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A former college football player is teaching young men with autism how to boxand theyre teaching him some lessons, too

By Steve Roberts

| Published: 2019-12-16 09:25

On Jan. 1, 1981, Ken Gear played wide receiver for the University of Michigan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. A crowd of 104,863 watched the Wolverines pummel the University of Washington by a score of 23-6. These days, Gear runs the Bethesda Boxing & Kickboxing Academy, a small storefront gym on St. Elmo Avenue, where he teaches a class of four young men with autism. There are no marching bands or television cameras, no cheerleaders or championships. But at 59, he is rediscovering the passion and purpose he felt long ago as a college athlete.

In our autism class, at the end of each class we put our hands together and we say, team on three, he tells me. Were a team, and I think thats resonating with them. Were all in it together, and thats the approach that seems to work.

They were not allowed to be on sports teams, and I view this like its a sport, Gear says of his students, who range in age from their late teens to mid-30s. Were just practicing, we dont have any games, but practice is our game. Were getting better every time, and theyve responded very well. People rise to the expectations that are set for them. Thats always been my experience.

Progress is measured in very small steps. Gear describes one class regular who could not learn to throw a left hook. Finally, the boys mother, who was observing the lesson, suggested he move his left foot at the same time. As soon as he turned his left foot, his shoulder turned as well, he was doing the form I was looking for, Gear recalls. That was a huge breakthrough, I could see in his face how happy he was at getting it.

Gear grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where his father worked as an extension agent for the University of Wisconsin and his mother was a nurse practitioner. At the beginning of his junior year at Michigan, six months after the Rose Bowl, he pulverized his liver when he ran into a retaining wall during preseason practice. That ended my football career, he says, but it opened the door for me to explore as a student.

He took a creative writing class, hung out with a group of grad students, read a lot of black literature and, after graduation, earned a masters degree in urban policy at the New School for Social Research in Manhattan. Gear was working on Wall Street for Standard & Poors, the bond-rating agency, when his wifes job with a financial services company brought the family to this area in 2006. They settled in Potomac with their three children, who are now in their 20s, and Gear cycled through jobs with Fannie Mae and the D.C. government.

More here:
Former College Football Player Teaches Boxing to Men with Autism - BethesdaMagazine.com

Two people are dead and three others were taken to a hospital Saturday morning after a single-car crash.

The car, a 2008 Saturn Aura, was headed east on Dewey Avenue at a high speed, Omaha Police Sgt. Neal Bonacci said. The car, with five people inside, left the roadway to the south, struck a tree, then hit a retaining wall near 37th Street, Bonacci said.

The crash occurred before 3:15 a.m., police said.

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On Saturday afternoon, police identified one of the two men who were killed as Justin Estrada, 18, of Omaha. He and the other person who was killed were in the back seat with Eltio Plater, 19, of Omaha, police said. Plater suffered a life-threatening head injury.

The driver of the Saturn was identified as Angela Alejo, 21, of Omaha. She suffered a serious head injury that is considered life-threatening, police said.

The front-seat passenger was identified as Alisha Jones, 20, of Council Bluffs. She suffered a serious injury to her arm.

At least four of the occupants were ejected, Bonacci said. The two people who were fatally injured were declared dead at the scene, and the other three were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center.

Most of the occupants were not wearing seat belts, said Officer Michael Pecha, a police spokesman. Alcohol use and speed were considered factors in the crash, police said.

World-Herald staff writer Chris Machian contributed to this report.

Omaha's 10 busiest intersections

2016 rank: 9

2018 vehicles per day: 64,000

Traffic trend: Dropping

This intersection, just north of Interstate 80, saw its traffic numbers dip over the two years. But the totals are up significantly from 2014, when it ranked as the regions 40th busiest intersection.

2016 rank: 14

2018 vehicles per day: 65,100

Traffic trend: Growing

The 108th Street and West Maple Road intersection is a gateway to and from the Interstate. It draws 16,300 more vehicles a day than the 120th and West Maple intersection.

2016 rank: 8

2018 vehicles per day: 65,900

Traffic trend: Decreasing, too

This one held its place as the eighth-busiest intersection.

2016 rank: 5

2018 vehicles per day: 66,200

Traffic trend: Decreasing

Traffic counts are down through the stretch of Dodge Street east of Omahas busiest intersection and through intersections including 86th, 84th, 78th, 72nd and 69th Streets. Its still Dodge Street theyre still busy intersections. Just not as busy.

2016 rank: 26

2018 vehicles per day: 69,150

Traffic trend: Increasing greatly

Traffic at this intersection backs up often, and its counts grew by 14,450 in the two-year period.

2016 rank: 3

2018 vehicles per day: 72,300

Traffic trend: Dropping, too

The 72nd and Pacific intersection ranked third but now is fifth.

2016 rank: 2

2018 vehicles per day: 75,850

Traffic trend: Dropping

The 72nd and Dodge Street intersection is still a busy one. But the numbers show that traffic there has dropped a bit in the past few years. In 2016, it ranked as Omahas second-busiest intersection. With the daily vehicle total dropping by 7,750 and with southwest Omaha traffic picking up 72nd and Dodge fell a couple of spots.

2016 rank: 7

2018 vehicles per day: 84,250

Traffic trend: Increasing a lot

The 132nd and L Street/Industrial Road intersection isnt far behind its counterpart a mile east at 120th and L, seeing just 500 fewer vehicles per day. But its increase is greater growing by 13,500 vehicles a day in the two-year period. It draws a lot of traffic from Millard, and Sarpy County beyond that, along with traffic from west Omaha and the West Center Road corridor. In 2013, the Streetsblog website named it the Worst Intersection in America for the trouble it poses pedestrians.

2016 rank: 4

2018 vehicles per day: 84,750

Traffic trend: Increasing a lot

A several-mile stretch of L Street/Industrial Road -- including the 132nd and 144th Street intersections -- is drawing a lot more traffic. Traffic at 120th and L Street grew by 10,200 vehicles a day over the two-year period, according to MAPAs numbers. Thats a nearly 14% increase. Its an important corridor through southwest Omaha. At 120th Street, the intersection is essentially a gateway and exit point for Interstates 80 and 680.

2016 rank: 1

2018 vehicles per day: 106,900

Traffic trend: Growing

This is Omahas busiest intersection, as it has been since construction of the elevated West Dodge Expressway, which addressed traffic backups at 114th Street and West Dodge Road. When that $100 million project happened, it was expected that the busiest intersection would shift down Dodge to 90th Street. It has 90th Street and West Dodge Road now has more traffic than 114th and West Dodge did before construction of the elevated expressway.

Read the original here:
Omaha police ID 1 of 2 people killed in Saturday morning crash at 37th and Dewey - Omaha World-Herald

RAVEto whomever decided it was a good idea to put a grid on the back of wrapping paper as a cutting guide. Every Christmas, I send good vibes to the genius who started this and to the companies who adopted this practice.

RANTto the Seattle Aquarium for its plans to create a $113 million pavilion with sharksandstingrays for the new waterfront promenade. BOOOO! No more sharks and rays in captivity. Have they not seen the horrendous situations around the world with orcas and dolphins in captivity for the last 40 years? Shame on you, Seattle Aquarium.

RAVE to Courtney, who came to my rescue at the cashiers counter on Thanksgiving eve when I found I had left home without my wallet. Ill pay it forward, thank you.

RANTto people who make you take your shoes off when entering their home and dont warn you ahead of time or provide slippers/socks for you to wear. I have very unattractive feet and do not like to flaunt them. Imagine my horror at a recent holiday party when I had to be barefoot all evening. Never mind that the floors were tile and hardwood. My feet are still frozen stumps! Had I known, I would have made the proper footwear choice.

RAVE to all the parents who have taught children good table manners, chewing with a closed mouth being the most important. It is not pleasant to watch people chew their food.

RANT to whoever designed those gaudy, tacky lights that dance across the girders above T-Mobile Park at night. They are way too bright and cheesy and there are too many colors. I call them Galloping Girders. A simple, staticone-or-two color display (like the oneabove CenturyLink Field) would be better.

RAVE to Seattle Public Utilities and the graffiti-intake staff. I made an online report of new graffiti on a retaining wall across the street from my property, received acknowledgment and a tracking number for my report, and the graffiti was removed a few days later. Another email informed me my report had been resolved. Their system made the reporting process easy and I was impressed with their speed and efficiency! Thank you.

RANT AND RAVERave to pedestrians who make eye contact with drivers to be sure theyve been seen before crossing the street. Rant to pedestrians who jump out from behind cars that are parked too close to the corner, so theyre not visible to passing drivers until the last second. Think and look!

RANT AND RAVE Rave to the Phinney Neighborhood Association for putting on their 39th annual Winter Festival & Crafts Fair, which supports many local artists. It is so much fun! Rant to the parking Grinch that called Seattle police, who ticketed me because my car was parked within 5 feet of her driveway (not blocking it). I had no idea this was a law in Seattle!

Originally posted here:
Rant & Rave: A toast to the inventor of cutting guides on wrapping paper - The Seattle Times

LAYTON The Utah Department of Transportation says traffic on Interstate 15 through Davis County soon will be backed up due to the ongoing Express Lanes project there.

UDOT Region One spokesman Vic Saunders said north- and southbound I-15 will close just north of the Layton Parkway at Gentile Street in Layton sometime between 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, and 5 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, as crews lower and relocate utility lines in that area.

Saunders said the road will close once in each direction for approximately 15 minutes each, with a short break in between to allow traffic to clear. UDOT says motorists should expect southbound lanes to be reduced prior to the closure, beginning at about 7 p.m. on Sunday. Lane reductions on northbound lanes will begin at 9 p.m.

As work on the $169 million Express Lanes project continues, Saunders said median work which includes the construction of overhead signs, median barrier placement and retaining wall construction is ramping up during both day- and nighttime hours. Bridge construction is ongoing at 5600 South in Roy, 650 North in Clearfield and at Church Street and 700 South in Layton.

As part of the project, UDOT is adding lanes to north and southbound I-15 between Hill Field Road in Layton and Interstate 84 near the Riverdale/Ogden border.

The project isnt scheduled to be complete until 2021. Once its done, Utahs Express Lanes system will extend 80 miles, running continuously from Utah County to Weber County. UDOT officials have said the completed project will make Utahs Express Lane the longest uninterrupted system in the United States.

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Northern Utah I-15 traffic impacts upcoming this weekend with Express Lanes work - Standard-Examiner

A police officer was flagged down, and he came upon the body near a retaining wall by the east entrance to the old Selby Avenue streetcar tunnel. She was naked except for a black T-shirt. A stream of blood ran from her head.

An autopsy later revealed she was stabbed 11 times in her neck, chest, back and arms, with six of the wounds concentrated on her neck, one of which severed her carotid artery. There also were bruises and cuts on the body and face.

Using fingerprints, investigators learned her name, Annette Gail Seymour, and that the 39-year-old lived in a nearby apartment on Dayton Avenue.

Authorities say her husband, James Fletcher, had a combative, estranged relationship with Seymour and argued with her hours before her body was found on July 14, 1992. Fletcher was brought in for questioning but released.

Eventually the case went cold.

About a year ago Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Andrew Johnson had wrapped up his work charging Michael Anthony Withers with the long-unresolved murder of Lillian Kuller, an elderly woman strangled inside her St. Paul home in 1987.

Johnson and his colleague, Rick Dusterhoft, developed a knack for finding paths forward for long-dormant cases.

So Johnson picked up the file on Seymours death.

He said it didnt take long to realize there was the makings of a solid case against John Robert Capers, including DNA evidence from tests the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension ran in 2009 from Seymours shirt.

The DNA matched Capers, now 65, and equally important, excluded Seymours husband, Johnson said. Fletcher died in 2008.

Capers was interviewed about the findings in 2011, and denied knowing Seymour or having any involvement in her death, but his word cant refute DNA evidence, Johnson said.

With that in mind, he and police reached out to old witnesses to corroborate their findings.

Johnsons office charged Capers this week with one count of second-degree murder in Seymours death. Police took him into custody Wednesday morning, Dec. 11.

It came down to, with the people who were still alive, can we make the case, Johnson said. And we believe we can.

Johnson called Seymours family to tell them his office was finally charging someone in her death.

They were very pleased, he said.

Capers was known to the Ramsey County Attorneys Office. The St. Paul man was charged in 1987 with two home invasions, one of which involved the rape of a stranger, Johnson said.

Capers wound up reaching a deal with prosecutors after a jury failed to reach a verdict in his case. His contact with law enforcement after that was for minor crimes: misdemeanor level domestic assault, lying to police, theft.

But one was a conviction on a drug charge that mandated his DNA be entered into the offender database, Johnson said.

Thats how investigators linked him to the DNA sample taken from Seymours shirt when they reexamined evidence in the case in 2009, Johnson added, noting that none of the evidence tested contained Fletchers DNA.

Thats when his office and police started looking for witnesses who might still be alive who could help them build their case, Johnson said.

At the time Seymours husband told police he had been at her apartment the night she died and the two had argued. He said she followed him out of the apartment not far from where her body was found.

The argument continued, but Fletcher said he eventually told Seymour, who he said was drunk at the time, to go home. He said he watched her walk back toward the Cathedral and out of sight.

A couple who were friends of Fletchers confirmed to police at the time that hed been in and out of their home that evening, with the woman saying Fletcher returned for the last time around 2 a.m.

She told police Fletcher didnt appear nervous and described the clothes he was wearing at the time, noting that she didnt notice any blood on him or see him carrying anything suspicious. The woman reiterated her story to investigators when she was contacted again recently, Johnson said.

Capers lived at 940 Marshall Avenue, which is less than 2 miles from where Seymour was found.

This is the third cold case Ramsey County has charged in recent years.

Withers pleaded guilty in Kullers death in 2018.

And, the office secured a conviction against Norman Bachman in 2015 for murdering and dismembering his wife, Toni Bachman, in 1997.

Johnson and Dusterhoft often try to chip away at the stack of unsolved homicide cases in the evening or on weekends.

They are interested in solvable, cases, they said, adding that some even when police and prosecutors think they know the perpetrator cant be proven for various reasons. Johnson estimated the cases that fit the bill number in the teens.

I mean cold cases are cold for a reason, Dusterhoft said. Some of them, absent someone coming forward with a story, and a good story, you are just never going to figure it out. Theres just too many suspects.

Both men said they are drawn to the work, describing cold cases as puzzles that can come with an unusual reward when solved.

Ive now had three cases where I have been able to tell somebody that I know who killed their loved one and they didnt think theyd ever know or they didnt think that person would ever be brought to justice, Johnson said.

In Seymours case, her family thought it was likely her estranged husband killed her until the DNA evidence indicated otherwise, Johnson said.

I got a thank you card from her daughter and it was pretty effusively thanking me. I have never gotten anything like that before, Johnson said.

For Dusterhoft, reading through old police files and piecing together which ones still have witnesses alive today is fascinating.

He and Johnson say they have learned that there are several elements to cracking cold cases.

Relationships change over time. Reasons why people didnt talk or did talk can change over time, and new technology. Thats how you solve these things, he said.

Capers is expected to make his first court appearance Thursday morning.

The St. Paul Police Department is planning to dedicate a homicide investigator to work on cold cases when the current caseload allows us to do so, said Steve Linders, a department spokesman. The city has seen the most homicides this year in more than two decades.

Mara H. Gottfried contributed to this report.

Original post:
Man charged in 1992 stabbing of St. Paul woman whose body was found near St. Paul Cathedral - Grand Forks Herald

Blizzards walloping Newfoundland's west coast on Monday have left a pair of restaurant owners worried their life's work will be washed away.

High winds have whipped the water near Trout River into a frenzy, causing flooding and damage to structures along the harbour, according to Seaside Restaurantco-owner Jenny Parsons.

Clapboards and shingles have been ripped off her restaurant, which normally sits a few dozen metres from shore, Parsons said.

"Nobody has ever seen it this bad before," she said. "Trout River is in a state of emergency."

Submitted by Jenny Parsons

The boardwalk along the harbour isn't holding up to constant battering, she added.

Parsons now fears for the retaining wall just underneath that walkway. "If that goes and if the seas keep like they are that's a major possibility there will be major destruction here on the waterfront."

She said townspeople have been making calls to provincial officials for help and hopeit comes soon.

"Seconds are important here right now," she said. "We may have to take it in our own hands. I'm not going to let my restaurant go out to sea."

Environment Canada continued a blizzard warning on Monday afternoon that covered the Gros Morne area.

Winds have been gusting as much as 110 km/h in places.

"Visibility will be frequently reduced to near zero to give blizzard-like conditions in blowing snow. Little improvement is expected until winds begin to ease on Tuesday evening," the statement said.

Submitted by Jenny Parsons

Nestled into the coastline by Gros Morne National Park, Trout River draws tens of thousands of tourists each year.

But successive storms and harsh weather over the years have threatened the narrow beach and the boardwalk that runs alongside it.

Heavy flooding in western Newfoundland in January 2018 took a dramatic toll on the community's infrastructure.

In other years, harsh weather was also destructive. In February 2007, pounding waves hit the retaining wall and damaged the railing.In January 2006, a storm surge washed away sections of the boardwalk.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

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Trout River restaurant owners fear its destruction as fierce waves tear siding from building - Yahoo News Canada

Q: We plan a simple kitchen update by changing things like the faucet and cabinet hardware. Along that line, is there anything else you can suggest to give our kitchen a fresh look without getting into a complicated install?

Betsy, Washington state

A: When you mentioned changing out your kitchen faucet, that gave me a good idea.

A hot trend right now is installing a modern-looking kitchen chandelier with hints of antique styling. This type of lighting fixture design usually lends itself to most kitchen layouts.

Kitchen chandeliers have become so popular that some faucet manufacturers have started to market the chandeliers with metal finishes that perfectly match the kitchen faucet. So if your present electrical setup can adapt to this type of light fixture, a new kitchen chandelier can really brighten up your mornings.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of the book Ed Del Grandes House Call, the host of TV and Internet shows and a LEED green associate.

See the rest here:
Plumber Q&A: Chandeliers are moving into the kitchen - The Union Leader

To those of you who wonder (often using your outdoor voice, by the way) why I write so often about President Trump, let me give you a hint: He recently said Americans have to flush the toilet 10 to 15 times because modern, low-flush toilets dont work. This problem, which exists only inside Trumps tortured noggin, is what keeps the leader of the free world up at night. Toilets. That dont work. Except they do. Really well.

For those of you who missed it, let me explain. Trump went on one of his patented weird out-of-body ramblings the other day in which he said, Were looking very strongly at sinks and showers ... people are flushing toilets 10, 15 times, as opposed to onceyou cant wash your hands so little water comes out ... you have many states where they have so much water, it comes down its called rain.

Yes, friends, thats the President of the United States on water, rain and how dirty his hands are. But lets not talk about Ukraine right now. Those of us who pay close attention to Trumps tirades are used to his proclamations of something being very strongly looked into and usually we just snicker and move on, but this? This created not a snicker but a full-on face-plant into some pretty decent penne with vodka sauce. Which is to say, do not listen to Trump while eating because its a choking hazard.

I feel that very strongly.

Trump, in remarks to a Small Business Roundtable at the White House last week added this gem regarding showers: You turn the faucet onand you dont get any waterwater comes dripping out, very quietly, dripping out.

Do what?

Sorry. What I meant to say was DO WHAAAAAT?????

Look, I get it. Water pressure is awesome. I stayed at an Air BnB recently where the shower pressure could best be described as old man spitting onto sidewalk every 30 seconds. But generally, this is pretty rare.

What on earth is he trying to flush because please understand: If Trump gets all emo about a bigly problem, its something that personally affects him on the daily. Only things that cause Trump even a hint of personal woe are all that matter to him.

If it causes you pain in your daily life, well, thats not going to make the cut in Trumpland. Say you have your food stamps slashed to the point you have to feed the kids mustard sandwiches for dinner, well, thats a you problem. Which means it doesnt really matter to him. Besides, he needs that money to pay for his dumb wall that doesnt work.

One wag suggested Trump is probably upset at how many flushes it takes to get the entire Constitution down the drain. Indeed.

In light of his weird water theories, how can I NOT write about this president? In the immortal words of that great mafia kingpin, Michael Corleone, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.

Wilmingtons Celia Rivenbark is a NYT-bestselling author and columnist. Visit http://www.celiarivenbark.com.

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CELIA RIVENBARK: Plumbing the depths of why I write so much about Trump - StarNewsOnline.com

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Attractive Market Opportunities in the Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings Market By 2029 - Sound On Sound Fest

Are Architects and Developers Finally Addressing the Same Global Concerns?

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Architects and developers have always been on opposite ends of the construction world. While the first wanted to create dreamy spaces, the latter just wanted to cater to the basic needs. In these past few years, the world has witnessed significant changes, with the aggravation of climate-related issues, the evolution of technological solutions, and the newly acquired awareness and growth of the population.

While everything is transforming,building trends also evolved, mainly due to an alteration in peoples perceptions and priorities. However, one question remains unanswered: Could all these changes mean that the never-ending conflict between architects and developers reached some sort of common grounds? And could they finally be seeking one same goal, of a sustainable, resilient and inclusive future?

+ 24

ArchDaily had the opportunity to discuss sustainability, resilience, and cities with Chris Lepine, Associate Director at Zaha Hadid Architects and two major developers in Georgia, Nodar Adeishvili, Director General of LISI Development, and Temur Bitsadze, Chief Development Officer of Alliance Group. The conversation occurred during a forum in Tbilisi, entitled Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities, organized by Property Georgia and FIABCI Georgia. Read on to discover a newly developed understanding between the different parties, highlighted through their most prominent projects.

ArchDaily (Christele Harrouk): How would you describe your general approach?

ZHA: At Zaha Hadid Architects, we are always trying to push forward the design, give back to the city, and generate a unique experience for the inhabitants and for the community. With our latest completed project, 1000 museum, a very prominent structure on the Miami skyline, we had to think about something special, for it was the last gap in a row of towers. For example, the tower hits the ground, with a cut on its corner to create more breathing space and have a presence on the pedestrian level. Through our international work, we get to see that we live in a global society, and clients nowadays have a lot of knowledge about innovative products and building techniques. We always try to work with novel methods, that we can potentially bring to other projects and gain from our experience.

Lisi: Green Town in Tbilisi is built on only 20% of the land, with 80% accessible open and green spaces. Although we are not central, but we are situated on a hill overlooking the city, we are selling at the same rate apartments in the city center would go for. In fact, we have created a neighborhood, with all the amenities possible, so that no one goes out of the district, or takes his car. In this development, we have worked with Georgians architects as well as international collaborators like UN studio, and Ricardo Bofill. We wanted to bring big names to make iconic buildings in the district and for marketing and development purposes. On another hand, regarding other projects, we are always following the same concept, by ensuring maximum free land for the public, and that is how we are developing ski resorts in Bakuriani, a mixed-use with energy-efficient houses.

Alliance: People worldwide are not happy with high-rises. Nevertheless, we have a different concept, that drives our architectural decisions because we are more focused on developing mixed-use projects, and on gathering multiple functions in one plot. We might build high rises in the city center, but we do so with environmentally friendly decisions and approaches, and excellent architectural design. For example, we include a lot of green spaces in our interventions, and we make the best of our rooftops by installing wind turbines, to generate electricity in common areas. Faades of the buildings direct the rain towards water collectors, to irrigate the open spaces, and natural sunlight isabundant in our interiors.

AD: How would you define sustainability?

ZHA: Sustainability requires multiple layers of involvement from the architects, the developers, and the city. 1000 museum is built according to the Florida green building condition and is certified platinum, in concordance with the clients brief and wishes. A lot of it comes down to how the mechanical equipments are specified, how efficient they are, the MEP standards, high-performance glass, recessed balconies for shading, interior gardens, etc. Basically, sustainability is, design and technology at the same time, but I think technology will have a bigger part to play in the future with more efficient innovations.

Lisi: Sustainability and profitability are a challenge, and this is where we found an opportunity to make a difference. Actually, the site of our project was not perceived as livable 5 years ago. Today it is a very prestigious district, mainly because we didnt just put standards but we introduced a new lifestyle, especially for families. Most of our clients already had apartments in the center but were seeking an ecologically friendly area, green zones, public spaces, and other basic needs that became unattainable in cities.

Alliance: Basically, in hotels and residential, technological tools are helping us deliver environmentally friendly outcomes. Sustainability has also an important financial aspect to it, it is also about creating steady incomes, from our ventures. In fact, our clients will keep investing with us as long as we are assuring a return on their investments.

AD: What does Resilience mean to you? and how is it portrayed in your work?

ZHA: Resilience means a building that bounces back, with a certain strength. For sustainability, there are a bunch of techniques, technologies, a lot of checklists to say if its sustainable or not, but when it comes to resilience, its a completely different approach. What makes a city strong and resilient is actually the people that want to be in that space, and that are attracted to that area. A resilient urban entity is a place that people take pride in. If this doesnt exist, then the city will never be resilient nor sustainable. If you actually create a place that no one wants to be in, even if it follows all the sustainable checklists, it will not survive. It has to be a place where people want to be.

Lisi: We are a role-model for the city, showcasing how the private sector can make a change. Resilience is to say that we dont want to build on 80% of the land, we want to build on 20% of the land we are developing. This is how we make a change, in the culture and approach of the business, and contribute to the city by devoting more green spaces, while being a profitable company.

Alliance: We are creating landmarks that stand out and make the city different. Our goal is to differentiate our city from others, and our structures are conceived to cater to this urban entity. We create beautiful structures because the city needs innovations and needs attractive constructions. Whatever we are creating, we are not only thinking on the investment level but on a bigger futuristic scale.

AD: How are you introducing these relatively new ideas to clients?

ZHA: Just like any other architect, faced with a site and a certain allowable GFA (Gross floor area), we confront clients thatwant to maximize the exploitable areas. Our approach is based on proposing ways where a developer can get just as much through good design, and clever solutions rather than maximizing the GFA. That is not always convincing for the other party, thats why I think that we need better governmental regulations and incentives to back up our ideas. Aesthetically we have our signature, and we always try to provide a space that people can enjoy so that our intervention becomes part of that urban condition rather than a completely isolated work of architecture. In our project in Bratislava, where we have several residential towers on a garden site, the park is accessible to the general public. In fact, the private developerused our proposal, to his advantage, while negotiating the permissions with the city council.

Lisi: 6 years ago, persuading clients was a big challenge,and theproblem was actually explaining what this place will look like, several years later. In fact, its all about timing, the right product at the right place. For us, it was about being innovative and the first to deliver ecologically friendly areas with green zones near the city center. Along with the project, and within our territory, we have developed 2 schools, in order to create an educational hub. The main idea was to eliminate the need to move outside of the district,so we created everything within a walkable distance, like small stores, pharmacies, and kindergartens. Its a learning curve, and we are always adding some benefits to the district. For example, we started harvesting rainwater and added electrical chargers on the streets to incentivize people to buy electric cars.

Alliance:Architects often want toimagine something exceptional, that doesnt fit in the agenda of the developers. In our projects, we try to push for what the architect desires, because we believe that he is portraying the needs of the future tenants. We also try to compensate for building huge constructions in front ofmodestbuildings, by implementingplayful designsthat are keen on preserving the original panoramas.In all our projects, we create an important infrastructure of common spaces and we generate semi-public spaces on the ground floors. Our green spaces on the inside and outside are always accessible by the public. Environmentally friendly approaches are considered to be the major reason why some clients seek to invest in our projects.

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