Our job of the week on the new and improved Dezeen Jobs is for a rides and attractions designer at European company Merlin Entertainments, whose Thorpe park resort in Surrey, UK is pictured. Visit the ad for full details of the position or browse more architecture and design opportunities on Dezeen Jobs.
Brexit crisis: the UK’s vote to leave the European Union has led to a sharp fall in architecture and design recruitment activity in the country but has led to a dramatic rise in product sales overseas, according to data from Dezeen Jobs and Dezeen Watch Store. (more…)
Giving our homes a makeover is often limited to a paint job, changing the drapes, or reupholstering the couch. But a facelift should not be reduced to a beautification project. Renovation should also be about making homes safer and smarter.
Times have indeed become more dangerous, and home security is something all homeowners should take very seriously. Aside from safety, there’s also the need for all homeowners to respond to green initiatives by using the technology available in the market.
By definition, a smart home is a home “equipped with network-connected products for controlling, automating, and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety, or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself.” This was the definition from Coldwell Banker and CNET. A survey by CNET showed that 87% of Americans acknowledge the value of smart home technology but only one in four actually uses the technology.
You’d think that having a smart home is just about having an Internet connection. Well, technically speaking, you’re probably right. But there are so many other things you can do to make a smart and safe home renovation, even while on a budget. You’d be surprised that some efforts do not even require money.
Here are affordable home renovation ideas that will make your home safer and smarter.
Never think twice about having a sturdy door. Sure, you have seen homes who invest in making their doors worthy of a magazine cover, painting it boldly and designing it intricately. However, a smart homeowner would think of safety first. Don’t settle for pretty. It makes no sense to have a pretty door that burglars can easily push down or yank open.
One of the ways to ensure door safety is to inspect the locks, with changing them if necessary. Use double locks or deadbolts rather than just ordinary door handle locks. Make sure that they are tamper-proof. If you can have those keyless and automated locks, that would be a good investment.
You can’t be everywhere all the time. Even when you are inside the house, it is physically impossible to guard every entry point including the garage. What you can do is to go to a security system store and ask for surveillance cameras. Install a reliable security system in your house so you could monitor everything that’s happening. These days, you could even receive live feeds from all cameras in your mobile device. Now, you have eyes on every corner of your home.
See Also: 10 People in Urgent Need of Smart Home Security Systems
The best thing about security systems these days is they are no longer limited to sounding an alarm when a threat becomes apparent. Aside from keeping our homes safe, security companies also make it smarter by giving you full control of your appliances. The Honeywell home security series features a wide-array of security systems that let you turn on and off the lights, set the timer, and adjust the thermostat from a smartphone. Never again will you have to worry if you leave the hair curler plugged. This way, you can control your electric bill while doing the environment a favor.
While our homes are our own personal sanctuaries, accidents do happen especially when you have kids and elders living with you. Avoid trips and falls by choosing less-slippery flooring like wood or vinyl. Furniture such as tables and sofas must not be located near a window where kids can climb and fall. In the bathroom, get some anti-slip mats.
Glass windows are very popular among homeowners. They look very modern and also very easy on the eyes. However, securing them with locks may not be enough. Consider mounting grills on your windows for added home security. You can be a bit more artistic and playful with the color you choose to paint them but the idea here is safe home renovation. This will also give you another layer of security when you choose to put the curtains away and let natural light in.
Lighting is an important part of any design or renovation. It sets the tone. It can essentially tell you how you should feel at a certain moment. Lighting can make a place look warm and cozy. Identify the areas that need lighting and make sure to use LED bulbs.
Putting some dramatic lighting outside the porch is a particularly nice touch. Not only is it pretty, outdoor lighting also intimidates burglars who would rather work in the dark. Make sure to use LED bulbs so you would not have to worry about your electric bill spiking up even if you leave them on the whole night.
When people talk about home renovation, the living area and the kitchen always get special treatment. But don’t forget the bathroom. Simple bathroom upgrades such as updating the mirror and the sink can make a huge difference. Add a floating shelf for towels and toiletries.
One of the most budget-friendly home renovation ideas is fixing what’s already there. Renovation does not always mean buying new things but repairing what you can. Check the shower and the sink for leaks. Check the walls for cracks. Check the ceiling, too. Repair them while you can before things get worse. This is how to you keep a home smart. Make sure everything is working perfectly.
See Also: 5 Practical Home Improvements To Sell A House
Sometimes, you don’t need to buy anything new. All you need is to move it. Try re-arranging some of your furniture to give your place a whole new look. This is also a chance to make your space look bigger. Rearrange your furniture in such a way that it is simplified and de-cluttered. Make sure you encourage a flow that is functional.
Paint is one of the most affordable home renovation materials that you can have. A can of paint can do wonders. If you are not ready for a major paint job on your living room walls, try it on kitchen cabinets first. You will be surprised at the transformation. You may also want to make those knobs a bit funkier.
If you are on a budget, you have to try to do things yourself as much as you can. There are tutorial videos for anything these days so do not be intimidated. Try to build a headboard for your bed, a shelf for books, a daybed for additional sleeping space, and an ottoman for the living room. You don’t only get to save money, you also get to enhance your skills while giving your home a personal touch. How smart can that get?
Adding storage is always a good renovation trick, not to mention a cheap renovation idea. If a home has more storage, there would be less clutter. You can add storage in the kitchen and in the bedroom to arrange your closet.
One of the cheapest home improvement ideas is designing with personal touch. Instead of keeping your collection in a box, why not make a gallery of sorts? Frame one of your kids’ artworks and hang it proudly. Decal your favorite quote on the wall. Stencil your initials on a throw pillow. There are so many things you can do to give your home character.
Renovating your home need not be expensive. You don’t need to break down the walls just to give it a new look. All it takes is to know exactly what it is that you want to achieve. In this case, if you want a safer and smarter home, use not only technology but also creativity.
The post 15 Budget Worthy Smart Home Improvements appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Chinese studio Atelier Deshaus‘ Sylph chair features a back made from a continuous piece of tubular steel, curved by hand to look like a line drawing (+ slideshow). (more…)
Daylight House is a private home located in Nagarbhavi, Bangalore, India. It was designed by Ashwin Architects. Daylight House by Ashwin Architects: “Daylight house is an independent 4 bedroom house located in Bangalore, India. The total built-up area is about 4000 sft. The plot size is only 40′ x 60′ and is west facing. The central idea is to have natural light and ventilation spreading out over the entire house…
AGA Architects have designed a new mixed-use development which is currently under construction in the Hong Xing district of Changsha, China. The project is set to become the first prototype of a combined leisure park and shopping mall in the country. A mix of retail, office, residential and hotel space is interspersed with “joyful” elements such as a sky walking corridor, 360-degree restaurant and a sky pool which overlooks the complex. Integrated landscape and a focus on sustainability transform the center into what the architects call a “green park mall.”
The masterplan is built up on a 300,000 square meters site, which is split across one large block (A) and a smaller adjacent block (B). The internal courtyard spans both blocks and carves away at the volumes at ground level to create alleyways through the precinct. These “lifestyle streets” keep the ground floor of the precinct highly active, and feature green elements throughout.
Fronting the street of Block A is a six-story retail building hosting large LED screens which will present art and advertisements. Balancing on the edge of this facade is a large sculptural piece, an organically shaped disc supported by a central column. The brightly colored underside of the disc creates an energetic entrance to the shopping park.
Three towers enable the necessary density for the scheme; an office tower, a high end residential tower and a 5-star hotel tower. A supermarket at the first basement level acts as the anchor store for the precinct, and high-end retail is distributed throughout the complex. The architects expect for the superstructure to be complete mid-2017, and the mall to be open to the public in 2018.
News via AGA
Home ownership is set to become a thing of the past, according to the entrepreneur behind London co-living start-up The Collective, because socially liberated millennials are more likely to choose “living as a service”. (more…)
Located in the heart of Oslo, Stranden 1 represents as a new corporate standard within building renovation and stands as a re-branding flagship for the new Aker Brygge Masterplan, a revitalization design-strategy which is now under completion.
Four major upgrades were coordinated to address the spatial deficiencies of the existing building, deleting programmatic inadequacies and significantly improving environmental performance.
1-Commercial Street: The two double-height public entrances on ground level mark the beginning of a new covered street, “the diagonal”, a commercial passage that cuts clean through the first 3 existing buildings of Aker Brygge. This shopping path connects the main Aker Brygge square with the city hall plaza and performs as a pedestrian shortcut between the residential areas on the west and the city center.
2-Atrium: The existing central space is transformed from a narrow light shaft to a brand new public space. A meeting point that is re-configured to become wider in all directions, allowing for proper distribution of zenithal light into the offices and commercial areas through an ETFE skylight. Its sculptural geometry becomes the portal to Aker Brygge and a prominent arena for corporate art, the installation “Sundial for Spatial Echoes”, by artist Thomás Saraceno, is mounted permanently at the heart of the building.
3-Facade: Designed as a modular-system for fast assemblage on site, this floor to ceiling clear-glass skin provides abundant natural light into the working spaces, generous views from the inside and substantial increase on energy efficiency and noise protection.
4-Penthouse: All HVAC equipment originally installed on the top floor is re-located to the basement, liberating in full the most attractive and profitable area of the building. The new penthouse on the 8th floor provides breathtaking views of the Oslo bay.
Private Villa in Khandala is a private home located in Khandala Valley, India. It was designed by GA design. Private Villa in Khandala by GA design: “The plot is located facing the stunning view of the Khandala valley located 120 kms (74 mi) from Mumbai, India. The bungalow itself is spread over a plot area of 22,000 sft, and has a built up area of about 12,000 sft. The villa..
Sig Nordal 