The second lockdown project, to install a Mastervolt Battery Mate 1602, has also had a successful outcome. This might sound like it should be a given but far from it! When you remove numerous cables and old componentry from the system and replace it with the latest do everything and do it very efficiently technology, theres a moment of apprehension when it comes time to firing everything into life especially for your average DIY boat sparky with his freshly minted Google.com degree.

As mentioned in a previous article, all the heavy cabling was custom-made by chance just prior to lockdown, and fortunately the cable lengths were correct get that wrong and the project becomes an unwelcome reinstallation back to the old system whilst waiting for our new world to unfold.

With this project, a deeper level of understanding was needed to know exactly what powers what and why. Typical of a 30-year-old Kiwi yacht, there was no wiring diagram; hence the need to identify and document the main cable lines and then interpret what it all meant which called for professional advice.

After years of electrical repairs, add-ons and patches, marine electrician Volker Stobbe from Enertec Marine Ltd was quick to point out that at least 30% of the existing wiring was redundant or inefficient. He recommended installing a Battery Mate 1602 which would cure a multitude of sins and efficiently manage the charging and isolating of the independent battery systems, in this case the crank and house.

When you research the capability of this background component relative to cost (NZD $285), its an easy upgrade to consider.

The Battery Mate 1602 has several intelligent features including isolators that divide the charge current with minimal energy loss; theyre compatible with any alternator or charging source and are a reliable battery isolator for different battery banks that function independently when powering the 12v or 24v consumers. Mastervolt has a comprehensive range of battery isolators or combiners for any vessel system size.

The combination of a Mastervolt BattMan Pro battery monitor and the Battery Mate 1602 will provide any boat owner with the ultimate protection for their electrical assets (batteries). Although theres no data-driven proof of the performance gain from the old to the new set-up, experience and intuition indicates the batteries are now charging to capacity faster, saving engine hours, fuel and time.

These before and after photos illustrate the complexity that can build up over the years with different technicians working on an electrical system with no wiring diagram and maybe the odd shell be right shortcut.

The image above also shows the backing mount (top right) shovel-ready, to coin a phrase, for the next project to install a shore-powered battery charger and, you guessed it, a Mastervolt ChargeMaster 12/25-3.

When it comes to electrical boat projects, installing shore power goes to a whole new level after all, youre blending both AC and DC power systems on a boat and in a marine environment; for this yachtie, its a job best left to the professionals. A shore-power installation requires the right advice, careful planning, following the regulatory framework, and a dedicated budget to get the job done and done correctly anything less will be problematic. It may pay to also build in capacity to add solar or wind at a later date if required.

Ideally, at this point the objective is to balance the entire electrical system so that it remains trouble-free, provide a return on investment (expense) and serve your boating needs for at least another ten years.

Far from professional however, if no wiring diagram exists, its a valuable exercise to chart how the electrical system on your boat ticks before planning any level of upgrade.

Original post:
The welcoming sight of a green light signalling all systems are as they should be working properly! - Live Sail Die

by Riviera Australia 27 Apr 14:36 PDT

Australia's largest luxury motor yacht builder, Riviera, has recently reached two major production milestones that fully bring into focus the stylish and grand shape of the highly anticipated Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht.

The recent connection of the deck and hull has been followed by the exacting fitment of the flybridge at Riviera's Gold Coast production facility.

The integration of these major components has now brought together the first of this outstanding addition to Riviera's growing collection of Sports Motor Yachts.

Dan Henderson, Riviera's Design and Engineering Director, said these milestones marked another highly productive period for the New Yacht Development team as the 64 SMY edges closer to her world premiere in June.

Riviera 64 SMY Flybridge fitting milestone from Riviera Australia on Vimeo.

"Each production milestone provides our team with satisfaction as each of these components are skilfully brought together as designed to reveal the 64 SMY in all her glory," said Mr Henderson.

"The stringent design, formidable engineering and the fine luxury finishes are now really coming together at this impressive stage of production."

Following the recent completion of over 130 moulds, that will ultimately create the 64 SMY, the first deck, headliner and bathroom modules were made by Riviera's specialist lamination technicians.

The deck alone is over 19 metres long and incorporates multiple laminates and sophisticated core materials to optimise strength and durability whilst minimising weight in this superior construction method.

The headliner and bathroom mouldings that provide an outstanding finish inside the yacht have now been bonded to the deck, creating immense strength. This entire assembly was released from the mould, using custom tooling that transforms into a mobile base.

Meanwhile, in Riviera's meticulous Engineering centre, master craftsmen have fitted the components and systems required to propel the yacht and provide the many services that make a Riviera so comfortable, luxurious and safe.

The engineering work included fitting the twin 1550hp V12 MAN engines, shafts and remote gearboxes to millimetre accuracy, ensuring the smooth, quiet ride and peak performance for which Riviera Sports Motor Yachts are highly regarded. A ride so efficient and so superior, that it has to be experienced to be believed.

The 64 Sports Motor Yacht utilises Riviera's state-of-the-art engineering design to provide effortless performance to over 30 knots whilst delivering ultimate control and owner enjoyment.

With all the care and precision to fit propulsion drivelines and systems to the hull, the newly moulded deck, after exceeding stringent quality checks, was ready for the hull-deck fitting milestone.

Prior to this process, Riviera's specialist electricians installed the extensive wiring harness looms that provide power to all onboard systems. The total length of cable installed at this stage is in excess of 7km.

Following this, the delicate operation at Riviera's Gold Coast production facility saw the 3D CAD designed hull and deck locked into position with millimetre tolerances. CAD design allows for the optimisation of all onboard spaces.

The hull and deck were then bonded, laminated, and mechanically fastened together with 316 marine grade stainless steel bolts located around the entire gunwale perimeter to ensure continuity of structure and ultimate strength.

The flybridge, which is built as a complete unit and weather tested prior to fitting, was locked into place and bonded securely to the main structure.

This latest production milestone now paves the way for the internal fit-out of the 64 SMY and the skilled installation of the highly polished fine joinery.

Sophistication meets innovation in this graceful addition to the Sports Motor Yacht Collection. The 64 SMY will give boating enthusiasts the liveability and luxury they desire in a true blue-water package whether they are wanting to overnight in enclosed water or cross oceans and cruise long-term.

Riviera's design team has excelled in optimising the onboard space, ensuring the vessel lacks for nothing in terms of beauty, luxury and functionality. There is the option of three or four staterooms, alfresco mezzanine dining and gourmet aft galley, internal stairwell to the flybridge, a ship-style pantograph door leading to generous walk-around side decks, and a foredeck that cradles a 3.6-metre tender before transforming into a comfortable and spacious entertainment hub.

"The Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht is a highly anticipated and outstanding addition to our luxury Sports Motor Yacht Collection," said Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst.

"Her world premiere is especially important to the Riviera Family in 2020 as we mark 40 years of evolution. She truly showcases Riviera today and the world-class design build quality that our dedicated team does so well."

The Riviera 64 SMY will have her world premiere in June when private inspections will be available. These can be arranged directly with your nearest Riviera representative.

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Riviera 64 Sports Motor Yacht fully reveals her grand lines following major production milestones - Power Boat - World

For those in the know, the Ringbrothers workshop has become synonymous with incredible custom builds and unique modifications.

This 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, currently available for auction on the Bring a Trailer website, is a rare chance to buy one of their creations.

Thoroughly upgraded and modified throughout, this could potentially be the ultimate example of the collectable K5 Blazer.

Based in rural Wisconsin, brothers Jim and Mike Ring co-founded Ringbrothers as a collision repair and bodyshop.

Today the company still operates as a bodyshop for the local community, but also produces incredible bespoke custom builds.

The level of attention paid by the Ring brothers has seen them win multiple awards, including several prizes at the 2019 SEMA Show. Ringbrothers also collected a trophy at the Las Vegas event for winning the battle of the builders prize for their bespoke 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

The K5 Blazer offered for sale on Bring a Trailer has a striking resemblance to their Seaker truck, unveiled at the 2018 SEMA Show.

A detailed build process was undertaken for this truck, seeing the original panels removed from the frame. Acid dipped and repainted in Glasurit Waterborne Black, a Ring Brothers carbon fiber hood was also added to the body.

Ringbrothers even worked to ensure better alignment of the tailgate, whilst all the brightwork was rechromed. The hard top was also removed, with a brand-new custom soft-top roof and roll bar installed.

Chassis modifications included the addition of box strengthening in several areas, with all-new upgraded Bilstein suspension added both front and rear. New brakes were installed, hiding behind 17-inch Custom Circle Racing wheels.

Beneath the carbon fibre hood is a rare GM Performance Parts ZZ430 crate motor. The 350-cubic inch V-8 produces 430 horsepower in stock form, but has benefitted from a Holley Dominator fuel-injection system, and a custom stainless steel exhaust.

A Bowler Performance four-speed automatic transmission can send power to either the rear or all four wheels. A new Bowler Performance two-speed transfer case was also installed by Ringbrothers.

The customization did not stop inside, with an Upholstery Unlimited kit replacing the seats. These are covered in blue vinyl with houndstooth inserts, whilst Ringbrothers have also installed their own bespoke machined-aluminum door handles.

An Alpine touchscreen display now sits within the dashboard, with custom trim helping the installation look like a factory fitted item. A full Alpine sound system is also present.

Dakota Digital gauges have been fitted, along with a Vintage Air cooling system. A new wiring harness is also present, whilst retrofitted LED lighting brings the Blazer into the 21st century.

Chevrolet K5 Blazers have enjoyed considerable interest in the collector market, with fans flocking to classic SUVs. The opportunity to buy an example modified by an award-winning shop is a rare chance.

Having been driven just 450 miles since the custom work was undertaken last year, this K5 Blazer is arguably in better than new condition.

The auction closes on Friday, April 24th, with the Blazer having already rung up several large bids.

Original post:
This amazing Ringbrothers Chevrolet K5 Blazer is available to buy right now - Motoring Research

People have been flouting Government guidelines by turning up to watch the demolition of a big office block in Dudley. This may tell us something about the state of free entertainment in the borough. I am reminded of my family's remote little village in the Yorkshire Dales which was so deprived of things to do that people would traipse three miles to the butcher's in the nearest town to gaze in awe at the bacon slicer.

As an act of charity, I have spared Fleet Street's sub-editors the arduous task of dreaming up yet more bash-the-Government headlines for the coming week. The first tests on Covid-19 patients have begun, using antibodies and existing drugs. If these therapies work, the headline is: Miracle cure why did bungling Government wait so long? And if the treatments don't work: Bungling Government killed my 'guinea-pig' gran. Get the idea?

It always pays to read the story behind a headline. The classic yarn is of a man who with his bare hands killed a pitbull terrier as it attacked a toddler in a Scottish town. For its first edition the local newspaper carried the headline: Hero saves toddler from devil dog. Later it emerged that the hero was a tourist from Wolverhampton. For later editions the headline was. Englishman kills family pet.

Meanwhile, the Guardian claims there is a growing belief among hospital management in the capital that the Nightingale (hospital), built to great acclaim over just nine days, was becoming a 'white elephant'. What is any government supposed to do? If you don't build a new hospital for the worst-case scenario it's complacency. If you do build a new hospital for the worst-case scenario it's a white elephant.

Very few people were warning about a pandemic before it happened. But it seems I was, although I admit I was surprised to unearth it while trawling idly through my archives recently.

Almost exactly a year ago I wrote about the huge number of alleged global threats which, over the decades, had scared us witless. My list included: global communism, alien invasion, nuclear proliferation, mad-cow disease, Aids, biological warfare - and what I called "the Coming Pandemic."

I also suggested that climate change and plastic pollution, such fashionable fears a year ago, might prove to be "the 100 per cent genuine article, the unavoidable horrors that, after so many false alarms, will engulf our planet and wipe out Homo sapiens." I ended with: "If they are not, you can be assured that a year or so from now another even worse apocalypse will be unveiled." All done entirely without a crystal ball.

After my recent item on pop-up adverts, this one suddenly appeared: Seniors love relief sock. Moving swiftly on . . .

Read the original here:
Peter Rhodes on predicting a pandemic, watching a demolition and the stories behind the headlines - expressandstar.com

Crews will finish demolishing about 70 structures in May on Kents West Hill to make room for Sound Transits light rail extension.

Most structures are either gone or permitted (to be demolished), others to be permitted will be down by next month, said Kelly Peterson, the citys Link light rail liaison, in a report April 7 to the Kent City Council about the 7.8-mile extension from Angle Lake in SeaTac through Kent to Federal Way that is expected to open in late 2024.

An apartment complex and small mobile home park are among the areas that have been cleared. Crews tore down the Terra Villa Apartments just north of the Lowes store in January.

Two light rail stations with parking garages will be built in Kent, one near 30th Avenue South and a new South 236th Street, and the second one at Star Lake near South 272nd Street and Interstate 5. About 500 parking spaces are planned for Kent/Des Moines and another 1,100 at Star Lake.

The total cost of the Federal Way Link Extension is an estimated $3.1 billion with federal grants covering about 25 percent of the cost, according to Sound Transit. About $1.5 billion is expected to come from Sound Transit dedicated sales, rental car, motor vehicle excise and property tax revenues. Another $629 million will come from the federal loan to be repaid by Sound Transit tax revenues and about $145 million is covered by Sound Transit bond proceeds repaid by tax revenues.

We are in the peak of permitting for the project, said Peterson, who added permitting will continue through February 2021 when work on the Star Lake Station and garage is expected to be approved.

Seattle Public Utilities is expected to start work in May to remove materials from the eastern edge of its former Midway Landfill that is just west of I-5. The land needs to be cleared for the light rail line along the freeway as well as a new southbound lane the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) plans to build from Kent Des Moines Road to near South 272nd Street as part of the State Route 509 extension to I-5.

Peterson said WSDOT right of way extends into the landfill and the agency has an agreement with Seattle Public Utilities that it would remove material if the state wanted to expand the freeway.

They will remove the landfill waste to an approved facility, Peterson said.

Because of the property that will be cleared, the light rail guideway will be at-grade rather than elevated along the edge of the landfill and next to the freeway, Peterson said. While light rail is expected to open for service in 2024, the freeway project isnt expected to be completed until 2028.

But Sound Transit, WSDOT and Seattle Public Utilities agreed to make room for the light rail and freeway extension during one project rather than going back later to make room for the extra freeway lane.

People will see a lot of changes along Pacific Highway South between South 240th Street and Kent Des Moines Road with the light rail extension. Three new streets will be built, South 234th, South 236th and South 238th.

South 236th Street will go underneath the elevated Kent/Des Moines light rail station similar to how South 200th Street goes underneath the Angle Lake Station in SeaTac.

Peterson said 30th Avenue South, which now is an asphalt road with no curbs, sidewalks, gutters or lights will become a concrete road with sidewalks, curbs and lights. The road will be concrete to last longer with the numerous buses expected on it to transport people to and from the light rail station.

Property east of the new parking garage will be used for transit-oriented development, projects still to be determined depending on interest of developers. Apartments with retail have gone up at other stops along the light rail line between SeaTac and Seattle.

Construction on the light rail extension will continue through 2023, Peterson said. Sound Transit will then spend about a year testing the tracks with electric power above the light rail vehicles before service opens to the public in late 2024.

The stay home orders from Gov. Jay Inslee has slowed work some on the project, although demolition of buildings can continue, Peterson said. He added design and permitting continue as well.

New maintenance facility

Sound Transit continues to study where to build a new Operations and Maintenance Facility for the light rail vehicles. One site in Kent on the Midway Landfill is under consideration along with two Federal Way sites. A draft environmental impact statement about the three sites is expected to be ready for public comment later this year.

The Sound Transit Board of Directors expects to pick a site for the facility in 2021. The facility is scheduled to open in 2026.

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Building demolition continues on Kents West Hill to make room for light... - Kent Reporter

Demolitions: Through the Eyes of an Artist

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I recently viewed a public art commission at Dubai's foremost cultural district - Alserkal Avenue: it was an installation by an artist collective - METASITU, who had transformed a warehouse on the Avenue previously known as Nadi Al Quoz, into a 21st-century ruin. The work titled: 'we were building sand castles_but the wind blew them away', was inspired by the perennial demolitions that have become an integral part of contemporary placemaking around the world. Through this piece of work, METASITU reflects on the extractive city-building processes, while contextualising them within different human and ecological timelines. The long-term vision of the artists was to deconstruct the building and return its constituent materials to their original state. Later this year, they plan to further deconstruct the installation into a public landscaped environment.

+ 7

To create the installation, large swathes of the facade of the Nadi Al Quoz buildings were carefully demolished and replaced with heaps of sandbags stacked up to cover the demolished section of the wall. Inside the warehouse, large trenches were randomly carved off the concrete foundation slab, exposing the natural ground upon which the building was built. Massive heaps of pulverised concrete from the demolished concrete floor lay on a corner of the warehouse, while heaps of the excavated soil lay on another. All across the building, fresh shrubs and small trees were affixed to the ground to create an illusion of active vegetation. And the lone internal wall of the building had a carefully cut opening that framed the view of an extensive wall-to-wall bed of fine sand within. For me, peering through this opening, unleashed a window of childhood reveries fond memories of play; where abandoned construction sites were often temporarily expropriated by us as children a rendezvous for our daily play.

In spite of my personal reservations about this sort of artistic expression, especially one which explores a delicate subject such as demolition, the installation presented a rare moment of creative laissez-faire, one devoid of the social schism or any other concerns beyond the artistic face value of this work of art. In the real world, demolition remains a very divisive topic, especially when its forced (I had written about this in the past). Demolitions are deeply emotive events, often birthing the twin emotions of angst and nostalgia, occasioned by memories hitherto created in the demolished spaces and the realisation that those moments would most likely never be re-enacted again. Nevertheless, beyond its artistic merit, the piece highlights the spatial transience that has become hallmarks of our constantly evolving cities. It demystifies existing spatial narratives of avant-garde cities like Dubai, which represents the grandest of the world's 'bling' architecture and urbanism and also demonstrates the ephemeral nature of contemporary megacities and of the latent reality that they could all end up in a landfill someday or become weathered ruins, whenever our flight of fantasies take us elsewhere.

METASITU, as the studio's website quotes, is a collective that explores the way we relate to territory across time and disciplines. Founded in 2014, METASITU's work has largely focused on shrinking cities in Eastern Ukraine and the Russian Far East; largely through their ongoing project 'The Degrowth Institute', where they explore ways of incorporating notions of degrowth in urban masterplans. More recently, they have been researching vacancy in office towers in Dubai, and ruinification processes. Their practice incorporates non-hierarchical pedagogies, architectural interventions, social experiments, and video.

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Demolitions: Through the Eyes of an Artist - ArchDaily

RX Architects incorporated part of an unfinished building into this house with a cantilevered upper story on the Rye Nature Reserve in East Sussex, England.

Called Druim, the house was built over an existing foundation and ground floor.

The previous owners of the site had been unable to secure permission for two planned properties due to the area's protected status, and opted to sell the site complete with a half-finished structuree

RX Architects built on this existing masonry base with a cantilevering upper-storey clad in Siberian larch, positioned to maximise views across the landscape out towards the sea.

"When the [new] owners commissioned us it was on the basis of completing the existing house, but I quickly came to the conclusion the proportions of the house were all wrong to meet their brief," project architect Rob Pollard told Dezeen.

"A key move here was to re-use the existing foundations and external load-bearing ground floor walls, then place a new steel structure over it so that the first floor could cantilever out."

The house is split horizontally, with a living, kitchen and dining area opening onto two terraces at ground-floor level and bedrooms on the first floor at either side of a library space.

This library space opens out onto a deeply recessed balcony through glass sliding doors, framing a panoramic view across the site.

"We clad the ceiling in this [balcony] space with the same narrow larch batten strips on the external soffits to create a sense of being partially outside," said Pollard.

"It almost has the feel of a bird hide overlooking the nature reserve."

A single-storey games room with an adjacent studio flat has also been created to the west of the main house, accessed via a garden path.

On the ground floor, the existing structure of engineering bricks has been retained and painted with black Keim paint, usually used for marine environments and lighthouses.

"[The Keim paint] seemed fitting for this very exposed coastal location, and the dark colour would compliment the first floor cladding," said Pollard.

"The top floor will naturally weather and silver and appear very rough and textured, whereas the ground floor will retain a very robust and solid datum feel."

Above, the more lightweight first floor projects over this base with a steel and timber structure.

The cantilever shelters the entrance and south-facing elevation below.

This contrast continues internally, with a more "robust" and tactile ground floor and a bright, calm upper floor.

"We wanted to keep a calm palette so everything felt very natural in the environment but didn't detract from the views over the landscape," said Pollard.

RX Architects was founded in 2016, and is led by Rob Pollard and Derek Rankin.

Also in Sussex, Paul Cashin Architects recently completed the refurbishment of a 19th-century cottage in the seaside village of Sidlesham Quay.

Photography is by Richard Chivers.

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RX Architects builds larch-clad house that cantilevers over landscape - Dezeen

It is a scientific fact that the occasional contemplation of natural scenes of an impressive character, particularly if this contemplation occurs in connection with relief from ordinary cares, change of air and change of habits, is favorable to the health and vigor beyond any other conditions that can be offered them. Frederick Law Olmsted

Relationships are of primary importance in our lives, and the relationship between a City and its designers and architects is no different. Exploring this story by way of the planets, offers a new take and creative depths in its chapters. In the City of Buffalos historical timeline, its intersection with landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (Olmsted) is one such relationship well explore in this series of Buffalo Rising articles (see Buffalo as Taurean city).

The City of Buffalo, incorporated or born in April 1832, was profoundly shaped by Olmsted, born in April 1822 in Hartford, Connecticut. Both born under the Suns passage in Taurus, their identity immediately shares an innate affinity towards nature, establishing environments and structures and delighting the senses. This connection continues beyond the solar reach. By casting a birth chart (chart) to reflect the planetary placements and aspects on the day each of our subjects were born, and then comparing together, we see how far deeper the storied relationship between the two goes. Full of uncanny direct hits and ties, a yield of pleasant curiosities follow.

Olmsted visited Buffalo in the summer of 1868 to identify a site for a central park design, which ultimately resulted in his alternative proposal for an integrated park system instead. Most resources identify Olmsteds visit taking place in August that year, with dates of either August 16 or August 18. Curiously, on August 18 a solar eclipse culminated. Consistent with ancient traditions of many cultures, in astrology a solar eclipse is regarded as a particularly potent aspect indicating a storied new and life-changing event and beginning. Not only did Olmsteds visit occur under this unusual and generally auspicious event, the zodiacal placement in which it occurred highlighted a close tie that both the City and Olmsteds charts share.

Both the City and Olmsted were born with an emphasis of Leo in their charts, sharing the astronomically-calculated lunar node placement in this sign.

The August 18 1868 solar eclipse occurred in Leo, the astrological sign ruled by the sun. Both the City and Olmsted were born with an emphasis of Leo in their charts, sharing the astronomically-calculated lunar node (node) placement in this sign. In astrology, the nodes are ascribed weighted significance as reflecting peak events in the natives life journey that serve as hallmarks and milestones in its definition. Approximately every 18.5 years, nodes return to the same position and are seen as potently charged-times in the life cycle when significant events occur that sweep in and greatly impact our life-path. Node placements in Leo emphasize identity, creativity and play. Curious to find that our paired City and landscaping architect both previously born under a Leo node, meet as the nodes return to Leo and under the auspices of a solar eclipse! As a result, as they remain today, the Olmsted Parks became an integral part of our Citys identity and are places born of, and that foster, creativity and play. These are all hallmarks of the 1868 Leo solar eclipse the relationship was born under.

There are yet more uncanny chart commonalities between the two, for example, the story of the moon, the planetary storyteller of mood, heart, spirit and natural instinct in both. The City was born under an industrious, self-made, stiff-upper-lip moon in Capricorn. Olmsted was born under its polar opposite, the moon in Cancer. Their two moons face each other straight on and enjoy a relationship together; Capricorn and Cancer are two sides of the same astrological coin. During Olmsteds 1868 visit, not only did these moons relate well to each other, but also inspiring creative brilliance in them was another specific astrological event that summer, which occurs about once every 84 years. Uranus was in Cancer during this time and reflected to us the story of a passionate drive being fueled into the hearts (moon) of both Olmsted and the City. This storyline heralded a time of ingenuity, innovation, and desire to depart from the norm. As evident in Olmsteds alternative design proposal, our integrated park system reflects this inventive time and its impact on the heart of our City.

As the list continues, the spot-on connections between the two charts spark more curiosity and quizzical head tilts. Like the moon relationship, both the City and Olmsted have the planet which reflects the storyline of passion, drive, energy and motivation (Mars) in signs of polarity as well. The Citys Mars is found in clever and innovative Aquarius and Olmsteds in Leo. The two Mars facing each other, in the same fashion as did the respective moons, highlighting again the direct relationship and impact the two had upon each other.

A further enrapturing connection is the near-exact placement of the Citys Jupiter and Olmsteds Venus, both found together in Pisces. Planets and the stories they reflect for us are impacted, strengthened and weakened, by their placements in various signs and aspects made to them by other planets. Because of these qualities, Venus and Jupiter generally reflect themes of connections and relationships and particularly so, when in Pisces. Both planets enjoy great comfort in this sign and signal to us, an ease of relationship and understanding and also, of natural beauty and harmony. This pairing lent a clever astrological underpinning to Olmsteds the genius of a place approach to landscape architecture in Buffalo.

Quite literally, the landscape architect (Olmsteds Saturn in Taurus) designs a new park system which becomes integral to the Citys identity (Citys Sun in Taurus).

While yet there are more intimate connections, it is likely the impact that Olmsteds Saturn in Taurus had on the Citys Taurean Sun remains the singular bellwether of this relationships yield. Saturn, the planetary archetype of architecture, design, structure and efficiency reflects a well-placed story in Taurus in our evaluation of this relationship. Quite literally, the landscape architect (Olmsteds Saturn in Taurus) designs a new park system which becomes integral to the Citys identity (Citys Sun in Taurus).

Born under the auspices of a solar eclipse, the yet-enduring relationship between the City of Buffalo and Frederick Law Olmsted continues to radiate its steadfast shine across the 716. Peering through the stories mirrored by planetary connections and placements, we catch a new glimpse of an old friend.

Stay tuned for more articles as our series continues.

If you like what youre reading, be sure to visit Starry Wonder online.

Lead image: Courtesy University at Buffalo University Libraries

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Exploring the Celestial Relationship between a City and its Designers - Buffalo Rising

VDF teams up with reSITE today, with the Prague conference sharing five lectures from its 2019 conference starting with Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo's talk about the South African design platform he founded in 1995.

The five talks, which will be exclusively shared on VDF, are all from reSITE's REGENERATE conference that took place at the Ricardo Bofill-designed Forum Karlin in Prague in September 2019.

In the first lecture, Ravi Naidoo tells the story behind the Design Indaba conference and discusses the importance of design.

"The fundamental question is this: what's design?" said Naidoo. "Is design a handmaiden to consumption? Is design just to sell more widgets? Or is design in service of people? What's design for?"

Naidoo launched the annual design event in 1995, a year after the country held its first free elections. Since then it has strived to help South Africa make the most of its human capital through design.

"We were so infused with hope that I gave up my day job," he said. "I was an academic at med school, and I just went in and did the leap of faith into trying to reinvent myself as the country was reinventing itself."

"Design has enough power to give dignity"

Describing Design Indaba as a think tank and a do tank, Naidoo said the aim of the project is to be a crucible for change.

"We have to be advocates, but we also have to be exemplars for what it is that we are suggesting to be a great toolkit for the 21st century," he said. "So we get back to the simple honesty of making and we love making."

Design Indaba works in one of the most unequal societies in the world and as a result, it has conceived a number of projects that focus on improving conditions locally.

"What we're wanting to do with design is to give it a higher purpose," Naidoo said.

"A more noble purpose for design, not just to be about consumption. But design, could it improve the quality of life and how could it do it, not just for the haves, but also for the have nots," he continued.

"So, put higher-level questions to design: can design give dignity? Design has enough power to give dignity."

Among these initiatives is the 10 x 10 low-cost housing project, which teamed 10 global architects with 10 local architects. The resulting designs included Luyanda Mpahlwa's now-complete proposal that made use of sandbags to keep construction costs low.

Design Indaba also helped lay the ground for British architect Thomas Heatherwick's design for the Zeitz MOCAA contemporary art museum in Cape Town, by introducing him to the defunct grain silo that would eventually house the museum.

"We can conceive of a better world through creativity"

In 2018, the conference commissioned Norwegian studio Snhetta to design Arch for Arch, a tribute to human-rights activist and anti-apartheid campaigned Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

For Naidoo the arch, which is located close to Cape Town's parliament building and its cathedral, is an example of how design can convey a message.

"What does Archbishop Tutu say to this generation, and the generations after, and what the message really is?" Naidoo said.

"He used the metaphor of the Constitution. The Constitution has 14 chapters. It also has 14 lines in the preamble. So this has 14 arcs of wood, 14 arcs of Siberian larch, five stories high," he continued. "It starts to say 'protect my legacy, protect this constitution jealously', and as parliamentarians looking down every day, must understand that this constitution is what we need to uphold jealously."

Naidoo explained that Design Indaba has one simple mission. "Ideas are just the most amazing powerful force," he said. "Creativity is the ultimate renewable energy. We can conceive of a better world through creativity."

About reSITE

reSITE is a non-profit organisation with a focus on rethinking cities, architecture and urban development. Its aim is to connect leaders and support the synergies across real estate, architecture, urbanism, politics, culture and economics.

reSITE's flagship event is held in Prague, but it has also held events in Lisbon and Berlin. reSITE was founded in 2011 by Martin Barry, a landscape architect originally from New York.

About Virtual Design Festival

Virtual Design Festival, the world's first digital design festival, runs from 15 April to 30 June 2020. It aims to bring the architecture and design world together to celebrate the culture and commerce of our industry, and explore how it can adapt and respond to extraordinary circumstances.

To find out what's coming up at VDF,check out the schedule.For more information or to join the mailing list, emailvdf@dezeen.com.

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VDF x reSITE: "Creativity is the ultimate renewable energy" - Dezeen

In a recent piece for City Lab, Klaus argued that the biggest shifts our cities might experience after the pandemic have already been taking shape. Factors like climate change and noncommunicable epidemics like obesity already influence the way urban planners and architects think about how to build the cities of the future. What something like the current pandemic can do is accelerate those efforts, turning proposed changes like expanded bike lanes, more walkable city districts, and smart buildings from computer simulations and white papers into real-world experiments. Its a story of acceleration and continuity rather than one of super profound disruption revolution, Klaus tells AD PRO of the epidemics impact. It's much more about the acceleration or deceleration of trendsthe question for us is, what are those trends going to be?

The current state of the world offers a few hints. A potent combination of anxiety and government mandates has rendered many public places inoperable. Those that are still thrivingparks, bike paths, streets, and sidewalksnow give Olmsteds early vision a prescient gleam. In Bogot, Colombia, the government moved quickly to expand the citys bike lanes by 47 miles to reduce crowding on public transportation. In Oakland, the mayor shut down 74 miles of streets to motor traffic to allow pedestrians to spread out and get fresh air.

A cyclist wears a facemask in Bogot, Colombia on March 13. To reduce density and curb the spread of COVID-19, the government moved quickly to expand the citys bike lanes.

Less tactically, the debate around the impact of density on public health will continue to rage as architects and planners weigh how to design buildings and cities that cater to both environmental and public health. There will be questions, too, about how technology should be integrated at the city and building level, as Silicon Valley companies grapple with how to deploy their technologies to track the spread of the disease.

Alone, none of these issues will immediately alter the trajectory of the built environment. Tomorrow youll wake up, and your street will likely look the same as it has every other morning this month. If you think about cholera, there were three major outbreaks over a period of 30 years in the United States, Carr says. Nothing changed overnight. The built environment, especially the public realm, takes a long time to catch up.

Its more likely that the pandemic will chip away at our entrenched habits and beliefs. Some people might decide they no longer care for city life and will decamp for less crowded places; others will decide that loosening their convictions about privacy is worth the public health tradeoff. The way many people work, and where they do it from, will shape real estate decisions for years to come. Will there be a reinvigoration of neighborhoods as self-sufficient hubs of activity? Will we come to expect hand sanitizer placed outside of every business? There are more questions than answers at this pointwere witnessing a large-scale public experiment that will slowly, but surely, reveal itself in time.

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Health and Disease Have Always Shaped Our Cities. What Will Be the Impact of COVID-19? - Architectural Digest