about Winnipeg... you can see the sky anywhere, even in the middle of the city. In big cities the buildings are so tall, and there is so much light pollution that the sky just seems nonexistent. This building gives life to the concrete jungle.

A New Sound

After the lecture on lighting, I wondered about other electromagnetic waves our bodies are constantly submerged in that we can readily detect. The first one that came to mind was sound. Similar to light, sound is another type of radiation that our senses are able to pick up. It is also a natural by product of when we talk, when two objects come into contact with one another, basically whenever air is disturbed (which is almost all the time). There are very few occasions where I find myself in complete silence, even when I sleep I can still hear the wind and cars passing by. Although sound waves contain much less energy than light waves, we shouldn't ignore the fact that it is still a form of energy that constantly surrounds us. A source of energy that we can potentially harness on a smaller scale. This article from Science Daily explains how turning excess heat into electricity by using sound is an efficient way to recycle waste heat.

To see article, please click Sound 

Energy is all around us and in vast amounts, the only problem is tapping into these sources. Opening our eyes and ears to new solutions often found in the most obvious places is necessary to move forward in our search for usable energy. Diversifying and expanding our energy resources will also result in more stable and resilient energy supplies for future generations to come.

Are you afraid of the dark?

During last week's lecture on light I was most interested, and most disturbed, by what Dr. Mallory-Hill described as light pollution or light trespass. I have been reflecting a lot about this issue as I have recently moved into a new condo which does not yet have blinds! The past weeks lecture enlightened me (excuse the pun!) to how intrusive light can be, and I now realize that my sleepless nights are likely the result of the blaring lights of Osborne Village trespassing into my bedroom. Light emitted during the night serves many different purposes. The light flooding my unprotected windows comes from the advertisements of businesses, but also from the street lamps that help drivers navigate the winding street. On one hand night lighting seems necessary for security, on the other it is harming the circadian rhythms of animals. Birds are chirping throughout the night in the anticipation of the dawn that artificial lighting makes them believe is on its way, and I can't sleep. Suburban flood lamps and downtown eatery signs are drowning out the milky way. Rome is one city that has taken the initiative to dim its lights in an attempt to reduce light pollution, and to save energy. In a new era of sustainability we have to consider the issues around everything that effects human and natural systems, which I am beginning to learn is EVERYTHING. The necessity of night lighting is something I cannot deny, but I would like to continue to investigate this issue in the hopes of learning about solutions that can bridge the gap between the security night lights provide, and the harm that they cause.

Read this article by Sarah Rich, it examines the issues and debates around light pollution, and includes photos by photographer David Allee who is trying to make the most of light tresspass by turning the suburban night-scape into art. However cool these photos I am still not convinced they replace the stars they are over-shining.

I Love The Whole World...

The Discovery Channel has come up with a brilliant new commercial that manages to instill a deep sentiment of love and appreciation for the Earth in anyone who watches. It is a rare occurrence when you come across a commercial that is so moving, you begin to think, wow, now this is how all advertising should be. To watch it is truly a one-minute humbling human experience that puts into perspective what we are all apart of and what we are really trying to preserve. There is a part of me that feels reassured that this innate love for nature exists in all of us, (Biophilia, E.O Wilson) and that ecological competence will be acquired unconsciously once we develop this love and appreciation even further.
A truly powerful display of what is so much overlooked in this world... Enjoy!