Business

Emerging Objects Introduces Mud 3D Printing

Published

5 years ago

October 25, 2019

Today, when 3D printing is at its peak, anyone can find an affordable machine for themselves that can print with a large variety of consumable materials. Apparently, even regular mud can be a consumable, as Emerging Objects’ designers and architects demonstrated in practice.

Mud Frontiers proves that it’s viable to use 3D printing technologies instead of sculpting with your own hands with what you can find. The project started as an experiment to reproduce the handmade clay structures and pottery made of mud and clay taken from Sangre de Cristo and San Juan mountains, located in New Mexico and Colorado. The team then decided to start a much larger project, inspired by the fact that for centuries, the Natives of those lands created not only pottery, but also dwellings from nothing but mud.

The team’s efforts have led to the development of four unique experimental huts built with a mixture of clay soil and wheat straw – Beacon, Lookout, Hearth and Kiln. Beacon was created to find a way to make the wall as thin as possible. Its name was given due to the illumination of indentations along the wall at night, which makes it resemble a beacon. Lookout uses coils to create a staircase. Hearth has a curling mud bench inside that wraps around a fireplace in the middle of the structure. The last one, Kiln, was turned into a simple pottery workshop, returning to the production of clay pots.

The main workshop works mostly with juniper wood, which was also used as mud-wall reinforcement for Hearth: you can even see the bars sticking out. The walls were printed on a Potterbot XLS-1 3D printer, developed by 3D Potter. The printer is based on a rarely applied 3D printing technology named SCARA.

One or two operators working with the 3D printer can effectively replace a team of six sculptors. The printed structure is up to 2.75 meters in height and 2.5 meters in diameter when the system prints with 360-degree rotation.

The whole experiment was a kind of a response to the an article in the Smithsonian magazine called “40 Things You Need to Know About the Next 40 Years”. It’s particularly stated there that we will have to eat jellyfish (because nothing else will remain in the sea), the world will be ruled by artists, musicians, comedians and other creative personalities, and all the advanced structures will be built of mud.

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

6 days ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.