New design idea - Complex With Swimming Pool Balconies

I was amazed by an email a received from a friend. Yet again this was a creation from the East. These guys always surprise me by their creativity in design. The latest way that the super-rich are living better than all of us? They're getting swimming pools that also function as balconies. Some 3D shots to explain the "swimming pool balconies".

- A planned 37-story apartment complex -

"Ultimate urban luxury is the goal with these incredible suspended balcony pools. They are part of a conceptual apartment development for Mumbai, India designed by the James Law architecture firm. 

The pools appear to float out from each apartment's balcony, suspended seemingly in mid-air thanks to their transparent sides."

The pools may look enticing but, given the altitude, it might be best to avoid any raucous games of Sharks and Minnows. At least that's the concern of Gizmodo writer Jesus Diaz who called Hong Kong architect James Law's swimming pool-studded design a "deadly accident waiting to happen," The Daily Mail points out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/aquaria-grande-mumbai-apartment-complex-swimming-pool-balconies_n_1403741.html

"Although the balcony pools are certainly the most striking element of this design, the additional features of the two apartment towers are impressive as well. 

The project is known as Aquaria Grande, probably because of its use of water as a central element.

A common pool area gives residents a place to congregate while swimming. 

After pool time is over a communal and sustainable podium garden provides another relaxing recreation area."

"Each apartment unit – there will be over 200 in all – is designed to allow for three-way cross ventilation and plenty of natural sunlight. The buildings’ energy-efficient glass facades are meant to reduce energy consumption and increase the overall eco-friendliness of this impressive residential development."

http://dornob.com/floating-jewels-ultra-luxurious-suspended-balcony-pools/?ref=search

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Some more design with similar swimming pool balconies.

All glory to the architect, James Law himself... An amazing creation but always considers the fact that 'seeing is believing' ... I'm waiting for my invite cause this one I want to experience!

Signage... do we design around them or include them?!

Signage … how much thought is put into signage when designing architectural ‘featured’ buildings.

These days, signage takes over. My question to those doing signage applications daily is:

Do you design your building taking into consideration where the sign would be placed, or do you design a building out of signage?

I came across a few interesting photos of signage that took over the building… if I can state it this way. 

"In These Stones, Horizons Sing’. Written in both Welsh and English, this sentence makes a bold statement on the facade of the Wales Millennium Center in Cardiff."

"The Minnaert Building, designed by Neutelings Riedijk and added to Utrecht University in 1997, uses the letters in ‘Minnaert’ to form columns, making them essential structural supports for the section of the building that juts out over a bicycle parking area."

"Fukutake House, a project started by seven of Japan’s leading art galleries, brings art to rural communities that tend to be isolated from it. Occupying a new location each year, Fukutake House reinvents itself annually, but its 2010 incarnation was more stunning than ever with a typographic installation covering the facade of the elementary school that the festival temporarily occupied."

"Though it may seem a bit sensationalistic, the word ‘TERROR’, which features prominently on the building’s overhanging roof, is a fitting name for a building with a horrifying history that is unfortunately all too real. Budapest’s House of Terror occupies 60 Andrassy Street, a building that was once leased by Hungarian Nazis and also housed two Communist organizations. All three used the basement as a torture chamber, and many people died there. When the sun hits it just right, the cutout in the metal overhang casts a sobering reminder of the building’s history upon its facade."

These are some of the buildings featured on the web page and is really something to look at.

Next time, take a few minutes before slapping a signage board on a prominent facade.

They made the marriage between signs and buildings possible so why can't we do the same.

http://weburbanist.com/2011/05/13/signs-of-the-times-13-architectural-signage-designs/?ref=search

New design idea - Under water hotel

If we stop for a minute to think about this, it sounds outrageous! Maybe land is not enough... think about taking the extra step...?
I was amazed by the new proposal of an underwater hotel in Dubai. Seems to me like a 'Sponge BoB Story' or another idea coming from some cartoon but after reading this I have to reconsider.

Plans have emerged for the construction of an underwater hotel in Dubai. The "Water Discus Hotel" would allow guests to sleep below the surface of the sea, offering a view of underwater life.

http://www.deep-ocean-technology.com/home/projects/underwater_hotel.html

The Water Discus Hotel would feature large disc-shaped buildings both above and below the water.

The underwater section is be 10 metres below the surface and would consist of 21 hotel rooms, a dive centre and a bar.

The hotel's "legs" would actually be lifts, transporting guests between the two sections.

The proposal is still in its infancy, but don't hold your breath - the hotel may never see the light of day. A similar project, entitled Hydropolis, was conceived in 2006, but no construction ever occured, while the "Poseidon Undersea Resort" (artist's impression, pictured) was due to open in Fiji in 2008, but plans appear to have been scrapped.

The Rangali Island Resort in the Maldives boasts an underwater suite and restaurant - and offers underwater wedding ceremonies.

And the Huvafen Fushi resort - also in the Maldives - has an underwater spa.

http://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/huvafen-fushi-resort-maldives

The argument still continues... When looking at the pictures above it is clearly visible that there was no dispute for the prime spot, perfect elevated erf or the beach front lot itself. 

Unfortunately this is a challenging one, I always considered the sea a 'no-mans-land'...

So how would we go about to do this or is it also just a pretty picture?!

New Building Product - Ezi Lifts

Ezi lifts, also known as Ezi-elevators

Ezi Lifts was established to support the ever growing need for access in residential and commercial buildings for the disabled market.”

Product benefits:

·        Offer products for emergency evacuation from buildings when lifts and elevators are inaccessible

·        Suitable for both private and residential buildings

·        Designed for safety, durability, ease of use and aesthetic appeal

·        Quick installation time in the industry

·        Also a 24 month guarantee

Residential / disabled elevators were an essential amenity to 94 000 home owner’s world-wide in the last year. The number of residential elevators grows as builders and buyers discover the advantages.

If you want more information on this product follow these links:

http://ezilifts.co.za/

http://www.ezi-elevator.co.za/

Ezi-elevator is also a Port-Elizabeth based company. The thinking behind the establishment of the company was that to date mostly imported units were used at relatively high prices and the aim was to manufacture lifts in South-Africa which comply to international safety specs and could be delivered at a more affordable price.

Among others, Ezi-elevators has installed an elevator at Kabega Police Station as a result of the court ruling made in 2006 arising from a disabled person suing the state due to the inaccessibility of the first floor where the pay office was situated at the time. 

They also installed elevators in the Supreme Court Building in Grahamstown, Polokwane Disater Control Centre and The Vodacom Regional Offices in East-London.

Contact them on the following details:

Tel: 041 453 7931

Fax: 041 453 7936

Cell: 082 657 1255

Email: ezielevator@gmail.com

Did you know - The Disability Discrimination Act

Did you know the disability act? … This is a question I get confronted on a daily basis!

Since the new Sans 10400 was introduced this is something I do not take lightly. Putting yourself in their shoes, what would your reaction be when you are refused or not able to access a public building?

I want to recall from the following website (http://www.dartford.gov.uk/buildingcontrol/dda.htm); the Disability Discrimination Act.

"The Disability Discrimination Act" (DDA) makes it unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably than they would treat other people for reasons related to their disability, when offering or providing goods, facilities or services. Compliance would mean easy access into a building and movement around and within buildings, particularly shops and places of entertainment. Service providers are obliged to make permanent alterations to the physical fabric of premises, fixtures, fittings, finishes, furniture, equipment or materials when providing an auxiliary aid, this requirement of the DDA took effect from 1st October 2004.If you do not own the building from which the service is provided, you should negotiate with your landlord.

Again from another website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068

“Disability rights in everyday life" - The 'Disabled people's rights in everyday life' page is about the parts of the Equality Act 2010 that provide protection from disability discrimination. There is separate information about how the Act affects your rights in different areas of life. This includes accessing and using the services of shops, cafes and banks.”

Also see: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DG_4019061

Get more involved and take note of your surroundings… Everyone doesn’t have life as easy as most of us! Being disabled is a challenge every day; let’s help to take that extra step for them and make things easier.

New Building Material - Eco insulation

This is the new way insulating your roof if aerolite (Think Pink) is not your option. It is a product that has been tested and proven. This product also reduces air leakage between walls and ceilings and also easier to cover the hard to reach places.

Eco-insulation is made 100% out of recycled newspaper. It is pumped into the ceiling or wall cavity by professionals. Eco-insulation presents sustainable low embedded energy content.  The thermal resistance specified by this product is also exceptional and covers a great amount of area.

This product was awarded a ‘Company Excellence award for the year 2008’ by the South-African Energy Efficiency Association for their contribution towards energy saving.

Treated with a specially formulated fire retardant, Eco-insulation is tested and classified in accordance with SANS 428 and is fire rated – No spread of flame. 

The second quality that caught my eye is the fact that Eco-insulation has a natural ability to become an integral part of the ceiling, wall or floor by filling all the gaps and irregular spaces and therefore producing a significant improvement in noise suppression. Eco-insulation has a noise reduction co-efficient of 0.90 (90% sound energy absorption)

This is also a non-toxic and non-irritant product containing no pesticides, requiring no special clothing to handle it. It is resistant to biological and fungal attack and is unattractive to insects and rodents.

Eco-insulation blown onto the ceiling to prevent any air leakage.

Minimum blown in thickness of 125mm gives you an R-value of 3.29, which would suffice if you take in consideration the values given by the roof tiles / sheeting added. This means that one product could replace the combination of the two we are currently specifying on plans.

Before the insulation is blown onto the ceiling space each down light is covered with a metal cup to prevent insulation to interfere with the light fittings. 

After the insulation was blown onto the ceiling space. Clearly the cups are still visible and this way access to the fittings are not restricted.

For more information follow this link: http://www.eco-insulation.co.za/

Improving ‘Low Cost’ to ‘New Age'

Living in a low cost home provided by government is a everyday reality and is in demand like never before. Does that mean they should all be box shaped and consist out of block because it said ‘LOW COST?’ … My theory = The better quality homes we can provide for the need (keeping in mind we cut costs but it lasts) at a suitable rating the more we can provide and have happier community living in ‘HAPPIER HOMES’.

Since Energy Efficiency has made is way to all building being constructed is surely made its way to low cost houses too. Provided that they have efficient hot water supply, isolated roofs and walls, lighting etc. it is still a challenge orientating a box shaped building north.

Looking into alternatives a decision was made to design a house for each direction, meaning if the site face north so should the living areas. Having to do this so many things becomes a challenge…

• Front door faces to the street
• The shortest drainage connection
• Wind blowing from the wrong direction
• Shaded areas making certain parts of the house unlivable

These are everyday challenges we don’t realize. Put yourself in their shoes and what would you do?

A few websites for ‘improving low costs’ gave me the following, and with considering it there is a positive and negative to each of these so I do not say this is a PERFECT design; what I am saying is for you to consider this and re-think what you would have wanted being in this situation.

1. The Shack Chic

http://www.cherryflava.com/cherryflava/2008/06/shack-chic-the-future-of-low-cost-housing.html

This structure is called the ‘Abōd’. It is a lightweight, durable structure that can easily be shipped in a box and quickly be assembled on site.

Positives:

1. Quick to assemble
2. Easy to move (Each owner can move their own house)
3. Security tool to assemble and dismantle you own home
4. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye

Negatives: 

1. Very high building cost (R12 000 per m²)
2. Easy to move - Each owner can move their own house, maybe not such a good idea as they will pick up and leave at any given time
3. No additions to be done to the structure if it’s not the same structure.

2. The Pod

http://www.thecoolhunter.net/design/Classroom-Of-The-Future/

http://www.cherryflava.com/cherryflava/2008/06/shack-chic-the-future-of-low-cost-housing.html

This structure called the “Pod” pop-up temporary structure. It is used as mobile classrooms and is placed on site and has a set of hydraulics that expands to create open rooms / units to live in.  

Positives:

1. Aesthetically looks good
2. Gives the unit an ‘Urban design’ and style
3. It is a modern design

Negatives:

1. Definitely costly
2. Not too easy to assemble on site as mechanical equipment is required for the hydraulics to expand the units when being installed.
3. Don’t think any additions would be possible if not the same style / material
4. Security of such ‘high tech’ buildings – always a risk of theft / vandalism

 3. Alligator House

http://www.homeexteriorinterior.com/alligator-house-low-cost-house-design-for-katrina-refugees/

The structure gets its name from the shape that looks like an open-mouth crocodile. These are structures used for the refugees from post-Katrina. It is a structure that is more developed in length than width. They made use of insulated panels, translucent white plastic and interior is coated with wood and ceramic tiles.

Positives:

1. Aesthetically it is good
2. Used cost effective materials that gives a all in one good look to the building
3. Extension is possible

Negatives:

1. Only extends in length ways
2. Not easy to assemble and can’t be done by the owner himself
3. Temporary housing  

My conclusion :  There is more to what the eye can see. Low cost houses can be something from a vision. It is our duty to allow the design to speak for themselves and by looking at the above we can do more than just an ordinary house. "Think out of the box"...