Strange creatures walking on the beach driven by the wind

Theo Jansen is a Dutch artist who creates Strandbeests, structures made out of plastic tubes and old lemonade bottles that are able to walk on the beach, driven by the wind.
I wonder if this still can be called lowtech. At least, he uses low tech materials, but he combines it with very hightech thinking. And he ends up with very poetic creatures. An intriguing and sometimes funny talk by Theo Jansen at TED, but I still don't get how this works.

Alternative building materials

In some cases people need to look for alternative construction materials due to lack of common materials or lack of money to buy these materials. But these examples can also be inspiring for us, to think out of the box even when we have the opportunity or the money for common materials. A slide show, by Studio H, with many examples of use of alternative building materials. Unfortunately without oral explanation, but the short text below the slide show is informative, as it points out some of the pros and cons of reuse of unusual materials as building materials.

Creating change by teaching design

A TED talk on teaching design in a rural community in the US in order to create change. A very inspiring approach by Emily Pilloton. She and her team of Project H Design uses design for humanity, habitats, health and happiness. More information on the website of Project H Design.
How could we integrate this approach in the education of our students?

How complexity leads to simplicity

How to deal with the fact that everything is connected to everything?
Eric Berlow: How complexity leads to simplicity Video on TED.com
Eric Berlow presents an interesting approach in this TED talk, but in 3 minutes he can only give a start to his concept. Might be applicable to sustainability problems.


More in depth information can be found on Eric Berlow's website. By the way a visually nice website.

Get Zero: Metropolis's Next Generation Design Competition

How can forward thinking-design transform backwards-looking buildings? The starting point for an interesting architectural competition to transform a typical 1960s office building in LA. More information on Worldchanging: Bright Green.

Why not import this idea to Belgium? So many backwards-looking buildings. 

Green roofs in Antwerp

Just decided: from February 2011 on in the city of Antwerp, Belgium, all flat roofs, new or renovated (with building permission) will have to be green roofs. A good way to buffer rain water and to reduce the urban heat island effect.

Playpumps: kid energy

Kid energy might sound like child labor, but this is completely different. Seen at Worldchanging.com: harnessing the energy of playing kids to pump up water: that is what the Southafrican merry-go-round of Roundabout does. Such a simple, but nice example of a lowtech, sustainable and beautiful technique.