The DAC in the BLOX
Architects statement: BLOX is designed as a city in a building. The goal of the architects was to create a meeting place full of life around the clock. BLOX is used in many different ways and has stirred up a lot of emotions.
There is a BLOX in Denmark and the UK.
Danes live in, work at, visit, drive, pedal or walk by BLOX because they live near the central canal of Copenhagen Havn (harbor). There are exhibits, conference rooms, a gym and private spaces. From outside it looks like a stack of blocks.
The first exhibit featured the future of space architecture.
The LUNARK habitat unfolds after landing, increasing its volume by 750%. This makes it compact during transport but spacious when the astronauts move in. This scale model illustrates how the habitat unfolds. The design is inspired by the Japanese origami tradition.
In the fall of 2020, Karl-Johan and Sebastian embarked on a 61-day simulation of a lunar missin in northen Greenland. A thousand kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, they lived isolated but comfortable in the 4.5 m2 LUNARK. Outside the experienced wind chill as low as -41oC and hurricane-force wind gusts. They chose northern Greenland because it is one of the few places on the planet that comes event remotely close to the extreme conditions found on the Moon.
The habitat can be folded up during transport and unfolded on the Moon. The shell is made of carbon fiber with a core of reusable thermoplastic and clad with solar panels facing the horizon. The load-bearubg structure is a lightweiht aluminum frame. The habitat has an oval shape to better withstand the low atmospheric pressure on the surface of the Moon.
The LUNARK habitat has been designed to cater to human well-being with the aim of making a Moon stay more than mere survival. The interior space is designed for optimal utilization of the full height of the pod, because low lunar gravity makes vertical movement effortless. This makes it possible to achieve 17 m3 of living space. The interior of the habitat is lined with soft textiles that improve the acoustics and thermal insulation while creating a sense of comfort and warmth. The colors are inspired by nuances from Denmark’s natural landscape.
SAGA has studied the psychological effects of bringing living organisms into space, including in the form of algae. They have conducted several projects to explore the possibility of utilizing the ability of algae to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. At the same time, algae are a fast-growing source of protein and important vitamins, making them a potential sustainable food source.
What are you willing to share?
Let nature move in
Our houses and gardens are unnecessarily well-tended. The number of imperiled species is growing. We no longer find dead insects stuck to our windshields in summer. The lawnmower is king. Our fences cry out for sealant.
Nature is something we control, and we don’t relax until our homes are completely sanitized. Of course, mice, rats and other pests aren’t welcome. And yes, hygiene is healthy, but mental hygiene is not. Pressure washers and Roundup tend to be used when they aren’t really needed, while suburban orderliness exacerbates the disorder in our ecosystem.
Let the power mower die and let half the garden go to seed! Ignore the protests of the neighbors – they’re wrong! Our cities should be full of weeds. The trees lining our streets should be larger and more numerous. Rainwater should water plants – in the sewers. We used to say: move the cities out into the countryside. Now it’s: move the countryside, the forest and the beach into the cities!
From Vandkkunsten’s manifesto “Lad Os” (Let’s). 2020
The greenhouse
Roosters and children playing among flowers and horse droppings, soil under our fingernails and a grassy meadow in the backyard. According to Vandkunsten, we should be spending more time outdoors, and nature should be invited into the house, the garden and city.
Vandkunsten seeks to build in tune with the nature and the landscape. This means minimizing energy consumption during and after construction. But it is just as much about quality of life. About creating structures that are less artificial and sterile. Vandkunsten wants to bring the atmosphere of the small, cozy, imperfect wooden cottage to everyday life. The question is, why do we surround ourselves with hard and cold materials in our everyday lives, and soft, natural surroundings when on vacation?
The greenhouse is built using old lattice windows. Explore the many different plant species or visit the guest room in the attic. Maybe it’s here where outdoors and indoors meet that happiness is to be found.
Simple living for a family of 2.
One needs color for design
Italicized text is from the displays.