Arcosanti explores the concept of arcology - architecture + .ecology

Next Event: the future of Urban Mobility

Internet and electricity

Delve Into Your Past with DNA Testing

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Club of Amsterdam in Bilbao, Spain

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Arcosanti is an experimental town and molten bronze bell casting community that has been developed by the Italian-American architect, Paolo Soleri, who began construction in 1970 in central Arizona, north of Phoenix. Using a concept he called arcology, he started the town to demonstrate how urban conditions could be improved while minimizing the destructive impact on the earth. He taught and influenced generations of architects and urban designers who studied and worked with him there to build the town.

The goal of Arcosanti is to explore the concept of arcology, which combines architecture and ecology. The town has the goals of combining the social interaction and accessibility of an urban environment with sound environmental principles, such as minimal resource use and access to the natural environment. The project is building an experimental town on 25 acres (10 ha) of a 4,060-acre (1,640 ha) land preserve.




Paolo Soleri (1919-2013), the founder of Arcosanti

Through his work as an architect, urban designer, artist, craftsman, and philosopher, Paolo Soleri has been exploring the countless possibilities of human aspiration. One outstanding endeavor is Arcosanti, an urban laboratory, constructed in the Arizona high desert. It attempts to test and demonstrate an alternative human habitat which is greatly needed in this increasingly perplexing world. This project also exemplifies his steadfast devotion to creating an experiential space to "prototype" an environment in harmony with man.

In his philosophy "arcology” (architecture + ecology), Soleri formulated a path that may aid us on our evolutionary journey toward a state of aesthetic, equity, and compassion. For more than a half century, his work, marked by a broad-ranging and coherent intellect (so scarce in the age of specialization), has influenced many in search of a new paradigm for our built environment.

If the act of living includes the pioneering of reality through imagination and sweat, Soleri has given us more than enough food for thought in the examples he has left on paper and in the desert wind.


Arcosanti: An Urban Laboratory?

Electronic music performance and storm
photo by Youngsoo Kim

photo by Tomiaki Tamura












Construction broke ground at the site in 1970, and has continued at a varying pace through the present. The most recently completed building was finished in 1989. The population varies between 50 and 150 people, based on the number of students and volunteers on the site. Ultimately, the town is planned to have 5,000 people. Thirteen major structures have been built on the site, some several stories tall. The latest master plan, designed in 2001, envisions a massive complex, called "Arcosanti 5000", that would dwarf the current buildings.

Many features are particular to the design and construction of Arcosanti. For example, tilt-up concrete panels are cast in a bed of silt acquired from the surrounding area, giving the concrete a unique texture and color that helps it blend with the landscape. Many panels were cast with embedded art. Most buildings are oriented southward to capture the Sun's light and heat — roof designs admit the maximum amount of sunlight in the winter and a minimal amount during the summer. The bronze-casting apse is built in the form of a quarter-sphere or semi-dome. The layout of the buildings is intricate and organic, rather than a city grid, with a goal of maximum accessibility to all elements, and a combination of increased social interaction and bonds, together with privacy for the residents.

Arcosanti today

Arcosanti's intensive workshop program teaches students from around the world about Arcology while they participate in on-going construction. Concerts and other events in the Colly Soleri Music Center also allow visitors to experience Arcosanti. 35,000 tourists each year visit the facilities, gallery, bakery, and cafe. Guided tours introduce the philosophy, history, planning and ongoing construction of Arcosanti.

A diverse group of Arcosanti residents work in planning, design, construction, agriculture, landscaping, carpentry, metal work, maintenance, archives, teaching, hospitality, and communications. Residents also produce the world-famous Bronze and Ceramic Soleri Windbells through Cosanti Originals.

Sources: Wikipedia and Arcosanti website

the future of Urban Mobility

Thursday, January 30, 2013, 18:30 - 21:15
Location: Info.nl - Sint Antoniesbreestraat 16, 1011 HB Amsterdam [Next to Nieuwmarkt]
Tickets: Euro 30, Euro 20 (Members etc.) or Euro 10 (Students)
Ticket Corner

This event is supported by Info.nl & TPEX (TelePresence EXchange International)

The speakers and topics are

Wim Korver, Head of Research & Development Unit, Goudappel Coffeng
The 21 century: the end of the car mobility as we know it

Robert Dingemanse, Co-founder and CEO, PAL-V
Flying cars, how will it affect future mobility?

Nick Cohn, Senior Business Developer, TomTom

... and ...





... and get your Season Pass 2013/2014 at
www.clubofamsterdam.com/ticketcorner.htm

• Direct electricity use of the Internet is probably around 10% of total electricity consumption, said Jon Koomey Research Fellow at Stanford University. (June, 2013)
  
  
• Noah Horowitz, senior scientist, NRDC: "In 88 million homes across the United States, digital content flows through high-speed modems and routers, streaming our videos, pinging email into our inboxes -- and consuming 8.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. All of that energy comes with a $1 billion price tag as household small networks guzzle power around the clock, even when our gadgets hibernate and we sleep. The toll to the planet comes in at 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equal to the annual tailpipe emissions of 1.1 million vehicles." [...] "We found that the most efficient models use one-third less energy than average models and that replacing today's wasteful equipment with more efficient models could annually save 2.8 billion-kilowatt hours of electricity (about $330 million in customer energy bills)." (June, 2013)
  
  
• Previous analysis and industry focus has missed the point: access networks, not data centres, are the biggest threat to the sustainability of cloud services. This is because more people are accessing cloud services via wireless networks. These networks are inherently energy inefficient and a disproportionate contributor to cloud energy consumption. [...]
  Based on current trends, wireless access technologies such as WiFi (utilising fi bre and copper wireline infrastructure) and 4G LTE (cellular technology) will soon be the dominant methods for accessing cloud services. ‘Wireless cloud’ is a surging sector with implications that cannot be ignored. Our energy calculations show that by 2015, wireless cloud will consume up to 43 TWh, compared to only 9.2 TWh in 2012, an increase of 460%. This is an increase in carbon footprint from 6 megatonnes of CO2 in 2012 to up to 30 megatonnes of CO2 in 2015, the equivalent of adding 4.9 million cars to the roads. Up to 90% of this consumption is attributable to wireless access network technologies, data centres account for only 9%.
  Source: Report "The power of wireless cloud" by CEET - Center of Energy-Efficient Telecommunications (April, 2013)
  
  
• ICT-enabled solutions offer the potential to reduce annual emissions by an estimated 9.1 GtCO2e by 2020, representing 16.5 percent of the projected total in that year, an abatement potential more than 16% higher than previously calculated in the SMART 2020 report.
  Source: GeSI SMARTer 2020 Report by The Boston Consulting Group (December, 2012)
  
  
• Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo – these global brands and a host of other IT companies are rapidly and fundamentally transforming the way in which we work, communicate, watch movies or TV, listen to music, and share pictures through “the cloud.” The growth and scale of investment in the cloud is truly mind-blowing, with estimates of a 50-fold increase in the amount of digital information by 2020 and nearly half a trillion in investment in the coming year, all to create and feed our desire for ubiquitous access to infinite information from our computers, phones and other mobile devices, instantly.
  Global IT Estimates of Carbon and Energy
  The estimates of the IT sector’s carbon footprint performed to date have varied widely in their methodology and scope. One of the most recognized estimates of the IT sector’s footprint was conducted as part of the 2008 SMART 2020 study, which established that the sector is responsible for 2% of global GHG emissions.
  Source: Report "How Clean is Your Cloud?" by Greenpeace International (April, 2012)
  

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Science has improved dramatically in recent times, with DNA now able to track your ancestry back through thousands of years ago. This is a great opportunity for those of us who are endlessly curious. Finding out some fascinating facts could help a family piece together their history. The process of getting a DNA test done may sound strenuous, however, this post aims to relieve those worries.

Take Your Time & Research
There is nothing worse than rushing into making a judgement. Getting a DNA test done is a big decision. So it's very important to find out information on the process first. There are many different reasons for wanting to know your own ancestry. There may be a mystery that lies within your families past that you wish to uncover. Alternatively, some people may be of a mixed ethnicity. Therefore, they might like to gain a greater understanding of their background.

Order the Test
Once a person has gained enough information to feel comfortable, they should order the test. This is when the process truly begins. Before a person chooses which test to get, it's important to research. Different tests provide different answers, so be sure that they will be the ones you're looking for. Good quality DNA tests will give information on the female line as well as the male. The more modern tests are also able to give more information than others. It's even possible that a person's ancestry can actually be tracked to a specific country or region.

Take the Test
The actual DNA testing process may put some people off. This is even though they might not realise what actually happens. The first thought for some people will immediately be a mass loss of blood through different test taking methods. However, the process differs somewhat in practice. Some of the tests are done with a simple swab, which is used to collect saliva rather than blood.

Wait for the Results
Waiting for the answers of a big question can be difficult. For some people, this may actually be the most frustrating aspect of the whole process. It's important to remember that nothing can be done in this period by yourself. Ideally, before the test process, most people will have gained an understanding of how long it will take. Most good companies, such as easyDNA, will have results back in five days, meaning you won't have long to wait.
www.easydna.co.uk/dna-ancestry-test.html

Club of Amsterdam blog
http://clubofamsterdam.blogspot.com

Demography and Hegemony
Navigating the Transition
Will Green Buildings Help
Shaping our Future Evolution
Oh, The Humanities! Why STEM Shouldn’t Take Precedence Over the Arts
The Egg
Joy Rides and Robots are the Future of Space Travel
The Transposon

Global Food Security Index 2013
by The Economist Intelligence Unit

Food systems today are under severe and increasing strains from population pressures, high input prices, changing consumer patterns and dramatic weather and price shocks. In this context, the EIU has created the Global Food Security Index, which looks beyond hunger to examine the underlying factors and key risks affecting food security in a structured, rigorous framework. The index is a dynamic benchmarking model that uses quantitative and qualitative indicators to provide a standard against which countries can be measured and reveal individual country strengths and weaknesses.

Gift Guide: Gadgets For Budding 3D Printing Fans
by John Biggs, East Coast Editor, TechCrunch

"3D printing is all the rage and it’s hard to know just where to start. If you have a budding manufacturing magnate on your Christmas list we’ve got a few fun things for them to check out. One word of advice? Don’t buy cheap 3D printers. I’ve tested a few so far and a number of the “cheap” open source models and some of the models you find at Office Depot are unusable at best. It hurts me to say this but there is really a race to the bottom when it comes to 3D printing right now. Things may be expensive, but like any early-adopter you should save your pennies and pick the right model for the job."

Club of Amsterdam in Bilbao, Spain






The II International Dreams in Action Unconference: "Living in the Era of Art" - Bilbao 13.12.13 - is a consciousness-raising event designed to advance the creative expression and reflection of the citizenry for the improvement of our society.

It is open to people from all spheres of activity, and will be held in Bilbao, on December the 13th.

 

LEGO Space: Building the Future
by Peter Reid (Author), Tim Goddard (Author)

A Journey into the Future
"Come explore an incredible LEGO® universe in LEGO Space: Building the Future. Spaceships, orbital outposts, and new worlds come to life in this unique vision of the future, built completely from LEGO bricks.

A selection of step-by-step building instructions will have you constructing your own cosmic creations to play with at home. Marvel at interstellar battlecruisers, space pirates, charming robots, and other stunning builds from an amazing future!"

Peter Reid has been a fan of LEGO since childhood. He is a contributor to The LEGO Play Book, his work appeared in The LEGO Book, and he has attended design workshops with the LEGO Group in Billund. His incredible LEGO Exo Suit, featured in this book, achieved 10,000 supporters on LEGO CUUSOO.

Tim Goddard is a contributor to the New York Times-bestselling The LEGO Ideas Book and The LEGO Play Book. He has also participated in product development with the LEGO Group.

What is a Futurist?
By Patrick Dixon, futurist, author and business consultant.




"What Is Foresight?"
Professor Leon Fuerth - Research Professor of International Affairs, Elliott School of International Affairs - discusses the concept of foresight in the Project on Forward Engagement in a video produced by Olivia Hallihan.




Peter Schwartz - American futurist, innovator, author, and co-founder of the Global Business Network (GBN) - on Scenario Planning: The Shell Story

Michael Rogers is a different kind of futurist - one who combines real business experience with technology skills. Add to that the keen eye of an award-winning investigative journalist and the storytelling skill of a novelist, and you have The Practical Futurist.

Michael Rogers began his career as a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. He co-founded Outside magazine and then launched Newsweek's technology column, winning numerous journalism awards. For ten years he was vice president of The Washington Post Company's new media division, leading both the newspaper and Newsweek into the new century and earning patents for multimedia technology. He is also a best-selling novelist whose books have been published worldwide, chosen for the Book-of-the-Month club and optioned for film.

His recent work has ranged from serving as Futurist-In-Residence for The New York Times to writing the popular Practical Futurist column for MSNBC. He speaks and consults for clients worldwide, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, and is a frequent guest on radio and television.

Michael Rogers: "Practical Futurist" Author, Technologist and Keynote Speaker

A discussion with Michael Rogers, Practical Futurist, on cloud computing

Season Events 2013/2014

NEXT Event

January 30, 2014
the future of Urban Mobility
January 30, 2014, 18:30 - 21:15
Location: Info.nl, Sint Antoniesbreestraat 16, 1011 HB Amsterdam [Next to Nieuwmarkt]
This event is supported by Info.nl & TPEX (TelePresence EXchange International)




February 27, 2014
the future of Learning
The impact of culture on teaching and early learning.
February 27, 2014, 18:30 - 21:15
Location: THNK, Haarlemmerweg 8a, 1014 BE Amsterdam (Westergasfabriek)
A collaboration between THNK, the Amsterdam School of Creative Leadership and the Club of Amsterdam

March 27, 2014
the future of Creativity, Arts & Consciousness
March 27, 2014, 18:30 - 21:15 (Amsterdam time)
Location: Mediamatic, Van Gendthallen (next to Roest), VOC-kade 10, Amsterdam
Co-location: The Vortex Dome, Los Angeles
A collaboration between Mediamatic, Vortex Immersion Media, Tpex and the Club of Amsterdam

April 24, 2014
the future of ...
April 24, 2014, 18:30 - 21:15

May 29, 2014
the future of Green Architecture
May 29, 2014, 18:30 - 21:15
Location: Geelvinck Museum, Keizersgracht 633, 1017 DS Amsterdam
A collaboration between Geelvinck Museum and the Club of Amsterdam

June 26, 2013
the future of ...
June 26, 2014, 18:30 - 21:15

... and get your Season Pass 2013/2014 at
www.clubofamsterdam.com/ticketcorner.htm

Valid for the 7 Season Events 2013/2014
Season Pass 2013/2014 for 1 person: Euro 90,-
Season Pass 2013/2014 for 2 persons: Euro 160,-

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