an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe…

Inspired by this post: http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/31/symphony-of-science.html, about a new autotune track from the cool gang over at Symphony of Science, I went on listen and download all the tracks from the Symphony of Science. And once catch phrase (because it is so brilliantly executed) was Carl Sagan singing:

“If you wish to make, a pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe”

Awesome. Check it out yourself!

How can I not make that into a commemorative poster, “keep calm an carry on” style?

Several years ago,

with the emergence of IKEA, Habitat and co. , the excitement of inexpensive furniture that was good looking and stylish took the western world in a storm. And it is blindingly clear why. Prior to the IKEA era (no disrespect for similar approaches that predate IKEA, but history has the unkind manner of only remembering those who pushed themselves hardest into the collective memory) there was a distinct absence of affordable decorations available. Cheap and nasty was contrasted by beautifully styled/crafted and prohibitively expensive.

For me personally the novelty of IKEA has since worn off. No longer do I receive their annual catalogue, nor does any sense of excitement pre-empt a visit to any of their stores. On the contrary, the continual disappointment with pieces of furniture after successful assembly when my eye wearily wondered over the inevitable spray of chipboard dust that threatened never to be vacuum cleaned out of the carpet again reinforced the understanding that IKEA furniture (for my liking) is best observed from the safety of their catalogue.

And after over one year of moving into my flat I was still falling over a few left-over boxes spew n around the place, with no hope of having a genuinely cool, well built and contemporary shelf to house the content of the boxes.

To the rescue came an idea that I have had for along time. I wanted to build shelves and furniture from pieces of scaffolding. Their rough and hard finish are the perfect marriage for a day to day material while being inexpensive, flexible, readily sourced and easily modded.

The real trouble however is sourcing the stuff. You see it everywhere, scaffold-like systems are used as racks in fashion stores, as rails in buses, urban trains and underground carriages, handrails in car parks and mobile barriers. But if you search for scaffolding on-line, or ask a retailer, it’s always a disappointment. What shows up are these giant gauge and clunky components sturdy enough to construct a medium rise building, but the stuff I saw around and craved was no-where to be found.

That’s because they are called “Key Camps”, not scaffolding. The smaller gauge items are fixed together with connectors that use Allen Key grub screws hence “Key clamps and tubes”.

Tools and precaution.

The amount of 3.2m size 6 (33.7mm dia) tubes and clamps came delivered in a truck. Gross weight: 98kg. It is pretty obvious that key clamps systems are heavy, hard and unforgiving to anything you smash into. So get a friend to help carrying the tubes around to avoid damage to yourself and your surroundings.

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For personal protection:

• sturdy food wear. Saftey shoes if you have them
• gloves. The cutting edges and manufacturing seams cam be razor sharp and pierce skin and clothes.
• safety goggles. You only have two eyes.
• strong clothes
• knee pads. I used my rollerblade ones, as I’ll often kneel when working with heavy items.

Tools:

• measuring tape
• fine tip marker ( to mark tubes for cutting)
• clamps (I used two sash-clamps, which really stabilize the tube while cutting)
• decent quality allen key (you’ll be opening and fastening the screws several times, so it pays to have decent tool to avoid “rounding” the grub screws!)
• Optional: torque wrench (all manufacturers specify a max torque, which is serves to avoid any slipping of the components and avoids damaging stuff)
• spirit level
• a friend to help, the stuff is heavy!

The variety of available sizes and connectors is bewildering and these clamps are unbelievably versatile. I already have a number of cool applications in mind, with something this cool and flexible, there is such thing as “left-overs” only source material for new projects.”

The actual shelves I made from the cheapest wood available, sawn timbers, 25x50mm. I simply fashioned them into sort of mini palettes, as a fitting homage to all things urban. Lidl shops have them, the Ikea warehouse is full of them, and as unseen as millions of them transport our everyday goods around the globe, there is always one or two lying around in a skip at the end of you road. Must have urban accessory.

I’ve had an idea for while now for urban clothing. I’m not a very fashionable person and my idea is lesser rotating around looks for urban clothing but more about functionality. I’ve been living in London for a number of years now, and I have seen London’s cool, fun, innovative, funky, Hackney-cool, welcoming, curious  and endearing sides as much as I have witnessed and experienced the crime, hardship, randomness and cruelty that governs life in this city.

Functionality in this context is to means cultural and social functionality, clothing that helps to reduce stress, controls the flow of information(visually, audibly , and electromagnetically) , reduces exposure to crime, while remaining functional and inconspicuous.

Here are some ideas:

Privacy:

• I went to see an exhibition in the science museum about information and privacy. As ideas, they presented devices (i.e. a partial mask from shapes) that disguises the face from recognition, be it human eye or CCTV. Cameras are everywhere in London, and I hold true the belief that because “I’m innocent what I get up to is no-one’s business”.  Privacy is a concern, and the ability to move without state intrusion is becoming ever more important.
  1. ability to change colour
  2. ability to change shape
  3. ability to disguise the face
  4. few identifiable features (i.e. disguised pockets, openings…)
• London is noisy and loud. I’d like to control the intake of my senses, as near constant announcements about “safety this” and “safety that”, “this vehicle is reversing”, “security forces”, “report to a member…” and “thank you for your cooperation” mix with howling, screening sirens, horns, beeps and blips the whole day long. Not to mention the deafening noise from old busses (Thanks Boris and Ken) and the obligatory racing bike screeching through a quite night. Hearing protection is a must.
• police searches are on the up, and muggers a just as much a persistent threat. Discreet pockets for sensitive items in unusual places are a must!
• communication. A flashy phone can attract muggers, but most importantly, they’re clumsy to carry and head-set pieces are expensive or fiddly. The clothing has to deal with the wiring neatly, integrating the head-set in an inconspicuous and functional manner.
• ideally, urban clothing is not as much a brand new piece of clothing, but the result of modifying an existing item. It keeps a low profile, keeps cost under control and is more of a “kit” than a branded piece of clothing.