BedZED
Americans have drifted away from the days of the residence above a business and now have adapted to the long commute and the dependence on the automobile. Dunphy (1997), In the United States from 1950-1990 the suburbs grew from 23%-47% (150 million to 250 million) while the cities declined from 33%-29% of the population. The Industrial Revolution started the trend where families no longer worked together either on the farm or as tradesmen. Men went to work at the factories and the women were homemakers. Today, Calthorpe (2000) claims “Everyone wants a detached home in the suburbs” and “25% of the populations buying new homes are middle-class families with kids.” The fact is the suburbanites who have taken to their subdivisions, 2-car garage and trips to the strip mall have not been given another option. There are other options. A development in Hackbridge, Sutton (UK) has come up with a possible solution to the environmental problem. This Zero-Energy Live/Work development they have created, dubbed BedZED, makes a sustainable stance in design as well.
The BedZED development is important to the Architectural community because it is bringing to light that this type of eco-friendly structure is possible, a
affordable and that there is a want and need for it in today’s world. Gregory (2003) “ZED Factory has been inundated with people wanting to do a ZED (a zero energy development). With a wait list of over 700 people it is clear that BedZED is responding to a real need, and when sufficient clusters of people emerge other developments will be built.” Dunster claims that he plays developers at their own game, being able to present a comparable home for the same price, but with the promise of an environmentally sound structure. Change is tough but knowledge is key. Upfront costs can be made back with time, in this case acheived by reclaiming brownfields, recycling materials and a design that allows a living structure. It is very possible to replicate and produce the same results on a regular basis, as long as someone is willing to take that chance at change.
“Building, structures are what it is all about. Many “environmentally” sensitive buildings go unnoticed due to their “low profile”; and yet deserve to be recognized and set forward as an example of good Architecture.” William Allen (2004). The low-profile of such buildings must no longer go unnoticed and the public must understand its responsibility to mother earth for the sake of their health and the future for our children.
Posted in Sustainable and tagged americans, architecture, BedZED, green, social problems, suburbs, Sustainable, technology by Studio Render with 11 comments.
Car companies Victims….
Can it be said that the car companies are victims of their own success?
Think about this, cars last longer, much longer than decades ago. So if you have these cars that last longer, why do you need to purchase a new car as often? You don’t! Even if you need to get a replacement vehicle, you can get a used car for half the cost! So the market for new cars shrunk not just because of the economy, but the NEED is no longer as strong.
So can it be said that the car companies are victims of their own success?
Do they have to file bankruptcy because they improved their products overall life by so much?
Posted in Editorial and tagged automobile, automotive, bankrupt, car, chrysler, ford, gm, nissan, toyota, vehicle, vehicles, victim by Studio Render with 8 comments.
BIM
In a recent story published Globe Newspaper Company, the issue of BIM (Building Image Modeling) has been brought to the mainstream eye. As a 3d-modeler in the architecture business myself I find it nice to see someone realizing the value 3d models can have.
“This is a paradigm shift in the industry,” said David S. Dutton, Suffolk’s manager of estimating services.
BIM has been around for more than a decade, but only in recent years has it become the industry standard. The process was used in an estimated 60 percent of commercial and institutional construction projects in 2008, up from 30 percent in 2007 and 15 percent in 2006, said Jan Reinhardt of Adept Project Delivery, a Pittsburgh firm Suffolk hired to consult on its BIM efforts.
In almost all cases, officials said, the process saves time and money. It also eliminates the often testy meetings between subcontractors as they try to determine how to make changes to a building under construction. With BIM, conflicts are resolved in meetings that take place before a shovel goes in the ground.
Find the entire article at: BIM Article
Posted in Product Review and tagged 3d, architecture, BIM, construction, Discussion, estimating, image, model, modeler, project by Studio Render with 4 comments.
