Race, identity and politics in America through Key & Peele: comedy and discourse

America’s political landscape is fragmented over the issues of identity expression, particularly related to African-American identity, and culture. With the rise of new media, activist groups such as #BlackLivesMatter fight against the oppression of minorities by the dominant cultural forces, who they accuse of laying the foundations to an unequal society due to their racist views. However, not all visions on disparities are the same. To some, the explanation does not always lie in racism, but the causes that produce disparities may be more complex than activist claim. Thus, it is of extreme necessity that dialogue, not censorship, be the means to address these issues to avoid simplistic explanations. Comedy, especially the sketch series known as Key & Peele, may be an effective approach to spark conversation about sensitive topics in a so-called “post-racial era”, such as the intricacies of race, police brutality or income disparities.El panorama político americano se encuentra dividido en torno a los temas de identidad, especialmente la identidad Afroamericana, y la cultura. Gracias a las redes sociales, el movimiento activista #BlackLivesMatter lucha en defensa de las minorías y en contra de la opresión ejercida por los grupos sociales dominantes, a quienes acusan de la construcción de una sociedad desigual y racista. Para otros, las causas que provocan tales disparidades no están asociadas necesariamente con el racismo, sino que son más complejas que los argumentos que presentan los grupos activistas. Así pues, es crucial que el diálogo, no la censura, sea el método con el que se aborden estos temas para evitar caer en explicaciones simplistas. La comedia, en particular la serie Key & Peele, puede ser un enfoque efectivo para iniciar una conversación sobre asuntos sensibles en un contexto “post-racial”, como pueden ser la raza, abusos policiales o desigualdades económicas.Grado en Estudios Inglese

Concavidad, convexidad y materialidad. El patio, la plataforma y el hormigón: casa sobre el acantilado. La Móra, Tarragona. España

The development of this projects juxtaposes concepts that far from being contradictory, become complementary thanks to it confrontation. Aspiring to reintegrate this primeval connection between the sensitive and physical, between nature and technique, between architecture, man, and their place in the intimate relationship with the landscape as a way of inhabiting the world. The conception of the house aims to form a point of view, a horizontal plane from which to contemplate the Mediterranean sea and it celestial vault in its most extroverted vision while facing a more introverted vision in the form of a patio; inserted as if it was a prism of light to mould and organise the interior space, generating intimacy and a space for retreat. Therefore, convexity and concavity juxtapose in this privileged corner of the Tarragon coast from where contemplation and retreat aim to be ideas-concepts that are intertwined in a language capable of generating an architecture in permanent dialogue with the qualities of the place. To some degree, the project is presented in the pursuit of these dualities. Turning your gaze towards the horizon in its most convex vision, overlapping the idea of concavity, excavating the void and bringing together spaces around the patio in a more intimate vision of a retreat, without renouncing this tension but at the same time this “confrontation” that S. Fehn understood as “a signifi cant opposition”1 with nature itself to shape and characterise the place.Postprint (published version

The House on the Cliff. Materiality and Horizon: Between Smooth and Striated. La Móra, Tarragona. Spain

[EN] The development of this project aims to re-establish this primitive and sensitive connection in intimate relation with the landscape. Thus, Sverre Fehn and Jorn Utzon use conceptual mechanisms such as platforms and the horizon with which they design and work to initiate a relationship that involves idea-concept, language and design in relation to the landscape, revealing the respect and dialogue tied to it, giving the place quality and sensations linked with the visual domain on the immediate and territorial landscape. In a certain way, the project that is presented follows this idea, to turn the gaze to the horizon, housing and involving the users of the landscape to which they are linked, looking to the sea horizon that establishes juxtapositions while creating tension between the close and the distant, between the physical and ethereal, between the perceptive and haptic, between the conscious and unconscious, between the learnt and the experienced, searching for that contact but also that confrontation - as S. Fehn would say – with nature itself for the shaping and characterization of the place.[ES] La ideación de este proyecto aspira a restablecer esa conexión primigenia y sensible en íntima relación con el paisaje. Así, Sverre Fehn y Jørn Utzon utilizan mecanismos conceptuales como las plataformas y el horizonte con los que proyectar y trabajar para entablar una relación que ligue idea-concepto, lenguaje y proyecto en relación al paisaje, poniendo en evidencia el respeto y el diálogo que traba con ella, dotando al lugar de cualidades y sensaciones vinculadas con el dominio visual sobre el paisaje inmediato y territorial. En cierta manera el proyecto que se presenta persigue esa idea, dirige la mirada hacia el horizonte, albergando y haciendo partícipes a los usuarios del paisaje al que se vincula, proyectando una mirada sobre el horizonte marino, que establece yuxtaposiciones y a la vez tensión entre lo próximo y lo lejano, entre lo físico y lo etéreo, entre lo perceptivo y lo háptico, entre lo consciente y lo inconsciente, entre lo aprendido y lo experimentado, buscando ese contacto pero a la vez esa confrontación -que diría S. Fehn- con la propia naturaleza para la configuración y caracterización del lugarFernández González, M. (2020). Casa en el acantilado. Materialidad y horizonte: entre lo liso y lo estriado. La Móra, Tarragona. España. En IX Congreso Internacional Arquitectura Blanca. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIAB9.2020.10666OCS11

Concavity, convexity and materiality. The patio, the platform and concrete: the house on the cliff. La Móra, Tarragona. Spain

[EN] The development of this projects juxtaposes concepts that far from being contradictory, become complementary thanks to it confrontation. Aspiring to reintegrate this primeval connection between the sensitive and physical, between nature and technique, between architecture, man, and their place in the intimate relationship with the landscape as a way of inhabiting the world. The conception of the house aims to form a point of view, a horizontal plane from which to contemplate the Mediterranean sea and it celestial vault in its most extroverted vision while facing a more introverted vision in the form of a patio; inserted as if it was a prism of light to mould and organise the interior space, generating intimacy and a space for retreat. Therefore, convexity and concavity juxtapose in this privileged corner of the Tarragon coast from where contemplation and retreat aim to be ideas-concepts that are intertwined in a language capable of generating an architecture in permanent dialogue with the qualities of the place. To some degree, the project is presented in the pursuit of these dualities. Turning your gaze towards the horizon in its most convex vision, overlapping the idea of concavity, excavating the void and bringing together spaces around the patio in a more intimate vision of a retreat, without renouncing this tension but at the same time this “confrontation” that S. Fehn understood as “a signifi cant opposition”1 with nature itself to shape and characterise the place.[ES] La concepción de este proyecto yuxtapone conceptos que lejos de parecer contradictorios se convierten en complementarios gracias a su confrontación. Aspirando a reintegrar esa conexión primigenia entre lo sensible y lo físico, entre la naturaleza y la técnica, entre la arquitectura, el hombre y su centro en íntima relación con el paisaje como forma de habitar el mundo. La concepción de la casa pretende configurar un punto de vista, un plano horizontal desde el que contemplar el mar Mediterráneo y su bóveda celeste en su visión más extrovertida, confrontándose a la vez con una visión más introvertida que en forma de patio se inserta como si fuera un prisma de luz para modelar y organizar el espacio interior generando una visión más íntima y de recogimiento. Así convexidad y concavidad se yuxtaponen en este rincón privilegiado de la costa tarraconense desde donde la contemplación y el recogimiento pretenden ser ideas-conceptos que se entrelazan en un lenguaje capaz de generar una arquitectura en diálogo permanente con las cualidades del lugar. En cierta medida el proyecto que se presenta persigue esa dualidad, dirigiendo la mirada hacia el horizonte en su visión más convexa, yuxtaponiéndola a la idea de concavidad, excavando el vacío y articulando las estancias alrededor del patio en una visión más íntima y de recogimiento, sin renunciar por ello a esa tensión pero a la vez, a esa “confrontación” -que diría S. Fehn- entendida como “oposición significativa”1 con la propia naturaleza para la configuración y caracterización del lugar.Fernández González, M. (2022). Concavidad, convexidad y materialidad. El patio, la plataforma y el hormigón: Casa sobre el acantilado. La Móra, Tarragona. Spain. En CIAB 10. X Congreso internacional arquitectura blanca. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 208-215. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIAB10.2022.13988OCS20821

Modelling and Simulation of the Primary Power Distribution of a Lunar Habitat

A MATLAB/Simulink model of the Primary Power Distribution System of a lunar habitat is presented. The model can be adapted to multiple scenarios, and is able to interface with computer models of other habitat subsystems. A constant supply of power is considered regardless of the source and the time of the day, regulating the bus voltage when required. The electrical system of the International Space Station is used for reference and validation. The model has been tested in two scenarios representing two locations on the surface of the Moon.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Lunar ISRU Energy Storage and Electricity Generation

The survival of the astronauts and their equipment is the priority for any long-term exploration mission to the Moon. The provision of energy during the long lunar nights is a critical part of these missions. Several approaches have recently been considered to store and provide energy on the Moon by means of ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilisation). We present a review of the energy requirements for a long mission scenario, and a trade-off analysis of the potentially suitable technologies for an ISRU-based system able to store heat and generate electricity. The most promising combinations of technologies are presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

MOVEUS Project: "ICT Cloud-based platform and mobility services available, universal and safe for all users"

The main goal of MoveUs project http://www.moveus-project.eu is to design, implement, pilot, evaluate, disseminate and exploit a number of ICT tools for smart mobility in smart cities, with the aim of radically change the European users’ mobility habits by offering intelligent and personalized travel information services, helping people to decide the best transport choice and providing meaningful feedback on the energy efficiency savings obtained as a result. The paper focus on the services developed for the Madrid use case: • A smart crossing service: allows pedestrians to activate a request for green light, but also takes into account the real-time status of the intersection, and directly interacts with the traffic control center and extends the green phase if needed. • A bus priority service: prioritizes delayed buses at selected crossings in order to optimize travel time and frequency, improving also the efficiency of this mode of transport. • A trip planning and info mobility service: calculates the best multimodal journey option, taking into account different parameters such as time, energy efficiency, incentives, etc

Biomimicry in climate adaptive building skins: relevance of applying principles and strategies

There is growing interest in scientific literature and in research projects on climate adaptive building skins -CABS-. A large development of this type of building skins is expected, because of the advantages they offer over other skins, such as th e improvement of environmental quality and energy efficiency, the adaptability to c limate and changing uses of buildi ngs, the ability to use low exergy sources, the potential for integrating architectural design principles with energy efficiency, the possibility of driving the research on new technologies a nd a greater efficiency in the use of materials. However, this development is not taking place in practice, since most projects either remain on experimental prototypes or are im plemented in high budget buildings. This paper examines the relevance of applying a bi omimetic approach to the design of CABS, given the adaptive behaviour of both systems. By studying the correlation between the functi onal requirements of adaptive building skins and adaptive strategies that can be found in natural organisms, we address the possible overcoming of some limits they face in their development – from design, technological, economic and social-. The aim is to further the implementation of biomim etic principles and adaptive strategies to enhance adaptive behaviour, take advantage of the evoluti onary knowledge that nature provides, derive applying principles to achieve best architectural solutions, serve as a driver of innovation in architecture and promote efficiency and sustainabilit y in building skins, using principles such as optimality in resource management, resilience behaviour , exchange of information and energy with the environment, complexity by organization of simple elements, or multifunctionality. Finally, biomimicry has shown to be a suitable approach, which, by putting systematic design processes into practice, yet to achieve, could promot e the widespread developm ent of climate adaptive building skins

Homeownership as a Sign of Immigrants\u27 Consumer Acculturation: The Role of Region of Origin

One of the limitations highlighted by the consumer acculturation literature is the lack of empirical research to identify better constructs or indicators of consumer acculturation. In this article, the use of homeownership by immigrants in the host society is proposed as an indicator of advanced consumer acculturation. The decision to own a home by a minority group, such as immigrants, represents a key landmark in the process of adaptation to the new culture and a commitment with the host country\u27s values and culture. The empirical case used is the immigrant population of Spain. The sharp rise in its foreign-born population during the last decade and the significantly higher homeownership rates of natives in comparison with other countries makes the Spanish scenario a relevant case study. The results obtained show homeownership is linked to features associated with highly acculturated consumers. Moreover, the analysis conducted reveals important differences in the way immigrants from different origins advance in their consumer acculturation processes and suggest distinct approaches when marketing to these groups

El arte de la ingeniería, la ingeniería de la arquitectura, la arquitectura del ingeniero : arte, concepto y lenguaje en el proyecto

This PhD thesis aims to analyse and verify the tense and intense relation that is established between the architecture, civil engineering and art worlds. Such analysis is conducted not only in a formal manner, but also at a level which is more conceptual and profound and whose basis are the three concepts that were posed by Severre Fehn at one of his last conferences, which was held under the title of “The Skin, the Cut, & the Bandage”1. This has been done in order to verify, in a general but also more particular way, that they shape their own operational language of the disciplinary endeavour, on whose limits common features of these three disciplines can be found, features that have seeped into research paces, guiding the sight, observation, contemplation and speculation, leading to the development of a theoretical frame which allows the connection between architectural and engineering interventions inside the operative field of art in the landscape. In this regard, the development of such research leads to the exhaustive analysis of these three concepts, posed in a common space located on the limit of these three disciplines, expectant and mindful of the notion of time, memory and place. Elements that, at the same time, configure themselves by means of the tectonic, conceptual and symbolic and lay an Ariadna’s Thread of the common language in whom invariants and patterns can be found, which underlie the same procedural operative that is bounded to the territory accommodating the work and which respond to a dialogical and at the same time, dialectical relation between the work and its landscape. Likewise, the work shapes an atmosphere that considers the crossing between the epistemological side of the discipline, the hermeneutic part of the thought that gazes at that which is conceptual, and the phenomenological part of the perception of the individual whom experiments the landscape.La presente tesis trata de analizar y confirmar la relación tensa e intensa que se establece entre el mundo de la arquitectura, la ingeniería civil y el arte, no solo formalmente sino a un nivel conceptual más profundo a partir de tres conceptos planteados por Severre Fehn en una de sus últimas conferencias impartidas bajo el título de: "la Piel, el Corte y la Venda" . Para constatar, de forma general, pero a la vez particular que configuran un mismo lenguaje operativo propio del quehacer disciplinario donde se pueden hallar en su límite elementos comunes a las tres disciplinas que han ido impregnando los pasos de la investigación, canalizando la mirada, la observación, la contemplación y la especulación, y así desarrollar un cuerpo teórico que nos permita vincular la operativa arquitectónica e ingenieril dentro de la esfera operativa del arte. Así, el propio desarrollo de la investigación nos conduce al análisis exhaustivo de los tres conceptos planteados en un espacio común situado en el límite de las tres disciplinas, expectante y atento a la noción de tiempo, memoria y lugar. Elementos que a su vez se configuran a partir de lo tectónico, lo conceptual y lo simbólico, que trazan ese hilo de Ariadna de un lenguaje común en el que podemos encontrar invariantes y patrones que subyacen de una misma operativa procesual vinculada con el territorio que soporta la obra y que atiende a una relación dialógica y a la vez dialéctica entre la obra creada y su paisaje. De este modo, la obra configura una atmósfera que atiende a la vez a ese entrecruzamiento de lo epistemológico de la disciplina, lo hermenéutico del pensamiento que atiende a lo conceptual y lo fenomenológico de la percepción del individuo que la experimenta en comunión con el paisaje.Postprint (published version