the art of construction: June 2013

The Golden Ratio in Art, Architecture and Nature

I have read books on the subject and traveled the world to see examples of the ratio expressed in great art and architecture. It is always fascinating to see - and it is far more common than one might realize. Here are a few images, links, and a video about the subject. Enjoy.

The Golden Ratio in Art and Architecture is a web site by Samuel Obara is a great overview of the math with examples and visuals that provide quality demonstrations.

Check out these images that express the ratio:

The Pathenon

how the rectangle expresses a spiral

an easy way to draw it

a good book on the subject

Building America Solutions Center

http://basc.pnnl.gov/ is the place to start your research on energy efficiency, building science and best practices for residential construction and design. Per the site intro:

The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program strives to develop integrated energy systems that dramatically reduce annual energy use and peak energy loads in existing and new homes while also improving overall building quality, comfort, safety, and durability.

Check out the guides, CAD files, details and references for more information. Here are a few images from the site to get your imagination going:

compare advanced and traditional framing techniques

what a well insulated, vented attic looks like

part 1 of flash and batt insulation system

design details based on your climate zone

There are many options and details to choose from and this site can teach a novice and an experienced builder a thing or two about integrated best practices for affordable and energy efficient construction. Explore and share!

Solar Impulse, St. Louis & The Sunflower+ Project

The Solar Impulse team came to down and included our Sunflower+ Project in their report on St. Louis. Here is a photo of the plane, followed by their video.

Sunflower+ Update

Our Sunflowers are growing nicely. We received a soil analysis and there are no environmental concerns on our site. We will finish up our wood bench tops in the next few weeks, among other tasks, and continue to monitor growth. Check out the pix below and compare with previous posts to see the growth rate.

We're also working on signage for the site, developing our web site, and developing a program to share with interested tour groups.

Trim Castle, County Meath

The oldest Norman castle still standing in Ireland. 800 year old masonry work is pretty remarkable. We took a tour that made its way to the roof of the castle keep, the chapel, food stores and more. Some might recognize the place as one of the sets used in 'Braveheart.' Photos by me unless captioned otherwise.

County Meath

Station House Hotel

The Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin

It is no secret that I love buildings and books. One of the great combinations of the two is the Long Room in the old library of Trinity College, Dublin. I just returned from the place and here are a few images from my visit.