Studio Launch

what if small is the new big?

I've recently become acquainted with the work of Michelle Addington, an architect/professor at Harvard (who was first a mechanical engineer, nuclear engineer, and painter!). She is looking at things in a really interesting way, challenging some of the assumptions that basically drive the whole industry. For example, why are we conditioning whole buildings, when only the space right around the human are what we're after? She's also looking at how very tiny adjustments -- "tuning" surfaces, for example -- can have very dramatic impacts in thermal performance, air flows, and more... fascinating stuff. Here's a sample: http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/cote_addington.pdf. I will have some ppt slides to share soon as well.

Mazria Continues or Timing is Everything

We old folks remember Edward Mazria's solar treatise back in the day.  (Was it the 70's?  Yes, I think it was.)  At the time, he authored a useful and readable book applying strategies that were way before their time...and mostly ignored.  Well, he's back at it and will hopefully be more successful this time around.  Check out this web site that Kira forwarded.  It is timely, beautiful, to the point, and no less important than his 70's work.

http://www.architecture2030.org/