By William Van Zyl (March 2021) On Friday, 5 March 2021, I stepped into the unknown. It was dark, humid, and very black. Yellow cat eyes stared at me from the ground. It was evenly spaced and extended way ahead of me. Where could it lead? It took some time for my sensitive eyes to… Continue reading Entering a dark, humid cave – lit up by cat-eyed, yellow fiery flies – could turn your thinking upside down.
Category: Sustainable Architecture.
Sustainable architecture (Science, biomimetics, Engineering, Green concepts, and more). Lessons, ideas, concepts and more.
Modern Sustainable House Design: ‘Whaitere the Enchanted Stingray.’ A Māori Story.
By William Van Zyl Published on 24 Sept 2024 This article includes stunning AI-generated architectural structures that reflect the shape and pattern of a stingray. This resource will provide valuable information to design and architecture students. The focus is on contemporary Māori-inspired design. A 3D print component is evident in the shape and form of… Continue reading Modern Sustainable House Design: ‘Whaitere the Enchanted Stingray.’ A Māori Story.
Literature Review (Short Summary) – ‘Developing High School Students’ Data and Graph Interpreting Skills in the Context of IoT and Greenhouse Management.’
By William Van Zyl Published on July 20, 2024 Objective: This literature review explores research on developing high school students’ data and graph interpreting skills, focusing on integrating IoT and greenhouse management. The study uses Microbit and Arduino microprocessors to monitor variables, specifically focusing on understanding the mini-greenhouse system’s temperature (and moisture) fluctuations. Keywords: Mini-greenhouse,… Continue reading Literature Review (Short Summary) – ‘Developing High School Students’ Data and Graph Interpreting Skills in the Context of IoT and Greenhouse Management.’
Enhancing Secondary School Students’ Data Analysis and Chart Interpretation Abilities (Vertical Skyfarm Design – Minecraft Education).
By William N. Van Zyl Published 20 July 2024 Are you looking for innovative ways to improve high school students’ data analysis and chart interpretation abilities? Look no further. As an experienced secondary school Technology teacher, I’d like to share my research project with you. At the end of this article, I include how you… Continue reading Enhancing Secondary School Students’ Data Analysis and Chart Interpretation Abilities (Vertical Skyfarm Design – Minecraft Education).
Embedding Māori Architectural Principles into Modern Sustainable Architecture: A Case Study – Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright).
By William Van Zyl. Published in March 2024 Incorporating Māori architectural shapes and forms into a modern architectural house design while emphasising sustainability can create a unique and culturally rich living space. Here are some ideas to achieve this: Combining modern architectural principles with Māori shapes, forms, and cultural elements allows you to create a… Continue reading Embedding Māori Architectural Principles into Modern Sustainable Architecture: A Case Study – Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright).
Modernist Art & Architecture: Museum Design (Contemporary Māori Patterns). New Zealand – ‘The City Rail Link Building.’
By William Van Zyl Published in March 2024 Are you interested in incorporating contemporary Māori shapes, forms, patterns, and colours into your art, architecture, or product design? This article explores a modern approach to integrating these elements and showcases AI-generated images, including a design for a modern museum with an artistic façade. For instance, it… Continue reading Modernist Art & Architecture: Museum Design (Contemporary Māori Patterns). New Zealand – ‘The City Rail Link Building.’
Māori Stories and Folklore: Telling Creative Stories Through Contemporary Architecture and Product Design (Design Era – Modernism).
By William Van Zyl (Published 11 February 2024) This article touches on two Māori stories (folklore). I use the deeper meaning and message to consider a modern building (architecture) or chair (product design). The article is designed to provide an example of how Māori stories and culture could be embedded into contemporary design with a… Continue reading Māori Stories and Folklore: Telling Creative Stories Through Contemporary Architecture and Product Design (Design Era – Modernism).
MODERNISM: Terminology, Keywords, and Key Phrases for Architectural and Product Design.
By William Van Zyl (Published 15 January 2024). Overview: This resource will assist students, teachers, homeschoolers, artists, designers, sculpturers, and architects to develop their annotation skills by extending their vocabulary and understanding of key design words and phrases. Firstly, the features of Modernism (or a Modernist style or Design Era) are listed. Secondly, the most… Continue reading MODERNISM: Terminology, Keywords, and Key Phrases for Architectural and Product Design.
Antonio Gaudi – ‘God’s Architect’ – transforms paradigms.
By William Van Zyl (Published on 4 September 2023). Nonetheless, it wasn’t until architect Fred Van Brandenburg’s return to Spain to New Zealand in 2004, and his exploration of Park Güell in Barcelona—a masterpiece created by Gaudí during his naturalist phase, drawing inspiration from organic forms in nature—that Fred experienced a revelation profoundly shaped by… Continue reading Antonio Gaudi – ‘God’s Architect’ – transforms paradigms.
Contemporary Māori-inspired Architecture in New Zealand.
By William Van Zyl (Published 2 September 2023). Modern Māori architecture in New Zealand blends traditional Māori design principles, cultural values, and contemporary architectural approaches. The new New Zealand curriculum for Design and Visual Communication (NCEA – DVC Level 1) focuses on Māori architecture in a Mātauranga Māori context. This article provides a brief overview… Continue reading Contemporary Māori-inspired Architecture in New Zealand.
Māori Worldview and Architectural Design.
By William Van Zyl (Published 30 August 2023) *Credit cover image: Toa Architects (NZ). Taumata o Kupe What type of unique building, house, landmark, chapel, church, marae, or shade space would you design to reflect and represent your worldview? I am referring to symbolism-related shapes, forms, patterns, and colours. What would be the main shapes… Continue reading Māori Worldview and Architectural Design.
Māori Architecture and Modernism in Architecture: A Design Challenge.
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.
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.
Modernism in Architecture – Iconic Buildings.
By William Van Zyl Published on 5 August 2023 Overview- of the article: The 3 iconic architects and their iconic buildings – Le Corbusier (Villa Savoye), Phillip Johnson (The Glass House) & Mies Van De Rohe (House Farnsworth) – will feature in this article. They embody, circumvent, and encapsulate Modernism in an Architectural context. The… Continue reading Modernism in Architecture – Iconic Buildings.
Buckminster Fuller – Geodesic Shape and Form for architectural design. Designing a Vertical Urban Skyfarm (hydroponics, aeroponics & aquaponics) in Minecraft.
By William Van Zyl (Published on 5 January 2023). I have probably designed hundreds of concept buildings. Considering the work of inspirational and influential architects of the past – and future ones – I have pioneered new shapes and forms. In some instances, biomimicry had been my inspiration (‘asking nature how’). In this article I… Continue reading Buckminster Fuller – Geodesic Shape and Form for architectural design. Designing a Vertical Urban Skyfarm (hydroponics, aeroponics & aquaponics) in Minecraft.
LESSON: Use the work of an influential designer to inform design ideas. Design a Moon-base on Minecraft Education – focus on Aesthetics and Function.
By William Van Zyl (Published in April 2022). Design Brief: Design a Moon-dwelling or a Moon-base (in your groups or individually) on Minecraft Education. Use the work of an architect considering aesthetics (beauty). But, more importantly, functionality. Choose an Architectural Design Era or Style (for example, Modernism, Minimalism, Hi-Tech. and more). Also, embed sustainability and… Continue reading LESSON: Use the work of an influential designer to inform design ideas. Design a Moon-base on Minecraft Education – focus on Aesthetics and Function.
Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).
By William Van Zyl First published in October 2021 (edited in April 2025) On Friday, 5 March 2021, I stepped into the unknown. It was dark, humid, and very black. Yellow cat eyes stared at me from the ground. It was evenly spaced and extended way ahead of me. Where could it lead? It took… Continue reading Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).