3-D_Kube

I think if I were "released" from whatever constraints the architecture department has on me while still having an impact on the environment, I would probably choose to design habitats. First, a little background. I am obsessed with the outdoors and hate the city life. I moved out to a more rural area when I was young and frequent trips to the BWCA keep me content. I have come to both love animals as well as love hunting them. That may sound like it contradicts itself but I believe that if you respect the environment and give back to it while appreciating the sport of the hunt, it is easy to see that that is, in fact, quite true. One of the most progressive movements in the hunting world is providing sustainable habibat for wild animals. This might mean planting trees, planting foodplots, planting a specific or diverse range or trees, or using a controlled burn. The idea of designing a landscape to suit the maximum number of animals as well as human inhabitants really intrigues me. There is a plethora of different options when considering how to design a landscape. One must consider the region, the climate, the typical weather patterns, and the different species of animals as well as plants just to name a few. By considering all of these and more, one can design a landscape that can provide habitat as well as human development. I picked up last Sunday's newspaper and flipped to the outdoor section, which I look forward to reading every weekend, only to find something disturbing. Minnesota's moose population is declining at an alarming rate. Although not completely certain, researchers believe that this is due to broken up habitat poorly managed. This is just one of many instances where the right habitat planning could maximize native animal populations while still inviting development. This topic, I believe, is much overlooked due to the increasing demand for housing and the effects of urban sprawl. In Minnesota a trend has occurred in which the "baby-boomers" have homesteaded cabins in the northwoods and in turn, have broken up animal habitat. I believe that with the right knowledge and planning, we can live happily in an environment that is lush with a array of different species of animals and plants.

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Some Pictures:
1.) The link below shows you an image of someone holding the earth in their hands. I think this is an excellent example that shows the importance of human intervention with the environment. It tells us that it is our responsibility to take care of it and coexist with it.

http://www.umanitoba.ca/campus/physical_plant/media/sustainability.jpg">http://www.umanitoba.ca/campus/physical_plant/media/sustainability.jpg">http://www.umanitoba.ca/campus/physical_plant/media/sustainability.jpg

2.) The link below shows 4 separate pictures of people researching the environment. I believe that this is critical to discovering better methods and persuading legislature to enact laws to protect the environment.

http://www.engin.umich.edu/alumni/engineer/06F/images/feature_GrahamCombined.jpg">http://www.engin.umich.edu/alumni/engineer/06F/images/feature_GrahamCombined.jpg">http://www.engin.umich.edu/alumni/engineer/06F/images/feature_GrahamCombined.jpg

3.) The link below shows an individual recylcling glass bottles. I think recycling is critical to maintaining the earths limited resources by getting the maximum use out of what would normally have been trash occupying space in a landfill.

http://www.presidio.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7921EE23-4659-4FCC-8363-E048E47630DE/9637/image004.jpg

4.) The below link shows a landscape scattered with wind turbines. Alternative energy is crucial to living sustainably and reducing the affects of global warming.

http://www.benettontalk.com/windpower%201.gif">http://www.benettontalk.com/windpower%201.gif">http://www.benettontalk.com/windpower%201.gif

Some quotes:

"We have not inherited the world from our forefathers -- we have borrowed it from our children."

"The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children."

"The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value."

"That's human nature. Nobody does anything until it's too late."

- Michael Crichton

"There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed."

- Mohandas K. Gandhi

Some Songs:
We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands

One World
- Lucas Miller

Clear Blue Skies- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Traffic Jam- James Taylor

The 3 Rs
- Jack Johnson

Posted by kube0035 at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As I have stated in the previous entry, I live in a city called columbus. Many if not almost everyone has not really heard of this town yet it is just north of the twin cities on a prime piece of real estate just west of Interstate 35. However, 6 monthes ago had someone asked me where I lived I would have to say Forest Lake; or more specifically, columbus township. It all started about 2 years ago when the City of Forest Lake began looking to the west side of Interstate 35 to expand its economic boundaries. Columbus township is located in what would be called the freeway district. When Forest Lake took the issue to court and tried to annex Columbus township to obtain the freeway district real estate and economic boost for the city, Columbus township residents realized that in doing this, they would be excluded from the benefits of the economic prosperity if in fact they did live outside the actual city limits. The courts ruled in favor of Columbus Township and a movement was started to try to turn Columbus Township into a city in order to further prevent encroachment of the nearby cities. On September 22, 2007, it was finalized; Columbus Township was now The City of Columbus. Prior to it becoming a city, Columbus Township had prided itself on a place that was rural, yet close to the twin cities. An area that is near Carlos Avery Wildlife Management area. An area that will remain that way because it was backed by legislation; providing zoning restrictions, minumum 5 acre parcel for each house, etc. But when Columbus became a city, all this was changed. The first thing that was established was zoning changes to the areas closest to the interstate. Following that change, a harness racing track and casino company began looking at Columbus for its multi-million dollar track and casino locale. And in this previous spring, construction took place. This is one issue that I do not agree with. It seems as though as a nearby city expands, it has a ripple affect outwards. Now a once rural area will soon become a sprawling urban area. I dont think I need to mention the things that follow casinos. This is exactly what residents of the city do not want. It almost seems as though the city officials are slowing trying to urbanize this rural expanse. If you look at the website for the city, even the logo and banner for the website seems to highlight the fact that we are undergoing change. It shows an Interstate winding through a wilderness. Is that honestly appealing to anyone? It bothers me on so many levels. Another action in which I do not agree with is an issue involving Carlos Avery WMA. There is a parcel of land that backed up to the WMA and was worth a substantial amount of money. Its owner, interested in keeping the land the way it is, offered to sell it for much less than what it was worth to the MN DNR to expand Carlos Avery WMA. It was approved at every level of government except the county and city. Why you ask? Because the County and City saw it as an oppurtunity to develop. Or should I say expand their taxpayer base. This I think goes against everything that the Township stood for and what its residents want.

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When I think about flow and transformation through a city there are two terms that come to mind: urban revitilization and urban sprawl. These are two terms that are in a sense opposites yet still have much in common. Both occur over a given time interval and much for the same reasons. Urban sprawl most simply put is expanding outwards from and "urban" center. This in most cases is a small families moving into the suburbs creating a demand for housing. The creation of such housing sparks large developments with the ideal in mind that every family will have a house that looks quite similar to their neighbors and a yard that is lush, green and bigger than that of what they previously owned in the city. To me this seems rediculous and repititious. If you take a look at this picture of a suburb of Las Vegas you might get an idea of what i mean(Blog Promt #1 Image). Urban Revitilization most simply put is inward movement of a population to an "urban" center. This typically occurs with single families, couples or individuals who seek to move closer to the urban centers for, in most cases, work. Having grown up in the city of St. Paul and having moved out to a rural area North of the Twin Cities, I have been able to witness urban sprawl. It seems to follow the freeway systems and expand outwards. I have been able to witness the flow and expansion of businesses, the zoning changes and large developments that seem to pop up overnight. When I first moved to a rural area in what was considered a township, it was not far from a freeway. It didnt take long until zoning ordinances changed, new businesses appeared and the "freeway district" was created. The small township I lived in was forced to become a city in order to avoid annexation from the ever-expanding city nearby. This flow and energy, although not directly related to Andy Goldworthy's work, seems to have some connection to his basis for his works. In his movie, Rivers and Tides, he explains how he is inspired by the movement, energy and flow of the natural processes of nature. I believe that this is much related to the nature of human beings to want to fulfill their dreams of settling down in whatever part of a landscape that suits them best. In most cases this means moving in or out of an urban center. This natural flow of people and/or families produces the cities, suburbs and landscapes that we see today.

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