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http://www.jeannouvel.com/en/
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Read more about Jean Nouvel here : https://www.archdaily.com/537032/spotlight-jean-nouvel
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News and image source: https://www.archdaily.com/956877/unstudio-introduces-new-flexible-urban-living-concept-in-the-van-b-residences-in-munich
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Step change: Balaji Temple in Bilakalagudur, India -by Sameep Padora + Associates
South Indian Hindu temples are often built as objects in gardens with one or two water bodies that serve ritual purposes, meet functional requirements and enhance sensory experiences. Gardens and groves house sacred plants and trees, provide flowers (a key offering for the Gods) and create a serene environment. Hagiographies of saints as caring gardeners are common in South India and traditions extol tending to Gods’ gardens and harvesting flowers for offering as Kaimkarya, or ‘a consecrated service’. Deities are bathed with water from ponds, adorned with flowers from gardens and worshipped under the light of fire by the faithful, drawing all the senses in the experience of the sacred. Rather than planted gardens, Mumbai-based Sameep Padora and his team at sP+a have chosen to surround their latest temple with water. ‘This is intentional and part of the ecological strategy to recharge groundwater levels’, explains Padora. Completed in October 2019, the Temple of Steps or Balaji Temple as the villagers fondly call it, after the deity inhabiting it is sandwiched between vast acreages of red chilli and cotton crops, and grey quarries of limestone. Five kilometres to the west of the site, limestone is mined through an opencast and mechanised process, and over the years it has left deep pits holding vast quantities of water. Conscious of environmental impact and social obligations, the adjoining JSW Cement plant which owns the quarries and the patron of the temple decided to share the collected water. They brought about 1.5 million litres to the low-lying kunds, or tanks, around the temple using an existing open canal to transport the overflow – as the water percolates and recedes due to evaporation, the tanks are refilled. Such judicious use and efforts to recharge the water table are critical to the temple’s water-stressed, arid region.
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On the principal ritual axis, running east to west, is the larger shrine dedicated to Balaji, the popular form of Vishnu, one of the Hindu triad of gods. The smaller shrine in the front is dedicated to another form of Vishnu that depicts him as the Earth’s saviour. Both shrines are constructed using 100mm-thick limestone slabs locally known as Cuddapah stones; these sedimentary stones are often polished and used as building materials. Padora discerningly uses this local material rather than marble or granite, the much-maligned materials often seen in temple construction. Using limestone slabs, he has created a corbelled structure to form the main body of the temple. Though corbelling is a standard construction method in Hindu temples, it is never made visible outside; sculptures and ornamental parapets often cover them. Padora not only exposes the corbelled profile but celebrates it as the temple’s distinctive character. ‘Keen to emphasise continuity rather than just dissonance, Padora ensures that the user still recognises the traces of the historical form’
Read the Full Article at: https://www.architectural-review.com/places/india/step-change-balajitemple-in-bilakalagudur-village-by-sameep-padora-associates
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Words of the Week
Louvre: Louver, also spelled Louvre, arrangement of parallel, horizontal blades, slats, laths, slips of glass, wood, or other material designed to regulate airflow or light penetration.
Piers: Pier, in building construction, vertical loadbearing member such as an intermediate support for adjacent ends of two bridge spans.
Archademia ZENITHAL LIGHTING
A zenithal light strategy allows for a more controlled light. In other cases, zenithal light is the only option to bring light to central spaces away from the edge of the building. Zenithal light is therefore natural light that we receive from above. Types of Zenithal Lighting
Atriums
Solar Tubes
Domes
Lanternins
Sheds
SkyLights
CALCIUM SULPHATE PANELS
Pontoon: Any of various floating structures, especially: A flatbottom boat used to support a bridge.
These panels made with heavy duty calcium sulphate core glued to galvnized steel bottom and antistatic finish at the top. The bottom steel varies from 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm as per loading capacity and the edge of the panel protected with conductive PVC coating to prevent panels from moisture and damages. These panels are highly recommended for data centre applications due to its moisture free, sound proof and emission free properties.
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ULTRA HIGH PERFORMING CONCRETE
Materialistico
Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a cementitious, concrete material that has a minimum specified compressive strength of 17,000 pounds per square inch (120 MPa) with specified durability, tensile ductility and toughness requirements; fibers are generally included in the mixture to achieve specified requirements
CORIAN PANELS
While Corian is a brand name, the term is commonly used to refer to any type of solid surface containing polymer and natural minerals. It is a lower-priced material than quartz and other premium countertops. Corian solid surface brings the same beauty to walls and vertical surfaces as it does to countertops, tables, and bars. Endlessly smooth to the touch, a wall panel in Corian gives elegance and a reassuring permanence to any space, and, with various creative techniques, such as inlaying.
VEROMETAL
A revolutionary coating; Verometal transforms the look of any surface with an innovative cold liquid metal. Whether you are looking to coat wood, glass or plastic; Verometal provides a solution that can be applied to any substrate, no matter the material. A range of textures can be achieved through this method, allowing clients to create a really unique and eye-catching finish. This cost-saving method means that a surface of any kind can be completely transformed, allowing you to repurpose older systems and fittings rather than shell out on expensive replacements.
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Grow your Career
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Before we begin to discuss the definition of product design and answering the question “what is product design?”, it is important to reevaluate the definition of a ‘product’. Up until recently, the term was used only in relation to something material and often found in a brick-and-mortar store. However, ‘product’ and the product design process now also applies to digital products; modern product examples include websites and phone apps. There are even product designers called UX designers that specifically focus on usability of the digital product. Keeping this information in mind, building great products consists of many elements, with the design features being one of the most important qualities – from seamless digital applications to the functionality of an executive office chair, every successful product starts with a great design. Product design extends an architect’s ability to use their creative skills and eye for planning & artistic interpretation to respond to an environmental necessity. Many of the same principles explored and addressed through architecture can be applied to design of products. Fundamental to architect’s toolkit is a broad-based, multidisciplinary approach which lends itself perfectly to an interest in product design. With a focus on detail and appreciation for scalable aesthetics, architects are often ideally suited and willing to embrace a smaller scale project. It is common for architects to find no furniture on the market that can respond to their designed building’s needs, and so, developing a product inspired by the shape, form, and structure of the building is one practical solution. This also provides an opportunity for architects to take personal control of the interior environment. An architect’s enhanced level of involvement with product design within a building has the potential to increase the cohesive identity of a structure. The interior fittings of a building and their points of interaction with the user, such as a person’s use of chairs or sinks, are often just as important and adds to the overall architectural experience.
Jean Nouvel Product Design
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This collection of stripped-back custom seating designed by Jean Nouvel for the Louvre Abu Dhabi is based on the building’s domed roof. The furniture, which was created in partnership with Poltrona Frau, was unveiled during Milan design week, in time for the museum’s planned opening later this year. The range includes armchairs, stools and doublesided sofa benches, all made from curved forms intended to reference the rounded profile of the museum building – designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. “Architecture does not stop at the front door,” said Nouvel. “The separation between architecture and interior design is artificial: any detail has the potential to disrupt the sense of harmony and destroy meaning.” Designed to have “comfortable yet bare ergonomics”, the furniture features black leather upholstery with a ribbed pattern that runs across the seats. The seating’s frame is made from large pieces of moulded foam, to create a single shape with “tensed curves”. “These long and massive shapes positioned precisely along the walls and slightly staggered emphasise the building’s scale and lines of composition,” said the French architect.
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Well, Here is the sequel to the article published earlier, Hope you all liked my journey until then! Moving on, There are so many good things about this city that you can only experience and feel. What you see in pictures, is very different when you see it in reality. Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, The Dubai Mall, The Palm Jumeirah, The Atlantis Hotel, Dubai Marina, are some of the famous places that looked really breathtaking seeing upfront. Few Interesting stuff that caught my eye were, there is a whole mall known as “Building Materials Mall” and, being in the field of Architecture and Design, I could stay there all day just looking at different Materials and construction tools. It’s a heaven for anyone who is curious and enthusistic about differnet construction tools and new emerging materials Fortunately, I got to experience this one of a Kind event which was at the ‘Dubai Design District’. Obviously, the architects and designers being interested and curious, they had attended that event and I’m not kidding when I say this, I could stay there all Day! We all have heard of 3D printing, but did we actually see something useable, as a chair, or how about, A 3D PRINTED BUILDING! (probably a world record broken) as Dubai is the first City in the World to have a 3D Printed Office and a building as well. ‘The Office of the Future’ is the world’s first 3d printed useable office.
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Back to Dubai Design Week, it was absolutely amazing to have attended such an event which for me, was an introduction to all kinds of new Materials for construction and for other purposes as well. It also had online seminar discussions with various famous Architects from around the world. A pure delight! There is this mall which is designed in the shape of a dragon when seen in its plan. It’s known as Dragon Mart, and it is home to almost anything and everything under one roof, all exclusively from China. And everything I saw online on Pinterest and thought ‘it’s impossible to find something like this’, I found it there. And I think to have such a market is very essential for any city. Though it is a huge Mall, whatever you think you won’t be able to find, you’d find it there. Just the effort of searching is required. Very recently I had been to this place known as “Global Village”. Harnessing the world’s diversity and creativity into authentic experiences, Global Village, offers novelty appeal and intriguing glimpses, across all geographies and demographics, building and nurturing genuine human connections. With the intent of bridging the gap and bringing the world together, Global Village strives to create happiness in every moment by celebrating the diversity and wonders of our world. The idea of the entire place is to experience different customs and traditions of various nationalities. Will be back next month for the final and the most interesting part of my whole experience at Dubai! Stay Tuned! - Abrar Ul Haque, 4A
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