50 Countries at the Workshop

According to the very useful, thorough Wordpress Stats page, people from over 50 different countries have visited the Workshop since this February. This is very exciting as well as a bit humbling. Thank you to everyone who has been to, and continues to visit, the Creative Minds Group Workshop site.

Ed

Co-Housing Project for a Philadelphia Neighborhood

Here it is... my final studio project at Drexel. This project was interesting and educational as well as fun to shepherd through the design process. Now we are on to thesis, my last project before being handed a piece of paper with those long sought after words, "Bachelor of Architecture." Stay tuned for a new series of posts related to the thesis project. Until then, I hope you enjoy this Co-Housing project located on Spruce and Juniper Streets, Philadelphia, PA.

Cohousing, an alternative form of "intentional community," was started in Denmark in the early 1970's. It combines the privacy of ones own residence with the convenience and communality of shared facilities - a communal dining room, children's play areas, workshops, meeting/living room and laundry room. Although the houses operate as self sufficient units, the shared areas are integral to the concept of community and cooperation.

A Cohousing community enables people of different generations and backgrounds to share their experiences, provide residents with a safety net and share a sense of family. These communities are created to encourage the extended family and neighbors helping neighbors.

Such a community also affords the individual the privacy to which we have all become accustomed and the financial benefits of home ownership while being part of a larger unit. Participants in a cohousing development take an active role in the creation of their community. Social interaction is a primary component; creating a sustainable environment, an artist community, a child-oriented community, a service oriented community, or a combination of these, are often goals. Successful communities are usually started by a core of people who choose to live in such a community, rather than by developers who want to sell their housing units.

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Best Uncle Ever - UPDATE

Yup - I was right... best Uncle in the World!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCnkKhMjLBA]

Best Uncle Ever

I have an ever growing laundry list of homework items that need to be attended to as I am currently in the home stretch of my last studio project before thesis begins. Thesis, by the way, starts only a few weeks after this class ends; not in the fall as I had anticipated. I am starting a new job, starting a new part time gig, doing side work in my free time, and all the while watching the list of household chores grows. So why then, you ask, did I spend my last free Sunday in the workshop building a BeyBlades battle area for my nephew when I could have been preparing for any or all of the above mentioned items... because I am the world's greatest Uncle (this is a statement of fact - I have the sweatshirt my nephew gave me for Christmas to prove it).

If you don't know what BeyBlades are, check them out...they are really cool. They are pretty much a modern version of a spinning top, but they spin for a REALLY long time. They are also made of metal and intended to "battle" with each other. I'm not too sure what the battle entails, but my nephew seems to have a good idea. The only problem with these BeyBlades is that, when you use them on the floor, they take off in two different directions and end up nowhere near each other let alone battling. That's why my nephew, AJ, asked me to build him a BeyBlades Battle Arena and the reason why I spend my last free day cutting and gluing.

Check these out if you have time: http://www.beyblade.com/splash?redir=1

Until next time, 3 - 2 - 1 - Let 'em Rip!!!









[caption id="attachment_576" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Oh yeah - and I made him a box to put all his BeyBlades and BeyBlades accessories in so he doesn't lose anymore pull cords...[/caption]