Stylish Workplace | Toa Heftiba via UnsplashDesigning a workspace that combines style and practicality can significantly influence productivity and mood. Use these seven actionable tips to create a stylish and functional office space.1. Select Ergonomic Furniture for Comfort and ProductivityIncorporating ergonomic furniture is one of the best ways to improve productivity with better office design. Items with adjustable features and thoughtful placement can reduce strain, improve focus, and promote well-being.Steps to Create an Ergonomic WorkspaceAdjustable Furniture: Opt for chairs and desks with customizable settings to match your bodys needs. Look for chairs offering lumbar support and desks at a height that prevents wrist and arm strain.Proper Monitor Placement: Position your screen at eye level and at least 20-30 inches away to maintain a neutral posture and avoid neck discomfort.Flexible Seating Options: Incorporate standing desks or exercise balls to add variety and encourage movement.Clear Movement Paths: Arrange furniture for easy mobility and collaboration, making transitions between tasks effortless.Focusing on ergonomic furniture promotes health and efficiency while creating a stylish office space.2. Use Lighting to Influence Mood and ProductivityResearch suggests that well-designed lighting can influence employees motivation and productivity. Try to incorporate a combination of natural and artificial lighting to create an environment that supports both comfort and efficiency.Here are some lighting tips to inspire you:If You Want ToYou CanMaximize natural lightPosition desks near windows and use sheer curtains to diffuse brightness without blocking it.Create a balanced lighting schemeLayer general illumination, task lighting for work areas, and accent lights for added ambiance.Improve comfort and aesthetics with overhead lightingReplace fluorescent fixtures with dimmable LEDs or stylish pendant lights.Adjust lighting to match your energy needsUse smart, programmable systems to adjust brightness and color throughout the day.Lighting Tips to Enhance Mood and Productivity in Your Office3. Upgrade Windows With Functional and Stylish TreatmentsWindows are often overlooked when it comes to office decor. The right treatments add elegance and improve practicality. Zana Dodig, owner of Prestige Decor and a seasoned expert in interior design with a focus on window coverings, emphasizes the transformative power of well-chosen treatments. Drawing from over two decades of experience, Zanas insights highlight how functional and stylish window solutions can elevate a workspaces aesthetic and utility.How to do it:Use sheer curtains for soft light and an open feel.Add blackout shades for privacy and light control during presentations.Layer curtains with blinds for texture and versatility.Well-dressed windows elevate your office while fostering a functional environment.4. Optimize Space With Thoughtful Layouts Pj Dc via Unsplash Annie Spratt via UnsplashA tidy, well-organized office looks better and supports productivity through improved workflow. Creative use of space can make even the smallest areas functional and inviting. Choosing multifunctional furniture is a practical way to maximize utility without sacrificing style. Desks with built-in storage or ottomans that double as organizers help make the most of every inch.Vertical storage solutions transform walls into valuable organizational space. Wall-mounted shelves or pegboards free up desk surfaces while adding a touch of visual interest. Defined zones in the office help create dedicated spaces for work, collaboration, or relaxation. Rugs or dividers are simple tools to set these boundaries without making the room feel cramped.Streamlined storage helps maintain a tidy and efficient workspace. Cable organizers, labeled bins, and drawer dividers help reduce clutter by keeping essentials within reach but out of sight. These office space-saving ideas are practical ways to design an office that balances functionality and flair.5. Choose Colors That Influence ProductivityResearch shows that office colors significantly influence work stress and knowledge sharing. Selecting the right palette is vital in achieving a stylish office space and enhancing productivity.How to Use Color Effectively:Cool Tones for Concentration: Soft greens and blues are ideal for quiet, focused work areas.Warm Tones for Energy: Small pops of yellow or red can invigorate collaborative spaces without overwhelming the senses.Neutral Bases: Light grays or whites provide a clean backdrop, making smaller spaces feel open and airy.Bold Accents: Introduce vibrant colors through decor or a feature wall to add personality without disrupting productivity.Color psychology, when combined with thoughtful decor, can transform your office into a space that feels both stylish and productive.6. Personalize With Art and DecorIncorporating art and unique decorative touches can transform an ordinary office into a space that inspires and energizes. Here are a few ideas you can adopt:Large art installations or eye-catching prints can define the mood of a room.Use items like bold side tables or colorful shelves that combine practicality with flair.Plants or living walls bring life and balance to your space while improving air quality.Mirrors, when placed correctly, can make a room feel larger and more open.This step in your office makeover brings style while enhancing creativity and mood. It also makes your office look personal yet still professional.7. Integrate Technology ThoughtfullyModern offices thrive when technology is integrated thoughtfully, enhancing productivity without adding clutter. Compact, tech-focused furniture can make a significant difference in maintaining a clean and organized workspace. Desks with built-in charging ports or wireless charging pads offer convenience while reducing the need for extra cables.Wireless gadgets are another way to keep your workspace tidy and modern. Opt for wireless keyboards, mice, and charging docks to eliminate unnecessary cords and streamline your desk area. Smart systems add further efficiency by automating daily tasks such as lighting and temperature adjustments.Final ThoughtsThese functional office design ideas prove that creating the perfect workspace is achievable. Start with ergonomic furniture, refine your lighting, and build a design that supports your workday needs. And feel free to revisit this article to take inspiration!Leave a comment

Gardens by the Bay Sustainable Architecture | Paula Prekopova via UnsplashAs the global push for sustainability intensifies, architecture is at the intersection of environmental consciousness and cutting-edge technology. One emerging technology, blockchain, has the potential to transform sustainable practices in architecture by improving transparency, traceability, and accountability in the sourcing of materials and energy management. The Current Challenges in Sustainable ArchitectureSustainable architecture aims to minimize environmental impact through careful material selection, efficient energy use, and eco-friendly construction practices. However, the path to truly sustainable design is complex and has obstacles.One major issue is supply chain transparency. In a globalized market, materials often pass through multiple suppliers, making it difficult to verify if they are sourced sustainably. This lack of visibility can lead to greenwashing, where suppliers exaggerate their sustainability claims. Additionally, waste and energy management remains challenging, as traditional systems often fall short of tracking consumption and waste effectively throughout a projects lifecycle.Blockchain technology promises solutions to these challenges with its decentralized, immutable ledger. By providing a permanent, transparent record of transactions and processes, blockchain could ensure that each step in the supply chain meets sustainability standards.Blockchain for Transparent and Traceable Supply ChainsBlockchains most significant contribution to sustainable architecture may lie in its ability to bring transparency to the supply chain. Every material used in construction, from timber to steel, carries a unique origin story, and blockchain can record each step of this journey from source to site. This immutable, real-time record allows architects, clients, and stakeholders to verify the sustainable sourcing of materials confidently.Thanks to its transparency and decentralized nature, blockchain has become a trusted tool across various industries, including cryptocurrency, where many people now choose to buy Bitcoin as their entry into the blockchain ecosystem. In sustainable architecture, blockchain empowers architects to make informed choices, ensuring accountability and enhancing eco-friendly sourcing.For instance, sustainably harvested timber can be tracked through each phase of its journey from the forest to the sawmill to the construction site verifying that it meets rigorous environmental standards. This level of traceability helps ensure that materials align with sustainability claims, reducing the risk of greenwashing and increasing trust among clients and stakeholders.By enhancing supplier accountability, blockchain equips architects to select materials that genuinely reflect sustainable practices. Furthermore, blockchain-enabled transparency gives clients and regulatory bodies the tools to assess projects for compliance with environmental benchmarks, positively influencing project reputation and market value.To explore how blockchain can elevate supply chain transparency, heres a breakdown of key blockchain functions and their benefits in sustainable architecture:Blockchain FunctionDescriptionBenefits for Sustainable ArchitectureMaterials TrackingUses blockchain to log each step in the journey of materials, ensuring sustainability claims.Provides traceability and accountability for eco-friendly material sourcing.Supplier VerificationVerifies suppliers credentials, ensuring they meet sustainability and ethical standards.Prevents greenwashing by verifying suppliers sustainability claims.Digital Passports for ReuseCreates a digital record of materials, detailing their origin, composition, and usage history.Encourages reuse of materials, supporting circular economy principles.Real-Time Compliance ChecksUses smart contracts to verify compliance with sustainable practices during construction stages.Ensures continuous accountability and automates adherence to eco-friendly standards.Table 1: Key Blockchain Functions for Enhancing Supply Chain TransparencySmart Contracts to Enforce Sustainable PracticesSmart contracts, a blockchain feature, allow self-executing agreements based on predefined conditions. In architecture, they can be leveraged to enforce adherence to sustainable practices throughout a projects lifecycle.Imagine a construction project with sustainability clauses written into its smart contract. The contract might specify conditions like waste management, emissions limits, and energy use targets. Payments or approvals for the next phase are automatically released when these conditions are met. If not, the contract can halt further actions until compliance is achieved. This ensures continuous accountability for sustainable benchmarks, automating compliance checks that are often time-consuming and challenging to monitor manually.Smart contracts have already been piloted in the construction industry to track and enforce waste reduction and energy efficiency targets. By holding all parties accountable to sustainability goals, smart contracts streamline eco-friendly construction and offer a model for projects worldwide to adopt similar measures.Reducing Waste Through Blockchain-Driven Material ReusePlastic Pollution | Naja Bertolt Jensen via UnsplashBlockchain also facilitates a circular economy in architecture by enabling the reuse of materials. A circular economy emphasizes the reclamation and repurposing of materials, reducing the environmental footprint of construction projects.Digital material passports on the blockchain offer a compelling tool to support this. Each passport includes data about a materials origin, composition, and usage history. When a building is renovated or demolished, blockchain allows architects and contractors to reclaim and repurpose these materials in new projects, creating a closed-loop system.For instance, recycled steel or reclaimed wood could be tracked through digital passports, ensuring they meet the required standards for new projects. By fostering material reuse, blockchain empowers architects to reduce waste, cut costs, and ultimately minimize environmental impact.Energy Management and Carbon OffsettingBeyond materials and waste, blockchain can enhance sustainable architecture through improved energy management. For example, renewable energy tracking on the blockchain can verify that a project is powered by sustainable sources, creating a transparent, unalterable record of energy use.Carbon credit tracking and offsetting present another valuable application. By recording carbon offsets on the blockchain, companies can verify their offsets are legitimate, contributing credibly to emissions reduction. This is especially relevant in construction, where carbon emissions are often high.Several startups and pilot projects already utilize blockchain to create real-time carbon tracking systems. These systems enable architects and developers to track emissions throughout construction, promoting accountability and driving the push toward carbon neutrality.The Future of Sustainable Architecture with BlockchainYou never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. Buckminster FullerBlockchain technology holds transformative potential for sustainable architecture by fostering transparency, enforcing eco-friendly standards, and reducing waste. Blockchain can help architects, developers, and clients work together toward a greener, more sustainable future by addressing critical challenges like supply chain visibility, waste management, and energy tracking.As blockchain evolves, its applications in sustainable architecture will likely expand. From project planning and construction to material lifecycle management, blockchain could become a cornerstone of green building practices. The future of architecture is about creating beautiful and functional spaces and building with ethical, eco-conscious, and transparent practices. Blockchain may be the catalyst needed to propel sustainable architecture to new heights.For readers curious about blockchains broader impact on urban spaces, including governance and city planning, consider exploring Crypto Cities: The Future of Urban Planning & Governance on Blockchain for insights into how this technology might shape entire cities, not just individual buildings.Leave a comment

Today, Project Transitions is the one and only direct provider of housing for people living with HIV and AIDS in central Texas. The Austin-based nonprofit, shepherded by interim executive director Matthew Glazer, was founded in 1988 by Barbara Davis at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Its predicated on the firm belief that access to good housing is paramount to the treatment and recovery process. Michael Hsu Office of Architecture (MHOA) partnered recently with the local nonprofit to build affordable housing in Austin for people living with HIV and AIDS. Burnet Place opened this winter, offering 61 units contained within a midrise building centered by a courtyard.Burnet Place has comprehensive support services, recuperative care, and hospice in compassionate and caring environments. Community gardens, outdoor seating, and leisurely walkways ideated by Nudge Design are spread throughout the site.The units face a shared courtyard. (Kristian Alveo)Our primary design goal was to provide a safe space for community and healing that supports the incredible programming of Project Transitions, Maija Kreishman, MHOA principal, said in a statement. At the heart is a warm and welcoming courtyard with a sunlit porch, community garden and quiet walking paths. We hope that weve created a home where residents can feel comforted and supported, and where they can thrive. By the numbers, 11 of Burnet Places 61 units are fully ADA accessible, and the remaining units can be easily retrofitted to support accessibility. Wood and other biophilic materials were selected to deliver a warm, residential feel, the architects continued.A mix of materials was used throughout the project, including tilework. (Kristian Alveo)A medley of materials and textures were used on the housing; each set of buildings features a volume clad in black and another faced white paneling. The bottom half of these structures adopt a more natural color palette, that introduces tile and wood to the project. The buildings are connected via a series of staircases and terrace spaces constructed using metal grates.Staircase and terraces allow residents an outdoor-indoor living experience. (Kristian Alveo)The ground floor has an abundance of resources for people in recovery. There, social services, telemedicine consultations, community events, and shared dining facilities are located. Theres also a porch connected to a treehouse on site that provides panoramic views of the neighborhood.In a lounge area a wood paneled wall is complemented by side tables crafted from wood logs. (Kristian Alveo)Outdoor spaces are faced with metal grates painted in an array of soothing, pastel shades. (Kristian Alveo)Were filled with gratitude to see this residence come to life, added Matthew Glazer, interim executive director of Project Transitions. When our neighbors with HIV have stable housing, their health improves, medical costs go down and the further spread of HIV is prevented. The Burnet Place partnership with Michael Hsu Office of Architecture will directly improve individual outcomes and our communitys health.Amenities inside the complex, include a shared dining facility for residents. (Kristian Alveo)For MHOA, the project is in line with other altruistic ones the office completed recently. Past MHOA clients include Austins Habitat for Humanity chapter, Austin Angels, and The Womens Home in Houston.

Notre-Dame Cathedral formally reopened this weekend in Paris. Foreign dignitaries attended the reopening of the famed cathedral, following its devastating fire in 2019. Those in attendance included France President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, as well as President-elect Donald Trump, who sat next to Jill Biden. Togo President Faure Gnassingb, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Prince William. Politicians and celebrities took photos outside the building before it reopened the evening of December 7, and then Archbishop Ulrich symbolically knocked on the front door using a bespoke crosier carved from fire-scorched beams sourced from the original structure.Notre-Dames nave the evening of December 7 (Francesco Ammendola/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)Archbishop Ulrich subsequently shepherded his flock into their seats so the show could officially begin. Afterward, the world was afforded a view of Notre-Dames nave that hadt been seen in several centuries. All of the seats inside the Cathedral werent fixed to the ground, echoing the way the space was arranged after its completion in 1163 AD. It took roughly 2,000 craftspeople to restore the landmark, and many more contributed, including Philippe Villeneuve, Rmi Fromont, and Pascal Prunetarchitects who oversaw Notre-Dames restoration. The Global MomentCertainly, the December 7 opening was a confluence where multiple streams conjoined. Political foes and friends gathered to celebrate years of hard word by the renovation team who got the job done on time, and within budget. The renovation team consisted of well known French architects, but also carpenters from New York and Boston.On the heels of the official reopening, on November 21, Diana Darke published a new bookIslamesque: The Forgotten Craftsmen Who Built Europes Medieval Monumentswhich told the story of how Arab Muslims contributed to Notre-Dames completion, and European Medieval Christian architecture more broadly. Darkes book spoke to the multihyphenate character and composition of the team who rebuilt Notre-Dame in 2024. Atelier de la Grande Oye, a construction firm founded by Paul Zahnd, a French Muslim, was responsible for building the new wooden frames to support Notre-Dames new roof, for instance.What an irony that across Europe, Darke wrote in Middle East Eye, there are increasingly loud calls from far-right parties to rid their country of immigrants, especially Muslims, in order to save the purity of their own race and culture, evidently unaware that their very civilisation was built on the superior skill of immigrants.Giving KudosFrench architects Philippe Villeneuve, Rmi Fromont, and Pascal Prunet led the project team. Rebtir Notre-Dame de Paris Public Authority awarded the tenders to companies interested in participating in Notre-Dames construction.All in all, more than 200 architecture, engineering, and construction firms participated in Notre-Dames refurbishment, like Paul Zahnd. Bureau Bas Smets, a Belgian landscape architecture firm, is devising a planfor greening the site, its work will concentrate on sustainability and resiliency.Artist Flavie Vincent-Petit was hired by Archbishop Ulrich to replace Notre-Dames original stained glass windows with new ones. (Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo)Mapei, together with Lefvre and CCR, was put in charge of restoring the central nave, namely its choir, vaulted ceilings, and two of the transepts wings. Asselina French windows, doors, and wood paneling distributorworked with multiple entities to rebuild the spire. That firm partnered with U.S. carpenters Jackson Dubois of New York and Boston-based Michael Burrey on the spires reconstruction. Carpenters Without Borders and Goosewing Timberworks, a Vermont company, also partook. In the weeks following the fire, there was a design competition to rebuild the conical structure. In the end, the oak spire was replaced with an identical replica of what once stood. Limestone walls and the decorative vaulting inside the church were destroyed by the flames. While the French quarries used centuries ago to complete the cathedral are no longer active, new stone was again sourced locally, this time in the region of Oise in northern France. Salvageable limestone surfaces covered in ash and grime from the collapsed roof were painstakingly cleaned and restored to look new too. Wood latticework, supporting the newly rebuilt roof, used oak from 1,500 trees, each around 150 years old.Architect Jean-Marie Duthilleul was tapped to rethink Notre-Dames liturgical layout. Stphane Bern, a high-profile heritage advocate, worked closely with General Georgelin on the high-profile project. Artist Flavie Vincent-Petit was hired by Archbishop Ulrich to replace Notre-Dames original stained glass windows with new ones even though the originals werent damaged in the 2019 fire, a decision that was met with stiff pushback at first.All of these architects, artisans, and politicians followed in the footsteps of past builders who brought Notre-Dame to life. In the Middle Ages, Notre-Dame was conceived by Jean de Chelles, Pierre de Montreuil, and Pierre de Chelles. Then, centuries later, Notre-Dame had a massive overhaul between 1844 and 1864 by Jean-Baptiste Lassus and Eugne-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc.

Manuel Cervantes Estudios Post-hurricane houses in Acapulco, Mexico is this years AR House winner, alongside two highly commended and three commended projectsTowns and cities on Mexicos Pacific coast are increasingly at risk from hurricanes, with two highly destructive storms in the last two years. In the aftermath of Hurricane Otis in 2023, Manuel Cervantes Estudio with non-profit organisations Asociacin Gilberto and Construyendo established the Kon-tigo initiative to build long-term residences for people in Acapulco whose homes had been damaged or destroyed. Each house costs an average US$18,000 to build and use innovative pre-fabricated panels. 42 houses have been completed, with another 78 ongoing. The winning project was selected by Stella Daouti, co-founder of Architecture Research Athens, Boonserm Premthada, founder of Bangkok Project Studio and Mike Tonkin, co-founder of Tonkin Liu.Stella Daouti praised the houses straightforward yet playful strategy to provide post-disaster houses on sites across the city. The houses respond to peoples needs and move away from a rigid, large-scale approach, Daouti thought of the project.Boonserm Premthada said the houses represent a pivotal shift towards addressing the needs of marginalised communities, with architecture working in conjunction with bottom-up policies. He described them as durable and breathable houses that serve as a sanctuary tailored to their residents social and economic realities.Mike Tonkin commended the houses as a robust system of modular components providing a sophisticated and affordable solution for hurricane-proof housing that melds into the urban fabric.One of the post-hurricane houses by Manuel Cervantes EstudioCredit:Csar BjarAR House 2024 resultsAll winning projects are published in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of the magazine. Buy your copy here.Winner Post-hurricane houses by Manuel Cervantes Estudio in MexicoHighly commended The Old Byre by Gianni Botsford Architects in the United KingdomHighly commendedCasa Cosmos by S-AR in MexicoCommended Ocarina House by LCLA Office in ColombiaCommended Mapleton House by Atelier Chen Hung in AustraliaCommended Reciprocal House by Gianni Botsford Architects in the United KingdomThe Old Byre byGianni Botsford Architects in Cowes, United KingdomCredit:Schnepp RenouThe winner is joined by two highly commended projects including The Old Byre the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, by Gianni Botsford Architects. A conversion of two former agricultural barns now serves as a home for the owners family as well as an artists residency and studio.The judges praised the architects for their refined integration of modern components with the historical building fabric, using subtle design choices and careful material selections to achieve a balance between warm and cool, refined and rugged. Mike Tonkin praised the projects amplified qualities within the mundane jumble of English farm buildings and its ritualised perspective on rural living. Boonserm Premthadacommended the architects for skilfully harmonising the sites cultural, historical and natural elements and Stella Daouticalled the house a liveable space where the past is not merely a treasure artefact but an integral part of daily life and the artistic process. Casa Cosmos byS-AR in Puerto Escondido, MexicoCredit:Camila CossioAlso highly commended is Casa Cosmos by S-AR in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, a holiday retreat on the Pacific coast that exposes visitors to an intimate contact with the surrounding natural environment. In an era of climate change where architecture often tries to control a buildings indoor climates, Casa Cosmos does the opposite, Stella Daouti thought. Here, nature is experienced in full felt, smelled, heard, and even embraced in silence under the stars. Boonserm Premthada thought the project a fitting sanctuary amidst a challenging and beautiful environment, and Mike Tonkin praised the houses controlled primary geometry and strategic materiality, engaging in natures delights.Mapleton House byAtelier Chen Hung in Mapleton, AustraliaCredit:David ChatfieldThree additional projects were commended by the jury, including Mapleton House in Mapleton, Australia, by Atelier Chen Hung. The judges praised the architects for their careful handling of a telescoping viewpoint on a hillside site near Sunshine Coast, allowing the houses occupants to absorb the cityscape and terraced landscapes below while sharing those views with the public.Ocarina House byLCLA Office in El Carmen de Viboral, ColombiaAlso commended is Ocarina House in El Carmen de Viboral, Colombia, by LCLA Office. The house for a ceramicist was recognised as a profound reflection of an artists life, inspiration and creative process. The house acts as a living canvas where the built environment continuously responds to natural phenomena, they said.Reciprocal House byGianni Botsford Architects in London, United KingdomCredit:Schnepp RenouThe last project to be commended is Reciprocal House in London, United Kingdom the second project in the list by Gianni Botsford Architects. The house was praised for its affectionate relationship with its host, an earlier Norman Foster extension to a suburban family home. The judges praised the houses limited palette of beautifully detailed industrial materials that focus on the natural surroundings and the quality of light that enters its prismatic volume,View the full 2024 shortlist, find out more about the AR House awards long illustrious history or register your interest for the 2025 edition

Built following Hurricane Otis in 2023, homes designed by Manuel Cervantes Estudio address inequalities in the Mexican city of AcapulcoThis project is the winner of the 2024 AR House awards. Read about the full shortlist hereDuring the 1940s and 50s, Acapulco was one of Mexicos most popular beach destinations. Just 380km from landlocked Mexico City, it is the closest beach for chilangos Mexican slang for residents of the capital. Acapulco showcases the stunning tropical landscape on the countrys southwest Pacific coast, surrounded by the mountain ranges of Guerrero state.Miguel Alemn Valds, Mexicos first civilian president, came to power in 1946 following a succession of military generals. The government was close to an inner circle of businessmen, politicians, foreign investors and celebrities such as the Kennedys, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley who all met regularly in Acapulco. The city was part of the governments national strategy for business development, in which many modern Mexican architects played a part. Acapulcos airport was built in 1952, designed by Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral, and a yacht club also by Mario Pani with Salvador Ortega was opened in 1955. Many modernist hotels were built during this period, including the Presidente Acapulco Hotel, built in 1959 and designed by Juan Sordo Madaleno and Jos Adolfo Wiechers, which included a sculpture by Mathias Goeritz and a beach nightclub by Flix Candela.However, this paradise promptly became a national and international tourist destination with several challenges, including economic insecurity and inequality. As Acapulcos popularity grew, local communities were removed from their land on the seafront and relegated inland towards the mountains to make room for expensive hotels, bars and convention centres. While the citys seafront was mostly the domain of an elite floating population, hotel industry workers were housed in mass housing projects inland, such as El Coloso, a scheme of 20,000 houses started in 1977 and built by the government. The population of the city has ballooned since the 1950s, from less than 30,000 to more than 500,000 40 years later, and has now surpassed a million people, leading to uncontrolled urban growth.In September this year, Hurricane John hit the Mexican state of Guerrero with torrential rain, flooding and landslides. Several neighbourhoods were flooded and residents in atrisk areas were told to evacuate to temporary shelters. Acapulco had not fully recovered from the destruction of Hurricane Otis in 2023 one of the worst storms recorded on the Pacific coast of Mexico, which destroyed houses, hotels and power lines, uprooted trees and unleashed floods and landslides. In the year since, support had not been sufficient to improve the living conditions of the citys inhabitants. The political response continues to be reactive and temporary, limited to donations of mattresses, water tanks, heaters, food supplies and household appliances.It was in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis in 2023 that Manuel Cervantes Estudio, along with the nonprofit organisations Asociacin Gilberto and Construyendo, established the Kontigo initiative, a play on words that alludes to joint action and togetherness. The programme aims to build longterm residences for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Otis. Inspired by the Cartilla de la Vivienda (Housing Primer), published by the Colegio Nacional de Arquitectos de Mxico and the Sociedad de Arquitectos Mexicanos in 1954, the project established a construction manual to assist people who would not have access to the limited supply of statebuilt housing because they were working within the informal labour market.Our goal is to make houses that are not just structures but adaptable homes where the architecture enables the empowerment of the inhabitants to break the cycle of poverty in Acapulco, explains architect Manuel Cervantes. The houses are located across Acapulco and its periphery; 42 are currently completed and 78 are ongoing. The homes vary in size from 35 to 75m2, depending on the familys needs, and cost an average of US$18,000 to build, funded by various private donors through Asociacin Gilberto and Construyendo.The buildings are constructed from prefabricated Covintec panels wire mesh frames filled with polystyrene and coated with concrete, that are thermally and acoustically insulating. They have the structural capacity to form loadbearing walls and slabs that can be extended. The floor slabs of the houses are designed to receive extensions according to the needs of the families, Cervantes explains, inspired by Pedro Ramrez Vzquezs house that grows from the 1960s.Future inhabitants were involved in both decisionmaking and the building process. Homes were constructed by local construction workers and volunteers, including the future residents themselves, as well as some of Manuel Cervantess students from Anhuac University who also participated in the research for the project. Each of the homes is unique, combining different architectural elements. Generous ground floors, open to the air, and balconies on upper floors provide space for social interaction. Each house is designed to operate without air conditioning; the Covintec panels provide insulation while timber screens allow in air and light. This contemporary device draws on Acapulcos tropical modern architecture, which used concrete latticework to let wind and light pass through the spaces. This, in turn, was influenced by traditional selfbuilt architecture in Acapulco; in 1954, the architect Enrique del Moral wrote an article in Arquitectura Mxico in which he highlighted the open floor plans that facilitate crossventilation, as well as terraces that, if necessary, can be closed off with shutters. He demonstrated that the windows avoid the excessive use of glass and metal, making use instead of lattice patterns that can provide privacy while allowing in light and air. He also promoted the use of local materials in vernacular architecture, such as the stone of the region, bamboo, wood, as well as pigmented concrete.In less than a year, the structures have withstood the test of recent tropical storms, and families have already started to improve their homes with gutters for water collection, extended porticoes and growing vegetation. The satisfaction of having a home that feels safe is the most important thing a human being can experience, explains one new Kontigo homeowner.In Mexico, countless repetitive singlefamily houses sprawl beyond the limits of the urban peripheries, creating identically reproduced environments in which families are slotted. Public policies and political promises must transcend the home to improve collective space, the common and shared, to attend to a sense of belonging. This could be the next step for the Kontigo initiative to foster density and collective housing projects, and to combine with public spaces in a publicprivate partnership. The Mexican government, for example, has recently announced plans to build a million new homes as part of the Housing and Regularisation Programme.Few nation states explicitly consider housing a constitutional right; Article 4 of Mexicos constitution establishes that every family has the right to decent and dignified housing, ideally with access to diverse public services. To date, except for isolated cases, architects are not included in the public agenda for addressing social housing solutions. Kontigo is an example of an architecture practice being involved in a largescale housing project, with a determined commitment to participatory processes and community development. In Acapulco, like every city affected by extreme weather precipitated by the climate emergency, this project is a response to a very clear call to action.2024-12-09Reuben J BrownShare

The Derby Summer House sits on the Glen Magna Farms property in Danvers, Massachusetts, and is a rare and excellent example of a formal 18th century garden house in the Federal Style. The structure was built in 1793-94 by Samuel Mclntire, the noted craftsman-carpenter of Salem, on the country farm of Elias Hasket Derby in South Danvers. The Derby Farm was sold off by the family, but in 1901, Mrs. Ellen Peabody Endicott, a descendant of the original owners, bought the Derby Summer House and transported it to Glen Magna Farm, their own summer residence. A shopping center now occupies the original location of the Derby Farm. Inside the structure on the first floor, there are two small rooms which are divided by a central hall that extends through the structure. The steps and vestibule at this level are surfaced in white marble. The second floor, where tea was served, was decorated in an Oriental manner. A wood parquet floor, dating from the first decade of this century is still in place. The structure with its carved figures has been studied and replicated by architects and historians for decades, but nothing beats the original.

Blob Set. All images Aman Khanna, shared with permissionAman Khannas Cast of Clay Personalities Meet at the Corner of Form and FunctionDecember 9, 2024CraftDesignJackie AndresAman Khannas symbolic ceramic sculptures, referred to as Claymen, are hand-crafted in New Delhi by the artist and a team of assistants. With emotive faces and an approachable aura, the figures evoke the human condition, non-binding to any gender and representing the universal act of introspection.Refined and unembellished heads are a recurring motif within Khannas work. I have always been fascinated by human psychologythe thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that define us, the artist shares. Heads are not just a vessel for thoughts and feelings but also encompass the face, which is how we recognize and connect with one another.Blown AwayIn recent works, Khannas minimalist clay characters take on different roles associated with everyday functionality. For instance, the artist shares that the series of Headrest stool sculptures double as a seat and a metaphor for pausing and relieving the burden of modern life. Split Head Light and Table, vases within Blob Set, and Super Moon Lamps are all examples of practicality converging with aesthetics.You can discover more on the Claymen studios website, as well as Instagram.Super Moon LampsSplit Head Light and TableHeadrest StoolsAll is SwellServing HopeServing HeadsCharacters from All is SwellSuper Moon LampsHands-On ServersHumble Table LampsHeadrest StoolsNext article

How does jealousy snuff out creativity? A stop-motion film written and directed by Ainslie Henderson follows three furry, felted creatures struggling with each others success.Shackle centers on the gremlin-like trio as they conjure the forests magic to make music. As pinecones spin like a top, dreamy sounds emerge, and slowly, the creatures add other objects to the woodland symphony. Shape-shifting sticks offer a rhythmic line, while autumn leaves provide a soothing melody. When one envious character tries to steal the unusual instruments for himself, though, a cloud of darkness reveals that greed is incompatible with art.The short film is a BAFTA nominee and was recognized as the Best British Film at the London International Animation Festival in 2022. Henderson has also been awarded numerous Vimeo honors for her work, which you can watch on the platform.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A Trio of Woodland Sprites Vie for Creative Control in an Ethereal Stop-Motion Animation appeared first on Colossal.

Published December 9, 2024 10:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Protecting yourself from Microsoft tech support scams Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says scammers exploit fears, falsely claim computer issues to access your personal data. Tech support scammers are modern-day con artists, preying on our deepest technological fears and vulnerabilities. Tammy of Flagler Beach, Florida, recently reached out to us with a concerning email:"I think we may have been hacked by Microsoft Windowswe turned off computer after calling the Microsoft number blaring at us telling us to not touch the computer. What do we do???"Were sorry to hear that youre experiencing this issue. Tammy's experience is a classic example of a prevalent tech support scam that has been targeting unsuspecting users. Its important to note that Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support.These criminals have evolved their tactics to easily convince you that your computer has a critical problem needing immediate attention.Any communication they have with you must be initiated by you. If you receive a phone call or pop-up window from someone claiming to be from Microsoft, and they tell you that your computer has a problem or has been hacked, its likely a scam. Fake Microsoft support scam pop-up (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Red flags scammers use to trick you into believing your computer is compromisedTech support scammers have become master manipulators, using psychological tactics to exploit your fears and vulnerabilities. Here are the six most common warning signs that you're being targeted by a sophisticated tech support scam:Unsolicited contact: Be wary of unexpected calls, emails or pop-ups claiming your device is compromised.Urgency and scare tactics: Scammers often create a sense of panic, claiming hackers could access your devices and data imminently.Requests for remote access: A major red flag is if someone you didn't contact asks to remotely access your computer.Pressure for immediate payment: Be suspicious of demands for payment, especially via non-reversible methods like gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.Impersonation of reputable companies: Scammers may claim to be from well-known tech companies like Microsoft or Apple.Suspicious pop-up messages: Be cautious of pop-up warnings about viruses or system issues, especially those with countdown timers. Fake Microsoft Windows scam pop-up (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Immediate steps to take if you are targetedTo quickly secure your information and minimize potential damage, follow these steps.1) Disengage immediately: Hang up the phone or close any suspicious pop-ups.2) Disconnect from the internet: This can prevent potential remote access by scammers.3) Do not provide remote access: Never give control of your device to unsolicited callers.4) Run a security scan using strong antivirus software: Use reputable, up-to-date, strong antivirus software to check your system. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.5) Change critical passwords: Update passwords for important accounts, especially if you've shared any information.Make sure to create strong, unique passwords. Consider using apassword manager to generate and store complex passwords.6) Enable two-factor authentication: Where possible, enable multifactor authentication.This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.7) Monitor your accounts: Keep an eye on your financial accounts, email accounts and social media for any unusual activity. If you think scammers have stolen your identity, consider identity theft protection here.Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account.They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance ofup to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white-glove fraud resolution team where aU.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses.See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.8) Invest in personal data removal services: Using a data removal service can be an effective additional step to protect your personal information after a potential tech support scam. These services locate and remove your personal information from various online platforms, databases and data brokers. By eliminating unnecessary or outdated information, data removal services minimize your online presence, making it harder for scammers to find and exploit your data.While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.Check out my top picks for data removal services here.9) Contact professionals: If youre unsure about any steps or if the situation seems severe, consider reaching out to a professional IT service.10) Report the incident: Report the scam to your local authorities and theFederal Trade Commission in the U.S. You can also report the scam toMicrosoft directly.Remember, its important to stay calm and take one step at a time. Hacker at work (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurt's key takeawaysTech support scams are designed to exploit fear and technical uncertainty. Remember that legitimate tech companies will never proactively contact you about computer issues. Always verify support through official channels, and when in doubt, consult with a trusted tech-savvy friend or professional.Have you or someone you know ever been targeted by a tech support scam? Share your experiences and how you dealt with it by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.