Architecture studio Project Orange has reinterpreted the traditional London mews to create a row of contemporary brick studio buildings with residences on top (+ slideshow). (more…)
High Lounge is a private residence designed by Alex Obraztsov. It is located in Kiev, Ukraine. High Lounge by Alex Obraztsov: “The object is in an apartment house placed in the downtown of Kyiv. The project objective was to convert untenantable upper floor space to a loft. Work on heat insulation required dismount of peripheral brick partitions and boarded ceiling. Original arc roofing structure that appeared underneath was left open..
From the architect. In the late 1960s, a French cultural policy was affirmed and the democratization of culture under the leadership of André Malraux (French Minister of Culture, philosopher and writer) who defined a « House of Culture » as: ” Primarily a home that should gather all the creative activities of a small town or a big city neighbourhood, in the field of culture ; the House of Culture, and as it uses most of the other arts, the leader of the artistic life of the city. ” and In 1961, the building is radical. It imposes modernity without compromising the city landscape.
At the end of 2012, there is evidence that the strong architectural design suffered many changes during its multiple transformations. Therefore, in parallel with the pure technical answer for the refurbishment and upgrading, WIMM & the team questioned the use and programming of current areas of this cultural tool through its proposal. The purpose was not to ” re-think ” the Theatre but to transform it into a new device closely related with contemporary cultural practices. As well as being a cultural object, the re-design was also concerned with the theatre’s relationship with the public : give the building its synthetic nature, unitary cultural place ; Simplify its connection to the city ; Restore a space of cultural mediation with the public.
Symbolic of these issues, the curtain wall “window” of the building has within it a tremendous and rare potential to amplify the theatrical interior spaces. These spaces will be places of encounter, communication and exchange around culture. Their perception both from the outside and the inside will be one of the key elements of the device.
“The Urban shelf of Jacques Tati is somehow resurrected. We worked in the reprogramming of these spaces and their reading. The ground floor comprises: a large reception compartment which distributes the various activities gathered today in the building, a ticket counter, a bar/restaurant and spaces for the presentation of cultural activity. The access to the ground floors was simplified; the exhibition gallery is thus completely integrated with the equipment. The promenade became a meeting/ press conference space and a projection space creating an internal screen of the city. ” Ana Luisa Gonçalves
The new curtain glass wall creates an urban shelf that generates new activities. It challenges the cultural program as it proposes new events. The façades are reinforced by a visual filter, which consists of vertical lines that control thermal energy and provide comfort inside of the volume.
Inspired by Kinetic Art and Op Art experiences, the façades perception changes with movement.
” If positioned in front of the façade the vertical metal lines disappear and allow the viewer to perceive the activities, then when movements take place objects blur before becoming again visible when facing one of the sides of the hexagon. The actions change with movement as a cultural changing screen” William Tenet
From the architect. Peraleda House is a comprehensive rebuild, keeping part of the original walls of the existing house and the yard, located in a small and historic town in Cáceres. The project aims to think about how to revive an existing house into a contemporary home in a classic urban area setting with restrictive rules.
To do that, two distinct elements are combined. On the one hand, a stone element as the ordinances dictate that lays the base of the house span the entrance and give access to the home through metal doors. On the other hand, a sinuous line crosses the night areas and the pool and forms the inner courtyard.
This duality provides two types of facades: an introverted one with metallic and flared openings respond to those of a church across the street; and the other one is extroverted with large openings that let in light through the courtyard.
Strategies:
1. Access to the House through the hallway that the stone masonry conforms to.
2. Introverted-facades avoiding the views of neighbors and outgoing-facade that illuminates the interior.
3. Enter from the hallway through metal doors to the daily areas.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2016: British designer Liam Treanor has expanded his collection of handcrafted wood furniture to include shelves, a side table and a pendant light (+ slideshow). (more…)
You’re reading 37 Unexpected Ways Meditation Can Drastically Improve Your Quality of Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
“Happily, the benefits of training in meditation arrive long before mastery does.” – Sam Harris, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion
I was recently in a business mastermind group and we were discussing the idea finding flow in your work.
One of the other participants brought up that they had been meditating for a while and it had improved all areas of their life, especially their concentration at work.
Another member of the group interrupted: “but hold on? How would meditation help you concentrate at work? Unless I guess if you were a bit less stressed?”
A few of the others there who had obviously spent some time meditating looked as shocked as I was.
It was at that point that I realized that not everyone is actually aware of the benefits of meditation.
Whilst western psychology has finally adopted meditation as a legitimate therapy, a lot of the public emphasis has been placed on stress reduction, which may have taken away from some of the other very impressive benefits.
Here are 37 life changing benefits of meditation that you may not be aware of.
Note: I’ve tried to include references to scientific research for as many as possible, but where there is only anecdotal evidence – meaning lots of meditators agree to having experienced these benefits, but there is no research into the area – I have put an asterisk.
Have you had any experience meditating? Are there any benefits you think we’ve left out? Let us know in the comments!
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Ben is a freelance writer, and the co-creator of Project Monkey Mind—a new blog for the 21st century solopreneur and professional who wants to lead a freer and more fulfilling life.
You’ve read 37 Unexpected Ways Meditation Can Drastically Improve Your Quality of Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Sig Nordal 