Kappe House and Stahl House Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Kappe House and Stahl House - Research Paper Example There is a lot of similarities between these houses, ranging from the environment in which they are built to the materials and designs used to construct them. The application of sophisticated designs, which places the two as floating on space, coupled with their suitable integration with the natural environment, makes these Kappe and Stahl houses the icons they are today. However, there are still a lot of differences that can be indentified between these houses. For example, while the Kappe house is mostly constructed from glass and wood, the Stahl house has glass and steel as its major construction materials. Kappe house was constructed between 1965 and 1967, by architect Raymond Kappe on a hillside with many trees, as his own residence (Raymond, 17). Considering that the land on which the house is constructed is a steep hill, then, designing a structure that would well be accommodated by such land topography was a challenging task. The house was constructed using glass and wood, bu t there had to be established firm support for the house, due to the steepness of its location. This being the case, Kappe build six concrete towers to support the house and ensure it would withstand all forces while remaining more stable (Kevin, 4). The size of the house is 370 square meters, raised on decks to avoid the effects of underground springs, such as busting of such springs and carrying away the floor or bringing the whole house down altogether. The unique thing about this construction is the use of natural materials. The house is mainly constructed out of wood, which is cut in form of beams, to enhance its strength and ensure that the wood can support the weight of the house, which is constructed floating on the space. Steel is yet another material used in the construction of this house, since as a natural metal, it is very strong, and thus can withstand the tension caused by the weight of the floating house. Additionally, the choice for steel as the metal to use in the house construction was informed by its ability to withstand rusting. The house has a sophisticated geometric form, which consists of vertical and horizontal structures, constructed in tires and then joined to other outer structures and an extended roof, all of which floats on space, supported by the concrete and steel structures (McCoy, 7). This geographic form effectively combines the traditional architectural designs with aspects of modernism, giving the structure an aesthetic touch that remains an attraction to present day (Dylan, A2). Due to its attractiveness, the house has attracted many advertisements, using the house as the backdrop. The most significant of this house is its design, which blends well the human construction with the natural environment, thus effectively fit well as an icon of integrated natural environment and built environment. There are two key challenges that were presented by the nature of the environment in which the house is constructed. The land on whi ch the house is constructed is sloppy. As a result, a strong support system was required to support the house on such a land topography, which necessitated Kappe to design and use six concrete towe

How Environmental Documentaries Have Developed from the Ethnographic Research Paper

How Environmental Documentaries Have Developed from the Ethnographic - Research Paper Example Hence, the documentary filmmaker's role has changed as well. He is not simply a storyteller with a camera any longer, but he can become an environmental activist himself. Director Louie Psihoyos is directly involved in the action in The Cove where filmmakers alongside environmental activists plant hidden cameras to reveal the dolphin slaughter committed by the fishermen. Not only does he direct his filmmaking crew, he also leads the group of activists and plays a crucial part in devising the plan how to expose crimes of animal cruelty. The general consensus amongst environmental filmmakers today seems to be that a film alone can't change anything, but the reactions and actions it provokes in an audience can bring upon real change. Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, remarks in The Cove: â€Å"You're either an activist or a non-activist. I decided to be an activist.† The filmmakers' clear intent to motivate the audiences into direct action is summed up by one of the film's marketing punch-lines: ‘The Secret Is Out. Spread the Word’. Unlike feature films that make headlines for a few weeks while they are successful at the box office, documentaries like The Cove have an organic 'after-life' where audiences and fans are kept up to date online by the filmmakers about how the story is developing long after the initial release of the film. Most importantly, the world wide web and social networking media can play an active role in defining the outcome of the story by giving audiences a platform to take direct action. The Cove's website lists many options how one can directly support several organizations who are protecting dolphins in Japan by either donating money or by signing online petitions, joining... The general consensus amongst environmental filmmakers today seems to be that a film alone can't change anything, but the reactions and actions it provokes in an audience can bring upon real change. Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, remarks in The Cove: â€Å"You're either an activist or a non-activist. I decided to be an activist.† The filmmakers' clear intent to motivate the audiences into direct action is summed up by one of the film's marketing punch-lines: ‘The Secret Is Out. Spread the Word’. Unlike feature films that make headlines for a few weeks while they are successful at the box office, documentaries like The Cove have an organic 'after-life' where audiences and fans are kept up to date online by the filmmakers about how the story is developing long after the initial release of the film. Most importantly, the world wide web and social networking media can play an active role in defining the outcome of the story by giving audiences a platfo rm to take direct action. The Cove's website lists many options how one can directly support several organizations who are protecting dolphins in Japan by either donating money or by signing online petitions, joining facebook groups or by pledging never to buy a ticket for a dolphin show. To sum up, environmental films of today are holistic experiences that give the audiences the opportunity to become interactive and play a crucial part in the overall cause.