Category Archives: LIVING ENVIRONMENT

CREATIVE STREET DESIGN

Paris, France, Studio 5•5
https://www.designboom.com/design/wave-themed-street-signage-system-by-studio-5%E2%80%A25-encourages-parisians-social-distance-05-26-2020/


The wave-themed street signage system is a visual reminder to continue adhering to social distancing guidelines as cities are starting to reopen and it can help to organize pedestrians and queue areas. It is both colorful and beautiful yet uniform so everyone can understand and recognize it. The theme is influenced by the historical and cultural identity that Parisians can relate to, the Coat of Arms of the city of Paris “paris blason” which is simply a ship on the water as well as the Paris Blason motto ‘fluctuat nec mergitur!’ which means ‘beaten by the waves, but not sunk!’ reminding people that this city has gone through a lot and together they can pass this storm.

Foot Operated Elevators

Bangkok, Thailand, Seacon Square Mall
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-coronavirus-thailand-mall-lift-footpedal-12753862


Malls, workspaces, apartment buildings, and many similar structures are usually used or occupied by an enormous amount of people. This density creates a problem in the building amenities that is used the most. These amenities usually require touching and are constantly being used. A mall in Thailand has transformed all elevator buttons into foot operated pedals, this has not only reduced the risk, but also saved time and eliminated worries about risk of infection.

TALK #9 | LIVING ENVIRONMENT

Taylor Cain, Director, Housing Innovation Lab, City of Boston
Wandy Pascoal, Housing Innovation Lab Design Fellow, City of Boston
Monique Fuchs, Associate Vice President, Innovation + Entrepreneurship, Wentworth

Taylor Cain and Wandy Pascoal Titleslide

In the FutureLab Talk #9 Monique Fuchs [Wentworth] welcomes Taylor Cain and Wandy Pascoal [City of Boston] to discuss some of the housing challenges Boston is facing such as: Aging in place, mixed use housing, multi-generational housing, navigating socio-economic divisions and challenges to secure housing and current regulations. They also discuss an ongoing project the FutureDecker, which is re-envisioning the Triple Decker as a housing/living unit. This project took place in collaboration with Prof. John Ellis’s Architecture studio at Wentworth in the Spring of 2019 and will be expanded through other workshops in the City.

Personal Greenhouse

Amsterdam, Netherlands
www.timeout.com/news/this-amsterdam-restaurant-is-opening-private-greenhouses-for-socially-distant-dining-050520/amp

Criteria used to assess innovation: social growth and new norms 

A restaurant in Amsterdam called Mediamatic has found a solution for their customers to go out on the terrace to dine. They created personal greenhouses that can hold up to three people who all live together. These greenhouses are made to be reserved in advance. The servers use a long wooden board to give the customers their food while they wear personal protective equipment (PPE). This gives customers the opportunity to get out of their house and enjoy a nice meal while keeping them as well as the workers safe. The restaurant is working towards making larger greenhouses for households of more than 3 people. Using this innovation to help socially distance it could be implemented within the restaurant and in many other settings.