http://www.lincolntown.org/depts/ComCom%20assets/Japanese%20knotweed%201.jpg
Or projections onto some of our cities best known structures......
I used to joke that one day I wanted to go into a Starbucks with a container of soy milk, and ask the coffee maker to prep me up a breast milk latte. A sick joke, bad taste yes. But this article is just gross. 
When I first set out the third year extended essay, my intentions were always to put a piece together about urban farming, but a chunk of the body was going to address the damage to developing countries and natural habitats, in the struggle to feed the world. I changed my mind at a point and instead chose to focus on how city communities can become more self-sustaining through community supported agriculture (CSA) schemes and Transition Town Movements.
A gorgeous sunny day with temps in the two figures, and the lowest day time tides in five years....what else to do but head down to the river and do some cleaning. 
Chester Zoo unveiled today a new £225 million project that is said to transform it into the largest conservation, animal and leisure attraction of its kind in Europe. Chester Zoo's website describe it as the first domed ecosystem in the UK, with an African rainforest-themed sanctuary for a band of Gorillas, a large troop of chimpanzees, Okapi, and a variety of tropical birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates, moving freely among lush vegetation.The Capital Growth campaign offers practical advice and support to communities around London, and helps people get access to land to create successful food growing spaces.
I found this article in an airplane magazine and thought I'd look into it this Focus week....When I began this blog I looked at various treehouses around the world....I fantasise about living in the trees! 
Apparently, to avoid accidental bird collisions, the laminate glass will have an ultraviolet colour screenprint which is only visible to birds. Clever. 
A new container city has opened in Cholula, about 2 hours outside of Mexico City. It is beautiful, brightly painted, hip and looks like a brilliant spot to hang out and drink afternoon coffees. Created by a small community of businesses, it covers an area of about 4500 sq m and consists of restaurants, juicebars and normal bars, bookstores, art galleries, and even living spaces.
The clever layout of the 50 containers has also created alleys courtyards, streets and even an open public space with ping pong tables and bands playing for various events. I think this is such a brilliant project, and I have posted other container projects around the world in the past but this is by far the most attractive and sensible use of containers. One of the 1st floor containers even has a slide access to the ground!! So so cool. It puts container city in Greenwich to absolute shame.
Came across these cute household stickers to create a visual focus around wall plugs and light switches, in order to increase people's awareness about electricity consumption....created by London-based studio hu2.
There's a selection of images for each room in the house....the one below is probably a neccessity in plenty homes.............how many times I've walked out without the keys.....
Baku, Azerbaijan
By 1900, 95% of Russian oil came from Baku, thereafter Venezuela discovered oil in 1914 and became the largest importer in the world. The USA is described as being the Saudi Arabia until the 1950's, being the largest oil producer for 100 years. Noone thought it would peak, yet a Geophysicist, the late Dr. M. King Hubbert had said for years that it will come to an end. He was laughed at. He created a graph of oil discovery and production called Hubbert's Peak which showed quite clearly the concerning issue's in relation to oil supply and demand.
The message throughout is that oil has peaked, but there are doubts about the middle east. Every year, oil producing countries have the same numbers for oil reserves and production, and some even rise, which according to those interviewed, does not make sense. If countries like India and China continue to grow, and strive for the standards of living that the rest of the world is used to, how are decreasing oil reserves meant to cope with these new demands for cars, food, products and industry? Worryingly, if Saudi Arabia does in fact exceed its sustainable oil supply, then the world has reached its supply.
We will continue to have multi-generational RESOURCE wars if the world's behaviours and attitudes do not change and look seriously for energy alternatives.
There are interviews with hugely influential people in the world-wide oil industry - a list of whom can be found here. Matt Savinar, interviewed throughout the film is an attourney from California with a political science degree and an informed individual in the peak oil crisis (often quoted in the US Congress, and US journals). His website lifeaftertheoilcrash is assigned reading at multiple university courses around the world, and worth adding to favourites.
I hope this documentary makes it onto the mainstream cinema circuits, with household effects like that the Inconvenient Truth did, but then again, like all things political, it probably wont.
+ oil crash the movie
+ transition kensal to kilburn
+ the lexi cinema
+ Hubberts Peak
+ lifeaftertheoilcrash
Today I took my mum to the Durban Botanic Gardens in my hometown. I actually don't remember if I'd ever been in the 18 years living here before I left. Shameful.
Orchids, Palms and Cycads are the main collections of the Gardens which is currently ranked among the top ten botanical garden cycad collections in the world.
An interesting article of 2009 is that of a proposed development at Hersham Golf Club in Surrey. ReardonSmith Architects is designing the 5-star hotel for the Golf Club to be built underground. The 200+ guest rooms will be covered with a green roof, respecting the surrounding countryside and natural habitats. 
Pictures courtesy of Inhabitat
It offers a number of environmental advantages over conventional parking systems, including reduced energy consumption, air and noise pollution. Its compact construction allows for minimal impact on existing architecture and road systems. It fits in with existing structures without being a concrete eyesore.
