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Tuesday 25 July 2017

BDP WINS UK PARLIAMENT REFURBISHMENT

BDP : BDP has been awarded a full interdisciplinary contract for client advisory services to help ensure the safe and secure future of the Palace of Westminster.

The prestigious contract was won against three other practices Allies and Morrison, Foster and Partners and HOK. Since its construction in the mid-1800s, many features and systems in the Palace have never undergone a major renovation, and the heating, ventilation, water, drainage and electrical systems are extremely antiquated. In awarding this contract, Parliament can take forward the crucial work required to safeguard the Palace and keep Parliament running.

Architect director Tim Leach said: “It’s an enormous privilege for the practice to be entrusted with helping safeguard the Palace of Westminster, this international symbol of democracy and our society’s shared values. This new programme of work presents the unique and very special challenge of responding to the needs of Parliament and its visitors, and conserving its historic fabric for this and all future generations.”

BDP’s full interdisciplinary appointment is for architecture, civil and structural engineering, building services engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, lighting design, acoustics and planning.

Collaborating with BDP on the project will be heritage and conservation specialist Donald Insall Associates, civil and structural engineer Alan Baxter Associates, building services engineer Hoare Lea and planning consultancy Gerald Eve along with a number of SMEs.

In November last year BDP won the contract for client advisory services for the Northern Estate Programme (NEP), the creative adaptation and conservation of a number of historic buildings for the House of Commons, also against strong competition.

BDP is also already working on the refurbishment of one of Whitehall’s most impressive listed buildings, the Old Admiralty Building on Horse Guards Parade, for the Department for Education which is currently on site.

Meanwhile a glass-domed ‘pop-up’ parliament has been proposed by Lord Foster as a temporary home for the UK’s politicians during the renovation works. The glass and steel structure will be built on Horse Guards Parade to a design inspired by Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace which was part of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Photo Courtesy : BDP

Design Devil

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Wednesday 19 July 2017

VIEWING TOWER HOGE BERGSE BOS BY ATELIEREEN ARCHITECTEN

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Ateliereen Architecten : At the top of 'hill B' at the Hoge Bergse Bos in Bergschenhoek a 22-meter high viewing tower is built. It is the centrepiece that completes the renovation of the recreational hill. We have designed the tower as a three-dimensional maze in which visitors have views from various altitudes and in various directions.

There are two possible routes to the top. These relate to the two main approach routes to the top of the mountain. The tower is composed of equal staircase segments connected by small and large platforms. In this concept the desire to have viewing platforms at various heights could be realized easily.

The main structure is a framework of white, steel columns and stringers. It stands like a sculpture at the hill top. The railings are made of wood which give a nice contrast to the structure and soften the appearance.

Photo Courtesy : Ateliereen Architecten

Humming Bird

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Tuesday 18 July 2017

WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2017 AWARDS SHORTLIST FOR ITS 10TH EDITION

World Architecture Festival 2017 : Floating student accommodation in Copenhagen, a futuristic pharmacy in Japan and an automotive museum in Los Angeles are among the projects that have been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) awards 2017 – the world’s biggest architectural awards programme.

The World Architecture Festival celebrates its tenth edition in Berlin in November this year, with the 2017 awards programme receiving more entries than ever before – 924, increasing by 18% from the 2016 awards. The awards shortlist revealed today is a truly international collection, extending to include architectural practices from 51 different nations and projects based across 68 countries.

All types and sizes of architectural projects are represented on the 434-strong shortlist, ranging from small family homes, to schools, stations, museums, large infrastructure and landscape projects.

Architects from the UK are most widely represented on the shortlist, closely followed by colleagues in the USA, Australia and Turkey, with entries from Asia up by a third year-on-year. With a significant rise in residential submissions this year, organisers have introduced a new Villa category which includes entries from Brazil, New Zealand and India.

The architectural practices behind each project will battle it out in live judging sessions to be held at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin, 15-17 November. Each will be hoping to win their category and go on to compete for the ultimate accolades of World Building of the Year, Future Project of the Year and Landscape of the Year.

Major world architects shortlisted include Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, Neri & Hu, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, AL_A, Nikken Sekkei, Rafael Vinoly Architects, Grimshaw, and Heatherwick Studio. Many smaller practices will also take part to pitch against the big names.

Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: ‘This year’s shortlist has a hugely diverse geographic range. The use of water has been striking and there is evidence of real interest in climate modifications using novel techniques. Colourful architecture makes a strong showing and many of the smaller projects we have shortlisted will punch above their weight. We look forward to welcoming shortlisted architects to our tenth edition in Berlin this November.’

Presentations of shortlisted designs will be made to more than 100 international judges. The 2017 completed buildings ‘Super Jury’ which will decide the best of 18 category winners, will be headed by Robert Ivy, chief executive officer of the American Institute of Architects and former editor of Architectural Record; Nathalie de Vries, Director & Co-founder of Dutch practice MVRDV; Ian Ritchie, founder of London-based Ian Ritchie Architects; Christoph Ingenhoven, founder of German practice Ingenhoven Architects; and Wong Mun Summ, founder director of Singapore practice WOHA.

In addition to the awards, WAF includes a conference programme based around the theme of ‘Performance’. And to mark its tenth edition, special awards will be given to projects which address the WAFX Manifesto by identifying solutions to key architectural challenges over the next decade, including climate change, an ageing population and new technologies.

WAF and its co-located event, INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, will welcome more than 2,000 of the world’s leading architects and designers to Berlin for three days of conference programmes, awards, exhibitions and fringe events from 15-17 November. This year’s edition will again be housed in Franz Ahrens’ 1920s former bus depot, Arena Berlin.

Photo Courtesy : World Architecture Festival 2017

Design Devil

Monday 17 July 2017

HANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL EXPO CENTER BY BIAD IN CHINA

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BIAD : Hangzhou International Expo Center is situated on the banks of the Qiantang River in China. Its form is grand and exquisite, and rich in the implication “of Jiangnan”.

The Hangzhou International Expo Center covers 19.7 hectares, and has a gross floor area of 850,000 sq m. The main architecture is composed of a five above grade superstructure and a two below grade substructure. Its programs include conferencing, exhibition, dining, travelling, hotel, commercial, and office spaces, which makes it a truly diverse urban complex.

The Hangzhou International Expo Center is the biggest, most influential, most complex and most culturally appealing among the many excellent conference and exhibition architectures designed by BIAD. It is the latest product over decades of research, learning, and sedimentation in BIAD Conference and exhibition architecture design.

Conference Area: As the main conference area, news centre, and security center for the G20 Summit, the conference area is responsible for the reception of leading figures and visitors from many countries. The Urban Embassy Lounge (Leader’s Luncheon Room), 60m in diameter, including embassy lounge, six facilitating conference rooms, and two VIP lounges, is able to fulfill the highest level of reception. With 2,500 sq m in area and 36m of maximum ceiling height, the embassy lounge forms a top reception site with the meeting area, and can host both Chinese and western feast for 600 people.

Exhibition Area: The exhibition area covers 900,000 sq m including 10 exhibition halls and can accommodate exhibitions of different scales and categories. The special 10,000 column-less hall allows multiple purpose use including special exhibition, large gathering, sports and recreation, and can accommodate 4,500 international standard booths.

Offices and Hotels: Provides service for both the conference centre and the city.

Service Area: Consist of logistics for major zones, accompanying commercial areas, storage and underground parking.

Transportation System: Combines layers of public city transit system, private car, freight transportation system, and many forms of internal transportation systems.

Form: Grand and exquisite, rich in the implication “of Jiangnan”

Photo Courtesy : BIAD China

Design Devil

Thursday 29 June 2017

NEW FACULTY OF MEDICINE IN SÃO PAULO BY KAAN ARCHITECTEN

KAAN Architecten : Dutch architectural firm KAAN Architecten has expanded its growing business by opening its second outpost in São Paulo (Brazil). The practice, founded by architects Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen and Dikkie Scipio in 2014 quintessentially reveals a natural connection with Brazilian modernist architecture and aesthetics, highlighted through the use of raw concrete, clean lines and functional forms.

Since 2015, KAAN Architecten has been working on various projects across Brazilian territory: City Hall Park, a broad urban redevelopment plan in São Bernardo do Campo, the refurbishment of the city hall tower, the Paço Building, and Ferrazópolis, a transit hub featuring housing and a commercial program.

A team of architects, urban planners and engineers led by Renata Gilio works in close collaboration with the Rotterdam office and is based on the ground floor of a Sixties building in the cultural and residential district of Higienópolis, west of São Paulo’s city centre. The Brazilian branch is predominantly dedicated to urban planning, renovation projects and educational programs between the States of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

To mark the official launch of the new office and the start of construction, KAAN Architectenunveils the design for the new Faculty of Medicine of the Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (UAM) in São José dos Campos, a city in the greater metropolitan area of São Paulo State. Located in proximity to a main road junction of the city, the building stands on an elevated plot, which creates both isolation and ideal conditions to turn it into a new landmark in the dense urban fabric.

Optimizing the topographical characteristics of the area, the project stands firm and visually opens itself up to the city. The intense Brazilian solar radiation is mitigated by a fully encompassing system of vertical slabs that fulfills the need for shade in every façade. Choosing a regular structural system enabled KAAN Architecten to feature glass between the concrete slabs and roof beams. These are molded in loco, relying on the expertise of the local workforce, and eliminating the need for masonry.

The Faculty of Medicine in São José dos Campos is scheduled for completion by the end of 2017.

Photo Courtesy : KAAN Architecten

Design Devil

Wednesday 21 June 2017

THE FAILINGS THAT LEAD TO AN INFERNO AT GRENFELL TOWER FIRE

In 2009 there was a fire at Lakanal House, a residential tower in south London, which sadly killed six people. Following the incident a UK All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group called for a major government review of building regulations. Focussing on London's 4,000 tower blocks they recommeded fire risk assessments for all the buildings. The coroner on the Lakanal House inquest also recommended the government simplify regulations relating to fire safety so they were easier for landlords to understand. In 2013, then communities secretary Eric Pickles responded to the coroner’s recommendations and promised a review, however, four years on and no government review has been completed despite assurances from former housing minister Gavin Barwell, who is now Theresa May’s chief of staff. A UK governement spokesman has said that the work is on going but no date for publication has been given.

The single staircase at Grenfell House was the only means of escape. This is the norm in UK tower blocks leaving foreign safety experts staggered. Residents fleeing in Tuesday night’s blaze complained that stairways were blocked and full of smoke. Firefighters also struggled to get to the upper levels.

Cheap flammable cladding was used on the exterior of Grenfell House. A leading UK fire safety expert, Arnold Turling, said the Grenfell blaze was “entirely avoidable” and that a gap between the panels that covered the cladding acted as a ‘wind tunnel’, fanning the flames, and allowing the fire to spread to upper levels. It is thought that Grenfell's exterior cladding, added in 2015, had a polyethylene - or plastic - core but conforms to UK standards.

The Fire Protection Association in the UK have said that a central sprinkler system at Grenfell would have "undoubtedly saved lives". If sprinklers were present in the building it would have created an environment where it would have been easier to rescue people and increase survivability.

According to the Daily Telegraph, London Fire Brigade have said that claims that doors were not fire-proofed would form part of its ongoing inquiry. Independent sources have stated that not all the front doors in the tower block were fire-proofed. Official fire brigade advice to stay put in the event of a fire is based on fire doors offering protection to residents told not to leave the building. Fire doors help to "compartmentalise" a building in the event of fire restricting the fire's ability to spread.

According to information released by Kensington and Chelsea Council under the Freedom of Information Act, the last time that Grenfell Tower was subject to a full Fire Risk Assessment was December 2015. Most experts agree that an inspection should be carried out every 12 months. It is also a requirement to have a fire risk assessment carried out if there is a "material change" to the building. The refurbishment of Grenfell Tower that took place in May 2016, which included a 'material change' as the result of the addition of cladding, should have triggered an inspection.

Finally, firebreaks should have been included in the external envelope of the building to prevent the spread of burning material. This would have stopped the flames from leaping from floor to floor. However, because the fire at Grenfell spread so quickly fire breaks may not have be sufficient to stop the spread of flames.

Humming Bird

Tuesday 20 June 2017

KEY STEPS ON HOW TO SELECT THE PERFECT LIGHT FIXTURE FOR YOUR ROOM

Home Lighting : For many people, lighting tends to be an afterthought or something that you do not pay too much attention to when it comes to the selection process. This revelation is rather surprising because lighting is able to completely transform a space, set the tone, and make it possible to perform various tasks easier. In fact, lighting should be one of the first choices that you make when designing or decorating a room.

For those that may be unfamiliar with how to select the perfect light fixture for your room, check out the following steps so that you can make the best choice possible:

How Will Lighting Be Used in the Room?

The first thing to consider is how you plan to use the lighting in that particular room.

● Do you need it as task lighting such as in a kitchen or office space?

● Do you want it to highlight certain features of the room?

● Is it meant to hide features in the room?

Depending on how you plan to use it, it will help dictate the fixture that is best for the space.

Make Use of Accent Lighting

Accent lighting can be a wonderful addition to the rooms in your house, but it is important to understand it is not meant to act as task lighting. Wall sconces are a perfect example of accent lighting. These can be used to highlight architectural details, artwork, and help to create interest or drama in a room. Accent lighting can be used as up-lighting or down-lighting depending on how you plan to use it.

Consider the Wattage

Another factor that you will want to consider as you shop for lighting is how bright you want the light to be. Do you need it to light a large space? If so, then you will probably want to look for something that houses more than one bulb and allows for a higher wattage.

Familiarize Yourself with the Basic Types of Lighting

It is also a good idea to do a little research and familiarize yourself with the most common types of lighting. Some common types are:

● Pendants, which hang from the ceiling

● Wall sconces, which are attached to the wall and are used as accent lighting

● Chandeliers in various shapes and sizes

● Traditional ceiling lights

● Vanity lighting found in bathrooms and meant as task lighting

Some of these basic types can be used in multiple rooms, whereas others are meant for specific rooms in the house such as vanity lighting in bathrooms.

Under Cabinet Lighting Can Make Your Kitchen More Efficient

If you are looking to make your kitchen more efficient, under cabinet lighting could be the answer. Not only is this visually appealing, but it also adds that extra bit of task lighting which is so appreciated in the kitchen. Depending on your layout you can also work on highlighting your kitchen faucet and sink area using certain lighting. This will give a great effect in the kitchen which will bring more beauty and elegance to a room while helping you to see better, especially if you have a smaller, awkward kitchen space.

Consider Track or Recessed Lighting

One option that has become increasingly popular in the last few years is to install track or recessed lighting. This is especially popular in large spaces. With track lighting you will be able to move the fixtures around on the track and have it point in the direction you choose, allowing it to act as task lighting.

If you do decide to use this type of lighting, a good tip is to install a dimmer switch. Having all the lights on at all times can be a bit too bright, so the dimmer switch will give you more control over your lighting. Think of a space like an entertainment or theatre room where it is best to have dim lights at times.

Try to Keep a Flow

While there is nothing wrong with installing a different light fixture in every room, you will want to try to keep a design flow going. This could mean the fixtures have the same finish or coloring. They do not have to be overly matching, but they should flow. This will help one room flow seamlessly into the next without it being visually disrupting.

The Budget Comes Into Play

Of course, when you are taking on home improvement projects such as updating your lighting, the budget is always a concern. Lighting can add up pretty quickly if you are not careful, so it is best to set a budget before you start shopping.

You can also use energy efficient bulbs and CFL lighting, which will bring down the cost of your electric bill. LED lights are great for conserving energy and they last much longer than traditional bulbs do, which means you will not need to buy replacement bulbs as often.

Choose Lighting that Adds to Your Design

At the end of the day, your lighting choices should not only reflect your design style but help to add to the overall look you are going for. Do not ignore this process. Instead, make the most of it.

Contributor / Writer : Zoe Nielson

Zoe Nielson has always had an eye for detail. Currently writing for Senseireviews , she doesn't want any consumer left in the dark about a product or industry. When Zoe isn’t writing meticulous and informational reviews for the people, she enjoys spending time with friends and reading.