Model Photos

I uploaded some photos of my model, start to finish, onto my Picasa web album. Check it out:

http://picasaweb.google.com/AustinMoore6/GraduateStudio3SiteModel#

I also posted a video documentation in a previous blog.

Video Documentary: Making a Terrain Model Using a CNC Router

For our final project in Graduate Studio 3, our assignment was to create a model to help illustrate our proposed master plan for an infill development site in Starkville, MS. The site I selected is commonly known as Stateside. The site is located along University Drive adjacent to MSU's campus.

For creating the base terrain model for my site, I decided to try and use a CNC router and a piece of 2" high density urethane (HDU) material to route the terrain. The outcome was a success! (Thanks to Chris Ray of Budget Signs for his assistance and access to the CNC.) Here is a video documentary of the process I used to create this model. Enjoy! (Note: Background music begins at step 4 so turn on your speakers.. it makes it slightly more interesting!)

Also available at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etzDgV20IeA

Old school buses converted into bus stops

This guy takes sections of school buses and creates bus stops out of them. I thought Taze might like this. There is a short video of the guy fabricating one in the link below.

http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/decomposed-school-buses-resurrected-for-bus-shelter/

Backyard cottages OK'd in Seattle

The City of Seattle recently passed an ordiance which would allow the development of detached cottages in the rear of single-family neighborhoods. The building regulations of the cottages are 22' maximum height and 800 square foot maximum floor plan. Their intent is to strengthen the neighborhoods by providing family units and affordable rental units.

Sounds like a great way to achieve higher density without consuming additional land resources. I wonder what impact this will have on the existing infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, etc)?

Full article available here: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411769_cottages02.html?source=rss

A new "sustainable" sprawling neighborhood

A proposed development in Highlands Ranch, Colorado known as Sterling Ranch calls for water-conservation techniques to help mitigate the drought problems in this rapidly-growing area. The developers are proposing water-efficient plumbing, below grade lawns to retain water, underground cisterns for reuse in irrigation, and PVs which will be used as "parasols" to block water from evaporating from their pond.

One county spokeswoman says "the county is viewed as one of the least sustainable counties in the U.S." She hopes that developments like these can help shed this image "if future sprawl is built sustainably."

Did I read that correctly?

Full article in The Wall Street Journal.

Brownfields 2009 Conference in New Orleans

There is a Brownfields Conference being held in New Orleans on November 16-18. It may be a great opportunity to see/hear some really neat stuff about community revitalization. Registration is free! More info available in the link below. I say we make Taze take us on a field trip...?

http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/en/Page.Overview.2009.aspx

Tour of Portland's stormwater system goes by bike, of course

A recent conference in Portland, Sustainable Stormwater Symposium, conducted a field trip which toured Portland's stormwater systems (LEED buildings, green streets, bioswales, eco-roofs). The tour wasn't taken by a vehicle caravan, not even by bus, but instead by bike! Bikes were loaned by a local bike shop, and the tour ended Portland-style at a brewpub. For those that missed the tour, you can get a brochure and do a self-guided tour. Here's the full story in The Oregonian.

Toby, you must have just missed this!