I'm back from my recent hiatus and planning to post more frequently. A friend sent me a link to an article from the Toronto Star, reporting how real time brain scans create distorted images of what people are actually watching at that moment. Its kind of amazing. Though the representation is uncannily accurate, I'm struck more … Continue reading Seeing What Others See: Real-Time Brain Scans and Virtual Reality
architecture
Award: Montgomery Sisam Architects for Sister Margaret Smith
I received my weekly email from Canadian Architect today, and the heading Montgomery Sisam Architect receives High Commendation for International Mental Health Design caught my eye. I bookmarked the article to read tonight, and was blown away, even by its limited description and small photo for the Sister Margaret Smith Addiction Treatment Centre in Thunder Bay … Continue reading Award: Montgomery Sisam Architects for Sister Margaret Smith
Lessons Learned: Providence Newberg Medical Center
Facilities Net has a project profile on the Providence Newberg Medical Center, revisiting it as the first LEED Gold Hospital in the US. The study is in 6 Parts: Part 1: Revisiting The Performance Of First LEED Gold Hospital Part 2: Hospital Design Team Focuses On Computer-Generated Models Part 3: Hospital Operates On 100 Percent Renewables, Sells Power … Continue reading Lessons Learned: Providence Newberg Medical Center
Ghost Cities in China?
"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?
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
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
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?
Seattle: Music, Jim Henson and Frank O. Gehry
On Saturday I took the Quick Shuttle from Vancouver to Seattle and back again, on a journey to actually venture in to see the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum (EMP/SFM), specifically the Jim Henson Exhibit. (If you've never taken the Quick Shuttle, its a pretty nice experience, inexpensive and though the border can take some … Continue reading Seattle: Music, Jim Henson and Frank O. Gehry
Shameless Self-Promotion
Since I've got this blog promoting books, and other reading materials, I thought I would provide a link to my thesis, which was completed and accepted January 31st this year. I've spent 2 years working on it. And below is the abstract to help you know if you want to continue reading the 55,000 word … Continue reading Shameless Self-Promotion
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