Pamukkale, Turkey

Curious to visit a "Cotton Castle" located amdist cascading mountains and lush greenery? This fantastical sounding place really does exist. Pamukkale, a site of natural wonders is located in the south-western part of Turkey, near the Denizli province. For as long as I can remember, the description of this cotton castle with its naturally formed hot springs and white terraces has peaked my curiosity.

In Turkish, the name Pamukkale means "cotton castle" and this site is justly named so because of the uniquely white geological formations that occur on this plateau. Situated in the valley of the Menderes River, the tectonic movements that took place in the basin resulted in frequent earthquakes which caused the emergence of a number of hot springs in the area. Apparently,one of these hot springs, with its large mineral content (chalk in particular) gave rise to Pamukkale. The calcium-oxide rich waters flowing down the slopes of the surrounding mountains collects on this plateau and over the millennia, have built up deposits of white travertine and limestone -- thus giving the site a pristine, white, cloud-like appearance.


It is said that every second, 250 liters of hot water arises from this spring, precipitating 2.20 grams of chalk per liter of water or 0.55 kilograms of chalk every second. In the course of time some sources dried up because of earthquakes, while new ones arose in the neighborhood. The thick layers of limestone cascading down the mountain slopes is said to make it look like a frozen waterfall.


One type of these formations consists of crescent-shaped travertine terraces with a shallow layer of water, lying in a step-like arrangement down the upper one-third of the slope, with the steps ranging from 1m to 6 meters in height and another form consists of stalactites propping up and connecting these terraces.The water comes from the hot springs and spills over into the marvelous white terraces to form shallow pools and tourists used to be allowed to bathe in this water. According to ancient Roman and Greek mythology, the water from the springs in this area had medicinal qualities (the ancient city of Hierapolis, meaning Holy City, was built on this site).

Curiosity will get the better of me some day and send me to Pamukkale, Turkey to not only enjoy this natural phenomenon, but also learn about its rich history.

--Preethi Chethan

Rohsska Museum of Design and Decorative Art

When it comes to the list of places that as designers we should go to complete ones education the list seems never ending. For me, one of those places is the Rohsska Museum of Design and Decorative Arts in Gothenburg (Goteborg), Sweden. The museum first became open to the public in 1916 show casing early Swedish and European handicraft as well as some Chinese and Japanese art. Through out the years the collection has grown to hold some 50,000 objects and an extensive library. But it is what the museum has decided to specialize in today is what brings it to the top of my must see list. Today the museum collect mainly Swedish handicraft, commercial goods/crafts, and industrial design. As with all collections there are exceptions and they have made the exceptions to allow impeccably designed pieces from around the world. Not only does the museum have an incredibly curated collection but also has some of the most interesting exhibits of any museum I have ever seen. The design of the building and spaces are equally as interesting are create a great backdrop for the collection and shows. The exhibits are well planed, up to date, and take a fresh look at the world of art and design today. As designers we can learn so much from each other and from our past. Having a place that helps to spur on those ideas and foster that creative process is extremely important and you will find that here at the Rohsska Museum.

http://www.designmuseum.se/

Las Vegas, NV

So Las Vegas is one of those places that everybody knows about even if they have never been there. I am definitely included in this 'everybody' because what I know about Vegas is what I have heard from my parents, my cousins, and the media. I haven't actually had any interest to go until now partly because of design (the entire experience is designed) and mainly I can now go there and party and gamble with my cousins. To get more information I went on the official Las Vegas website and found out that on the Strip alone there are 43 hotels/casinos and 22 wedding chapels. I also found out that in 1855, Mormons arrived in Las Vegas and established a fort and that the abandoned the fort in 1857. Who would have thought that Mormons once lived in Sin City? The best thing I found on the official website was a link entitled Be Anybody. When you click on this link you are on a site that allows you to create a new identity including name, residence, and personality. This site will also give you a brief history, business card, website, and a 1-800 number to help you back up your story. This exemplifies what I love most about Las Vegas. It is a place for fantasy and bad behavior and it doesn't try to make people believe otherwise. It celebrates it's tawdriness and encourages people to do the same.

All pictures and facts from: http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/index.jsp

The Bolgen Housing Development

I wasn't sure, so I chose a place/destination of what I thought people would be talking about. This is an image of the Bolgen houseing development in Denmark. It's interesting how the building is shaped like the wave and that it is by the river.This building shows modern architecture in the shape of the building and their use of materials and colors. A normal place to live for people would have not looked like this in the past, and that is what's interesting.

The design of the building shows how the technology is getting better these days. It is nice how the design of this architecture is simple and clean, especially because it's a place to live. It also has all the functions necessary for the people who will be living there. I chose this place as my destination because it shows how technology and everything is getting simpler and better. I think that a designer should go there to see how technology can also affect design and architecture, in a good way.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 is the world’s tallest completed skyscraper in Taiwan. It received the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2004, and has been hailed as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World and Seven Wonders of Engineering. Its postmodern style combines both Asian and international modern and traditional elements. Designed to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquake, the design achieves both strength and flexibility for the tower through the use of high-performance steel construction. The tower features a series of 8 segments of 8 floors each. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is associated with prosperity and good fortune. The repeated segments recall the rhythms of an Asian pagoda, a stalk of bamboo (icon of learning and growth) and stack of ancient Chinese ingots or money boxes (a symbol of abundance), which means blooming or success, is represented by the 8 delineated exterior sections of the tower. Observation deck is located on 89th and 91st floor and can be reached by the fastest elevator in the world – it takes only 37 seconds to arrive at the 89th floor. The indoor Observatory offers visitors special exhibitions such as sculpture/ painting/ photography exhibitions. I recently visited Taiwan and thought Taipei101 is most original and quite an amazing building. At night, the view was magnificent. The mall next to the building had some nice things to offer for tourists that you could spend the entire day there.

The Bird's Nest

Several months after the summer Olympics, people are still talking about them, and not just because of Michael Phelps and all of his gold medals. The opening ceremony and the architecture of the buildings are still worth mentioning. Beijing's National Stadium, more commonly known as the Bird's Nest, was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics. The $423 million dollar stadium is the world's largest steel structure, built by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. "China wanted to have something new for this very important stadium," said architect Li Xinggang. Li explained, "In China, a bird's nest is very expensive, something you eat on special occasions.” The 2008 Summer Olympics were definitely a special occasion. World records were broken over and over and the building's unique yet familiar design will be remembered as a part of such a historic event. It is one thing to see pictures and watch it on tv, but being there in person, would a whole different experience - the scale of it, the detail, and the massive amounts of steal beams. Beijing set the standard for what the Olympics can look like. China is lucky to have been able to host such a historic event. People will be traveling to Beijing to see where Phelps swam and where the marathons were ran. The birds nest hosted the start and end of an unforgettable summer Olympics.

Odaiba, Fuji TV

(1st day presentation)
I've chosen Odaiba, Fuji TV studio as a place where architect and designer should go to get design inspiration. Odaiba is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. It was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1800s, dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district. Today, Odaiba is a popular shopping and sightseeing destination for tourists. One of the major attractions that caught my attention was the Fuji TV studio. Lit by lasers at night, Fuji Television is the landmark of Odaiba. The building was designed by Japanese Architect, Kenzo Tange. It's fully earthquake proof and took three years to build. You can visit TV program recordings or studios. Also various events, such as movie previews and comedy shows, are held in the building. The observatory is located in the 25th floor.

SANCCOB

Traveling for a cause is a great way to give back, learn something new, and explore new places all at once. My recommendation for just such an opportunity is to travel to Cape Town, South Africa to work with the people at SANCCOB. SANCCOB, Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds, is a non-profit organization that has been rescuing and rehabilitating costal birds since 1968. They specialize in the care of African Penguins but also care for any other costal bird that may need their help. Because of this they are one of the worlds leaders in the research and care of African Penguins so your help as a volunteer will be greatly appreciated. Without places/organizations like SANCCOB, these birds in need would not have the help they need, and if we don't join in and lend a hand our future generation may not be able to see what we could not protect. At SANCCOB you will have the opportunity to work side by side with the SANCCOB staff for a very hands on experience. You will help with everything from feeding to caring for the birds to mucking out/cleaning up after them. While the main focus of you travels to Cape Town would be to lend a hand to the people at SANCCOB. Cape Town is a place to visit all on its own adding an extra bonus to an already amazing and rewarding trip.

http://www.sanccob.co.za/index.html

The Chanel Contemporary Art Container

The idea behind most museums is that they are built in one location and people travel to them. The museums exhibits rotate but the location of the museum stays the same. That classic idea has been shaken up by the star-studded design minds of Zaha Hadid and the people at Chanel. The Chanel Contemporary Art Container will be traveling to 6 cities around the world during a 3 year span (2008-2010) show casing art pieces commissioned by Chanel to celebrate the iconic and classic quilted Chanel bag. Some of the artists include; David Levinthal, Daniel Buren, and Yoko Ono just to name a few. This incredible traveling structure was designed by Zaha Hadid, whose work has become an architectural icon in and of its self, and shows off her signature lines and forms in the traveling container. Together the two create a museum type experence that people not only travel to but that also travels to them. If you happen to live in one of the 6 cities that the container is coming to; Hong Kong (February 2008), Tokyo ( May 2008), New York (October 2008), London (May 2009), Moscow (October 2009), and Paris (January 2010) all you have to do is wait, otherwise you must travel to see the traveling show before in ends. Since we are lucky enough to live in one of the select cities, the opportunity to experience this incredibly interesting idea of a traveling museum you must go! The Chanel Contemporary Art Container will be opening on October 20th 2008 in Central Parks Rumsey Playfield  until November 9th 2008.

http://www.chanel-mobileart.com

Tokyo, Japan

internet umbrella

music player on call

Aside their well-known car models or unique street fashions, Japan is also recognized for their great advance in technology. Recently, Japanese researchers have succeeded in such aspects as manufacturing the world’s smallest robot, providing retailers integrated circuit tags attached to their products, and an umbrella that uses the Internet to browse photos while users are walking through the rain. Japanese technology and design has expanded in making more convenient or interesting, the everyday life. Many of these designs don’t fix products that already exist but improve them. A computer monitor has been developed that inputs texts by sensing the movement of the user’s eyes over an on-screen keyboard. A music device has also been created that comes over to the user and plays music with the sense of hearing the owner’s voice. Designers should visit Japan to experience in technology by just being surrounded by the country where technology exists everywhere. For a more specific observation, The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo’s Koto City has become one of the biggest science museums in all of Asia for it’s technological displays and education in the field. Being educated in advances in technology in places like Japan question designers what can and cannot be done. It really expands the design mind and tests the risks and ridiculous ideas that design can take and attempt.

Catherine

Design for Living

I feel designers should travel to the underdeveloped and globalizing places of the world where they can contribute a whole lot to improve the living standards of the local disadvantaged people.
One of the non-profit organizations which has taken this initiative is "Habitat for Humanity". The volunteers build simple and low-priced homes for families around the world. Design plays a very important role here; simple and affordable living needs to be carefully designed in order to maximize the space available to provide housing for a large family. In addition to housing, schools and hospitals in these underdeveloped areas also require careful planning. Moreover, there are other dimensions such as the drainage system, water pipe system and communication connections that can be undertaken by a designer or an urban planner.
Housing is the main concern as there are so many people homeless, or living in overcrowded and inadequate spaces as the world is experiencing global housing crisis. Mexico City for example is facing this crisis as it is very populous, full of poverty and corruption. Thousands of people have been left without shelter and those who live in low income houses are overcrowded and compete for water, electricity and other resources.
Therefore there is an urgent need of urban planning and designers and architects need to resolve this issue by proposing ideal design models for a more beautiful and ecological environment with a more organized structure. Incorporating the natural resources in houses to produce an urban environment that is sustainable in the future is of great importance. Hence, it is the duty of us designers to take on these major challenges to protect the environment and to promote a sustainable environment in the long term.

-- Post by Radha Kapoor

Airports and Airlines

Traveling is not just a luxury, but sometimes also a necessity. People have to travel for work and business and for personal matters. Many airline companies are focused on making their aircrafts the most luxurious, the roomiest, the most comfortable, and stocked with the best tasting food. All of those things sound appealing to any traveler, but more airline passengers are being bumped, more bags are lost and fewer flights are on time. The process of traveling itself needs to be improved before anyone will even want to board one of the new concept aircrafts. I see air travel as an oppurtunity for designers to really improve the process and experience. Airports should be larger to accomodate the mass amount of people trying to get from point A to point B. Signage should make things easier to find and more accessable to the people speaking such different languages. Designers are trying to make things more appealing visually and more recognized world-wide, but functionality is of major importance. Once the airport experience is made more tolerable, and the luggage conveyor belt runs a bit more smoothly, then I see it appropriate for designers to put colorful lights on the airplane. There is a clear and apparent problem and more designers should be eager to come up with a solution.

Antelope Canyon: Natural Cathedral

A trip that I regret not taking while I was living in Arizona was to Antelope Canyon. Divided into two sections, Upper and Lower, Antelope Canyon is a majestic labyrinth of narrow passages cut into the sandstone by wind and water over millions of years. A dangerous location for flash floods, touring through Antelope Canyon is only allowed with a guide. Located near the Arizona, Utah border the canyon spans for miles. A natural cathedral, a walk of enlightenment, the canyon is called Tse’bighanilini by the Navajo Native Americas, which translates to “the place where water runs through rocks.” It got the English name Antelope Canyon from the presence of pronghorn antelope that used to live within and around its walls.
As an interior design student I always wonder what its like inside old ruins or natural spaces that I see when I travel, so to have the opportunity to wander through those cavernous passages and witness the rays of light somehow filtering through the cracks would be a dream. To see and get to experience that natural space is an exhilarating thought.





Photo Sources:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/USA_Antelope-Canyon.jpg/300px-USA_Antelope-Canyon.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/USA_10096-7-8_HDR_Antelope_Canyon_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg
http://galerainwater.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/landscape-antelope-canyon-1.jpg

EarthWatch Institute: Global Opportunities for Positive Contribution

A Different Kind of Service.

These days, one doesn’t have to go far to find a problem that could use a solution. In times of climate change, economic recession, habitat and natural resource consumption, and environmental catastrophe there is plenty to do to make this world a better place. An organization that provides opportunities for individuals to make such a beneficial contribution is EarthWatch Institute. Recruiting approximately 4,000 volunteers annually, Earthwatch has the hope that they can cause a change in “how the public views science and its role in environmental sustainability.” Supported by over 150 staffed personnel they are “currently raising approximately $15 million a year from the generosity of institutions, individuals, governments and corporations”. Through research and educational concentrated trips like studying Armenia’s Architectural Heritage, Butterflies of Mt. Fuji, Carnivores of Brazil’s Grasslands or Madagascar, Chinese Village Traditions, Easter Island Culture, or even the Dolphins of Greece there are a multitude of options for individuals with different interests and skill backgrounds. As a student, a working professional, or with your family, Earthwatch is a great tool to help address some of the world’s problems and create positive change. - Lindsay

Check out:
1. http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=1IN2f7zTJeo
2. Earthwatch.org





Photo Sources:
http://www.travelbeat.net/volunteer/images/450px-Moai_Rano_raraku.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Sz6dlK3o0pQ/R-cUqQXAiZI/AAAAAAAAAOo/atWOhbfqwo0/FranzJoseph-185.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Amazon_57.53278W_2.71207S.jpg

Wadi Al-Hatin: Whale Valley, Egypt

A breath full of fine white sand, a wash of warm orange light swaddling the body like a childhood blanket from years past, and heat never to be forgotten for its purity; not a drop of water. Far past the cosmopolitan buzz and glimmer of electricity lies a valley of bleached history where, waiting patiently, are relics of life lost long ago…the valley of the whales. Antiquities and ancient discoveries are common features found in Egypt. Home to thousands upon thousands of years of ruins from great civilizations and ingenuity, it is a place that will always capture the hearts and attention of the world, but I wish to see beyond that if I ever have the opportunity. Whale Valley, otherwise known as Wadi Al-Hitan, is just one of those “beyond the norm” things I’d like to see. Proof that the earth is an ever-changing globe of life; Wadi Al-Hitan is a 64,000 acre (25,900 hectare) location in the Western Desert of Egypt that is the final resting place for scores of whale fossils. A major key to the progression of evolution, Whale Valley is a location which “portrays vividly the form and life of these whales during their transition” between sea and land mammal. Discovered in 1905 and only just recently a site of archeological study in the 1980’s.
As a designer I find the sight to be extremely intriguing for the “in your face” kind of reaction I had when I discovered this place. A location encapsulated by vast expanses of sand that was once accessible by whales! I find it a fantastically honest wake-up call, so to speak, for the human race: The world does not stay as it is. I find that as a designer, being conscious of sights like this in the world, understanding the huge shifts our environment (no matter how far parts of it might be from our local residence) has undergone over the centuries is one thing that we could not go wrong with acknowledging. - lindsay



The Archaeoceti


Photo Sources:
http://www.kqed.org/quest/files/blog_fossil_whale.jpg
http://www.peregrineadventures.com/uploads/images/trip/Western-Desert-Extension-1.jpg
http://www.archaeocete.org/whale.gif

Swaziland

The Kingdom of Swaziland is located in Southern Africa and is about the same size as Kuwait. Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS rate of any country in the world at 38.8% of the population. Most sub-Saharan African countries have an average rate of 7.5% and HIV/AIDS has a global rate of 1.1%. The extremely high rate of AIDS in Swaziland has increased the death rate and lowered the life expectancy to a little over the age of 30. According to Avert.org 46% of the population are under the age of 15 and only 3% of the population is over 65. The death of most of the adult population has left many children orphaned (a total of 63,000 AIDS orphans) or in the care of extended family members. Children are in charge of 15,000 households in Swaziland.
The extremely high rate of AIDS and HIV in Swaziland is largely due to lack of food and nutrition, the government not addressing the problem, and the diminishing population weakening the governments ability to provide services and care. Swaziland only first admitted the country having an HIV/AIDS problem in 2004, even though the first AIDS case was reported in 1987. Since 1986 the government has established a series of AIDS programs for the country, but these programs merely provide information and education on HIV and AIDS and make minimal attempts at managing the spread of the disease. Today only 0.25% of the countries national budget is devoted to the AIDS epidemic and the government is doing little for HIV prevention. The ratio of physicians to people is 2 to 10,000. Furthermore the number of health staff is decreasing due to HIV illness and death. Additionally, because Swaziland is a poor country with an unemployment rate of 40% and 70% of the country living on less than one US dollar a day, lack of food and adequate nutrition leaves infected people less able to cope and effectively treat HIV.
Swaziland would be a great opportunity for designers to visit for a cause. Swaziland is a country in desperate need of help due to the AIDS crisis. As well as saving lives, designers could raise awareness for AIDS, provide information and education on the subject, and produce public announcements for prevention.


http://www.avert.org/aids-swaziland.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland