I’d love to see more about the underlying structures that shape our world—both the visible and the hidden ones. How do principles of engineering—load-bearing, flexibility, resilience—translate into other fields? Even in something as delicate as lacework (fellow knitter here!) or as monumental as The Shard or The Pantheon in Rome, it's all about balance, tension, and design working in harmony. It would be fascinating to read your perspective on how these principles connect across disciplines and shape both the human-made and natural world. Mental Resilience: bending with life's challenges rather than breaking under them.
Perhaps the real marvel of engineering is the balance between strength and flexibility. Too rigid, and things (people too?) crack under pressure. Too loose, and they lack form... find a way to stand tall while adjusting to the forces around them.
Whatever you write, it's always a pleasure to read!
Thanks so much for your detailed response, Caterina! I love that you knit too, and such an interesting point about balance and tension working in harmony. Best wishes!
At a recent exhibition at the Tate Liverpool called Brickworks, they showed this great film called In Comparison by Harun Farocki which showed workers from around the world using different methods to make bricks. It sounds boring but was very engrossing.
Great post Roma! This has made me think about concrete- another ancient material that has been used to create the societies we live in today. Would love to see a post on that!
I’d love to see more about the underlying structures that shape our world—both the visible and the hidden ones. How do principles of engineering—load-bearing, flexibility, resilience—translate into other fields? Even in something as delicate as lacework (fellow knitter here!) or as monumental as The Shard or The Pantheon in Rome, it's all about balance, tension, and design working in harmony. It would be fascinating to read your perspective on how these principles connect across disciplines and shape both the human-made and natural world. Mental Resilience: bending with life's challenges rather than breaking under them.
Perhaps the real marvel of engineering is the balance between strength and flexibility. Too rigid, and things (people too?) crack under pressure. Too loose, and they lack form... find a way to stand tall while adjusting to the forces around them.
Whatever you write, it's always a pleasure to read!
Thanks so much for your detailed response, Caterina! I love that you knit too, and such an interesting point about balance and tension working in harmony. Best wishes!
At a recent exhibition at the Tate Liverpool called Brickworks, they showed this great film called In Comparison by Harun Farocki which showed workers from around the world using different methods to make bricks. It sounds boring but was very engrossing.
https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-liverpool/display/harun-farocki-in-comparison
That doesn't sound boring at all! Thanks so much for sharing this.
Have you ever gone down into the archive at ICE? They’ve got some centuries old copies of Vitruvius. You’d love the stuff down there.
Ooo I haven't. Been to the library, but the archives sound fascinating... thanks for the tip.
History of Objects, structures, processes, effects on humans, effect on the planet. That's all. thanks -lookinig forward to these posts.
Thanks, Monica! Appreciate your thoughts.
I am a fan of thin-shell concrete. I'd enjoy seeing your take on the topic.
Ha, it's great! I will definitely do one on concrete soon, will see if I can include some thin shell.
Great post Roma! This has made me think about concrete- another ancient material that has been used to create the societies we live in today. Would love to see a post on that!
100%, on it.