"If you build it, they will come." Field of Dreams. Gail Vaz-Oxlade, a personal finance guru and host of the television show 'Til Debt Do Us Part' posted a link to a Journeyman Pictures video on YouTube, entitled Ghost Cities - China. The video shows several newly built cities in China that remain unoccupied, and … Continue reading Ghost Cities in China?
Archive
Older posts from my old websites.
As You Like It: Bard on the Beach
Yesterday was only the first time in all my three and a half years in Vancouver that I finally took in Bard on the Beach. I couldn't decide what to see from their selections before heading back to Ontario in ten days, so I decided on a comedy: As You Like It. We were informed … Continue reading As You Like It: Bard on the Beach
Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea – Finalists
So the Small Hospital, Big Idea competition announced the finalists. I was waiting to post on it before I saw the images of the winners but there's a caveat on their site that says "images will be posted shortly," and that's been there for 2 days. Looking forward to the winning entries. I hope they post the … Continue reading Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea – Finalists
Can Technology Help with Alzheimer's?
I follow a LinkedIn group called the 'AIA Academy of Architecture for Health' (AAH), and through it I discovered the organization The Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc, which publishes a newsletter called Perspectives for design professionals and patients. May 2011's newsletter contains an interesting article entitled 'Simple Technology Makes a Huge Impact,' which focuses on the Simple C Companion. … Continue reading Can Technology Help with Alzheimer's?
Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea
I didn't have the time to participate in this design competition from Kaiser Permanente, a health care providing organization, entitled "Small Hospital, Big Idea," but I'm really looking forward to the results. The design competition seeks: "seeks design concepts for a small, eco-conscious, patient- and family-friendly hospital that uses the best in emerging medical technology … Continue reading Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea
Navigating the NICU
I was looking through some old articles I bookmarked for later reading and found this one, about a person hired to help families navigate the difficult world of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). While the article presents the job description of a person hired specifically to coordinate families as they deal with premature babies, it … Continue reading Navigating the NICU
Understanding the Living Building Challenge
On Wednesday last week, I finally attended a 6 hour seminar on Understanding the Living Building Challenge (LBC) , part of the Living Future Unconference here in Vancouver. I wanted to attend the Roadshow, but time didn't permit until now. I have to say, I'm really impressed by both the LBC and the attendees. The Challenge … Continue reading Understanding the Living Building Challenge
Contaminated Drywall
Imagine for a moment, you have a brand new home, or renovation. You move in, and those familiar smells are there: plastic, paint, rotten eggs. You think you just need to get used to the "new home smell" and begin building your life there. Now imagine not only do you have to get used to … Continue reading Contaminated Drywall
The Last 6 Weeks
I've gone from doing what feels like nothing in this city to doing as much as I possibly can. I got word that I've passed my last NCARB ARE exam so I now have some time to document all the things I've been up to. 1. Three Days Grace Concert, March 20th, 2011. So AMAZING! … Continue reading The Last 6 Weeks
Hands-free Taps and Bacteria
Yesterday, an article caught my attention in the Toronto Star; a study done at John Hopkins Hospital found more bacteria in hands-free faucet models than in manual ones. The electronic faucets have been replaced. I find this study fascinating. According to the article: "the bacteria is able to grow in this one style of faucet because … Continue reading Hands-free Taps and Bacteria
What is Evidence-Based Design?
An architect I know called Evidence-Based Design just another buzzword term, like Integrated Design (ID). While Integrated Design is not such a term, the architect believed ID was good practice, and a good architect always involves consultants right from the start of design. He believed ID was a buzzword because it's a term used to … Continue reading What is Evidence-Based Design?
Apologies
Life has been in turmoil for the past little while, and my reasons for lack of posting had to do primarily with studying for my NCARB ARE exams to get my licence with the AIBC. I have one more (out of 7) to do - provided I passed my structures last week.Hopefully some new posts … Continue reading Apologies
Be Vortex Aware
I don't normally walk down Granville on my way home but tonight I'm glad I did. As I walked down the street I saw police cars everywhere, and smoke billowing up closer to Smithe St near where the girls from Jump Rope for Heart had been two Saturdays ago. I walked closer, somehow unafraid. It … Continue reading Be Vortex Aware
Book Review: The Flying Troutmans
Thebes was loading the stuff into the van and Logan was picking and rolling around the parking lot with his basketball, periodically banging it off stuff like the van and the window at the front desk. The woman inside banged back and then came and told us to clear on outta there. There was a … Continue reading Book Review: The Flying Troutmans
Vancouver Fitness Day
Yesterday as I waited to meet up with my friend Sylvie for lunch I watched some demonstrations for Fitness Day on Granville near Robson. My favorite was the Skippers from Jump Rope for Heart from the Heart and Stroke Foundation who put on a spectacular demonstration, and even got the audience participating and learning how to … Continue reading Vancouver Fitness Day
Heather Button 