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Scientific Reflections On a Work of Art

Submitted by Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez on

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For many years now we were sure that art and science were poles apart, two categories belonging to two different tree branches. Is not until recently when artists and scientists all around the world have reclaimed that, probably, art and science are different branches but from the same tree and thereby they are complimentary. This is the only way to comprehend the artistic work of Sarabel Santos Negrón, a Puerto Rican artist that started her early studies at the Central School of Visual Arts and that presently holds a bachelor in painting with a degree in history of art from the University of Puerto Rico, besides a master in art with specialization in museology from Caribbean University at Bayamón.

Growth of a Research and Design Studio

Submitted by Edlyn García La Torre on

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Buildings and designs are appearing to have more curves, and thanks to technology and digital programs that allow parametric design, architecture appears to be more organic. The constant search for blurring the line between the natural environment and the built environment is increasingly evident. However, it cannot be based on image, that subjective label that dominates our culture when thinking about architecture. In a lecture given at Berkeley by Janine Benyus, founder of the Biomimicry Institute, she emphasizes the importance in making design decisions. Why the curve, that angle, orientation, materials, or systems?

Looking at Science and Technology through the eyes of Design

Submitted by Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez on

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History clearly tells us that science, technology, engineering and mathematics have constantly crossed their paths with art and design. Let’s think about Leonardo Da Vinci in the 15th century, most of his projects showed an equal application of technical and artistic knowledge. After centuries, during which governments addressed their attention to the arts (e.g. kings and popes supporting Michelangelo), the Industrial Revolution, started at the end of the 18th century, moved the attention toward technical disciplines as main tools for economic growth. Therefore, the acronym STEM was coined to refer to four principal disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The urban space is a world of (smell)stories

Submitted by Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez on

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A sense is a physiological capacity of organisms that provide data for perception. Human senses, therefore, are the physical receptors through which every person experiences the environment, either natural or artificial. Humans, as with all animals, are continually in a sensory intake mode to process the world around them. There are five traditionally recognized human senses: touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. However, for architects and urban planners, only two of these senses, touch and sight, normally are taken into account for their designs. Natalie Bouchard is a designer and researcher exploring olfacoception, the sense of smell, for the design of better places. With a B.A.

Exploring the Brain Frontiers to Define the Order of Beauty

Submitted by Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez on

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Currently Dr. Celia Andreu-Sánchez is associate professor at the Department of Audiovisual Communication and Publicity of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. In addition, she is one of the principal investigators at Neuro-Com Research Group where she analyzes the advantages of neuroscience for the art of communication and perception. Dr. Andreu-Sánchez is also researcher at División de Neurociencias of the Pablo de Olavide University in Sevilla. In this interview Dr. Andreu-Sánchez deepens on some concepts that drives our manner to appreciate and evaluate beauty, and certain implications upon design and architecture.

Lidia Badarnah: 'Nature provides a huge source of solutions'

Submitted by Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez on

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Lidia Badarnah is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Building Technology Program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Badarnah obtained her Ph.D in Biomimetics in Architecture at Delft University of Technology. She has specialized in biologically-inspired strategies for building envelopes adaptation and recently has developed a methodology for the generation of novel biomimetic design concepts. The crossover between architecture and scientific concepts is evident in Badarnah's work that ranges from biology to thermodynamics. She shared with us her insights intertwining the theoretical anxieties of her investigation and the future of architectural design.

Interview with Angela Ruiz - Architectural Innovator

Submitted by Edlyn García La Torre on

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Ángela Ruiz is an architect, professor and researcher from Spain. She is currently developing her PhD in ‘Architecture of the extremes, Desert architecture ’(about Development and Sustainability in desert areas, working on bioclimatic approach in desert architecture), and participating in different research groups about Innovative Education projects and Hypermedia field. Since 2006, Angela has been professor in IE University, and also in other universities such as Polytechnic University of Madrid and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, as Associate Professor .

José Juan Terrasa: Architect and Ecologist

Submitted by Wilfredo Mendez Vazquez on

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In addition to his essay, Molecular Landscape, we spoke to Architect Terrasa-Sole,  who is also a professor at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, about the implications of this proposed paradigm. He offers a more in-depth look into the concepts and benefits of his theory as well as the scope of the research.

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