Kevin
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Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 1466
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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 Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Comments by ellefagan
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Re: "Cradle to Cradle" design competition winning model home:
I liked it, and disliked it, but cannot escape comment on it.
First, Congrats to the winning design team: Matthew Coates, Tim Meldrum, Ron van der Veen, Brendan Connolly, Julie Petersen, Kristine Kenney, and Richard Franko.
Innovation/evolution in such ideas is a big sign of hope for mankind, and no less. I will note my "hates" first, so I can leave you smiling with my positive comments.
I disliked:
1.
First impressions in text and image push the reader /viewer away.
The photo of the house is not flattering enough, if the idea is to win support for the project: the graphic displayed the colors very unflatteringly, and the surrounding properties in sight gave the impression of a junkheap, with weedy patches of discouraging foliage, sort-of a "hair-loss" feeling...There should have been gracious fencing of some kind ... "good fences make good neighbors", and openess/privacy balanced for health and happiness within and without....Fencing could even be one more element to show off the fine concepts of inspired living the rest of the project shares.
2.
The use of the "concrete and steel" in a nurturing and sustaining private residence does NOT always put me off, but it did, this time, the fault of your writer in failing to express the concept correctly. Perhaps he was thinking "worst first" , too?
I liked:
1.
Waste prevention, by design is cool, and evolving as a thing people can live with.
I like to think my science background, applied to my own homes, has been optimized to keep clean and uplifting design, a balance of old and new, and not waste, but generosity and warmth; and thirty years ago, my late husband and I worked a little extra to make our "fireplace" into a beautiful, safe and useful, energy-saving tool, with the heat exchanger, at least. And many of our project ideas of the sort were not encouraged, under pain of allergies and desocialization, and love won, and we happily folded. So I leapt happily, with your regeneration of the central hearth.
2.
When I need to "snap it up" in an increasing demands time, I lighten the clutter in my space, and reduce "pillow and basket and knickknack" syndrome  Open designs lighten things and can clarify thought and deed: the removal of throw rug, of course, will prevent tripping, but also some kinds of clumsy thinking, and help if obstacles and compications are getting us down.
However, a bit ago, when bone and joint injuries immobilized me,I was nurtured and healed, in part, by a huuuuuuuge pile of the same.
I have been able to avoid medications with the effective use of a good comforter, a summer breeze, a song. But found that uncluttering was refreshing and a vitamin, again, later......as long as it was MY idea.
3.
I wondered about the lighting:
I have carried a banner to keep most lighting healthy shade that does not make people look like alien hybrids, as the classic fluorescents and some passive solars. Such subtleties have a profound effect on the life, moment-to-moment thought and deed... we engineer our quality of life.
4. Edge is sometimes essential, or there is not truth, and timely, but
I felt sorry for the children in the photos... They seemed posed, sere and post-A-bomb sad. Energy responsibility, and Large population DO NOT preclude individuation and delightful quality of life "ad multos annos".
I looked for a few more rounded edges, Temur-pedics savingly popped large and small sized, for comfort, safety and freedom of movement, to correct the look of the people being points and plots on graph, due to the exciting garden grid.
5. I liked essentially, the fresh, open clean design, easily manipulated and varied... a salvation message.
6. Preventing wast in the essential planning, as well as recycling and collecting and with "energy to spare and share" ...very nice! Thirty years ago, I had problems with anything less than feelings of bounty,and recycling gave me the wrong idea, at first.....so much has changed !
7. I like the designs and upward-bound lines, innovative "perks" ... somehow, such design influences life-drives in the right way.
8. In our high-tech times, the house design/construction is one that might be self-sustaining enough to withstand Blackouts, bombs and natural disasters, energy independent, and able to help others.
Such concepts CAN make a wonderful human message and one that we may need. But the same ideas, poorly developed, can result in the Fallout Shelter feeling/doomsday. It is a grand thing to create and live, with awarness, in a space that provides for such needs, in the right way.
It makes feel less futile... it empowers.
9. I love passive solar! ... no waste, or emissions. Any time we can apply its principles we win.
10. The hearth re-worked, evolved is wonderful, and can be taken even further. I was not able to see the complete image collection.
11.
The "L" design is super....lots of options, and creates the illusion of much more space than in actuality.......As long as there would be plenty of variation in the interpretations of the shape, in a whole block of such structures.... or it could look like Lego designers got busy.
Psychiatrists name several serious mental illnessess on the effect of such uniformity in a non-military setting.
Summing up:
the design makes a message of improvement on human futility in each day's living in such a home, and so empowers the power to save the moment, save the day...maybe save the world. We are a part of the flow of it all.
The Hobbits came to mind ....their burrow houses, called "smials" with the greenery sloping to the roof. I could easily see patches of
things I like to grow, things that give beauty, scent and food and nutrition, too.
I would be happy to hear lots of comments and additions to my observations, and love criticism, but do not tolerate attack, so beware of this issue.
Thank you so much for permitting me to post to this forum.
Elle
ellefagan.com
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