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Inhaling Architecture

Over at BLDGBLOG Geoff Manaugh writes in “Inhaling 9/11” about the broad range of toxins inhaled by NYC residents during and since 9/11, and what has rained back down on the surrounding area to enter the soil and waterways. Reflecting on the amount of dangerous material [understatement] released into the air as the buildings were pulverized, Manaugh asks,

“Were different and earlier forms of pulverized architecture somehow safer to breathe? In fact, if I can be excused a brief moment of contextually inappropriate speculation, would it be possible to impregnate buildings with good things – with good chemicals: with vitamins and medicines and even seeds – so that future 9/11s release beneficial plumes and so that the inhalation of architectural smoke is no longer catastrophic?”

A thought-provoking question to say the least, seeing as how - in the end - don’t all buildings fall down either by design or by accident?

Image courtesy of slagheap on Flickr

Open Architecture

In today’s world of increasingly open systems and online community participation it seems only natural to find the Open Architecture Network. Announced at this year’s TED conference, this online community endeavors to improve the living standards of five billion people by allowing people to share among themselves information in material innovation, sustainability practice and building methodology.

On the site you can search projects that others have contributed and register for an account to contribute your own project info. Within each project you can find/share an overview, information about project the team, updates, workspace info, a project calendar and supporting files. There is also an area of the site named Resources which appears to be a potential place for conversation about various topics concerning building and architecture.

The Open Architecture Network is a project of Architecture for Humanity and its volunteers, and in 2006 was awarded the TED Prize.

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