Penguin In Flight

Imagine the potential of building design that incorporates the environment around it rather than shutting it out.  Read this below from Arup Development regarding the design of the new federal building in San Francisco.

Climate research highlighted predominant, strong NW winds, in the 30 mph range, particularly during the hottest times of the day. Zoning assessments highlighted that all of the project site’s adjacent buildings were limited to a maximum height of 120 ft, whereas the site itself was allowed to be up to 240 ft high.

This meant that by developing a long slender 18-story (234 ft) office tower, the San Francisco Federal Building could make use of the wind-driven cross ventilation in stories above the sixth floor level, with little danger of building development subsequently obstructing the force and direction of the prevailing winds. Careful facade design transformed the walls of the tower into a ‘living skin’ that will breathe to cool the interior, while building systems will monitor the interior temperature and pressure and trigger automatically operable floor-level vents to maintain a comfortable environment.

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• possible
• capable of being or becoming
• possibility; potentiality
• a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed
• someone or something that is considered a worthwhile possibility

From Dictionary.com

In the postings on this site I would like to open up to the possibilities, of what we as a civilization of people are capable of becoming, by finding and developing our excellence and bringing forth all the “someones and somethings” to share in the worthwhile possibilities.

Rather than exist in fear challenge yourself to exist in the joy of what we can do…what our true potential is! Our potential for compassion, our potential to help, our potential for creativity, our potential for growth.

Send me your thoughts, your stories of seeking and celebrating potential.

aflyingpenguin@penguininflight.com

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As an exercise in creative problem solving we are asked to list potentials. What are all the possibilities of…?

A penguin in flight may…

• fly to a new land covered in ice
• loose weight with the exercise
• may allow more people may enjoy the good natured sociability of a penguin
• decrease the rate at which ice is melting in Antarctica as there will be less body heat from the penguins
• find new and enjoyable food sources as they taste new cuisine
• have new stories to tell
• better understand their role in the world as they see themselves interacting with other inhabitants
• help us better understand our role in the world as we see other species interact
• decrease the number of penguins in zoos as we will all become accustomed to seeing them
• develop bigger, stronger wings
• adapt to the changing environment and not become extinct
• learn to surf
• inspire the flight of other penguins not to mention other flightless birds
• gain a new understanding of self based on his/her new understanding of the world
• be monitored in flight and reveal new and undiscovered territories through out the world
• attract air pollutants to their furry feathers and deposit it on land as granules there by decreasing air pollution and allowing the granules to be studied
• increase the world’s level of happy
• change our understanding of physics
• change our understanding of dinosaurs
• change the weather pattern thereby ending global warming
• encourage Canadian Geese to restart their migrations

This exercise opens us up to all the wonderful things that may come about if we pursue our dreams, or our possible solutions to challenges. What challenges do you have? What solutions have you come up with? What are the potentials of those solutions?

What are the possibilities of starting this web site? We might support a conversation that gives substance to a dream of creating a civilization living more in harmony. We might create a world where such dreams become reality. We might create a much higher level of “happy” in our world. We might…

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I thrive in the times of transitions;  The times in between.  The bubbling, broiling, active time that signifies change in action, with all of its starts and stops, bumps, and grinds. The time just before where resting turns to restlessness.  It is here that new beginnings are nurtured to life, molded into art.  It is here that the first breaths of creativity exhale their wispy currents.  How do you look upon transition?  With fear? or with excitement?

If in fear can we truly move with the freedom necessary to reach our potential?  Think of fearful thoughts.  Think of the scariest things that you can muster.  Now look at your body.  Is it closed up? bent over? Do you move begrudgingly? with pain? without grace? Listen to your language.  Is it dark? closed? violent?  Check your vision.  Can you see the periphery? the edges? the horizon? Your hearing.  Can you hear past your own thumping heart beat?

If we face the transition with excitement and an openness for the possibilities, for the great potential ahead of us then our posture is upright, strong, vibrant.  Our movement easy, flexible, graceful.  Our language becomes bright, inviting, nurturing.  Our vision scans all around us to take in the detail that surrounds us.  Our hearing reaches out to hear the softest of voices.

We are in a time of transition. What are the potentials in this time?  Check back often as we explore these potentials.

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