The Cockpit: Cool Architecture, New Technology, Rubbernecking at Freeway Speeds

"Cockpit and Acoustic Barrier, Leidsche Rijn Utrecht, Netherlands"
designbuild-network.com (undated, after November 2005)

"...The design of the Cockpit and barrier construction consists of a building integrated into an acoustic barrier. The barrier runs alongside the A2 highway in the centre of Holland. The aim is to separate industrial and residential districts by muffling sound, while also producing an architectural construction that people can enjoy.

"The acoustic barrier and the Cockpit are designed with drivers in mind, allowing for a car to pass at a speed of 120km/h and guaranteeing a smooth appearance of the structure.

"The Cockpit houses a showroom and garage for luxury cars for Hessing Holding BV. It is positioned 15m from the side of the A2 highway. Drivers can view the cars as they pass by.

"The highway side is composed of a triangular system of glass elements..."


(from designbuild-network.com, used w/o permission)
"The Cockpit houses a showroom and garage for luxury cars for Hessing Holding BV."


(from designbuild-network.com, used w/o permission)
"The acoustic barrier runs alongside the A2 highway in Holland."


(from designbuild-network.com, used w/o permission)
"Complex structures can be built and managed using simple engineering methods."

This is 'way beyond the sound-reflecting walls we see along urban Interstate in America. The Cockpit's design is, apparently, something really new: "...Non-Standard Architecture (NSA) realised on a large scale. The basic principle of NSA is that all compiled components are different...." The designbuild-network.com article mentions the new technology and programming that went into designing and building The Cockpit.

Manufacture of the structure involved something called a "point cloud system." If this catches on, it could be as faddish - and useful in some cases - as Fuller's geodesic domes. As the article said:

"...This shows that within a regular budget large complex structures can be built and managed using simple engineering methods."

The Cockpit was finished in November of 2005.

One thing that bothers me about the design is this sentence: "Drivers can view the cars as they pass by." They're going 120 kph. That's about 75 miles an hour - a sensible freeway speed in my part of the world. Provided that the drivers are watching the road and traffic.

I'm not entirely convinced that it's a good idea to encourage rubbernecking on a high-speed road.

Still, it's been almost five years since the thing was finished - and I haven't heard of any major accidents in central Holland.

Lemming Tracks: Joran van der Sloot, and an Oopsie in Peru

"Victim in Peru found link between van der Sloot, Holloway, source says"
CNN (June 8, 2010)

"The Peruvian woman who died in Joran van der Sloot's hotel room was killed after she discovered information on his laptop linking him to the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN.

"Van der Sloot, the longtime suspect in the Holloway case, confessed Monday night to the killing of Stephany Flores Ramirez, 21, whose body was found in a hotel room last week, Peruvian authorities said.

"He could be formally charged as early as Wednesday, the authorities said.

"Van der Sloot was interrogated for seven hours Monday, the source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN.

"The Dutch citizen told investigators that he left the hotel room to buy bread and coffee at a gas station next to the hotel, the source said...."

For the sake of the families and friends of Stephany Flores Ramirez and Natalee Holloway, I hope that Peru is able to resist pressure from Dutch authorities and the young van der Sloot's father: and determine whether or not Joran van der Sloot killed at least two young women - or is among the unluckiest men in recent history.

I think it's possible - remotely - that van der Sloot the younger has been incredibly unlucky, and a little crazy to boot.

I don't, in a way, blame the Aruban authorities for antics worthy of a Marx Brothers movie. Their little island nation, an "autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands," depends heavily on tourism. A young American woman disappearing had the potential for really bad publicity. Particularly when it looked like the son of one of their bigwigs had killed - or sold - her.

It's possible that at least of few of the fellows in charge breathed a sigh of relief when somebody fingered a couple of black guys. Who, as it turned out, had airtight alibis.

Credit where credit is due, though. When the black men couldn't be used as fall guys, Aruban authorities and their friends in the Netherlands did a creditable job of passing Joran van der Sloot, the son of an Aurban official, from office to office before finally deciding that he shouldn't be charged.

I'm sure that the protocol was impeccable. Both times.

And I'd be more willing to believe that the young van der Sloot was falsely accused, if he didn't keep making such idiotically self-incriminating statements. (November 25, 2008) If he's not a stupid rich kid who's gotten used to his daddy bailing him out of embarrassing situations: he's been doing a wonderful job of imitating one.

Oops: Peru Isn't Aruba

From the looks of it, Joran van der Sloot may have had a perfectly reasonable motive for killing Stephany Flores Ramirez. "Reasonable," not "good." Back to that CNN article:

"...Upon his return, he found Flores going through his laptop, where she found something linking him to the disappearance of Holloway, the source said.

"At that point, Flores wanted to leave, and the pair started arguing, according to the source...."

And she winds up half-undressed - and completely dead.

In Peru.

Which is not Aruba.

Peruvians, apparently, have little to no respect for the preferences of Aruban officials. They're holding Joran van der Sloot - and may very well try him for murder. Providing that the Dutch government doesn't get him off the hook again.

Which Dutch media is already trying to do, apparently:

"Dutch concern over van der Sloot 'show trial' "
CNN (June 8, 2010)

"Dutch media expressed concern Tuesday about the prospects of Joran van der Sloot getting a fair trial following his arrest in Peru over the death of a 21-year-old woman.

"Peruvian authorities say that Van der Sloot has already confessed to killing Stephany Flores Ramirez and could be charged on Tuesday. If convicted of murder he could face up to 35 years in jail.

"The case has attracted international attention because van der Sloot was twice arrested and released in connection with the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005....

I can't help but think that Joran van der Sloot would be safe if he'd stayed in Aruba, where the authorities were more, ah, understanding.

Related post:

• "Human Trafficking, Natalee Holloway, and a Reminder"
  (November 25, 2008)

Background on Aruba:

• "Aruba"
  World Factbook, CIA, (last updated May 27, 2010)

What do Edmonton, Alberta; and The Netherlands have In Common?

"Edmonton veterans mark liberation of Netherlands"
Edmonton Journal (May 5, 2010)

" 'We cannot thank you enough,' Mandel tells soldiers

"The city marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War with a parade of veterans in downtown Edmonton on Wednesday.

"At 11:30, both past and present members of the Canadian Forces, with vehicles both new and antique, marched from 103rd Street, along Jasper Avenue, to Churchill Square.

"Veterans were awarded medallions in recognition of their service...."

My guess is that the Edmonton Journal is talking about Edmonton, Alberta. The references to Jasper Avenue and Churchill Square seem to make more sense that way. There's another Edmonton in Ontario, though - but that isn't really the point of the article, I think.

Canada, along with quite a few other nations, was very involved in World War II. I'm glad to read that soldiers who fought in that war are still recognized: and that The Netherlands seems to be still, on the whole, glad that the Allies won.

Dutch Merry Go Round Inside Out House Doesn't Spin

"ira koers: merry go round studio, the netherlands"
designboom (October 14, 2009)

"dutch firm ira koers have sent in images of their latest project 'merry go round'. the holiday cottage uses a traditional floor plan, with its rooms opening onto a central hallway and turning it inside out...."

as you can see by the lack of capitalization, this is a very sophisticated and artistic website.

nextthingyouknowtheyllomitpunctuationandspacestoo But e e cummings didn't do that, so I suppose the artistic set won't, either. They're almost stodgy in their adherence to tradition, in a way.

The stylistic oddities of the text shouldn't get in the way: There's not all that much text - but quite a number of impressive photos. And, even more impressive, a floor plan, elevations, and a diagram of the cottage's interior in isometric perspective.

A large portion of the cottage's floor space is devoted to the hallway which runs along all four exterior walls: not exactly an efficient design, in terms of materials or traffic, but it's definitely different. And could be seen as increasing the internal privacy of the residence.

I'm not sure what I think of the slit-like windows. When I'm inside, I like to be able to look out and see more than one tree trunk at a time. But, tastes differ.

Still, as a novelty cottage, this project is quite impressive. And, as a piece of sculpture, attractive in its own way.

Interstingly, despite the "merry go round" name, the cottage does not appear to rotate. Perhaps the name lost something in translation.

Dutch Engineers Reducing 1 in 10,000 Chance of Flooding to 1 in 100,000

"Before the Levees Break: A Plan to Save the Netherlands"
Wired (December 22, 2008)

"On a late fall afternoon on the western edge of the Netherlands, coastal engineer Marcel Stive stands atop a 40-foot dune. He stares out beyond the posse of wet-suit-clad surfers wading into the breakers of the North Sea. Where the surfers see inviting waves, Stive sees dry land—and a distant storm. He points south toward Rotterdam, Europe's busiest port. Arm outstretched, Stive rotates 180 degrees to face the shoreline running north. 'As far as you can see, in both directions, we're going to push the coast out 3, maybe 4, kilometers,' he says. 'We have to—to keep the water out.'...."

Engineers in the Netherlands are quite interested in making sure that the dry land in the country they made stays that way: dry. Particularly the part where Rotterdam is. That city, and the rest of the country that's below sea level, produces about 65% of Holland's GDP.

"...Yet the chance of a breach at Ter Heijde is actually quite low, about 1 in 10,000 in any given year. (In the lingo of storm protection, that's known as a 10,000-year flood.) The coastline and river deltas of the Netherlands are arguably the best-protected lowlands in the world, and the Dutch are a little miffed at Al Gore for suggesting in An Inconvenient Truth that their homeland is as vulnerable to rising seas as far less protected places like Bangladesh and Florida.

"To Stive and other sea-rise hawks, however, 1 in 10,000 has become too risky. They want to crank up defenses in some critical areas to the level of 1 in 100,000. 'To understand risk, you must consider the value of what would be lost,' says Stive...."

The article includes photos, a video, and maps: a fairly detailed look at a huge engineering project.

Dutch Statisticians: Friday the 13th is - Lucky?!

" Dutch study shows Friday 13th not more unlucky"
Yahoo! News (June 12, 2008)

"AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Unlucky for some? Dutch statisticians have established that Friday 13th, a date regarded in many countries as inauspicious, is actually safer than an average Friday...."

That's it! No more Friday the 13th posts for at least a month.

That Dutch study was interesting, though.

Solar-Powered Speedboat - No Kidding

"Solar-Powered Speedboat Goes on Sale in Netherlands"
FOXNews (May 28, 2008)

"It'd make Sonny Crockett from 'Miami Vice' proud — in a totally 'green' way.

"Dutch researchers at the Technical University of Delft have developed what they say is the world's first solar-powered speedboat, and it's got all the luxurious trimmings one would expect.

"According to maritime engineers Nils Beers and David Czap, the idea for the Czeers (a combination of their last names, and pronounced "Cheers") Mk I began as a sketch on the back of a beer coaster at a local pub."

The 33-foot speedboat's 150 square feet of solar cells push it along at 35 miles an hour.

Not bad at all. I'm glad to see that 'green' inventors are developing technologies that are clean and effective.

Better Ideas from the Netherlands: Give a Shoplifter More Than Fifteen Seconds of Fame

"10,000th Shoplifter Gets Parade"
The Consumerist (May 12, 2006)

"A Dutch store owner, sick of shoplifters, decides to give the 10,000th shoplifter a big prize, including party hat, cake and an in-store marching band."

Video (88 seconds)

Kudos to the store owner, for a truly inventive way of dealing with at least one shoplifter. The publicity may have both drawn customers - and discouraged other shoplifters from seeing what he'd try next.

Nanosieves: Energy-Efficient Filters

"Nanosieves Save Energy In Biofuel Production" Science Daily (February 13, 2008)

An energy-efficient method of separating water from other liquids. Quite impressive technology.