Digital City Briefs - Madrid

Digital Media Arts

2012-08-07T20:56:00.000-04:00

Medialab-Prado in Madrid is an excellent program for production, research and dissemination of digital products that combine art, science, technology and society. It organizes workshops and public events where production, learning and public engagement occur simultaneously.

“Our primary objective is to create a structure where both research and production are processes permeable to user participation. To that end, Medialab-Prado offers:
• A permanent information, reception, and meeting space attended by cultural mediators.
• Open calls for the presentation of proposals and participation in the collaborative development of projects.”

Medialab-Prado en Madrid es un excelente programa de producción, investigación y difusión de productos digitales que combinan arte, ciencia, tecnología y sociedad. Organiza talleres y eventos públicos donde producción, aprendizaje y público compromiso ocurren simultáneamente. "Nuestro principal objetivo es crear una estructura donde la investigación y producción son procesos permeables a la participación de los usuarios. Con ese fin, Medialab-Prado ofrece: • una información permanente, recepción y sala de reuniones asistieron mediadores culturales. • Abra llamadas para la presentación de propuestas y participación en el desarrollo colaborativo de proyectos".

Reference and photo credit: Medialab-Prado

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Media Platform for Digital Communication

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Public Space Award for La Puerta del Sol

Media Platform for Digital Communication

2012-08-07T20:47:00.002-04:00

The integration of Scala software and RealPresence Media Manager has created a powerful platform to create personalized digital experiences.

“The Scala software platform supports the creation, management and content distribution in digital signage networks. The software helps organizations to reach large audiences in very specific ways, in critical locations, as the decision points and points of sale.”

“Polycom RealPresence Media Manager streamlines the process, devices and technology needed to distribute the media effectively in existing IT infrastructure.”

La integración de software de la Scala y RealPresence Media Manager ha creado una potente plataforma para crear experiencias digitales personalizados. "La plataforma de software de Scala apoya la creación, gestión y distribución de contenidos en las redes de señalización digital. El software ayuda a las organizaciones para alcanzar grandes audiencias en formas muy concretas, en lugares críticos, como los puntos de decisión y los puntos de venta." "Polycom RealPresence Media Manager optimiza el proceso, dispositivos y tecnología necesaria para distribuir los medios de comunicación efectiva en la infraestructura de TI existente".

Reference: Scala Content Manager integrates with the Polycom Media Manager RealPresence

Other Recent Posts:

Digital Interaction at Plaza del Callao

A Vertical Forest - the Caixa Forum

Public Space Award for La Puerta del Sol

Urban Housing for 132 Apartments

Digital Interaction at Plaza del Callao

2012-08-07T20:34:00.002-04:00

Madrid has created a unique outdoor advertising venue that allows the interaction of brands and consumers, in its revamped Plaza del Callao. It is in the heart of Madrid and is visited by more than 113 million people each year. Interactive displays with full HD quality sound allow broadcasting of major events as well as interactive special events.

For example, on the 30th birth day of McDonald’s restaurants, the Plaza connected visitors to the screen via QR codes, so they could blow out the candles and participate in the festivities. Madrid offers a unique and innovative way to bring major brands closer to the consumers, and facilitate interaction in an open public space.

Madrid ha creado un espacio único de publicidad exterior que permite la interacción de las marcas y los consumidores, en su renovada Plaza del Callao. Es en el corazón de Madrid y es visitado por más de 113 millones de personas cada año. Pantallas interactivas con sonido de calidad HD completo permiten difusión de grandes eventos, así como eventos especiales interactivos. Por ejemplo, el trigésimo día de nacimiento de los restaurantes McDonalds, la Plaza conectados los visitantes a la pantalla a través de códigos QR, para que pudieran soplar las velas y participar en las festividades. Madrid ofrece una forma única e innovadora para traer grandes marcas más cerca a los consumidores y facilitar la interacción en un espacio público abierto.

Reference: Gran Via Madrid and still breathe in “air” neon

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A Vertical Forest - the Caixa Forum

Public Space Award for La Puerta del Sol

Urban Housing for 132 Apartments

Euro Turmoil Lures Foreign Investors

A Vertical Forest - the Caixa Forum

2012-06-29T20:59:00.001-04:00

An expert on tropical plants has invented a system to grow a vertical forest, which was constructed adjacent to the headquarters of Caixa Forum. The system consists of a metal frame mounted on a building wall and two layers of 3 mm thick polymide felt sheets. These flet sheets support the roots of many plants.

“It is a natural tapestry which covers an area of 460 m2 and consists of approximately 18,000 plants from 250 different species, mostly from the Japan, China, the United States and Central Europe.”

Un bosque Vertical Un experto en plantas tropicales ha inventado un sistema para crecer un bosque vertical, que fue construido adyacente a la sede de Caixa Forum. El sistema consta de una estructura metálica montada en la pared de una edificio y dos capas de 3 mm grosor polymide sintieron hojas. Estas hojas de flet apoyan las raíces de muchas plantas. "Es un tapiz natural que cubre un área de 460 m2 y consta de aproximadamente 18.000 plantas de 250 especies diferentes, principalmente desde el Japón, China, los Estados Unidos y Europa Central".

Reference: Caixa Forum Madrid, archilovers.com

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Public Space Award for La Puerta del Sol

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Public Space Award for La Puerta del Sol

2012-06-23T20:14:00.002-04:00

The European Prize for Urban Public Space awarded a special prize to La Puerta del Sol. This plaza has many symbolic elements such as the Kilómetro Cero, which is a point of convergence of state roads, a clock tower that rings in the New Year, and other icons of the city. The Puerta del Sol was constructed in the nineteenth century and has witnessed many political scenes of dissidence including the recent Arab Spring movement.

“Denounced by some as illegal appropriation of urban space and suppressed in the national media, which only mentioned it under pressure from the social networks or the foreign press, the Puerta del Sol occupation disappeared a few weeks after its spontaneous appearance.”

El Premio Europeo del espacio público urbano, galardonado con un premio especial a La Puerta del Sol. Esta plaza tiene muchos elementos simbólicos como el Kilómetro Cero, que es un punto de convergencia de carreteras estatales, una torre de reloj que suena en el nuevo año y otros iconos de la ciudad. La Puerta del Sol fue construida en el siglo XIX y ha sido testigo de muchas escenas políticas de disidencia, incluyendo el reciente movimiento de primavera árabe. "Denunciado por algunos como apropiación ilegal del espacio urbano y suprimido en los medios nacionales, que sólo mencionan bajo la presión de las redes sociales o la prensa extranjera, la ocupación de la Puerta del Sol desaparecieron unas semanas después de su aparición espontánea".

Reference: Acampada en la Puerta del Sol, Publicspace.org, 2012
Photo Credit: Google Maps

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Urban Housing for 132 Apartments

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A Tour of Madrid

Urban Housing for 132 Apartments

2012-06-07T20:21:00.004-04:00

This competition winning project is located at Ensanche de Vallecas, lot 5.16. It has two towers of different heights, one of which is 22-story high. It accommodates 132 one and two bedroom apartments along with some retail space at the ground level. The lot coverage is 70%, which leaves a wider than normal sidewalk for public use in front of the retail areas. The exterior massing does not provide any distinction between front and rear or beginning and end.

"The relationship between the concepts of “coexistence of scales” and “scaling ambiguity”, what is big and what is small along with what is not revealed either as large or small, establishes the dialogue that occurs in other settings by the historic city and the successive developments that occur in it over the time."

The facade is clad in zinc tiles, which serves as a thermal screen for natural heating and cooling. The windows are scattered across the surface to hide individual dwellings from outside. Some duplex units are on multiple floors, and face two sides.

Este proyecto ganador del concurso se encuentra en el Ensanche de Vallecas, mucho 5.16. Tiene dos torres de diferentes alturas, uno de los cuales es alta de 22 pisos. Acomoda a 132 apartamentos de uno y dos dormitorios junto con algún espacio por menor en el nivel del suelo. La cobertura del lote es 70%, lo que deja un amplio que acera normal para uso público en frente de las áreas de venta por menor. La masa exterior no proporcionan ninguna distinción entre la parte delantera y trasera o principio y final. "La relación entre los conceptos de"coexistencia de escala"y"escala de ambigüedad", lo que es grande y lo que es pequeño junto con lo que no se revela como grandes o pequeños, establece el diálogo que se produce en otros ajustes por el histórico de la ciudad y los acontecimientos sucesivos que se producen en ella con el tiempo." La fachada está revestida en Tejas de zinc, que sirve como pantalla térmica para calefacción y refrigeración natural. Las ventanas están dispersos por toda la superficie para ocultar viviendas individuales desde fuera.

Reference: 132 Social Housing Block by Estudio Entresitio, dezeen.com, March 19, 2010.

50 to 60% of Families Cannot Afford a House

Development Dilemma for the Historic Craighouse Campus

The Sinking City

Euro Turmoil Lures Foreign Investors

2012-05-24T20:27:00.001-04:00

Foreign investors have been purchasing properties in Salamanca Barrio of Madrid, which is one of the most exclusive areas in the city. Salamanca has majestic homes as well as smaller residential units in its interior section. Four years ago, during the height of the building boom, one could sell a poor quality basement flat for 7,000 euros per square meter. However, things have changed, and an average price per square meter in the main areas of Salamanca is around 5,000 euros at this time.

Foreign investors from Venezuela, Mexico as well as Central Europe have been purchasing properties, mostly by paying cash. The transactions are closed in three days when cash is exchanged. 99% of homes being sold are inheritances, where the owners are obligated to sell because they can not afford to either maintain or renovate them. In addition, they do not have sufficient liquidity. Very little new construction is taking place at this time.

Euro agitación atrae inversionistas: Inversionistas de Venezuela, México, así como Europa Central han sido comprando propiedades, principalmente por pago en efectivo. Las transacciones se cierran en tres días cuando se intercambia dinero en efectivo. 99% de las viviendas vendidas son herencias, donde los propietarios están obligados a vender porque no pueden permitirse mantener o renovarles. Además, no tienen liquidez suficiente. Muy poco de nueva construcción está teniendo lugar en este momento. Aquí está un breve vídeo en Barrio de Salamanca de Madrid:

Here is a brief video on Salamanca Barrio of Madrid:

Reference: The Salamanca “Barrio” of Madrid Offers Exclusivity and Good Prices, El Mundo, March 14, 2012

Purchase or Refinance?

Remaking Brooklyn’s DUMBO District

Affordable Housing and New Developments

New Urban Housing

2012-05-16T20:43:00.002-04:00

A proposed housing complex would rise above the city’s skyline in a 21 stories high tower in Salburúa.

The U shaped complex would fill an entire block and create an inner courtyard which is designed as an extension of the urban space. The complex is designed for 242 apartments and accessory community and retail spaces. Each apartment would have two fronts; the side facing the street will have kitchen and living areas, while the side facing the inner court will have bedrooms.

According to the architects, the red color on the exterior expresses “optimism, confidence and commitment for the future” in a primarily gray urban landscape. The building's form was designed to achieve maximum exposure to Sunlight.

Nueva vivienda urbana: Un complejo de vivienda propuesto se elevaría por encima del horizonte de la ciudad en una torre alta 21 historias en Salburúa. La u en forma de complejo podría llenar un bloque entero y crear un patio interior que está diseñado como una extensión del espacio urbano. El complejo está diseñado para la comunidad accesorio y 242 apartamentos y espacios comerciales. Cada apartamento tendría dos frentes; la cara hacia la calle tendrá cocina y zonas de vida, mientras que la cara hacia el patio interior tendrá dormitorios. Según los arquitectos, el color rojo en el exterior expresa "optimismo, confianza y compromiso para el futuro" en un paisaje urbano principalmente gris. Forma del edificio fue diseñado para lograr la máxima exposición al sol. Aquí es un viaje aéreo de Madrid:

Here is an aerial tour of Madrid:

Reference: Iñaki Garai Zabala (ACXT Architects) | 242 Social Housing Units in Salburúa, Architectural, May 7, 2012

Future of Johannesburg

New Highrise at Bloor, Toronto

New Urban Landscape for Pedestrians, Bicycles and Cars

A Tour of Madrid

2012-05-01T20:12:00.002-04:00

Here is a brief video on Madrid:

Tour of Frankfurt am Main

Hong Kong City Tour

Dubai City Tour

Urban Development Taxonomy

2012-04-30T08:25:00.002-04:00

How does a city develop into a global destination? Is a city more than a collection of great buildings? Is a city more than a collection of great people? What makes a city great? What are the forces that drive urban development?

There are many sites that provide tourism related information about cities. While we want to understand what makes a city great, we are also interested in the messy gray area, where decisions are made about the future of a city. What drives such decision-making? Is that purely a speculative gamble or are there hidden forces at work? What roles do design professionals play in such decision-making? What role does leadership play? Where does such leadership come from? What role does local government play?

We will focus on four broad categories of urban interventions:

Tourism development:

Urban interventions intended to spur or support tourism.

Hotels, convention centers, museums, art galleries, public arts festivals, fashion shows, business shows, public expositions, public events. Ecotourism, sustainable tourism, heritage tourism, leisure, recreation, urban tourism, parks, sports stadiums, arenas, public plazas,

Smart infrastructure:

Urban interventions intended to spur or support smart urbanization technologies.

Smart grid, smart design, smart transit, smart buildings, renewable energy, sustainable architecture, green building, smart architecture, smart meters, smart traffic signaling, mass transit, smart city, smart infrastructure, augmented reality, urban data networks, collaborative networks, digital city.

Economic development:

Urban interventions intended to spur or support economic development.

Business incubators, start-ups, universities, research centers, innovation labs, demonstration projects, affordable housing, transit hubs, rezoning, urban renewal, environmental remediation, brown fields, urban design, new construction, renovation, mass transit systems, manufacturing, warehousing, freight delivery, transportation, logistics, urban upgrading, finance, law, regulations, institutions, leadership.

Branding and global identity:

Urban interventions intended to create a unique brand.

Global influence, city image, uniqueness, branding, identity, signature buildings, global events, public expositions, leadership, historic preservation, tourist attractions, urban design, celebrations.

Miscellaneous Key words:

General information, summary, statistics, comparative study, geography, emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation, low income housing, urbanization, slum upgrading, geography, climate, culture, people, demographics, history.

Photo Credit: Madrid_Cuatro_Torres_Business_Area.jpg: Xauxa Håkan Svensson. This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons.