Clothes Matters /  by Admin

January 26th is Clashing Clothes Day. It is an atypical holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in January every year. On this bizarre yet fun day, people are encouraged to wear a clashing outfit without the fashion police flashing on their style.

This quirky celebration reminded me of a WELL feature:

“ … flexible dress codes are important, because clothing insulation is also one of the primary forms of intervention for addressing suboptimal thermal conditions.” — WELL T04, Individual Thermal Control.

Moreover, in ASHRAE 55, there are three primary methods to see how space and system are designed according to standard thermal comfort. One crucial way is to use “the occupant-controlled naturally conditioned space”. That implies an environment where occupants are nearly passive or in a sitting position and have the freedom to adapt their clothing to thermal conditions.

On this momentous day, we design this card for managers. Thanks to them for making the work environment fun and comfortable.

By the way, here are more details about WELL standards. There are ten concepts in the WELL standard: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community, and Innovation. These concepts are comprised of 110 features. Each feature includes various parts. All the parts within each feature must be completed to achieve the credit point. Four tiers of certification show the project’s accomplishment: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. If you want to learn more about getting this professional credential, check IWBI’s webpage.

Florida Matters /  by Admin

Before 1819, Florida was still under various authorities. Since then, the United States purchased Florida from Spain and made it part of the statehood in 1821. Because of its geographic location and abundance of sunny weather, Florida is known as the “Sunshine State.”

Lately, its geographic elevation and sea level have made it suffer from extreme weather, even the most among other states along the sunbelt. In the last decade, the speed of the rising Florida sea level has increased. The surrounding sea surface is raised by as much as one inch every three years. Scientists now forecast that in just the next 15 years, the sea level will have increased by another 6 inches.

In 2022, Ian, a large destructive category-four Atlantic hurricane, struck Florida hard, which made many people lose their properties and homes. The hurricane brought more than a foot of rainfall, making the increasing sea level a more imminent issue.

While we enjoy the at-season fresh fruits from Florida, we cannot stop thinking about a sustainable design principle:

“… protect floodplain function by limiting new development within the 100-year floodplain of all types of waterways and watercourses.” — SITES 1.2-Protect Flood Plain Function

How can we determine which area is within the 100-year floodplain? You might ask. We use FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. These areas are generally depicted as zone A, AE, A1-A30, AH, AD, AR, A99, V, and VE.
Floodplains function to store and derive water from extreme weather events. Many risks can be avoided by building within the regulated distance from the floodplain. This principle reduces the risk impact on the properties and leads to more recreational opportunities.

On this momentous day, we design this card for professionals working at FEMA. Thanks to their dedication to improving the entire nation to prepare for and mitigate all hazards. Because of them, the infrastructure and facility are well-equipped when natural hazard arrives.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -

By the way, according to recent NOAA’s ENSO advisory, El Niño conditions are current (at June 2023) and are expected to continue developing into winter 2023–24. When El Niño is stronger, the sea surface temperature is warmer than average. That will result in wetter in the southern tier of the United States (including Florida) and drier conditions over parts of the Pacific Northwest, Northern US, and Canada.

Do Nothing Matters /  by Admin

January 16th is National Nothing Day.

This day was initiated by the journalist Harold Pullman Coffin. He proposed to make a day a “non-event” day. Since then, the day has been listed in Chase’s Calendar of Events.

Promoting “doing nothing” in our modern society might sound absurd. As “being busy” has been labeled as “being productive.” We recently watched a TED talk about boredom and ideas. In that talk, the speaker mentioned that an average person checks their emails 74 times per day and switches tasks on their computer 566 times per day. Teens constantly look at their phones, and social media feeds during conversations. Moreover, she made such a conclusion to describe the benefit and phenomenon of boredom.

“…take a break, stare out the window, and know by doing nothing you are actually being your most productive and creative self. It might feel weird and uncomfortable at first, but boredom truly leads to brilliance.”

— Manoush, How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideas/ TED 2017

That TED talk reminded us of a WELL feature:

“… supporting access to outdoor green and natural spaces can support the health and well-being of a wide range of individuals within a built community.” — WELL09, Provide Natural Access Outdoors

This particular day also falls on the same day as Martin Luther King’s memorial every seven years. We wonder if his message “I have a dream” might echo more soundly when we take a day-long vow of boredom and let our minds be lost in the profound wilderness …

On this momentous day, we design this card for developers. Thanks to them for planning a neighborhood that is accessible to natures.

By the way…

There is a Martin Luther King Jr. recreational Park in our neighborhood. The address is: 1120 Jackson Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20904. If you plan doing nothing today, check it out!

Pharmacist Matters /  by Admin

January 12th is National Pharmacist Day.

This day is dedicated to our hard-working pharmacists and honors their impact on our health and well-being. From the annual flu season to the unprecedented pandemic, pharmacists always work relentlessly behind the counter to give us reliable and professional healthcare.

The pharmacy is always considered a crucial community-serving retail in a typical neighborhood. Pharmacists work there on foot most of the time. They’ve set a good precedence for people like us who are used to sitting positions during work hours. Their work style reminded us of the WELL concept feature: Active Furnishings.

According to research, sedentary behaviors have been associated with various unfavorable health effects, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risks, etc. Hence, the feature intends to encourage physical activities and posture breaks and discourage prolonged sedentary behavior.

“Active workstations are effective at decreasing time spent sitting, thereby increasing energy expenditure.” — WELL v07 Active Furnishings.

One way to make active furnishing feasible is to make at least 50% of workstations “Active Workstations.” For example, place step machines, bicycles, or treadmills under the desks so workers can move gently during repetitive tasks. The strategy will encourage long-term behavior change and inspire a more active lifestyle at work.

On this momentous day, we design this card for interior designers. Thanks to them for being thoughtful and considering for pharmasists’ well-beings.

Wait, there is more about the Pharmacist

Many of us have standing desks and pedal bikes under the desk, so this WELL feature may not appeal to you. However, you probably are familiar with the TV show “Sex and the City.” Carrie Bradshaw and her girlfriends’ best conversations happened in this famous brunch place on 18 Greenwich Ave in New York City. If we turned the clock 100 years earlier, that conversation might have occurred at 215 Main Street in Smithfield, VA.

Why is it at that location, you might be wondering. It all started when soda was invented by a pharmacist…

The sketch shows where Simpson’s Ideal Pharmacy located.

Soda and Girl's talk

A Brooklyn-born pharmacist, Charles Alderton, formulated a popular carbonated soft drink: Dr. Pepper, while working in a corner drug store in Waco, Texas. Interestingly, a few years after his invention, the soda fountain became an integral apparatus in most drugstores.

In the mid-1900s, young ladies, men, and even merchants gathered at the soda bar in the drugstores. During the First World War, many young women began going to work in the office for the first time in downtown Smithfield. And it soon became the custom for those working girls to take a break at eleven o’clock and head for a drink at the Ideal Pharmacy, their local drugstore.

This image shows the area comparison of Simpson’s drug store with nowadays stand-alone pharmacy.

According to this book, A Pictorial History of Smithfield, the place offered “ornate marble and mirrored soda fountain that dispensed syrups in every known flavor, including claret, for sodas and ice, and each provided ice cream parlor tables, chairs and counter stools of wood and twisted metal.” The beauty of these soda fountains was described as elaborated as a dancing girl. While we modernized our drug store and removed the sleek soda fountain and the bar stool, the old “Drug store crowd” went alongside them….

A guesswork on what interior plan might look like inside the Simpson’s drugstore.

By the way, almost every drugstore had a soda fountain by the early 1920’s. Due to the prohibition established in 1919, bars were closed, yet people still needed a place to socialize. At the time, “ice cream parlors were usually stand-alone businesses and did not include any part of a soda fountain”. Thus, Ideal Pharmacy run by the Simpsons family, continued as the gathering place for thirty-odd years until another wave of modernization in the 1950s caught up with them.

(“ice cream parlors were usually standalone businesses and did not include any part of a soda fountain”. source: Pharmacy time)

Choreography Matters /  by Admin

January 9th is the International Choreography Day.

It is the day to celebrate the mastermind of dance and beautiful body movement.

The word choreography, rooted in Greek, literally means “dance-writing”. Like writing a story, authors skillfully arrange the paragraphs and dialogue to compose a scenario. Choreographers design a sequence of steps and body movements that form a storytelling environment.

The early 20th century was when many cultural activities flourished. In 1909, Serg Diaghilev created the world’s first and most exciting dance company in Paris. He revolutionized the art form by working with the avant-garde elite at the time. Composers such as Stravinsky and Debussy and artists including Picasso and Matisse collaborated on his dance performance. Other than the classical ballet, the musical “On Your Toes,” later adapted into a film in 1939, first used a “choreographer” in the production credit. Not even mention Martha Graham’s dance company, which she founded in 1926 to experiment endlessly with the basic human movement.

Reading the dance performance history reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Facilitate all types of movement, including physical activity and exercise and reduce sendentary behavior through intentional design of built spaces.”— V01 Active buildings and communities

On this day, we design this card for interior designers. Thanks to their creativity so occupants can enjoy many active spaces and maintain a healthy life.

While we are fascinated by the dancers’ perfection and the choreographers’ emotional staging, we inevitably think about their practice venue and its performance surface.

Martha Graham began developing her most influential movements of contraction and releasing in a tiny Carnegie Hall Studio in midtown Manhattan. According to Wikipedia, Martha started teaching in her studio at 66 Fifth Avenue near 13th Street and the Neighborhood Playhouse at 340 East 54 Street. With the support from individual patrons, Martha Graham’s dance company finally made its home on 316 East 63rd Street.

Though Martha’s original studio and the playhouse no longer exist. We could tell they were the typical Manhatten row houses from the historical photos. These row houses were wood-framed dwellings with load-bearing brick walls. The floors were most likely tongue and groove milling, and the stairs connecting each floor were also hollow staircases, which often generated a lot of noise when wearing heels. Whether dancers practice Ballet Russe’s classical, the Browdway show’s tap dance, or Martha’s significant floor work. The performance surface plays a vital role in a dense urban setting.

A dense vinyl floor might be enough for the solution when a row house in New York only hosts a single use, such as Marth’s dance school. However, building owners nowadays often encounter the situation of maintaining multiple functions in one building, and the project Square Fifty would be a modern example.

Situated at the corner parcel of 23rd and M Street, northwest DC, Square Fifty is a mixed-use building that houses three entirely different uses:

  • The fire station on the street level

  • The squash court in the middle session

  • An apartment complex on the upper floors

 

Square 50, a mixed-use project at the west end of Washington, DC.

 

Although the squash courts provided a convenient onsite physical activity space, they challenged onsite users and neighbors. The squash court is located directly above the second floor of the fire station, where the fireman’s sleeping units are located. The pounding and impact vibration of the sports activities become the noise source for the fire station’s sleeping units below and the embassy next door. The designers creatively arranged two main squash on the east side towards further north to be away from the main office area at the neighboring building. They also maintained at least a one-foot gap from the partition wall to avoid potential structure-borne sound. Moreover, the squash club uses a double concrete slab system with a sound insulation layer to prevent sound transmission and keep both parts of the building functioning.

“Form follows function” or “Function follows form” is always a critical discussion during our academic studies. This endless argument can also be found in “Site for the program” or “Programs for the site.” While not all dancers and dance companies are fortunate to have a location similar to the Edgewood Arts Center for their practices, creatively placing whatever resources we have would be the answer for this ever-changing urban environment.

 

Edgewood Art Center is adjacent to the rail track and on the metro stop of Brookland-CUA

 

By the way, if you are interested in seeing more photos about this Square 50 project, it is published in Architecture DC magazine (Fall, 2018). You can also check out TEN Arquitectos’ website and under the “Habitacional” category

Bird Matters /  by Admin

January 5th is the National Bird Day.

Birds have always held a place of fascination in our minds. That could be why someone initiated the National Bird Day to draw awareness of these creatures that play a sustainable role in our natural landscape.

Due to increasing globalization, we gradually live in an environment that gives insufficient exposure to nature. Studies have also found that natural elements have been linked with human well-being, such as decreasing depression, reducing anxiety, enhancing concentration, expanding pain tolerance, and increasing overall emotional satisfaction. The natural elements mentioned above include not only plants and animals but also lighting and aesthetic designs.

Moreover, when picking a place for bird watching, we inevitably think about an aviary. The aviary allows birds a larger living space to fly and rest on a higher ground. The size and scale of an aviary vary greatly. The larger ones are often located in a zoological setting. For example, the Edward Youde Aviary in Hong Kong and the Birds of Eden in the Western Cape belong to the large-scale category. The aviary in a more intimate setting is like the Hamilton Aviary in Ontario. The home aviary, also known as bird rooms, has recently become more popular. Some bird rooms are within a single-family house and share part of the homeowner’s living space.

The Dr. Bird room inside the Sandy Spring Museum, Maryland, reminded us of a French military birdhouse designed by a French Artist in 1889. Even this Dr. Bird room is named after the physician Jacob W Bird, who began his medical practice in 1909 in Sandy Springs. The octagonal-shaped room with Oak Trusses gives visitors the impression of being in a giant closed garden pavilion that could be an aviary. The space feels light and airy with the five large windows at the parameter and the cupola windows at the top. Its high ceiling and column-free area seem large enough for pet birds to fly around.

Historically, a famous Bird Room (fugleværelset) has also been inside the Royal Palace of Oslo. The Royal Palace was initially built for the King Carl Johan in 1825. Its bird room, completed in 1843, was designed by the artist Johannes Flintoe, who is known for his landscape scenes found in Romantic Nationalism. This picturesque room covers the rich variety of life in the garden- forty-three birds and six butterflies, plus a white-tailed eagle hovering on the ceiling.

While fascinating with the spacious Dr. Bird Room and Johannes Flintoe’s fresco panel from the bird room, a WELL feature came to mind.

“Incorporating natural elements into buildings can support occupant relief from stress and mental fatigue, as well as help establish a sense of place.” — WELL M02, Provide Connection to Nature

On this day, we want to design this card for those connect their places to nature. Thanks to their creativities, so the occupants and enjoy a stress-free environment.

 
 


Handwashing Matters /  by Admin

Many of the diseases begin with physical contact.

These contact diseases are transmitted when an infected person has direct physical contact with an uninfected person, and the microbe is passed from one to another. Contact diseases can also be spread indirectly when a healthy person touches an infected person’s items or environment.

We use our hands for most of our daily activities; thus, hand washing is one helpful precaution to create a barrier and eliminate bacteria from spreading in the environment or personal belongings.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control or Prevention), studies have also shown that educating handwashing in the communities can reach the following results, such as:

  • Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23–40%

  • reduce the number of school days missing due to gastrointestinal by 29–57%

  • reduce diarrheal illness in a person with a weakened immune system by 58%

  • reduce respiratory-related disease in the general population, such as cold or flue by 16–21%

Moreover, the CDC provided five easy steps to clean our hands thoroughly:

  1. Wet hands with clean water

  2. Lather hands by rubbing them with soap

  3. Scrub hand by at least 20 seconds

  4. Rinse hands with clean water

  5. Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry.

We have been washing our hands since childhood, and it feels like a habitual routine rather than a profound “tactic” for disease prevention. Simultaniously, reading CDC’s studies and handwashing guideline remind us of a WELL feature.

“Implement strategies to reduce human contact with respiratory particles and surfaces that may carry pathogens.” — WELL X12, β Contact Reduction

At Handwashing Awareness Week, we want to design this card for bathroom fixture designers. Thanks to their creativities so everyone could use the public bathroom without worrying.

 
 

According to WELL guidelines, a hands-free operation must be implemented in at least three of the following areas: the pedestrian entry door, the elevators, the bottle filler/ water fountain, window blinds, interior light switches, or the trashcan lid.

Dress a Tree Matters /  by Admin

The first week of December comes to celebrate Tree Dressing Day. It is commonly reported that Tree Dressing Day was initiated by Common Ground, an environmental charity organization based in Dorset, England.
Since 1990, Tree Dressing Day has become much more than a plant-loving expression. It is the day for the communities to celebrate the significance of trees in their unique culture and history.

Tanzaku and Trees

Besides the most common decorating of Christmas trees, many communities have expressed their culture and spiritual significance by “dressing up” trees. Japan’s Star Festival (“Tanabata”), for example, is equivalent to “Valentine’s Day throughout many Westernized countries. People write a wish on a color-trip paper (“Tanzaku”) and hang it on a tree or bamboo.

Clootie Trees

“Clootie” in Scottish means cloth or rag. In old Celtic culture, many pilgrimages would go to Clootie Well during Saints’ feast days. It is a holy well or a spring, always with a tree growing beside it. People dip clothes in the sacred well and tie them to trees as part of a healing ritual. The trees next to the well are called clootie trees or rag bushes.

Red Ribbon and Wishing Trees

Red is Chinese people’s favorite. Red symbolizes luck, joy, and happiness. The red string also represents good fortune and auspiciousness. Many people tie a red string or ribbon on the tree during the lunar new year to wish good luck and prosperity.

Colorful Ribbons and Bohdi Trees

Buddhists also have a tradition of tying the ribbons around the Bodhi tree in homage to Buddha. When people tie the colorful string onto trees, it means calling the power of nature to protect loved ones.

Yarn Bombing and Trees

“Yarn Bombing” is another way to dress up trees in many parts of Europe and northern America. The practice is believed to be associated with the Knit Graffiti movement, which started in 2005 in Texas. Their graffiti is known for wrapping public objects- from lampposts, parking meters, telephone poles, or signage with crocheted materials. Nowadays, artists continue using knitted yarn or fiber to “paint” the tree trunk as their artful expression.

“Support occupant well-being by incorporating the natural environment throughout the project and integrating design strategies that celebrate the project’s unique identity. “ — WELL, M02, nature and Place

On this beautiful day, we want to design this card for building designers, thanks to their creativity to orient the building fenestrations and connect occupants to nature and culture. So everyone can have a view to enjoy, even as beautiful as this Tree-dressing garden.

When talking about the connection to nature and places, we inevitably think about classic chinese garden (yuanlin) design. Here is an example of pavillion, an critical landscape/building element as a overlook booth within this nature and cultural context.

 
 

Hug Matters /  by Admin

Hugs, like handshakes, high-five, or kisses, are one of our body languages to show love, support, and affection. Besides hugs’ physical and emotional comfort, they also give us many health benefits.

Hugs reduce stress and anxiety

The Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at Ruhr University in Germany gathered 38 pairs of romantic partners with an average age of 22.3 years old in an experiment. They measured participants’ cortisol levels, blood pressure, and PANAS (positive and negative affect schedule) before and after the stressful events. They concluded that women who physically embraced their partners before the designed stress event showed reduced cortisol compared to a controlled group in which no hugs occurred before the stress event.

The other study by the Department of Psychology at the University of California gathered 20 heterosexual couples, gave them “stress” (unpleasant electric shocks) events, and measured their brain activity. These scientists found that women’s brains showed reduced stress when holding their partner’s arms while their partners received the “stress.” This implication demonstrated that providing physical support is also beneficial for stress-reducing effects.

Hugs protect from illness and improve health

A study conducted by a group from the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University found that hugs provide stress-buffering support against infectious disease situations. They used a sample of 400 adults and measured their stress reaction to disease-infectious situations. Their data suggested that participants who received more frequent hugs predicted less severe illness signs.

Another study by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that warm physical contact from a cohabitating couple is related to lower cardiovascular reactivity. Prior to the stress event, the “warm contact” group underwent a 10-minute handholding period while viewing a romantic video, followed by a 20-second hug with their partner. The control group only rested quietly for 10 minutes and 20 seconds. Their finding suggested that affectionate and warm physical touch contributed to lower reactivity to stress and better cardiovascular health.

Reading all the scientific findings associated with hugs made us wonder if our soulmates’ magic touch could be incorporated into a restorative space described in one of WELL’s features.

“Support access to space that promotes restoration and relief from mental fatigue or stress.” — WELL M07, Restorative Spaces.

On Let’s Hug Day, we want to design this card for workplace designers, thanks to their creativity and understanding of human well-beings, so everyone can have a restorative spaces when they need to take a break.

By the way, according to this WELL standard, the therapeutic space has to meet the following requirements:

  • Space could be indoor or outdoors.

  • Space may serve multiple functions but not used for work.

  • Minimum size of 75 square feer plus one square foot per occupant, and no more than 2000 square feet.

  • provide calming and comfortable environment with features such as adjustable lighting, sound interventions, thermal control, natural elements, subdued colors, textures or forms, and visual privacy.

Based on those criteria, we wonder what if we make a therapist’s office a “restorative space”, and what it would look like? Does that consider a place for “work” or not?






Family Story Matters /  by Admin

November is a month full of holidays for families to get together. That may be why people proposed this family stories month in November.

Research has shown that parents sharing more family stories with their children benefits the family in many ways, which includes the interaction children have with their parents or grandparents. The activities children share with their guardian family can help them grow into a teen who feels more connected to people. Those activities are not limited to story-telling but other activities together, such as cooking or crafts-making.

However, the family structure in the United States has evolved. That makes me wonder if the family story needs to be retold by more than one ancestry. We have been taught that technology has changed our family structure. The average family size declined from 9 persons (with seven children during the1800s before the peak of the Industrial Revolution) to 5.5 persons (with 3.5 childrens in 1900s). After the progressive era, the household size decreased from 3.29 persons per family to 3.13 persons in 2020. Not only does the family size shrink, but their children also live in a more diverse living arrangement. In 1960, 73% of children lived with two parents of their first marriage. In 2014, this number reduced by a third to 46% of children living under the same parenthood condition. Today, almost a quarter of US children (under 18) live with single parents, plus an estimated 2.3 million stepchildren live in all household types, according to the 2019 American Community Survey.

In addition to the change in the family structure, family life has also been greatly affected by societal values: more mothers with children went into the workforce. This increase in labor force participation is a century-long trend: In 1975, less than half of mothers (47%) worked outside the household. By 2000, 73% of mothers were in the labor force. This tendency stands at 70% among all mothers in recent years. Moreover, a similar study from the Pew Research Center finds that Americans largely support paid leaves, and many respondents say employers rather than the federal or state government should bear the costs.

Intrigued by many statistics and findings of family caregiving from Pew Research Center, reading their report reminded us of a WELL feature:

“Support working parents and caregivers so that they are able to properly care for members of their family.” — WELL C10 Family Support.

On the Month for Family Stories, we want to design this card to caregivers, thanks to their home-based profession, patients’ family can focus on their day jobs and enjoy quality time after work.

By the way…

A question we found interesting in the research is that the survey asked what age children should be left alone without adult supervision. Most responded parents agreed that kids should be at least ten years old before they are allowed to play in front of the house. Their responses reminded me of the ranch-style home, which was the most popular from the 1940s to the 1970s.

After WWII, the booming of the U.S. economy and the Veterans Administration home loan program guaranteed millions of single-family and mobile home loans. This authorization increased housing construction following the war, leading to suburban area growth. Many of the ranch-style houses were built during that period. By 1950, nearly nine out of every ten homes built was ranch-style. In the same period, more than three-quarters of children lived with their parents in their first marriage.

Besides ample front and back yards for kids to spend their time. Ranch-style homes have many distinctive features that gain American’s favor, such as low-pitched roofs, attached garages, open floor plans with one-level (or split-level), etc. But when we look closer at their layouts, we speculated that designers at the time had planned out their ideal family life: many of the kitchen and dining rooms were facing side yards or back yards with sufficient windows.

It is suitable to place ranch houses in a lot that requires a minimum of 75 feet of frontage. By placing so, there will be 8 to 15 feet width on each side yard to set up a small play area. And at least 25 feet by 75 feet of rear yard for the family event. The ranch house with less than 40 feet is good for the lot with at least 60 feet of frontage requirement. The household could set up one side for the driveway or parking and leave the other side yard more room for a smaller playground or planting zone.

 

The sketch shows a hypothetical life in a ranch style home might look like.

 

Pepper Matters /  by Admin

It is understood that the name “Pepper” was given by the Europeans when Christopher Columbus brought the plant from America in 1493. Besides the primary crop gifted by Indians, he also brought back secondary crops such as tomatoes, peanuts, pumpkins, squash, pineapple, and chili peppers.

Chili peppers are considered the genus of “capsicum”; bell peppers (also known as sweet peppers) are included in this taxonomic rank. All peppers are short-lived tropical perennials that prefer sun and warmth. It can be challenging to grow such plants in a chilly summer. Though they are not so sensitive to soil acidity, they like organic matter and well-drained soil. A neutral soil with pH 6–6.8 is suitable for their growth. And they can be harvested 60 to 75 days after the transplant.

Pepper and Gardening

Peppers come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and tastes, ideal for growing an “edible landscape.” Because of the planting traits mentioned above, pepper is one of the suitable plants to grow in home or community gardens. Home gardens or community gardens seem convenient and accessible for many of us. Yet, most people have to travel to work during the day, and those who attend community gardens can only visit their lot during their free time, eliminating growing some vegetables that require daily attention. Low-maintenance plants such as cabbage, potatoes, and peppers are great for growing in community gardens, as when these vegetables ripen, they can relax in the lot for a while before they are ready to be picked up.

Gardening and Consumption Habit

We recently read about a study reporting that individuals who participated in a community garden were associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption. This study took two types of samples: the community garden participants in rural Missouri and the population-based survey conducted with randomly selected 1000 residents in the intervention catchment area. As a result, this survey found the garden participants were more likely to report eating fruits twice or more times per day and vegetables three or more times per day than those who did not participate in community gardening.

 

We randomly selected a few community gardens close to the interstate highway, crossing north-south in Missouri, and realized many are relatively small compared to the adjacent facility. The size of the surrounding building footprint speaks that investing in the community garden is a cost-effective way to help individuals have a healthy diet. That is especially true for people who frequently use the facility and participate in its gardening program.

 

Reading their report reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Individuals who participate in community and home gardening projects have higher levels of fruit and vegetable consumption and are more likely to meet national recommendations for fruit and vegetable intakes than nongardeners.” — WELL N12 Food Production.

Though November has passed pepper’s harvest season, we still want to design this cards for gardeners. Thanks to their passion for caring for gardens, their friends and family can benefit from the fruition of their hard gardening work.

P.S. The study I mentioned above is a research paper published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2013, 10:128). To learn more about their findings, check out “Association between community garden participation and fruit and vegetable consumption in rural Missouri” at the Research Gate’s website.

Home Matters /  by Admin

“You matter because you are you. You matter to the end of your life. We can do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die. “ — Cicely Saunders.

That was a quote from Cicely Saunders, Dame and founder of the modern hospice. In 1964, she introduced her idea of “Total Pain,” meaning the comprehensive description of pain covers physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of distress. “Total Pain” later became the key term within hospice and the broader specialty of palliative and end-of-life care. Her philosophy of focusing on patients’ continual and chronic pain rather than the patients’ acute pain events has changed many modern medical practices.

Hospice care is a special care that focuses on the patient’s quality of life. While treating terminal illness, many people experience acute pain and other stress. Thus, the hospice philosophy is to accept the final stage of life and treat more about the person than the disease itself. Most of the hospice environments are “home”-like. Care centers encourage patients to bring personal items to their rooms. Each room also has a hangout space for family and friends get-together or even spent a night.

Home care, with a similar philosophy, allows patients to stay in their homes. It might be for older adults, patients with chronic illness, or patients recovering from the surgery to receive care in their homes.

Regardless of which environment the patient receives their treatment, all care requires a team of professionals to work together to manage symptoms to maximize patients’ comfort. So their last days could be spent with dignity and quality.

“How people die remains in the memory of those who live on…”

Ms. Saunders’ wisdom like a sounding alarm, reminded us that enhancing patients’ grace matters not only for the patients but also for the families and friends around them. Studying palliative care’s philosophy and reading Dame Saunders’ life story reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Support the overall health and wellbeing of individuals and their families by offering comprehensive health benefits, policy, and services.” — WELL C06, Health Service and Benefit

It is the time to share our awareness of patients’ comfort and acknowledge healthcare professionals for their remarkable contribution to making a quality life for patients and their families. On this Home Care and Hospice month, we design this card for homebased healthcare professionals, thanks to them support those stay-home patients, so patients can benefit from professional care and enjoy family time simultaniously.

As a side note, even though all hospice centers offer a “home-like” environment, the building is considered an Institutional group use because this kind of facility requires medical care and a supervised setting on a 24-hour basis.

Ideally, in a hospice or “home-like” care environment, a few design considerations could help with patients, such as large windows, short walking distance, therapeutic landscape, or easy way-finding.

 

The sketch shows a typical patient room in Hospice Care Centers based on her understanding of care centers’ websites. One type of patient room allows the family member to stay; the other does not.

 

By the way…

According to the Medicare official website, Hospice care is a Medicare benefit taxpayers have earned. The hospice benefit covers care for patients’ terminal illnesses and related conditions. Once the patient gets hospice care, original Medicare will cover everything they need related to their terminal illness. You can download the benefit booklet at medicare.gov.

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Pasta Matters /  by Admin

Pasta to Italians is like noodles for the Asians. Pasta is an integral part of Italy’s culinary history. It is said that the first pasta produced can date back to the 13th to 14th centuries. The pasta was typically made from an unleavened wheat flour dough mixed with water and eggs. They are shaped into sheets, thin strands, or other versatile shapes.

Historians speculated pasta dishes became popular worldwide due to the extensive Mediterranean trading during the Middle Ages. The crops for cuisine, such as macaroni, ravioli, and gnocchi, grew increasingly across the Italian peninsula during the 13th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries, dried pasta became popular because it was easy to store. Only at the beginning of the 17th century, Italians began to have the basic machine for making pasta. With advanced technology for kneading and pressing machines, pasta manufacture became cost-effective. In 1877, Pietro Barilla opened his first bread and pasta shop in Parma, a city between Milan and Bologna.

During the 1900s, the artificial drying and extrusion process produced even larger pasta volumes, making pasta one of the export categories. In the 1950s, domestic appliances became available in most households. At the time, designers took advantage of new technology and made home appliances neater and compacter. These products also started to show stylistic references from the fashion at the time as symbols of modernity.

While intrigued by pasta’s history, and thinking to make our own pasta, a WELL feature suddenly came to mind.

“Provide space and supportive amenities for the preperation of meals on-site.” — WELL, N10, Food Preperation.

On this pasta day, we design this card for kitchen designers, thanks to their thoughtfulness and understanding on food preperation so we can enjoy delicious home-made pasta.

By the way, you might notice that many classic Italian restaurants’ exteriors feature extended awnings.

Awning’s history can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Syria, where people made woven mats to cover market stalls. In the first half of the 19th century, awnings began to appear on the streets in the United States. They became a common architectural feature after the civil war — partially because of the trend of industrialization. When the steamships advanced and no longer needed mainsail for orientation, canvas manufacturers and sailmakers were forced to search for new markets for their excessed fabric. By the 1960s, canvas fell out of favor and was replaced by vinyl and other synthetic materials, such as acrylic fibers and polyester. During the 1970s and 1980s, plastic covering also increased among awning applications.

For centuries after the invention of awnings, shops, restaurants, and grocers could convert sidewalks into outdoor seating or display area with various operable applications. Businesses also like to use bright colors and whimsical strips on the main street to draw visitors’ attention. Because these commercial awnings often extend to the public right of way, municipal departments usually regulate awning applications to maintain certain streetscape or look of a neighborhood.

P.S. If you want to dive deep into knowing awnings, “Preservation Briefs-the Use of Awnings on Historical Buildings: Repair, Replacement and New Design.” by Chad Randl is an excellent resource to start. You can find that article through National Park Service website.

Cookies Matters /  by Admin

Cookies are baked snacks, usually flat and round, made of sweetened dough and personalized recipes. These baked sweet doughs originally appeared in Persia after sugar became common in that region. Allegedly, they were brought to Europe through Muslin after conquering Spain.

In Britain, those sweet doughs were called Biscuits. The word cookie (derived from the Dutch word “koekje”) became commonly spread among Americans when the Dutch settlement grew in the 1600s.

Cookies and Girl Scout

In the United States, cookies represented not only a nutritious treat but a long history associated with Girl Scout, their neighborhoods, and their community. In 1917, Girl Scout Cookie programs were launched in Muskogee, Oklahoma. In the beginning, girls sold cookies in the cafeteria at their high school. With the rise of popularity, these cookie stands were popping up in shopping malls during the 1950s.

 
 
 

Cookies and Diet

The original girl scout cookies were home-baked, thin, and simple without additional ingredients. With the rise of the suburbs in the post-war, girl scout cookies began to develop a variety of flavors: sandwiches, shortbread, and chocolate mints. On the other hand, Christian Dior’s New Look greatly influenced everyday fashion in the 1950s. The tight-fitting bodice, narrow waist, and full skirt gave curving silhouettes among women. This fashion trend was soon reflected in the cookie packaging.

We could tell from a package from the 1960s used a slender figure and modern design to appeal to consumers. A photo from “the look of the century”

The growing awareness of diet and health is also reflected in the nutrition label. In 2006, the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) rule on the declare the trans fatty acid value of nutrition labels was implemented.

Cookies and Entrepreneur Skills

Throughout the century, Girl Scout Cookie’s program has grown into a leading business and improved financial literacy among young girls. Although participation in the Girl Scout cookie program is voluntary, most girls choose to join because of its fun-fulfilling learning experience. Girls gain self-confidence from talking to customers to getting nutritional knowledge about their products through the program. They also learn to select a good selling stand in their neighborhood and build ideas for their area.

 
 

While browsing Girl Scout’s story and the fascinating history of cookies, a box of cookies appeared on my desk. Reading its nutrition fact label reminded us of a WELL feature:

“Help individuals make food choices through nutritional labeling and allergy information” — WELL N02, Nutritional Transparency

On National Cookie Month, we design this card for packaging designers, thanks to their brilliant design that integrate creativity and information so we can select cookies wisely.

By the way…
Ms. Juliette Gordon Low’s house, located in Savannah, Georgia, was built in 1812. It is a Federal-style house. Federal-style architecture prevailed during 1760–1830 and overlapped a period with Greek Revival (1800–1860). It is known for its square, rectangle-shaped roof, and smooth surface. The top is hipped from four sides; making it hard to see the roof ridge from a pedestrian perspective. This architectural style also had a flatter characteristic and did not contain pilasters. In 1965, the National Park Service recognized the significance of Ms. Low’s house and registered it as a historic place. In 2007 this house was included as part of the National Historic Landmark District. In 2015 it received the Historic Preservation Award for Excellence in Restoration.

 

Girl Scout Founder, Ms. Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthplace: The sketch shows the elevation of original house before the renovation. The call-out bubble shows the new look after the renovation and preservation work.

 

Taco Matters /  by Admin

Taco is typical Mexican food consisting of corn or wheat-based tortilla topped with fillings. The tortilla is folded around the filling so people can easily consume it by hand. Traditionally those tacos are served as soft-shell. They were cooked to a soft state by a grill or steam.

Beginning of the 20th century, various tacos became popular in the United States, especially in the Taxes and California area. The crunchy (hard-shell) tacos we are familiar with now are developed here in the States. These hard shell tacos are also known as “Taco Dorados” (golden Tacos in Spanish; and the 1950s was the golden era that kicked off such Taco inventions.

In 1950, Juvencio Maldonado received a patent for the world’s first mechanical taco fryer. In the same decade, Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, also started selling tacos at a taco stand called Taco Tia at 19 cents each from a side window. Back then, the trending food that serves in such manners were burgers, fries, and shakes. Yet Mr. Bell’s entrepreneurial spirit did not stop him there. He asked a manufacturer to make him a wired mode to keep those tortillas in place when frying in batches.

Bell’s fast crunchy tacos and side-window point of the sales were a predecessor of nowadays drive-through. This carryout service allows customers to purchase meals without leaving their cars: they fetch their meals when parked by a side window or let the restaurant bring the food out to the carhop.

Several years ago, a business article about redesigning the taco fast-food franchise drew our attention. Their refreshed designs kept the wide counter and installed more self-order kiosks. The dining tables transformed from small, individual cubical seating to larger, luminous tables and chic lounge-style seating. The traditional “eat-and-go” fast food vibe seems to have disappeared entirely, and the restaurant has become a mindful eating place. While amazed by their beautiful interior shots, a WELL feature came to mind.

“All dedicated eating spaces and points of sale contain at least two different instances of messaging that promote one of the following: a. the consumption of fruits and vegetables. b. the consumption of drinking water.”— WELL N04 Food Advertising.

 

What if customers subconsciously receive these wellness message someday?

 


On this special Taco Day, we design this card for retail designers. Thanks to their creativity, so people can recieved educational message while enjoy their food.

By the way …
Fast food usually has a seating area allowing customers to eat on-site. The restaurant has minimal table service because most fast food orders are designed to be taken away. Orders are generally handled by the customers and paid at a wide counter.

The image below is our prexisting impression of Taco Bell: the teal, pink and purple stripes with bold geometries reflected the fast food dining experience around the 1980s when the postmodern reached its fruition.

 

What would happen if the WELL standard was part of the design trend during 80s or 90s?

 

The rise of Postmodernism partially reacted against Modernism’s simple or sometime overly-dull aesthetics. Therefore Postmodern works were often eclectic, witty, and often dramatically interpreted the past. Interior-wise, they like to use neo-color palettes, playful geometric patterns, and asymmetrical forms. The Memphis group is representative of Postmodernism. The group was founded in Italy but deeply impacted designers worldwide. Architectural-wise, postmodernists tend to use exuberant colors and exaggerated architectural vocabulary. Architects such as Michael Graves and Philip Johnson are known for such a trend. Their works, for example, 550 Madison Ave (by Philip Johnson) and Portland Building (by Michael Graves), speak to most postmodernism-lovers at the time.

 

The sketch on the left is the landmark on 550 Madison Ave designed by Philip Johnson, and the sketch on the right is the other epochal building, the Portland Building, designed by Michael Graves.

 

Second Chance Matters /  by Admin

This morning, an email from a friend found in the inbox drew our attention. The subject line was “New Surgeon General Advisory Raises Alarm about the Devastating Impact of the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation in the United States.” Receiving this email during this week made this message in particular purposeful.

History of Suicide Prevention Awareness

Suicide became a central issue in the United States in the mid-1990s. A Surgeon General at the time, David Satcher, made his call to action on suicide prevention during the Reno Conference in Nevada and prioritized this issue as a public health target. The first World Suicide Prevention Day was launched in 2003 in Stockholm as part of the IASP (international association for suicide prevention) and WHO’s initiatives. National Suicide Prevention Week is the Monday through Sunday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day. American Association of Suicidology organized this weeklong campaign along with other health professionals since 2011.

Continue reading through the Surgeon General’s letter and its associated links; we realized that CDC also has an advisory page on how we should prevent suicidal behavior. They laid out comprehensive plans, such as strengthening financial support, creating a protective environment, etc. These plans all seem feasible, yet we cannot stop pondering: if these are the suicidal antidote, why do we still see people take their lives regardless of age and social status?

“Often people engage in suicidal thinking or suicidal behavior because they feel they can no longer withstand the psychological and emotional pain that they are currently in,” says Psychology Today. These words resonated with our life experience and reminded us of a WELL feature.

“To support and encourage help-seeking for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis through availability and access to service, and to encourage stakeholders to consider and implement reasonable design interventions to support these individuals.” — WELL CRI, Mental Health Crisis Support.

One of the crisis support was Hotspot Management. What is a “hotspot,” you might ask. A suicide hotspot has two definitions. One refers to a geographical area with a relatively high rate of suicide among its resident population; the other refers to a specific site frequently used as a location for suicide.

An effective way of managing a suicide hotspot is to raise a physical barrier because raising barriers restricts individuals’ access to harmful means and prevents suicide attempts. New York University’s Bobst Library is an example. The library installed 20-foot-tall perforate aluminum screens after the student’s second suicide case happened in the atrium area.

 

Inspired by Bobst Library’s sleeky perforated screen, the sketch shows a fantasy that someday Vessel in NYC could add another layer of protection with enhanced glamour to the entire cityscape.

 

Loneliness was rising even before the pandemic. Suicidal behavior, which doesn’t happen in other species, can be traced since human history was written. We all have experienced temporary crises and impulsive suicidal thoughts at some point in our lifetime. Making it hard to approach is a way of “buying time” and helping us with the second chance to consider.

On this melancholy week, design this card for people work at crisis hotline, thanks to their professional skills and instant support, people don’t feel alone and enjoy their lives for the second time.

By the way, the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library is located on the New York University Campus. It faces Washington Square Park and is adjacent to the University’s Woodland Garden. Besides its fascinating pixel-shaped panels surrounding the hotspot, the atrium is also an essential topic in the building code. Since the shopping mall emerged in the suburbs during the 1960s, its central multi-stories-height space became a fire and safety design focus. Section 404 of the International Building Code is designated for atrium design. It includes many safety requirements, such as placing sprinkler systems, smoke control systems, fire rating to separate spaces or maximum travel distance, etc.

The sketch shows how Bobst’s atrium screen responds to its surrounding environ

Waffle Matters /  by Admin

Waffle’s origin can be traced back to Europe in the 13th century. It was a typical dessert eaten during “the Feast of Annunciation”, a religious celebration among Christians. The word waffle came from “wafer” in the Dutch-speaking region. With the rising popularity of “wafers” in the United States during the 1700s, “wafers” became known as waffles.

On August 24, 1869, Cornelius Swartwout was awarded a U.S. patent for an “improvement in waffle iron” consisting of a novel handle for opening, closing, and turning on a stovetop. This invention has set appetites for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even midnight snacks due to its convenience and easily to use. That was why people began celebrating Swartwout's’ innovation on National Waffle’s Day to commemorate the benchmark in our gastronomic culture.

So who initiated the National Waffle Week? If you are curious like us. The story goes back to the 1950s in the United States, a time of great prosperity in America when many families achieved their American dreams. One of their increased living standards was also reflected in the waffles.

On the West Coast, the Dorsa brothers invented frozen waffles in San Jose California. When the frozen food industry took off in the 1950s, the Dorsa brothers (Frank, Anthony, and Sam) repurposed a carousel engine into a rotating device for a series of waffle irons. This breakthrough invention allowed their factory to prepare thousands of waffles per hour. To this day, you can still see the community built due to the factory employment with an abandoned railroad cut through the housing clusters and facilities bounded by U.S. Route 101 and Coyote Creek.

 

Vicinity site of the factory founded by the Dorsa Brothers

 

On the other side of the continent, two neighbors (Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner) decided to open a 24-hour sit-down restaurant near Atlanta, Georgia, in 1955. As the construction of the interstate highway system began to expand and more families traveled long distances by car, travelers could see more “Yellow Signs” popping out along the road across the country. These waffle houses inherited America’s quintessential diner culture. Their configuration is similar to a diner car - a narrow rectangle and often adjacent to a motel. The Waffle House initiated National Waffle Week, which has been observed since 2001.

 

The Waffle House are typically located close to highways. Here is the example along I-270.

 

We impulsively ate more delicious waffles while reading about the waffle’s fascinating history and economic impact. The full-stomach sensation reminded us of the WELL feature:

“Promote healthy portion sizes and reduce unintended overconsumption and food waste.” — WELL N 06, Portion Size

This week, we design this card for waffle makers. Thanks to them for making tastey, healthy and sizable waffles so we could enjoy their delicious creation without over consuming.

 
 

By the way…

  • If you are curious about what Swarthout’s patent copy looks like, check out the Smithsonian magazine or visit the Swarthout Family Org. You might feel more nostalgic if you are from Troy City in New York.

  • A YouTube video, “How the Waffle House was Built,” from the Weird History Food channel might also satisfy your curious appetite for waffles.

Peanuts Matters /  by Admin

American’s Favorite

“Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack; I don’t care if I never get back.” Does this sound familiar to you? That is the refrain from the song “Take Me To The Ball Game,” which you won’t miss during the baseball season. “Ballpark Peanuts” are sold hot at the baseball game, and their distinctive crunches have become an essential part of the American baseball experience.

A month away from the end of the major baseball league, this magic legume and the game companion finally get their turn to be celebrated on September 13th.

Fighting for Peanut’s Love

Americans’ favor for peanuts is not only reflected at baseball games. Their love can also be found in naming the places. Suffolk in Virginia and Dothan in Alabama are both claimed to be the “Peanut Capital of the World.”

From the classic peanut soup (one of the fabulous southern cuisine), to the home of the Planter’s Mr. Peanut (a famous advertising icon), Suffolk has been entitled “Capital of Peanut” since the 1900s. On the other hand, Dothan’s annual peanut festival, its central geographic location, with peanut-shaped statues all over the town have made Dothan earn the fame of the “Peanut Capital of the World” too.

 

The north elevation of Peanut Company, a registered historic place at Suffolk Virginia.

 

Cultivation of Peanuts

In the United States, peanuts are grown mainly in the South, where the climate is warmer and the growing season is extended. Most of the peanut crop comes from these three regions: the Southeast (Georgia-Florida-Alabama-Mississippi-Arkansas), the Southwest (Taxes-Oklahoma-New Mexico), and the Virginia-Carolina region (Virginia-Carolina-South Carolina). According to the National Agricultural Status (NASS), Georgia accounts for most peanut crops (over 50%). Yet considering peanut growing areas, Dothan is within a 100-mile radius of most of its production, well deserved as the Capital of Peanut.

Speaking of the cultivation of peanuts, George Washington Carver must be mentioned. Dr. Carver was an agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of products using peanuts (also sweet potatoes and other beans.) With a master’s degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University in 1896, he gained tremendous knowledge of soil chemistry. He noticed years of growing cotton had depleted soil nutrients, resulting in low yield. Growing nitrogen-fixing plants such as peanuts will help nourish the soil again.

Linger between peanut soup’s creamy texture and dense-typed history, Peanuts’ fascinating characters suddenly diverted our focus on studying the WELL standard:

“Supporting a healthy eating pattern by increasing nutritional knowledge and food literacy” — WELL N07, Nutrition Education

Today, we design this card to dietitions, thanks to them for increasing our knowledge on food and neutrition.

Side notes:
1. The Peanut Company at Suffolk, built in 1898, is a registered historic place. One significance of this building is that its architectural style was hugely influenced by the “Chicago Style” at the time. We can tell such impact from its rectangular massing, the flat roof, minimum ornamentation, large openings, and functional expression of the structure skeleton.

Of course, some building characters do not fit into a “typical” Chicago School Style. For example, this building does not obtain a “three-part window,” nor is it expressed as a “tall” building. But it has revealed the changing of building code at the time.

2. Why is it called “Chicago style”?
The Chicago Fire of 1871 gave builders stricter lines: the fire-proof structure. This structure frees the exterior wall from the conventional role as a load-bearing wall. Therefore, the fenestration was large, quite different from the traditional brick building with only arrays of tiny windows.

Also…

  • A detailed history behind this place can be found on the National Park Service website. You can search for “the Suffolk Peanut Company” at the National Register of Historic Places via nps. gov.

  • If you are curious to see what an authentic “Chicago window” looks like, check out “How this window transformed Chicago” by Stewart Hicks on Youtube.


Golf Course Matters /  by Admin

Golf, a sport associated with long history of our civilization, is celebrated in August.

It is said that the history of golf games can be traced back to the Roman Empire. The modern game of golf originated in Scotland during the 15th century. Early Scottish golf courses were primarily laid out on soil-covered dunes on the sandy coastland. As the game evolves, golf courses become built on parkland and typically have either 18-hole or 9-hole regions of terrain with “cups” to receive balls.

People say the PGA (the Professional Golfer’s Association of America) was the one who founded the first national golf month back in 1993. Their goal was to promote golf as a family-friendly and inclusive sport.

Reading about PGA has reminded us of a justice case, “PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin.” Casey Martin, a professional golfer who qualified for the PGA Tour in 2000, filed a suit against the PGA for not allowing him to use the golf cart while playing the tour.

Casey claimed to suffer from Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, and walking would make him pain, exhausted, and anxious. According to the Supreme Court’s final ruling, “walking” was not indispensable to the tournament; thus, Martin’s use of a cart was a reasonable means of giving him access to finish the tour.

As much as we enjoy walking and like to promote a walkable environment, reflecting on this case reminded us of WELL features.

“Provide buildings that are accessible, comfortable, and usable for people of all backgrounds and abilities.” — WELL C13 Accessibility and Universal Design.

 
 

Perhaps not all golf clubs can afford carts for all visitors touring the course, but having an accessible clubhouse will do the same trick. On the other hand, many golf courses are located in a remote suburban site to host the traditional game of 18 holes. Imagine if these golf courses could also be included within local bus routes; that would attract more people to enjoy golf’s beautiful landscape and this historic exercise.

“promote movement, physical activity, and active living through the site and nearby amenities that facilitate walkability and provide proximate access to public transportation.” — WELL V05, Site Planning, and Selection.

On this renowned golf month, design this card for planners. Thanks to them making public transportation so vailable to the clubhouses. So we can gather many golfers, golf watchers, and outdoor lovers in one heathland.

Peach Matters /  by Admin

Peach, the fruit representing a great deal of Asian culture and the key ingredient of southern cobbler, is celebrated in August.

The history of Peach can be traced back to ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty. In ancient China, people believed this fruit benefited health and longevity. Many dessert buns were shaped like peaches on older people’s birthday celebrations.

Peach also symbolizes romance and popularity. Idioms were composed with this fruit, such as “having a peach-blossom luck” (having luck in love) or “peach and plums all over the world” (having pupils everywhere).

Though peaches were initially grown in China, their cultivation became popular and widespread in Europe through Persian countries. That is why Peach has the scientific name “Persica.”

Peach is now widely grown in the United States, and summer is the peak peach-picking season. Because peaches need limited chill windows, The top peach-production states are California and Georgia. Though Maryland is not the top-produced state, we can still enjoy this juicy fruit by visiting nearby pick-your-own farms. Several orchards offer pick-your-own activities. Visitors could spend a summer weekend in a farmhouse and participate in part of the harvesting excitements.

 
 

Reading Peach’s history and thinking about a family summer activities reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Individuals who participate in community and home gardening projects have a higher level of fruit and vegetable consumption and are more likely to meet national recommendations for fruit and vegetable intakes than nongardeners.” — WELL N12, Food Production

On the National Peach Day, we design this card for community and home gaderners, thanks to them for making fruits and vegetables so accessible for everyone.

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