The world’s very first fully functional, and permanently occupied, 3D printed building has been completed in Dubai. Set to open its doors in 2020, the new build, which is going to be a museum titled: The Museum of the Future, is one of the most advanced buildings on the planet.
Sheffield based shopping centre, Meadowhall, is rethinking a £300 million extension. A development that originally was thought to create the perfect counterpoint to the regeneration of the city centre. Investment Company – British Land, is rethinking the 330,000 sq ft construction to cut the number of shops that have shown
Winter is here. The nights are long, the days short. Getting out of bed, going out all seems more of an effort than when the days were long and the nights shorter. Now is the time to make your home as cosy as possible. Hot drinks in front of the
Situated in the heart of Unity Campus, Cambridge, The Works provide contemporary office spaces unlike any other. Designed with connection and collaboration at its core, The Works provide business and offices spaces that stand to be both inspiring and flexible. Offering high quality internal circulation, breakout and amenity space. The
It is fair to say that if you are thinking about renovating your garden you feel like you have a job on your hands. It is not just a question of moving plants from one part of the garden to another. A full-on renovation may see you have trees and
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Mar 8th 2016 ISG has been appointed to carry out a £multi-million project to extend the Scottish headquarters of award-winning supermarket group, Aldi, as the company further expands its operations in the country with a further
Network Rail has hived off its property arm into a standalone business with instructions to generate £1.8bn for network improvements. Network Rail Property now has its own board which will approve investments and disposals without reverting back to the main group board. Network Rail said that the new structure and
The Middle Eastern city of Dubai is home to some of some of the most beautifully designed real estate projects in the world. The fascinating architectural gems and the breathtaking skyline that the city features are bound to impress everyone. From Burj Khalifa – the tallest tower in the world
Not even the all-powerful Chinese Communist party can make the wind blow China’s wind farms have long had a cloud hanging over them: not enough of their clean energy is consumed. That seems odd; a combination of rapid urbanisation and thousands of coal-fired power stations makes for severe pollution problems,
Fewer lower prices houses are being sold in Australia with the residential property market seeing more the number of $1 million plus home sales soaring. Over the 12 months to June 2016 some 14% of all house sales and 7.3% of all unit sales were at a price of at
The world’s very first fully functional, and permanently occupied, 3D printed building has been completed in Dubai. Set to open its doors in 2020, the new build, which is going to be a museum titled: The Museum of the Future, is one of the most advanced buildings on the planet. Located near the high-profile Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road, the building is already being defined as an architectural masterpiece. Enhancing the urban landscape of Dubai, the museum is designed to be a popular destination for tourists, residents and fellow architects/building enthusiasts, to learn about the future now. Offering a space that will teach its visitors about the realities of what we can expect from upcoming technologies means people can glance into the future. It will become the must-be destination for experts, innovators, scientists, engineerings, and creatives from all corners of the globe, who aim to shape and design the future. Currently, the building is the temporary housing for the Dubai Future Foundation, alongside an exhibition space and incubator for emerging technologies. The building itself has been manufactured through an additive concrete printing technique, using a 6 meter high, 36.5 meters long and 12 meters wide, 3D Printer. Cladding was created through insulated panels that were custom cut to form the complex geometry of the facade. Various senses and probes on the building provide continuous feedback on its structural performance that can offer designers valuable information in relation to the future of 3D printing, and how can this can work for high rise builds. Already, Dubai is an established hub for innovation and the new design stands to further encourage future thinking within the city. The museum will support the development of long terms solutions to the challenges and requirements of the future on a local, regional and international scale. Given the advances in prefabrication, materials and robotics that are coming to the attention of the world, it is not difficult to imagine how this one-storey build, could be reproduced at much greater heights in the near future. Transforming the aesthetics and workings of cities across the planet.
Sheffield based shopping centre, Meadowhall, is rethinking a £300 million extension. A development that originally was thought to create the perfect counterpoint to the regeneration of the city centre. Investment Company – British Land, is rethinking the 330,000 sq ft construction to cut the number of shops that have shown interest in the scheme. Wanting to gain more interest on food, drink and activity sectors as the retail sector continues to struggle. Last year the extension was given the go-ahead by local planning committees who saw the expansion as a positive opportunity for the shopping centre, and for Sheffield. However it is now likely that new, amended designs will have to go through a similar process before construction works can begin. Under the original proposal, an all-new multi-level wing, with a distinct latticed glazed roof was to be built on what is currently the centre’s car park. It has been advised that the space would contain a cinema, gym, restaurant facilities, entertainment venues and space for events, with 25 new retail units being able to be purchased. This quantity of retail stores is now having to be re-designed. In the current climate, it appears that consumers are wanting to spend their money on the experience rather than the items. Meaning less time is spent buying clothes and more time is spent making memories through activities such as eating a meal or watching a movie. British Land has expressed its desire for the project to be one that further enhances Meadowhall’s position as one of the best shopping centres in Europe. In order to do this, it is being referred to as essential, that improvements reflect leisure time – meaning the centre has to cater for much more than shopping alone. If the construction plans at Meadowhall are successful, it will complement further ambitious plans to transform Sheffield into a new hub for jobs, living space and leisure activities. New designs for the expansion are being urged to compliment the city and its needs, rather than settle for more shops that aren’t thought to offer the best benefits long term. Meadowhall has released figures stating it receives around 25 million customers annually, but in such an uncertain economic climate, employees at the shopping centre are uncertain of implementing new retail spaces. Despite Meadowhall currently being a huge success, this is all subject to change, and the centre needs to keep up with the ever-changing demand of consumers in order to remain at the forefront of the industry. In 2017, four separate districts were created in a £60 million refurbishment, which developed double height stores to brands such as Hollister and All Saints. Companies including Joe Browns, Michael Kors and Flannels joined the shopping centre and a further £40 million was pumped into shop upgrades by companies such as Apple. While the latest review is likely to take a least a few months before a decision can be concluded, the new construction work could be taking place as early as Spring.
Winter is here. The nights are long, the days short. Getting out of bed, going out all seems more of an effort than when the days were long and the nights shorter. Now is the time to make your home as cosy as possible. Hot drinks in front of the fire, warm rugs and throws are becoming the order of the day. So let’s look at must have ideas to make your home cosier and more resilient to the cold weather. Fireplaces Although many modern homes do not have a fireplace you may want to install one. There is nothing quite like a naked flame on a cold night. In days of old when families used to huddle around the fireplace, there was a sense of belonging. You can recreate this with a fireplace that compliments your home. Companies such as Barbas Bellfires fireplaces have brought the concept into the 21 century. Many have clean lines and there are plenty of designs to choose from. They are both a centrepiece and yet blend in with the furniture. You no longer need an older house to appreciate the delights a fireplace brings. A hot drink is a must have on cold nights. Textiles Textiles need to feel soft and comfortable for the winter months. They should ooze cosiness. You want to avoid harsh fabrics. What you are aiming for are textiles that make you want to wrap yourself up in them like a duvet. Colour wise you want earthy colours that compliment the colours outside your window. This gives the feeling of being outside but the warmth generated by your home gives you and your family that warm sense of belonging. Lighting Cosiness and warmth is provided by the right lighting. Like fireplaces, the naked flame of candles has a hypnotic quality that when used correctly can help any home feel warm and snug. Think about lighting dark corners using candles and keeping room lighting dimmer to make your rooms feel warmer and welcoming. When choosing lighting, ensure your mood spreads from room to room. There is nothing worse than leaving a warm living room and going into a cold kitchen. Try and keep your lighting consistent for a warmer house. Bath Mats There is nothing quite like getting out of your bath after a long soak and feeling the soft warm bath mat beneath your feet. This is essential for the winter and helps to accentuate the feeling of relaxation and warmth. It also avoids walking on cold bathroom floors. Nothing compliments a relaxing bath like a great bath mat. Make sure you have slippers! A good bat mat will feel soft to the touch and make you appreciate the home and the wonders of modern living. Rugs and Throws As well as enabling you to change your colour scheme when you feel like it, good use of rugs and throws can really make your home feel warm and give a sense of belonging. Choose the right fabrics for them and they will make your whole family feel snug and are a perfect compliment for the hot drinks which are needed on those long winter nights. Rugs and throws can make quite a dramatic impact on how your home feels. They are easy to obtain and so you can do some great things with good rugs and throws. Make sure they feel soft to the touch so they generate the right mood. Books – a Bonus Must Have for you and your Home As it is cold outside here is a bonus must have for your home, books! Reading books by the fireplace is a time honoured tradition in winter, and you can recreate this by ensuring your shelves feature books. Older, hardback books work better but if you only have a selection of paperback books not to worry it all works well. Reading is a great way to pass the long winter nights. If you want a modern take on your reading, use a tablet instead of a dusty novel if you must. The art of making your home feel warm and cosy is how it feels. The lighting should generate mood, the fabrics should be soft and welcoming. Colours should be earthy but at the same time should fit in with your colour scheme. So if you need to use pinks and yellows rather than greens or browns feel free to experiment. Nature has determined some species need to hibernate for the winter and we are not that different. We need to shelter from the cold and ensure that warmth is generated through the home. Why not make this a cosy experience and a rewarding one? Best of all on long winter nights is that feeling of warmth that radiates. It makes you feel together with your family and at peace with the world.
Situated in the heart of Unity Campus, Cambridge, The Works provide contemporary office spaces unlike any other. Designed with connection and collaboration at its core, The Works provide business and offices spaces that stand to be both inspiring and flexible. Offering high quality internal circulation, breakout and amenity space. The Works illustrate up to 63,000 sq ft of contemporary business space with suites available from 7,500 sq ft. Beginning in October 2018, with occupation set to begin in November 2018, amenity spaces and creative break out spaces deliver an exemplary new business arena to South Cambridgeshire. The £20 million innovative multi-led business space project is now well under way. Representing the first phase of significant investment by Cambridge based Howard Group to bring forth the new campus style Business Park. The extensive new space is taking place within the footprint of the formal industrial building which currently occupies the site, incorporating the pre-cast concrete frame of the original building which is to be transformed by world-renowned architects NBBJ. The team will see a contemporary office space of high quality with R&D space come forth that teams industrial aesthetics with world class design. Connected by a 100 meter long converted central street, the two storey office build will promote everything the contemporary work space could ever wish to need. Already the Howard Group has completed the first 7,500 sq ft pre-let, with additional suits in The Works being available soon, from 5,000 sq ft upwards, configured to suit the needs of every client. Howard Group’s Development Director, William Jewson, commented: “The goal at The Works is to create an environment where dynamic, growing businesses can thrive. South Cambridge has a huge number of occupiers looking for something a little different to the institutional office stock available, that will help them to both recruit and retain talent, and inspire and engage their workforce. With excellent train services, cycle routes in central Cambridge and easy access to the main road network, this is the perfect campus-style office location. “The Works is the first stage of our master plan for Unity Campus. The ultimate aim is to create a new kind of Business Park, with striking architecture, grade A infrastructure, a pedestrian and cycle friendly circulation space and excellent amenities both internally and externally. We would love to talk to any businesses interested in making the move into something a little more exciting than the more conventional Business Park.” The project stands as an innovation that will provide exceptionally contemporary space, in which like-minded people and businesses can meet, work, relax and share ideas. The Howard Group is a family owned, regional property company with significant commercial and residential portfolios across the East of England and London. For more information on the Howard Group, please visit: http://howard-ventures.com/
It is fair to say that if you are thinking about renovating your garden you feel like you have a job on your hands. It is not just a question of moving plants from one part of the garden to another. A full-on renovation may see you have trees and bushes to remove. You may want to get rid of or reposition paving slabs or pathways. You may be considering laying new paving. Garden renovation is difficult work but it can be made easy with the right tools. If you are an avid DIY enthusiast or you own a small home improvement business, using tool hire will save you money and do the lion’s share of the work. A true win–win scenario. Before you start Renovating your Garden Before you start renovating your garden, make a plan. This will give you ideas and help you pinpoint exactly what you want to do in your garden renovation. From here you can prioritise the list of jobs. If you are working for a client and not undertaking a DIY project you may have your client’s plan to work to. If you do not, It is essential that you and your client agree exactly what you are going to do before you unleash a mini digger on their favourite flower bed. Once you have your plan play around with ideas. You probably have a broad idea at how you want things to look, but you will probably find that your project takes a new life as new ideas bed down into your plan. Decide how much maintenance you are prepared to do when deciding what plants to use in your garden, and take a few visits to garden centres so you can see what’s possible. Make a List of Priorities Once you have a plan decide what to do in order of when you need to do it. This will help you schedule when to arrange tool hire and this gives you a broad idea of how long your project will take. It is good practise to build in a little extra time as problems always arise. Excavation Unless your project is small in scope, you will probably need to clear away a large part of your garden if not all of it. You have big DIY ideas and this needs to be done. This is where mini digger hire saves you money and allows you to excavate your garden effectively giving you a blank canvass to work with. Mini diggers are an invaluable tool when renovating your garden. If you are a home improvement business they not only provide a cost effective way of taking on bigger work, they also avoid a range of headaches such as planned maintenance and servicing, and paying for repairs should your mini digger develop a fault. Once you have the digger you should be able to clear away as much of the garden as you need to quickly. This is just the beginning, however, as the next phase may involve laying pathways and patios, planting, building and possibly plumbing and electrical work. As an enthusiastic DIY person or home improvement business owner, you have your work cut out! Garden Renovation Equipment Tool Hire Other tools you may need to hire to handle the heavy loads include: Skip – You need to put the rubbish somewhere and skips are the best option. This makes rubbish removal easy and you don’t have to keep doing dump runs to get rid of your rubbish, delaying the project and adding on costs. Cement Mixers – If you’re laying patios or paths you want to be able to mix large volumes of concrete. Cement mixers are perfect for this task and speed up the laying process considerably. Rollers – Rollers compact soil, asphalt, and gravel and as such give the perfect foundation to make your garden renovation come to life. Some you push by hand. For bigger projects ride on rollers are available. Chainsaw – If you want to fell a tree you will need a chainsaw to do this job. Unless you’ll need a chainsaw for a considerable amount of work, it makes sense to hire one from a good tool hire shop. Wood Cutting Equipment – If you are planning to build wooden structures in your garden, being able to cut wood accurately and easily is necessary. There are plenty of options to choose from so finding the right saw for what you need to accomplish should be straightforward and help you complete your tasks faster and more accurately. Once the heavy work is out the way you can start developing your garden renovation. For this, a different set of tools is needed. As a minimum you will need: Wheelbarrow Garden Trowels Garden Gloves Hand Pruners And Loppers Plant Dividing Tools Garden Hose Reel Cart Garden Forks Shovel Wide Brimmed Hat On a final note, many hands make light work. If you are doing a DIY project recruit as many friends and family to help.
Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Tue, Mar 8th 2016 ISG has been appointed to carry out a £multi-million project to extend the Scottish headquarters of award-winning supermarket group, Aldi, as the company further expands its operations in the country with a further eight new stores planned in 2016. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Recently voted Which? Supermarket of the Year, Aldi is extending capacity at its regional head office building in Bathgate, with ISG constructing a two-storey, circa 21,500 sq ft extension, designed to blend seamlessly with the existing structure. The project also includes upgrades to mechanical and electrical services, IT and security infrastructure in the head office building, as Aldi future proofs its Scottish headquarters base. Work will be carried out in an operationally live environment, with ISG developing a robust and agile construction programme to minimise the project’s impact on Aldi staff. At ground floor level, the new extension will house meeting rooms, an archive store, sample kitchen, sample kitchen presentation area and staff canteen. The first floor area provides a mix of open plan office accommodation and cellular office space, with ISG fitting out the new accommodation to a high specification. The project also includes external enhancements, with ISG creating new car parking provision and carrying out an attractive hard and soft landscaping scheme. Andy McLinden, ISG’s Scotland regional managing director, commented; “Aldi has been highly successful with its quality offer in Scotland. I’m delighted that our first project for Aldi in Scotland is highly significant in supporting the supermarket’s country-wide expansion strategy, delivering a high-quality and future proof administrative centre in Bathgate.” Source link
Network Rail has hived off its property arm into a standalone business with instructions to generate £1.8bn for network improvements. Network Rail Property now has its own board which will approve investments and disposals without reverting back to the main group board. Network Rail said that the new structure and governance arrangement would “provide greater focus on plans to deliver land for housing, while continuing to generate income from Network Rail’s other property assets to reinvest into the railway”. Meanwhile, Network Rail itself will be free to focus on its core business of running the railways. This new organisation went live on 1st April 2016 under managing director David Biggs and non-executive chairman Chris Gibb. A search has begun to identify two further non-executive directors with appropriate property experience. David Biggs, managing director of Network Rail Property, said: “A bigger and better railway requires significant investment and Network Rail is generating an extra £1.8bn to help fund the Railway Upgrade Plan, mostly through the sale of property assets where continued Network Rail ownership is not essential to running the railway. This means Network Rail can focus on its core business of running a safe, reliable and growing railway that is vital to Britain’s economic health. “Our new property company will have greater powers to unlock land for homes, drive economic growth in towns and cities and reinvest money into the rail network to help fund the Railway Upgrade Plan. It will mean that investment or asset disposal decisions can be made at the right level within the organisation in a timely way while ensuring appropriate oversight is in place.” This article was published on 28 Apr 2016 (last updated on 28 Apr 2016). Source link
The Middle Eastern city of Dubai is home to some of some of the most beautifully designed real estate projects in the world. The fascinating architectural gems and the breathtaking skyline that the city features are bound to impress everyone. From Burj Khalifa – the tallest tower in the world to Burj Al Arab – the only-seven star hotel in the world, Dubai never falls short of masterpieces. Let’s have a look at some of the best real estate projects in Dubai that define beauty and luxury: Muraba Residences Located on the eastern crescent of the beach community of Palm Jumeirah, The Muraba Residences has been designed by none other than the winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize, RCR Arquitectes. Defining minimalist international design aesthetics, the development is known for its choice of soft colours and organisation of spaces. The open-plan living areas have been specially designed for natural light to flood in. The full-length glass doors help create a direct connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces. In order to provide its residents with complete privacy, the property features louvered-glass slats that are moulded with a rippling pattern and are incorporated into the building’s facades, thereby restricting views into the residences but keeping the views on the inside looking out. Palm Couture Residences Palm Couture is located on the Palm Island and beautifully combines contemporary minimalism and clarity of detail and complements its residents with a customised living experience. The architects of this project have paid close attention to views, nature, light, and balance, resulting in the homes feature ample light and space, against a stunning assortment of exquisite stones. Palm Couture consists of fourteen residential suites are unique and something that Dubai had not witnessed before. In order to play with natural shadows, the development also features travertine facades that help create unique geometric forms. The best of materials from timeless Italian brands have been used in the project which can be an ideal abode or those who appreciate nature, space, light, and design. Serenia Residences This architectural beauty on the Palm Jumeirah’s East Crescent features architectural excellence and contemporary design. Providing its residents with a tranquil living experience, Serenia Residences also has on offer classy furniture, contemporary interiors and a modern open floor plan. The simplistic contemporary architecture of the development combines gorgeous vistas, cantilevered glass and wrap-around balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows and high-end finishes. The uniqueness of this property lies in the fully retractable glass windows, translucent glass panels in all the rooms that have been used for the first time in Dubai. One Palm The masterpiece of One Palm is located on the trunk of The Palm Jumeirah and features detailed craftsmanship. It has been built using the finest of materials and has been finished to the highest of standards. Reflecting modern and sleek designs, the development also hosts the most expensive penthouse of Dubai. One Palm has been designed by New York-based architects Soma and stands 100 metres tall and is home to 90 apartments, arranged methodically to provide the residents with unobstructed views of Palm to the north and Marina to the south while also maintaining their privacy. Each of the homes also features private outdoor space, proportional to their size. 22 Carat Club Villas Located on the Western Crescent of the man-made island of Palm Jumeirah, XXII (22) Carat Club Villas hosts 22 luxury homes that reminds one of the Renaissance period. The villas feature facades that are classically Italian and are inspired by the architecture of the Tuscan region. The homes come with stucco work, classical columns, pergolas, arched doors, and walkways. They also feature Terracotta finishes, pastel colours, handmade ceramics, and wall paintings. European furniture and fittings add to the Mediterranean feel of the homes. Placed in a terrace structure, every row of the villas has been built on a different level.
Not even the all-powerful Chinese Communist party can make the wind blow China’s wind farms have long had a cloud hanging over them: not enough of their clean energy is consumed. That seems odd; a combination of rapid urbanisation and thousands of coal-fired power stations makes for severe pollution problems, which the state is desperate to reduce. A change in government regulations should improve matters for hard-pressed renewable generators but it will not solve all their problems. The National Energy Administration has done its bit for pollution reduction by encouraging renewable energy, mostly wind power, through favourable tariff structures. Last year, wind accounted for about 4 per cent of total generation and is due to more than double by 2020. But the NEA faces two big challenges. One is obvious: not even the all-powerful Chinese Communist party can make the wind blow. The other is that while regional networks are required to accept power produced from wind farms, some regional grids nevertheless refuse. In the north-western provinces of Xinjiang and Gansu, almost half of the wind power offered by generators was rejected (or “curtailed”) in the first three months of this year. Wind power specialists such as China Longyuan Power and Huaneng Renewables, which have borrowed heavily to invest in construction, complained bitterly. Their shares have trailed broader market indices for years. After repeated warnings, the NEA this week required nine provinces with the highest curtailment rates to use an average of a fifth more wind power than last year. That matters; these areas contain at least 60 per cent of the two companies’ wind capacity. Shares in all the listed wind farms bounced sharply on Wednesday. Reducing curtailments should improve their earnings. And they need the cash flow — net debt levels look scary at more than 5 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, partly explaining very low valuations. But remember that the curtailments occur for a reason. Coal-fired generators, too, do not run at full capacity because the economic slowdown has reduced demand for power. And exporting wind power to populous coastal regions, as Xinjiang requires, just means competing with the wind farm projects over there. China’s government cannot simply wave away its wind industry’s problems. Email the Lex team at lex@ft.com Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link
Fewer lower prices houses are being sold in Australia with the residential property market seeing more the number of $1 million plus home sales soaring. Over the 12 months to June 2016 some 14% of all house sales and 7.3% of all unit sales were at a price of at least $1 million, according to the data from real estate firm Corelogic. To put these figures into perspective, just five years ago 7.5% of all house sales and 4% of all unit sales were within this price range. Capital cities have predictably seen a much higher proportion of sales of at least $1 million over the past year. Across all house sales, more than one in five sales, 20.9%, were for at least $1 million compared to 8.9% of all unit sales. In the regional areas of the country housing sales prices are typically lower than they are in capital cities, the report points out, while also showing that the difference between the proportion of house and unit sales of at least $1 million is much narrower. In regional areas that units are only located in larger regional markets and often are positioned in relatively expensive in waterfront locations. The historical data shows that often the proportion of unit sales at or above $1 million has been above that for houses and over the past year, 3.3% of all regional house sales and 3% of all unit sales were at least $1 million. Over the past 10 years in particular there has been a substantial rise in the proportion of sales of at least $1 million. In Sydney over the past year more than two out of every five house sales was at least $1 million and in Melbourne it was one in five. Sydney had a higher proportion of total unit sales of at least $1 million than the proportion of house sales at that price point in each city except for Melbourne. The report also points out that as the supply of affordable homes selling has declined significantly over recent years, an increasing proportion of stock is selling for a seven figure sum. It adds that demand for premium housing and within the most expensive areas of the country remains buoyant which suggests that over the coming year the proportion of sales at a price point of at least $1 million will continue to rise. Source link