18
Dec
16
Nov
Technical Focus: Tile remodel installation issues and solutions
The number of commercial and residential remodel projects has grown at a tremendous rate in the last 10 years. Most importantly, the majority of these homeowners and business owners are remodeling with ceramic tile. Carpet and vinyl are replaced with longer-lasting tile, old ceramic is upgraded to large-format porcelain and the popularity of natural stone tile keeps growing. All of this is great news for our industry, but it also raises some challenges that are specific to remodeling. The Challenge First [...]
15
Nov
An Architect Made Floating Homes, And They Are Hurricane-Proof
LIVING IN A WATER WORLD We know that people are the largest source of gas emissions, with a majority of greenhouse gases coming from us burning fossil fuels for heat and transportation. These emissions led to global warming, which in turn increased the temperatures of our ocean water. Earlier this year, we saw the consequences of having warmer oceans when Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, Texas. Due to Harvey’s presence, a significant number of homes and buildings were damaged, flooded, and lost. Needless to [...]
31
Oct
Dubai to get the world’s first rotating skyscraper by 2020
https://spartek.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Dynamic-Architecture-Rotating-Tower-2.mp4 The “Dynamic Tower” was proposed by Israeli-Italian architect back in 2008. Israeli-Italian architect David Fisher proposed the Dynamic Tower — a 420-metre, 80-floor rotating skyscraper back in 2008. It was proposed back in the day as the world’s first pre-fabricated skyscraper with 40 factory-built modules for each floor. It appears like the plan has finally met approval. News agency What’s On claims that the architectural firm behind the 80-storey rotating building, Dynamic Group has confirmed that the structure will be built by 2020. Apparently, each floor in [...]
07
Sep
Instagrammable Hotel Bathrooms
The Most Instagrammable Hotel Bathrooms in the World These stunning designs have no bad angles TEXT BY SYDNEY WASSERMAN Posted September 1, 2017 The Henrietta Hotel, London Photographer: Karel Balas One of the best things about staying in a hotel is momentarily pretending that the room is actually your home. Like, you totally have a king-size bed with an oversize velvet headboard, sheets with an impressive thread count, and, of course, a marble-clad bathroom with sleek finishings and a floating tub . . . at least according to social media. [...]
12
Aug
These incredible self-deploying buildings pop up in 8 minutes flat
In the future, buildings could build themselves. Ten Fold Engineering, based in the United Kingdom, is offering self-deploying structures that open up in under 10 minutes solely with the help of a hand-held battery-powered drill. Their 689-square-foot structures could be used as medical clinics, eco hotels or even tree houses. Ten Fold’s ready-to-use structures offer a glimpse into the future of construction: buildings that can be deployed or folded up in a matter of minutes by anyone. They can be easily relocated and customized to [...]
18
Jul
Forest City
A pollution-fighting green city unlike any before is springing to life in China. Designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti, the first “Forest City” is now under construction Liuzhou, Guangxi Province. The futuristic city will use renewable energy for self sufficiency and be blanketed in almost 1 million plants and 40,000 trees—a sea of greenery capable of absorbing nearly 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 57 tons of pollutants annually. Commissioned by Liuzhou Municipality Urban Planning for the north of Liuzhou along the Liujiang river, [...]
06
Jul
Solar Powered Vehicle
A team of students at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) just unveiled an electric car that seats five and is completely powered by the sun. Called Stella Vie, the vehicle stands apart because it’s more efficient than all solar cars before it. Even with fewer solar panels on its roof, the car is capable of a range of about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on a warm summer day. According to the students, Stella Vie is “the car of the future.” [...]
