Tuesday, September 15, 2009

What is Life Hacking?


Life hacks are the tools or processes that are used to organise and filter information to increase productivity and essentially make life easier.

Some interesting links:

43 folders
Life Hacker
Lifehack
Productivity 501
You 2.0 - A documentary on life hacking (trailer below)






What is Mashup?

When several data sources are combined, a new product is created - a mashup. The concept can be applied to music, video, media as well as databases.

Below is an example of a mashup.

Life Hacking and Architecture

A mind map of the term was created to aid in the understanding of the concept:



Life hacking applied to architecture could be interpreted as the organisation of people or things. Perhaps the circulation of a building or system, as well the classification of the various users and objects:

Understanding how cities and places are able to affect or control the flow of people.



Places such as train stations or airports:



However, life hacking could also be applied in a psychological way as well. Similar to how marketing influences the experience of a supermarket:

Mashup and Architecture - Physical & Aesthetics

A mind map of the term was created to aid in the understanding of the concept:



Through this, the mashup concept might be able to be applied to architecture in several ways.

In a physical and aesthetic way, various styles of architecture and different typologies can be incorporated to create a new building:

For example:


ANZ World Headquarters, Melbourne, Australia.

A hybrid functional program may also be used:For example:

Tour Signal, Paris, France - Jean Nouvel.


Tour Signal, Paris, France - Jean Nouvel.

Or various materials could be used - or even a new product made of several materials can be integrated into the building's design:

For example:

LitraCon.

Mashup and Architecture - Conceptual

Mashup processed could also be used in a conceptual way. An innovative combination of existing tools could be used to produce architecture:
Several professions could collaborate to produce new architectural spaces. These could include professions that have experience with architecture, as well as new professions - bringing new ideas and concepts.For example:

Gaudi Stool - Studio Geenen

Or several architects could be engaged to design parts of an urban structure that functions as a whole, but maintains individual identities:For example:

QV Melbourne, Australia.

QV Melbourne, Australia.

Mashup and Architecture - Analysis

The mashup concept could perhaps be most useful, however, in the analysis of existing sites. A combination of data could be used to express and understand the context in new ways:

Transportation Alterations

Flinders Street Overpass, Melbourne, Australia.

Slussen - Life Hacking & Mashup

At first glance, Slussen seems like a great messy roundabout. But perhaps the concepts of life hacking and mashup may aid in better understanding the site as well as providing some new thoughts for the future of the site.


How the process of life hacking might apply to Slussen:

And how Slussen could be a mashup in relation to circulation, routes and transport:

Also, in relation to services:

Slussen Circulation - Analysis

Spacescape was commissioned by the City of Stockholm to analyse the five design proposals for Slussen presented on 24 October 2008. The five design teams were: Atelier Nouvel + Habiter Autrement, BIG, Foster & Partners + Berg, Nyrens, WingÄrdh + Tema.

The report also includes analysis of Slussen in its current form.



Slussen is characterised as weakly locally rooted. This means that the local city life is very sparse.


Today, Slussen has many pathways.



Overall, the Skeppsbron is the most utilised route.


The current density of Slussen is relatively low compared to its surrounds.

Invigning av Slussen

Video watch here.

Slussen Circulation - Steam Train

Video link here.

Slussen Circulation

Slussen Circulation - Sodermalmstorg



Slussen Circulation - Bus

Slussen Circulation - Tunnelbana

Slussen Circulation - People

Slussen Circulation

Slussen Circulation - Timetable Analysis

Bus and metro timetable data available via the internet could be used to analyse the traffic flow of the area.


Entered into excel, this data could be helpful to understand the complex circulation requirements Slussen has.


Graphed cumulatively, it is possible to gain a better understanding of Slussen and its users.

Slussen - Levels

Slussen - Sound Mashup

Slussen - Video Mashup

Slussen - Picture Mashup 1

Slussen International Airport.


Slussen Opera House.


Stockholm Archipelago - Slussen Island.


Slussen Community Garden.

Slussen - Picture Mashup 2

Slussen - Traffic Chaos.


Slussen - Water City.


Slussen - Green Park.