Archive for April, 2024
A “divine and cosmic” geometric shape—practical and pleasing
Posted by mark in architecture, geometry on April 15, 2024
The Venice Beach Pavilion—just a short walk away from my winter home in Florida—features a distinctive hyperbolic paraboloid roof dating back 50 years. I love its elegant wavy shape that sails into the sky. Therefore, I am rooting that the City succeeds in getting this iconic structure—characteristic of the Sarasota School of Architecture—registered as an historic landmark, thus enabling funding for badly needed repairs.
Check out an overhead view of the Pavilion here. It is far more impressive when seen from below. There’s no better place to enjoy a fried shrimp basket at a shady mid-century modern, round-concrete table being cooled by the ocean breeze and soothed by the sounds of crashing waves.
The best way to describe the hyperbolic paraboloid is it being the shape of a Pringles potato chip. It’s easy to create in Stat-Ease software by setting up a full three-level response surface design on two factors and then entering a quadratic equation via its simulation tools. The 3D view below stems from a model that includes only a two-factor interaction term, which creates the simple, but pleasing, twisty surface similar to the Venice Pavilion. However, the colors may be a bit much. ; )
“The hyperbolic paraboloid has been seen as a representation of the divine and the cosmic. Its symmetry (one axis but no center of symmetry) and balance have been seen as a reflection of the inherent order and beauty of the universe.”
Nick Stafford, Pringles, A Reflection of the Order and Beauty of the Universe
Weather Tiger predicts a “hyperactive” hurricane season
Posted by mark in Uncategorized on April 3, 2024
Owning a second home In Venice, Florida just a few blocks from the Gulf is great for me and my wife Karen to dodge winter (she really, really hates the cold!). However, there’s always a catch to the good things in life: From June 1 through Nov. 30 our snow haven stands in harm’s way of hurricanes.
Hurricane Ian created quite a scare in September of 2022 before veering south just before landfall. Whew! Last year our closest call came from Idalia in late August—it hitting hard at Category 3 in the Big Bend region of Florida.
This year could be a doozy according to the Weather Tiger, who provides “expert analysis of Florida hurricane threats, with a twist of dad humor” (my kind of guy!). He predicts a “75% chance of hyperactive hurricane season with likely US landfalls.”
“Our model boldly suggests a 10% to 15% chance that 2024 bests 1933’s record for the most intense season, though laying firm probabilities on outliers is a statistical mug’s game.”
– WeatherTiger President and Chief Meteorologist Ryan Truchelut, 3/28 Sarasota Herald
Accuweather’s forecast for the 2024 hurricane season is even more hyperbolic—describing it as “explosive” and “super-charged” and warning that “forecasters may even run out of names for storms amid a frenzy of tropical systems.” Oh, my!
Good thing I just did an extensive remodel to bolster our 1960 cinder block home with a new roof, high impact windows, flood vents, etc. Bring it on!
On second thought…do not.