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Kenneth Booth

CSIC LAUNCHES FREE BIM E-LEARNING PLATFORM AND INVITES SCOTTISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO JOIN THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

Construction businesses in Scotland can now boost their BIM knowledge without leaving the office, thanks to Construction Scotland Innovation Centre’s free new e-learning platform. Launched as part of CSIC’s renewed BIM in Practice programme, the platform will host six e-learning modules and provide access to multiple resources to help organisations

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CPW ANNOUNCES NEW COHORT OF CIBSE-ACCREDITED CONSULTANTS

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

TWELVE experienced engineers at national M&E consultancy Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) have attained accreditation to join the CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) Heat Networks Consultants Register. CIBSE Heat Networks Consultants are able to advise on the Code of Practice CP1 on Heat Networks, produced by CIBSE and the

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VIVALDA WELCOMES BROKENSHIRE BAN ON COMBUSTIBLES

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor and fabricator of architectural cladding systems, has welcomed the Government’s intention to ban the use of combustible materials on all high-rise developments. Announced by housing minister James Brokenshire at the Conservative Party Conference, the new building regulations will be introduced for external wall systems banning

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The Benefits Of Using Steel As A Building Material

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

When you are choosing a material for your new construction project, it is important that you think about the benefits of the different types. One of the most popular building materials for construction projects recently is steel. This is because steel is a very durable and cost-effective material. In this

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MINI Living at China House Vision.

Kenneth Booth September 28, 2018

Fourth interpretation of the MINI Living Urban Cabin concept presented at the architecture exhibition China House Vision draws on traditional Beijing forms of housing as well as developing innovative ideas for maximum quality of living within a minimum space. MINI presents the latest MINI LIVING Urban Cabin at the interdisciplinary

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Latest Issue
Issue 343 : Aug 2026

Kenneth Booth

CSIC LAUNCHES FREE BIM E-LEARNING PLATFORM AND INVITES SCOTTISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO JOIN THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

Construction businesses in Scotland can now boost their BIM knowledge without leaving the office, thanks to Construction Scotland Innovation Centre’s free new e-learning platform. Launched as part of CSIC’s renewed BIM in Practice programme, the platform will host six e-learning modules and provide access to multiple resources to help organisations build an understanding of BIM. The first module – ‘BIM Awareness’ – is available now, with more to be added over the coming months. The BIM in Practice programme of support has been designed to raise awareness of the opportunities Scottish construction companies can realise through BIM Level 2. It demonstrates the benefits that can be achieved through knowledge sharing, collaboration, innovation and best practice – all founding principles of BIM Level 2. The programme is designed to support businesses from their initial awareness of BIM to the continuous development of their BIM journey, offering support at all stages. As well as offering a series of free events, seminars and workshops in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, the new BIM in Practice programme includes use of the e-learning platform, the ability to join an online BIM discussion forum to connect with and share ideas with other professionals and access to expertise and project support from CSIC’s business relationship team. Lisa Deane, Skills and Training Manager, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre said: “With support from Scottish Enterprise and in conjunction with a range of industry partners we are delighted to be launching our new e-learning platform, to help individuals and organisations on their journey towards implementing BIM Level 2.  The first module is now available and we plan to develop a further five free-to-access e-learning modules over the coming months. “BIM level 2 can deliver cost savings and added value to construction projects in the context of a more collaborative and innovative environment. By sharing design information through a common file format, it enables organisations to work collaboratively on small and large scale construction projects, thereby reducing risks.” To date, over 400 businesses have benefited from the support available through free workshops and a further 200 professionals have joined the online BIM discussion forum. This new e-learning option will allow participants the flexibility to learn from any location and at their own pace. Colin Hastie, CSIC’s BIM Technical Consultant, added: “Here at CSIC, we want to see our sector transform into one that makes better use of digitisation and automation to drive greater profitability, productivity, efficiency and sustainability. We see BIM as a key part of that transformation. It will support the creation of buildings that are fit for the 21st century –  greener, more efficient, and with more intelligent infrastructure. I’d encourage any forward-thinking construction business to get in touch and take advantage of this free package of support from CSIC.” To maximise the benefits of this free programme, CSIC strongly recommend that interested businesses sign up to the full series of workshops and support. Full details of the e-learning platform and full BIM in Practice programme can be found at: www.cs-ic.org/BIM All CSIC’s BIM events are carried out in partnership with other organisations. Interested in collaborating? Contact Lisa Deane on 0141 212 5250 or email ldeane@cs-ic.org for more information.

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CPW ANNOUNCES NEW COHORT OF CIBSE-ACCREDITED CONSULTANTS

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

TWELVE experienced engineers at national M&E consultancy Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW) have attained accreditation to join the CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) Heat Networks Consultants Register. CIBSE Heat Networks Consultants are able to advise on the Code of Practice CP1 on Heat Networks, produced by CIBSE and the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Rather than simply providing guidance for industry professionals, the code specifies minimum requirements which must be met in order to produce a successful scheme and comply with the code. Accredited Heat Networks Consultants are required to pass an examination which assesses their knowledge and understanding of the code of practice before they are able to join the register. Speaking of the achievement, Carl Humpage, director at CPW, said: “The ethos that underpins all of the work that we do at CPW is our unwavering commitment to industry standards, personal CPD and ultimately exceeding the expectations of our clients. With this in mind, my fellow consultants and I were keen to achieve this accreditation in order to confidently advise and offer a considered recommendation to each of our clients’ individual requirements. “District heating networks are now seen as one of the key solutions to deliver a low carbon energy economy, particularly in high heat density areas so they need to be designed, built and operated to a high standard to deliver customer and user satisfaction. Through this new accreditation, our team are now fully prepared to guide our clients so each project connects with the UK’s future low carbon energy infrastructure.” For further information visit www.cpwp.com or follow @Couchperrys on Twitter.

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Debunking the big myths about making your first company hire

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

Firstly, if you’ve got to the stage where you are thinking about making the first hire for your company, a huge congratulations is in order. After all, we don’t need to remind you about all of the damning statistics that do the rounds about new companies, and how many of them fail during the first years of operation. However, when it comes to that first hire, you might need to talk yourself round to the idea. This is the point in your company’s life where suddenly, you are responsible for someone else. The success of your business, or lack of it for that matter, could have a monumental effect on someone else. This is probably the reason so many myths about the early recruitment process are doing the rounds. Following on from the above, let’s now address some of these misconceptions and highlight the real truths about making that elusive first hire. Myth #1 – You’re not ready for your first hire This is something that a lot of young companies tell themselves; they fool themselves into thinking that they are just not ready for a first hire. Of course, there are times where this isn’t the case, and this is something that we will look at shortly. However, you need to remind yourself that there is only so far you can go with the DIY approach. Your time is limited; you might work as many hours as physically possible, but this is capped. As soon as you hire someone, your output can be doubled. It’s this impact what you really need to think about; you need to assess just how much more value someone else will bring, not about the salary that you are now going to have to pay out. Myth #2 – You are ready for your first hire To play devil’s advocate, some businesses are the opposite as above. They think that they are ready for their first hire on day one and unless they have huge budgets, this is seldom reality. Unfortunately, not all businesses are a success. You need to realize that there is a time to make a hire and if you still don’t have a steady stream of paying customers, taking on someone too early is a risky strategy. Myth #3 – You have to start with permanent employees Following on from the previous two points, there is a midpoint. We are now in the gig economy age; meaning that temporary work is more fashionable than ever before. A quick look at immediate start jobs London from Staff Heroes shows just how developed this market is, and there’s nothing stopping you from tapping into it. A lot of skilled workers are looking for temporary work, for personal circumstances, and by opting for this route you don’t have to commit to a full-time salary. To suggest that your first employee should be a permanent member of staff is ridiculous. Myth #4 – You have to pay top dollar for the best employees Does money play a part in the recruitment process? Of course, it does. Fortunately, there are other ways that you can play the recruitment game to your advantage. Being a young start-up, you need to prove your worth somehow, and offering the likes of flexi-time and smaller benefits can make you attractive for some people. Whether or not you will get the best in the business is another matter, but if you can show you will treat people well you might be surprised at the number of candidates who turn to your role.

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VIVALDA WELCOMES BROKENSHIRE BAN ON COMBUSTIBLES

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor and fabricator of architectural cladding systems, has welcomed the Government’s intention to ban the use of combustible materials on all high-rise developments. Announced by housing minister James Brokenshire at the Conservative Party Conference, the new building regulations will be introduced for external wall systems banning plastics, wood and other products that include combustible materials found in some aluminium composite panel systems. However, Vivalda’s managing director, Ben Jayes, is calling for further clarification on whether the ban would apply to any material in wall construction from the internal face of the wall through to its external face, as first proposed. He said: “For months now, we’ve been calling for a much more robust approach from the regulators, who should treat all proposed cladding systems as a single, integrated product; not a group of unrelated sub-components.  For this reason, we decided last year to supply only A1 and A2 products to all high-rise building projects. The devil is certainly in the detail where complex cladding systems are concerned. Specifiers and contractors want clear and robust guidance on cladding safety – that’s why we’re pushing for the regs to include complete systems, fixings, insulation and all.” “A total ban on all combustible materials on high rise developments is still the gold standard for which we’re lobbying. Whatever the government concludes on this issue, we think the industry needs to take action and set new, unrivalled standards of building quality for all cladding systems used on tall buildings.”

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The Benefits Of Using Steel As A Building Material

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

When you are choosing a material for your new construction project, it is important that you think about the benefits of the different types. One of the most popular building materials for construction projects recently is steel. This is because steel is a very durable and cost-effective material. In this article, we are going to discuss the benefits of using steel when designing a building. Make sure to keep reading if you’d like to find out more. Cost Effective Although steel might not be extremely cheap to buy, you will find that it is a very cost-effective way to construct a building in comparison to others. This is often because it is a recycled material and it lasts a long time, so you don’t need to worry about investing in more any time soon. On top of this, steel is lighter than other materials, so it won’t cost as much to transport it and you’ll even save on fuel costs. Durable Steel is a very strong metal and it can last a very long time. The strength of the material also means that it can stay standing when it comes to extreme weather conditions. You don’t need to worry about heavy snow or wind knocking your building down.  The steel building company armstrongsteel.com emphasise on their website that they are made to withstand any extreme weather and are also “non-combustible so it’s unlikely they will be destroyed by fire”. Environmentally Friendly Building materials often cause problems when it comes to keeping the environment safe and so it is important to choose a material that is eco-friendly. This is why steel is a great material to use because it is actually often made from recycled metal. Steel is very recyclable so make sure to use it if you are looking for a building material for your project. Adaptable If you are looking for a building material that is adaptable then you should think about using steel on your next project. Steel can be used for many different projects and is often used on large scale projects that need walls to be repositioned or altered. Having an adaptable material is very important so consider this carefully if you are unsure about which route to take. Design The final benefit of using steel as a building material is the fact that steel buildings can be designed to look great. Steel buildings do not need to have columns and so they often have a lot more space to include other great features. This gives designers the freedom to come up with something brand new and so it is a very good material to work with. Final Verdict If you are thinking about choosing a material for your next big construction project, you should think about choosing steel. This is because of the many great benefits such as the fact that it is extremely durable, it is great for creative design and it is very environmentally friendly. Make sure to invest in some steel if you want to create something really amazing on your next project.

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5 technologies that are about to change the construction industry forever

Kenneth Booth October 2, 2018

Technology has impacted every corner of our lives at a pace so rapid it’s sometimes hard to keep up. The construction industry is no exception to that, and the sheer number of tech solutions on offer to companies can be daunting It’s hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, and to figure out what’s just a flash in the pan and what’s worth investing your money in. In this blog, Advantage AHCI aims to help you do exactly that – as they tell you about the five technologies which will change the construction sector forever. Drones When a camera is attached to one of these aerial vehicles, it allows for site managers and teams to not only receive real-time progress updates but also to check for and monitor health and safety hazards they may not have otherwise been able to spot. So significant is their anticipated impact that US start-up company, Skycatch, have made supplying drones to construction projects their primary focus. Furthermore, from a marketing perspective, being able to use drones to capture time-lapse footage of schemes being constructed is a brilliant calling card for surveyors and agents. 3D printing 3D printing has already made a big splash, but many people believe that we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of its capabilities. One Chinese construction company has started building houses using a giant version of the technology, spraying layers of cement and construction waste to create them. Many in the industry are convinced that this could, eventually, help to solve the global housing crisis – reducing the time and costs involved with building new homes. AR & VR (incl. BIM) Augmented and virtual reality are already revolutionising many sectors, but their effect on the world of construction is set to be huge. Thanks to this advanced technology, construction managers will be able to oversee every element of a project on as granular a level as necessary – aiding with health & safety, co-design, digital job guidance, progress monitoring and more. Additionally, BIM (building information modelling) is already making waves in the construction industry, providing contractors, developers and professional teams with the ability to conduct virtual walk-throughs of projects. It’s started to replace traditional blueprints and is slated to transition from 3D to 5D in the very near future. Carbon nanotubes Engineers have created this incredibly thin, lightweight material which – contrary to what you might think – can be used to add greater strength and density to metal, wood and glass. Despite being only a nanometre (one-billionth of a metre!) in thickness, the carbon walls which the tubes create have the highest strength to weight ratio of any material on earth. This could streamline the construction process at breakneck speed, making buildings faster and easier to erect. Smart H&S gear From responsive clothing to “smart” hard hats, PPE has had a 21st-century makeover and is now poised to keep on-the-ground teams even safer. The “Smart Helmet” is a piece of wearable tech from Uvex which is equipped with special lenses, 4D augmented reality and more – meaning that its wearers can be warned of potential hazards, and be given detailed information about their surroundings.

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PROGRESS ON NEW HOSPITAL BUILD IS CELEBRATED AT ‘TOPPING OUT’ EVENT

Kenneth Booth October 1, 2018

More than 100 guests donned their hard hats and gathered on site at the new £33.5m Circle Birmingham Hospital in Edgbaston for a ceremony to mark the project’s progress. Guests of honour attending the event at the former Pebble Mill site included the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Yvonne Mosquito and Councillor Dierdre Alden.  The ceremony included the unveiling of a plaque to mark the ‘topping out’ stage of the build. The hospital, which is being built by Simons Group, will be complete in Summer 2019 and will be the second largest private hospital in the UK. It will be an addition to Circle Health’s other hospitals in Bath, Nottingham and Reading. Guests including surgeons and other health professionals, along with all site workers who were invited to down tools especially for the event, watched the ceremonial unveiling.

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Story Homes welcomes its first female bricklayer as part of new apprentice intake

Kenneth Booth October 1, 2018

Housebuilder Story Homes has welcomed seven apprentices as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in and developing young talent, with this year’s cohort including the developer’s first female bricklaying apprentice. The new bricklaying, joinery and technical apprentices will work across Story Homes’ key regions of Cumbria and Scotland, the North West and the North East. The new recruits were selected at an apprentice assessment centre earlier this year, beating tough competition from a number of high quality applicants. The recruitment of Chloe Bland, 22, is an important step for Story Homes in encouraging more females to apply for roles on its construction sites. Chloe, who has completed her Level 1 qualification in Bricklaying, commented: “Bricklaying runs in my family so I have wanted to follow this career path for as long as I can remember. I studied Health and Social Care at college and I considered professions such as hairdressing, but I just couldn’t imagine working long-term in a role that didn’t involve being hands-on out on site. “I find the concept of a bare plot of land being transformed into a beautiful home absolutely fascinating and I take a real sense of pride in being part of that journey. In future I hope I can progress my career with Story Homes, with the ultimate ambition of becoming a trainee site manager and even a site manager one day.” Story Homes’ apprenticeship scheme forms a key part of its strategy to ensure it can achieve its future plans, as well as making a contribution towards closing the growing skills gap in the housebuilding industry. The developer’s Aspire Apprenticeship Scheme, which launched in 2016, aims to recruit the brightest and most passionate school and college leavers from 16 years and upwards. Apprentices undertake a full development programme which includes working towards an NVQ Level 2 or Level 3, on-the-job training and the potential to move into trainee site management at the end of the programme. Before beginning their roles on-site and in the office, the apprentices completed a five-day residential team building and induction programme, aimed at building their confidence and problem-solving skills from the outset. Fred Story, chairman and CEO of Story Homes, said: “Our apprenticeship scheme has proved successful over the years, with a number of people recruited now in more senior roles. Bringing future talent into the business is very important to us so I am pleased to welcome our seven new apprentices. I look forward to seeing them working with their teams, developing their skills and contributing to our mission to design and build quality homes that people aspire to live in.”

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The Different Types Of Boilers Available For Your Home

Kenneth Booth October 1, 2018

If you are looking to invest in a new boiler, the first thing you ought to know is the variety of boilers on the market. There are plenty of boiler options on the market, and if you are to make the right decision for your home’s boiler, you need to have an intricate understanding of the various boilers. Importantly, you need to understand their differentiating performances, and, therefore, choose a type of boiler that will not only meet your needs but also run efficiently and economically in your home. Herein is a boiler guide to give you insight into the types of boilers available. 1. Combi Boilers Combination boilers, better known as combi boilers are some of the most popular, if not the most popular boilers in the United Kingdom. Its popularity stems from its ability to provide hot water and heat a house without needing or using a water storage tank.  Since they do not need a water tank, they are space efficient. Moreover, they can be connected to the main council line, therefore, providing hot water on demand with the council waterline pressure. Additionally, homeowners have the liberty to choose a gas-powered or electric boiler. That being said, they do have some cons. For instance, when you need hot water supply from more than one tap, you will experience a drop in water pressure. It is also of critical importance that you a hire professional and experienced boiler installer as the installation of this particular type of boiler is quite complex. 2 . System Boilers This is the perfect boiler for households that require/need stored water. They provide hot water to multiple taps at the same time with ample pressure. It runs more efficiently than the regular boiler, thereby offering huge cost saving. Furthermore, since the vast majority of the system components are contained in the boiler, they tend to be easier and much faster to install. Furthermore, they are space economic as they do not need a storage tank in your loft to operate. However, due to the system design, you do not get hot water instantly. Instead, you have to wait for a while for the water to heat up and collect in the boiler cylinder. Furthermore, in cases where the hot water runs out, you have to wait for the additional water to be heated. 3. Gas Boilers Gas boilers are boilers that make use of Methane (CH4)/ Natural Gas as the main fuel. These types of boilers are some of the most popular boilers on the market owing to the fact that natural gas is one of the most popular heating fuel. Being available in the mains, many homes get the supply to natural gas quite easily. Furthermore, they do not need to store the fuel in their home, making it easier for them to use the gas. However, the mains that supply natural gas is not available everywhere. Hence not all houses have a gas boiler as an option. 4. Electric Boilers Electric boilers use the same principle as the gas boiler to heat water. However, instead of using gas as the energy source, they use electricity. They are particularly well-suited for properties that have restrictions on the use of gas boilers or properties that have no access to main gas supply. They also offer the benefit of running quietly, and their small and compact sizes mean they are space efficient. You should be aware of their potential to have higher running costs, especially if you are on a split plan. 5. Regular Boilers/Conventional Boiler/Open Vent For the most part, regular boilers are increasingly losing their popularity with regards to typical household hot water supply new and more efficient boilers gain more acceptance. For starters, they are somewhat less efficient than other modern systems. Moreover, they require enormous amounts of space for the water tanks and cylinder. As such, you will find them in old homes. That being said, they still remain a viable boiler option, especially for homes with high demand for hot water or for homes with numerous bathrooms. This is due to their ability to supply water to a large number of taps without the flow rate or pressure weakening. 6. Oil Fired Boilers This type of boiler is designed to burn oil. The nature of the oil allows it to be safely stored for a long time in the vicinity of a home. As such, oil is stored nearby the house in a storage unit, where heating oil is topped up as per individual needs. The oil fired boiler is the perfect boiler choice for homes that are not connected to the natural gas mains and or located outside the urban centres. As such, it a popular choice for the over 4 million houses in the UK that are not connected to the main natural gas supply line. 7. Solid Fuel Boilers Solid fuel boilers are not vastly different from other boilers. In principle, they burn a fuel, in this case, a solid in the form of wood, paper, coal, or other solid fuels to provide heat. These boilers are considered by some to be an aesthetically pleasing boiler system. 8. Condensing Boiler Condensing boilers are not a boiler type on its own. Instead, they can be considered as an attribute that a gas and or oil boilers can have. Therefore, you can use a condensing conventional boiler or a condensing combi boiler. That being said, they are typically classified as a boiler type owing to their distinguishing energy efficiency. Condensing boilers are far more energy efficient than the other non-condensing boilers. They achieve the higher energy efficiency performance by condensing the vapour in the exhaust gases, thereby recovering/extracting the latent heat of vaporisation that typically gets waters. As such, they have an efficiency greater than 90%. When you settle down on a type of boiler, you should make sure you contract professionally trained and experienced technicians for your boiler installation.  The quality of boiler installation plays an

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MINI Living at China House Vision.

Kenneth Booth September 28, 2018

Fourth interpretation of the MINI Living Urban Cabin concept presented at the architecture exhibition China House Vision draws on traditional Beijing forms of housing as well as developing innovative ideas for maximum quality of living within a minimum space. MINI presents the latest MINI LIVING Urban Cabin at the interdisciplinary architecture exhibition China House Vision in Beijing from 21 September to 4 November 2018. The micro-apartment concept was developed in cooperation with local architect Dayong Sun. The Urban Cabin in Beijing is now the fourth interpretation of the concept developed by MINI LIVING last year. The Urban Cabin provides temporary living space with a high degree of flexibility and lots of possibilities – on a surface area of just 15 m2. One particular design focus is the local identity and culture of the specific location in each case. After stops in London, New York City and Los Angeles, the latest source of inspiration is Beijing. The central theme of the project is to explore how space can be used in an innovative way to create a new sense of community and maximum quality of living on a minimum surface area. In order to achieve this, the MINI LIVING Urban Cabin Beijing re-interprets traditional forms of urban living in China, thereby stimulating dialogue with community life in the city. MINI Living started in 2016 and is dedicated to developing novel residential concepts for urban conurbations worldwide. Developments in big cities such as space shortage and price increases are taken into account, as well as the desire for flexibility, local identity and communal interaction. In order to address these diverse aspects, the project takes the “creative use of space” principle as developed for the classic Mini in the field of automotive design and applies it to the residential context. MINI Living Urban Cabin Beijing: visionary format with historical roots.  Every MINI Living Urban Cabin consists of three formal elements. The living and sleeping sections on one side of the micro-apartment and the kitchen and bathroom on the other side are designed by the MINI Living Design Team. The third section is defined by MINI as an experiential space with the character of an installation: for each cabin, a local architects’ bureau is invited to fill out this space. The theme selected always has to be relevant to the specific location. In Beijing this experiential space was developed in collaboration with local architect Dayong Sun. He has created an open area of encounter as a homage to the courtyards of the traditional hutongs. Golden, telescope-like mirrors are mounted above this interactive space, reflecting the immediate environment but also the broader urban context. A swing at the centre of the space provides a playful shift in the viewer’s perspective. The storage and seating facilities positioned around the Urban Cabin are designed in geometrical shapes reminiscent of traditional Chinese tangram puzzles, also acting as an attractive feature for contemplation. Dayong Sun’s design is inspired by the hutongs common in Beijing’s more traditional districts. A hallmark feature of the city’s architectural history, these residences are made up of courtyard buildings and passageways that are particularly appreciated for the combination of private withdrawal spaces and communal living areas which they offer. This model is now gradually disappearing from the urban landscape as a result of demographic change. The MINI LIVING Urban Cabin in Beijing echoes the underlying principle of hutong while at the same time translating it to the modern age. Global network of creative residential solutions.  MINI Living is focused on forward-looking stimuli for a style of residential architecture that focuses on human beings and their need for individuality, flexibility and community. “Each MINI Living Urban Cabin creates maximum quality of living within a very limited space in a specific situational context”, explains Oke Hauser, Creative Lead MINI Living. “The result is a global network of creative residential solutions in which people all over the world feel at home, while at the same time providing a public space for innovative forms of co-living”. With their individual basic format and elaboration, the various interpretations of the MINI Living Urban Cabin concept demonstrate the creative possibilities offered by micro-apartments. This has made them the forerunner to the first co-living project in China, which is to be opened in Shanghai in 2019. Here MINI is collaborating with Chinese project developer NOVA Property Investment Co. to convert an unused industrial complex in the Jing’An district into a multi-dimensional facility consisting of apartments and work spaces as well as cultural and leisure facilities. In addition to the creative use of space, the concept offers residents maximum flexibility with residential units of varying sizes and a vibrant urban neighbourhood. This creative combination of personal privacy and opportunities for communal interaction is supplemented with an extensive range of digitally bookable services, thereby establishing a whole new level of living quality in the urban setting of a modern city.

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