Photo Analysis

For our bathroom remodel project, we had to use a color scheme from nature as inspiration. I selected this National Geographic photo of the Serengeti in Tanzania. The photographers at National Geographic are quite skilled, and therefore this photo demonstrates many qualities that make it appealing.

First of all, it utilizes the rule of thirds. The bottom third is composed of the grass. The middle third is composed of the trees, fog, and mountains. Lastly, the top third is composed of the clouds. This element helps to make the photo quite balanced.

This photo also creates contrast between the linear, horizontal orientation, and the organic lines created by the tree branches.

More contrast is created through the light colors of the sky and the harsh darkness of the trees. However, the layering effect created by the fog, trees, and mountains helps to make the photo harmonious.

Unusual Materials

       When most people think of Styrofoam, they think of the stuffing in boxes or food and beverage containers. In reality, Styrofoam has many uses besides being a disposable material. Since its development in the 20th century, many people have realized Styrofoam’s positive qualities and utilized it for projects such as earthquake-proof Styrofoam dome homes.

Styrofoam is a man-made product, invented in 1941 by Ray McIntyre (Dow Chemical Company, 2012). Styrofoam is actually the name trademarked by the Dow Chemical Company of extruded polystyrene foam, a material created to be insulating and buoyant. In fact, Styrofoam was first used by the U.S. Coast Guard in the creation of several watercrafts because of its buoyancy and water resiliency (Dow Chemical Company, 2012). Over time, this military grade material came to be a household item, and has found various new uses.

Unfortunately, Styrofoam has been targeted by many environmental groups as being a hazard to human health, as well as the environment. In 1986, the EPA reported the process of making polystyrene as the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste, both fluid and solid (Earth Resource Foundation, 2012). The Earth Resource Foundation (2012) also argues against the use of Styrofoam because it is made with petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. Because of these reasons, cities like Taiwan, Portland, and Orange County have outlawed polystyrene foam (Earth Resource Foundation, 2012).

Those on the other side of the argument present the claim that Styrofoam leaves a smaller environmental footprint when one considers its entire lifecycle (Reynolds Consumer Products, 2012). Compared to paper plates, Styrofoam plates use 60% less physical material, generate 50% less greenhouse gas emissions, and require 50% less energy to make  (Reynolds Consumer Products, 2012).

Clever individuals at The International Dome Home Company took these positive qualities into account, and developed affordable, earthquake resistant Styrofoam homes in Japan. The company emphasizes the many advantages of the dome home. For example, its great insulation would reduce energy costs (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). The dome home is also pretty durable for being made of Styrofoam. Unlike wood or iron, it won’t get eaten by termites or rust (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). The combination of structural stability along with Styrofoam’s light weight and shock impact make it perfect for an earthquake-prone region like Japan.

The International Dome Home Company also emphasizes the ease and modularity of the dome homes. They claim that one can be assembled by three to four people within seven days (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). This makes the product convenient for consumers and eliminates labor costs. Another bonus of self-assembly is that the consumers can create their own layout with several pre-fabricated Styrofoam pieces that they put together.

Considering environmental complaints about Styrofoam, The International Dome Home Company has ensured that the dome homes pass Japan’s strictest building codes (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). While the making of Styrofoam still produces waste, society must bear in mind that the homes are formaldehyde free, their assembly does not produce waste, and their construction does not cause any deforestation (Japan Dome Home Co., 2012). Overall, the Styrofoam dome homes are a very efficient alternative to traditional building materials.

It is amazing to see how everyday materials can be used in such unusual ways. Only time will tell to see if Styrofoam will continue to be a material used in interiors, or if its environmental footprint will prove it to be too costly to continue using. Society is innovative, however, and will continue to find newer and stranger materials to use.

References

Earth Resource Foundation. (2012). Polysterene Foam Report. Retrieved from: http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html 

Japan Dome Home Co. (2012) The Superior Characteristics of the Dome Home. Retrieved from: http://www.i-domehouse.com/characters.html

Reynolds Consumer Products. (2012). Facts on Foam. Retrieved from: http://www.hefty.com/info/facts- on-foam.aspx 

The Dow Chemical Company. (2012). Invention of Styrofoam. Retrieved from: http://building.dow.com/about/story.htm

Design Expo 2012

Last Tuesday was Texas Tech's annual Design Expo! It's always exciting to go each year and check out all the cool vendors and latest design innovations.

There were a lot of vendors this year specializing in porcelain tiles. Porcelain tiles are a popular option for a floor or wall finish because it's durable and easy to clean. We were shown several photos of the tiles used in rooms and they looked great! They were even used on the exterior walls of a restaurant. I didn't know that porcelain was such a multifunctional material. I always associated it with delicate porcelain dolls, so it was interesting to discover its high durability.

This vendor also had some neat office furniture that would have been perfect for our last studio project. I really like a table that had speakers and electrical components integrated into it, making it a perfect table for a video conference room or something of that nature.

And of course, who doesn't like free candy???

Campus Materials

This week I went on a hunt around campus to find several different uses for materials.

Seating: Library

This orange fabric has to be quite durable to withstand all of the students coming and going all day!

Art: Library

The canvas is fiber based, though I couldn't quite tell if the art itself was. It appears to be a print.

Flooring: Library

This carpet also has to be heavy duty to withstand all of the heavy traffic. The muted color and pattern is appropriate so that dirt does not show up as easily.

Wall covering: English Building

A sort of wallpaper is used here to give a plaster look to the building.