Urban Cartography

There are some interesting links I've stumbled upon recently (a round-up of which is forthcoming), one worth some exploration is a site entitled Urban Cartography. The posts simply show collected imagery of a variety of informatics and other interesting mashups of data from around the globe. Not mapping in the traditional sense, these densely woven graphics provide some great inspiration for representation in ways that would make Edward Tufte proud (or sometimes cringe).








:: images via Urban Cartography

While many are specific and data-specific, including plans and architectural graphics, others delve into mapping the more whimsical. My favorite to day is the 'Mega Shark' which in our age of gigantism will soon pose imminent threats in such mundane activities as air travel.


:: images via Urban Cartography

On Weather

Via InfranetLab, a fascinating book that looks interesting is entitled '-arium: Weather + Architecture' spawned from a research investigation at the University of Toronto. With a cursory glance, it looks to be something of the same genus (at least in overall ideology) to that of Gissen's recent book Subnature - which provides a focus more on process and environmental ephemera than architectural product.


:: image via InfraNet Lab

A bit of background that sets the hook: "The dynamic, turbulent and unpredictable forces that comprise the weather are shared by economic cycles of production and consumption. We are at the cusp of an intriguing moment wherein the cycles of economics and weather have collided to instigate a new green economy. The consumptive aspects of ‘green’ have granted architecture a moment to explore its nemesis – instability and disorder – the key characteristics of weather... Composed of three sections – The Weather Report, The Weather Forecast, and The Weather Outlook – that respectively, research, design and theorize on weather and architecture, -arium offers a guide for both architectural designer and critics.

As we embrace a new fluid methodologies that incorporates chance and flexibility - uncertainty and process over time - weather seems a challenging and necessary topic to incorporate into our work, and a focus on the connections between weather and architecture makes perfect sense. Pick up a copy online here.

Terrain Vague

Via Death by Architecture, a recent call for papers for Terrain Vague: The Interstitial as Site, Concept, Intervention features an opportunity for work to be included in: "This collection of essays will focus on terrain vague—marginal, semi-abandoned space in or along the edge of the city—as abstract concept, specific locale, and subject of literary, architectural, or otherwise artistic intervention."


:: Detroit Urban Void - image via Planetizen

Definitely a topical subject as we investigate shrinking cities and reinvention of urban uses - so a chance to provide some context, whatever you call them: urban voids, landscapes of transgression, strange places, ruined, abandoned, potentials, or terrain vague...

The deadline for abstracts is 1 June 2010.
Completed essays will be due on 1 February 2011.