the erxell concept is a futuristic design idea coupled with wildetect design ideals - as per all design concepts, one has to fully understand that its way beyond the concept of MAYA - (most advanced yet acceptable)
however wildetecture will continue to advocate the erxell concept even if current design mindsets have written it off - principally because it benefits destitute folk who really need a better system to key into. and until these informal settlement folk can sit at the negotiating table with a product to sell - big business will be content to keep feeding these destitute charitable crumbs.
however wildetecture will continue to advocate the erxell concept even if current design mindsets have written it off - principally because it benefits destitute folk who really need a better system to key into. and until these informal settlement folk can sit at the negotiating table with a product to sell - big business will be content to keep feeding these destitute charitable crumbs.
cape town has huge informal settlement communities living in extremely desperate conditions - in tin shacks just outside the city - these dwellings roof space - could become a blank canvas that will benefit a few thousand informal settlement dwellers. an agricultural crop circle billboard put onto 100 x 100 informal settlement shack roofs. the families benefit from waterproofed roof and possible residual income - advertising gets the biggest dargone sign in the world - win win - yest the challenges for instituting this concept are immense , yes to get the folk living in these settlements to continually upgrade and manicure their signage will be challenging. it is these challenges the advertising machine needs to look at addressing - because it will add a new dimension onto the actual earth branded signage - the erxell was developed for the express purpose of putting the poor and advertising at the same table - now thats an idea - www.erxell.com - thats a billboard to get excited about.
QJD design studio has long been busy promoting the Erxell concept - its a layering concept - let me explain. the actual branding component is only a part of the overall idea. as south africans we design our urban sprawl for the destitute very 1 dimensionally - outwards and as fast as possible. what if we could literally live under our vineyards? yes that would require platforms - using a lightweight structure which the human living component keys into. so the structure for the platform and abode are 1 - taking care of 2 things at once.
the platform will allow the growth of lightweight produce like veggies, vineyards and possibly wheat. so the cultivating fields are above the dwelling component. which forms the layering idea - the branding component forms a futuristic crop circle with the growing component cleverly interwoven into a design logo. much like the Victorian manicured gardens of old and crop circles combined. the value of the erxell unit of measure which is what the advertising giants buy from the informal settlement dweller will increase with the better kept logos. which creates work, food and incentive to both cultivate and keep the cape flats looking green, green , green.
so the logo is an organic sculpture which needs maintenance - every plane flying over the cape flats will be able to see if the workers below are manicuring their fields - this will increase the rent able erxell space and ultimately be the monetary value - other than the actual food of course which can be bartered as in times of old.
my steps so far -
I have approached the South African institute of draughting. they have endorsed my new unit of earth brand able measurement - they have seen the future prospects of this form of large scale draughting. - the Erxell - 3 cubits X 3 cubits -( Erxell is earth sell and pixel combined) - thereby creating the glass bead of trade between the advertising giants and your little family living in shack 1 khayalitsha site b. this creates a system whereby we all benefit. a cultivated garden pointing skywards - creating a brand able billboard - everyone wins.
because this idea goes way beyond Raymond Loewy's MAYA concept - (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable). its been a very slow education process. I am getting abit of airtime in design mags, its received recognition from Holcim and a few other accolades. - I believe the way forward is one shack at a time.
I believe altruistically if a system is designed in place to have a holistic affect on an entire community - the riff raff will not dare disrupt the balance - if the multitudes are aware that collectively they can draw attention to their plight and gain finance in this way - they will police their own area and make sure the criminal element doesn't rock the boat.people who want to use the platform for a living component will stop the entire show - no more aid until the living component is removed and its strictly set as an agricultural entity.
yours sincerely
quinton j damstra
www.wildetecture.com for other future city scape visionary ideas.
http://www.erxell.com/ founder member of the erxell effect.
