👀Brief 01 example: Strings to Storms
By Mungo Chambers
There is an irony that this article begins with early man's tools and ends with climate storms. It illustrates the journey to the climate problems we face today. How can we change this for the future? This is where the other slides provide an answer. They follow the theme of nature, looking at how nature can be used as a design inspiration, not just in an aesthetic sense but also through the understanding of its systems. This has become a point of reflection for my design work.
Neanderthal string
This Journey starts with a piece of 50,000-year-old string that was recently found in a cave in France. Its made out of inner tree bark using tools made of stone. Archeologists were able to conclude that te Neanderthals had a detailed ecological understanding of trees and how to transform them into entirely different functional substances.
Living Bridges
Researching into indegineous technologies i found the Khasi tribe of Northern India who live in the worlds wettest place where during monsoon villages are cut off by flood waters. To over come this they build living bridges connected by tree roots They train the roots across scaffolding. The bridges last 100s of years. The only type of bridge to bbe monsoon proof.
Trees crown shyness
Crown Shyness is the phenomenon of trees withdrawing their leaves from other trees. This allows them to increase their exposure to light and optimise the process of photosynthesis. I like the random natural patterns this forms.
Rhizome
Recently I had the exciting task of re potting my cactus. I find the way the roots form in the shape of the pot fascinating this root system almost wanting to burst. This system of roots is know as Rhizome they grow out from axillary buds horizontaly. I often forget to water it and this has had a positive effect on its growth.
Mushroom Chair
Philip Ross is an inventor who is using mushrooms to grow leathers, artificial woods and this chair. The process begins with sawdust and other waste materials the myscillian roots eats this in controlled conditions this turns into mushrooms that grows at an exponential rate. They ave a variation in properties and has the potential to be a substitute for less efficient materials.
Avatar
In James Camerons 2009 movie Avatar all organisms are connected they communicate and collectively manage resources. There is in fact truth to this in the real world. Mycelium are root like fibres that connect plants in the 'nature internet'. This allows trees and plants to talk and help one and another.
Coral
This is a type of coral called Ctenella chagius its found in the Indian Ocean, Its patterned groves mean it resembles a brain. Corals comprise an ancient and unique partnership, called 'symbiosis' that benefits animal and plant life helping each other to survive.
Electodeposition
This process takes the minerals out of sea water and attached them to a thin steel frame using a electric current this is called electrodeposition. This can create large strong structures with minimum material. Similar to that of reinforced concrete. Currently it is being used in an architecture project for a theater space. Made with the same material as shells.
Hermit Crabs
This is an image of hermit crabs waiting to jump into the next size of shell. When the largest ermit crab comes along a a chain reacting of shell swapping happens. This reminds me of us humans wanting to swap out and update our clothing, a habit the fashion industry thrives on.
The Mayfly Shoe
The Mayfly shoe designed by nike to last no more than 100km of use. Gets its name due to the short lifespan. It shocked me how Nike were so transparent in their plan for obsolescence. Thankfully they have finished production. However This planned obsolescence is still seen across the industry.
Trigger's Broom
Unlike the mayfly shoe, Trigger managed to hold onto his same old broom for 30 years.
Only its had 17 new heads and 14 new handles. This begs the question is it still the same broom?
Zen Gardens
Zen Gardens invented by Buddhist monks are miniature landscapes their components symbolise aspects of nature raked gravel represent ocean waves, mini trees and rocks represent land. They are a lot of work to make and maintain. This practice is used for meditation and finding balance.
Slackline
Here is me balancing on a slackline on India's coastline. Balance is a situation in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions. Occasionally i would get distracted by a falling cocconut and would get catapulted of it.
Slingshot
The Slingshot has been used as a hunting tool and in defence. They are often used in protests. Imbalances between people and government leads to resistance and revolution. How long until us students speak up and marc in revolt about fees and rents during this pandemic.
Färgrik Mug
Alternativly we can sitt back have a tea and wait for all this to blow over. This is Ikeas Färgrik mug it underwent at least 3 redesigns to make it more efficient at fitting on a pallet. They increased from fitting 864 mugs to 2024. This reducing shipping costs 60%.
Cargo Shipping
Each dot on this map is a cargo ship. Cargo ships carry the weight off the global economy sadly this comes at a cost, the shipping industry produces a million tonnes of co2 everyday. At any one time there are over 50,000 ships moving along networked routes between ports.
Map of the Interent
This is a map of internet connections from 1999, of course today this is an even more complex web of nodes enabling humans to work together and stay connected. Alowing us to instantly share data amongst ourselves.
Ants Algorithm
The algorithm ants are using to discover how much food there is available is essentially the same as the protocols that are used for managing the flow of data. Ants have an incredible strength to weight ratio lift 10-50x their own weight.
Graphene
Graphene has the best strength weight ratio of any material it is made up of a hexagonal structure this can be used as a net to catch molecules. ust under a tird of te world population doesn't ave access to clean water. Labs have successfully filtered seawater catching 99% of salt and pollutants. They are working on tech to scale it up.
Saturn's Storms
This imagery from NASA's Cassani spacecraft shows the storms on Saturns north pole producing a hexagonal shape. Forces at 120degrees are in balance with one another. Nature has a way of using simple rules to create elegant solutions.
References
50,000-year-old string found at France Neanderthal site
Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52267383
How to build a resilient future
Available from: https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_watson_how_to_build_a_resilient_future_using_ancient_wisdom/transcript?language=en#t-94257
Trees avoid touching each other
Available from: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know/trees-avoid-touching-each-other-due-crown-shyness-results-are-beautiful-webs-leaves
Cactus Roots Personal photo
The Fungi in your future
Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBXGFOk5_Rs&list=PLB2w1JNHV4HTVHm1eADOWXuTnSCJ5TuAz****
Plants talk to each other using an internet of fungus
Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden-internet
What are brain corals?
Available from: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/brain-coral.html
Biomimicry enables architects to make "positive impact" on the environment says Michael Pawlyn
Available from: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/10/22/michael-pawlyn-exploration-architecture-dassault-systemes-video/
Hermit crab house swap
Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20141103-hermit-crab#
The original Nike Mayfly
Available from: http://www.triple-white.com/2016/09/27/10-fun-facts-nike-mayfly/
Trigger's Broom
Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUl6PooveJE
How to Make a Zen Garden
Available from: https://www.thespruce.com/zen-garden-4580499
Slacklining Personal photo
Police battle protesters as strike cripples Hong Kong
Available from: https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/police-battle-protesters-as-strike-cripp-idUSRTX728J3
IKEA’S FÄRGRIK MUG
Available from: https://nocloudinthesky.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/ikea-mug-jane.pdf
The Ship Map
Available from: https://www.shipmap.org/
Understanding Complex Systems: A Communication Networks Perspective
Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Full-Internet-map-of-29-June-1999-After-34_fig5_228362278
Ants Invented the Internet Millions of Years Ago
Available from: https://www.govtech.com/e-government/Ants-Invented-Internet-Millions-of-Years-Ago.html?fbclid=IwAR3kZKlVup4FM3nhNy2xCaUVtTxtmxxFsR3LrUfKk80D-UJceb9p3lKtJ94
Graphene for Water Sanitisation – A Miracle Material
Available from: https://www.mynewlab.com/blog/graphene-for-water-sanitisation-a-miracle-material/
Saturn's Famous Hexagon May Tower Above the Clouds
Available from: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/saturns-famous-hexagon-may-tower-above-the-clouds
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