Researching the implications of downsizing the human species to better fit the earth.
Observations of snapping-based prey capture strategies of the Venus flytrap and mantis shrimp have inspired research to design materials with exotic and programmable functions. At AMOLF, researchers expanded this repertoire by demonstrating countersnapping, where a combination of geometrically nonlinear building blocks cooperate to suddenly shrink…
In the 1950’s, U.S. industry had firmly embraced the ideology of planned obsolescence and obsolesence of desirability to convince consumers they constantly needed to buy something new. Competing auto makers were building ever bigger and more stylised cars for growing families with baby boomer children.…
Architecture studio Wallgren Arkitekter and Swedish construction company BOX Bygg created the design tool Finch which can generate floor plans adapted to the constraints of a site. It allows architects to understand the potential of a specific building site, especially in terms of size and configuration. The Incredible…
Our series of Japanese Miniatures investigates the specific Japanese sensitivity for small as expressed in their love for things like bonsai, sushi, netsuke, and capsule hotels. Japan ‘knows’ things about shrinking that may help the human species embrace the desire for, or overcome hurdles to, becoming…
