A Meeting with Ayrel from Sustainability

Today my partner Courtney and I trekked through the cold and fresh snowfall from upper campus to the University of Utah Sustainability office.  There we met with a woman named Ayrel, (pronounced Ariel,) to discuss our ideas for creating a visual pamphlet or map to show the Universities progress on converting lollipop lights and other light-pollution contributing fixtures to Night Sky Association-approved fixtures.  We thought that this would be educational for students and staff, letting them see where our university stands and where we need to improve.

Ayrel liked our idea, but she did have some very helpful input that gave us new inspiration and ideas.  She felt that our idea was educational, but not provocative.  Since many of the students and staff on this university cannot do much to directly affect light pollution on our campus, she suggested that we provide a tangible means for individuals to impact light pollution in their own homes, businesses, etc.  WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

From this, we (Courtney and I,) decided that we want to change our project back to an illustrated, easy to understand, informational poster that exposes the negative effects light pollution has on cities, the sky, other species, and our humanity.  We are thinking of using posters because students may not want to pick up a pamphlet and read it.  Whereas, a large poster that is plastered in largely trafficked areas will be easier to look at.  This poster would also include animations and directions for people that would demonstrate ways to reduce light pollution in their own

Another idea Courtney and I have is to post small reminders/stickers in the bathrooms and classrooms around campus that remind students and staff to turn off lights if they are the last one in the room.  This has already been done in the biology building on campus.  Small, handmade neon signs in the bathrooms are posted on the door leading out of the restroom reminding people to shut the light off if they are the last one inside.  It always reminds me to do so!

For my last update, I would like to share our status on applying transitional fixtures to the lollipop lights (in an attempt to reduce light pollution until funds are raised to replace them.)

Unfortunately, there are many reasons why this is not feasible.  In our response from the Lighting Specialist Bill Leach, he detailed the reasons why using a transitional method would not work for us.  Not only could using heat-resistant paint on the lights melt the acrylic fixtures, but the paint could potentially lead to premature lamp failure.  Modifying a fixture might also degrade a light’s UL rating, which can leave the University liable for any injuries that might occur due to a fixture failure.  Changing a light fixture also changes its photo-metrics, aesthetics, and efficiency.  Adding an actual hood or hat onto the lamp would cause similar problems.

The good news is, these lollipop lights are expected to be changed within the next year!  YAY!

That is all for today, more updates to come soon.

Ashley

For Lease or Sale

In my ventures around Salt Lake City this past week, I could not help but notice a disturbing number of empty buildings that were for Lease and for Sale in parts of downtown Salt Lake and South Salt Lake.

Though I was unable to take many pictures as I drove (I am not the best driver and this is illegal anyway,)

I was able to scope out at least 12 different empty buildings.  A few of these buildings had beautiful architecture from earlier in the twentieth century.  Some of the locations of these buildings were right downtown, and it did not make sense to me as to why they were not filled with tenants or some sort of business.  The first photograph was taken right at about 400 S. and between Main and State Street.  It was a beautiful building with small lion statues guarding its entrance, as well as a bold red door as the entry.  It was an olive green paint over brick, with cream accents.  I would live in that building had it been used for affordable housing.  I find it disappointing that this structure sits on such a lively block, empty and serving no purpose.

In the second photograph, the pictured building is located on 700 E. and about 2200 S.  When I began to address why this building was empty, I was already able to give a good diagnosis.  First of all, it nears a very heavily trafficked freeway entrance/exit off of I-80 East.  Secondly, the walkways here are not inviting, and there is no obvious parking near this building, nor is there a bike rack.  Perhaps this area would have had a better chance to prosper if it were not for the huge freeway ripping through the residential area, connecting the residential area to the business district of this area.  I will never know who designed this city, but they did not do a very good job of it.

Something I hope to do one day is give a meaning and purpose back to these older, beautiful buildings that can be found empty all over Downtown Salt Lake.  Whether they be changed into affordable housing, a locally owned business, a place for artists to collaborate and work, or some sort of social place, it is right that these buildings have life to them.  It is senseless to continue building new buildings and expanding the city outwardly when we have so much potential and space that is there for us to use NOW.

I intend to photograph (with a better quality camera) more of these empty buildings as I see them through out the city.

Those are my thoughts for now, thanks for reading.

A. Ikegami

Observations from Praxis Lab Lecture December 2nd, 2014

During last weeks lecture my professor had us watch a case study on the city of Ann Harbor, Michigan.  This case study was a documentary filmed by a student who was studying and identifying trends that linked the happiness of city-goers and the city itself.  What makes a city successful?

Here are the qualities that we observed about Ann Harbor, Michigan that make it such an enjoyable, habitable place:

• There is efficient lighting during hours of darkness
• Many historic buildings with authentic architecture
• Widened, pedestrian friendly sidewalks
• Narrow streets with slowed traffic
• Less stop lights, more stop signs (contributes to slowed traffic flow)

When individuals (natives to the city as well as others,) were asked what they liked about Ann Harbor, these were common responses:

• Street names that identified the place
• LOCALLY OWNED restaurants, boutiques, shops, bakeries, cafes, bars, etc.
• Visual Diversity
• Shops with large windows for passerby observation
• Restaurant plaquards
• Things to read
• Places to sit
• Restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating
• Lights/Decor
• Trees and plants

When individuals asked what they disliked about a place, these were their common responses:

• Big, open spaces with no architecture
• Uninteresting buildings with no eye-level windows
• Large corporations/banks
• When there are no places to sit
• VOID
• When there is nothing to observe or look at

After watching this student-crafted documentary, it was obvious to me that the most successful, interesting cities are the places that facilitate interaction, conversations, and the chance for a random encounter with other individuals.  People are happiest when a city has places to sit and enjoy food amongst friends, little shops and cafes with new menus to explore, areas to relax and enjoy the ambiance, and interesting architectural detail that makes seeing and exploring the city something that is easily encouraged.  I feel that the reason that this documentary made so much sense to me is because I completely agree with the comments made by the individuals who were interviewed about their opinions on Ann Harbor.  I also enjoy cities that lack mainstream retail stores, chain restaurants, and big corperations, because these cities are filled with small businesses that were born and are unique to that area.  These places always have the most fresh, local food, the most interesting architecture, and the most historic character.  I would choose a small cafe downtown to grab a coffee and study in over a Starbucks any day.  Not only is the character of the local business different, but it feels more welcoming, warm, and inviting.  These kinds of places feel as if they are inviting you to stay and enjoy yourself, rather than to grab what you need and get the hell out so the next person can make a purchase.

Cities should be constructed to make its patrons feel happy, warm, and invited.  Instead, many cities are made for efficiency.  They are fast-paced, and designed to get you in and out as fast as possible, whether you are simply driving through the city or searching for a business within it.

I hope to find a project this semester that will help preserve or restore an area in Salt Lake City or on the University of Utah campus that gives SOLESTALGIA, the love of place.

That is all of my observation and thought for now!  Thanks for reading.

A. Ikegami

An “Illuminated” Perspective

This photograph was taken on a fall night about one month ago after my class discussion with the members of the Honors Praxis Lab ended at the University of Utah.  I remember this sunset very vividly, it was beautiful, inspiring, and mesmerizing.  I recall that while sitting in class watching out the large windows in the Honors college, I could not wait to go outside to get a better view.  The colors ranged from purples, pinks, blues, indigo, yellows, and orange.  I sat outside in the cold with my friend for the better part of half an hour, just enjoying the beautiful display put on by our sky and the setting sun.  In this weeks class discussion, we have been asked to observe the way artificial, electrical light affects us, versus the way we feel while immersed in natural light, as well as to reflect on shadows.  I shall expand my thoughts on this subject in tonight’s entry.

Artificial light, as necessary and useful as it is, often makes me feel exhausted, irritated, and uncomfortable.  The intensity of some lights that over-brighten classrooms and workplaces can put a strain on the eyes.  By the time I shut my lights off to fall asleep each night, I feel as if my eyes crave darkness and cannot wait to escape these bright lights.

In contrast, natural light that comes from the sun is very comfortable, warm, and inviting.  I much prefer to study and work in places with large windows that allow vast amounts of sunlight into the building.  For reasons I cannot physiologically explain (yet,) the more natural light I immerse myself in throughout my day (whether it be while studying, working, reading, eating, conversing, etc,)  I find myself to be happier and in good spirits.  I feel less tired as the day progresses.  In fact, I could say that natural light invigorates me with energy and warmth.  I am sure that I am not the only one who feels this phenomena.  Moonlight and candlelight/fire also provide this exact feeling.  Apart from feeling more energized and in a better mood, the light that comes from candles and our moon provides an essence of romance that cannot be replicated by unnatural lighting.  If you have ever sat in a dark room with nothing but the light of your roaring fireplace and the heat it provides, allowing yourself to melt into its warmth and calmness, then you know exactly what I am talking about.

As for darkness, the absence of light, I feel as if it is overlooked in its importance to life and vitality.  All creatures of this Earth depend on darkness at some point in their day, whether it is to sleep, to hunt, to hide, or to migrate.  In our brightly lit metropolitan cities, it seems we have forgotten the importance this darkness has to us and to others.  Not only does having constant lights on throughout the night waste energy and further pollute our atmosphere, it also takes away our view of the beautiful starlight and moonlight.  Not only this, but it is harmful to our other earthly species that we co-exist with that depend on the darkness.  Personally, I think that we have over used light as a commodity for advertising, when it should be used only to guide us safely from one place to another.  Darkness is as healthy as natural light, and necessary for our functioning as humans.

After class on Tuesday, I hope to expand on this hugely significant topic.

Thank you for reading.

A. Ikegami

Intervention and Scale Jumping: How Small Alterations Can Generate Big Outcomes

On a small scale:  Imagine your home.  Are there any areas that are dysfunctional?  Impractical?  Wasteful?  Energy-deficient?  In what may might you submit a small intervention that could cure this uneasiness?

For my assignment this week, I was told to as myself these questions on a large spectrum, from the smallest areas (a bedroom, house, apartment,) to a street, a community, a campus (or large area of similar magnitude,) and finally, a city.

Here are my thoughts, starting with the smaller end of the spectrum.

In my room, exists a large empty space with furniture decorating each wall.  There is no functional study area in this room because the other furniture (vanity, bed, dresser, chair,) takes up the space around the walls.  There is only a large, useless space in the middle.  In order to maximize the efficiency of this space, I might consider a simple rearrangement of my bedroom.  For example, instead of having my bed against the wall, I might turn it and have it protrude into the space of the room.  On either side of the bed I may stick my dresser and a side table for my lamp.  Thus, leaving the whole opposite side of the room for a desk and the vanity area.  Without a desk, the bedroom is nothing more than an area to sleep.  With a desk, the bedroom becomes an office, a place for exploration, reading, blogging, and so forth.  This is a project I will take on soon, and I will post photos of my bedroom after I have transformed it.  For now, here is a picture of my current set up.

JUST KIDDING. I just went to take a picture of my room and it is a disaster.  Since this is an assignment I am going to post this without a photo until I can clean my room and get my hands on a better quality photo.  (oops)

 

ANYWHO…

 

Now lets think bigger.  I scale jump from my bedroom to my community.  I live in a small, older community of Salt Lake City.  Though some areas of this small neighborhood are beautiful, some are trashed by years of wear-and-tear, littering, misuse of resources (natural and otherwise,) and traffic.  What comes to mind are two prime examples.  The first is the section of the Jordan River that passes through Rose Park.  It has been destroyed.  Not only is this part of the river dirty and polluted, but the river banks themselves are unkempt, the pathways along the trail tainted with graffiti, and the weeds take over the other plant life.  What kind of acupuncture could be applied here?  I think what is really needed here is education to the public about the river itself and how our actions affect our river systems.  If people could physically see how their littering contributed to the fall of this ecosystem, would they change their actions?  Perhaps a river clean up movement that paid under-privileged peoples to maintain and take care of this river would be in order, which could be funded by the city government.

Another area in my neighborhood that is absolutely DISASTROUS is this small plaza which is in the center of my community.  It consists of four or five small shops, each with stores that look dirty, cluttered, and uninviting.  Could this space be transformed in a way that not only promotes more business, but more social interaction for the neighborhood?  It is within walking distance of many of the homes in Rose Park.  I imagine, if the small parking lot in front of this small plaza was turned into an aesthetically pleasing courtyard of some sort, and the gross-looking smoke shop, beauty store, and restaurant were replaced with stores that were more inviting and attracted better business, then maybe this would act as a center for the neighborhood that could be the birth-place of new meetings, ideas, and conversations.  I only wish I had the funds and wisdom to take this project on myself right now!

 

Lets jump the scale again and think even bigger, at the level of the city itself.

Salt Lake City is beautiful.  However, there are some areas that are dysfunctional and poorly planned.  One of these areas is the block of 400 w. and 600 s.  I could speak about the possibilities for hours.  This space consists of a warehouse, a small apartment complex, an old-fashioned car museum, and a stretch of small, ancient, empty business buildings.  What IF the road in this area was taken out and replaced with a cobblestone pathway.  Trees, plants, and flowers lined the entrances of old buildings that were home to new local businesses.  Cafes, restaurants, book stores, local clothing companies… what if?  Of course, this is a rather large “pin-prick” as far as acupuncture of a city is concerned, but the idea has been blossoming in my brain ever since I saw this area this summer.  What if in this area (which is right near TRAX, our electric train public transit system,) we could transform an older apartment building into an affordable living complex?  I touched on this specific idea in my Praxis lab today in class, however it seems as if it is much too big a project for our allotted time.  I can dream though, can’t I?

 

I am excited to start developing our collaborations and ideas into more of a specific project that we can actually make a tangible reality.  I want to make a change that will make a positive and lasting impression in my community.  We are getting closer every week to our project of choice, and I could not be more ecstatic!

 

Next update will be next week over fall break where I will photograph some areas of the city that I think could deserve some real urban-acupuncture therapy.

 

-Ashley I.

The SOUL of a citizen

Soul of a Citizen

September 13, 2014

The literary piece “Soul of a Citizen” is an insightful article that describes the how the human desire for interaction, companionship, social and environmental change, and collaborative acts for community improvement are often hindered by the negative thoughts people have towards their abilities to induce such movements.  The author describes how many individuals are discouraged from starting community movements for positive change because they feel that their voices will not be heard, and that they are not a powerful enough force to compete with larger organizations.  The author includes a few examples of true success stories of individuals from all socio-economical backgrounds that have prevailed in coming together with other individuals in their community for a common cause.

How did these individuals succeed against all odds?

One common denominator I found among the entirety of these success stories is that these people had a deep passion towards changing something that they saw to be detrimental to their community.  These individuals united others that shared this same passion for their cause, and erected the formation of a group that progressively became larger and more impact-ful as their efforts and labors increased.  These people worked side by side passionately for change with friends, neighbors, and family to come to an outcome that would benefit all.

I now see that our potential as individuals cannot be ignited without the help and concern of others.  To make change, we have to work together, we have to feel together, and share a passion.  We cannot hold back our voices, or wait for someone else to do the work for us.  We must feed off the energy of other people and climb together.  If we act helpless, we will become helpless.  If we believe we can be strong, we will become strong.

As the title indicates, we citizens have s SOUL that is representative of the passion that us humans have for interaction, communication, and the well-being of ourselves and the community.  How can we re-invigorate our cities in a way that allows its SOUL to flourish and prosper?  How can we rearrange, recycle, and rebuild upon our current assets so that it facilitates the coming together of people and the expression of our culture?  These questions are something I aim to solve in the coming months in this praxis lab.  I hope to diagnose the city of its ailments and isolate a treatment that will induce health, happiness, and wealth in our community.

In this praxis lab I hope that I can unite not only with my classmates and professor, but also with other powers in the community, the state government, and the citizens themselves to make Salt Lake City an even more beautiful place to live.  I am absolutely invigorated with motivation, energy, and passion!