Urban Planet is a daily roundup of blogs from around the world dealing specifically with urban environments. We’ll be on the lookout for websites outside the country that approach themes related to urban experiences and issues.
• In Victoria, BC this month, two temporary street pianos will be installed at downtown intersections for pianists and passersby to tickle the ivories. The project was spearheaded by sixteen-year-old Alastair Kierulf who arranged the necessary permits. Kierulf’s project was inspired by the Play Me, I’m Yours project which has roots in Birmingham, England and will be travelling to Toronto this summer. (The Globe and Mail)
• In one of the weirdest Weird Wednesdays yet, we look at Japan where researchers have been finding out that some very simple organisms are capable of some very complicated urban planning.
Over the past decade, Japanese scientists sutdying slime mold, Physarum polycephalum, have been discovering that the organism is extremely adept at creating efficiencies within itself. In order to reach new sources of nutrients, the mold expands in a series “tendrils” which explore its surrounding areas. Once they reach more food, these tendrils start to ferry the nutrients throughout the rest of the organism, reinforcing and growing stronger, while the ones that aren’t successful disappear. In 2000, the researchers discovered that, when placed in a maze, the mold will eventually reach the food piece at the end through the shortest route possible.
A decade later, these researchers put the mold to the ultimate city building test. They dispersed oat flakes in the same pattern as Japanese cities and unleashed the mold on the flake representing Tokyo. Over 26 hours, as the multiple plates of mold expanded and began to streamline its network of tubes, many of the results were very closely mirroring the Tokyo rail system.
Similar tests have subsequently been done for the UK and the Iberian Penninsula with similar results.
While it’s an interesting notion, unless the mold learns to also navigate issues like funding and politics, cities won’t likely be replacing their planning departments just yet. However, these tests could help scientists design networks that can adapt an reroute itself efficiently when certain points are removed, or even shed light on similar network-building systems like tumors.
• Outdoor advertising can be ugly, intrusive and downright offensive. New York street artist, Jilly Ballistic, is fighting back with adapted computer alert windows pasted on terrible outdoor advertising. Many of the ads question consumer culture and the quality of advertised products. (Taxi)
• New York is a city of skyscrapers. But as aerial photographer Alex McLean has shown in his new book, Up on the Roof, it is also home to many hidden rooftop oases. The book showcases many views of the city from above. (Fast Company)
Image from The Globe and Mail
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