By William Van Zyl (Published 26 August 2023) I start this short eBook/article with modern Māori-inspired New Zealand (NZ) buildings. It showcases the innovative embedment of traditional Māori shapes, forms, patterns and colours in contemporary design in NZ. I then move on to explore modernism and Māori architecture. See the link to the Contemporary Māori-folklore… Continue reading Māori Architecture and Modernism in Architecture: A Design Challenge.
Category: Spiritual
Articles and eBooks – Spiritual focus
Architectural Design: Māori, Christian, and Modernist Influences – A New Zealand Perspective.
By William Van Zyl (Published 24 August 2023). Has your world been turned upside-down at some point? Look at the innovative and creative ideas in this article. What do you see? What ideas do you have? What would it be if I asked you to develop a unique idea or concept for a spatial design?… Continue reading Architectural Design: Māori, Christian, and Modernist Influences – A New Zealand Perspective.
Māori Architecture and the Use of Colour.
By William Van Zyl (Edited – 22 December 2023) In this compact eBook, I look at colour and Māori architectural design. The resource is also useful to designers and artists – providing a rich background of Māori colours. Everyone interested in Global Architecture – and art and design – will find this book helpful. The… Continue reading Māori Architecture and the Use of Colour.
Māori Design Principles versus Western Design Principles – comparing and contrasting.
By William Van Zyl (published 20 August 2023). For Designers, artists, architects, and Design and Visual Communication (DVC) students. This article provides an overview of an indigenous culture’s design approach: New Zealand Māori. I contrast and compare this cultural and spiritual approach with a typical Western World Design approach. It sheds light on the Māori… Continue reading Māori Design Principles versus Western Design Principles – comparing and contrasting.
Placenta and the Māori Worldview.
By William Van Zyl (Published 21 Aug 2023). I provide a short overview and exploration of Māori and other cultures’ placenta practices worldwide. This short article/book provides a rich canvas for artists, designers, architects and Design and Visual Communication students (DVC). The article/eBook is also handy for the new curriculum 2024 New Zealand – NCEA… Continue reading Placenta and the Māori Worldview.
Crocodile Skin reads Braille in the Dark.
By William van Zyl Published on 11 August 2023 The BBC’s documentary on The Secrets of Skin – specifically the skin of animals – is simply stunning. See the link at the end. What stood out for me was the crocodile’s jaws, which are lined with sensory pits and other multisensory organs. These amazingly well-designed… Continue reading Crocodile Skin reads Braille in the Dark.
A Pellet in my Mallet
By William Van Zyl Published in June 2023 ‘Whizz – plink – swoosh – whirr!’ That sound? Imagine target shooting with an air rifle. A pellet strikes one of the small metal levers hanging from a wire frame. Because the lever is lightweight, it spins round and round when the projectile hits the lever. Then,… Continue reading A Pellet in my Mallet
The Weight of Words
By William Van Zyl Published in May 2023 Credit image: Contemporary Art by Sefira Lightstone – Golden Calf. In a tent in the hot desert somewhere in the middle east, a young girl – adorned with gold and silver jewellery around her neck, wrists, ankles and hair – turned and looked into a polished bronze… Continue reading The Weight of Words
Crushing: An Unexpected Route to Greatness.
Published on June 20, 2019. By William Van Zyl Want to hear about the life story of someone who started at the very bottom and ended up at the top. Here is an exciting story of someone who followed a different path. Or, maybe not so unfamiliar. Ever thought about the invitation to become a… Continue reading Crushing: An Unexpected Route to Greatness.
LESSONS ON GREATNESS: THE LIFE OF LUCIANO PAVAROTTI.
By William Van Zyl Published in 2019. Contents Introduction. 5 Lesson #1: Keep the family together – always try to reconcile – never give up. 7 The Jailhouse Principle: 8 Lesson #2: Love people, trust people. 9 Lesson #3: Show compassion, help people – be selfless. 10 Lesson #4: Be humble and honest; enjoy the… Continue reading LESSONS ON GREATNESS: THE LIFE OF LUCIANO PAVAROTTI.
True stories with unfathomable depth, rich cultural variations, and extensive contexts will develop creativity in young children.
By William Van Zyl Published in April 2023 Listen to the Podcast: https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=uh8kj-13eb31d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=7 ‘The stories from the Bible are too violent for my young children,’ said the caring mum. ‘I prefer different stories which do not include violence,’ said another mum. ‘The stories from the Bible are probably the best stories you can ever tell… Continue reading True stories with unfathomable depth, rich cultural variations, and extensive contexts will develop creativity in young children.
When stories lose their lustre, and children’s creativity and innovation plummet.
By William Van Zyl Published in March 2023 Listen to the podcast: https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=8eq4i-13eb655-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=7 “I am tired of all these Bible stories. Reading the devotionals and doing these prayers all the time is too much for me!?” said the young Alexander. “You will sit down and read the Bible Story; you will listen and pray before… Continue reading When stories lose their lustre, and children’s creativity and innovation plummet.
Creatica: A Believers Guide to Perfectica.
By William Van Zyl Published on July 6, 2019. Edited in 2023. Before the year 3000, the earth was teeming with life. Natural life. But, catastrophically, the earth’s environment has collapsed. The destructive weight of industrial pollution, irresponsible disposal of effluent, and uncontrolled radioactive waste have crushed all life on earth as we know it.… Continue reading Creatica: A Believers Guide to Perfectica.
The Tall Building turned into a Lighthouse.
By William Van Zyl Published 18 Feb 2023. Birth and early years: Digging, marking out, and excavating young trenches. Theodolite, dumpy level, extended staff, and plumbline; dedicated measuring, aligning, and checking. Calloused hands and sweaty brows; labour from dedicated parents – shaping and shaping, Windell and Da Silva families, leading and grooming their young.… Continue reading The Tall Building turned into a Lighthouse.
Die Beiteltjie (gedig) / The Little Chisel (poem)
Deur/By William Van Zyl Eerste publikasie in 2017/First published in 2017. Aangepas in 2023/Edited in 2023. Die steenmesselaar se gereedskap / The stone mason’s tools: Agtergrond: Hierdie gedig was in die Nasionale Senior Sertifikaat Eksamen (RSA) vir die Afrikaanse Eerste taal eksamen in 1976 – my final jaar op skool (Hentie Cilliers, Virginia, Vrystaat).Op daardie… Continue reading Die Beiteltjie (gedig) / The Little Chisel (poem)
Leaving Your Comfort Zone Requires Courage. A Brave Move Will Make You More Efficient! A Lesson from ‘The Little Prince’ (Famous Novel by French Writer: Antoine De Saint-Exupèry 1943).
By William Van Zyl First published on January 31, 2021 Republished on January 20, 2023 From the author’s sketchbook. A brief overview of the novel: The famous novel by Saint-Ex – a children’s book written in French – is about a young prince who visits various planets in space, including Earth, and addresses themes of… Continue reading Leaving Your Comfort Zone Requires Courage. A Brave Move Will Make You More Efficient! A Lesson from ‘The Little Prince’ (Famous Novel by French Writer: Antoine De Saint-Exupèry 1943).
The Earth seems to be flat, pancake flat; round in some skulls, young in many circular heads, and millions of years old in some elliptic brain lobes.
By William Van Zyl Published January 17, 2023 Have you ever wondered what the thinking of your family, friends, and your neighbour look like? I am referring to where they are located on the Evolution-Creation continuum. Everyone sits somewhere on the continuum. Surprisingly research shows that it is not a black-or-white scenario: Either believing in… Continue reading The Earth seems to be flat, pancake flat; round in some skulls, young in many circular heads, and millions of years old in some elliptic brain lobes.
Pistol Shrimp’s blast almost reaches temperature of the sun.
By William Van Zyl. Published on January 16, 2023. “What will we do if all these discoveries influence the people in our congregation?” asked Reverend Patchuppa. “Yes, what will we do?” replied elder Dubb. “If people start believing in Science, they could question the existence of God. Our church could be empty soon,” said the… Continue reading Pistol Shrimp’s blast almost reaches temperature of the sun.
Quartz Crystal Clocks Vibrates at 32,768 per Second. Are Humans also Vibrating?
By William Van Zyl Published on April 20, 2021. Edited and republished in January 2023. Tick, tock, tick, tock, … you are reading a time-clock. Isn’t that just stunning? I mean in one second you have to count from 1 to 32,768 – it is humanly impossible. It is this vibration that has me in… Continue reading Quartz Crystal Clocks Vibrates at 32,768 per Second. Are Humans also Vibrating?
Memory of the Heart.
By William Van Zyl. First published in 2016. Edited and republished on January 13, 2023. ‘Is it possible that the human heart uses its own memory to communicate…?’ Cellular memory is a new area of interest, revealing startling facts. The Human Heart. Your heart could be the reason why you are making such excellent decisions… Continue reading Memory of the Heart.