When it comes to sports-cars, Audi is a modern day leader in design and performance. The recently unveiled Audi R8 is an example of creative engineering and attention to detail. This car is capable of 0-60 in 4.4 seconds produced by a 4.2 liter V8 engine at 420hp (the V10 model generates 525hp). Starting at $114,200, this car isn’t for everyone, which explains why Audi managed to report a %5 sales increase for 2008, a job well done considering other auto manufacturers are struggling to break even. The price tag is high and gladly so, because at an average 15mph fuel consumption rate we would all need extremely deep pockets to rocket trips to the grocery store. ]]> http://ruiduarte.com/audi-r8/feed 0 http://ruiduarte.com/ivote-election-voting-device http://ruiduarte.com/ivote-election-voting-device#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:13:59 +0000 rui http://ruiduarte.com/?p=415 Over at Core77.com they are hosting a design challenge for a voting booth. I decided to submit my entry this afternoon and feel it has a chance. For competition brief along with other entries and my submission: click here

I found this article on Dezeen.com regarding a shoe design by London Architect, Zaha Hadid. The shoe is designed for Melissa, a Brazilian brand.

-for more pictures and the full article click here-

photo: David Grandorge

The exhibit is located in Old City and expands on the collection at the Minima Modern Furniture Showroom. So if you’re in the neighborhood please check it out and send me your pictures and comments.

I especially enjoy the Brainiac bottle, because it makes me feel smarter just by looking at it. The drinks are made from a variety or organic ingredients, including “kinko biloba leaf extract”, “soy phosphatidylserine” and “red cabbage dye”. There is even a drink called Night Life that promotes “desire, reward, satisfaction and proper circulation”. Just don’t expect it to promote during the morning hours.

Has anyone tried any of the Function Drinks?

Small craft pilots usually have to store their planes in rented hanger spaces which are expensive, the Transition vehicle eliminates this need by allowing the pilot to drive home after flight. Also the limitations of what the FAA describes as a ”light-sport aircraft” are major design factors in the new prototype, such as maintaining the weight of the vehicle to less then 1,320 pounds. The weight limitation must factor in a light weight plane and also a road capable vehicle that can pass FAA and DMV standards. The Globe article by Scott Kirsner mentions the company’s struggle to obtain a license plate from the Department of Motor Vehicles which took 6 months because they, like the FAA, are not prepared to register this type of dual-purpose vehicle. The FAA also limits “light-sport aircraft” to only fly in fair weather making the Transition a better solution by allowing pilots to land on nearby airstrips during sudden occurring storms. Another advantage is that no matter where the Transition lands, the pilot has a road worthy vehicle to continue the journey.

The company claims 50 vehicles have already been pre-ordered for $198,000 and is currently looking for more investors. The Transition will be a  two-seater vehicle capable of 70-80 mph land speed and 120 mph max air speed, running on premium unleaded gasoline. Recently they were at a local airport testing the vehicle for high speed driving stability and intend on flight testing before the end of this year (perhaps they will invite me to witness the initial flight).

Terrafugai is doing something truly innovative with the Transition vehicle and maintaining focus even in today’s down economy. Let’s hope this brilliant idea really takes flight in the near future, as it could very well change the transportation industry much like the Wright Brothers have done.

images: www.terrafugia.com

In the last 4 weeks the prices started to decline noticeably, the market tanked, and the government signed a $700,000,000,000 bailout (don’t get me started). My take on gas prices is an obvious one, that many people made a ton of money because of pure economic uncertainty and used oil, a natural resource, as the culprit. Clearly we need to make better choices in order to maintain a balance between the human race and the environment, this was a wake-up call, but at what expense?

The inflated gas prices damaged many businesses in several aspects of production and transportation. Moreover it increased prices of common goods and caused consumers to make choices. Was this all necessary?

It remains to be seen how this mess caused by gas prices may change after the election, until then we can only be hopeful it doesn’t get any worse. Last night I did some math and determined every man, woman and child in the world would receive $104 from the $7 billion issued last week and perhaps that would make a greater difference (more selfishly that translates to $2292 for every member of the US population).

I personally don’t know how to Macgyver situations like the one we are in, other than using less fuel and spreading the word on being GREEN. And my knowledge of politics and economic terminology is rather limited as described above. So for now, fill you tank and smile with a sigh of relief, don’t change back into your Nascar driving ways, continue to leave your Hummer at home and get more exercise.

SHOUTOUT: I’m looking for more work.

The event, led by Museum Assistant Director, James Hall, covered the history of the building’s site since WWII and the characteristics of the new spaces. The five story building features a first level that was purposely designed to function while the rest of the Museum spaces are closed, providing a new “civic space” for the community. The first level includes the main entrance, gift shop, and auditorium. The second floor contains the student gallery and is finished with bare concrete floors and open ceilings that allow just about any type of exhibit to be accommodated, without worry of damaging floor, wall and ceiling finishes that may otherwise require replacement. Adjacent to the student gallery is an outdoor space, covered by the floor above. This space is a useful instrument to the understanding of how this modern building created a marriage between old and new. Looking around one can see exterior walls of buildings hundreds of years older. The featured main gallery is placed on the third level and is accessed from the first level by means of a three story escalator. Most visitors will begin by viewing the third level and then the student gallery on the second floor. The fourth and fifth levels are reserved for staff and RISD students.

On the exterior, the building is clad with a vibrant orange brick, curtainwall glass systems and metal panels. The brick represents the modernity of the project by not replicating the various shades of brick browns and reds on the neighboring buildings, and furthermore making it stand out from the already unique facades on the street. The majority of the glass is opaque using a spandrel glass that is illuminated at night from special lighting placed on adjacent RISD buildings. Silver metallic metal panels and window frames also define the contemporary age of building technology used to express a modern architecture. The interior of the building is minimalist in terms of finishes and maintains an honest use of materials ranging from naturally colored concrete, metals and white paint. The ceilings are left open to ease installing objects that require being suspended from above, leaving the constructs of the floors and mechanical equipment exposed in a dark grey monotone color.

The Chase Center is considered a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building by acquiring a silver certification. The LEED process is a check list of pre-design standards that foster environmentally sustainable construction practices through a better design knowledge of building materials and systems.

Circulation throughout the building is limited to either two elevators or the main escalator serving the third level (it only goes up). The stairs are used for emergency access only. The use of a main stair may have been a better way to explore the primarily public first three levels and provide the plan with a central focus that is commonly found in many museum layouts. Moreover, though the condensed planning of the building is more economic without a main stair, perhaps one of the egress stairs could have been dressed to serve the purpose. The interior spaces do lack a dominant architectural feature, however many of the exterior windows lead to dynamically unique picturesque views of the surrounding city that demand your attention.

On the street, the five story building is planar to its existing neighbors and does not interrupt the storyline of the many diverse historic building faces. The location on South Main street, a one way artery, forces the driver/pedestrian to view the building from a nearby point of view, the building height is well contained by the existing context.

I found the jewel of the Chase Center to be the exterior spaces created on three sides of the site. To the north (right from pictures shown) a hardscape courtyard is formed as entry plaza and public space. Behind the building is the exterior space from the Student Gallery on the second floor. And beyond that exterior space are two connections to the adjacent streets that truly define the charm of living in Providence, a modern city, and experiencing the vernacular of its history. Seeing old and new brick facades side by side providing the contrast of an ever-evolving urban fabric is what architecture is all about!

[svgallery name="chace"]

VW has relied on its limited model numbers for many years, and up until recently had not produced a new model until the 2003 Touareg which introduced an SUV to the line-up. The Touareg seemed to be a response to the US market and its love affair with sport utility vehicles. A smaller SUV, the Tiguan followed in 2007. Little did they know that rising oil prices would soon limit sales of low mileage vehicles, primarily SUVs.

Recently I had my eye on purchasing a new Scirocco since I heard back in 2006 that the model was being re-designed (Mk3) and considered for the 2009 model year. Well it seems like the first Scirocco has been released in Europe and may not be available in the US because of competitive fear it may destroy US sales of the GTI (a slightly similar VW). This news is rather unfair to many VW-loyalists flooding forum and blog sites with comments and frustrations regarding the car company’s misled plans for the much anticipated Scirocco. Instead VW released a completely new model for the US called the Routan, a very typical looking mini-van, and hired Brooke Shields to be the spokesperson.

Ideally the Scirocco was my top choice for a new car. Moreover, since the redesign of the Jetta (Mk5) a few years ago that looks like a half-German Corolla, it seems VW has lost my interest in staying loyal to the company. This may reflect my now close to forty-something taste for car design and anything less then deep pocket spending attitude, however it also emphasizes a shift in today’s corporate market to adapt to economic trends. It was far from my radar VW would come out with a mini-van this year and it turns out they also have a pick-up truck near ready for the line.

Is it marketing genius or are global companies afraid to take risks in the US with ideas and products that are outside the everyday norm?

source: CAS