Urban farm

One topic that seems to arise over and over again when discussing 'green' is self-sufficiency. Particularly urban self-sufficiency. This usually takes the form of agriculture integrated into the urban environment. In New York, this has been present for a while. I now live in the East Village and I'm amazed how many gardens and farms there are throughout this area.

This company, Plantagon, sees an entire building devoted to the production of food and other forms of plant life. This dome will have a circular internal layout to ensure that almost every plant will get direct sunlight. I think it's quite an interesting solution.

I am generally for this but it seems a little far fetched to me. These are all in the heart of the city and the land will cost a fortune to procure. I do like being able to add farmer/gardener to the list of professions that one can do in the city. Cities need a strong blue collar workforce.

Hat tip [ArchDaily]

Standing Car

In the 'huh' category of personal transport, this standing car design concept by Mattieus Pinkert. The designer note:

Slide is a city car for one individual, in which you do not sit but stand. The low cross-section should be effective against the parking situations of tomorrow. Unnecessary empty rides of one individual in a car with two or four seats belongs to the past. Through an open design and the upright position during the ride, the user are able to communicate with the other participants of traffic in a special way. They are in an equal position of eye height with pedestrians and cyclists.

As you know I support alternative transportation visions. But if I had to chose between this and a Smart, I'd chose the Smart. What this concept lacks is storage. There is none. I don't see where even a basket can be attached. Plus do I want to be standing all the time?

I think the designer envisioned a cross between a Segue and a scooter. This design needs more refinement for it to be practical.

But it looks cool so why not.

Hat tip [Industrial Design Served]

State of America

In the last few weeks, I have been in a blogging slump. To be honest,  I have been a little distraught by the state of the economy – national, local and personal. It has made little sense to post things that value consumption when so many people are cutting back their consumption. 

Last week, I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine yesterday on America. His point of view was that America's best days were behind us. For some reason, I just felt as though that idea was wrong.

The country that developed and populized the internet does not have its best days behind it. In fact, I think the best days are in front of us because we are seeing a sea change in how consumers relate to brands, to one another and to the world at large. Maybe people are not relating to one another in the same way as they did in the past but I think that today's network-centric life will pay dividends in many ways. Here's a few of them. 

• I imagine we'll see an increase in bartering but on a state and national level. Even international. I wonder if local communities will go the way of Notegeld, the local 'currency' during depression era Germany ravaged by inflation. 
  
• Everything DIY. If there's a stock to buy, it would be firms that help consumers and businesses make anything. Hell I may even invest in a sewing machine myself. 
  
• Green alternatives will become more popular as people look for any way to reduce costs. 
  
• There will be a renewed emphasis on the local store, many of which have disappeared in recent years. I know that I have been more focused on the local produce stand and buying things from the bodega, where it's price competitive. 

On the flip side, I get the sense that cities are going to be in for a rough time again, akin to the 70s and 80s.

• High cost and high unemployment will lead to a resurgence of crime and lawlessness (my biggest fear in NY)
  
• Education will suffer due to budget cutbacks
  
• Every wacko with an idea will be able to rally troops and do damage

Overall I just get the sense that we'll be a far more local America than in the past, thanks to the social connections made possible through the internet. What I would love to see from the Obama administration is a great deal more support for the small business and support for re training people to pursue their dreams. Hopefully this will be the start of something big. Or rather the start of many big things. 

Car as Street Furniture

Here's an interesting design concept from David Raffai called the BMW Snug. It's very pod-like futuristic in a retro way. Blah Blah Blah. Nice car. I like it. 

Honestly I'm more interested in the 'social' aspects of this car. Some city dwellers of the green variety see cars as hostile barriers on urban streets. What if they better integrated into the environment?

Here is a car with a built-in seat. In areas like Nolita in New York, there are benches on the sidewalks, usually wrapped around trees. The car/chair gives three people – or more depending on the car's popularity – the opportunity for three people to sit facing one another without someone standing or everyone in that 'huddle.'

Come to think of it, this is something that ZipCar should pursue on their own. In this day-and-age of contracting the manufacturing, they could contract the production of it from one of the car companies. They have enough locations throughout the US to make it worth their while. GM may have some spare capacity. They should talk to the city for permanent street parking since the car when parked serves a public function and improves the neighborhood. Finally, sell adspace on the bench and split the revenue with the street merchants. 

Of course they could sell the extra production to anyone who wants to buy one. Provided they look at a video that comes up on their phones explaining the benefits of car sharing. 

Hat Tip [Industrial Design Served]

The Romance of Squalor

I read a pretty interesting NYT op-ed comparing Paris to Havana. In it, the author's recent visit to Havana showcased a world free from Blackberries, Twitter and the 'always on' mentality that many of us have adopted, by choice or by coercion. He contrasts the 'honesty' of Havana with the supposed soulless sanitation of Paris. 

What is lacking in Paris and what is present in Havana is a robust working class and all of the sounds and smells that accompany that. The factories, the bakeries, the decay etc. Turns out a city made up of rich people just isn't as much fun. 

Sometimes I have a difficult time with these opinions, and I've heard them often. There is a segment of the population that laments the passing of the Studio 54 NY - clubs, glamor, loudness, dirt, seedy etc. Selective memories, these. Yes NY was a blast but it was also scary dangerous. Violent crime was a major issue in the 70s and 80s. You were taking your life into your hands by walking down certain streets or taking the subway after a certain hour. That didn't mean you didn't do it nor do I mean it's Disney safe now. It's just that the risks involved were very real. I can't say I'm a huge Giuliani fan but I appreciate what he did to usher in a much safer NY. 

We want our cities gritty but not TOO gritty. How much squalor is too much? What about the lives of those living in dire circumstances? Who determines the correct affluent/squalor ratio?