JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 | COMPLIMENTARY COPY
THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE / HOME & INTERIOR DESIGN / WEST COAST LIVING
Home Design Trends For 2022 Accessory Dwelling Units Creating A Space Solution A Timeless Way Of Building Damage From Flooding... Are You Covered?
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F RO M T H E D E S K OF THE PUBLISHER Copyright 2021 by Campaign Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without express written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
Happy New Year 2022! “Here’s to the year past and friends who have left us. Here’s to the present and the friends who are here. Here’s to the New Year and the new friends who will join us.” — Emily Post As we look back on the past year I think most of us would agree that it’s been a memorable one, to say the least. Despite the many challenges we have faced (and still face) I can’t help but feel a permeating sense of optimism and camaraderie in our community that I believe has contributed greatly to our resilience in these unprecedented and sometimes difficult times. As we begin our 5th year of publication, I’d like to give a warm Sunshine Coast thanks to our many dedicated readers and local businesses in the community that have supported our magazine since we began publishing in 2018. From all of us here at @ Home on the Coast magazine, we wish you and your families a year full of health, happiness, and continued prosperity in 2022.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brad Ferguson, publisher@homeonthecoast.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bryan Brasco Russ Qureshi Angela Koop John Leech GRAPHIC LAYOUT Darren Griffin MEDIA SALES advertising@homeonthecoast.ca DISTRIBUTION Matt Preus For Marketing and Advertising contact advertising@homeonthecoast.ca
Brad Ferguson, Publisher
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January/February 2022
CONTENTS
8 14 18 22 24
Home Design Trends For 2022
25
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS Creating A Space Solution
26
A Timeless Way of Building HANSON LAND & SEA Building Together – 34 units of Affordable Housing Coming to Sechelt Plant Care for the Indoors
28 29 30
Changing the Way We Build Homes -BC’s 2022 Building Code Damage From Flooding... Are You Covered? Sunshine Coast Real Estate Statistics for November 2021 SCCSA Update Habitat Update – Helping to Build Homes on the Coast
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Why I offer free staging to clients: Staging is one of the most powerful strategies for up-selling your home. The main driver in our purchasing decisions is often the feelings evoked by the visual presentation. Staging helps foster that “feels like home” emotion. Contact me for non obligatory staging advice and learn how we can unlock the most value in your home.
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Home Design Trends For 2022 The new year is a great time to start fresh— whether that means finally organizing your closets and decluttering your kitchen or taking things a step further by updating the aesthetic of your home. From nature-inspired interiors to vintage furnishings and tactile finishes, here are a few of the design trends that industry experts predict will dominate in the new year.
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Going Green Even before COVID-19 lockdowns had people spending an increased amount of time indoors, studies showed that having plants in your home can improve concentration and reduce stress levels as well as improve indoor air quality. Now that we’ve settled into a work-from-home lifestyle that’s seemingly here to stay, it’s only natural that people are trying to find ways to bring the outdoors into their homes. Biophilic (a tendency to seek connections with nature) design principles have steadily risen in popularity in recent years, with an emphasis on creating calming, plant-filled environments that establish a visual connection with nature. In 2022, it looks like our collective love for lush indoor environments will continue to bloom. According to a recently released report, which analyzes emerging global trends based on findings between October 2019 and September 2021, searches for “biophilic architecture” increased by 150 percent during that period. The terms “biophilic design bedroom,” “staircase garden,” and “floral ceiling” also jumped up significantly. But it’s not just greenery-filled living and working spaces that will flourish in the year ahead: Green-painted interiors—from playful accents on kitchen cabinets to fully painted living room walls—will be ubiquitous too.
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A New Coat of Paint Major brands like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams
have included various shades of green on their lists of top paint colours for 2022. Flora- and fauna-patterned wallpapers and fabrics will also be popular picks to add playful touches to spaces throughout the home. Whether you embrace the trend by nurturing your own indoor garden or decking out your interiors with emerald and moss-toned accents.
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Natural Finishes Also, you can expect to see more tactile materials—wood, plaster, bronze, and leather—and finishes with textures derived from nature. There will also be greater use of textures like raked plaster, rougher clay, or grainy stuccos. These have been popular interior finishes because they’re so durable and can be made water-resistant.
Going Vintage Many experts agree that a growing number of consumers are seeking out vintage, antique, and handcrafted furnishings and decor for their homes. Since slowing down has given people the opportunity to explore hands-on activities like ceramics, painting, and baking, we’ve seen a draw toward craft pieces that can be appreciated even more now that there’s an understanding of how challenging they are to make.
Multi-Generational Upcycling Re claimed wood and stone will be Spaces popular elements in both architecture and With the continuation of hybrid and remote workplaces into 2022, flexible live/ workspaces that accommodate the needs of various generations under the same roof are paramount. Owners are now wanting homes to be ideal places to not only live, but also a place where they can work, where children can learn, and where multiple generations can live together— and where there’s a possibility that the dwelling can be used as a rental property.
interior design in 2022. The upward trend toward repurposing existing materials can extend to construction methods too. More and more, we find ourselves working to improve the performance of existing historic structures rather than building anew. We’ve seen this trend emerge steadily over the years, with clever projects ranging from barn conversions to warehouse renovations.
The obvious spark that ignited this trend was COVID-19, but it has been ramping up for years due primarily to improved technology enabling more people to work remotely, as well as multi-generational living arrangements resulting from high costs of housing and eldercare. While open floor plans once soared in popularity, the trend may taper off in 2022 in favour of layouts that distinguish between living and working spaces and provide opportunities for privacy.
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ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Creating A Space Solution With the current hyper active real estate market here on the Coast, buyer demand is currently strong and expected to continue in the coming year, while housing inventory is predicted to remain extremely low compared to previous years. With fewer houses on the market, buyers may not be able to find that perfect home they’ve been dreaming about, especially in popular locations like the Sunshine Coast. In 2021 online search engines have documented that requests for multiple home offices have more than doubled from 24% to 48%; demand for home-based fitness and yoga spaces jumped from 23% to 39%, and for in-law suites the numbers rose from 35% to 42%.
Home renovations are the first thing that comes to mind when considering adding more space to a home, however, there is a simpler and less intrusive option available that can help ease your qualms about a lack of space in a home that otherwise checks all the boxes. Rather than considering a home renovation or addition, an excellent alternative is to add a singleroom studio or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to the backyard.
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Why Backyard Studios & Auxiliary Dwelling Units? Backyard studios and auxiliary dwelling units have gained attention in recent years for the myriad lifestyle and financial benefits they provide to homeowners. These backyard modular additions are the fastest and most affordable way to add flexible square footage to any home and can be customized for home office spaces, music and art studios, yoga studios, he/she sheds etc. Backyard studios or auxiliary dwelling units are a great way for homeowners to add significant value to their property. According to a recent study, a homes with an ADU are priced 35% higher on average than a home without one. A well-appointed ADU is effectively a fullyfunctional second dwelling on your property complete with a kitchen and bath that can be used for guests, a home studio for hobbies or workouts, or even rented out to provide a new source of income. It’s easy to see the myriad of other benefits that backyard studios and auxiliary dwelling units provide as well. As more businesses allow their employees to work from home permanently, workers are moving where they desire to live. When they do find a home, they will need a dedicated office. A backyard studio/ADU or the ability to add one offers the perfect option if the home they find doesn’t have an office. Many smaller, older homes are not designed with a home office so homeowners need to utilize a spare bedroom as an office space which is often less than ideal. If the lot allows for additional lot coverage, building an external office space can nicely complement a smallersized home. A backyard studio offers a much quieter, private space compared to using a spare bedroom or a basement rec room.
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A Timeless Way of Building HANSON LAND & SEA
IF
you’ve lived here on the Coast for any length of time, chances are you’ve heard the name Hanson Land & Sea. Or maybe you’ve seen some of their custom designed projects that dot the landscape from Langdale to Powell River. Ryan and Marlin Hanson are third generation builders and it shows in the passion they have for their work. Over the years they have put together a tight knit crew of skilled carpenters and craftsman, creating a unique combination of contemporary West Coast architecture.
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As the name would imply, they have experience in marine construction also. Before focusing primarily on custom homes they made their living pile driving, building piers along the B.C coast. The heavy timbers required to construct piers and docks continue to inspire their designs. Massive beams, simple and strong traditional methods of joinery, and natural materials help to create homes that are built to last for generations. “Utilizing materials native to our area is key for us. Function and form are laid out well in nature. Cedar is a beautiful and great exterior material, for example. Second-growth fir is a sustainable and affordable structural material. All are available locally if you know where to look and how to
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deal with the raw material.” Says Marlin. Locally sourced natural products play a huge part of the brother’s design. Their services range from new construction, renovations, timber framing and marine systems. Their passion is in design built projects, from the initial site visit and land clearing to final landscaping. They have also worked closely with some of the best architects in the province and enjoy the collaborative process. With their diversified skill set and generations of experience, HL&S pride themselves on creating beautiful, well built custom homes, part of the Sunshine Coast for generations to come. With offices in Gibsons and Powell River their team is never far away.something even more important. Something that is a byproduct of doing what you love to do... Happy customers.
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Building Together –
34 units of Affordable Housing Coming to Sechelt We all know our cost of living has increased. Can you imagine if your income decreased or disappeared? Affordable housing is a hot topic these days - everywhere you look, there is an announcement of another development under consideration. The definition of affordable seems to be up in the air. Fortunately, BC Housing uses a formula that 30% of income is affordable with a reasonable cap for top earners. This definition permits people to live in comfortable, safe housing - and still buy food, clothing and have a bit left over for costs such as a vehicle or daycare. @Home on the Coast | 22
Sunshine Coast Community Services (SCCSS) was one of the first non-profits to see the value of developing a multi-purpose building and partnering with BC Housing to build 34 rental units in the heart of Sechelt. This iconic building will offer units for single women, mothers with children, young females exiting the foster care system, and senior women. Much thought has gone into creating a place where these women will feel welcome, safe, and comfortable. Increased socialization between tenants and interaction with the community was carefully considered, with the space designed to provide privacy, security, and community engagement. When SCCSS determined it prudent to rebuild the offices on Inlet Avenue, the board decided a partial solution to the housing issue on the Coast would mix well with a community services hub. The programs offered by SCCSS often interact so this synergy will benefit the
clients. By expanding the capacity of the current building from 1 to 2 storeys, many of the program offices that rent off-site can now be under one roof. The operating savings gained by eliminating external office rentals with the added revenue stream from the housing units will positively affect the bottom line. The community will also benefit from the 6-storey redevelopment. The new building will have a commercial kitchen and multi-purpose rooms available for functions. The food bank will relocate into the new building and feature increased refrigeration and freezer capacity. The gardens will include a picnic area, a natural playground, a contemplative garden, a playing field and an expanded community vegetable garden. This area will provide a lovely spot for staff, tenants, volunteers, clients and the community to enjoy.
All non-profits look to the community to help with funding. SCCSS is expecting about $4 million from grants and corporate sponsorship, and $3 million from community donations. To date, they have collected close to $1 million in donations. Please consider helping SCCSS reach their goal. By covering the costs, SCCSS can be debt-free and direct all revenue into their 30+ programs, helping 1 in 5 people Coastwide. To learn more about the Building Together project, visit www.buildingtogether-sccss.ca or contact Melanie Munroe at 604-885-5881. Sunshine Coast Community Services has been making our community stronger, safer and more resilient since 1974. Our non-profit organization supports over 5,000 community members through more than 30 programs in four main areas: Community Action & Engagement; Child and Family Counselling; Family, Youth and Children’s Services; and Together Against Violence. We are honoured to provide services on the unceded, ancestral and traditional lands of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation and the Skwxwu7mesh Uxwumixw (Squamish Nation). To learn more, visit www.sccss.ca.
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Plant Care for the Indoors by Angela Koop
House plants are an excellent way to liven up your home during the grey days of winter. Here are a couple tips to keep your house plants happy and healthy this winter.
1
Water sparingly, house plants go through a dormancy period just like out door plants. The winter is their break from growing so they do not require watering as often. Wait to see the leave start to droop then give your plants a light drink, avoid leaving the soil saturated at all times as this can lead to root rot.
2
Dust your plants, this helps keep your plants leaves looking fresh and beautiful. It also allows your plants to photosynthesize which will help your plant start to grow sooner when the days start to get longer.
3
Put away the fertilizer, there is no need to fertilize your house plants in the
4
winter months when they are resting, start fertilizing again when you start to notice new growth emerging from your house plants.
Rotate your plants, you may notice your house plants stretching for light so turn them weekly to help keep them balanced.
5
Add some humidity, the air in your home through the winter can be dry. Use Pebble tray (picture attached) or place vases of water around your house plants to add extra humidity to keep the foliage on your plants happy.
Having troubles with your plants, visit you local garden centre they are a wealth of information and there to help you find solutions for all your plant care problems. Be sure to take some pictures of your plants when you stop in so they can see what is happening and provide the best answers
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Changing the Way We Build Homes -BC’s 2022 Building Code Big changes are coming to BC’s building code in 2022 that will transform the way we build homes. Here is an outline of the new BC Energy Step Code and how we are adapting these measures here on the coast. The BC Energy Step Code is an optional compliance guideline in the BC Building Code that local governments can voluntarily adopt and use to incentivize or require higher levels of energy efficiency in new construction development. The new standards were introduced as a step-by-step building efficiency strategy designed to help meet the Provincial Government’s target of all new homes being net-zero energy ready by 2032. The code sets five performance levels or
efficiency requirements of the BC Building Code. Step 5 indicates the home has been constructed as net-zero energy ready (NZER), meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes. Local governments can choose to require or incentivize a given step for new home construction in their community.
Step 1 indicates a home performs as well as, or better than a building constructed to meet the minimum prescriptive energy
• Better Affordability – Reduced energy consumption results in lower energy costs. • Increased Comfort – Increased insulation and airtightness within a home means that it is better equipped to maintain a more even temperature throughout, for a more comfortable home. •
“steps” that exceed the base BC Building Code, with the higher steps being more energy-efficient. The BC Energy Step Code is currently adopted by municipalities voluntarily and it is up to each municipality to establish their own time frame and level of compliance. Here on the Coast, the Town of Gibsons, Sechelt, and the SCRD have agreed to coordinate the phasing in of each building step in order to create some continuity for homeowners and builders. Currently that requirement, as of January 2021, calls for all residential construction to comply with step 1 of the code with a target date of December 2022 to meet requirements for up to stage 3 of the code.
• Greenhouse Gas Reductions – High-effi ciency homes require less energy to heat, resulting in reduced carbon emissions even if homes heat with fossil fuels. Homes heated with a heat pump will have the lowest carbon emissions.
Better Health – Energy-effi cient homes do a better job of refreshing the indoor air by
filtering out unwanted mould, moisture, pollen and other allergens. Builders and developers have an opportunity to set themselves apart by building to higher steps than required. In the future,the Province of BC may require that certain steps must be met to meet Provincial targets. By adopting the BC Energy Step Code, local governments and their communities will be able to take advantage of the multiple benefits associated with more energy-efficient new homes, including:
• Improved Durability – A higheffi ciency home is less likely to have moisture and condensation issues that can lead to the deterioration of the building envelope. If you are interested in learning about the Step Code or you’re planning to build to Step Code level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, you can find more information by contacting the building department of your local jurisdiction depending on if you are in Gibsons, Sechelt, or the SCRD.
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Damage From Flooding...Are You Covered? Weather pattern changes and severe weather events, such as Atmospheric Rivers, have heightened the need for, and value of homeowners insurance for Fresh Water Flood coverage.
•
With the ever-increasing volatility of weather patterns due to climate change, Overland Water [Fresh Water Flood] insurance coverage is an issue that homeowners should be familiar with. Here then is a basic overview of how your local insurance agent can help mitigate the financial consequences of a flooded home.
•
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•
In 2015 the Insurance Industry started developing coverage for Overland Water in response to the Government’s Emergency Flood Assistance Program’s being “in the red”; Since then most insurance providers have brought in an option to purchase Overland Water Coverage; Overland Water Coverage pricing is based on geographic data of risk locations based on postal code combined with flood map data;
•
•
•
In many cases, pricing can be customized by choosing to insure Overland Water in varying limits, such as $10,000., $20,000., $30,000 or higher/full limits; Emergency Flood Assistance Programs are still available but they WILL NOT respond to those applicants where Overland Water Coverage was available thru insurance. Water Damage, including overland water flooding, now surpasses fire damage in both frequency and severity.
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Sunshine Coast Real Estate Statistics for November 2021 by Russ Qureshi
The Sunshine Coast real estate market is realizing our seasonal slowdown. Fully detached and Land only properties are down a wee bit from last year’s totals and the Condo/ Town home market is up! Let’s see how it breaks out: Fully detached sales are down 7% in dollar volume to $68,750,000 with unit sales down 33% to 55 homes sold in November. This stat shows the increase in value of each unit and how significant that has been over the recent past. It’s interesting to note, too, that we are only down $1,000,000 from last months dollar volume (approximately 1.3% lower) but we sold 8 less homes (approximately 12% less). The available inventory is down 40% to 104 homes for sale…Therefore the sales success ratio (the amount of sales versus the available inventory) is 53% keeping the detached market in sellers’ hands. Year to date we are still up in total dollar volume by 40% to $820,000,000 and up 9% in unit sales to 777. The average sale price last month (total dollar volume divided by total sales) is $1,250,000
while the average sale price year to date is $1,054,000. Condos and Town home sales are up in dollar volume by 18% to $12,350,000 and unit sales are down by 3% to 23 homes sold last month. As with the detached stat this illustrates the increase in value clearly. Compared to last month we are up 34% in dollar volume! The available inventory for the segment of the market down 55% to 37 homes. Therefore, the sales success ratio (the amount of sales versus the available inventory) is 51% keeping the attached market in sellers’ hands. Year to date we are up in dollar volume by 35% to $141,975,000 and unit sales by 25% to 249 condos or town homes sold so far this year. The average sale price last month is $612,000 while the average price year to date is $570,000. Land only sales are down in dollar volume by 5% to $7,700,000 and unit sales by 41% to 14 lots sold in November. Compared to last month we are up 49% in dollar volume and up 40% in unit sales. The available inventory for land is down 49% to 86 available units. Therefore, the sales success ratio is 16% giving
this segment of the market some balance. Year to date we are up in dollar volume by 132% to $123,000,000 and units sales are up 46% to 227 lots sold in 2021 so far. The average price last month is $550,000 while the average year to date price is $540,000. While demand eases, inventory continues to drop causing prices to remain high and continue to climb in many cases. Sellers are in control but to realize a quick offer, at or over asking price, still requires some thoughtful planning and preparation. Buyers need to be prepared to act quickly and in a robust way to acquire the property you want…..there are rumours of increased interest rates next year and that would affect the market strongly. There are also rumours of the Provincial Government implementing a “cooling off ” period for buyers (one of the strangest “sounds good” ideas I’ve heard in my career) in 2022. More on both of those potential eventuality’s in my 2021 year end review coming in early January. For market statistics call your realtor. For market intelligence call Russ Qureshi at Coast Lifestyles Network 604-741-7119.
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@Home on the Coast | 28
Russ Qureshi
SCCSA Update submitted by the SCCSA Diana Sollner, BCSEA Board director, delivered a dynamic talk at the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association AGM in November. The BC Sustainable Energy Association is a grass roots organization working towards a low carbon economy for BC. The fund-raising walk by Cody Kelso and his mom Megan included a $10,000 donation to this worthwhile organization - here’s the link - https:// bcsea.org/ With several chapters already around the province, the Solar Association would like to facilitate starting a chapter here on the Sunshine Coast. If you are interested in helping with this important work, please contact the SCCSA at suncoastsca@gmail.com Cody Kelso and his mom Megan, who challenged themselves with a 115 km walk “Climb for Climate
Change” last year, raised over $30,000 for the Sechelt SPCA and the BCSEA, and are planning a new project for 2022. Their new fundraiser “Elevate for the Environment” will again help two organizations, one local to the coast and one within BC: details forthcoming! They are already collecting bottles towards this new challenge. If you can help by donating bottles, please contact Megan at sunnycreeker@hotmail.com. Interested in the Solar Association and its work? Consider signing up to be a member - annual memberships are $20 or for students or those with limited means, just $10. Go to https:// suncoastcommsolar.weebly.com and follow the membership link.
The Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association (SCCSA) is a registered BC non-profit society dedicated to supporting and empowering our community in all aspects of energy conservation and renewable energy production in order to transition away from fossil fuels. As a volunteer group, the Solar Association relies on the support of its membership. Did you know you can take out a $20 membership anytime after September 1st which covers you for the following year? Please consider becoming a member by going to https:// suncoastcommsolar.weebly.com and following the membership link. We have interesting and important projects on the go – if you are interested in joining the SCCSA board, please email us at: suncoastcsa@gmail.com Architectural rendering of new building.
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Habitat Update
Helping to Build Homes on the Coast by John Leech At this time of year most of us give a little more thought to our many blessings, the people we love and the benefits of living in one of the best countries in the world. While we know there are so many around the globe who do not come close to enjoying our many comforts, we also recognize there are those in our immediate community who are challenged with access to adequate food, clothing and housing. Reliable, safe and affordable housing is a prerequisite to a sense of security and wellbeing. Unfortunately, not everyone on the Sunshine Coast enjoys secure housing, and this is where Habitat for Humanity comes
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into the picture. We build homes on the Coast to give those families a hand up. While the housing issue seems daunting at times, there is something we can each do to help. A financial donation to Habitat will go a long way to assist us to build homes for families who otherwise struggle to pay the rent, put food on the table and clothes on their kids. This year, in lieu of other ‘stuff ’ we do not need, my wife Jennifer Christenson and I have decided to donate to Habitat. Will you join us? Will you help gift a family the opportunity to move into the new fourplex we are building at The Village at Wilson Creek? A donation of $100 will help
purchase some lighting. $250 will help purchase appliances and $2,000 could go toward windows. Maybe you can afford a much larger gift and if this is the case you are welcome to send in the donation or you could call me, John Leech / Vice-chair, to discuss your wishes or specific instructions. I can be reached at 604.230.5827. DONATE at: www.habitatsc.ca/donate. The Board of Directors, our many volunteers and staff wish you the very best as you celebrate this holiday. Let’s work together to help others enjoy a stable, affordable home in 2022.
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