Walks: Dean Village In Edinburgh, Scotland (4K)
Dean Village is a peaceful village on the Water of Leith, Edinburgh’s largest river. Founded during the twelfth century by the Canons Regular of Holyrood Abbey, it is also known as the Water of Leith Village.
Dean Village (dene means “deep valley” in Scots) was a prosperous hamlet for over 800 years. In the past, the area had eleven working mills on the strong currents of the city’s river.
Trade in Dean Village diminished and the village soon fell into decay and abandonment especially during the second half of the twentieth century. Ten years later, the greenness, tranquillity and proximity of the hamlet to the city centre made this area extremely popular and plans to redevelop it were put into place. It quickly became one of the most sought-out residential parts of Edinburgh.
Cover Preview: Barron’s Magazine – April 18, 2022
Sustainable Investing Failed Its First Big Test. A Reckoning Is Coming.
The popular strategy underperformed last quarter, raising new questions about its rationale—and its future.
The ‘Key-Man’ Risk and Tesla Shareholders’ Nerves
From provocative tweets and colorful media appearances to fantastic takeover bids, Elon Musk has an outsized influence on Tesla stock movements.1 min
Why Twitter Shareholders Should Sell Out to Elon Musk
Under its present management and business model, the stock is unlikely to revisit last year’s $80 peak.4 min
Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London
Georgina Godwin sets the tone for the weekend, Vincent McAviney reviews the papers and Andrew Mueller recaps what we learned this week.
Front Page: WSJ Weekend Edition – April 16, 2022
Watercolor Views: ‘Atlas’ By Thomas Schaller (2022)
Science: Climate Change Hits Desert Soil, Mayan Calendars In Guatemala
On this week’s show: Climate change is killing critical soil organisms in arid regions, and early evidence for the Maya calendar from a site in Guatemala.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Pennisi joins host Sarah Crespi to discuss how climate change is affecting “biocrust,” a thin layer of fungi, lichens, and other microbes that sits on top of desert soil, helping retain water and create nutrients for rest of the ecosystem. Recent measurements in Utah suggest the warming climate is causing a decline in the lichen component of biocrust, which is important for adding nitrogen into soils.
Next, Sarah talks with Skidmore College anthropologist Heather Hurst, who directs Guatemala’s San Bartolo-Xultun Regional Archaeological Project, and David Stuart, a professor of art history and director of the Mesoamerica Center at the University of Texas, Austin, about their new Science Advances paper. The study used radiocarbon dating to pin down the age of one of the earliest pieces of the Maya calendar. Found in an archaeological dig in San Bartolo, Guatemala, the character known as “seven deer” (which represents a day in the Maya calendar), was dated to 300 B.C.E. That early appearance challenges what researchers know about the age and origins of the Maya dating system.
Tours: The ‘J&J Residence’ – Modern, Energy Efficient In Chandler, Australia
Refined and energy-efficient, J&J Residence is a modern house crafted by Hogg & Lamb. Using rammed earth as its hero material, the architectural design practice creates an aesthetically pleasing home that works harder for the environment than it may first appear.
Timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Modern Home 00:31 – Entering the Home 01:20 – The Rammed Earth Wall 02:24 – Building a Sustainable Home 02:47 – Sustainable Design Features 03:18 – The Unexpected Quality of Rammed Earth 03:44 – Materials Used 04:23 – What the Architect is Most Proud Of
J&J Residence is located in the Brisbane suburb of Chandler – an evolving suburb with a growing number of large-scale residences. Externally, Hogg & Lamb breaks up the visual solidity of the modern house with sections of glazing across the home’s two floors – the resulting façade evokes the image of stone fingers rising from the eroded hillside. Entering the modern house, residents find that the low front doorway precedes an impressive double-height entry space.
By purposefully juxtaposing the scale of the doorway and entry space, Hogg & Lamb creates a sense of experiential release so that the internal architecture of the home can be appreciated with a sense of relaxation. The architecture and interior design of J&J Residence is largely influenced by the use of rammed earth walls.
Alongside travertine, spotted gum and Viridian EnergyTech grey glass, the textural material of rammed earth establishes a raw, natural and calming material palette. The material is also integral to the energy efficiency of the modern house, featuring high thermal mass that keeps the house warm in winter and cool in summer. J&J Residence represents a triumphant first project for Hogg & Lamb. A modern house of style and sustainability, the residence demonstrates the versatility of its material palette.
Spring Walks: Bonn In Western Germany (4K)
Bonn is a city in western Germany straddling the Rhine river. It’s known for the central Beethoven House, a memorial and museum honoring the composer’s birthplace. Nearby are Bonn Minster, a church with a Romanesque cloister and Gothic elements, the pink-and-gold Altes Rathaus, or old city hall, and Poppelsdorf Palace housing a mineralogical museum. To the south is Haus der Geschichte with post-WWII history exhibits.
Boomers Daily 