Saturday, February 2, 2008

city sizes

This is Florence: 1 sq mi of it: population of 400,000 peple in the city and 200,000 on the outskirts





This is Cal Poly: 1 square mile of it

Friday, February 1, 2008

Moon Data


These composite images (made up of many different orbits) show the lighting conditions at the north and south poles of the Moon throughout one lunar day. (One lunar day lasts 29 Earth days.) Note that for the north pole (left image), virtually every area gets some sunlight during some part of the lunar day. However, large areas of the south pole appear to be permanently dark (black on right polar image).
It has been calculated that temperatures in these permanently dark areas may be as cold as 40 to 50 Kelvin (-230o to -220o C), only a few tens of degrees above absolute zero. Moreover, these "cold traps" have existed on the Moon for at least the last 3-4 billion years - plenty of time to accumulate water from impacting comets.







This ones shows the permanet "dark" areas or craters with the red color blobs





The Moon's axis of rotation is nearly perpendicular to the plane of its orbit around the Sun, so the Sun always appears at or near the horizon in the polar regions of the Moon. Although the plane of the Moon's orbit about the Earth is inclined about 5o, it's equator is inclined about 6.5o, resulting in a 1.5o inclination of the Moon's spin axis to its orbital plane around the Sun. This means that the Sun always appears close to the horizon at the poles of the Moon.






Hey, look at these diagrams. Now I get it. but I guess this means that the South Pole's craters have permanent darknes/cold

Unit designs


Variation 2: Multiple use of same spaces: Utility Core: Waste removal collection for recycling






Variation 1: Changing heights fo Floors & Ceilings to provide functions



Module structure

Possible structure with module












Use of module to shape unit




Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Where do we go from here?

The next step: continuing to define the "rules". What if our module was flexible, connected by cables? What if we looked at it like tailoring. Sure, you can buy off-the-rack. It's fine for everyday wear. But for special needs, you alter your garment. Why not your office or home?


If silicates are readily available and processable, I can see sturdy glass fabrics, like silicone baking sheets, making interesting skins: Flexible, any color, translucent or opaque, textured or smooth. Dude! Your house could be PLAID.



The modules could alternately be rigid, able to work with the tensile skins to create intersting forms.


Idea for a public assembly/large space-style "circus tent", like a hangar.


Doesn't everyone sing Sondheim in the kitchen?



Idea for ways to furnish irregular spaces. Why not line the walls with pockets for small articles, with bubble closets for larger ones?