You need an Architect to DESIGN and to ADMINISTER the Construction of your new house.
Why? Because the people who build your house, if left to themselves to design and build it on their own, may commit a multitude of sins that can result in your residence leaking, rotting, collapsing, being structurally undermined through erosion, growing mold, and a host of other unpleasant and unhealthy results. Are the builders inherently bad, vindictive and evil people who want your house to rot, fall down and hurt you? Of course not. It is just that it is usually hard for one person or one company to be good at one thing, much less, trying to be all things to all people.
The idea presented here is that licensed General Contractors CAN do a very good job of building, when they just build and follow the detailed drawings and specifications of a licensed Architect. BUILDERS=BUILD. ARCHITECTS= DESIGN. The two working together on your behalf, gives you the best of both worlds: excellent design sensitivity and attention to technical details & specifications, along with professionally managed construction. A builder should no more attempt to design than an Architect should to build. Each has
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We love the work of fashion illustrator Ignasi Monreal. A few months back, we brought you this vibrant series the illustrator did for V Magazine Spain, and we couldnt get enough. The illustrator recently did a series of looks for Hong Kong retailer JOYCE, illustrating fashion from S/S 2013, on view here. The illustrator, who lives and works in Madrid, completing studies in Illustration, Communication Design, and Fashion.
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At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we are always intrigued by new lighting technologies, so it isn’t surprising that an article discussing crime fighting street lights piqued our interest. The city of Chattanooga tested new LED technology in a crime-ridden park in their city and now they are looking to switch out lights across the rest of the city.
Coolidge Park in Chattanooga is a large park in the city that had become dangerous for visitors at night. Gang violence had pushed the city towards incorporating large stadium lighting throughout the park to make sure all the areas were well lit. Worried that the stadium flood lights would ruin the park’s atmosphere, a local company brought a new lighting technology to the table (you can read the whole story here).
Instead the company proposed trying wirelessly controlled LED street lights that were not only energy-efficient, but could help combat the growing crime problem. Eac
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This urban house is located in Mexico City and it was designed by Gomez Crespo Arquitectos. It has irregular form which responds to different parts of landscape. A blend of limestone, glass and steel was used to give the house a strong modern even minimalist look. As many houses in this region it’s strongly connected with outdoor spaces and has awesome views around it. The whole first floor has contact with gardens surrounding the house. Big windows allow to catch as much natural light as possible. N
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There is a great VALUE in having a licensed Architect design your house. Specifically, this is the first in a series of online articles, looking at hard numbers and how those indicate that having a knowledgeable residential Architect design your house will SAVE you many times the cost of their services over the life of your residence.
Each of these articles will focus on a specific topic: Roofing, Windows & Doors, Energy Conservation & Your Utility Bills, Health & Your House, and more. This first article focuses on Roofing. What is remarkable about each of these studies is that ANY ONE OF THEM can provide financial evidence that having a real Architect design your house can save you more than what you pay them for their Basic Services. And, when this series is done being written, we will combine them into a final chapter, offering a stunning array of facts and costs illustrating that perhaps the entire cost of the whole house, over time, can be saved, if you have an experienced residential Architect design your residence. For more general information about Value Engineering of Houses, you may wish to click here > Value Engineering.
Okay, lets get started with ROOFING. Most people expect their roofs to fail, especially if they have owned a house for 10 years or more. Even though most asphaltic roof shingle manufacturers call their shingles: 20 year, 25 year, 30 year and 40 year shingles, the reality is that the shingles themselves or, even more likely, the cheap underlayment below them starts leaking long before the stated shingle lifetime. Architects highly experienced with the design of houses know about alternate roof sheathing membranes that, for a just a little more money, last a LOT longer that what your normal roofer or handyman will use to reroof your house. Cheapest is NOT the best, in this particular case. By having an Architect who is experienced in these matters design your residence, you can save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your house. For more
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A few years ago my in-laws moved into a new construction home in a new neighborhood. The house and yard are fabulous. Off the back of their house, they have a lovely covered porch that opens up to a nice deck. On the far end of the deck, there are a few stairs that lead out into the yard. It’s a great space to sit and enjoy a drink and some appetizers, but at night, it was a little unsafe. The neighborhood they live in doesn’t have a lot of street light that spills over into their yard, so when the sun goes down, it’s dark. You can barely see the stairs that lead to the yard, until we urged them to add outdoor deck lighting.
Sure footing is important in any space, but when it involves older people or children and changes in elevation, it becomes even more important. When
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The head office of this agency is articulated through modular elements, glass partitions and integrated furniture. The facilities include offices, classrooms, workshops and a multipurpose hall.
This foundation is located on the central business district of Beijing. The center, hosting administrative and cultural activities, has a simple character combining form with colorful elements.
From the entrance, where the reception desk and a waiting area are located, the spaces are arranged along a central corridor defined by varying ceiling heights. The natural eastern light is softened through translucent glass partitions and doors.
The materials used in the project include light wooden floors and neutral plaster on walls and ceiling.
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