Good, bad and ugly parasites

Parasitism is a non-mutual symbiotic relationship between species, where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host.

Unlike predators, parasites do not kill their host. They are also generally much smaller than their host, and will often live in or on their host for an extended period of time. Both are special cases of consumer-resource interactions. Parasites show a high degree of specialization, and reproduce at a faster rate than their hosts. Classic examples of parasitism include interactions between vertebrate hosts and diverse animals such as tapeworms, flukes, the Plasmodium species, and fleas.

However, not all parasites are bad. There are several good parasites that has done more goodwill than harm to mankind. Some examples of good parasites are yeasts, fungis that are used in antibiotics, leeches and maggots that were grown in special laboratories and are used to keep blood flowing or clean up dead tissue after people  had accidents. Therefore, it can clearly be seen that some of these parasites do exist to provide assistance to 

Source :  Claude Combes, The Art of being a Parasite, U. of Chicago Press, 2005

Positive parasitism

" Parasites influence species coexistence & extirpation by altering competition, predation and herbivory, and that these effects can, in turn, influence ecosystem properties "

Feedbacks by classmates

It was an interesting feedback session done by the Calamari Team. (meant to be Calamansi, but Calamari sounds much more delicious).

Less words. More Diagrams !

Comparative case study

Comparing various case studies by using diagrams.

Suicide rate in Singapore

Crown Sky Garden @ Chicago Hospital

offering a place of sanctuary atop of the new chicago lurie children’s hospital, american studio mikyoung kim has created the interactive ‘crown sky garden’. designed for children, families, doctors and administrators to use, the rooftop escape features curving multi-coloured walls that frame a linear bamboo grove. a dynamic interplay between light, and color is accentuated by the glass marble water as it meanders through the planters, creating rippled shadow effects onto the surrounding spaces. both light and sound elements have been installed in the resin walls and locally reclaimed wooden play sculptures, helping to engage the children with the garden through orchestrated notes of nature. situated around the garden’s periphery are contemplative spaces from which to view the city and interact with the garden on a more intimate scale.

the project was based on psychological and physiological research, which found that nature and contemplative gardens had significantly restorative properties on people. the integration of healing spaces into hospitals and institutional environments is important for both patients and their families.

source : http://www.designboom.com/architecture/mikyoung-kim-inserts-crown-sky-garden-into-chicago-hospital-12-28-2013/

OCBC Centre Singapore

  

Chosen site :  OCBC Centre Singapore located at 65 Chulia St.