September 21, 2020

Low-Carbon Future of Enfield Moves A Step Closer

60MW energy centre & district heating network receives planning permission Waste heat from the nearby North London Waste Authority (NLWA) Energy Recovery Facility is set to be used to heat homes and businesses in the London Borough of Enfield after Enfield Council approved planning permission for a new 60MW low-carbon

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Huddersfield Estate Secures Tenants

Huddersfield Estate Secures Tenants

Carter Towler has secured two new tenants for a newly refurbished industrial estate in Huddersfield. Simply Door Handles will move to the Ringway estate from its former site on Leeds Road into Unit 29 on the estate, which measures 1,940 sq ft, while Kirklees Council will establish a 15,200 sq

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Small Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

If you’re searching for simple landscaping ideas which will help you add curl appeal to your front yard, simply continue reading to discover a few inexpensive landscaping ideas which will help you transform your front yard on a budget. Small front yard landscaping ideas on a budget: Invest in purchasing

Read More »

How to Modernise a House on a Budget

Having a beautiful home is one of the best investments you can have. Your home is the place you go to after an exhausting day at work and it’s where you spend time with family. Having a modernized home is the most satisfying feeling in the world. If you’re worried

Read More »

How to get VIP Security in the UK

All homeowners have one thing in common; they want to have the highest protection for their property and the people living in it. That is why it is essential to hire a company to ensure they provide you with the best services. As a homeowner, you deserve high-quality protection. While

Read More »

What is Recycled Aggregate and its Benefits

Recycled aggregate is a simple concept that involves breaking, removing, and crushing existing concrete to use it again in a new building project. The recycled aggregate suppliers mostly use cement concrete and asphalt concrete which can be collected from roads, bridges, and sidewalks. Then it can be used in road

Read More »

How Smoke Ventilation Systems are Beneficial

According to the statistics, fires are developing at a much higher rate than in the 1950s (almost 5-10 times more). What many do not realize is that smoke is the real danger in a fire. In the UK, smoke accounts for more than half of the building fire casualties. These

Read More »

Building Safer Buildings – A Primer

Construction companies do not only have the task of erecting buildings on time and on budget. They also have the responsibility to make sure these buildings are fit for purpose and safe for those that use them. With that in mind, there are several safety areas of which construction businesses

Read More »

The Most Spectacular Casino Buildings

There’s always a certain magic to a night at the casino. It could be the flashing lights, the excitement of the games, or that feeling of having absolutely nowhere else to be. Maybe James Bond has something to be thanked for; after all, there’s little more glamorous than a martini

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

September 21, 2020

Low-Carbon Future of Enfield Moves A Step Closer

60MW energy centre & district heating network receives planning permission Waste heat from the nearby North London Waste Authority (NLWA) Energy Recovery Facility is set to be used to heat homes and businesses in the London Borough of Enfield after Enfield Council approved planning permission for a new 60MW low-carbon energy centre and district heating network.  Energetik employed Vital Energi to submit the planning permission for the Energy Centre, which is located at Advent Way. Customers of the new very low carbon energy scheme will include the 82-hectare Meridian Water development which will include 10,000 homes, a new train station, workplaces and open spaces.  The energy centre will connect to the NLWA Energy Recovery Facility once complete in 2026, taking waste heat and distributing it to customers through a highly insulated network of underground district heating pipes. The proposed development is located within the Eco Park operated by London Energy Limited (LEL), and in addition to assisting with the planning process, Vital Energi will build the energy centre and heat network. Vital Energi will then provide operation and maintenance on the network and energy centre for a 10-year period. Rob Callaghan, Regional Director for Vital Energi commented, “The scale of this project makes it a hugely important opportunity for Enfield to lower their CO2 emissions.  By harnessing waste heat from the nearby waste to energy plant, thousands of homes and businesses will be heated in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.” “This is an innovative scheme and we are delighted to have the opportunity to help Energetik with their planning application and look forward to the construction and operation phases of the project.” In addition to the heat taken from the NLWA, the energy centre will include two 25m high thermal stores, each holding 1,693,000 litres of hot water plus, for resilience and back up, six 10MW boilers installed across three phases. This will provide a highly resilient heating network, ensuring reliable heat and hot water at all times to Energetik’s customers. Vital Energi submitted the planning application on behalf of Energetik and employed Stewart Stephenson Architects and structural engineers Buro Happold as part of the professional team. Work is scheduled to begin in January 2021 with completion expected in November 2022.

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Huddersfield Estate Secures Tenants

Huddersfield Estate Secures Tenants

Carter Towler has secured two new tenants for a newly refurbished industrial estate in Huddersfield. Simply Door Handles will move to the Ringway estate from its former site on Leeds Road into Unit 29 on the estate, which measures 1,940 sq ft, while Kirklees Council will establish a 15,200 sq ft warehouse facility in Unit 9/10. Hazel Cooper of Carter Towler said: “The improvement programme has been a wise and timely investment by the landlord, it has significantly enhanced the appeal of the estate. We have seen a marked increase in the number and quality of enquiries which is now beginning to manifest as positive lettings. “New tenants as well as existing occupiers such as Tool Station, Rexel, Edmundson Electrical, Crown and Johnstone’s Paints have fully endorsed the modernisation. There are just two units remaining now, one is 5,430 sq ft and the other 14,400 sq ft with a further 23,000 sq ft under offer.” The Ringway estate, located on Beck Road in Huddersfield is asset managed by CBRE Global Investors and Howlings Hodgson. Jonathan Hodgson of Howlings Hodgson added: “This is no longer the Ringway Estate that people remember. It’s been completely refurbished to provide a modern business offer capable of supporting a range of businesses so we shouldn’t be surprised that the market is responding despite the challenges of Covid. “The refurbished units have received new roofs, automatic roller shutters, modern and remodelled office, kitchen and welfare facilities and eco-efficient LED lighting. The common areas such as the secure yards, fencing and landscaping have all been enhanced too and the estate has been rebranded to reflect its new improved status.” Carter Towler is joint agent for the estate with Knight Frank Leeds office.

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Small Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

If you’re searching for simple landscaping ideas which will help you add curl appeal to your front yard, simply continue reading to discover a few inexpensive landscaping ideas which will help you transform your front yard on a budget. Small front yard landscaping ideas on a budget: Invest in purchasing nutrients to help your plants grow: To ensure that your front yard boasts healthy vibrant plants it’s well worth browsing the wide selection of nutrients at Eden Horticultural. As you’ll find it a lot easier to grow healthy, strong plants if you place nutrients in your plant beds’ soil. Especially if plants fail to thrive in your garden’s soil. Create an attractive stone pathway to your front door: Lay a simple stone pathway through your lawn to your front door. You may want to use large, mismatched sized stepping stones to create your path or you may want to use your stones to create a mosaic inspired path to your front door. Add a stone edge to your flower beds: In order to ensure that your flower beds stand out opt to create an eye catching stone edge to your flower beds. Adding a stone edge to your flower beds will also help your garden look polished and put together. Place solar lights at the base of any trees or shrubs in your front yard. Not only are solar lights inexpensively priced but if you place solar lights at the base of prominent trees or shrubs in your front yard, they’ll illuminate your trees or shrubs at night. You can also use solar motion activated lights to illuminate any pathways in your front yard at night. Repurpose an old wheelbarrow as a planter box: If you’re able to find an old wheelbarrow, give it a fresh coat of paint and repurpose it as a planter box which you’ll be able to use to grow your favorite flowers. As an example you may want to grow poppies or pansies in your repurposed planter box. You can even grow a variety of flowers in your planter box to create the illusion that wildflowers are growing in your planter box. Use mulch to create an island inspired flower bed: Why not create a flower bed island out of mulch? This is a particularly great idea if your front yard features a lot of grass which you’d like to visually break up. Hang decorative planter boxes outside your front windows: Use recycled wood to build decorative planter boxes which you’ll be able to hang in-front of your front windows in order to increase your home and garden’s curb appeal. You can even swap out the plants which you display from season to season. So if you’d love to give your front yard a makeover on a budget, it’s well worth using all of the handy landscaping tips listed above in order to give your front yard a brand new lease on life.

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How to Modernise a House on a Budget

Having a beautiful home is one of the best investments you can have. Your home is the place you go to after an exhausting day at work and it’s where you spend time with family. Having a modernized home is the most satisfying feeling in the world. If you’re worried about expenses and costs, you don’t always have to go broke trying to modernize your home. In fact, you’d be surprised how you can turn the interior ambiance of your home into something modern and elegant. In this article, we’ll be talking about how to modernize a house on a budget. Cladding cleaning Whether you realize it or not, there’s so much organization and cleanliness that happens cladding cleaning happens. No matter what cladding your home is covered in, you can always have it cleaned by professionals and by those who know exactly what they’re doing. You’ll be pleased to know that cladding cleaning is perfectly cost-efficient and doesn’t take up a huge portion of your expenses. Renovate your kitchen It doesn’t need to be expensive to modernize your kitchen. In fact, sometimes it’s as simple as decluttering everything and even changing the wallpaper. Your kitchen is considered the centerpiece of your home and it’s essential that it looks modern and neat. Making a few tweaks such as replacing cabinet handles and repainting kitchen wares can do a tremendous change. Buy new furniture Nothing says modernizing your furniture than buying new furniture, whether it’s for your kitchen, living room, bedroom, or bathroom. There are various of cost-efficient and budget-friendly furniture than you can choose for your home. If you’re looking to modernize your home, choose a color scheme that would perfectly blend your home. If you have white walls, it’s best to avoid furniture that might not blend perfectly such as bright colors. Upgrade your lighting Did you know that lighting has the ability to turn your home into something classy and elegant? By choosing the perfect lighting, you never know how much it could brighten up your home and modernize it altogether. For instance, instead of a simple light up, you can replace it with a budget-friendly chandelier. This way, it’s more unique and elegant. It also helps if you place yellow-tinted lights than white lights for your living room as this makes your home into something more stylish, especially at night. Declutter Ultimately, there’s no way to make your home more attractive than by decluttering the mess all around it. No matter how hard it is to choose which ones to replace and which to retain, less is always more. Everything looks more modern and neat when there aren’t too many things around your home. In conclusion, I hope this article was able to shed insight on ways to modernize your home on a budget. Frankly, it’s all about cleaning the mess around and changing a few things such as furniture and wall decor. The process may seem exhausting but after looking at the results of your home, there’s nothing you’re going to regret.

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How to get VIP Security in the UK

All homeowners have one thing in common; they want to have the highest protection for their property and the people living in it. That is why it is essential to hire a company to ensure they provide you with the best services. As a homeowner, you deserve high-quality protection. While there are so many firms that offer home protection services, knowing which of them to hire requires you to carry out some surveys. To ensure you get a VIP Security in the UK, you need to consider these factors before making your choice. Reliability For better protection of your home, you should consider the reliability of the company you choose. You cannot trust anyone to protect you and your property, so plan for several meetings with the company before making your final decision. Analyse how the company handles you to determine if you can rely on them. Observe their behaviour throughout the time you are interacting with them. If you make appointments with the company, you should expect them to honour them and avail themselves. A reliable firm will make sure they do not keep you waiting when you have an appointment with them. 2. Experience For better protection, you will want to hire a company that has experience in the job. A company that has been providing similar services for many years knows every trick they need to make their work successful. They understand the alarm systems they need to install in your home to enhance your security. Experienced firms will also ensure they invest in training their staff to provide better services. You will trust a company better if you know they use trained workers. They will let you know whether you need security doors, security alarms, or a security officer. 3. Cost of Services As much as you want to ensure maximum protection for your home, you also need to work within your budget. You can still get good services without breaking the bank. The trick lies in comparing the quality of services and the prices. Different companies, like MEC security, will give you a quote that may not be the same as any other firm. By comparing the services and the price of different firms, you will come up with a company that is not exploiting you. 4. Your Personal Needs When you are looking for the proper security of your home, you need to define your needs before looking for the protection company. Houses differ in design, size, and protection needs. It is essential to survey your home to know what kind of protection you need. Also, find out the type of services the company you want to hire offers. Conclusion Individual safety is very critical, so you have to ensure your home is secure. Proper protection will not only keep you and your loved ones safe but will also ensure your property is safe. A house that is well protected has a higher value than a property that stands in an area with no safety. The best way to guarantee the safety of your property is by working with a reliable security firm to help you put up suitable safety measures.

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What is Recycled Aggregate and its Benefits

Recycled aggregate is a simple concept that involves breaking, removing, and crushing existing concrete to use it again in a new building project. The recycled aggregate suppliers mostly use cement concrete and asphalt concrete which can be collected from roads, bridges, and sidewalks. Then it can be used in road construction, as a base for drainage structures, curbs, and gutters, bicycle paths, noise barriers, pavement shoulders, building revetments, generation of many by-products, median barriers, the base for building foundations, and other structures. No matter the source, it has to be examined to determine if it has the right strength, composition, and durability to be a proper source. After that, the existing concrete always has to go through an exhaustive process of removal of contaminants through screening, air separation, and selective demolition. A conveyor belt with a magnet to remove the metal contamination may be used as well Then it will go to a crusher for a size reduction process and it is ready to go. Characteristic of Recycled Aggregates The grains of recycled aggregate tend to be irregular, rough with an angular shape, porous, and with a cracked surface but this will vary according to the type of crusher use and other processing procedures applied. It may also contain hydrated cement paste which can reduce the gravity and increase the porosity which leads to increased water absorption. Recycled aggregates typically show similar properties to conventional concrete and can meet the requirements of concrete performance, it can have a higher, identical, or lower strength in comparison to traditional aggregates. In some cases, recycled aggregates may be combined with virgin aggregates to create new concrete. Benefits of Recycled Aggregates The high demand for construction projects and urbanization at a fast rate represents a challenge for companies such as DTM Skips and Concrete that are looking for sustainable ways to meet the demands. Here are some of the advantages of using recycled aggregates. Using recycled aggregates is more cost-effective for construction companies than sending materials to landfill and having to pay landfill tax. It is also less expensive than virgin aggregates because it is cheaper to produce. If the sources are available locally that also reduces the cost of transporting the aggregates. It is environmentally friendly. When the concrete particles are crushed into small particles they absorb a huge amount of carbon dioxide which reduces the amount of CO2 in the air. It reduces the creation of virgin aggregate and therefore there is less use of natural resources. It also conserves energy and reduces the need for new landfills. It can address the issue of shortage of natural aggregates. Flexible to work with. Recycled aggregates can be used for different functions including roads, home renovation projects, landscaping projects, and general construction. Recycled aggregates have a long life span and are sturdy. The construction will be just as reliable as the traditional ones. Disadvantages of Recycled Aggregates Increased water absorption capacity. Less workability of concrete in comparison to traditional aggregates. Lack of enough specifications and guidelines.

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Best for Business: How User-Generated Content Can Help You Corner the Social Media Market

From the days of flyers and telephone calls to the evolving world of social media content and tailored online advertising, brands and businesses are constantly thinking of new ways to gain exposure and sell their products to customers. Thanks to the power of social media, almost every company includes platforms like Facebook and YouTube. From TikTok to Instagram, it’s all part of a strategy to reach new audiences and increase sales. You’ll already know that “influencer marketing” has been the way forward for many marketing professionals. Tapping into the success of everyday people who’ve taken the internet by storm has been seen as the logical way to go about it. But, with high follower counts comes the high price you’ll have to pay to get social media users—who are bombarded by brand deals—to pay attention. Even if you opt for an influencer with fewer followers, you can never guarantee a return on investment. Today, we look at how new tactics are being used to corner the social media market, including User-Generated Content and the phenomenon of “unboxing”. Unique touches over fake presence The traditional use of influencer marketing, where you pay a social celebrity to post your product on their platform, is a dying art. The facts and figures certainly back this up, especially around the use of fake followers. According to a report in 2019, fake followers cost advertisers $1.9 billion, with companies “ripped off” for the price they paid for sponsored posts. It’s no small cost for a market said to be worth $8.5 million in the same year—based on advertising spend. But it’s not just fake followers that point to influencer marketing being less effective than it once was. In the same year, American internet sensation Ariana Renee had to cancel her own clothing range after failing to sell the minimum 36 T-shirts required to start her first shipment, despite having a following of 2.6 million on Instagram. Examples like this has got brands thinking. How can they promote their products in a way that people on social media will share it, without having to be paid a small fortune for the pleasure? The answer in a nutshell—User-Generated Content (UGC). In simple terms, UGC is any content, whether it be videos, text, or audio, that’s shared by social media users. For brands, it’s a means to get creative and add personal touches to their products and packaging. This will have people reaching for their phones to post about it without hesitation. Personalisation has boomed in recent times, with everything from personalised wrapping paper to personalised candle holders available online. It’s a trend that even celebrities are on board with. David Beckham’s 45th birthday celebrations saw Victoria give him his presents wrapped in paper printed with his own face! It’s more than plausible to say that people want more unique, personal items these days, with the world of social media playing a key role in the desire for personalisation. If you think about it for a second, what is more likely to be shared on social media, a shopping bag with a brand name on it, or one that’s been designed to feel like it’s special to a specific individual and nobody else? To quantify this from a financial point of view, it’s estimated that the global market for personalised gifts will rise to $38 billion by 2021. This provides a closer look at what direction things are heading in. Unboxing–the never-ending phenomenon With a continuous conveyor belt of products to choose from, there comes the opportunity for trends to emerge on social media. One of the most popular ones right now is known as unboxing. Recognised in the Oxford Dictionary, ‘unboxing’ is defined as: ‘An act or instance of removing a newly purchased product from its packaging and examining its features, typically when filmed and shared on a social media site.’ Search for ‘unboxing’ on YouTube and you instantly get a sense of how popular it’s become. A channel known as ‘Unbox Therapy’ has amassed 17.1 million subscribers since its creation in 2010, with over 3.7 billion views in that time, with viewers tuning in for the excitement of unboxing the latest products. Not only do unboxing videos fuel anticipation of what’s inside, but it always gives key information on the product itself. This is a big deal for consumers, and a recipe for success when brands think of new ways to present their latest craze. Unboxing is not some sort of look into the future, it’s an established way to present and digest content right now. As of 2019, YouTube channel Ryan’s Toy Reviews, where youngster Ryan unboxes the latest toys and reviews them with his parents, was worth a whopping $26 million. Personal reviews, not just views It’s clear to see that the days of brands relying on social media megastars to post about how much they love the product they’ve just been paid handsomely to share are over. It just doesn’t yield the same results that it used to. Now people want to see more personalised branding and opinions from the people in the position to blog, vlog and talk about. Not only that, but the everyday person also wants to share what they buy on social media. Making simple changes to packaging, adding unique touches, and even handwriting a note to fit inside the box are all ways for companies to up their UGC game. Gary Peeling, CEO at UK commercial print company: Where The Trade Buys, currently producing PPE for UK education spaces, workplaces, hospitality venues, retail stores, charity shops, the NHS and more. The company has also been involved in manufacturing face visors for NHS essential workers in the fight against Covid-19. Sources:

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How Smoke Ventilation Systems are Beneficial

According to the statistics, fires are developing at a much higher rate than in the 1950s (almost 5-10 times more). What many do not realize is that smoke is the real danger in a fire. In the UK, smoke accounts for more than half of the building fire casualties. These are systems designed to let the smoke escape as easily and quickly as possible. While some conventional exhausts and window openers use strategical placing to ensure proper smoke removal, other systems actively remove the smoke from the building. In the case of a fire, this reduces the chances of fatalities and protects the building from further damage. Some systems rely on natural buoyancy of the gases while others rely on mechanical extraction to ensure complete safety. Smaller buildings tend to employ natural ventilation while larger ones like malls, high-rise buildings, etc. make use of mechanical ventilation systems. There are numerous benefits to employing such a system in every building that might be prone to fires. Given that this is an issue, here is why smoke ventilation systems are the need of the hour: 1.Protects trapped people The worst place to be in a fire is in the middle, with no place to escape. Such a scenario is dangerous, not just because of the fire, but mainly due to the excess amount of toxic fumes and smoke. Smoke ventilation systems are a saving grace in such situations since it allows for hot air, aka smoke to get sucked out, while letting fresh air inside. 2.Eases Evacuation Evacuating from a building under fire is hard as it is, without smoke causing a whole other commotion. Visibility plays a vital role in deciding how many people can evacuate and how long it takes. Given that this is so crucial in determining the after-effects of a fire, it only makes sense to have smoke ventilation systems or window openers that help people get out harm’s way as soon as possible. 3.Helps out the Emergency Services By allowing the smoke to escape the building, emergency services like fire-fighters and first-responders have an easier time dealing with the situation. Removing smoke from the equation helps responders assess the situation better and also helps decide the next step of action quickly. There is no doubt that such systems if employed in every household, will drastically reduce building fire casualties. 4.Prevents the extent of damage to the building Smoke is capable of doing a lot of damage in a fire. While it poses a threat to the safety of living creatures, it is equally dangerous for everything else. Smoke caused because of a fire can damage electronic equipment, damage walls, ceilings, food, etc. (to name a few). Since there is much to lose when it comes to letting smoke reside inside a building, such smoke ventilation systems are a vital part of damage control. 5.Does a better job than a window/door Purely based on thermodynamics, it is clear that ventilation systems and window openers work better than windows and doors. Windows and doors tend to sit at lower levels. Smoke rises and thus resides in the topper half. Since companies that deal in such systems place these vents and window openers in a much higher location, they work better at removing smoke and letting clean air inside. Now that the importance of smoke ventilation systems is crystal clear, the wise decision to do would be to get these systems employed in your buildings ASAP. Together, let’s make the UK safer again.

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Building Safer Buildings – A Primer

Construction companies do not only have the task of erecting buildings on time and on budget. They also have the responsibility to make sure these buildings are fit for purpose and safe for those that use them. With that in mind, there are several safety areas of which construction businesses need to be aware. Keep reading to find out what they are.  Building Safety Bill  The first thing that construction firms need to be aware of is the Building Safety Bill. This is a new bill brought in by the UK government in response to the Grenfell tragedy.  Firstly, the bill outlines better safety features for multi-unit buildings and high rises. Additionally, the Building Safety Bill also extends the amount of time any construction company can be held responsible for non-compliant work. All of which means that safety should be even more critical to construction businesses than it has ever been.  Movement within the building  When considering construction safety, it is not only the infrastructure of the building, that is important. The way the building design and materials allow movement within it is also vital, as this is an essential part of how users will behave within it.  The good news is that there are several features construction businesses can use to make movement around the building as safe as possible. The first of these are stair rails, which support people using their stairs and create a barrier if they do slip or fall.  Additionally, installing anti-slip stairs made from resin can help prevent falls and accidents when users move from one area of the building to another. The good news is that such products are good value for money and hard-wearing enough to last for a long time too, making them an excellent investment for construction businesses looking to up their safety game.  Non-toxic materials  Another vital consideration for construction companies when it comes to building safer buildings is the materials they use. Unfortunately, traditional construction materials haven’t always been the most user friendly, with a trade-off between high toxicity and efficacy.  Sadly, building materials with high toxicity aren’t only dangerous to the people using them in building the building. They put the health of the people who inhabit the building at risk too.  The good news is that with modern technology, new materials are being created that are much less toxic and perform brilliantly. A particular example of these is the use of hypoallergenic insulation in walls and roofs. Something that keeps the building’s temperature stable effectively, but is much better for the health of the occupants.  Location considerations  Finally, when it comes to building safety builders, construction firms must always consider factors specific to their working location.  What this means is properties built on a flood plain must have additional protection built into their design.  The same goes for those in locations at higher risk of fire, erosion, and even earthquakes. If the firm building them wants to maximise the safety of those that use them and ensure that their work stands the test of time. 

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The Most Spectacular Casino Buildings

There’s always a certain magic to a night at the casino. It could be the flashing lights, the excitement of the games, or that feeling of having absolutely nowhere else to be. Maybe James Bond has something to be thanked for; after all, there’s little more glamorous than a martini and a spin of the roulette wheel. Whatever it is, that feeling is only amplified in a beautifully designed casino. Incredible architecture has the ability to turn a great night at the casino into one that you’ll remember forever. These casinos are some of the most spectacular in the world. Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco Whilst online casino games offer good entertainment and can be played from the comfort of your own home, there’s a certain charm in visiting the actual casino. Those who are fans of playing slots online will be delighted at the variety on offer in the Casino de Monte Carlo. There are no less than 1000 different slot machines, each with differing price levels, so there’s one to suit all budgets. Better still though, is the table games room. This room is heavily decorated with golden chandeliers, red velvet drapes and dark wood paneling. It feels like the most sophisticated club room you could imagine. This combined with classical portraits adorning every inch of free wall space makes the building feel almost gallery-like. Views across the Riviera complete the feeling of opulence. Stepping outside you’ll immediately notice the ornate baroque facades. Whilst minimalism has been the prevailing trend for some time now, when maximalism looks as good as the Casino de Monte Carlo, you wonder how it ever went out of fashion. The Venetian, Las Vegas Anything that’s inspired by a visit to Venice is likely to feature some stunning architecture, and the Venetian in Las Vegas is certainly no exception. It recently celebrated 20 years of roaring success, in no small part down to the relatively tasteful design of the building. Whilst many of Vegas’ casinos are, to put it nicely, rather tacky, the Venetian has a genuinely classy atmosphere, both inside and out. Perhaps the largest stroke of genius in the casino design is the canal that encompasses the entire building. This means that guests each receive a valet gondola service, from car door to casino door. This kind of detail is exactly the sort of thing that creates the right mood at the beginning of the evening – and also encourages guests to stay and play a little longer. Of course, being in Vegas, the Venetian is no small operation. At 36 stories high and 120,000 square feet, it more than holds its own against the big boys. Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore Up until fairly recently, the largest casinos were almost exclusively found in Las Vegas. However, over the last decade, Asia has increasingly found itself at the center of mega-casino building. Sentosa, a small island off Singapore, opened Resorts World Sentosa back in 2010, at an eye-watering cost of nearly $5 billion. Although nowhere near as enormous as the Venetian, the casino still boasts an enormous 16,000 square feet of playing space. Not only this but the resort also includes a huge aquarium, a Universal Studios park, and plenty of restaurants. Whilst some resorts can feel a little disjointed, this one was designed entirely by Michael Graves. This single architect-approach creates a sleek, futuristic feel throughout. There are no jarring design differences, just clean lines, smooth flowing shapes, and an overall feeling of being somewhere really rather special. There are certainly plenty of very special casinos in the world. One thing that seems to unite all of these ones, though, is a single visionary approach. Allowing one person to create their dream casino does seem to reliably yield beautiful results. Whether it’s the dream of a time gone by, the memories of a special vacation, or a trip into the future, each of these casinos shows what a strong individual vision can bring to building design.

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